Slink upstairs to a red velvet cocktail bar/lounge/drawing room, be theatrically but seriously served expertly mixed drinks by a suited waiter, sit up straight and enjoy the understated elegance of a proper cocktail bar. Current London cocktail prices hover around £8 mark and can be very hit or miss, Rule's menu starts at £14 I believe and every one is a hit. read more

Excellent! I loved it since coming in, beautifully decorated from history. We arrived before our reservation and they took us in early. The food was amazing, it's raised on their own estate. I had the shoulder and filet of hare, it was perfectly done! The dessert was one of the best I've ever had. Definitely coming back! read more

Rules - Filet and shoulder of hair, braised pheasant. Both great! - British Near Me - London, XGL

See all

I try to dine at Rule's whenever I am in London. I have sent friends here, celebrated special occasions, and have always had a very fine, simple dinner done perfectly and as perfectly served as prepared. One one occasion I e-mailed Rule's to order champagne for Canadian friends who were visiting, and it went through without a hitch. Another time they gave me a menu to take home to an old lady in Seattle who used to dine at Rule's just after the war. Make reservations long in advance, but enjoy the wonderful traditional cooking; the venison is recommended enthusiastically. read more

Really disappointed. Visited as part of a business meeting in the evening, and whilst the place is nice to look at, I felt the food was mediocre and stupidly expensive (even though I wasn't paying for it). I had Pea and Bacon soup to start which was nice enough. Very disappointed with the Sea Bass .... the fish was fine, but it was on a bed of tasteless white beans, amongst some tasteless green stuff (supposedly a light basil broth). Desert of Apple and Blackberry Crumble was the highlight with lovely custard. Overall an expensive, mediocre meal in interesting settings. Not an experience I will be repeating. read more

Came here with my parents during my study abroad in college. A really cool traditional English restaurant, as if you were dining after your game hunts. Many dishes are from their country-side game reserve, and the menu warns you may find some shot fragments in your dish. My mother had roast quail and she did find some pieces of shot, kind of weird but gave it an authentic feel! Would come back here again next time I'm in town, but its a dressy and relatively expensive place, FYI. read more

Upon recommendation from friends, my daughter and I made a lunch reservation. We ordered a "ladies'" lunch of two starters and a cocktail each. The snooty waiter informs us they cannot serve alcohol unless an entree is ordered and off he goes to check with the maitre d'. They both return to the table and so we say nix the drinks, we'll just have the food. Now, the "rule" changes and we must order an entree with or without alcohol, even if we split it. I asked why the "rule" is not posted on the menu or anywhere else, and they have no answer for this. We don't take to ordering more food than we want, so we leave. The restaurant was practically empty. read more

WOW. I might have just found the best cocktails in London. I'm a bit blown away actually. Rules is a bit of an institution in London. The resturant is the oldest in London (I think) and dates back to 1798. Of course, I didn't come here for the food (although looking at the rest of the reviews, and judging by my hangover, I really should have), I came for celebration cocktails. I might live here. Brian Silva is a cocktail legend, and the very short list of cocktails is fantastic. All different, like nothing you've veer tried before, and constantly changing. They're at the £11-12 mark, so they're not something I'll ever be able to have every week, but they're fabulous. The champagne and pear cocktail I had was amazing. It was actually real champagne, and very yummy indeed. But the real gem was the 'Chorus Girl', which introduced me to the wonderful world of Frangelico. I've never had a cocktail that tastes of sweet French pastry before. It was a bit like sex in a glass. The friendly barmaid summed it up perfectly when she said "you want to eat your ice cubes, don't you?". I did. Fabulous cocktails, perfectly old school British decor and not at all 'Covent Garden-y'. This bar feels like a little secret (you have to go in through the restaurant), I really really hope it stays that way. read more

Eat here! Game, very fresh fish, clubroom feel and look. Very good experience, service and food. Expensive too. Worth the expense. Eat here. read more

