The Chancery

One of our favourite places for a special night out. The food is always top notch, the wine list comprehensive and the service staff know their stuff and are very attentive, yet discrete. The small dining room adds to the charm, but it does get a bit loud in the late evening. Highly recommended
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C. Crouch
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 26, 2007

I had a fantastic evening here recently. This is a secluded restaurant on a very quiet street off Chancery Lane.

The restaurant was very spacious. Customers were not cramed in and my girlfriend and I had a very large table for just the two of us.

The staff were very attentive but they managed to strike that fine balance of being attentive but not intrusive.

The food was excellent with sea bass perfectly cooked. My girlfriend's rhubarb cheesecake was wonderfully light.

highly recommended!
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Autriche - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 12, 2007

My wife & I ate here last Friday (10th Feb) evening. Food & service was excellent, prices very reasonable at £32 per head plus wine, I can thouroughly recommend it. They were kind enough to supply a bottle of wine from their sister restaurant (The Clerkenwell) which was superb - Leoville Poyferre 1996.

I wish them well for the future.

Steve & Chris
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 13, 2006

Excellent dinner here last Friday night. Warm greeting and we were allowed to choose our table, which I always like. Bread was a little late in coming but when it came (choice of olive, raisin or white) it was fresh out of the oven and delicious. Nice diverse menu. I ordered warm pigeon salad followed guinea fowl. Disappointed to learn that they had sold out of the pigeon so chose ballotine of foie gras instead. Starters were preceded by a very agreeable "shot of mushroom soup" amuse-geule. The foie gras was not adventurous but it was good: two pressed discs accompanied by a sauternes jelly and warm brioche. Delicious main of roast guinea fowl came sitting on a creamy bed of peas, broadbeans and spinach. My dining partner had a good tuna carapaccio to start, followed by confit shoulder of lamb which was also very good and "spoon tender". Desserts were a little disappointing given the marvellous two previous two courses: I had a rather odd banana tarte tatin (sounded good on paper but came as upended chunks on banana sitting in a soggy pastry case -- given the menu description, I think this dish has potential but could've been better thought out and could definitely have been better-executed) and my partner had a cappuccino creme brulee which he liked, but I didn't think was all that. Service was friendly by one of the staff (the brunette) and surly by the other (the blonde girl) and overall rather slow. However, standard of food more than makes up for inefficiency of service. We ate on a 2-4-1 so fantastic value but I would definitely go back full price. Highly recommended.
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LT
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 23, 2006

My partner had the smoked Duck to start and I went for the foie gras (we had a difficulty in choosing as there were several things we wanted). Both starters were excellent.

For mains we chose the monkfish and the beef rib - again the food was really good.

We finished with pear tart and a selection of cheeses - again good food but if I were being picky (piggy)I would have liked more cream.

We washed the meal down with a bottle of Chilean Merlot (good robust flavoursome wine) and also a bottle of sparkling water.

The staff were attentive but not obtrusive.

All in all the meal at The Chancery was the memorable and we intend going back, or maybe we'll try The Clerkenwell.
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Patrick Ahmed
Monday, November 21, 2005

I booked this restaurant on a friend's recommendation.

We went for lunch for the menu du jour, as detailed on the restaurant's website. Despite mentioning the menu du jour when booking (to establish the time we had an early afternoon engagement) we were presented with the a la carte menu and had to request the menu du jour. When it arrived, all options were tempting.

After ordering we were presented with 'a little something from the chef', a complimentary shot glass brimming with delicious celeriac soup. Starters included smoked haddock in a wonderful light and crispy pastry and a super salmon dish.

Mains included Salmon over a selection of baby vegetables and ribeye steak with cauliflour cheese gratin. Atop the steak was a disc of anchovy butter which seemed perhaps to distract slightly from the wonderful flavour of the steak.

Deserts were simple but effective although the double espressos could have been a little warmer.

Clean white decor with dark wood floors, good food and reasonable though somewhat surly service. Nevertheless, an enjoyable meal.
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P
Tuesday, November 01, 2005

An impressive experience all round, really.

The service was amazing - we were met at the door and shown to our table by one of the owners who was charming and very polite. Throughout the evening he explained each and every dish in detail, giving mouthwatering descriptions of some of the food.

I was motivated to choose from the £14 de jour menu, esentially because pay day was still three days away. Nonetheless, my mixed hams starter was excellent, each type of ham standing out a distinct flavour. I followed with the pork belly which was cooked perfectly, tender and very flavoursome. Pudding was a fantastic chocolate mousse and sorbet combo, unusual but superbly done. Clearly the chef has talent and ideas.

I drank the house red which was punchy and went well with the strong flavours on the various plates.

It was slightly sad to see the restaurant so quiet - there was no-one else apart from ourselves in the place. I suppose one could argue that this would make it excellent for a romantic meal or hushed business dinner, but I do think it would be a better place on a busy Friday with bustling conversation and some reasonably loud jazz.

I would certianly go again. I have to save up to eat from the £32 menu first though. Foie Gras is motivation enough.
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JJ - View all reviews by this user
Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Two menus (one £20, one £32) of which the latter is more inventive. We went for the cheaper menu however, and were impressed by the fresh flavours and generous portions. The cod with chorizo lentils was superb. Atmosphere was sadly lacking, no doubt due to its location in the middle of lawyer-ville. The one improvement they could make would be to get rid of the smooth-jazz' muzak. Otherwise a perfect little place that deserves a far larger clientle.
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John S
Friday, August 19, 2005