The Rosendale

Good food, nice venue and a relaxed place to spend a long lunch. Recommened
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John
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Outstanding wine, fabulous food and if you speak to them, knowledgable and helpful staff.

The wine list is impressive but if it is a little daunting ask for some help and you will get some fantastic recommendations. Of course with dining like this you pay for what you get but the love put in meant that it was worth every penny. This was our second visit, one of many to come.... we started with the ravioli and the ham terrine. The ravioli was fantastic, if a little too much for a starter; the flavours were balanced and well matched (having a half italian girlfriend means that you get used to understanding how it is difficult to get good italian food). The Ham terrine was good with the blueberry chutney although, it was a little too cold, good to know it is being looked after but the closer to room temperature you get the more the flavours show themselves.

For main we had Pork Belly which is an absolute delight of a dish which comes with three cuts of pork and your own set of little tasters (black pudding, apple and cabbgage) it was one of the best meals I have had this year and that is saying something.

For desert we had the Chocolate Tribute - a good mix of flavours although much more my girfriends thing; I sat there and sipped my sparkling Asti mmmmmmmm.

The wine was a fantastic Sagrantino - no wonder the co-owner was held in high regard as a sommelier. Maybe it wasn't the best co host to the meal but I loved it. If you spend a few extra quid on wine here you will REALLY see the return on inverstment.

The only real criticisms:

The lights are now dimmer which is good but there needs to be something to soften the tone of the place - it still feels a little rigid.

We went on a busy night and took an early table which meant we felt a little rushed (but not too much)

The staff could be a little more warm but with this sort of dining comes a distance between you and the hosts. Seen and not heard.

Well worth it and we will be back.
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simon lamb
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Saturday, December 29, 2007

I'd been looking forward to the Rosendale after reading so many gushing reviews.

An unforeseen domestic disaster meant we turned up later than planned but a quick phone call assured us we were still in time to eat and we were warmly welcomed by the understanding and amicable host Simon.

The food was good for the price - to get better, you'd expect to shell out substantially more. Presentation was oddly nouvelle ... humungous white plates with (apparently) tiny cubes of food strategically positioned. It didn't look like a lot but was in fact rich and filling.

It would have been a very enjoyable evening had Simon hung around. Sadly, he was replaced by a glowering hulk with all the charm of a hungover Gordon Brown.

Snatched plates. Grumpy comments about chefs wanting to go home. Not a flicker of a smile (they were clearly reserved exclusively for the group of young blonde women at a neighbouring table)

We couldn't wait to leave. So we did. Leaving the blondes to have more fun than we did.

We won't be back. I don't believe in paying to be treated with contempt. Which is a shame as otherwise the Rosendale has a lot going for it.
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Mark
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The interior is lovely -- a well designed combination of light spaciousness and intimate warmth.

The service is also fine. However, this place -- we ate in the restaurant rather than the pub -- is let down by its food, which I'm afraid is all rather ordinary given the price and expectations set by being judged so highly by Time Out.

I had pasta that was well cooked but smothered in an oily sauce that lacked taste. My partner had pork that was adequate, but accompanied by bland vegetables.

We had a desert each. My crumble appeared simply to consist of heated fruit with a sprinkling of oats. Any attempt at a crumble mix was obviously too much effort. I forget what the other choice was, though I do remember it was err... entirely forgettable.

We ordered cheese, but it had not been chambré-d. Anyhow, given the tiny slices we were served, it was always going to be difficult to judge the quality.

The restaurant is keen to point out that they source their food locally, from Kent farms, though I really must say, from our experience, you'd be none the wiser if the ingredients had been flown in from another country.

Maybe I'm just getting fussy in my forties or perhaps they just had a bad day, but I would certainly not recommend the Rosendale unless you want to pay for the interior design rather than the food.
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Andy McAleer
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, December 03, 2007

Went for Sunday lunch, food really excellent and very good value. One word of warning though, if you don't have a baby yourself you may feel a tad awkward. Never seen so many babies in one place, all of them going for the All England screaming and crying Olympics, while their designer buggies are an obstacle course to be negotiated with extreme care.

This nappy valley seems confined to the front of the place though, it's a bit quieter out back but here there are a quite a few toddlers doing noisy things with spoons and crockery. Their parents either look on with beaming admiration or ignore them altogether, until the child breaks or throws something substantial.

I'm still a bit deaf from the experience.
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paf
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 26, 2007

Finally somewhere in the Dulwich area where you can have a West end standard meal with matching sevice and a wine list that exceeds all but the top Michelin restaurants. We were expecting good on the back of the Greyhound in Battersea and got exceptional. Couldn't fault it.
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Simon Nixon
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 20, 2007

The Rosendale is one of the places I have eaten in some time. The service was immaculate and the food was exceptionally great. All the staff treated us proffessionaly yet it was relaxed and comfortable.

I highly recommened The Rosendale to any foodies out there.

Keep up the good work

Thank you.
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M cox
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 20, 2007

Its great to have the Rosendale, its brought something new to the area in terms of good food and a relatively honest set of prices for drinks in the bar..

The food is good and the staff (altough some seem to be new to waiting / bar work) are charming and I'm sure will get the hang of it in no time!

I now have a place to spend next summer chilling, eating bar snacks and drinking to much cider.. (they sell Addlestones scrumpy, so I'm converted).
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matt f
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 11, 2007

Living around the corner from the Rosendale I have now eaten there 7 or 8 times. I have the right to comment on what a brilliant place this one really is.

Food is always fantastic,

Service absolutely impeccable in the restaurant but a little irratic in the bar but the staff are so polite and helpful it more then makes up for it.

The atmosphere is clean, fresh and well designed

The wine list and beverage offering is mind blowing.

I always think that when a new place wins a an award or accolade it is always the English way to try and drag em down.

In my opinion the rosendale is first rate and worthy of their plaudits. At any rate on most nights they are so busy you will struggle to find a table so proofs in the pud as they say.
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morris d
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Absoulutely brilliant

This place is seriously busy! yet they seem able to maintain great consistency.

We ate in the restaurant, food, produce and service where polished to say the least, Amazing produce charming waiters and a wine list to put most top flight west end properties to shame.

Until now I havent found a place where my wife and I can enjoy a brilliant meal a sensational bottle of wine and bring the kids at the same time. I have finally found it.

Would thouroughly recommend, in fact I have booked again for next Sunday
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Cameron Edson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 24, 2007