Hereford Road

Oh my goodness, Texans visiting London and the UK MUST go to Hereford Road. You will find meat here, plus seafood, ---and beautiful vegetarian offerings also. Even more exciting, diners find REAL British food made with the freshest of ingredients. For example, I ate gray mullet served with fresh broccoli florets and leaves that was fantastic, subtle, and tasty. Grouse which we had never eaten before was cooked full of flavor. The chocolate cake was out of this world, not mere Texas hyperbole, either. The wines we drank encouraged savoring each taste and each moment. Learn about British Cuisine at Hereford Road and love it!
Comment on this reader review

Janice Clayton
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 04, 2011

Another wonderful night at West London's local foodie heaven. We secured one of the comfy leather booths in the main restaurant for the five of us.

With the starters we all went our own way, clams, cured duck and lamb sweetbreads to name a few. We shared a lamb for the main course which after a good effort on all our parts we were still unable to finish with the added sides of potatoes and greens.

The noise level is raised as ever but we feel this just adds to the atmosphere,

Wine is not cheap but you can guarantee that even the house bottles will be of a high standard and carefully chosen.

As for the food, you would be hard pushed to find anywhere else that serves this quality at such a reasonable price.

Service is dedicated and friendly.
Comment on this reader review

J. August
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 27, 2011

On first arrival we found the restaurant's ambience to be disappointing. Slightly too many covers for such a small space, dingy lighting and very noisy. Our orders for drinks weren't taken for about 20 mins and we were starting to wonder if we should leave and go to one of the nice-looking Persian places nearby.

Food ordering did take a while to come through, we were left waiting for about 25 mins in all before we were asked, which wasn't great. Other tables also seemed to be waiting but then a rush of dishes came out and the service picked up. Obviously they were pacing themselves and giving the kitchen some time.

We had lamb sweetbreads with pea shoots and peas to start which was delicate, caramel-charred and delicious. Mains of lamb rump with minted courgettes and veal steak with celeriac were well-cooked and flavoured. The quality of the meat was excellent. We finished with rice pudding with rhubarb and milk pudding flavoured with lemon with fresh raspberries and laits du chats - both were lovely.

A couple of glasses of wine and some bread and the bill was just over £80 not incl. service - very reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food.

In all, we had a very good meal but didn't experience any of the friendly service [it was competent] and personal touches that others have noted. As said, we didn't like the decor or ambience either but with food this good we would recommend it overall.
Comment on this reader review

cut2quik - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 9
Sunday, August 14, 2011

Maybe we caught the restaurant on an off night - I was disappointed by our quail for starter, nicely seasoned but dry and chewy. The meat for the mains was excellently cooked. However, the sauce and the vegetables that accompanied the lamb were both overly salty, (and I like salty food!). It completely over powered the dish. Likewise, the accompaniment for the pork was nothing to shout about. Dessert was a complete let down, watery rice pudding with two large chunks of undercooked rhubarb, which appeared a few seconds later, so obviously pre-prepared and had been sitting in a fridge somewhere.

The portion sizes are large and are relatively good value for that reason, however, given the reviews, I was expecting the quality of the food to be better.

Service was abysmal, impersonal and not very friendly. There was one table complaining that they had been waiting for their mains for an hour and a half. The staff seemed stresssed and unhappy, I didn't see a waiter smile all night apart from the maire'd handing our coats to us when leaving.
Comment on this reader review

Annie - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Friday, July 15, 2011

Brilliant food, good portions, charming service, great value for money.

All in all a really good restaurant. Slight lack of atmosphere in the lower seating area, try and get a booth in front on the kitchen if you can.
Comment on this reader review

Josh - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Just go. If you do not enjoy the food it is because you do not like food...food as it should be and as it used to be: real flavours, great portions and fresh ingredients. Maybe a bit noisy on the night but most definitely worth it
Comment on this reader review

8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Saturday, December 04, 2010

What sets Hereford Road apart from other top-end gastros is the sheer size of the menu and the strength of meat dishes on offer. I was pleasantly surprised to have 10 to 12 dishes to choose from for each course instead of having to cycle through half a dozen offerings on the limited, unimaginative, constrained menus found at most other gastros. I no longer accept 'fresh, seasonal ingredients and a daily changing menu' as an excuse for such shortcomings, as Hereford manages the same claim and yet is able to spoil us for choice! The brilliant and unusual St. John-esque offerings are Hereford's 'pieces de resistance' so into a dish of faggot and mushy peas I leapt. I've never had tastier gravy, and the way it infused with the mushy peas, both from a texture and taste point of view, was quite simply sublime. As for the faggot, best darn meatball I've had in a while, although I would've liked stronger, bolder flavours from the offal from the mince. But that could just be down to my palette so no holds barred next time...calves' liver it is! The Rhubarb Eton Mess was a popular choice amongst the diners, including myself, and it lived up to expectations. Generous chunks of stringy, succulent rhubarb married with the chewy texture of sticky meringue, mixed with cream was a pleasure down to the last mouthful. I will most definitely be returning, preferably after enlisting the help of willing companions to conquer the Mount Everests of the menu...those shoulder cuts for two!
Comment on this reader review

Natasha Chuah
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 24, 2010

Potted crab, outstanding. Guinea fowl and lentils, outstanding. Service excellent until the time came to check if we wanted the bill. Forty odd minutes between coffee removal and payment. Might have wrecked the meal. Reasonably priced for such excellent cooking.
Comment on this reader review

Cool Raoul
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 28, 2010

This is a great place. The food is terrific, the menu very interesting and the execution over-delivers! A lot of restaurants should take note, as many under-deliver. The serving staff are friendly, well-organized and really interested in their menu. Our australian waiter could explain every single thing on an extensive menu. He also knew the wine, and when we were unsure, had us try each of the 2 we were dithering about to let us choose. Now how great is that?

We had delightful fried calf's brains and smoked ham hock salad for starters. All exemplary. Then the piece of resistance (as my spouse likes to say) an extraordinary steak and kidney pie for 2. We ate the whole thing. It was the best example I had eaten in London. Too full for desserts, we waddled out after our Saturday lunch and went on a long walk . But as Arnie said in the Terminator -"I'll be back!"
Comment on this reader review

C.Elder
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 09, 2010

I really enjoyed this restaurant, service was friendly and attentive. The pork was the best I have ever had; the crackling perfect.

The one thing it lacks is a good entrance imo, a splash more colour perhaps - those white rectangular tiles are a bit passe nowadays, reminds me of the toilets at Shoreditch House. The main dining area is very nice if a little noisy when busy.

Will definately go back, good value too.
Comment on this reader review

Sam
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 27, 2009