The Walpole

We regularly have Dinner at this place, and is one of the most friendliest place in London. The menu is described in length, and will tell you how each dish is cooked. Food is just delicious !!!!!!!!

The portions of both the Main and Dessert are so big and most of the time we had to ask them to be packed for take-away.

Service is the best.......

Highly recommended 10 out 10.
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Manhar, Rama, Punit & Alison Joshi
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Walpole is an underappreciated gem in an area bereft of good, let alone great, eating venues. For those seeking a real taste of great cooking let them seek out the Walpole’s Friday and Saturday dinners. The value for money is outstanding and so is the quality of the food; I do not know how the owners manage both. Eating and enjoying food is the mantra of this establishment. A real dedication to cooking may be discerned, indeed the co-owners both appear to have a vocation.

Whenever an overseas friend is in town, I attempt to get them out to Ealing to eat dinner here. With no exception they all rave about the meals. The nationalities and experience of these diners is unrivalled. All unanimously wish that the Walpole was their local restaurant. My French/Italian friend has unreservedly stated that the Walpole’s risotto is the best she has ever eaten: a real accolade. I have also taken vegetarians and given prior warning about their attendance. The menu has been such that the vegetarian may have benefited and enjoyed the best on offer that night.

Children are welcome. Crayons are available for drawing upon the brown paper “tablecloths”. Adults are also able to show their artistic side with many pictures exhibited on the walls.

As to the service, it is also incomparable in quality. The description by the co-owner of the various dishes offered for dinner is an art form in itself. I usually find myself torn. At this stage the flexibility of offering to switch dishes, i.e. Jersey royals for the pomme puree (namely “cream-with-potatoes”) or another vegetable is seen and, even more, encouraged.

During the day there is also the delight of breakfast and lunch. Again huge portions are the norm and much choice. For those not selecting the fixed options there is the ability to make-your-own from the list which includes both bubble-and-squeak and even chips.

Service is superb with Wendy, one of the owners, wielding a firm hand. The place is usually heaving with a very mixed clientele indicating the high quality, large quantity and low price.
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suecat - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 29, 2011

The Walpole is without doubt the best restaurant in West London. Based in south Ealing they have been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for the last nine years and the quality has never wavered.

Run by Louis and Wendy the Walpole is headed by two of the most dedicated hard working individuals in the industry, opening for dinner only two nights a week, Friday and Saturday, the Walpole is a treat for any diner. Ex Conran Chef Louis’ menu changes weekly with only two fixed dishes one being the Romney marsh lamb, slow cooked for eight hours! And the other possibly the biggest steaks I have ever laid my eyes on cooked to your liking with a mountain of homemade chips.

Before ordering Wendy gives each table a step by step guide through the menu telling you how each dish is prepared and where the ingredients came from usually British and always the top grade. While this is going on you have to try a raspberry martini, shaken to perfection then pored over a ball of Louis homemade raspberry sorbet, absolutely to die for!

Went for dinner with a friend just the other week and had the most wonderful Sea Trout with asparagus risotto followed by a rum baba, doused in rum syrup and served with panna cotta and the best Kentish raspberries I have ever come across!

When in for breakfast this morning Wendy, knowing my love for British fruit, showed me the Cherries that were being stoned for a dish on this week’s menu, also from the garden of England they were plump and sweet I was tempted to book a table there and then!

I am always very shocked to see that the Walpole has as yet to receive a write up in any of the major prints. Perhaps due to its cafe by day restaurant by night status or maybe due to the fact that they do not advertise and relies on word of mouth alone. I cannot stress how good this Restaurant is.
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Gerrie Stevens
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Walpole is amazing. Portions are enormous, the food is spectacular and it is fantastic value for money (we often get lunch the next day out of our doggy bags). If the guinea fowl is on the menu order it - absolute heaven. Louis is a terrific chef and we adore Wendy who makes this the best experience ever. Try the raspberry martini - surely the best cocktail in London (if you're a bit full have one for pudding - but if the tarte tatin is on then you should try and make room). I can't enthuse enough about The Walpole - breakfasts and lunches are also wonderful - the only downside is that we can't go everyday.
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Sarah
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Went for lunch today - 20th August - with my mother and daughter. Food was really good and lots of it. Two of us had the gammon which was delicious and my daughter had the chicken, which she rated highly. Would love to go back and try out the evening menu.
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Mutti - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 20, 2010

