Reviews of Rules. (Restaurant) in London (London).

Rules

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364 Comments

Restaurant

British restaurant

34-35 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7LB, United Kingdom

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Information of Rules, Restaurant in London (London)

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Reviews of Rules

A. K.

👍WONDERFUL BRITISH DINING EXPERIENCE 🇬🇧 Come to Rules for excellent service, phenomenal food, and nice authentic British ambience. This is now my new London favorite by far. The oysters were super fresh and to die for, the steak and kidney pie as good as it can be, and the sticky toffee pudding the best I’ve ever had to this day. A meal I will never forget and definitely not my last visit to this gem of fine British dining and hospitality.

J. N.

As always a wonderful meal (scallops special to start, duck as main and gorgeous but large chocolate bread and butter pudding to finish). The service was impeccable. Friendly, professional and informative. A bit pricey but a treat of an afternoon in a gorgeous dining room. Just perfect.

N. R. M.

Grand experience. The customer service is just amazing. You will even get a tour of the restaurant if you request. This is the oldest restaurant in London and was established in the year 1798. I came to know about this restaurant from the 2012 movie Skyfall. The restaurant was quite crowded when I visited but the food was royal. Thanks for the service. Cheers!

S. B.

Old school British food, with old fashioned surroundings. Great staff, a bit pricey (e.g. tiny oysters, full priced) but harks back to the days of limited restaurant choices I suppose. Food tasty. Strange Maggie thatcher mural on the wall!

W. K.

This is truly a delightful restaurant. It has masses of appeal from a historical perspective and serves the most delicious food. We had cocktails to start that would blow your socks off! Oysters chilled and served with a sherry wine vinegar to help the cocktail go down. A starter of scallops with white garlic and butter with a hazelnut crumb were sweet and delicate. Potted shrimp with dressed rocket and sourdough toast was light and full of flavour! Mains of steak and kidney pudding with the finest layer of suet crust and the softest beef was a thing of pure indulgence and a daub of venison with a spiced jus and celeriac purée and crumbly chestnut topped off with a perfectly poached quince was the best dish to eat! A plate of English cheese to round off a delicious meal with port and coffee just topped a perfect dining experience

T. K.

Great ambience as you expect, good selection of wines, great cocktails and aside the terrine that we ordered, the food was good. The steamed pud and lamb main were the highlight! Unfortunately that's where the positives end. Marketed as a game restaurant, there was no game on the menu or in the specials - which is a disappointment. For the restaurant of its stature, the service was just at par. When you pay the high prices, you expect food and service to follow, but it just didn't. Wouldn't be going back to be honest, not worth the spend but it is good to head there if you want to dine at the oldest restaurant in London :-)

R. A.

Gorgeous restaurant with a wonderful history. Great service, food and drinks. Hidden winter garden upstairs is great for a post dinner cocktail.

E.

Lovely hearty food, with great service, in a truly historic and atmospheric setting. Highly recommended.

A. K.

Age has not diminished the quality of the grub, and if you are into game, might as well have it in a place Gaston would love. Love the sponge cake and smoked eel. Venison, grouse, and cod were all great.

S. s.

This is quite a difficult review to write as you almost have to review it in two halves, firstly the surroundings, history, the ambiance, and the way it makes you feel when you enter the restaurant, and you are taken back to TV and movie scene's. The crab starter was fresh and tasty but still just okay, the Rib of beef was good, but barely warm and we had nearly an hour between starter and main being delivered, all main course on the table were the same. Although the horseradish sauce and sides were excellent, desserts are simple but tasty. This was my first time there, but not for my friends whom all commented that it was far below previous visits. With a bill of £170 per head, I was expecting something special, the restaurant delivered this, but the food sadly didn't for me. Unfortunately I don't feel the need to go back and see if it was just a one off. Don't get me wrong I'm glad I went, but London is full of places which delivery a better overal dining experience.

A. O.

Amazing food and friendly welcoming staff really make this place a must visit. White table cloths and no music make this place initially feel quite stuffy, but as soon as your greeted and shown to your seat I relaxed and had an absolutely lovely time. We had the black velvet- champagne and guiness which was delicious, the tarien, rump steak and sticky toffee pudding. Everything was cooked to perfection. If you are not much if a sweet tooth then steer clear of the sticky toffee pudding because it is very sweet.

J. G.

Amazing service, quality food at reasonable prices. Worth the trip if only for the winter garden cocktail bar upstairs. Excellent selection of wines. I thought I’d chance it and order the lamb rare, did not disappoint. Delicious

Е. Е.

A famous (and really beautiful) restaurant that is worth visiting at least once. Booking in advance is a must. They serve traditional British food (I especially liked an apple crumble) so if you are not a fan maybe it is not for you. I also enjoyed my cappuccino and its creamy texture. The prices are a bit high but it is to be expected.

A. M.

Sits somewhere between an establishment for locals and an amusement for tourists. My twice yearly steak and kidney pudding and sponge pudding with extra custard are the best in London. Accessible wine menu. Cocktails done right without the faff you seem to get in London these days. Amazing staff. Bravo.

J. G.

We booked Rules for our 15th Wedding Anniversary (July). The staff were polite and welcoming with distanced seating inside. The staff were attentive to the table but without hovering refilling the water glasses as nothing seemed to be to much as part of the service. The food.... the food was absolutely delicious. Three course meal (Couldn't finish pudding) with a Guinness a large glass of wine and two bottles of water with the service already on the bill, £165 well spent on a lovely evening out. A nice little touch was a small decorated pudding plate at the end of the meal. We will be returning.

F. W.

in ‘the end of the affair’ by graham greene the two lovers go to rules to eat beef and onions, in secret they call each other ‘onions’ after that and ponder the romance of their name sweet onion i love you

T. G.

London's oldest #restaurant never disappoints. A great, friendly service, relaxed atmosphere & food of the highest quality & flavour at @RulesRestaurant in #CoventGarden #London I really do enjoy eating here at a restaurant favoured by King Edward VII 🤴👑 It's a five star review from me. Thank you for a lovely evening.

R. K.

This place is a must-try! Such a beautiful experience. The place has such a royal vibe to it. The service was exquisite. The food was not out of this world, but definitely tasted good, was nicely cooked and well-presented. I started with some scallops that weren't on the menu, then had the sea bass main which was really good, and ended my meal with the golden syrup steamed sponge with custard which was one of the best desserts I've tasted! If someone is visiting London I would definitely take them there for the experience.

P.

My partner and I celebrated my birthday at Rules. The Service, The Food and The Atmosphere were great. Had a lovely time thank you team Rules for making our evening a special one.

J. J.

Perfect for pre or post theatre dinner. Well presented traditional dishes. Good wines and the best Guiness outside of Ireland! Attentive service. A little pricey but well worth it.

N. A.

The BEST. No more explanation required. In every respect. London at its very finest. Thank you.

R. C.

Dining a deux for anniversary celebration. We arrived half an hour early and were shown to the Winter Garden. I can now reccomend that anyone dining at Rules factor in a cocktail here beforehand. It sets the scene. Food and service were impeccable. It delivers to the hype.

J. H.

Had such a great experience here! Came for the frozen margaritas and ended up staying for a beautiful dinner. Service is great, super welcoming, and the food was incredible. Relatively expensive but absolutely worth it for what you get.

K. R. (. t.

Right from stepping into Rule's there was a certain grandeur, that one has to experience to believe. The Christmas decorations and surrounds are glamorous. The meals are exquisite and the wines on offer, compliment the meals beautifully. Giorgio and Luigi made me feel comfortable, welcomed and were impressively attentive and efficient in their craft. What a wonderful dining experience.

G. L.

In a period of change, Rules has remained its charming self. Excellent food, wonderful service and steak and kidney pudding to die for! Rules will always be my favourite restaurant.

J. O.

from the moment you enter the building you can feel the opulence and history of this grand restaurant (especially with Christmas decorations up), we had a couple of drinks in the winter garden and then we were called down for our dinner reservation. Nothing was to much trouble for the outstanding staff (I would liken the service to the Ritz or Simpsons), we had the roast rib of beef which was exceptional and cooked to perfection. I had the pear & apple crumble for pudding, which they kindly wrote birthday greetings on (this was also delicious). All in all I can't fault this lovely restaurant and will definitely be back to try some of the other options on the menu. Thanks for a memorable evening.

A. L.

I love this place. Excellent staff and wonderful food. My grouse was exquisite.

B. L.

Oldest restaurant in London I think food excellent, staff friendly and didn't cost as much as I thought it would. Will visit again when next in London would book early as it gets booked up quickly.

R. A.

Had to try this place. Amazing food and service

I. J. (.

This is a truly fantastic place to go. Expensive but I can't recommend it enough. Amazing food and wonderful staff plus you are sitting right inside history

G. P.

Rules is a real treat and a great nod to the past. Being the oldest restaurant in London it has kept so much old world charm. The interior is amazing, so much fascinating history is hanging on the walls. Every member of staff is so polite and friendly, I wish more places had this charm. The food is not without its own charm too, a quality game menu that is well done. Wonderfully warming and satisfying, especially in the winter. To me there is nothing more Christmassy than when Rules puts their decorations up. I like to arrive early and go upstairs for a cocktail, the orangery is a dream. I always go for their suet pudding, the thought of it is making me smile.

D. L.

The service is fantastic and the staff was friendly. Main reason why I wanted to check this out was due to the historic age of the establishment. The restaurant has survived for over 200 years for a good reason. I ordered the pheasant dish and my wife got the braised steak. Very delicious! The flavours were on point. The mousse dessert was fantastic also. Highly recommended.

E. F.

This place never disappoints! The best British food and service at its best. Been many times and I’ll be back again. Do not miss the Steak & Kidney Pudding!

V. S.

Great location and excellent ambience. Food was delicious with good portions. Only the starters could have been slightly bigger for the price. Service was attentive and polite. Overall, Rules has a lot of charm and is a great location to enjoy some real English cuisine especially their game dishes and celebrate for a special occasion.

R. A.

An absolute treat. We’ve dined 4 of us with some guests. We all had Steak and Kidney pie, it was so delicious, comfort food. Apple crumble is the best I’ve ever had. The decor is so traditional British. Lots of decorative details to take pictures of. Every tourist must visit Rules.

M. C.

Traditional British meal and excellent roast beef. Food is delicious and service was great. Good for travellers to experience the atmosphere in a historical restaurant also a treat for people live in the city.

M. F.

Incredible meal, service & overall experience. I had the special (below) with a side of roasted beats with hazelnuts. Partridge was good perfectly (medium) & the truffle parsnip complimented it very well. Special mention to the Italian waiter from Sardinia who served me (didn’t catch his name, unfortunately); I was solo dining & underdressed but he treated me like every other customer. I hope the manager/owner reads this.

V. O.

We have eaten here many times but tonight we tried the conservatory. I must say the service we received from Sam was second to none. As usual, the champagne and food were superb, but Sam made our evening. He was so attentive and a pleasure to chat to. My godmother and I would like to thank him for making our evening even better. Rules is always the best place in London, but tonight we found it had an added extra in Sam.

p. m.

Lovely restaurant, excellent food and service. Especially impressed with cocktail bar upstairs and the very clued in Bartender Jan. all in all a great night out.