Quality of food, wine and spirits was as excellent as the service. Despite having to seat under a scary wall painting showing Margaret Thatcher - the artist certainly must have disagreed strongly with her politics -, we enjoyed the evening a lot. Also a plus that they had at least one English white wine on their list (a Bacchus from Chapel Down vineyards). All too often, restaurants in England rely only on foreign products when it comes to wine, which is a shame. One point to note, however: We booked the table over their internet site about 10 days in advance (which worked well), and on the booking confirmation we were told that we could have the table only for 2 hours and that it would be needed afterwards. No objections against this, because we were informed immediately after the booking, and we would have to leave at that time anyway; but the restaurant was not full at this late afternoon, and I have the impression that they, by principle, seem to arrange reservation into "2-hour-slots". This means that if you want to have the freedom of staying longer than that, make it clear at the booking for how long you will need the table. read more

Had accidentally found Rules several years ago, and decided on this trip to return to celebrate my birthday. The day had not started out well as my credit card had been declined even though I had flagged it for travel. Thankfully my husband's was being g accepted. We were slightly under dressed compared to other diners, but the staff was lovely, attentive, and helpful. The atmosphere is steeped in history. The food was exquisite. I had the wild boar and mushroom pie and my husband the carbonnade of beef and we shared a sauted spinach. The meat was so tender it fell off the fork amd melted in one's mouth. The sauce was light, but had a rich flavor. Dessert was a shared sticky toffee pudding and coffee. The kitchen wrote birthday greetings in chocolate the plate edge. read more

Rules - Wild boar pie w/ puff pastry - British Near Me - London, XGL

See all

My wife and I quite loved the general atmosphere and food, having been here on two previous trips. I give 4 stars here instead of 5 because of the office and "front of house" treatment. I called from the USA 3 weeks ago to make a reservation for 6:00 pm. I was told that was fine, but I had to clear the table by 8:00 pm. Two weeks later I was called about confirming the reservation. Again I was told that I had to leave by 8:00 pm. Then the day before our dinner I was forced to confirm the reservation once more, again advised to be finished by 8:00 pm. We reported on time for our 6:00 pm reservation The maitre 'd advised, "You have to clear the table by 8:00 pm." I set a timer, and we tried to enjoy the meal, wondering whether we would get to have dessert. We did. My alarm went off at 8:00 pm as we were walking toward the exit door. We passed two empty two-top tables, and saw no one waiting at the front desk to be seated, but we were out at 8:00 pm. Maybe Rules should change its name to Out by Eight. read more

There are people in life that you will always remember. People you meet for the first time and who you may not have the chance to see again but who will stay in your mind forever. People who will turn an easy-going evening into a once in a lifetime experience. People who, within a few hours, will teach you more than you have ever dared learn, just by listening to their passion and knowledge. While enjoying this priceless experience, you suddenly feel like a child being given a lesson in humility and modesty. And, secretly, you dream of feeling that same passion for life when the alarm clock rings in the morning. But first, Rules. Trying to move with the times while reflecting is weighty history, Rules , the oldest restaurant in London, is still rife with a charming English atmosphere reminiscent of a fine Parisian bistro; waiters dressed in bow ties and armed with a 'sans-faute' service. The grouse confirms its success day after day among customers who have come to enjoy its delicate taste for more than a hundred years. Since 1798, though, some creative touches have crept into the menu, including the tasty Dressed Dorset Crab. And, as the way to celebrate the national how-how of making pudding, the Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce will definitely reconcile you with traditional English cuisine. And now, let's step Upstairs at Rules. A year ago, when Rules reconverted their first floor into a bar, giving justice back to what it had been during the war, they couldn't have made a better choice than hiring one of the most recognised bartenders that long and short drinks have ever encountered. Mastering the art of cocktails may seem as easy as mixing the right measure of liquors in the right order and shake for the appropriate length of time just like cooking is all about mixing ingredients in the right order and cooking to taste. The perfect cocktail is about respect, about love and the passion you pour into every drink you make. And this is something that the Cocktail master Upstairs at Rules has understood to the very core. Thirty years after having served his father his first cocktail, Brian Silva, bartender extraordinaire at Rules, has become a master of understanding his customers' expectations, be it to create their preferred pre-dinner drink like they've never had it before or think up the relaxing potion which will put the finishing touch on an exquisite dinner at the restaurant downstairs. With a menu of only 10 specials but more than a thousand recipes in mind (and 200 written in his little black book), when Brian Silva looks at you and pops the question,'What are you in the mood for?' you know the experience is going to be worthwhile. Put the menu away, don't give a second's thought to what you thought you were going to drink; let yourself be lead by the master's flair and know-how. A last check if the drink should be rather short, long, sweet or bitter and the whole creation process starts. Among his alchemist's laboratory of first-choice liqueurs, Brian is a flurry of activity, only slowing as he pours each measure by eye over the perfectly 2-by-2-by-3 icecubes. For a moment, you're sure he would be just as quick although no less impressive if he was blindfolded. 'For me, the hit of the evening is to see the smile on my customer's face when they take their first sip'. So what does Master Silva think of the infamous classic, Rosebud's OBI Long Island Iced Tea? Equal measures of all the spirits and around 25ml or less of lemon juice. The spirits don't have to be a 25ml measure they can and probably should be less, say around 15ml of each. The cocktail should be tasted first and then balanced with coca-cola to offset the lemon. Lots of ice please! read more

