Night #1 of my 8 nights of my birthday celebration in London. What a way to kick off a vacation. This is one of the harder places to get a reservation at on the weekends. We dropped by at 5:30pm hoping to be able to eat early, but were told no because they're fully booked all night. I made a reservation back on September 19th, and the best time I could get was 9:30pm. This is the oldest restaurant in London since 1798! I love the old decor and red. Everyone here is dressed up in high heels and lots of the men were in suits. Up first, I had a £18 Espresso Martini! Wow, some of the strongest espresso tasting Martini of all time. If you like thay strong taste you'll love this espresso martini. Next, £8.95 Heritage tomato salad, basil, pickled red onion & toasted pine nuts. Super solid. For the entree we split the £53.50 per person Roast rib of beef for two. The superstar item was for sure the house made horseradish sauce. I could have eaten the sauce all night. We liked the meat too. It came out a perfect medium for us. At the end of the meal they brought me ice cream for my birthday! read more

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For my partner's birthday, we went to Rules, the oldest restaurant in London. We ordered the roast beef for two, and it was cooked perfectly. It came with two Yorkshire puddings, homemade horseradish, and mashed potatoes. It was not a cheap meal, but you're paying for the ambiance, which can be described as museum-like with royal embellishments. There are so many things to look at, from James Bond's seat to the Downton Abbey section. The service was great, and our waitress was entertaining as well as insightful. She even showed us around, pointing out the wall art and other notable items. I'd recommend coming here for a special occasion while in London, it's truly a gem of an experience. read more

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Went for Sunday Roast on a short trip to London this April. The service is excellent and the ambiance lives up to its reputation. However I would say the food is good but not exemplary. With so many options for Sunday Roast, I wouldn't make a return visit. read more

First time guests. The good: Excellent ambiance. Great vibe. Top notch location. The watercress salad and the Guinea fowl were delicious. The less good: service was breathtakingly inattentive almost to the point of hostility. Very surprising given Rules' elevated reputation and, frankly, price. We couldn't figure out what was going on. Perhaps our server was having an off night. I doubt we'll return given the other options in London. read more

We entered twice in a one night before and after a show they they refused to seat us despite having many seats open. We wanted a dessert and a drink and they didn't offer a seat. Definitely worth the effort. Unfortunate. read more

This was my first time visiting this restaurant. It was excellent! I had heard a lot about the history, the ambiance, and the incredible quality of the food. But my experience there exceeded my expectations. read more

The atmosphere, staff and service were wonderful and the food was amazing, beautifully presented and fantastic flavors . I highly recommend it. read more

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Maria was our server again. She was as attentive as always but not obtrusive with solid recommendations when requested. It is remarkable to be remembered after almost 5 months. While the food is excellent we keep returning for the quality of the staff. read more

I give it a three star this evening because I've eaten at this restaurant several times. I was told when we went to order dinner that each of us had to order an entrée. However, we were ordering salad as an appetizer, etc., and we wanted to split an entrée. We felt that we were forced into it and cannot even eat the additional entrée. The manager came over to explain himself to say that's their policy, but it's not written anywhere on anything on their website on the menu, etc. He said it was basically understood which doesn't make any sense to me. He said that many people were just come in to order dessert and drinks that was the case. What's wrong with that? I was very disappointed as I've eaten at this restaurant many many times and always have talked highly about it, but I do not think I will return. read more

Rules had been around a very long time and I doubt they need another review. It was definitely a mixed experience for us. The restaurant itself is gorgeous so it was nice to just be there. The service and food.... Not so much...I ordered the mushroom and chicken pot pie and an hour later I was still waiting for it. My husband finally asked the waiter if our meals were coming anytime soon and she said the pot pie takes at least 45 minutes to cook. Wouldn't you think they would put that on the menu or inform you when you order? And no apology for such a long wait.It finally came, along with my husband's pork cheeks....both were really average and nothing special. The pork cheeks could have been pork... or beef.... A nondescript flavor we had sticky toffee pudding for dessert because we wanted to try an English style dessert. It was pretty good. I got a strong feeling they put all the Americans and other visitors (Dutch) in a separate room. I didn't hear anyone without an American accent, I am guessing service is better for the regulars. We walked there very easily after an opera at Covent Garden, which was nice and the martini was good. read more