Just read about the 50 best restaurants in the world - if St John's is 43rd, this is at least 42nd - better food, better service and a better experience - keep up the great work.
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Tom Beeston
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

First time out again for Mrs Sim and myself since the arrival of Little Sim so of course it had to be the Walpole. The Walpole is unique. It makes you happy. If you're not overly fussed about Michelin-star presentation but are keener on the flavours and quality of the cooking and the ingredients then I challenge you to find something better. Even if the food was rubbish (which it isn't) the service would have you coming back. The good news is they give you so much of the good stuff you'll explode, and then they give you a doggy bag in case you do decide to throw the towel in beforehand.

This place is great. Just make sure you arrive hungry.
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Big Sim
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 01, 2010

I've been a regular at the Walpole since it first opened. I keep going back and will continue to do so. The food is fantastic, the service is great; going there is always a great pleasure. Whenever I have friends or relatives visiting I will introduce them to the "Walpole" experience (or those who are returning will invariably ask when we can go there again).

Wendy, Louis and the staff are always extremely welcoming.

The Walpole is all about good quality, hearty, seasonal food, prepared using the best ingredients and the food is accompanied by a good wine list (and wine specials)

I defy any carnivore not to enjoy the Romney Marsh Lamb or the varieties of steak; any lover of desserts not to enjoy the chocolate pot and sea salt caramel ice-cream.

Already looking forward to my next visit.....
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, October 11, 2009

I have refrained from posting this review for over 2 years, but having read some recent comments I feel the need to support Sylvia's review.

My one and only experience of The Walpole a few years ago did indeed prove the many rumours that I had heard regarding how great the food was. However, great food does not make up for atrocious service.

A party of 11 celebrating a family birthday, we found out as one of the guests arrived that her daughter had just come down with a migraine and would not be able to join us. Those familiar with the restaurant will be aware that it is fairly cosy, and as an uneven number we have been given a table with one chair tacked on the end where there wasn't really space. Of course, this wasn't a problem because our 11th member had been unable to join us. What happened next I have never experienced in a restaurant before and hopefully never will again. The female co-owner loudly chastised and humiliated our party in front of the entire restaurant for not ringing ahead regarding our reduction in number. We explained that we had only just discovered that our guest could not attend and described the circumstances. She basically ignored us, starting to lecture us regarding the 'lost opportunity' to take more bookings, aggressively berating the grandmother of our party, a 72 year old woman (who just happened to be sitting at the end, in her targeting sights), and calling us 'selfish' and 'inconsiderate'. All this despite us pointing out that sticking a chair at the end of a table is not the equivalent of an additional table for two - i.e. we would have needed the same size table regardless, so her point regarding extra bookings was irrelevant.

Her reaction was completely unnecessary and unpleasant; we were by far the largest group in the restaurant and there were several empty tables - during our meal two couples walked in off the street without bookings and were easily accommodated. If we had not been such a large group, celebrating a birthday, we would have walked out before tasting any food. She was incredibly patronising - it was like being back in school. We were completely astounded my her attitude.

As it was we made the best of it, spending over £400 - probably more than any other party of diners that evening. However, the experience was ruined - the atmosphere was horrible throughout and we couldn't wait to get out of there.

In response to many of the reviewers who comment on the feeling of being a treasured 'regular' at The Walpole - Sylvia and I are describing what it is like to not be part of the clique.

Despite the food being good, I've had far, far better and it didn't justify the awful experience. For me, it's a perfect example of bad business sense. All of our party were visiting The Walpole for the first time that night and we all live relatively locally. If our experience had been different then perhaps we would be 'regulars' by now, but as it stands, none of us has set foot in the place since, nor will do in the future. Considering how frequently we dine out, that's a great deal of lost revenue. Their loss. Not ours.
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AD
3 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, September 07, 2009

Fantastic food - just lots and lots of it!
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Victoria
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, July 08, 2009