The Chamberlayne Pub & Steak House

Been for lunch and dinner at the Chamberlayne over the past couple of weeks and very much enjoyed both.

I had. some very good whitebait, and some pitch-perfect grilled squid as starters, but this place is really all about the steaks. The rib-eye is excellent. Have with thin fries or dauphinoise - not the thick chips.

The wine list has some good stuff in it, though it is rather over-priced, and the sparsity of details can be annoying. Service is enthusiastic.

I am happy to leave the Wetherspoons in Shepherd's Bush for others to enjoy. The Chamberlayne has my vote for steak in NW london.
Comment on this reader review

King of Kensal
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

It hardly seems to matter what people say about this place because it is always rammed, but having eaten here repeatedly over the last few years I can't see the attraction other than the lack of local alternatives. Last night's starter of mussels was insipid and the steak was served on an icy cold greasy plate . After an hour or so we were told very firmly we had to leave the dining room to make way for the next patrons, so with a bottle of wine in hand we were shuffled into the bar to stand. Step outside your comfort zone Kensal Rise, for a £100 dinner take a cab to Shepherds Bush and have a steak at Wetherspoons.
Comment on this reader review

Al
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Sunday, April 10, 2011

I liked it very much here. Dinner on Saturday night. Just the two of us.

The bar was very lively in a laidback, non-threatening, Kensal Rise later 20's early 30's crowd kind of way (which was just what we were after).

Well stocked bar with enthusiastic bar staff who knew what they were about (how come The Paradise down the road finds it so hard to secure the services of anyone with the least interest or ability in service when this place was rammed packed with them?).

Menu was very steaky (...it's a steak restaurant...wha yu wan?) but other hearty dishes too. The food showed off excellent produce well with simple honest cooking.

Wine list: an excellent selection, but a bizarre and inexcusable lack of detail as to...well anything you might want to know like: who made it? when? where? Why so? The selection showed someone here knows their wine. Please tell us a bit more about it so we can choose well and enjoy heartily.

Service was very good and well-paced.

The restaurant room is very small and tables are almost on top of each other but that didn't bother us.

Prices were ok. Probably about right given the quality of the beef on offer. Wine was fairly priced.

A jolly place which did nothing to wipe the smiles off our faces and made us want to go back.
Comment on this reader review

Kwev
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, May 05, 2010

The tables are tiny and you can smell the food of the person next to you so this is not the place for an intimate heart to heart. However, there is something every gastro-pub should learn from The Chamberlayne and that is if you're going to do something, do it well. And if you do it really well, people will come back and be willing to pay more for the experience.

The Chamberlayne does two things extremely well - steaks and wine. This is backed up by excellent service and staff who know what they are talking about.

Steaks are ubiquitous on menus and, theoretically, simple to prepare - source the right quality meat, season and cook to taste. Simples! So few do this, particularly the lower down the restaurant hierarchy you go. The Chamberlayne really does allow the quality of the meat to shine through. The chips are first class. The steak and kidney pie is a passable alternative but not the reason to be there. There is a chicken and some fish on the menu but none really stand out.

For starters - the prawns, scallops, squid and oysters are OK - I would recommend keeping it simple. For puddings, take a larger steak instead!

The wine - exceptional value at the top end. Really superb wines in the £40 to £70 range at not much above retail prices. The mid priced ones suffer by comparison- drink the beer from the bar instead.;

A fillet steak or the chateaubriand for two plus good wine is well above pub prices but nonetheless still good value. If you like steak and wine, you will love The Chamberlayne. Try somewhere else for a romantic evening or if you want to watch your figure.
Comment on this reader review

Jeremy Alwyn
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, September 11, 2009

Nice place - very busy on a Tuesday night. Good wine list.

Food menu a little limited - great macaroni cheese but possibly the worst chips I've ever had!
Comment on this reader review

6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, June 10, 2009