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Fantastic service and delicious food in an historic setting. But It's disappointing to see the dress code drop lower with each visit. Sitting next to a London Marathon contestant in a track suit and sneakers isn't why we go to Rule's. Might restaurants have a certain dining room or area with a dress code and another more casual space? read more

Rules - Sunday roast - British Near Me - London, XGL

Rules is our favorite restaurant in London! The food is delicious and the restaurant is beautiful. Thank you for always giving us the best experience. read more

This was such a wonderful experience for me. I love old restaurants; I have a blog at home where I review them, but in LA we consider 40 years old! So I've long dreamed of eating at Rules. I don't come to London often, so I've longed for a long long time. It was everything I could have dreamed. I felt like I might look up and see Saki seated a few tables away, or hear Dickens laughing across the room (I think he must have had a loud laugh, don't you?).The wonder of old places is that so many things we've read like fiction are proven to be real and true. And then, on top of that, the food was a dream. A lot of places might say, "hey, we're old, the food can be just whatever and it's cool, people will want to come anyway." But this was, easily and by far, the best lunch I've ever had. The dauphinois potatoes have ruined potatoes for me forever, and when I had my first taste of sticky toffee pudding I thought I might cry. But far and away best of all was the staff. They were so warm and welcoming and funny and helpful. It was like a hug in the form of a restaurant. Any of these elements would have made it a meal to remember. All together, it was something beyond special. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

Consistently good food, great atmosphere and dripping with history..... Absolutely recommend - make reservations ! read more

Came here for a dinner. This place is a bit interesting: - it is hidden in a back alley. So ladies, be prepared to walk on the cobblestone alley in your heels. LoL short walk though but taxi in and out could be a little tricky and takes some time. - pro of the back alley is the wall art. Enjoyed staring at some pieces - this place is of some history. I enjoyed looking at the decor and people. Interesting place. - salad was nice. Refreshing and plated nicely. I didn't like my fish. It was as dry as mummy... felt the history of cooking time with that poor piece of fish. I had some tea that night and it was okay. - service here was pretty good. But they certainly didn't appreciate some straight-forward critics over how dry the fish was. LoL man, nothing personal but that fish was cooked to hell.... - restroom is through a flight of steep and narrow stairs. So ladies, you might want to leave your heels behind. Overall, it was an interesting dinner for me. Might not consider coming back... read more

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There are a lot of RULES at RULES! If you'd like to pay a lot and be treated poorly then this is your place. Not worth the money or time when there are so many BETTER options. read more

On arrival on14th August - a baking hot day - we were advised that the air conditioning had broken down. So it was unbearably hot in the restaurant. The main course was delivered immediately after the starter, without a small pause even. The cauliflower and blue cheese and the dauphinoise potatoes were swimming in cream. Overall, a very disappointing experience. read more

Great service, great food, great ambience. There wasn't anything that wasn't perfect. The inside had great charm that was built over a long, long time. There was a lovely bar upstairs that seemed like it was a secret, but was fantastic. read more

This is a must do for London, even if just for a drink. Rooms beautiful, warm and inviting. Amazing attentive service - very knowledgeable and great menu. Fantastic. Thought this experience could be rushed or iffy because it was NYE. Could not have been further from the truth - best meal, room and service since we have been in London. read more

Service was friendly and considerate, food was just over the top delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner there. It was perplexing to read all those negative reviews. Be nice to others before expecting the same back. Remember wild fowl is supposed to be cooked medium. read more

