The Orchard

It's a lazy, unseasonably mild Sunday in January 2012, just moved to the Area, and met a friend for Brunch: My expectations as I absolutely love food were quite high!

We bypassed the Brockley Mess as there were 'too many Yummy Mummies with their adorable babies' I wanted a place where Kids can be seen and not heard too much.

The Orchard had a beautiful open plan kitchen bar, it was peaceful, consistent, fab decor some partitioned sections so as to reduce noise, and one could have a decent conversation without shouting.

The Food (Eggs Royale my fave) was best I've had in south London yet and for £6:50 this was a bargain! Roast dinners looked awsome and sumptuous, service was excellent; polite, well spoken, well mannered individuals.

The only thing which I wanted but they didn't have was freshly made juice, other than that if your near the station an want good reasonably priced grub with a great atmosphere I Highly recommend The Orchard SE4

Thanks guys, I shall be returning in a couple of weeks with friends, oh and if you can reserve I would say do as it can get busy after 12:30pm (Sundays especially!)
Comment on this reader review

Martin J Cooney
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, January 08, 2012

We have been going to the Orchard for many months and have always had good service, good food and a friendly attitude. Only draw back is it is usually very busy so you have to wait for a table if you haven't booked in advance. But I have always found that the staff will do everything they can to accommodate you as soon as possible.

When I have ever pointed out any problem it has always been dealt with in a polite manner.

Excellent place.
Comment on this reader review

Simon
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I visited that hyper-pretentious pub today and ordered a coffee from their selection of 100% organic fairtrade arabica menu!!!. All very well, but it would be more important to learn how to make coffee!!! The milk was burned beyond recognition giving it that unpleasant smell of burned milk. As a result I've seriously burned my tongue!... I asked for another coffee as the one I was served was undrinkable and while I was waiting for someone to go to the shop and buy milk (!!???!!!!!???) and while a friendly member of stuff offered me some ice water to soothe my burned tongue, I was approached by the 'manager' who in a very cocky way 'informed' me that "coffee is hot mate!". That attitude epitomises the whole place and the total disrespect for their customers... It suggests that I was wrong in my coffee knowledge and tastebuds and that coffee 'should' be as the boiling brown liquid they are offering... The milk in espresso based coffee should be at 60 C. Milk starts burning at 80 C. I found his attitude not only extremely unprofessional but also insulting as I was asked to leave upon my request for details in order to inform the management about the staff attitude. - I appreciate that the stuff needs training in making what they would like to offer in their menu. A pseudo-intellectual decoration (with books and chalkboards and signs about organic produce) means nothing if they are unable to deliver. They should also be informed that customers can be forgiving about a staff mistake, but we shall not tolerate cockiness or insults!... They might as well offer instant coffee... I hope they can boil a kettle without setting fire to their customers!....
View/Add comments (1)

0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Came in here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night, we hadn't booked a table and they were packed. We were about to leave when a waiter came over and told us he would sort a table for us. He was really friendly and managed to get us a nice table. We were really impressed by the service as they were clearly very busy.

The meal was lovely, we both had steak and it was excellent. It was also nice to have the option of getting our drinks ourselves from the bar or have the waiters take our orders and bring them over for us.

On the whole we had a great night and will definately be coming back.
Comment on this reader review

Laura
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I moved to Brockley 6 months ago and was excited to have the Orchard at the end of my street, however not so much now... I've eaten there 4 times and there's always something that leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. You order your food at the bar (normally after waiting quite a while to do so because they're either training new staff or the available staff behind the bar don't seem to have any sense of urgency or acknowledge your existence) and if your order comes to over £30 you're charged a 10% service fee. I don't want to sound unreasonable or uptight, I have worked as a waitress and think service charges are normally well deserved but not for simply bringing food to a table. Especially considering if you order 2 main meals and anything else you're certain to go over that threshold.

My major gripe relates to one evening where I was brought the wrong main course, I explained it wasn't what I ordered in a polite way which was met by an incredibly surly attitude - no apology for me not getting what I ordered, just an impatient response stating I'd been over charged, which of course I had been - not only paying more for something that I didn't order but also having to pay the service charge, then to add insult to injury, my boyfriend being the nice bloke he is said he didn't mind taking the wrong order, but he later discovered it consisted of really unripe avocado, so he could only eat two thirds of the dish.

I know mistakes happen, and I don't consider myself a difficult person but an apology would have been nice, or even an acknowledgment of fault at the very least. Not what can only be described as a bad attitude.

When we first started to visit here the staff were so friendly and attentive but it has really gone downhill. We decided to give it another chance tonight but i'm afraid we won't be back. It's a shame - it definitely has some potential but needs to change it's approach to the customers.

At the moment there's no direct competition but that's no reason to rest on your laurels as I don't think that will be the case for much longer. Try harder Orchard as I really would like to return.
Comment on this reader review

Hazel
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, June 29, 2011

We went to the Orchard in Brockley on a Saturday evening for a family celebration.

The atmoshphere was friendly and informal and I could not fault the food (quality or portions), wine or the table service (you order at the bar and the food is brought to your table).

However when we came to order desserts, we were told that the cheesecake had gone and that the chef didn't have time to prepare the only other item on the dessert menu, a chocolate fondant. This was at 9.30 in the evening! We didn't bother with coffee after this but the Wetherspoons across the road were happily able to provide more than acceptable puddings and coffee and a nighcap.

Bit of an own goal really because we are unlikely to return.
View/Add comments (1)

7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 13, 2011

A wonderful surprise in Brockley! Really yummy food, friendly and efficient staff and great atmosphere, loved watching the fish swimming in the huge tank and music was great too! Thumbs up from me an my boyfriend and hopefully more interesting and unique places will open up in Brockley!
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 10, 2011

Love this place. Have been a few times as live locally and always have a good time. There isn't anything else in Brockley like the orchard.

Freedom lager is a winner and my partner, who is a wine drinker, thinks the wine list is great.

Food is very good too, I would say it is a cut above normal gastro pub food. It can get very busy, which means we sometimes can't get a table which is annoying.

Hope it carries on doing what its doing.
Comment on this reader review

Spencer
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, June 03, 2011

We love the Orchard, it is a ray of light in a slightly grubby bit of London. Really friendly staff, buzzy atmosphere and excellent bistro-style food. Steak and chips are always delicious.
Comment on this reader review

Cath
10 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 14, 2011

My partner and I went there on Sunday, hoping to buy lunch. It was quite early and there were very few customers present. There were three people serving. We stood by the bar patiently waiting for some attention for several minutes, but nobody met our eye, or said, "sorry, be with you in a minute", or acknowledged our existence in any way. We left, astonished at the sheer rudeness and lack of professionalism. We live in the same street, and so could have become regular customers, but will never go there again, and will be sure to tell our friends to avoid it.
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, March 17, 2011