The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant

The food overall here is better than average, but some of the combinations are odd, and on a recent visit spicing was manily indisctinct, rather than clear individual spices and the same applies to the flavours of individual vegetables, often mingling together and becoming muted rather than each flavour singing out. Price for the food was midrange at around £25-30 a head for three courses, but then their food costs must be very low and their location is a bit back of beyond so rents can't be that high. Despite the fact that they must be making more than standard markup on food, the wine list markup was also higher than the already excessive London norm, with most bottles looking to me like they were around 4 times retail.

The space is a nice space with big windows and very high ceilings but tables and chairs are ikea-tastic with no linen etc., so there's not even a high level of comfort to justify the food and drink markups. I think its in some way connected to a church or converted from a church, and the toilets are very church hall, which they shouldn't be at these prices. It is worth noting though that there was a great buzz on a Saturday night and service was very good-helpful and friendly without being intrusive. They didn't mind a massive delay waiting for some friends who didn't show despite having a queue and didn't mind that we left very late. The bottom line is nothing about the food would make me go back with a meat eater, but its a good option when meeting up with a vegetarian whos tired of curry.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Saturday, December 05, 2009

We visited the Gate last week for the first time. My best friend is vegetarian and we picked the Gate after a long elaboration, purely because as a meat eater I am very sceptical when it comes to food which doesn't contain red and bloody bits. We got there, sat comfortably and ordered with a lovely staff member. Our final pick was potato cake and courgette flower for starters and rosti and teriyaki aubergine for mains. And.... it was delicious. Seriously. We finished the food in a blink of an eye, and still fitted a chocolate fondant for dessert.

Well, what can I say. It was really great, I have decided I will give vegetarian a go more often, especially in The Gate. Nicely presented, delicious veg treats, plus a good choice of drinks definitely will make me come back again.

I can't really find anything to pick on. The atmosphere was great, staff discreet and friendly, finally the food - outstanding. What else do you need? Just go there and enjoy!
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Misha
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 26, 2009

I've been going to the Gate since it opened 20 years ago, but things seem to have gone a bit awry. The service was friendly but limited and incompetent. We'd booked - but weren't offered an outdoor table. 15 minutes to take our order..20 minutes to have our dessert order taken...then 40 minutes before our (15' wait) desserts didn't arrive, we managed to ask someone where they were. He checked. Said the order hadn't reached the kitchen, and "we wondered what you were doing." What we were doing? We were sitting there without menus, wine or nothing, and no one bothered to check anything. Taking 10% off the bill was nice, but then adding 12.5% service anyhow was a bit, er, rich.

It does feel a bit stuck. The lighting is glaring, whilst the outside diners were left in the dark. Nothing a few candles wouldn't transform. But it's the food that means we won't bother for a while..poorly presented, underwhelming flavours, and lacking the surprise and complexity of what it used to be.
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Lewis Cash
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Thursday, August 20, 2009

I've just come back from a leisurely lunch there, where I had three of their starter-sized dishes: first some fantastic, delicate, light, intensely flavoured stuffed courgette flower, then a perfectly seasoned three-artichoke salad, and then some beautiful courgette and red pepper involtini with a lentil salad that was fresh and set my mouth tingling with fresh herbs.

The Gate is the best restaurant in Hammersmith - even better than the River Cafe. And believe me, this is coming from a dedicated meat eater! It's my third favourite restaurant in London after the Anchor and Hope and St John. The fact that's it's a vegetarian restaurant is immaterial - they deliver incredible flavour. I was put off from going for months because it was veggie, and boy am I kicking myself now - this place is a foodie dream and I could have had many more meals there in all that time!

What they do incredibly well is taste - delicate and well-balanced, it's truly a masterclass in how to take fresh ingredients and lift them up with perfect cooking and intriguing, subtle flavours. It's also beautifully presented. I was lucky enough to work nearby for two years and it has always been a true joy for the tastebuds.

I swear I am not at all even remotely linked to the restaurant - I'm trying to get more people to go there because 1) it's beautiful cooking and 2) I can't belive people flock to the River Cafe when they can get intriguing, much more interesting and beautiful food at the Gate for half the price. The only thing I would say is sometimes their desserts are not up to the level of their savoury dishes - but hey, I'm a savoury girl, so I don't care :-)

It's not that hard to find either. Walk down towards the river, leaving the Hammersmith Apollo on your left-hand side, and you'll find the eponymous Gate after a minute's walk - basically it's in the courtyard of the Christian centre.

