Orrery
special offer
Special Offer only available online - please book above
3 courses for £26
Offer Details: ...from a set menu. Includes Vat, excludes service.
Available: Daily 12:00 to 14:30
Maximum people: 8
Terms: Expires 2nd June 08
our review
The Orrery remains my favourite of the Conran crowd. Its location, ‘over the shop’ and looking down into the churchyard is hard to beat, and the service and cooking are always first class. Seated in one of the sought after window seats, it’s hard not to feel a pleasant anticipation for the food that’s to follow, and it’s a place that is inclusive and refreshingly free from pretence and snobbery.
Last time I came in 2004, Andre Garratt was at the helm in the kitchen but he’s moved on and now it’s Allan Pickett’s time to shine with a menu that shows imagination and restraint in equal measure. At this level you expect a tasting menu and this is duly offered, the vegetarian option tasting menu is a surprise though and was, to this dedicated meat eater, extremely attractive. We dithered over the meat tasting menu, but eventually felt the standard dinner menu was more than interesting enough on paper and so it proved in practice.
An amuse bouche of a celeriac foam with truffle shavings (truffles were everywhere that particular night) was just the thing to fire the taste buds up. My true starter of salad of blue fin tuna, marinated white radish and anchovy mayonnaise was as delicate as rice paper; each slice of tuna transparent and humming with flavour. The radish had a satisfying crunch to contrast with the melting tuna, and the small dabs of anchovy mayonnaise were perfectly sized so as to not overpower the main fish. It was a dish to eat very slowly indeed. The other half’s Roast Dombes quail, marinated celeriac and mi cuit grapes was more substantial, but still sensibly reined in to be just enough on the plate. I had one slice of the quail and found it tender and packed with flavour; the marinated celeriac sliced carpaccio-thin was an excellent partner. My attempt to get another slice of quail was beaten back by her fork and a glare.
Steamed monkfish wrapped in prosciutto, plus braised oxtail with truffle macaroni was superb, the macaroni particularly fine. I could have just eaten the pasta and been very happy. A very large portion of monkfish too, refuting some criticisms of stinginess that have been previously levelled at Orrery. Best end of new season lamb with slow braised shoulder, aubergine purée and olive jus was another cracker of a dish. The lamb blushing perfectly pink, with the more intense flavoured shoulder partnering it perfectly. Of course aubergine and olive are classic accompaniments to lamb and here they worked their magic aided by spot on seasoning.
The Madagascan vanilla crème brûlée was a bit light on vanilla to my mind, but otherwise just right for a finale. Service was exemplary throughout, although leaving the excellent sommelier to pour for every table may not be such a good idea. He can’t be everywhere at once and I did occasionally find myself with an empty glass and the temptation to pour my own.
The Orrery continues to justify its high-ish prices with outstanding food and a genuinely warm and approachable style. And you can even smoke cigars in the special room set aside for the purpose. Perfect.
N.H. - February 2007
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
What has happened to the Orrery??
It used to be consistently very good. I don't know what came first, the loss of the michelin star or the loss of the good service staff. I was very surprised when I heard they had lost the star but not so now.
Food was of an inferior quality to previous experiences here. The menu is old fashioned and calorific. Most of the dishes were too heavy for a meal mid Spring.
But the service has really deteriorated. The Sommelier was rude to our table on two occasions. The second time, with desserts we ordered 3 glasses of Eiswein, and my girlfriend asked the waiter to ask the Sommelier to match a dessert wine with her dessert. 4 glasses of Eiswein turned up. She asked if this was her matched wine. The sommelier didn't know what she was talking about but said, "If you don't drink this I will".
At £520 for 4, the price was way over the top. Never again!
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Nick W
Overall rating 
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, April 28, 2008
Had dinner here for the first time last night and couldn't have been happier!!
The service was first class!! Very friendly and attentive staff, good menu and the food was absolutely delicious. Extensive wine list with some hidden gems worth looking for!!
OK a little expensive, but perfect for special occasions or for when you really want to treat someone special (and yourself!!).....I'll definitely be going back, in fact I can't wait to go back!!
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Roland Hall
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 07, 2008
I'd been here a few times, and have never had to grumble in the past. My most recent visit however was different.
Were seated in the bar, had a couple of cocktails and ordered the menu degustation (@59/head). We were shown through to the restaurant (very empty, maybe four other tables) and presented with the wine list. I ordered a favourite wine of mine, to be presented with a bottle of inferior year - noticing this before it was open, I asked them to change it, and was told that this was a better year and that I should have this one. I asked for the wine list again - and rather stroppily the waitress brought it over, plonked it on the table. I ordered another wine - which eventually I was told was unavailable. My third choice wine was available and served to us - but hadn't been chilled. I should have walked out at that point!
The food arrived - and I didn't recognise any of the courses as being on the menu degustation. I mentioned this to the waiter, who said I must be mistaken and showed me the menu. I asked him to bring me the menus that had been shown to us in the bar (where we had ordered) - and indeed, the menu was entirely different. Yet still I was receiving surly service and being treated as though I was in the wrong.
