Market House — Restaurant in Cambridge

Food is above average in Cambridge but service is quite slow. Decoration is eclectic. This can be an elevated place but not overly classy place to treat some patient guests in the heart of the market square.

The bread is pricy but tastes better than expected. Nicely toasted. Crusty shell, soft and moist inside.

Smoked salmon salad is pretty and tasty.

Korean fried chicken is juicy, although the first bite reminds me more of General Tsao than Gochujang.

String beans are stir-fry style, which is good.

Scallops are nicely seasoned, so is the black pudding ball. The apple dressing is refreshing. (As a main course the portion is too small for an adult, with only three scallops… All dishes come with petite size to save room for two courses, but anyone choosing scallops should consider a more substantial starter or additional sides.)

Sirloin is decent. The mushroom is particularly lovely.

The lemon tart is beautifully presented and delicious. How delightful is the bright yellow and magenta color! The tart is not solid but indulgently gooey. The strong lemony taste balances the sweetness and the sorbet is airy and super refreshing.

Service is friendly but really slow. The timing between the courses can be better paced. We are already beyond hungry when the main dish finally arrives. Perhaps the kitchen needs to improve its capacity and efficiency. Our food eventually sped up when other...

Surrounded by a plethora of fast food junk establishments stands an icon of hope and joy,

the Market House. Service and cooking is to an excellent standard; Both dishes I had were showcasing fresh, high-quality ingredients and thoughtful flavour combinations.

The Pinney's Hot Smoked Scottish Salmon was a standout. The salmon itself was perfectly smoked, with a delicate balance of smoky flavour and moist texture. The smoked buttermilk cream added a luxurious richness that complemented the salmon beautifully, while the cauliflower provided a subtle earthiness and textural contrast. The herbed cracker added a satisfying crunch and a burst of fresh herbs.

The main course ; Whole Baked Lemon Sole was another winner. The sole was cooked to perfection, with flaky, tender flesh and a delicate lemony flavor. The celeriac fondant was a revelation, offering a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a subtle sweetness that paired perfectly with the fish. The roasted fennel added a touch of anise flavor and a satisfying bite, while the kosho pear provided a unique and exciting twist with its spicy, fruity notes. The dish was also gluten-free, which is a bonus for those with dietary restrictions

Overall, both dishes were expertly prepared and presented, demonstrating a clear passion for quality ingredients and culinary creativity.

For food lovers hope shines eternal at the...

Sad to have to post this review - but heavily disappointed on visit this week.

There is so much potential for this restaurant to be something great…beautiful surroundings, smiling staff, some fantastic dishes (pork belly & scallops).

Biggest let down - lamb main. Struggled to eat this - powerful confused blue cheese flavour overwhelmed the dish totally. Lamb (!) lacked flavour. Accompanying vegetable didn’t work at all. I’ve never had a dish gone this wrong.

Staters eye wateringly overpriced Ham hock panna cotta looked beautiful but serving amounts of this vs the accompaniments (e.g 3 slivers of cauliflower) were completely off which made it quite unpleasant..despite being well balanced.

The chefs are clearly talented (based on the incredible pork belly) but no one could have tasted the lamb and thought that dish worked.

Scallops excellent… but very small for the price (to be expected I suppose with how things are)

The lady serving us was kind and smiley, but had not been trained properly. Our wine or water was never topped up despite being the only diners!

It was also a birthday booking - yet absolutely no mention of this. Poor attention to detail.

If I was to spend £120 for two (two starters, two mains, 1 bottle of wine) I could take my money to some obscenely good restaurants… but wouldn’t come here again...