Delicious, delicious, delicate food - it deserves to be a lot more popular than it is!
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Gilda Maurice
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Visited for the first time on last Saturday evening (29 November 2008). First person met us was I presume a manager who neither smiled or said hello. Gave him my name which he didn't check off - fair enough I thought, perhaps he'd remembered the night's bookings?

The room, while high celinged, has been made to feel uncomfy. There are four rows of tables, tightly packed in giving it the feeling of a canteen type place such as Wagamama. Don't come expecting any privacy at the table. Would be much more comfortable if they removed one table from each row.

Service was fast; perhaps even too fast! It's nice to relax when you go out for a meal and are spending a little above your average. Each course was brought to the table very quickly and whipped away equally as quickly by the manager. I must say the rest of the staff were very pleasant and seemed calm and professional compared to air of stress and unfriendliness which came from the manager guy.

The food was very good - but when served in an atmosphere like that is hard to truly appreciate it and enjoy your time. We travelled over from London Bridge , an hour each way and don't think we'll bother to return. Hurray to the chef, boo the people who crammed so many tables in and employed a front of house misery to run the operations.

Oh - and the gents had run out of toilet paper by 9pm. Nice.
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Jonathan K
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I visited The Gate tonight with my girlfriend and we had a most enjoyable evening. The aperifit, kir royale, was priced very reasonable at £4.50, and the fresh bread and finely flavoured olive oil was a fine accompanient.

Following, a mixed mezze starter (shared between 2) was exteremly tasty, and the main course was by no means a dissapointment....: the truffled rissotto cake with girolles and similar fine tasting mushrooms was enough to sastify any meat eater (which I am), and my girlfriend had a lovely fresh ravioli seasoned perfectly.

The ambience was intimate and the wine was priced reasonably.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, November 14, 2008

One of the few veggie restaurants you can take confirmed carnivores to - it may not convert them but its unliklely that they'll leave muttering darkly about rabbit food.

Only thing that stops me going back often (other than that I'm rarely in that part of London these days) is the pricing - not outrageous considering the quality but still a birthday and special occasions kind of place.
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Roger
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Gate is a fantastic restaurant. Okay, it is not cheap but the meals are perfectly proportioned, fresh and prepared to perfection. I am unsure where these reviewers get their views from because i have always found the staff unobtrusive but diligent and the food of exceptional quality and consistency. I don't go to a restaurant to be pestered by or to look at the staff, but they are polite and deserve the 12.5% service they provide.

There are few 'vegetarian' restaurants in London. I am happy to enjoy a meal here without the fear of a chunk of meat coming anywhere close to my food. I have eaten a strict vegetarian diet for over 18 years and have been to The Gate at least once per year for the last 7 or 8 since discovering it. I go for my birthday or my partner's birthday or when meeting old friends. In summer, sitting outside is a joy that most establishments in central London are unable to offer.

I suggest trying The Gate before listening to any of these reviews. Although that would mean disregarding this one but that's okay..... you'll soon see i was closest to the mark.
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J Bevan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, August 28, 2008

I feel compelled to write a review as there are quite a few bad ones on this site. I have only been once so maybe I was just lucky but I was very pleasantly surprised at the taste and presentation of the food. I had spring rolls for starter which were good and an amazing lasagne with Dolce Latte cheese for main course. We were a table of four and two had food allergies which were accommodated without a problem. Desserts and wines were nice and the overall bill was about £50 each. Everyone agreed mains were the winner. I think it's worth a try but judging by other people's reviews, maybe not for a special occasion!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 01, 2008

I had dinner at The Gate on Wednesday (30th July) and it was as good as it's ever been. It was a beautiful evening so we had a table outside in the courtyard which is sheltered enough to feel intimate. If I was going to make one complaint it would be that the table for 2 could have been a little bigger but the food was so good it really didn't matter.

I first went to the Gate when I still ate meat (just fish now) and I really didn't miss it. I think it's the best vegetarian restaurant in London and have never been disappointed there. On Wednesday the service was great, the wine was perfectly chilled and the food itself was heavenly. The bill came to £80 between 2 of us for 2 courses & coffee each, a £25 bottle of gorgeous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and service. Worth every penny.
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BH - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 01, 2008