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We started our dinner at Rules by being warmly greeted and escorted to our table. The interior is filled with a tremendous number of very cool wall hangings. We both started our meal with a glass of delicious Joseph Perrier champagne and the Dorset Crab Salad - we both loved the salad - lots of crab, avocado and small tomatoes - all together very light and tasty. We had a glass of the Pinot noir and Cote De Rhône - fairly priced and very good. For mains, we had the poached salmon and the Gressingham duck breast. The salmon was consumed by someone who eats a lot of salmon and the salmon at Rules was different from any previous salmon mains and was absolutely delicious. The duck had great spinach and sauces and was very very tasty. For dessert we shared a raspberry and apple crumble and, for what we thought was going to be a very simple dessert, it was extraordinary. Also had a 'Maiden' after dinner drink - delicious. The evening was made even better through the staff - Sophie provided was very knowledgable, timely and helpful and Rules should be very glad to have her working there. Overall - everything from greeting through dessert was great. read more

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The service was excellent from the moment we walked through the door. The restaurant has a lovely, friendly atmosphere. I'd describe it as 'posh' but not remotely stuffy. The food was great, traditional British and not overpriced. There is a separate vegetarian menu. read more

We came to Rules which came highly recommended, before the meal we had a pre meal drink up in the bar area, great atmosphere! They came to get us about 25 minutes after our 6pm scheduled time....no problem because we had a great time. We sat down and the waitress with no personality came, we ordered the recommended meals ... I had pork cheeks and my wife had the rump steak, what a disappointment!!! The cheeks were dry and overcooked, the lentils undercooked, the steak was tasteless but cooked to our requested temperature...medium steak that tasted like it was cooked! This was a VERY BIG disappointment and this restaurant won't ever see us again!!! read more

This is the oldest restaurant in London. It was a very nice place to take the family for Sunday dinner. We had the Roast Rib of Beef for two along with some Potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding. The steak was really nicely cooked and tasked OK. There really was not a lot of meat for what this meal cost. Remember the plate you see in the photo is for two people. The potatoes didn't have much flavor and I wished I would have ordered the mashed instead. This was my first-time eating Yorkshire Pudding, and I didn't care for it. My wife said that it was too burnt on the bottom for her liking. Overall, the atmosphere in this place was great, but I'm not sure it was worth the money. One thing that was superb was the service, they really know how to serve guests. read more

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What a meal to remember!! Two steps in the door and we felt like we were back in time, when dining out was a treat and service was impeccable. White tablecloths, dark paneling, crimson booths, starched wait uniforms, and fresh cut flowers. My husband and I started off with a Rules Cocktail and a Côtes du Rhône wine, toasting to our good fortune in discovering this gem of a restaurant in Covent Garden, London. From there we embarked on our dining journey, two different kinds of oysters for him and an extremely cheesy, rich onion soup for me. Yummmm. Next up were our entrees, Roast Haunch of Venison for him and Braised Shoulder of Herwick Lamb with Herbs for me. My oh my! My husband's venison was quickly devoured, while I savored every single bite. While we feasted like kings, we also appreciated the history of Rules. Opened in 1798, Rules has the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in London. Over 200 years of regular and vacationing guests, dining on house specialties. If only the walls could talk.... All too soon our meal was over and we were stepping back onto Maiden Lane. So delighted with our dining experience, we nearly made additional reservations for the next day. Classy, delicious, and surprisingly affordable, we can't wait to return to Rules! read more

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Rules is a two century old restaurant. Reservation is highly recommended. We tried walking in when they opened for dinner and their earliest seating available wasn't for a few hours. We showed up a bit earlier than our reservation time later on and they were able to seat us after a short wait in their cocktail lounge upstairs. They had an impressive whiskey selection with surprisingly good pricing for the Pappy Wan Winkle line up compared to what I've seen in New York. I haven't seen a cask strength blue spot before, so I opted for that. Reminded me of the first time having Jameson. Just a big Irish whiskey. Food wise, we had the beef rib roast for two which translates to a ribeye steak. My wife ordered it medium and it was cooked perfectly to our request. Great char on the outside. Super savory without being greasy or buttery. It was a great cut. Came with a popover and a small salad with horseradish. I made sure to get a forkful of horseradish with each bite of the greens. Was a great pairing. Reception and service at the cocktail lounge was outstanding. Finding the restroom was a bit of a maze. Men's room was a communal area with stalls too. read more