For photos see http://greedydiva.blogspot.com/2010/07/rules-and-other-places-to-take-your.html So, back in May when we still thought 23 degrees was "hot", Mama and Papa Diva came to visit me in London. Having moved to the other side of the world, forcing them to fly wedged in a plane for 24 hours all the way from Australia to visit me now and then, the least I could do was show them around some decent restaurants. I couldn't have them accidentally wandering into Bella Italia. In my excitement, I also baked them a lemon drizzle cake. But that's another story. In between cups of tea at home and polite samplings of my attempts to proximate Mama Diva's cooking prowess, we made day trips to Oxford and Brighton (where our random food findings left a bit to be desired, but the change of scenery was very nice). However, London was where I really hit my straps. Breakfast at The Wolseley was a hit (and certainly better than semi-burnt toast at my place overlooking Prowlers). Pre-theatre dinner at The Ivy was as terrific as always and "Holding the Man" at Trafalgar Studios is hilarious (and tear fest inducing - which is also quite embarrassing when you're in one of the front rows and still sobbing mercilessly in the faces of the cast as they take their bows) - although possibly not one to see with your parents unless they're as cool as mine and you all get a bit intoxicated first. We toddled up the road to Dean Street Townhouse one night, and although I prefer the noisier, clattering part around the bar, Mama and Papa Diva seemed to appreciate the quieter room on the side where we were seated in big, comfy chairs and more spacious, decadent surrounds. Perhaps a nice relief from the poky and noisy "character" of Chez Greedy. But I think the most parent-impressing place on our agenda was Rules. We saved it for our last night on the town together, and it was all fairly fabulous. Established in 1798 by Thomas Rules, Rules claims to be London's oldest restaurant. I haven't verified this, but it looks like they might be right. There's lots of old people not smiling in photos cluttered along the walls and beady eyeballs staring down from stuffed birds crammed in every cranny. It's probably not the best place for staunch vegetarians. Furnishings are rich, plush, dark and comfortable. Despite the clutter, it feels special and luxurious. Rules specialises in ultra traditional British food - there's lots of gamey stuff and potted things, with rich, wintery puddings to finish you off. It's all totally old school. My venison loin with pear, roast chicory and spiced ruby plums was decadently rich and super-gamey (£26.95). Every bite was a luxury. Mama and Papa Diva both enjoyed the rather large grilled sirloin steaks with chips, bearnaise, roasted tomato and mushroom (£22.50). We're still talking about the puddings to whoever will listen - sensational. Little Sister Diva back in Melbourne has since blocked us from her Facebook account. I had some kind of strawberry tart in a shortbread pastry while Mama Diva had a delicate strawberry souffle, both of which were absolutely divine. Papa Diva had ice-cream, which was never going to compete, but the choice had to be expected from a man who would choose a Ginger Snap biscuit over a Chocolate Royal. (All around £7.50) Despite fearing it might be stuffy and overpriced (based on a peering through the windows on past occasions), service was close to perfect - attentive, helpful, friendly, not overly fussy. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but for me it's a special occasion place (like oh, it's Wednesday) and worth every penny. The bar upstairs also looks rather tempting and I hear they make a good cocktail. Rules has 3 new fans. Traditional, straightforward food, cooked well in charismatic surrounds. You won't find anywhere like it anywhere else. read more

