The Cambridge Chop House — Restaurant in Cambridge

Update: now a vegetarian, I wasn't expecting to find much here. They have some options but as expected this wouldn't be a place to visit for vegetarian food. The booking was for mother's day and I was happy to try their non-meat options.

The staff were lovely. It's the little touches like given a flower when greeted. The waiters and waitresses were attentive but not overbearing. Toilets for the most part we're fairly clean (I must have visited a cubicle after a child) but I've been before and they're fine.

For Sunday lunch, I had the vegetarian option, a cauliflower steak, but it didn't look like one I've had before. It was a chunk of cauliflower, but I find it hard to believe it was worth £17.50. The potatoes were stale compared to the meat eaters (probably cooked in a different oil, partner tasted and confirmed it was different). Yorkshire pudding, might have just been coincidence, also burnt around the edges, dry on the inside. Vegetables (greens, carrots, parsnips) were lovely, gravy was okay. Overall the food was nice and I'd probably try something else if we were to go again.

I didn't complain mainly because we had a lovely time, they treated us well, and I could not have expected more from a place that serves predominantly meat. I'm glad they were able to seat us on Mother's Day and all the meat eaters enjoyed their meals.

Note for accessibility (if this helps): There is a step leading up to the entrance. We were seated downstairs. I would recommend letting the staff know when booking if you're requesting a seat on the ground floor as seating there is quite limited. The ladies toilets were downstairs right at the end of the seating area, there are a few steps on the lower level to get there. I didn't see a bathroom on the ground floor so apologies if I missed that.

Original review: Really nice food, a starter platter to share, probably quite a lot for two people but there was a variety of things which was ideal as we weren't sure what to expect. The main courses were quite heavy in top of the sharing platter we had to start with. Quite pricey (even for Cambridge) but good quality food. Staff were friendly and had good knowledge about the food...

The Cambridge Chop House is a quintessential embodiment of traditional British culinary artistry coupled with a dash of modern flair. Nestled within the historic heart of Cambridge, this establishment offers a delightful retreat from the bustling streets and a gastronomic journey that shouldn’t be missed.

Stepping inside, the décor exudes an old-world charm, reminiscent of classic British taverns. It is both cozy and elegant, and there's an undeniable warmth to it – perhaps a reflection of the welcoming nature of the city itself.

But what truly sets this place apart is the food. The Chop House takes pride in its meat-centric menu, and rightfully so. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared, emphasising the natural flavours and the quality of the produce. Their steaks are particularly noteworthy, seared to perfection and tender enough to melt in the mouth.

Complementing the exceptional dining experience is the impeccable service. Among the wonderful staff, Matt stood out during our visit. His keen knowledge of the menu, coupled with genuine enthusiasm, transformed our meal into a memorable experience. His recommendations were spot on, and his attentiveness ensured that we were well taken care of throughout our stay.

To sum it up, The Cambridge Chop House is more than just a restaurant. It’s a testament to Cambridge’s rich history and culinary excellence. A special thank you to Matt for elevating our dining experience, and I highly recommend this gem to both locals and...

There are at least four elements that make a good experience when eating out, how you rate them is personal to yourself. 1st is staff and restaurant appearane which is 4 star, 2nd is presentation of the food, as the old adage says"we eat with our eyes" and the Chop House is 4 to 4.5 stars, 3rd is price and £8 plus for a starter and £23 for plaice is quite expensive but you are paying Cambridge prices, 4th and most importantly is the food itself, this is where this restaurant let itself down. Most of the dishes were tasteless and not that big, apart from the taster menu oddly enough. We had haggis balls which had a weird texture and were too salty, the pork crackling looked amazing but some of it was chewy. For starters the beef cheeks was perhaps the most tasteless dish I've ever had. For mains the steak pie was quite small but unforgivably had very little meat in it, the burger itself was too firm but I'm not sure if it had just been overdone and again had very little favour. The dessert was nice but needed more coulis or some cream with it. The cappuccino were excellent but my wife thought it was a little on the stong side. We paid £95 for 2 people with only a cider and larger for drinks and one dessert, which would have been okay if the food had been as good as all the other elements of...