The manager eventually came over, briefly apologised and walked off. I requested that we were actually served the food we ordered and was told it was impossible, despite all the courses being available on the a la carte menu! At this stage I did start to lose my temper a bit, and said that this was not the experience I had hoped for in a restaurant of this calibre. He said that mistakes happen and he would give us some glasses of wine with our meal. I pointed out we had a nearly full bottle of wine and that I was driving ... he shrugged and walked away. At this stage I was furious and ready to leave - but my guest said that it was late and we would have problems finding another table.
The bill came - no deductions had been made for their mistakes - and when I requested that the service charge be removed the look I received could have frozen hell over!
Quite frankly an appalling experience. I will never visit this restaurant again ... and will most likely give all Conrans places a wide berth from now on.
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James
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, April 03, 2008
I ate here with some friends at the end of June 2007.
I had high hopes. The atmosphere was lacking - more like the restaurant of a decent hotel booked up by sneior busines types than a characterful restaurant. It is over-lit, and the furniture has the suprisingly tacky feel that I'd encountered at Bibendum (also over-lit and lacking in atmosphere as it happens).
The service was excellent. Our table was more lively than the quiet tables of oreintal business suits surrounding us, and the staff took this well in their stride.
The food was good (almost very good) but certainly not excellent. Overpriced therefore.
The sommelier was attentive and helpful. The wine was good and not too ludicrously expensive.
The cigar bar was in its last gasp before the ban bit. A great shame because this is a lovely little room, well suited to the indulgence of cigars and brandy after dinner.
I wouldn't rush back.
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Kev - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I have yet to experience such slow service anywhere in London. We sat down at 20pm for dinner, by 8.30pm no one had arrived to take our order.
At 20.45 we eventually placed our order and at 21.45, the starters arrived.... The food when it arrived was delicious according to my fellow diners, however the slow service ruined my dining experience.
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Antonia Vrolik
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Friday, July 27, 2007
We ate at the Orrery on Saturday and were looking forward to an excellent meal , based on the MIchelin Star and reputation.
We were greeted by staff in a pleasant and efficient manner and were brought our pre dinner drinks and canapes promptly.
There was a slight odour of drains on the roof terrace and as it got cooler we decided to go to our table.
The wines were excellent particulalrly the Gwurztraminer.
Frankly the food was disappointing - the red mullet was beautifully served , but extraordinarily bland. Likewise my wife's entree of Chicken and Crayfish lacked flavour.
Staff were attentive , swift and pleasant throughout the meal.
The food sadly did not match up to the decor, staff beverages and reputation.
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Chris Browning
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 18, 2007
Orrery is an old favourite and I was surprised on visiting last night for a Birthday celebration a deux to find it only half full. The good news was that the food is still well up to Michelin star par. My main course of spiced rabbit with cock's comb and langoustine in particular was unusual , clever and tasty but could have done with some form of vegetable beyond a sliver of foam and slightly less spice so that one could taste the rabbit. Service was , as others report, very friendly for such a classy establishment. If anything rather too much so. The shortage of customers left the sommelier with time on his hands which he used to keep interrupting our conversation.
Other niggles were that with the passage of time, the chairs have lost their stuffing and are now rather uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to suffer for the duration of a tasting menu. Also I have a suspicion ,maybe wrongly, that several of the waiters are Polish but putting on French accents. If so, that's silly. Polish accents are perfectly acceptable. Our main course was very slow in arriving ( apparently because the complexity of the cock's comb dish required more than one attempt in the kitchen) but I couldn't for the life of me understand the waiter's explanation. But they did give my partner a free glass of wine in recompense.
All in all though , if Orrery is to become a top class restaurant where you can always get a table , so much the better. And they did think to stick a candle in the petit fours for my birthday.
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medocain
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
So first things first, I have to agree with FL and say that no Conran restaurant has ever blown me away, but 'til Sunday I hadn't visited Orrery, so I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. A girlfriend and I were persuaded by the £25 set lunch and figured that a pleasant Sunday was thus to be spent
Our problems set in when offered an aperitif and given the champagne "menu". As the cheapest glass was £13.65, yep, that's right.... we handed it back and asked for "just the house champagne". I'll come back to this in a mo.
The set menu wasn't actually that inspiring so we asked if we could order a starter from the A la Carte and return to the set for main etc, which was accepted without demur. The food was perfectly OK, though I'm astonished to find on reading the other reviews that it's Michelin starred; disappointingly, it appears that the cheap seats receive a rather lesser quality of cooking....
Service was, though exemplary, and it was just as well as we nearly fainted on being presented with a bill for £186 for two set menus @ £25 (albeit ordering "off"), a bottle of £29 wine, two glasses of champagne and two coffees...