M. G.

Perfect way to treat yourself in London! Rules is altogether elegant and delicious. The interior is rich and warm and the staff pampers you every minute of your stay. I had the chicken, leek and mushroom pie and oh my...it seriously melted in my mouth. My husband had the veal, which was awesome. And for dessert we (along with our friends) sampler the sticky toffee pudding, the caramel sponge and custard, and the apple lemon crumble. Topped it all off with coffee. Absolute perfection!

l. m.

We had a wonderful lunch at Rules, often billed as London's oldest resturant. The interior is fantastic, like stepping into the Victorian era with soft lights and plush carpets, the service immaculate and with bags of old school charm, but with out stiffness. You feel welcome and well looked after. I had the oysters followed by baked John Dory and asparagus, both excellent and my partner had the lamb sweetbreads followed by steak and kidney pud, which she very much enjoyed. Both deserts were also superb. After lunch we retired to the beautifully decorated upstairs bar area for post dinners drinks. I would highly recommend Rules, just be aware that it can be pricey, as you would expect from such a classy establishment, so go with a full wallet, especially if you go to the bar upstairs!

J.

Great ambiance and great food. The service is professional, if a little impersonal. It's a touch expensive for what you get but you'll have a great time.

C.

Rules never disappoints. We celebrate occasions and go with visitors, we spend nice family moments. Great traditional atmosphere. Rib of beef is a classic and crumble too. They have good game. We like to start with oysters. Hope it never changes. No children allowed in the cocktail bar (understandable) but accepted in the restaurant. Our teenagers are foodies and loved it as a treat so they behaved!

D. C.

We came here as a treat for our American friend and the service and food was top notch. It truly has so much history and the art and drawings are eclectic and fabulous. A wonderful lunch here.

J. F.

An iconic London restaurant of great age and renown, both of which is evident when dining here. Our dining experience was quite excellent, only slightly marred by this grand old restaurant's apparent relaxation of, what should be, a basic dress code. Regrettably, T-shirts, duvet jackets, trainers, etc, seem to be increasingly acceptable attire for dinner at Rules.

J. D.

Really lovely experience, I love coming here for the oysters! Lovely surroundings soaked in history. Definitely a place to experience.

p. f.

Very enjoyable dinner to celebrate a 50th birthday. Impressive wine list. Food was fantastic

N. F.

We last eat here a few years ago and to be frank were disappointed. Today was a far better experience. Attentive and polite staff served us each three superb courses. None of us could criticise any of the food. Expensive, but worth it for the experience of eating in one of central London's oldest restaurants

D. S.

It has to be good, having lasted since 1798. Incredible atmosphere, charm and an exciting menu. The Sunday Beef Roast is well worth the trip. Impeccable service but not hovering.

M. S.

Great service and good food, with traditional British game and other plates. As the oldest restaurant in London, it has a really cool and authentic ambience. Slightly pricey, but good value for money.

L. R.

Fantastic food and great service in London’s oldest restaurant. We had a beautiful table overlooking the elaborately decorated main dining room. Grouse was in season and it was expertly prepared and served. It paired quite nicely with the Pinot Noir. For the quality delivered, I consider the prices adequate.

T. A.

Rules is a special place. I have been going to Rules for many years - I think my first visit was 1984 or 1985. Rules does not really change, the quality remains superb, the food outstanding, the service personal and discreet. The food is old school British fare - done with panache and thought and really very very good ingredients. If you have time and there is room in the cocktail bar above the restaurant, it is very much worth a visit for the best cocktails I have had in London. You almost certainly will not see anyone trendy and or famous but you will have cocktails in absolute discreet luxury. I dine at Rules about eight times a year and it never, ever disappoints.

S. L.

Very Biritsh and lush establishment in the trendy covent garden area. We visited the upstairs bar area before dinner and it's a lovely conservatory with loads of trees and extensive cocktail list. Visited on a Sunday and had the beef roast for two it was amazing and proved more than enough meat! Portraits and atmosphere transport you too an old English manor house. Menu includes the game meat and sport kill. Would reccomend.

M. O.

Nice and polite staff, luxurious interior and traditional English food. I loved Roast Rib for two with Dauphinoise potatoes. The beef and gravy tasted great. The potatoes were also great!

B. G.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and had a wonderful time. We ordered everything on the menu since we couldn't decide. The pastry chef and the chef de cuisine are both talented and have perfected the art of flavour. In addition, my husband and I adore the Forge Fam's letter. Thank you for this lovely evening.

V.

Had a perfect lunch here, with great food and wonderful service. We ordered the roast rump cap of beef, and a steak and kidney pie. Both yummy. The freshly-made horseradish was something else to shout about too. Will definitely come back again.

C.

Pretty good food, but wine prices were too greedy. £40 for a bottle of wine that costs £10 in a shop.

G. L.

It would be very easy for a place like this to diminish its quality and become a lucrative gimmick. They have not done so. The food is well made. We had the beef for two, which we recommend. Ask for the horseradish on the side because you’ll be wanting more of the house made stuff. The atmosphere is preserved not only by the decor but by the atmosphere of the staff. Many of the clientele actually dress up a bit, so it may be more comfortable to meet and exceed their minimal dress code.

A. M.

Lovely traditional restaurant with a wonderful history. The pint of London Pride in a silver tankard is a wonderful experience and worth the visit all in of itself. Food is reliable. I hope that they do not rest on their laurels and and bring an element of freshness every now and then to stop things getting stale while respecting the tradition and heritage of Rules.

V. B.

While standing outside The Big Easy near London's Covent Garden, I was both intrigued and repulsed. As a native-born Louisianian, I find other culture's imitation of our unique cuisine a hit-and-miss affair, more miss than hit. Two lovely elderlyBritish ladies promptly advised me to try Rules instead, the oldest Restaurant in London, they added. This was April of 2017, and it didn't fit in my travel plans, but eight months later, I am fulfilling my wish to come to this venerable dining institution. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance enchanted me. With too many pictures, a fireplace, and enough antlers to make Gaston of Beauty and the Beast proud, the place suggests old colonial Britain, even down to its mostly foreign waiting staff, all excellent. They take your coat, hat, and any other accoutrements you bring so that you might savor the experience. Being a relatively light eater, I dined on two appetizers, beginning with the game soup and moving to a dressed crab. The soup, while a nourishing mixture of carrots, onions, beans, and various bits of game, could have used a little more flavor, but that speaks to my Cajun heritage. It fit perfectly with the chilly December weather. The Dressed Crab surprised me: a delicious mixture of crab meat mixed with a spicy mayonnaise, flanked on both sides with plain, bristling white crab meat, further flanked by cheese crumbles. This entire mix sat on a bed of salad strips, packed in a crab shell, on top of a plate of ice to keep it chilled. It was a lovely combination. I opted for the vanilla creme brulee, but regretted it slightly, partially becauseI was already full, and the sour cherries and said on top were perhaps too sour for my taste. The sugary top and the custard underneath were heavenly. (For an extra bonus, visit the bathrooms. I can't speak for the ladies, but the gents was a marble-filled experience that some may only dream of for their homes.) I heartily recommend this place, though it leans toward the pricier side. My meal gravitated toward 50 pounds, something I rarely do, but once in a while, people need to treat themselves. I suggest you treat yourself as well.

L. W.

absolutely love this restaurant. Very professional and friendly staff. Food is always amazing and the ambience is the best I've ever experienced.

J. E.

Excellent food and great atmosphere. Service was wonderful. Would thoroughly recommend.

T. M.

Do you want style, class impecable dining, Rules has it all. Big thanks to my wife for the birthday treat.

A. F.

The oldest restaurant in London. Very expensive but you go for the dining experience and the food was excellent.

M. I.

I went there without a reservation but they let me in and have great dinner. Eel and nuts-taste soup was creative. My tongue was stimulated.

H. M.

I've always had perfect meals at Rules. It's steeped in history, and I always see something new on the walls everytime I go. The service is impeccable, always discreet but attentive, and they always have time to have a quick chat if you're dining alone. The adage of 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' stands true in Rules. Their classic, unchanging dishes are cooked to perfection using recipes that clearly have stood the test of time. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable restaurant experience I'd recommend to anyone. P.s. The steak and kidney pudding is out of this world!

D. B.

Great food (prices to match) and awesome little bar upstairs.

D. S.

Excellent food and service, very friendly waiter and lovely door man. Outstanding decor, even better when we found a horse shoe from our local race course.

G. C.

The best steak and kidney pie in the world! All meat, no padding and baked to perfection. Worth the extra few minutes preparation wait. Seek this restaurant out in Covent Garden if you want to taste authentic English food.

M. W.

We wanted to experience a proper British Sunday Roast but were very disappointed by the lack of flavour in the beef rump. The jus was also very bland. Definitely not worth it for £28 no matter how pretty it looked or how polite the service was. I would have given it 2 Stars but the service and the hot ginger cake made up for it a little. I would come back for dessert, but not for £4 coffee. Disappointing, overall.

M. R.

Unchanged by the pandemic, still the best at what it does. Steak & kidney puddings are still top drawer but be sure you ask for an extra yorkshire.

N. T.

Just before we arrived at Rules, I did not know what to expect. I have seen this long-established restaurant depicted on a number of television programs, including Downton Abbey - but, still, it's always interesting to finally experience something first-hand. It was, actually, quite an intimate restaurant; it wasn't a large open room with a lot of tables. The dining area sprawled about a multi level building with a number of (if you will) cozy nooks. We went to Rules after a long day in Covent Garden, including the Royal Opera House. It was the perfect ending after a lot of great experiences. I found the staff to be quite hospitable, helpful, and welcoming. I am always concerned when I go into a fairly expensive restaurant about being treated with respect - often, we all know what it's like to be met with a pretentious staff; I did not have that feeling in the least at Rules. I was quite comfortable while we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner with perfectly-made cocktails (I had a refreshing gin and tonic). Another thing I found delightful: we weren't rushed in the least. There is nothing worse than being made to feel that you are just taking up space. I enjoyed every moment and morsel in this long-established (1798) restaurant.

J. F.

Excellent, truly superb. Easily the best dining experience I've had, would return again and have multiple times!

C. W.

Great British restaurant although I would like to see a better emphasis on that. I had their rib of beef for two which came with Yorkshire pudding and dauphinois potatoes. Could have been spectacular with roasted potatoes in beef dripping for example. Also it mentioned cabbage but there was practically only one leaf of Savoy cabbage which is laughable as it's not and expensive vegetable. It's little things like this that annoy me for the higher standard that Rules is supposed to stand for. Would come back again for sure but might have been sooner.

S. G.

If you would like experience some old fashioned English restaurant, this is it. There is doorman and dress code (no shorts). The service and food was ok. As long as you do not expect too much.

H. “. C.

It was great experience to have wonderful dinner with historical restaurant. Definitely, it will be very unusual night you can have in London! Warm and cozy atmosphere with friendly staff :) wanna go Rules again if I have any chance

S. K.

If you have friends visiting London for the first time and want to show the quintessentially English culture (and that English food can actually be delicious as opposed to the common misconception), this is the place to take them. I’ve never let my friends down here ;)

J. A.

The interior is so grand it reminds me of an era that you step through and revisit by going to rules. The flood is lovely but I do love going to the upstairs bar for a drink. There cocktails are fabulous and the service is spot on. The covered sitting area has a real exotic feel to it I got lost thinking I am having a drink in a hot climate and should be dressed in a linen suit and Panama hat.

