Rules

35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7LB - View on a map
Telephone: 020 7836 5314

Rules Restaurant In London
Details Image
Overall 6.8
Food 6.0
Service 8.0
Atmosphere 8.5
Value 4.5
Based on 2 reviews

what the critics say

The Independent

John Walsh

Saturday, October 29, 2011 - My Grey Leg Partridge was served whole, and was a terrific sight. Around it, like respectful hierophants, were arrayed bread sauce, gravy (they don't say 'jus' at Rules), redcurrant jelly, celeriac gratin, purple sprouting broccoli, parsnip and bacon crisps. Such an orchestra of tastes. In the middle, the partridge yielded up its chickeny-ducky flesh only after a struggle, but the combination of tastes was astounding...You end a meal in Rules beaming at your great good fortune in being alive, having all five senses and being able to eat God's English bounty, expertly cooked and served as it might have been for Graham Greene or Ava Gardner, only probably much better.

your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne

The problem with somewhere that serves lots of game is that it's always going to attract a fair amount of loud, posh idiots, so chances are you might find yourself sitting next to a rowdy table of city boys. Being where it is, it also attracts a lot of theatre goers and tourists, however, so you might get lucky.

On my last visit I had a rather nice rabbit and black pudding salad, followed by dover sole with chips. All very tasty without being exceptional.

We ordered a jug of wine as we couldn't manage a bottle, but found ourselves ploughing through it faster than expected and ordered another two glasses. It later transpired (thanks to my beaded eyed dining guest) that the waiter hadn't been topping up our glasses, and that the jug still had a fair amount of wine left in it. Luckily they took the price of the two glasses off the bill with great apology.

On previous occasions I've ordered the stilton, which comes out as the full round with two spoons plonked in the middle, so you can eat all you like along with the celery sticks and biscuits provided. Delicious as this was, it seems a terrible waste just to eat the top - hopefully they use up the rest in soups and salads.

All in all, a good place to take out-of-towners and parents etc, as it is as properly old-fashioned as you get without going to the Savoy or Ritz. It's not necessarily the place to go for amazing, good valued food, however. The pleasure is more in the starchy white table cloths, interesting menu and adorned walls.
View/Add comments (4)

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 6 stars
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Monday, December 28, 2009

Rules is one of the few London restaurants I go to again and again. Yes the prices are high and the decor is bizarre, but the service is always exceptional, and there's nowhere better to eat game- always served traditionally and perfectly cooked.
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Overall rating 8 stars
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Sunday, November 15, 2009

I tried Rules Saturday 19th September 2009

The staff were lovely. Very friendly and the place is a place to behold. Full of the charm that one would expect. I (like a fool) ordered roe deer without checking how it would be presented. Unfortunately is was cooked to bu**ery and not to my taste. Certainly not the staff's fault and they were so pleasant and sweet to offer me an alternative for free. Very good plus point.

Unfortunately (totally NOT the fault of the staff) the food is way way way overpriced for what it is. I have eaten in places with a star about the same price. Booze is too dear, everything was too dear. Its a REAL shame. For me they have priced themselves out of the market.

The only other conversation I could overhear was three portly chaps who complained (amongst themselves) that it was too expensive for what it was...or maybe it was an echo.

I can only reiterate the staff were lovely, shame the management had priced them out of the game.
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Kevin
Overall rating 6 stars
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

This place is lovely inside and looks very posh, but I'm afraid to say the food doesn't match the interior. The quality of food is poor and not much better than simple pub food, even though it's over £20 more expensive. The "atmosphere" doesn't exist, as the restaurant is often visited by stuck-up individuals and you might feel too scared to laugh out loud. The service was fairly good, but not nearly good enough for the price of the food. Maybe just come in for a drink.
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Lady Cheesecake - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 5 stars
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Saturday, September 19, 2009

I love this place!! I used to live a long way from London and we would always book a table there when we came for a visit. Now I live in London and I can go more regularly for special occasions or when people visit. I have never had a bad meal here and the staff are always courteous and knowledgeable about the menu. Love their soups especially!!! I always recommend this place to people looking for a traditional and fun/eccentric restaurant and everyone has always loved it.
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Steph
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 08, 2009


what the bloggers say

Londonelicious

Londonelicious

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Everybody who's anybody seems to love Rules these days. Especially the cocktails. But let me cut to the chase and spoil it for you now. I'm just not so sure I'm going to be joining this specific club...The Verdict: Eh. (And lest you be distracted by all my points, the coolness of my main and the slowness of the dessert and the response to the slowness of the dessert were my primary gripes.)

Cheese and Biscuits

Cheese and Biscuits

Thursday, September 10, 2009 - The grouse: To call the flavour 'gamey' is to not even touch the surface of how extraordinarily, wonderfully powerful the flavour of this little bird was - a deep, rich flavour like no other animal I've ever tasted. I ate in stunned, intense silence, methodically pulling every bit of the carcass apart and savouring every last morsel of offal from inside and out...That I recommend Rules should by now be obvious - you absolutely, positively have to go, and soon, before the season is over. It's just too good to miss.

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