Ok food, abhorrent staff. I have been here a few times and even recommended it to my friends in the past. Never again and I will be telling others of my experience. Came with reservations at 8:30PM on a Thursday for dinner. Group of 3 adults and one 2 year old toddler. As soon as we entered, staff in front asked to check our coats, but looked at us condescendingly since we asked if we could leave our stroller up front as well. They said they had no place to put it. Ok... so we asked if we could take it in. They said no, leave it up front. We ordered 4 main courses between the 3 of us. We didn't have lunch and wanted to try a few items. Waitress said rudely "That's four entrees for three people?" Yes, I could add that up too. Took a while to get our food. My nephew (the 2-year old) got off the booth twice to come over to me and ask if he could walk around. Waitress admonished him both times for getting out of the booth. When the meal finally came, he fell asleep and didn't wake up until we got in the taxi. Wait staff never came to check on us even though it took 45 minutes to get our food and our drinks were empty. No, the restaurant was not full. Staff kept looking at us with a sour expression whenever we were able to flag them down. When we were leaving, table next to us noticed my nephew and said how well behaved he was. I told them about our experience and they empathized by saying the staff could "Sod off." Restaurant should indicate that families with children are not welcome. If that was the case, we wouldn't have bothered to come and it would have saved them the effort of giving us the dirty looks. read more

I had no idea what I was in for when I showed up. This place is so old school fancy! Next time I would dress nicer but we still had a wonderful time. The ambiance and history alone make this place a great dinner choice. I had the duck which I give an A+ and my boyfriend had the scallops which were tasty but I'd recommend ordering a meat dish if you are on the hungry side. The scallops run small. read more

He doorman was so kind after dinner he escorted my young daughters and I to the Royal Opera House just in time for our ballet performance. read more

Rules - The Kate Middleton - British Near Me - London, XGL

See all

The rib of beef for two and the sides was delicious and enough for two. Traditional British food. Awesome environment. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Nothing I can say that others have not. A beautiful environment, traditional and elegant. The venison is wonderful, and I've had game hen as well as a fantastic Ox Tail on a previous menu. Rules is a staple on all my London trips. read more