Our servers were great, especially our dinner server. Food and atmosphere were terrific!! Will definitely reccomend Rule's to anyone wanting a nice, fine dining experience!!! read more

Ok, so I didn't love this place, but I also didn't abhor it. We had heard Rules was a must visit for tourists, mainly as a taste of British food in a wonderful atmosphere. Our server was absolutely wonderful. The sweetest most charming woman! We did not have any alcohol and she was still very attentive and kind. (Sometimes this is a good litmus test for servers, I find no alcohol = a decrease in quality service at high-end restaurants). 1) The Food: The food was really good...But it wasn't our style. Rules places a large emphasis of their cuisine on British food, particularly classic game. Did I completely miss that in my meticulous research? Yes... yes, I did. We (my husband and I) are NOT huge game foodies. If this is not your cup of tea, don't come (or at least check the menu before you visit, which often changes. Don't bank on coming just to eat that one entree because it might not be available during your visit). We loved our food, but it was difficult to order something because we liked maybe 10% of what was on the menu. And for the price tag, we wanted to smack ourselves for being so silly. 2) Ambience is divine! High end and classic in a way that is not pretentious. PLEASE DON'T WEAR JEANS OR CASUAL WEAR. Comments and reviews mention that things have become a lot more low key post COVID, but trust me. This place is so nice and you are going to feel like a fool when you walk in the door and the maître d' has to hang your sweatshirt in the coat room as you squeak in with your slides. This feels and looks upscale, and you WILL feel out of place. 3) Why 4 ? Food and ambience were otherwise very good and our dessert (chocolate mousse and the apple and blackberry crumble) were delicious (no picture, so sorry I ate it so fast!). While it was not my cup of tea and we would not return, it was my own fault for doing poor research. The quality and service was wonderful. read more

Rules - Poached Loch Duart Salmon - British Near Me - London, XGL

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Come here for the history and ambiance.... I'd pass on the food. The best thing here was the rules steak tartare. Everything else was ok. But good if you want to experience British food! It's one of those things to try once in your life. Anything that has rules in the name is more likely than not to be good. read more

Rules - Leg of lamb, steak and kidney pie and side of potatoes - British Near Me - London, XGL

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Loved this Place!! Great service It is so elegant and beautiful, has 3 different areas downstairs it has a lot of art, incredibly preserved, so many details, its like going back in time. The food is unbelievable, everything was on point! Can't wait to go back and try the whole menu! read more

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Rules was very much a place you go for the experience, not as much for the taste. The lamb was overcooked and the roast beef and its sides were in desperate need for salt and pepper. The atmosphere was very cool, it felt very maximalist aristocracy which was very fun. Our server was amazing, very attentive and fabulous with the wine suggestions. read more

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This 225 year old restaurant was worth going to nearing the end of my wife and I's vacation. We shared the roast beef meal for 2 (47 bp per person) that came with workshire pudding, cooked lettuce, a auj jus style sauce to pour on the beef and a generous spoon full of horseradish if you want it. The sticky toffee pudding was my first experience tasting the traditional dessert was great, nice and warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The draft guinness I ordered came in a cool tinkard (10 bp per pint) For $205, it was pricey but to enjoy a nice full dinner at an historic landmark was a great experience. read more