M.

Always a friendly service and nice atmosphere. Nice wine too..

K. W.

Delighted to discover that the upstairs cocktail area had re-opened in the last few days. The Martini's were divine and the team involved, including the redoubtable Brian, were spot on.

M. C. R.

One of the Oldest restaurants in London. Good oysters and superb lamb !!! A must in London when ever you can.

T. E.

We visited to celebrate my son's graduation and it didn't disappoint. Excellent food and service. Great for a special occasion.

P. S.

Traditional dining at its best with impeccable service and a truly stunning atmosphere because sometimes only the best will do

C. R.

What an incredible restaurant. The food, service and attention to detail was outstanding!

B. B.

Great food in a great decor. Service was excellent and they have a superb Rhone valley wine selection.

P.

Every time I go to Rules, I promise myself that I'll try something different. I very often do, but there are times when all I want is the comfort of familiar surroundings, attentive staff and a kir royale, potted shrimps, then a bottle of Gevrey-Chambertain to accompany daube of venison and the best sticky toffee pudding on the planet! What would life be without Rules?!

S. G.

One of London's oldest restaurants situated on the edge of Covent garden. Serving traditional British cuisine, if you love beef then the roast is a must try for two.

M. C.

Great food and efficient friendly service, they have had some practice and forge along superbly.

S. B.

Incredible! Food and service were top notch. Highly recommended for any occasion.

Y. S.

Classic British cuisines offered here. Lovely interior and ale in the silver mug make your experience even better :)

m. p.

Pies which it is renowed for where more kidney than steak. And really not worth the money.

m. n.

Great place for carnivores although there were a couple of fish dishes. Less game dishes than historically but service was efficient and the food was rich.

T. “. H.

Faultless everything from the attentive staff to the food. Eating exquisite food in a time warp. Everybody needs to eat here at least once.

I. M.

Just had another meal at this superb restaurant. It's better than ever: my breast of pheasant was divine and my husband's daube of venison was the best we've ever had - it just gets better... Prices are up, however, but it's well worth it. They have their own estate where they get their game/meat and everything is beautifully prepared and totally delicious The staff couldn't be any better and prices, while not cheap, are more than fair. This restaurant was founded the 1700's and feel that it is an institution well worth supporting. The rooms are gorgeous - see website photos - as is everything about this place. So important to keep establishments like this going My favourite historical, traditional restaurant. Room, location, service, history and bar are wonderful - Rules ticks all the boxes! Make time to visit the first floor cocktail bar and have one of Brian Silva's heavenly cocktails. Drinks will never be the same afterwards!

M. V.

Lots of character. Good cocktail bar upstairs. The food was fine but not amazing.

l. c.

Delicious British food done exceptionally well. With fantastic service.. Delicious cocktails served here also..

S. M.

Rules is an exquisite restaurant. The food is delicious and the service is top notch. The atmosphere is so beautiful with the vibrant, plush red colors. You will be transformed into another time and it will be such an enjoyable experience. Do not visit London without dining at Rules!

L. S.

One of the most iconic places in all of London. I am always drawn to their extraordinary menu and traditional service. Just the best experience one can have! Rules sets the standard for all around luxury.

K. K.

We celebrated our daughter's 30th birthday here. Started off with lovely cocktails--an old fashioned and a blackberry gin drink that looked like a snow cone. Husband liked the bone broth starter as he was feeling a bit under the weather and it perked him up. The duck rilletes we're delicious, as we're the oysters. I ate the fish pie, and two had the veal special, and one had venison. All were divine. The desserts were scrumptious--sticky toffee pudding and the brulee-like concoction. Very nicely decorated for Christmas, comfortable, quiet, not too bright. Competent staff. Still not used to ending time on reservation, especially as they seated us late, well after 5:30 even though we arrived early, and still expected us to leave at 7:30. They didn't rush us, thankfully.

P. G.

Stunning restaurant. accomplished cuisine, outstanding service. Can be expensive £££.

W. S.

Fantastic experience, outstanding food and service, attentive but unobtrusive staff even when we were the only people left in the restaurant, didn't feel rushed at all. We will be back very soon.

E. C.

The true WOW factor at Rules! I have been wanting to dine at Rules for over a decade and after numerous trips to England, I finally made it to London's oldest restaurants. Upon my travels, I gravitate to the oldest or restaurants with history. Rules was founded in 1798 and has survived numerous reigns, wars and current food trend changes. This historical dining establishment needs to be on your culinary tour list of London, especially if you are into fine dining with a dash of history. I came in during lunch time without a reservation which is normally against my 'Rules'. Even as a solo traveler, I will make a reservation if I it is offered, that is just one of my 'Rules'. After my jacket was brought to the cloak room, I was seated promptly in one of the main dining rooms and offered a cocktail. I will never say no to a pre-dinner cocktail so I decided on The Dandy. Oh by the way, Rules is also known for their beautiful bar (upper level) and delicious cocktails- such a divine place! When it came to ordering off the menu, I decided to lunch on traditional British cuisine which entailed Split Pea soup with a touch of cream and mint for starts. It was delicious and the added cream made the soup smoother, with the hint of mint updated this traditional dish. The chicken Leek and Mushroom Pie is a definite must for those who are choosing to dine here. It is perfect and comforting and beats an American pot pie hands down. When you break open the flaky crust you will find a creamy mixture of fresh leeks, tender mushrooms and large pieces of white chicken. It is a true traditional masterpiece. When it came to desserting, I was debating but I overheard that Rules makes one of the best Sticky Toffee Puddings in London and how could I say no to that. I had no resistance and I grew that second dessert stomach. If you are not familiar with traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding it is quite different from the custard like puddings of the states. It is a heavy, rich flavorful little cake like dish served with sticky caramel and topped with nuts. It was very indulgent and I decided to take half of it back to the apartment so I could eat it later. They packed it up nicely except for the cream and it made me very happy when I snacked on it later.

T. W.

Amazing company,food,drink and staff are so friendly and welcoming .

A. “. C.

Classic Historical restaurant serving trad Brit cuisine to the more refined clientele. This isn't your run of the mill pie & mash shop. This was the destination of the upper classes in the 18th century and the dandies and ladies of the later Victorian and Edwardian era. From brasserie brunch to fine dining. If someone tells you that Britain isn't renowned for its good cuisine, just bring them here. Long may they rule.

R. S.

The bar is a hidden gem! Very professional and amiable staff. Not inexpensive but the most excellent old-school cocktails!

J. P.

Magnificent. To sit where Sayers once did and gorge on enormous, immaculate Wild Boar Pie with lashings of excellently kept wine is a real London treat. Sublime service, and buckets of character.

P. O.

Very good quality food, big portions, service perfect. Steak and kidney pudding was amazing.

R. H.

This place was beautiful. Services was great. Interior was beautiful and attractive. I liked the presentation of food. Environment was great. Perfect lighting. Staff were courteous.

P.

Wow a very old traditional restaurant with lots of character serving traditional English dishes

T. W.

Always a great pleasure to take a few cocktails here. Super service in a super setting.

B.

I've enjoyed cocktails upstairs when I've been here. However, I was disappointed when I ate here some time ago. Given the restaurant's prestige reputation, I was rather expecting it to be better. I adored the Jerusalem artichoke soup but the rest of it was was pretty average and the staff indifferent. If it wasn't for the soup I would have given two stars rather than three. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad. Just overrated and over priced for the quality. I went with someone who used to go quite a lot. He said the standard had slipped.

N. L.

Great food, service and ambience. Try the beef rib sharing platter it's amazing.

V. L.

The oldest restaurant in London. Overall service was good. The beef pie was good but the venison strogonoff was a little bit chewy.

S. K.

British restaurant with hint of French style cousin. Love the atmosphere.

M. J.

Incredible food. Would absolutely recommend to anyone. We shared a lot of plates to try different dishes which were delicious. Reasonable affordable prices.

A.

Have been going to Rules for years. Always great service, great food = what more do you need?

K. A.

What an amazing place! Just walked by n looked in n thort wow this luks amazing we thought maybe we not dressed smart enough but staff cudnt ov bin more welcoming and attentive, the choice of cocktails is impressive and well worth the money for the atmosphere service and quality and strength of the drinks first class place will definitely be top of our places to revisit wen we nxt in London x

S. R.

Wow, one of the best restaurant experiences we’ve had. Best food, service and the atmosphere/ decor are all great - highly recommended!

S. M.

Rules is a magnificent blast from the past. Steeped in history, the food is perfect, the service excellent and the ambience one of opulence and comfort. I never tire of visiting.

S. S.

The meet and greet experience was perfect. We were shown to our table and the service throughout our meal was like nothing we had experienced before. We started with potted shrimp, delicious and game soup which was a rich consomme with game finely chopped warm and filling. We then had pheasant with Savoy cabbage and a calvados cream sauce with apples and steak and kidney with a rick stock gravy. It was faultless and cannot recommend highly enough

G. H.

Still one of my favourite restaurants. Roast grouse is a particular favourite and they do it well here, as they do all game when in season. The service is very professional and suitably discreet and inside is one of the best restaurant interiors in London.

M. B.

First class afternoon tea experience. The place was truly lovely with old world charm in abundance. From the moment we arrived we were treated to excellent service and the upstairs area was just as we had hoped. Our tea started with some lovely canapes and we then had some awesome scones with lashings of clotted cream and really fruity conserve. Everything was at a very pleasant relaxed pace and our waiter really made our visit special. We will definately go again and for London prices and the quality of the food with excellent service I thought it was great value.

M. P. A.

The staff here were incredibly warm and friendly, not rushing you and making you feel very welcome. The food was authentically French and tasted incredible, with the specials being particularly worth trying. Excellent selection of wine to accompany too. I ate here twice in a week as a solo diner and was given as much time/attention as a table of 4, which was greatly appreciated. For me it was like eating in France and I very much look forward to visiting again when I am in the area.

J. N.

Food I had was poor, steak and kidney pie and a few chips.

M. N.

I loved my experience here! Was welcomed very warmly and loved walking through the restaurant to our seat- the decorations are fabulous. The Christmas ambiance adds a little extra! I had the roast beef for 2 and it was incredible. The Yorkshire pudding is massive, and the potatoes were just incredible. The cabbage was ok, but I bet for cabbage it was probably good. They also have incredible horseradish sauce. It was a bit strange that they served me my wine before the others received their cocktails-was a bit awkward. I would have preferred them to have waited and served it at the same time. Overall, would recommend going during the holidays for the extra decor and ambiance. If you cannot get a reservation online, call and see if you can pop in for a pre-theater dinner, as they allowed us a spot this way as long as we left by a certain time. I would allow for 2.5 hours with drinks, salad, entree and dessert, as our 2 hours was a bit rushed.

A. J.

Attended for a promotion dinner celebration and was extremely impressed. The food was unbelievably good, especially the champagne cheese cake. The service was faultless and was well worth the more expensive price. Would definitely recommend for dinner or afternoon tea if you are in London.

T. E.

Whenever we know that we will be in town we always make an advanced table booking at Rules, it's our favourite eatery and standards are always impeccable. The food is beyond compare as far as I am concerned, really great British fare perfectly prepared and the wine list is exquisite. Overall a visit to Rules is an unmissable experience to be savoured like a fine wine. We'll be back!