Rules Restaurant is London's oldest restaurant being over 200 years old. What is unique about Rules is that it serves up traditional English food using the freshest English ingredients including meat and game from its own Estate near Darlington, The Lartington Estate in Teesdale. When I say traditional English foods there is a curry of pheasant on offer for those who prefer something a little more exotic. I suppose it's a break with tradition and a move with the times after all curry is supposed to be the most eaten meal in the UK these days! Fresh fish and oysters are also on the menu. How it started. Initially it was started by Thomas Rule in 1798 originally as an oyster bar then later diversified into making game pies. It then developed into a restaurant. It has changed owners only three times in over 200 years. The interior. On entering the restaurant you enter a reception area and there is an upstairs bar area where you can partake of the house speciality cocktails and to wait to be shown to your table or private dining room. The restaurants and private dining rooms are spread over three floors. On the ground floor there is a dining room that goes all the way back to the back of the shop. There are a number of stained glass tinted sky lights to let in natural light. It is very tastefully decorated which adds to the uniqueness and character of the place. It is covered with wood panelling and various photos, pictures and drawings of the clientele who have frequented the place. The walls are also adorned by stag antlers one being used as a hat stand. There are several private rooms upstairs for intimate dining to party dining. Previous clientele include famous actors, Laurence Olivier, Charlie Chaplin, Clarke Gable, writers and poets for example Charles Dickens, HG Wells, John Betjemen, nobility including royalty. Prince Edward later Edward the 7th used to entertain Lily Langtry here in the upstairs private dining rooms. On being seated we were immediately visited by the wine waiter and ordered pre dinner drinks and given the extensive menu to browse and make our choice. As game is seasonal the menus change according to season. It was a very extensive menu with some interesting things on offer hare, pheasant, hen, rib of beef, lamb, Deer, Duck partridge, grouse. All the food was served in an unhurried and courteous manner, nicely presented and hot although I thought the portions a little on the meagre size. There was enough time between courses to enable the course to digest and to actually be able to talk without feeling rushed. Desserts were old time favourites such as Golden Treacle sponge pudding and sticky date and toffee pudding to name a few. The food was well cooked and tasted nice but I did not feel it was that special. The waiters wore pristine white aprons and served the food in an unhurried manner however after the meal they served an espresso coffee which was stone cold and when asked if we would like another I asked if it could be hot this time as the first one was cold they gave it to us complimentary. The Menu. Just to whet your appetite here are a few things that are available on the menu. First courses range in price from £7.50 up to £22.00. Included in this section are oysters, dressed crab, potted rabbit or potted shrimps. Brown Windsor soup or game soup to give you some idea of what's available. Main courses. Prices range from £17.95 up to £27.50. A variety of fish is on the menu such as bass, smoked haddock, and fish of the day according to the season. The meat dishes include lamb, beef, deer cooked in various ways steak and kidney pie, steak kidney & oyster pudding, hare and different types of game including partridge, woodcock, grouse, duck and teal according to the season. Side dishes or salads or vegetables range from £3.75 to £7.25. Desserts. Desserts are all £7.50. Sticky date and toffee pudding, Golden treacle sponge, chocolate pudding, bread and butter pudding, spotted dick and raspberry syllabub. Cheese board. £11.95 -£12.95. The cheese board offered a super selection of British cheeses including, Stinking bishop, Cropwell bishop blue cheese to name a few. The wine list offers were from £21 up to a whacking £420 The cost of the meal is negligible bearing in mind the history of the restaurant and for me I found it far too meat based and stodgy British fare which these days is not really for me. I enjoyed the food the quality and the taste was excellent but I am doubtful if I would take anyone there again unless it was to show how traditional British food should be presented. I think that it certainly was an interesting evening, unhurried and it seemed to attract quite a lot of thespians after the theatres finished for the evening. It is certainly good for people watching. read more

We were extremely disappointed with our short stay at the Rules restaurant. Decor looks very nice and authentic, but the service was terrible and anti-business!!! We are 2 people and in the middle of the afternoon just wanted to chillax with a bottle of wine and some cheese and gravlax. We ordered 2 starters and 2 cheese plates and a bottle of Pinot blanc that would have costed us over 150£ each! After ordering and waiting 15 mins to get our food, the manager comes to us and says that we have obligatory to get a main course each! It would even have been less costly to do so, but we wanted cheese and gravlax and we not interested in a main course at 3pm since we just had lunch before!!! We had to leave the restaurant because they would not serve us what we wanted to eat! Seems like there's way too many "Rules" in that restaurant. That's a terrible business! read more

The atmosphere is really nice there.The interior is clean.The food is very tasty and I am happy when I have an opportunity to eat there.When I'm in the Rules restaurant,I usually have a Wild Herb Salad and it is very fresh! The meat is perfectly cooked and you can definitely try the Beef ribs and the Pork meals. Sometimes the service is not so fast,but it depends on the hour-In the evenings you should be more patient:) read more

This restaurant is decorated in contemporary style, the atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming. If one day I'm an entrepreneur in this field, I will be extremely happy to own a beautiful place like Rules. I think that I posses the needed qualities and package of skills to run a business. But even if I'm working for about 70 hours per week in the future, I'll keep my passion and motivation that are crucial to living a happy, fulfilled, meaningful life. read more