We queried it only to be told first that the £13.65 champagne was indeed "house" and worse, that rather than the ordering of our starters from the A la Carte menu resulting in a "supplement" to the £25 menu, were actually charged for the whole meal as if we'd eaten A la Carte. Had this been made clear at the outset, we'd have made do with the £25 menu; not finding out till the bill arrived was embarassing and frankly, irritating
The Maitre D handled things well and recognised our complaint but the amended bill still came to £75 each for a meal that wasn't outstanding in any way. This is a typical example of a "deal" that is far from being what it seems; I suppose it's just another of those caveat emptor scenarios. I'll certainly check the small print from now on (oh and by the way the same menu is offered at £38 per person inclusive of a sommelier's choice wine; this also sounds like a deal until you realise that they're about to sting two of you for £26 for 375ml of wine NOT a bottle....)
The bottom line is that for that kind of money, you could have a wonderful time at Petrus and for less, Pattersons is fab. I won't be rushing back....
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Kate Apenteng
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
I visitedOrrery for the second time on Saturday night and once again both the food and the service impressed me greatly. Even coming in with high expectations (as one does when dining at a Michelin-starred establishment), I still left in very good spirits. Few restaurants still have the class of service available here; a knowledgeable staff that know when to ask you questions, or walk by your table in case you may have one. The food was fantastic again; they seem unable to go wrong on this front. Perhaps what made this a bit more special is that I had eaten at The Ivy, a much more famous restaurant, just the evening before and there was simply no comparison between the two experiences in terms of both service and food quality (though I suppose in The Ivy's defence it is famous for difficulty of getting a table, and not the quality of its food.... and it is about half the price of Orrery)
The one qualm I did have with the experience was when waiting in the bar-reception area before the meal, we were virtually ignored and I had to get a member of staff to come get our drinks orders. It was a real contrast to the attention once we got into the main restaurant and is one area the managers of the resaurant should consider looking into, as this place is otherwise nearly flawless (could I hear a second star a-knocking).
The other thing that may put some people off is the price. I may be more than happy to pay these prices for this quality, but many people will see this as unnecessarily exorbitent.
I plan, over the next few years, to eat at several other of the Michelin variety and may discover other restaurants that I feel as strongly about as Orrery but until then I will be a return customer here anytime I feel the need for top-quality food and wine.
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Abioye A Oyetunji
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, April 30, 2007
I went to the Orrery restaurant with some trepidation. Although I had started to become a regular, I had now shunned the coffee shop below for eighteen months after one of the gaggle of always offhand French serveuses was staggeringly rude over a mistake she had made with a coffee. I had also been profoundly disappointed each time I had visited the Conran Zinc restaurant in Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal.
The Orrery restaurant was entirely different. When I arrived at about half past one the room with the beautiful windows was filled with forty or so, relaxed and well-heeled diners. There are no cutlery clutchers here; everyone knows how to hold their knife and fork. The Conran style is at its best in this understated, quiet and modern elegance. Regrettably, a mobile phone went off - but only once. Service is impeccable, headed by one of the best maitre d’ I have encountered. Nothing escaped his notice and I wondered for a while if he was indeed in charge as there was nothing he would not do himself. I saw him greet guests, sweep crumbs and direct staff with none of the brash or overly suave superiority too often associated with this position. A good restaurant must click silently like a perfect machine; one of its identifying features being how the staff work together, as much is done in public, there is little margin for error and many opportunities for things to go wrong. The staff here worked efficiently, courteously and professionally together. I saw one small fracas directly in front of me when a waitress - in fact the only female member of staff - obviously harangued the poor young man whose job it was to bring out the trays. The maitre d’ was there in a moment. He murmured something and the spectacle melted away. Otherwise, all the staff were attentive and charming; suggestions were made, my happiness periodically checked, nothing was forgotten. As the main course was served to the couple next to me, the man had to leave for a moment. In the blink of an eye, silver domes had appeared from nowhere to keep the food warm. In this restaurant it is an absolute pleasure to be served.
I ordered from the set menu at £25, where there are three choices for each course. A carrot veloute amuse bouche appeared although it was not especially exciting. The bocconcini starter turned out to be an arrangement of mozzarella balls, rocket and pickled beetroot. It was, if anything, less inspiring than the veloute and my memory is of the overpowering taste of roasted pine nuts. Food at this standard just isn’t worth a Michelin star. For my main course, things started to look up a bit. I had asked for the salmon and new potatoes. They had run out but I was instantly offered the halibut from the a la carte menu instead. I have always thought halibut an insipid, overrated fish but this was beautifully cooked, framed by an unusual sauce vierge and crowned with an interesting aubergine caviar. Sadly, none of the enticing new potatoes at other tables came my way and I was glad I had accepted the bread earlier. To finish, I had a selection of four hard cheeses accompanied by wine-infused jellies. The trolley positively groaned with cheese of which my choices represented a mere fraction. If I was going to be difficult I would say though that my selection was not worth the three of four pound supplement.
It would be hard to do lunch in less than an hour and a quarter, and as this is a place to savour and enjoy, you really wouldn't want to. I look forward in the future to making slightly more engaging choices in my food. There is a large sun-terrace, entirely empty when I saw it, which is open for drinks at lunchtime and in the evening. I did not see any sun umbrellas and there is no shade but there is also a cosy bar if the lunchtime heat becomes too much. The restaurant also offers a 30.00 set Sunday lunch which includes a glass of champagne.
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Felicity
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
