The Porchester — Restaurant in London

Misleading Menu

We selected the Porchester for a Sunday roast experience with family after doing extensive research into places in the area that could accommodate all diets— including a vegan in our party. The menu on the website included what sounded like a delicious vegan Wellington with vegan trimmings— all clearly labeled (VG). We made the booking and were excited to dine.

When we arrived to the pub, we discovered that the menu at the restaurant had been changed (the website was unchanged) which eliminated the only vegan roast option from the menu, only offering vegetarian. Despite being shown the discrepancy, the server was apologetic but didn’t offer anything else they could enjoy except a burger. They blamed head office but didn’t offer any accommodation for being at fault for the disappointment. Our vegan was upset but as there were no other bookings available nearby in the other options we researched, we were resigned to stay and had the other roast options, and the vegan ate the burger.

Our biggest disappointment was the apathy the staff showed for a clearly disappointed person who couldn’t enjoy the meal they expected, and no other goodwill was shown to make up for the establishment’s error. We would never have booked the Porchester had their menu not included a plant-based option....

I gave a review some two years ago, eulogising about their Sunday lunch, an excellent piece of medium rare roast beef & Yorkshire pudding accompanied by beautifully prepared fresh vegetables. Because of our experience, we recommended the Porchester to all of our friends with whom we have returned on many occasions since. It has been a year since I last ate here and I am sorry to say the Sunday roast we ordered today was simply appalling! Overcooked beef with hardened edges, burnt Yorkshire pudding and sparsely served complementary vegetables. The waiting staff did their best and offered to replace our roast. Unfortunately what they served was of little improvement, with the beef equally overcooked but this time drowned in gravy, to hide the evidence I assume?! We left without eating the replacement served. The waitresses were helpless to amend what was an appalling Sunday lunch , other than discounting our overall bill. I will not be returning until the current “chef” is removed and the previous chef returns after...

Great spot in central west London, best service I have had in a long while, we had the black pudding and pork sausage roll, meat was juicy and black pudding full of flavour (shared) we then went for the Haddock and chips and wow just wow I can’t explain when this came out I was extremely happy, the portion was excellent and perfectly cooked, crisp batter surrounding succulent white flesh that was still juicy, some of the best chips o have had and all the accompanying bits and bobs, tar-tar sauce, mushy peas, charred lemon all the good stuff, my friend had the Bavette steak, chips, blue cheese sauce and cress it looked lovely, the service was fantastic from all the staff, the bar was busy and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and had a few drinks to go with all very very recommended, shout out to this place as it has come a great way with the new management a place to certainly enjoy...