I. L.

First class afternoon tea experience. The place was truly lovely with old world charm in abundance. From the moment we arrived we were treated to excellent service and the upstairs area was just as we had hoped. Our tea started with some lovely canapes and we then had some awesome scones with lashings of clotted cream and really fruity conserve. Everything was at a very pleasant relaxed pace and our waiter really made our visit special. We will definately go again and for London prices and the quality of the food with excellent service I thought it was great value.

A. v. C.

What a remarkable restaurant! The décor is old-school and wonderful, like you would expect from London's oldest restaurant, naturally. The menu is old-school and wonderful. The service is excellent. It's a place where every aspect makes you think, "They don't make 'em like that anymore." What's more, for a posh restaurant, it won't break the bank. You can get away with £50 a head, which is reasonable, especially given the quality of the cuisine. Yummy!

C. W.

Honestly the best restaurant I’ve been too in terms of service, food and overall experience. Cocktail bar upstairs is an absolute must. We will be back. Don’t live in London but will stay overnight just for a return visit. Fantastic.

P. G.

The beautiful bulging steak and kidney pudding means I will never be able to face a supermarket version ever again. Great restaurant.

S. P. O. D.

We were hired to photograph an event at the Rules - really loved the atmosphere. Friendly staff, amazing food and drinks, lovely decor - totally recommend!

A. M.

A dining experience not to be missed! A throwback to the great steak clubs of the Georgian era, this truly handsome restaurant is one of those rare things that live up to the hype. One of my favourite places in the world to dine and enjoy great conversation with friends.

R. B.

We ate here during our trip to London, and my wife still talks about Rules. The ambiance and decor are very old word British and cool. The service is exceptional, and the staff was very helpful explaining the menu. The food was outstanding. We had the rabbit and lamb for dinner and they were phenomenal. There's a reason this place has been open forever. The whole experience was fantastic. We will definitely make sure to visit again on our next trip to London.

C. S.

Superb👌

A. M.

One of my most memorable restaurants in London. I've only been twice but it was a wonderful experience both times. The cocktail bar upstairs is perfect for a drink (or two) before eating. The restaurant itself is beautiful...... it feels historical, sumptuous and laid back all at the same time. It feels like a quintessentially British type of place in the best possible way. The food is delicious although very meat oriented....lots of game dishes, meat dishes, pies and so forth. The roast beef looked amaaazing. I hope I get to go again!!!

M. B.

Just the perfect antidote to all those generic restaurants serving the same cuisine. The food is wonderful and imparts such a sense of well being (try the steak and kidney pudding). The ambiance couldn't be warmer or more welcoming and the service is just spot on (attentive but never intrusive). This is my favourite restaurant of all time, full of history and the genuine article.

A. J.

This was proper old fashioned dining. The perfect setting, the history of the restaurant everything about it was perfect. From the greeting by the immaculately dressed doorman and the service by our waiter. The food was top class,the beer in the silver tankard was a special touch overall a perfect Sunday lunch

J. U.

As always great staff very welcoming and helpful, can't go wrong with the Steak and Kidney pudding! Game menu is also very good, with great wines to accompany. Plus don't forget the Stilton and huge basket of biscuits. What's not to love, many thanks.

I. I.

Really lovely place - excellent for special occasions.r

S. D.

Impeccable. Couldn't rate this place higher. Outstanding. Service is wonderful. Food is spectacular. You'll feel like royalty. Just go, its worth it!

P. C.

Were happy to accommodate me as a sole diner without a reservation, but informed me I would have only 90 minutes which was acceptable. To the detriment of its prestige, the venue does not appear to enforce a dress code, mixed in with the majority of diners dressed formally were guests in t-shirts and even a couple still wearing their coats and scarves during their entrée. Food was pleasant, the partridge was particularly enjoyable, however I have a justifiably high expectation of service at a fine dining establishment and unfortunately the service at rules was found wanting. I did not find the staff especially attentive, enthusiastic, or engaging and experienced a long wait between courses. The icing on the cake was the expectation of a gratuity which, whilst voluntary, was automatically included on the bill, a practice becoming commonplace in London but no less vulgar. The staff were visibly displeased when I elected not to pay the gratuity, if the service is exceptional you will receive a tip but do not expect it by default.

C. E.

"Oldest restaurant in London" appears to be going along swimmingly! Fantastic service. Classic menu. The food was great. We had lamb, suckling pig, Dover sole, and crab salad as mains at our table. Cocktails before dinner, upstairs at the winter garden is a must.

G. L.

Rules is outstanding - it was a rare occasion out dining where each dish was truly perfect. I would recommend the Venison and Veal for mains, along with the potatoes dauphinoise as a side. This potato dish might be the best potato side we've ever had. The service is exceptional, prompt, and friendly - it's not a stuffy restaurant. The best discovery is the Winter Garden Cocktail Bar - it's such a beautiful room. Get a cocktail there before dinner.

J. P.

Celebrating my friends 71st and my 70th birthdays. Lovely treat. Friendly,helpful staff. Food absolutely fabulous. Lovely choice of cocktails, spirits and wines. Make sure you have a light breakfast if you go for lunch!!

D. B.

We dined here yesterday and I have to say this was the best dining experience i've ever had. The staff are brilliant, friendly and welcoming and full of knowledge. The premises are excellent, you can feel the history in there. The food is exquisite as was the Bourgogne wine. If you really want to see what GOOD dining is about then you need to go here. I will return.

T. W.

The food is top notch as is the service. Will be visiting again.

T.

Historic! A must visit when in town and with a hungry belly! Simply the best dining experience in the world

A. G.

Wonderful restaurant with history, atmosphere and great service.. perfect for a special occasion. Menu is unashamedly very traditional, hearty English fare not in line with modern "fine" dining. Make sure you are hungry before going. Only 4* is perhaps too harsh but at the prices I found the dishes I had while very enjoyable not quite top notch.. Overall though a great experience and if you have the money to spare and are not looking for modern fine dining pretty much one for the bucket list.

A. G.

Went in for Valentine's Day dinner with wife and the experience was awesome. The staff is top notch and the food was awesome. We had the scallops and venison and it was some of the best I've tasted in my travels. If you are looking for great food with excellent service, look no further.

D. d. C.

A special lunch with grouse and partridge in this historical place. Warm atmosphere, traditional cuisine, attentive service, slightly uncomfortable yet intimate seating, Rules remains exactly what you expect and why you go there for.

C. C.

A must. Upscale and quite. Great food and drinks. Ask about the door.

C. p.

Amazing... can not fault this place. Never tasted food like it.. out of this world.. service was perfect. Everything was just calm, relaxed, comfortable. This placed deserved 100 stars.. best restaurant I've ever been too..

G. F.

This is a place of outstanding beauty, a decadent paradise that delivers a divine culinary experience. I can't wait to go again.........

C. B.

On November 10th, 2019 I was on holiday in London and thought to make reservations to dine at Rules. I thought I would experience the history and Bill of fare in this long establish institution in London. I'm very pleased and delighted to inform you of the great experience at Rules ! They had a wonderful array of classic English dishes to choose from. Starters such as oysters, terrines, and soups, mains such as beef , game and seafood and finally puddings. Whilst items maybe expensive, but really well worth the dining experience !

G. T.

The Best of British A jewel in the crown of British cuisine, fantastic food, amazing presentation, good service and steeped in history. The ambience is spectacular and the roof top bar is sensational. A must visit for a cocktail or extraordinary dining experience. Good value for money 🇬🇧

D. J.

From the doorman outside to moment we left, this is a class place. Historical and rightly reserved, this is no place to take those Instagram snaps! Food was wonderful, good, wholesome and well done but not pretentious AND it was very good value compared to many places we have eaten. Not cheap but good value for two adults taking a main course and a pudding. Quality of service by staff was wonderful. It was a pleasure to watch how behaved & carried themselves as they attended other diners. London Pride ale in a silver tankard and leaf tea in a pot with legs may sound OTT but it makes for a fine experience. Treat yourselves to a show and meal afterwards (eat first and you may doze off in show!) and with a cocktail bar upstairs and last food orders at 23.45 Rules is a super place to finish the evening. Absolutely recommended.

O. A.

Beautiful historic restaurant. They deliver on the food. Our waiter was knowledgeable and did a great job describing many of the dishes. All the food was superb! And how comforting that, on Saturday when we last visited, they were still serving an old fashioned G and T in a long glass. Top class.

O. A.

Amazing food Been better drinks Love the history here The winter garden is awesome

B. M.

Well, it is awesome in its status as the oldest bar in London. The decor is amazing. But it is very expensive and staff did not seem to want to cater to tourists. They would not accept our large group of 10 and we had to break down to smaller groups of two's and fours. Rather a frustrating experience even with the excellent food Just my experience.

C. F.

Well, it is awesome in its status as the oldest bar in London. The decor is amazing. But it is very expensive and staff did not seem to want to cater to tourists. They would not accept our large group of 10 and we had to break down to smaller groups of two's and fours. Rather a frustrating experience even with the excellent food Just my experience.

B. H.

This place is awesome for so many reasons. You step into another world, old English to the core. If you want to experience true British cuisine, completely untouched from the Jamie Olivers of this world, go here. Service is stiff and friendly as you would expect. The food is really great. Overall a hilarious dinner experience (I mean that very positive). Been that 4-5 times and will happily go again.

G. A.

Amazing setting .. very English and regal. .food dies not warrant the price we had the rules hand reared steak. . Most of it was chewy and no flavour. .38 EACH. . Not worth it .. ambience was amazing .. upstairs bar was just lovely .. staff were extremely professional well spoken and attentive ..although I asked if I could sample the soup and was told no as the portions were all calculated. . I did have to laugh .. would definitely go to the bar upstairs but wouldn't eat there again .. to expensive for just above average food !!!

S. S.

The oldest ongoing restaurant in London ! The place was everything we hoped for and more, so lovely with old fashion charm in abundance. Menu is classic British. Food quality is phenomenal and well cooked. Iconic and must try restaurant in London.

I. S.

This review will be quite long and cover two aspects of what makes up Rules - the bar and the restaurant. I happen to visit the bar more often than the restaurant so that review will come first. If you want the latter review just scroll down till the next paragraph break. The bar at Rules is spectacular in many ways. Most obviously is that it is headed by Brian Silva, which is a reason to visit in itself. However, the bar team in it’s entirety is absolutely phenomenal in every way that one would look at a standalone bar team, let alone the team of a bar above a “famous restaurant”. Every member of staff is amazingly courteous and professional and drinks are perfectly made by anyone residing behind that hardwood bar. I have made this my usual spot over a number of contenders, in spite of higher prices, and because of the service and genuine attention one gets when walking through the doors here. Now for the restaurant. This is a special place for me for a numerous reasons. Mainly so, this is where some of my favourite meals took place over the years, but generally so the atmosphere and service are spectacular. For the food itself - it’s marvellous, game is the highlight of course but you can find something for everyone, as long as they are okay with very classic british approach to it. I wish I could eat at Rules as often as I want to, but perhaps leaving this gem of a place to special occasions is better fitting for what it stands for and what you get from it every time.

A. W.

I was looking for a true English meal and Rules, with its old world atmosphere and menu did not disappoint. I finally had a meat pie (steak & kidney) w/ a wonderful gravy that was obviously kitchen made, and mushy peas (if your on holiday & not tasted mushy peas try it). Along with a nice port it was just what I was looking for and not unreasonably priced given the posh surroundings and service. Recommended for English cuisine.