We were a party of 6 celebrating a special birthday. The menu is interesting, lots of game, but other things also. The ambiance is excellent. We all enjoyed our meals but wouldn't say that the food was fantastic. We had an odd experience though. One of our party ordered soup which came with toast and a thin layer of pate. When he bit into it, there was something metal in his mouth. He thought he had broken a tooth, but that was not the case. At the end of the meal, he showed the metal piece to our waiter, who nonchalantly said, "Oh, that's a pellet; you get that in food when you order game." The response was almost as if we should be impressed that the meal was authentic b/c we got the pellet. No apology, no free dessert, nothing. That sort of took the restaurant down a few notches for us. read more

I love this place... I could stop there but you really want some sort of review. I used to work over the road and when I changed jobs, I took my team here for dinner. They loved the quaint and quirkly fish n chips (in a page of the FT) served with half a Guinness. Wonderful food in a sumptuous and comfortable atmosphere. Last time I was here Heather Mills-(McCartney) was in after getting a drubbing in the press... trust me, nicer people eat here and most of them don't seek any attention. Go, enjoy, tell them I sent you? read more

We came to London to see the American Football game and had cocktails in the winter garden, we felt like it was early 1900 and had fantastic cocktails. We were celebrating our 30th anniversary and made reservation for the next Monday night, we actually got squeezed in for reservation. We came 10 minutes late because of traffic related to protests and were warmly greeted and seated. Great menu, awesome cocktails, helpful waiters, great food and deserts. 2 hour dining experience. Thank you Rules. Rod Borba read more

Rules is a classic institution and oldest restaurant in London. They should have a weekly TV show. I fully expected to see Harry Potter at one of the tables. A friend took me there.. they said I was the first Hawaiian ever to eat at their refined establishment. I agreed to wear shoes, sit in a chair and not eat with hands or climb on the tables so they let me in. The beer was English and cold. The food was well presented and good for English restaurant.. This is not Beverly Hills where you pay $300 for a set menu.. It was a little touristy.. a bit stuffy.. and when we broke into soccer song... they kicked us out.. so I have distinction of being kicked out of oldest restaurant in London.. Cheers. read more

I'm so disappointed- the recipes are not the same. We wanted to share Rules with our grandchildren but it has become an ordinary tourist trap. The food was ok not special - minimal flavor and no attention to the special touches that made Rules unique. My Fish soup lacked pizazz could have come from a can,the Dover Sole was bland with a munierre sauce that tasted like melted butter. But how dare they change the Sticky Toffee Pudding! From an outstanding dessert individually made swimming in butterscotch sauce and Creme Anglais to an ordinary date sheet cake with a drizzle of sauce and a spoonful of sour cream. How sad. I always looked forward to coming on every trip to London but I will not ever be back there again. read more

Rules has a claim that it's the oldest restaurant in London, its other claim is that is can do 'English cuisine' very well... Well, it has every right to both claims. We couldn't get a seat until 9pm on Saturday but still worth the late dinning. Service was very good, and cheerful (our waitress was), décor comfortable and fun (even the Thatcher paintings). The menu really did have wide range to choose from, and what we had ordered was cooked to perfection and tasted delicious. This is a 'must do' restaurant, you will not be disappointed. read more