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Some of the most audaciously rude and presumptuous service I have ever experienced in spite of excellent ambiance, history and decent food. Our party of 5 was seated at a table enjoying our decent but not outstanding meal in the lovely historic ambiance. I was on the corner of the bench seat and because of a back injury had my right leg crossed under my left shift my weight and relive pain (so I was leaning slightly to the left toward my husband supporting myself between bites on my right hand). A young server came over and told me loudly to uncross my legs as people are not allowed to sit like that at Rules. I was so shocked that I was silent for a moment and she repeated herself loud enough that other tables started noticing. Important to note is that I was wearing long slacks and only leaning about 30 degrees so I was in no way indecent and in no way informing on anyone (nobody was within 4 feet of me except my husband). I cannot imagine what was going through her head, but we paid and left without completing our meal and will not return. Sad as we greatly looked forward to enjoying such a historic establishment. read more

Great place Been here a bunch of times Always great food Service is top shelf Ambiance is awesome Super London.., Go for sure Eat it! read more

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Food is mediocre but justifies the price. Service is great. Interior is nice too. Good value for the location and decor. Portion is not too small. read more

Rules - Salmon - British Near Me - London, XGL

Absolute disgusting restaurant with even worse ownership. Prior to leaving for London I had booked a reservation at Rules London. The day before we weee supposed to have dinner there a local told me that they ate there and a rat ran over their foot while they were eating. I immediately called to cancel my reservation - but no one answered. Well - I'm on vacation and have better things to do than call all day to cancel a reservation. So I called the day of my dinner reservation and a man answered. I explained the situation and told him I'd like to cancel my reservation and he started yelling at me. I told him I just didn't want to eat there and he said he was going to charge my card anyway because I didn't cancel 48 hours in advance. I told him that was a bad idea because if he just let us cancel there would be no poor reviews left but he didn't care - he said "FU you American MFer." I hung up and a few days later he charged my credit card. So I called my credit card company, explained the situation and it took only a week for them to rule on my side and return my money. So - do not eat at this disgusting rat infested restaurant and definitely don't give them your credit card number to hold a reservation. read more

Lovely old school British restaurant. Excellent server! Food was exactly what we wanted although the menu is a little different so be sure to check it out before you go! We had a light dinner - just apps and dessert because we had a late lunch. Here's a few pics so you can see. Great salad too but forgot a pic. Fun for a special occasion. read more

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I've been looking forward to this restaurant and hyped it up so much to my fiancée. Unfortunately this failed has to meet our expectations. I think this menu is as old as the restaurant (est. 1798) and I wished they were creative in their use for game meat. Service was stiff, awkward and unwelcoming. It's a pass for me. read more

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Rules restaurant doesn't get five stars for the food because eating at rules is much more about the experience. The dining room is beautiful a classic look with dark wood and red seats. The walls are decorated with old portraits and dozens of antlers. Upstairs, you'll find a bar and lounge. The waiters dressed in formal attire are friendly and helpful. The food is traditional British food with a focus on game. at the right time of year, you can order wild grouse with the warning to look out for shot in the meat. I started with an Indian spiced quail, served with apricot chutney. For my main course, I opted for the steak and kidney pudding. This is a dish many people will avoid, but with gravy and sharp, yellow mustard. I really enjoyed it. For dessert I tried the sticky toffee pudding. Pass on this dish and go for the golden syrup sponge, served with crème anglais. It was the best dessert I had in London. I also enjoyed the gin list, including Christmas pudding gin. Bottom line: of all the restaurants I ate at in London Rules is the one I want to return to. Make sure if you are there you take advantage of the chance to eat at the oldest restaurant in London. read more

My wife and I were walking around the area after going to the London Transport Museum and Harry Potter exhibit at the London Film Museum during our London honeymoon. We saw this place as London's oldest restaurant and walked in. It was late lunch/early dinner time at 3:30 and we got lucky since they had a table until 5:00pm. We were very underdressed wearing t-shirts and causal pants day and they still welcomed us. To eat we shared a Steak & Kidney Pudding and a Gratin of braised leg of Rabbit. To drink we had London Pride and Guinness. For dessert, we don't quite remember what we ate but it was delicious and went well with the Rules Royale cocktail. We got lucky to get a table by just walking by, but I would suggest making a reservation. It is like London's equivalent of Old Ebbitt Grill in DC, but several decades older. read more

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