A. S.

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London and it has fantastic decor with pictures of their previous customers. There is a beautiful conservatory where one can sit for drinks. Their specialty is game and each of us tried a different one, all of which were good. The desserts are to-die-for. Good service.

A. B.

I made reservations for my birthday for lunch. We ordered the venison shank and had a carafe of wine recommended by the sommelier. Our meal was very well prepared. We ordered dessert, sticky toffee pudding. This was the only letdown. The caramel was burnt which spoilt the dish I was very happy with our dining experience at Rules.

D. P.

Service was great but food was overall below average for the price (main course). Steak too dry. Dessert was good, otherwise would have given 2 stars or less.

H. B.

We didn't have a reservation, but managed to score a table by the bar in between watching Harry Potter play 1 & 2. It was barely 5:30 PM on Sunday and their Sunday Roast was almost gone! Loved the food and loved the service; our server was awesome in giving us recommendations and the heads up about the Sunday Roast. Had some delicious beer (no drafts here), and ordered the bone marrow (amazing!), french fries (nothing extraordinary), tomato salad (super flavorful), house smoked salmon (fresh quality), grilled lobster roll (really delicious). Overall, loved everything we ordered and would absolutely come back here again!

L. D.

Celebrated my birthday here - it's a fabulous place but quite pricey - perfect for a celebratory meal as the food and atmosphere are superb. Would love to return but may need to save the pennies first. Staff are extremely attentive throughout and I felt truly spoiled. Highly recommend.

J. S.

Had an amazing dinner here on a Monday evening. Wonderful decor with attentive and friendly staff. The food was spectacular, game is the specialty here, the pheasant and the wild boar was delicious. Highly recommended if you want to experience a proper English restaurant that has maintained high standards for many years.

L. M.

Me and my partner got very stomachaches after we had our dinner here..

M. T.

Quintessential British cooking in Covent Garden. Pricey but great service and fantastic food

D.

This is absolutely the Best you can dream of a British restaurant 👍 zero complaints, very delicious and perfectly prepared dishes (big sizes btw), an incredible atmosphere in these rooms but the best (really best) are the waiters! This is the benchmark of service for any other restaurant... you seriously feel treated like a king... thanks to the whole team of rules for an incredible evening

j. d.

London's oldest restaurant is also one of it's tastiest. If you're looking for classic, well cooked , well priced English cuisine this the place to go. The upstairs bar is also great for cocktails or whisky.

M. L.

Truly british. Great decore. Loved the food. Full of history

M. W.

The most perfect example of an English restaurant. No, you won't find exciting modern dishes fusing this cuisine with that. You won't find young people with handheld devices that tell them what to say. But you will find excellent, courteous service the old fashioned way and a menu that fits. Ambience is a mixture of private club and your grandparents drawing room. Crisp linen and a barman who stops to chat. All fine and traditional, if that's what you want. And if you want trendy wine bar you won't have far to walk...

E. O.

Absolutely the best in English cuisine and wonderful service .

C. H.

Timeless, Elegant, Delicious. A hidden gem of a restaurant in central London. But it is more than that, it's living history. Think of all who have eaten there, what they discussed - the list is long and gilded. The restaurant is intimate and it is adorned with the most wonderful artwork and curios. The staff are quick, professional and attentive. The food is mainly game from the restaurant's own land in the north of England which guarantees a wonderful fresh tasting dish. I would have given this review 5 stars however, the exterior fails the interior. If one stand's outside the restaurant for more than a moment one notices there is always a smell of vomit which having notified the restaurant's manager he simply said that they have no control what happens outside the confines of the restaurant. I also noticed that the railings outside the restaurant are always dusty and unclean to which I, again, notified the restaurant manager for his reply to say the same as before, that they have no control what happens outside. One last observation is that when the regular doorman is not there, one of his stand in's has not been up to the Rules standard. If you can forgo the latter irritations you will simply adore this restaurant.

Z. Q.

Beautiful historic restaurant. They deliver on the food. Our waiter was knowledgeable and did a great job describing many of the dishes. All the food was superb! Highly recommendable if you want to try a piece of how it used to be in Britain!!

A. R.

The oldest restaurant in London and maintains a traditional atmosphere although the restaurant did have to expand into the building next door which is not so old. You would never notice on the inside. Amazing service from the moment you enter. The portions of the food are surprisingly good for the price. The food is great, specially during hunting season as it specialises in game and seasonal produce.

M. G.

For the price, wait, overall quality of the food, and fact the you need (are recommended) to have a reservation, you'd expect a lot more. The menu offers a variety of tasty dishes, some of which are pretty good, but not worth writing home about - except, perhaps, to explain the bill.

C. C.

I liked it. Probably the oldest restaurant in continuous operation in London and an historic landmark. The decorations and decor in the restaurant are notable and historic as well, with pictures of the many celebrities and notables that have dined there over the years. The restaurant serves quintessential British Crusine, especially game and fowl. Exceelnt staff and wait service which you would expect at this type of place. My only "not exceptional" comment and reason for 4 stars is that it is quite expensive for the type of fare. Maybe it has to be due to the location and History, but a lot of competition in the area offer better dining at more reasonable prices so you get the feeling that they are taking advantage of their situation. However, the place is usually packed and you must have reservations, so perhaps it's justified. In any case, highly recommended.

H. C.

The oldest restaurant in London. We had a client lunch here and the food was amazing!

W.

A wonderful British experience with fantastic cuisine and good service.

E. W.

I'm always very excited to visit this place, because of its age and history. Rules is one of the most popular restaurants in UK, not only in London. The food is great - always freshly prepared and superbly presented. The Butler Steak definitely deserves a mention. The drinks selection is also extensive and features wines from all the major regions of the world. Highly recommend this place.

W. C.

My favourite London restaurant. It has exceptionally attentive and well dressed staff, a large range of classic British game dishes on the menu and London Pride served in chilled silver tankards (as well as a very well stocked cocktail bar). On top of that the whole establishment is steeped in history, much of which is literally on the walls. For me, the more I know about Rules, the more interesting it becomes.

M. W.

A lovely restaurant. The food is incredible and the service is even better! So attentive but not overbearing. They really do go above and beyond to make it an incredible dining experience. Thank you so much for a lovely evening!!

F. H.

Dinner at Rules is always a sublime experience! The staff is ever so friendly, the food is delightful, and the interior design probably has not been changed since Napoleon's invasion of Egypt. Glorious!

B. S.

Good service, average food for the price. Nice little cocktail area upstairs. Oldest restaurant in London (200+ years old) but doesn't really make the most of this uniqueness.

I. D.

It's like stepping back in time, all the tradition that you expect is provided by professional staff, friendly informative and great fun, the food was excellent as was the portions, too much in some cases. I had a fantastic birthday night dinner with family and friends, couldn't fault the place, thank you Rules.

E. A.

Top-notch service, excellent atmosphere and overall a great experience, but the roasted whole duck was very tough and difficult to eat with the excessively dull steak knife provided. The food was good, but given the prices I expected a bit more. Still a good restaurant, and basically a one-of-a-kind experience, but the food wasn't the star of the show in our case unfortunately.

I. M.

Impressed with this place - supposedly London's oldest restaurant. The atmosphere was lovely and the food superb. The service was impeccable. Do try their cocktails too

O. I.

Fantastic restaraunt! Staff are professional and make you feel special, but not in an overbearing way. Food was lovely and I tried food that I've always wanted to try, but never had the chance. Such a great feeling knowing you're in the oldest restaraunt in London. This really made my Christmas 😊😊😊

E. M.

It is a fancy restaurant. I always wanted to visit this place. Sometimes we need exciting experiences, don't we? Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. He politely asked us a couple of times: Is everything ok? or Do we need of something else? He recommended us many dishes. We could not resist the temptation and decided to order two pieces of their fabulous Moist Chocolate & Hazelnut Cake! I just have no words. Fascinating place with unique menu. Exceeded all my expectations!

H. B.

The oldest restaurant in London certainly lived up to its fantastic reputation. Lovely decor and attentive staff. Had the most amazing steak I have ever had in my life! Will definitely visit again next time I am in London.

N. R.

Perfect food and place! I was so satisfied with the service because your staves were so friendly and speedy. I can say that you trained them to become more attentive to what would be the customer needs.

C. J.

Never fails to impress. Wonderful staff, perfect food. Every visit is special.

A. J.

Great venue to experience British food. Staff was friendly and attentive, as well as well informed and trained. Premises and facilities were very clean. Was very busy for a Tuesday night, after the theatre. Uncertain if a reservation is required, however, I would certainly advise having one.

P. F.

Really interesting, real old fashioned English food + Nice and friendly staff, very interesting history of this Restaurant. Prices correct. Before you go there don't eat!! Well recommended.

J. W. -. G.

Proper rah rah this. You'll love it.

B.

The atmosphere was great and nice and cosy. However the smoked salmon was quite salty. My daughter came back home and complained that it was very salty. My game menu wasn't very good either so returned it. The kidney pie was just not tasty. However probably it is just my opinion. The staff were kind and good experience for perhaps....once...

m. g.

Superb grouse dinner I hadn't been to Rules for a while, but always remembered it fondly Dinner on a Monday night early September was a delight, starting in the bar with an expertly mixed (very generous) modern negroni. Walk down the somewhat steep stairs into the atmospheric dining room, menus bought, perfect oysters on ice and smoked salmon with a very good producers Sancerre. Claret was bought and decanted to enjoy with the grouse and I must say one of the most delicious that I have eaten, roasted with considerable skill all the classic accoutrements a joyous dinner excellent service, welcome and hospitality, a joy.

C. C. G.

It's worth it. The oldest restaurant in London lives up to what you expect from it. From the doorman that greets you the moment you arrive to the kind and attentive waiters. I've only ever been in game season but the food was spectacular, the restaurant has a true quintessentially British charm to it, and will not let you down.

N. G.

Cocktails were great, food was delicious. Very classy joint.

D. S.

Positive experience. I never miss the opportunity to go there when I'm in town for work. I am always impatient to taste something different. The budget for a dinner (including wine) is around 80 pounds per head. I recommend the Rib of Beef for 2 with Dauphinoise Potatoes. Delicious and just the right amount of spicey. Great decor and atmosphere to the restaurant, you'll enjoy for sure.

G. H. G. C.

My dad used to take me here when I was little. I went again maybe some 35 years later, took my husband for his birthday. What a fabulous place.T he oldest restaurant in London. We had the most wonderful meal (rib of beef) the most exquisite wines the ambiance is second to none. This is my most favorite place.

J. H.

Food wonderful as ever. Fantastic evening out catching up with my friend. Impeccable service from start to finish. Highly recommend dining at this historic and iconic restaurant. British dining at its best.

A.

Lovely food, lovely atmosphere, wonderfully attentive staff. Relaxed yet elegant. A real showcase of British food in London. The new palm room in the cocktail bar is wonderful!