I was very disappointed, first with the reception and then with the meal. As for the maitre d' reception: I presented at 6 PM to arrange a table for later that night. He made a rude face, then haughtily declared that nothing would be available until 10:45. I explained that I would be happy to wait until then, and would return later. He looked surprised that he had not discouraged me, then said begrudgingly that perhaps something would be available by 10:30. I returned at 9 PM, and asked to sit in the lounge where I might have a cocktail while I waited. Once I was settled with my cocktail, I was not surprised that at only 9:15 my table was ready. By 10 PM about a third of the tables were empty and it was obvious that the maitre d' had simply lied about the late table availability. I'm a well dressed and professional woman who dines internationally on a regular basis. He had no reason to try to turn me away other than simple ostentatious rudeness. The meal: Rules appears to have cooks but no chef. I ordered a steak and received a hunk of beef completely unseasoned, slightly overcooked (I ordered medium rare) and completely ungarnished. It was the least appealingly plated steak I've ever had. The waiter then glopped a thick and fairly tasteless sauce on the side of my plate. The beef itself was of good but not outstanding quality. A side of beets in a plain metal bowl were also completely unseasoned. The chips (fried potato wedges) were chewy rather than crisp, with a highly starchy interior, and completely unseasoned. In total, the meal was cooked but bland. So, why 2 stars? One for the bar tender and his excellent scotch cocktail, which was well balanced and generous. One for the decor, which in the end is likely what keeps this otherwise uninspiring restaurant open. It's really too bad, as a more imaginative chef (or at least a pantry that includes a few herbs and spices) could make this a special place worth the currently outrageous price tag. read more

Food is mediocre and the service is not good at all. I understand this is the oldest restaurant in London, but I was underwhelmed. I was really hoping this would be good since I live in the US. This meal has messed up my night. I paid $62 US dollars for this....sigh.... read more

I took my parents here about a year ago while they were visiting me from the States. In terms of the level of sophisticated traditional English atmosphere this place offers, I don't you could ask for much more. The décor was properly classic - a colour scheme of deep wine and gold, and the walls are decked out in beautiful and ornate gilded frames containing images of historical figures who have dined at Rules throughout the centuries, as well as striking pictures of birds, plants and game - it all sets the tone for the meal and gives you the sense that this is going to be a deluxe experience. The service was *amazing* - to a level that I've never even had at the likes of Nobu. The decorum and politeness with which the staff served was of the caliber you imagine it would have been here a hundred years ago; every detail was considered and attended to with flourish; they pulled out our chairs, wheeled our entrees to us on little carts; presented each person with their course and asked if it met their approval before setting it before them - it felt like the service from another century, when there was a correctness and expected etiquette for everything... it was wonderful to experience service that was so attentive and felt so traditional. My mom had fish and chips - and the way her chips came so artistically arranged in a sheet of newspaper, was a microcosmic reflection of what seems to be the ethos of this place, especially when it comes to their cuisine - they stick to the old English traditions, but their execution is extremely distinguished. My dad had the fish of the day and my sister ordered a roasted pork dish. I'm more difficult to please in such places since I'm a vegetarian, but I managed with a nice salad and a side of roasted root vegetables. For traditional English fare, everyone was pretty satisfied with what they ordered. But far and away the best gastronomic part of the meal was the pudding. We ordered the chocolate souffle and the sticky toffee pudding... the soufflé was fine, but the sticky toffee pudding was a mass of melting golden caramel divinity - definitely came very close to some of the best sticky toffee pudding I've ever had. Maybe this is all a little over-the-top for native Brits, but we really enjoyed it - and there were enough businessmen in the place that also seemed to be appreciating the attentive service and traditional fare. There's something very celebratory about the atmosphere here... it's certainly not the type of place you would take a date, but would be an excellent choice if you were toasting a graduation with your parents or wanted to mark some other similar monumental event. After all, I believe the polished and traditional experience that Rules delivers may very well be the reason it became an institution for so many notable people over so many generations. read more

The food and service were pretty much as mentioned in other posts. The décor was great, with lots of history on the walls. The restaurant features a genuine British menu, although the service was a bit slow. The food was solid, although not outstanding. The sticky toffee pudding was pretty amazing. The fog salad and cold tomato soup were also very good. Knowing that one is present at the oldest existing restaurant in London is cool, although the history of such is diminished somewhat when one peers across the street to see a combination barbecue and crawfish establishment. Our waiter told us a great story about the mural painted on the wall of Margaret Thatcher at the Falkland Islands . Since the Maître d had never heard the story, it is hard to say whether it is true or not. Ask your waiter about it and make your own decision. read more

