Rules — Restaurant in London

Rules

This was our first visit to Rules the oldest restaurant in London and we were in for a real treat. The place is amazing , the food was fantastic and the staff were super friendly. This experience is definitely one I can’t wait to repeat.

The restaurant is located a short walk from Covent Garden on maiden lane. We arrived early so that we could enjoy a cocktail in the bar. This is located upstairs and in doing so the history of this restaurant is there for you to see. We entered the bar which is absolutely filled with classic memorabilia before deciding to sit in the pleasant surroundings of the Winter Garden. We chose the Gin Martini and the Sacred Spice Cardamom Negroni to start the afternoon’s experience.

We then made our way downstairs to the fabulous dining room to let the festivities begin. This started for me with a London Pride ale served in a silver tankard while we looked at the menu. This is set out with a good selection of starters , mains , sides and desserts.

STARTERS - We chose the Stuffed Mussels with a herb butter , garlic and breadcrumbs as well as the Middlewhite Pork Terrine with a spiced apple chutney and sourdough toast. My wife loved the mussels and I thought the terrine was absolutely delicious.

MAINS - Here we would be in for an amazing feast as we decided to have the Roast Rib of Beef for Two accompanied by buttered greens , a heavenly yorkshire pudding and the best horseradish ever. We also added dauphinoise potatoes and the chanteney carrots. Everything was cooked perfectly and a pleasure to eat.

DESSERTS - After a well deserved rest it was time for desserts. We opted for the Pear and Apple Crumble with Custard and the Rules Golden Syrup Sponge. These were two delicious classic desserts and a fantastic way to to finish a truly wonderful afternoon.

With a coffee to finish this brought to an end a fantastic afternoon and one I would highly recommend. This is just how hospitality should be. Friendly and professional staff , amazing food in a classic old school location. Rules is a place full of history and a visit here is something you should try at least once in your lifetime. Our experience was excellent and definitely one we will be repeating sooner rather than later.

Many Thanks to all the team for an amazing dining experience and look forward to seeing...

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...

When planning a brief stopover trip in London I consulted Rick Steve’s recommendations for restaurants; Rules was one of those options. For entrees I got the rump steak and my mom got the chicken leek pie. Both were quite good, but nothing beyond the quality we expected given the reviews and recommendations that Rules has. For dessert, I got the sticky toffee pudding and my mom got the summer berry pudding with clotted cream. The sticky toffee is served with clotted cream as well, however, I found the slight bitterness to clash too oddly with the pudding. It may have been better with a mild, heavy whipped cream. The berry cake was tasty as well and worked with the clotted cream that it’s served with. We also ordered drinks. We each got a Rules cocktail and I got a glass of wine. These were definitely priced high, but were not objectionable at the price point. The primary reasons this review gets four stars is the service and atmosphere. We were told upon arrival for our 7:30 pm reservation time that another table would be getting in at 9:30. We believed that we would have no issue with a two hour window, however, Rules slightly tested us. Our waiter was clearly quite busy and at times there seemed to be awkwardly long waits for things like ordering and getting the check. However, after ordering our food, it came in a comfortable yet reasonable time. The service was kind, but it seems as though perhaps the primary wait staff is a bit overworked. Furthermore, it was very, very warm in the restaurant. We were unsure whether there is a lack of infrastructure for AC or if it was simply off. If it was turned off, we would greatly advise wearing clothing that fits the smart dress code but will not cause you to overheat, at least during the summer months. Overall, it was a good experience, and one worthy of a Rick Steve’s recommendation. However, definitely plan on it taking a chunk of your evening, and make sure you arrive hungry as the portions are...