M. M.

Love the dining room. The food is good not great for price. Savoy Grill same price zone 10X better. Has beef rib for 2 with son. Horseradish sauce was amazing. Husband did not like lamb chops with anchovies. Starters were ok—potted shrimp (eh) and gravlax (ok) which waiter described both incorrectly. Desserts were good—Victoria sponge and lemon cheesecake. Could not understand what Queens Pudding was from waiter’s poor description. Service was not very good. We sat with dirty plates for 10-20 minutes between each course. They said we could “have” the table for 2 hours. It took 3 hours to get out of there due to slow service as described. Ludicrous. needs better training for a high end expensive restautant.

B. Y.

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London and is steeped in tradition. It is not simply trading on history and remains an exceptional restaurant serving traditional English fare. The last visit I started with the pea soup, which was fine but not excellent. I then had the suckling pig, which came hoof and all. It was tender and well portioned. Beer selection is poor but the wine list is fairly strong. Although the restaurant is fancy I did not experience the snooty, obnoxious service mentioned in other reviews. To the contrary, our server could not have been more pleasant.

T. P.

My fiance and I are really fond of travelling, exploring places and all other adventures and last week we visited Rules Restaurant. The food here was really great. Dina enjoyed the fresh food and warm service. The drinks selection was also good!

D. T.

Food won't blow you away. But it's good quality and filling. Very good wine selection. An amazing Sticky toffee Pudding

A. W.

Old fashioned, quality establishment, top food, lovely environment. Beef rib is superb. 3 of us dined, with 3 courses, wine and service came to £300.

S. H. M.

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London and is steeped in tradition. It is not simply trading on history and remains an exceptional restaurant serving traditional English fare. The last visit I started with the pea soup, which was fine but not excellent. I then had the suckling pig, which came hoof and all. It was tender and well portioned. Beer selection is poor but the wine list is fairly strong. Although the restaurant is fancy I did not experience the snooty, obnoxious service mentioned in other reviews. To the contrary, our server could not have been more pleasant.

F. A.

London's oldest restaurant and one of my favourites. To me, if you were to combine an old English pub, an upmarket Victorian dining room and an antiques arcade - and add a whiff of English eccentricity - Rules would be the result. Truly unique, superb food and fantastic service - well worth a visit.

L. L.

The service was great and food was amazing! We had a really good time eating there. It's a little pricey but definitely worth the splurge. We had the rabbit, steak, venison and all were delicious.

R. S.

Amazing place. Really good food, perfect service. The steak and kidney pie is the best I've ever had and if you ask for the stilton you get a whole cheese wrapped in a napkin with 2 spoons to dig it out. There's also an excellent wine list.

J. P.

Food excellent, service thinks it is excellent but actually isn't - handing v hot plates to diners not good idea; adding slimline mixer to gin while hiding label not great; topping up diner's glass who'd already indicated they want no more wine not great either. All in all, formal service fine- but not as cover for thoughtlessness. And of course £££s.

V. S.

Very welcoming! Lovely first floor bar with amazing cocktails for pre dinner drinks Warm and comfortable atmosphere Service is very tentative and quick Dinner is divine Gorgeous menu I had eel for starter and duck for main Both totally delicious will definitely be back xx

M. B.

This is the best place in London for a relaxing meal, the food is fantastic, the service is wonderful and nothing is to much trouble. I have been coming here for years and will continue to do do.

j. o.

You will never go to another restaurant like this. . Great service ,food and sumptuous quirky decor . Love this place. They have now extended the bar upstairs. Cocktails are amazing

D. W.

Splendid and very English restaurant, my steak and kidney pudding was cooked very well. Place looks very fancy but the atmosphere is relaxed. The cocktail bar upstairs is also excellent.

m. i.

Always wanted to go here and was not disappointed. Oozes history. Decorated beautifully for Christmas. The wait staff were so professional and attentive. I had the steak and kidney pudding with oyster topper and gravy on the side (dont bother with the oyster, doesnt add anything to the pudding). The meat melted in my mouth and the suet pastry was perfect. I also ordered a side of creamy mash, green beans and bacon and crushed root veg (aka carrot & turnip). It was enough food for 2 but I polished it all off, lol. A tankard of black velvet (champage & guiness) completed the meal. Bill came to £68 inc VAT & service ( but I added extra), which for me living in Dubai was not that much for a 5* restaurant. Loved it and hope to go again one day.

S. G.

This restaurant gives you everything you need for a great evening. The ambiance is nice, the service is top level efficient and the food is delicious. I won’t recommend particular meal because everything I have tried is excellent. What I will give as advice is to go there very hungry and don’t skip a course. The deserts are lovely.

A. W.

We booked a table 1 hour in advanced, and still got a table very near the entrance. The place was incredibly well-docrated, with impressively framed paintings, statues, and trophy antlers covering every surface. We felt very underdressed, thinking that smart-casual would be enough but seeing everyone else in quite formal clothing. We were seated, slightly embarrassed, by a very posh host, who introduced us to our equally posh waiter. The menu had a good variety but was fairly simple, and just by looking at the titles my family and I knew there was no way we could finish a three-course meal. Therefore, we each ordered either one or two courses, and the waiter gave us the impression that he has never seen anyone not order a starter. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't rude or snooty or anything, he just looked a bit surprised. There was no bread prior to the meal, which I was a bit surprised by. When my steak and kidney pie arrived, I was absolutely delighted. It is plainly the best I've ever had, and I managed to stuff the whole thing down despite me being full half way through. All in all, the only downsides was me not knowing the dress code, feeling slightly cheap for not being able to finish a three course meal, and of course not being seated upstairs.

J. R.

Lovely restaurant serving mainly game dishes. The food is divine and tastes amazing! Afterwards head up stairs to the Winter Garden to finish your evening with a cocktail or two.

M. M.

Although Rules is without a doubt a London experience for anyone who hasn’t been, my personal finding is the food is not always to the standard it ought to be. It is a busy restaurant and obviously lives on its reputation. The waiters tend to be on high alert and it gives the customer a sense of slight discomfort. ( my opinion and feeling)

T. M.

Historic restaurant that delivers the best dishes, top class British food. The Irish oysters were delicious and the grouse was bloody and rich, thank you to your magnificent chef. Like

K. M.

An outstanding looking place, taking you back in time with the decor, service and meals were very pleasant, I had a Chicken and Leek pie and apple crumble for dessert, my wife had Venison but she found it a tad overcooked, apart from that, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will call back again, excellent Covid-19 safety in place

T. R.

First visit and love it! Steak and kidney pudding mashed potato cabbage with London Pride in a Silver mug! What's not to like? Great service great English fare in one of London's oldest restaurant.

S. W.

Irish oysters were delicious, washed down with a shiney silver tankard of black velvet. The grouse was bloody and rich. British food at its best. The wine list did not disappoint. We tried both ends.

B. M.

Delicious Sunday lunch following a cocktail in the upstairs bar. Meal, drinks, service all excellent and very friendly. Roast potatoes and horseradish get a distinguished mention.

J. M.

Enjoyed the bar more than the restaurant. The bar staff was friendly and welcoming; the restaurant not so much. It's hard to feel welcome when the first thing out of.your host's mouth is a warning about when you are required to give up your reserved table.

S. M.

My son and I stumbled upon Rules by chance as we were looking for a place for him to try a proper meal of roast beef and yorkshire pudding. It was probably one of the best meals I have ever had all the way down to the creamed spinach! Thank you Rules for helping make a memorable afternoon!

A. B.

Service, atmosphere and the waiters are amazing! Stunning treatment and utmost delicious food to compliment the rest. Highly recommendable if you want to try a piece of how it used to be in Britain

L. V. H.

Lots of history, excellent menu, impeccable service, charming ambiance....a must while in London. Intimate dining at a heritage restaurant. This was my 1st Choice and we savored the exceptional presentation of several game dishes.

L. H.

One of the best meals I have eaten in London. The food is pricey, however for a special night out with friends it is worth the cost. The food met everyone of our very high expectations. However, the two bottles of wine we bought cost about as much as dinner for 6.

g. r.

A classic, British restaurant, Rules is a lovely place for a celebratory dinner. It feels really festive and has a certain class. Serves British food - my fave is the fish and chips and they have a great cocktail menu too!

M. T.

Great traditional British food with exceptional game often from their own estate and reared to very high welfare standards. A real joy to settle in on a cold evening for a long meal - don't miss the Stilton cheese.

S. P.

Food wonderful as ever. Fantastic and perfect evening out catching up with my friend. Love this place and will recommend to all friends. Highly recommend dining at this historic and iconic restaurant.

J. S.

A brilliant place for a special dinner with my husband. A warm and inviting setting. Great selection of old school British puddings. Yum! Only issue was that we were sat by the kitchen prep area so clanking sound of cutlery and plates meant it was quite loud.

A. R.

Great food, traditional English at a very high standard. This place requires a booking most of the time but if you show up at the door you might get lucky. The Prices reflect the quality of food and are not to be taken lightly.

T. K.

My wife and I visited in September 2019, the food was superb, the service was outstanding, just a really great please. We truly enjoyed it!

H. G.

One of my favourite places. It's special.....RULES please come back?! Once we are out of this mess.....! 🙏

I. U.

It feels historical, sumptuous and laid back all at the same time. It feels like a quintessentially British type of place in the best possible way. The food is delicious.

B. D.

I was last here when I was 12 - 42 years ago and an evening still remembered with fondness. I've dreamed of returning ever since! Last night's meal was a retirement gift from colleagues, using a pre-paid voucher from the restaurant, delivered on-line. We worried that the reality could never live up to the "bucket list dream". The reality exceeded both dream and memories! Rules is proud of it's history, and rightly of it's cooking: traditional British food of the highest calibre. Each of my three dishes probably had no more than 4 ingredients. Ingredients of the highest quality, cooked with skill and served perfectly. The "food spoke for itself" and what it said was that Rules is unique and does not disappoint! If you want "tweezered food" don't go to Rules. If you want the distillation of centuries of cooking experience, shared by the famous, the infamous and by you and me in an incontrovertibly British ambiance, there is no finer place to visit!

Z. H.

Incredible service, incredible food, incredible atmosphere. Portions are larger than I'd expected for a 'posh' restaurant, and the prices are fairly reasonable for the quality and quantity of the meals.

A. W.

Love it. Not cheap, but just brilliant.

N. T.

Excellent food and top notch service. English food, pies, fish, steaks etc. Great wines and a fabulous experience. Waiter service is superb, very attentive. I believe this is the oldest restaurant in London

D. H.

As usual outstanding, service and food was amazing, if you’ve never been, go, it’s an experience.

A. G.

Out of my normal price range but the food was fantastic in every way. I can't fault it or the attention given to us by the staff. The restaurant itself has to be seen as it has it's own story to tell.

C. M.

Being the oldest restaurant in London oozing tradition and custom, this is a great place to dine. Make sure you as for a "booth" or if not book well in advance and try one of their private dining rooms. The cocktail bar upstairs is expensive but quality is priceless! Also, gents who like a beer - make sure you ask for yours served in a traditional tankard!

C. U. -. C.

We ate Sunday lunch at Rules on 7 February to celebrate my Big birthday. This was not the first time we have dined in this beautiful restaurant but it was the first time I was disappointed with the food. Plates were lukewarm, as was the food. Roasted Meat was difficult to cut and roasted potatoes were somewhat strange. At £200 for two courses for three with a bottle of Wine and water, one should expect perfection. Being bought up not to complain in public , to avoid embarrassment I kept quite. However, the service was second to none. Shall look elsewhere to dine when se next visit London.