We weren't too hungry, so went straight for the mains. We shared an aged rib of beef with some good old fashioned Yorkshire pudding and potato. The meat was cooked wonderfully, it had the perfect smoky and crispy texture on the outside, very moist and tender from the inside and really well seasoned. Deseret of rum Baba was also a winner, the aroma of the rum was defined. It had the perfect balance of bitter sweetness and I especially enjoyed the black cardamom, which it really lifted up the warmth spice element on the plate without being too dominating, it was indeed a very fine winter pudding. read more

I ate dinner here on one of my first trips to London, with my wife and a number of her colleagues. It was expensive, fancy, traditional, and perfect for a bunch of tourists. We had a great time and an amazing meal. Now that I've been to London so many times that it feels like a second home, I want to go back and look at it through very different eyes. read more

My wife and I are steak lovers and the rib of beef at Rules is arguably the best we've ever had in the UK. We ordered it medium rare and it came cooked to perfection. The meat was tender, juicy, flavorful and have really nice texture. The gravy complimented the meat well as it did not drown out the beef flavor. It is a dish for two to share and comes with green beans , Yorkshire pudding and potatoes which were really good as well. The service was top notch and the host even shared some fun facts and history about Rules being the oldest restaurant in London. Would highly recommend trying it out! read more

Every now and then, we should all treat ourselves, or someone else, to something really nice. One thing I realise is that it's not British food that's the problem, it's the cooking of it. Rules is London's oldest restaurant and there are some great pictures on the walls. If memory serves me correctly, didn't King Edward VII and Lily Langtry visit Rules and hide away in a corner? It's not the biggest restaurant on the planet, and I think that when it's full, it's possibly quite noisy. When I was there, it was a Sunday afternoon and not very busy. This made it easier when the waiter was explaining to me where the food actually came from and all of that. Apparently, Rules has a country estate in Norfolk or somewhere around there. My absolute favourite dish of all is the Summer Pudding. Sure, you can get it frozen from Sainsbury's, but Rules makes it properly, and boy, was it just absolutely delicious. In a way, you can't go wrong in a place like Rules. Being in Covent Garden, parking can be a problem though. If you're heading to the theatre, make sure you allow enough time at Rules, especially if it's busy. Sure, it'snot the cheapest place around. Even without wine, you could easily spend 50 quid per person or so. But you could spend less if you wanted to. read more

On my first visit to the U.K. in 1974, my wife and I dined at Rule's, largely due to having been told it was a favorite of Charles Dickens. We had a delightful evening--good food and efficiently pleasant surface. Alas, the food, itself, is unmemorable as we had dined the previous evening at an exquisite place near our hotel, Brown's, called the Snooty Fox. The next year when we returned, we invited our dear friend Mary whom we had met the previous year on an hotel barge on the Thames to be our guest at the Snooty Fox. Here, the maitre de remembered us, largely, I suspect, because we had tipped before on the total bill, including VAT, not knowing we didn't need to. In any event, I would go back to Rule's as to other longtime favorites such as The Ivy and Wilton's. I do miss such favorites as Lacy's and the Guinea Grill. read more

Excellent food, the service is mediocre. Our experience was really just ok. For having the history and popularity we expected much friendlier staff. The first person we encountered at check in began to argue with me about the two reservations I made and not listening to what I was saying and trying to explain. They have limited tables for large groups so call to reserve a table for 6 and don't make separate reservations. Even though they say they cancel them, I not having seen this on their website, was able to confirm both over the phone as they require it 24 hours in advance. After diffusing this man's anger he was able to accommodate us at two tables next to one another which is what I was trying to explain I wanted and what I was told to do when I confirmed our reservation. If it hadn't been my husband's desire to dine here for his birthday we would have left given the circumstances. Wow ere there on March 9th. read more

This was an amazing experience with fantastic food and great service. Next time I'm in London I will be sure to visit Rules again. This is as good as it gets. The cheese plate for dessert is wonderful! I highly recommend Rules. read more

I ate here for a work related dinner last year, and everything was perfect. The restaurant is beautifully furnished in an old-fashioned English style, and the service was just a bit slow but still good. Food quality was also very good, including the delicious dessert at the end. Pricey but worth a try. read more