J. K.

Excellent atmosphere and service in this traditional British restaurant. The specialities are hunt meat, though I favored their deserts. The only downsides are that the food, while good, isn't really the best I've had, and the place is quite expensive.

G. B.

Love Rules Restaurant. Start with a Rules House Cocktail in the upstairs cocktail bar; white jacketed cocktail waiters, plush carpet, red velvet chairs, and coloured glass windows - cosy & charming of a winter evening. Grouse off the bone with a glass of house Cote du Rhone in the cosy dining room completes the evening. All staff are friendly and formal creating a civilised yet non-stuffy environment - it's a joy. The oldest restaurant in London. The best restaurant in London. You can't go wrong at Rules.

A. W.

My work colleagues and I stopped by for a post-theatre drink after seeing Kinky Boots. We were intrigued, because we knew it is THE oldest restaurant in London. And, because it was featured in Downtown Abbey. For fans, this was the place where Lady Edith met her newspaper editor. As for the drinks, a very costly £13.95. Ouch! The decor was interesting - as if it was stuck in a time warp. It is quaint, and cozy nonetheless. I probably will be back to try dinner. Update: I DID go there for dinner just a few days later as a random thought. Our party arrived late at 9:30 pm, so we just had to wait 15 minutes for a table and had drinks upstairs to keep ourselves amused. Dinner was fab! My companions had the lamb, and steak and ale pie. I had the stilton onion tart for dinner. All were very well presented. Service was superb. The lemon meringue was excellent, providing a great combination of sweet and tart. Tip: Look at the art and pictures on the walls closely. They all tell a story. Find the Maggie Thatcher mural commissioned by the restaurant. Also see if you can find the menu signed by Commander Alan Shepherd the second astronaut and first American that travelled to space. On it he writes "If only we had Rules on the moon". One more thing. Read the fine print on the menu: " game dishes may contain lead shots". Amusing, but yikes!

K. M.

good staff, nice atmosphere, delicious food!

D. H.

My "go-to" restaurant in Central London. Steeped in history (it's London's oldest restaurant that's still standing, over 200 years old) and used regularly on TV and Film (Downton Abbey, Spectre) this is definitely a must place to eat on a visit to London. The food is traditional British and has an excellent range of meats, pies, fish, oysters and game meat (when in season, as it's shot on their private estate). Service is excellent and unobtrusive and the staff will be as chatty or as silent as you want. Although the atmosphere feels somewhat pretentious with the top hat wearing doorman and dinner-suited waiting staff, it isn't at all and is a very friendly and welcoming place. There's no dress code other than "no shorts" although they do prefer smart casual. It's not the cheapest restaurant around but neither it is anywhere near the most expensive in Central London but for me it's definitely the best value for money. Be warned, if you want to go at a peak time you'll need to book several days in advance (allow at least a week for a Friday or Saturday night). And approaching Christmas think about getting that booking in the month before or you'll likely be disappointed. Finally, the decor needs a mention - a wonderful mix of golden age Britain and quirky British eccentricity. It just needs to be seen to enjoy it properly. Near Christmas, it's decorated in a very traditional Christmas style and you'll feel like you're on the set of a very special Downton Abbey Christmas Episode without feeling tacky.

A. F.

6th January 2017 The context of this review is that we are previous Rules customers and great enthusiasts on what they offered. History, Atmosphere, Tasty traditional British Game and Fish. I have written this review not simply as a complaint but in the hope Rules will accept what is intended to be in the spirit of constructive feedback. Sadly we were rather disapointed with what we experienced. 1. Our initial greeting was not met with a smile or any enthusiasm or particular welcome. 2. We were three in number and when I asked as the single person side of the table to be laid and placed centrally opposite my wife and nephew, this request was met negatively and initially as though I was presenting a problem. 3. Our many courses were curried pheasant, Rabbit and Prunes, Loin of Venison. All lacked any really above average flavour. In this regard no better that I can find locally to us in good country Pubs. This was in my view unexceptional food. 4. We departed in much the same way as we arrived, not thanked or even bid a farewell. Maybe if any fault lies with us. It is because of previously holding Rules in such high regard we visited yesterday with the same high expectations that were not in my view met.

J. M.

Amazing food and atmosphere.

N. L.

I had the venison and loved it. One of the best meals I have ever had. If the quality was this good centuries ago it is no wonder it's the oldest restaurant in the city.

E. E.

Rules Restaurant is almost as old as London - BUT what most people don't know is that it also has a recent cocktail bar hidden upstairs within the restaurant. Like a beautiful slice of history preserved, Rules serves cocktails with a panache: the service is second-to-none and the air of a members club only makes the whole experience more enjoyable. The cocktail list is full of variety - from the classics to new inventions, the bar manages to keep up its game and constantly engange the drinkers. One of the most beautiful hidden spots in London, this bar is worth visiting for the experience alone.

E. O.

Perfect steak. Worth reservation and dress up for.

S. B.

What a treat in these torrid covid times to have such an excellent lunch at one of London's culinary institutions...food was really excellent and best bloody Mary in town. Thank you.

j. b.

Fabulous place. The staff are wonderful and service amazing. The food is beautiful and delicate and the surroundings are from a time gone by. Truly it should be on your bucket list. Believe me you are worthy of the experience.

S. D.

should be stunning experience as it ouses quality although not backed by diligent staff. Our waiter spilled glass of champagne and then went on to misplace my order resulting in 15 minute delay watching my guests eat around me. Comical, but not funny. That said amazing ambience.

V. S.

Amazing place, food and service top notch, not too formal just right we weren't rushed at all. A good wine selection as well

E. M.

Life time experience! The food was outstanding and the place is so comfy. I love it here. Great meal and professional services. The staffs are all friendly and approachable. Definitely one of the best.

D. A.

A magical experience, especially at Christmas when they put all their old fashioned decorations up. Rules is London's oldest restaurant serving up game and meat reared and shot on their estate. Said to be the favourite restaurant of many a royal, Rules serves fantastic food and service to match. Arrive early and visit the upstairs cocktails bar for seriously good drinks (and nuts). Recommend the short rib of beef and make sure you get some mash on the side, it's unreal, the potatois only in it to stop the butter from splitting.

t. c.

A friendly team with great service made for an enjoyable lunch.

T. G.

Oldest restaurant in London. The decor alone is an attraction. Menu focuses on game and country / rural dishes. This is food one would likely have 200 years ago -- interesting place.

Y. A.

Outstanding in every way. One of the oldest but also one of the best restaurants in London, brimming with character and oozing English-ness. Fantastic staff, superb food etc. Loved it.

C. S.

Friendly, professional and efficient service. Special but not "stuffy". Attentive staff. Delicious food. Generous portions - You won't leave hungry! Cosy & classy. Perfect for a business meeting, anniversary or Birthday. Would definately recommend.

R. B.

I am typing this review as I polish off my cheese and port. I first came to Rules when I was 12 and then on an annual basis until I joined the Police in 1995. For my 'condemned' mans meal before starting service I ate at Rules and swore that I would return when I retired and have a farewell lunch. Here I am 32 years on from my first meal and have retired today; nothing has changed. The surroundings, service and food are still all as sublime now as they were then.

M. S.

Food and service great and love the decor only thing that let it down was that our table wasn't ready on time but they didn't inform us so we came down from the cosy bar and had to wait around in the busy lobby instead. Would give them another go though.

A. D.

Great food as always. Would have given 5 stars for the food but unfortunately the service let down our visit this time. I hope this improves and doesn’t become another London restaurant that trades solely on reputation.

C. H.

Really unique experience, especially for visitors.

J. H.

Loved the decor, the sense of history, and the atmosphere (although possibly we brought that with us, we were a group of 6). The wine list was also great - two Gevrey Chambertins and the markups were not crazy. The Dugat Py Les Evocelles 2007 was very elegant and a big hit on our table. Actual food was so-so, I suppose I should feel grateful in a place like this that there was a separate vegetarian menu at all, but the pearl barley "risotto" I had was rather bland and boring. Service at the table was fine, although our greeting at the door could have been a little warmer.

D. B.

All about the pomp. The food was good, but not amazing. I had the steak with chips and bearnaise which was great. The terrine was ok and the grouse, though recommended, was not much to write home about. Service was excellent.

P. W.

Magnificent. Wonderful location and decor harking back to a bygone age. Impeccable staff (of which there are many). Classic old English menu which matches the prices!

P. J.

Traditional food with a home-cooked feel. Worth visiting once to see the dining room featured in Downton Abbey, though there is fancier food available in other restaurants at this price point.

K. W.

I made my first visit to Rules recently, taking a friend from overseas who had asked to visit a typically English restaurant. I was expecting it to be something of an upmarket Disneyland catering to the American preconception of 'Olde England in times of yore'. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised. Whilst the interior is reminiscent of a film set - Rules actually does feature more than once in Downton Abbey - the food and the service are very good. We ordered rib of Beef for two (see photo), which was splendid. This was preceded by some more than passable oysters. After the beef, dessert was an anticlimax, the choices beung mostly suet and sponge puddings drenched in Lyle's Golden Syrup. This old school comfort food is historically accurate though. When in 1895 Abram Lyle & Sons marketed a sweet sticky liquid made from a waste product from the sugar refining process (with the interesting use of a dead lion carcass motif on the tin) it was a roaring success.

R. M.

An experience not to be missed! We travel to London frequently and always enjoy a trip to Rules. For those who enjoy the charm of a truly authentic English establishment, this place is for you. The scalloped potatoes are to due for!

J. W.

You get what you pay for and with these prices its no wonder the food is amazing! Plus the history of the place is incredible. I would recommend this for a special occasion. Bonus: they have a separate vegetarian menu.

A. S.

This restaurant offer tasty meals at fair price. In my opinion, this is not a place where you can spend a little because of its good quality food and services. Lovely atmosphere, great food and worth the money spent. I will go back for some more.

P. B.

Full of atmosphere, attentive staff without them being in the way, perfect menu for meat eaters and all deliciously cooked. Good choice of wines as well as a cocktail bar.

A. P.

Went with a group of friends to Rules, a restaurant I had heard about but never eaten at. The service was top class as was the food, everything was perfect and will definitely re visit.

D. J.

Lovely traditional old English restaurant. Food was excellent. Atmosphere was very good and restrained and not too noisy.

A.

I’ve been here many times over last 15 years. It was different, but never disappointed. Long history, good atmosphere, professional staff, well done! Book in advance

J. M.

Rules is legendary. It was Winston Churchill's favourite restaurant. The food and service are wonderful a C3 the wine list is excellent.

m.

Food was just ok, for the price I would have preferred some of the other fine dining options in downtown London. I will say the history and ambiance was nice but the food was just ok.

R. H.

A very solid 3-star. Definitely not a bad rating. They are not the trendiest, and decor is quite worn. But food is great, with the pies probably the best around.

H. J.

My sincere apologies and sincere appreciation to the doorman, "Thank You". It was my wife's birthday May 18 and she had her heart set upon eating at the oldest restaurant in london, lol. I asked her if she had reservations. She assured me the Internet said it was a slow time at 4:30 and they would have room. I really wish I had a picture of her face when the maitre'd told her the earliest reservation was 10:30pm. Bless her heart, she didn't cry. NOW, as Paul Harvey would say,"Now the rat of the story.". I wasn't feeling well and about passed out outside the front door. Thank you doorman for helping with the 999 phone call my wife made. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

f. c.

Excellent, super service, good food, great experience. Undoubtedly worth a visit.

b. g.

Fantastic food and superb service. Can't wait to visit again

P. G.

Excellent service and space. Well presented and delicious dishes (menu's game section highly recommended!). Very quiet, formal but relaxed atmosphere.

H. L.

Great food. Brilliant staff. Doorman is an absolute legend. As it was late at night he walked with me to get a black cab on The Strand. Beyond the call of duty!

S. S.

If you want a great meal in a great historic location then go here its nit cheap but classic menu and fantastic atmosphere

M. C.

Wonderful experience. You tend to judge these places on service and you get what you pay for here - tentative and knowledgeable staff. Had a superb Pinot noir and the venison was superb. A memorable evening.

J. L.

A lovely experience. Friendly staff and good (superb) food. Large portions, and large prices! Highly recommended for a special occasion.

A. E. D.

Excellent meal and service at the restaurant and bar

J. L.

To start with we were asked by the waitress if we want a drink and we said a bottle of red wine be nice and my companion asked her whats the percentage of this wine this is found in the wine list she said I think its %.What she thinks does not really answer our query. To me what she should done or said if we want her to check the alcohol percentage in the counter. t But then she offered us another wine in which is to be fair we like to be fair. We both like our starters. Main course since I was really looking forward for my main course I was so disappointed that it was wrapped with bacon and some pieces of pork. because I do not eat pork .Then I thought I might have just missed that there is bacon included in it and so I asked the waiter if I can have the menu list and found out the bacon was not mentioned. Then I said to him bacon is not mentioned on my main course and he said that he will call his manager, The manager came to us at once and he asked my companion and I if we are happy about the meal, I did not reply when he asked . We said that bacon is not mentioned in the menu that I have ordered, the manager said we DO NOT include all what is found in every meal because its gonna take forever. I said to myself WOW! But he was nice enough to offer us if I want to changed my menu and he offered us if we want some dessert because the chef is more than happy to give us but we said no thanks. Bill comes to be fair we were not charged for my main course. Home time we asked for our coats and we where given that does not belong to us. Oh dear what an experience. I am basing this review from our experience and not on what I feel that moment. Nothing personal, if you will ask us if we will go back? NO we wont!

C. B.

It's ok, the drinks were very good, the starter and dessert were good but I was disappointed in the Dover Sole as it was swimming in oil and sauce which ruined it for me The hollandaise that came with the asparagus was also a little sickly

L. L. S. Y.

Very attentive and welcoming service; food is always excellent reflecting the best of in season British ingredients. On the pricey side but well worth it

K. R.

Our go-to fine dining every time we visit London. But why did they take the profiteroles off the menu? Bring them back!!!!

R. K.

The lady at the reception of this restaurant is as cold as the misguided daylight LED lighting that management has chosen for whatever practical but utterly unsuitable reason. Pity, since its such a beautiful restaurant with true heritage and lineage.

A. L.

The oldest continuously operating restaurant in London. Fantastic selection of high quality traditional British food, with impeccable service in a richly decorated eclectic environment. Well worth a vist

R. W.

This restaurant's food and decor is truly one of the main reasons I love this place. All around this place is amazing. Although the price is quite high, it is a restaurant you don't want to miss.

C. N.

Awesome. Come see for yourself. Friendly attentive staff but not overbearing. Traditional varied menu. No multiple services. Take your time and enjoy.

J. C.

Amazing history, the door man and reception area promise of more to come. In reality food disappointing as its just trading on its history and is sadly a tourist destination rather than the social hub of London movers and shakers as it was a few hundred years ago

B. N.

Lovely old resturant in the heart of Covent Garden. Fantastic food and service although a bit pricey. We was treated by a close for or 6th Wedding Anniv. I would probably go again as a treat!

A. D.

We only went to the cocktail bar...The ambiance was perfect, the drinks were very good and the service was lovely. Quite expensive, but we knew that going in!

J. F.

Excellent food,atmosphere and service. Probably my favourite London restaurant. Perfect end to a day out. Already planning our next trip.

G. L.

A perfect evening. Food was plenty and very tasty, service is the kind where it's not in your face all the time but very polite and always there just when you need it... you know, English. A well deserved 5 stars from me.

M. A.

Go every year for Christmas. Excellent food, attentive and knowledgeable staff and the best Christmas decorations - like stepping back into Victorian Christmas. And the bar upstairs is exceptional

C. W.

Finest meal I have had in years. Ceasar salad, pidgeon, venison... unimaginably delicious! Staff professional & friendly. Bartender has a fine, steady hand!

A. S.

Decor is just unbelievable. It is one of the oldest restaurants in London. Service was sensational and food exquisite. Restaurant was full at midday on weekday! That says it all.

J. P.

The decor and atmosphere is very cosy. Drinks are all classics which pleases me. Got oysters as a snack; they were fresh and delicious

P. C.

Elegant dinning, Old English meals like pheasant and steak and kidney pudding. Oldest restaurant in London, very majestic setting. Would return.

L. A. R. C.

The British antiquity surrounds us with its past along with its details more private individuals. The service is amazing, and the peace is enormous. I've tried the "Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon with bitter leaves and blood orange" If eggs, and it was perfect, very well cooked and very delicious. It is ideal for which you don't want to hear the sound of the morning accompanied with a good macchiato. I recommend it! Lucio Rosenkreutz

A. P.

This used to be my favorite in London: a must. Not after this time. Food was OK but in our first dish there was a worm in the salad. They retire the plate and apologize not very concern on the problem; its a caterpillar was all they said. We stayed because it was late and where there. Service was rude and unattentive. They did not charge for that dish but that was it. They didnt try to offer any time of compensation, like a drink on the house.

P. E.

Awesome. Come see for yourself. Friendly attentive staff but not overbearing. Traditional varied menu. No multiple services. Take your time and enjoy.

L. G.

Great food and service, the only reason it doesn't get a 5 star from me, is that the decor is just a bit to old fashioned for my liking but I get that it's traditional too

E. F.

Beautiful, classy, fantastic food, attentive wait staff. A bit pricey but not outrageous for a high end experience.

J. P.

Lovely food and friendly service

v. a.

Tradition and innovation for very good real English food. The tables are too close to each others, in my opinion. The service is professional and friendly.

N. S.

Nice traditional British food. Beautiful environment.

E. G.

Excellent British cooking, highly recommended

D. F.

I've been to Rules many times, had our wedding reception there too, it is always superb, a jewel in London's restaurant crown

R. T.

Eclectic menu featuring good old fashioned English fare plus a few more modern dishes. Not cheap, but you come here for the atmosphere and old school charm.

J. B.

Superb, everything about this wonderful restaurant is superb, we have been visiting Rules for some years and we hopefully will continue to do so, the food service and ambience is wonderful particularly at Christmas time.

E. H.

Very pleasant experience. The food was a delight but more so, the staff were warm and friendly and made us feel very welcome.

J. D.

Terrific restarant. 2nd visit as good as first. Love the atmosphere. Food a good selection. Cooked to perfection. English fare. Great staff..relaxed attention.from staff. Who know there clients.

J. M.

If only we had more places like this in "chained restaurant" England serving good quality traditional dishes in a wonderful old fashioned environment. Great service too

K. S.

Spent four hours eating and drinking fabulous food and wine. Also sampled new cocktail bar ideal for pre dinner apperatiff.

L. D.

The food was nice. It wasn’t anything exceptional but the service was nice. And the atmosphere of the restaurant was a new experience for me We got the steak and rabbit

B. T.

Pies, full of interesting decorations. Must reserve table. Walking distance is theatres. A 5pm reservation allows one to go to theatre after.

m. m.

Top notch restaurant with a very good menu selection. Staff are very professional and helpful. Prices seem fair for the quality of food & service.

G. F.

Top notch restaurant with a very good menu selection. Staff are very professional and helpful. Prices seem fair for the quality of food & service.

M. F.

I’d love to say we were regulars at this most quintessential of London eateries but geography and a modest income prevent. However the food, ambiance and staff are truly 5star

S. Y.

Very polite staff there. Me and my wife visited for the first time, and the food and atmosphere are really nice and lovely. I would visit again defo.

S. S.

Fantastic absolutely quantity! My 4th visit here! Steak and Kidney pud to die for! The bread and butter pudding..."knockout!".Will be back soon!

G. G.

i suggested anyone to take a visit in this sort of disneyland of british food, where almost every typical dish has been represented and quite good cooked. decor is really impressive (don't miss the famous thatcher wall painting!) and meat dishes satisfying. roastbeef with yorkshire pudding has notihing to complain of and the kidney and steak pie deseves the promises. staff offers a too quik service and the wine list si quite poor.

P. L.

Amazing restaurant. London oldest restaurant, over 200 years old. Brilliant food.

N. O.

A lovely restaurant highly recommend going there around Christmas time to see all the decoration. Personally recommend the beef for 2 and the steak and kidney pie

H. G.

This has always been one of my favourite restaurants, partly because the food is good and partly because it is an iconic British restaurant where the staff with that idealised British blend of care, deference mixed with authority, and knowing humour.

G. H.

Polite staff, comfortable seats and absolutely delicious drinks. A little pricey compared to some places in the area but if you fancy treating yourself, rules is the place to go

C. I.

Great venue, lovely character of the place. Had a lovely Christmas party meal with 18 of us. Hired a room out, great service and great food

I. H.

i went for the roast beef. i asked for medium rare and got very well done and it had obviously been re-heated. the yorkshire pudding was chewier than taffy. a waste of money

M. S.

The game here is just the best. They have their own estate. The space is lovely, cosy and intimate, and the staff are helpful and professional. You need to book in advance but in Winter it's one of my favourite places to go.

K.

Good cocktail bar upstairs however they don't serve Guinness even though they serve at restaurant downstairs so gave 3 stars.

B. T.

As expected of this restaurant, they presented my food very flawlessly. Also, the food is really tasty and delicious. The location of the restaurant is very accessible.

G. G.

Enjoyable lunch with hubby for his birthday. Good English fare. 👍, would have like to be invited to the cocktail bar before having lunch . Maybe next time .

M. H.

Had a wonderful lunch. Truly a special place. Food, service and the ambiance was the best I'd ever experienced.

C. M.

Fantastic food and brilliant to be in a place that's both been in a Bond film and somewhere that Charles Dickens ate in

M. F.

A fantastic treat of a place, great history (oldest restaurant in London) and great food. Amazing prices for London too... you won't be disappointed

M. B.

We had great afternoon tea at Rules! Our server Augustine was very helpful, and the food was amazing.

T. K.

Excellent evening at Rules with fantastic food and attentive service. Thank you for a very relaxed and enjoyable evening. Dr Terry Keech

e. E.

Fine dining. Beautiful atmosphere takes me back to history. Read the history of the location of this restaurant. Excellent food!!!

M. F.

Great game and other meat dishes in what is claimed to be London's oldest restaurant. It might be old but the decor is wonderful if you like eclectic.

K. R.

I had a fabulous dinner at Rules and highly recommend Rules for an evening out with friends. Calm and relaxing ambience and great food. 10/10 recommended.

G. M.

A place yoh could never reinvent. Clearly a long history and tradition and the best steak and kidney pudding I've ever had. Horace Rumpole would be proud!

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