We have experienced fine dining all over the world. We aren't strangers to great food from everywhere. This ain't it. It's a beautiful restaurant and very historic. We wanted to love this restaurant. It gives me no pleasure to give it a mediocre review. But they earned this mediocre review. I'm not going to get in to specific entrees because they were all the same. If blind folded I promise you couldn't tell the scallops from the onion soup. What I noticed first and foremost about Rules was they are passionate about their place in history and having their own game preserve etc etc. what they weren't passionate about is taste. We've been to amazing places in Italy, France and all over America. We all share a common trait that is lost on the folks at Rules. We get excited about the food and flavors and not so much about the other stuff. If you want a beautiful room, a stuffy server and overpriced bland food Rules is your place. If you actually care about flavor than maybe this isn't for you. read more

The service was phenomenal, first and foremost. They were attentive and helpful with menu recommendations. I ordered the steak and kidney pie and cabbage, and it did not disappoint. I was a little skeptical of the suet crust concept, but it was flawlessly executed and worked well to sop up with rich juices from the pie filling. This is an older establishment in London, and it's still around for a reason! read more

Rules - Steak and kidney pie - British Near Me - London, XGL

It's very rare these days to find the strictest of traditional English dining, rarer yet to still find a stand alone establishment that has masted the art for as long as Rules. I was taken with the charm and decor, the atmosphere is soft and sophisticate, yet relevantly quiet. The service exemplary as is the cuisine. British food as it should be. Prepared with skill and attention. Served up in similar fashion. Priced accordingly. Make a reservation, push in through the revolving door on the correct side. read more

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Summary: Would leave 0 stars if I could. Don't go here. Rules has an incredibly racist and elitist atmosphere, and the food isn't anywhere near the quality to make up for it. -- The oldest restaurant in London reeks with the same old attitudes of racism, classism, and elitism during its founding time of 1798. Unless there's drastic change to address the exclusionary nature of this restaurant, if you're young, not white, and want to enjoy traditional British cuisine, I would recommend taking your business elsewhere. Hopefully the current, and I directly quote from the website, "rakes, dandies and superior intelligence's who comprise its clientele" keeping the restaurant in business dies off soon. I made a reservation at 6pm from Bon Appetit's recommendation. I was very excited to share the rib of beef for two with my partner, and introduce my parents to the restaurant's history. My mother is a Chinese historical fiction writer and my father an avid photographer, so I thought it was a match made in heaven. We had come in after a fun, long day at the ZSL London Zoo, and had forgotten about the no-shorts policy stated in our email reservation. London has been unnaturally warm these past few days, and as Yankees who are used to cold drinks and air-conditioning on hot summer days, we weren't exactly focused on wearing trousers for the whole day. When we arrived at the restaurant, the doorman immediately looked my boyfriend up and down and crisply said that they have a strict no-shorts policy. My partner immediately felt humiliated and meekly told me that he would be fine going back to our hotel to change. I stood my ground, and luckily the doorman's colleague informed us that they had a spare set of trousers on hand. My boyfriend is 6'0, and the first pair of trousers that he got didn't fit him. I had to ask again for a second set. The most insulting situation was, after that entire ordeal, once he sat at the table, his legs were covered by the floor length white table cloth. Having grown up in a British International environment, I'm not new to strict dress codes, which is already rooted in classism, but if you are trying to cultivate a standardized type of clientele aesthetic, at least have a purpose to the madness. For example, London's J-Sheekey has a no-shorts policy as well, but at the very least, they have outside seating and mid-length table cloth. Our order Drinks - A bottle of Domaine Rossignol-Fevrier Bourgogne Pinot Noir - £49.00 - Draught Guiness - £6.25 Comments: The wine was mediocre; looking it up, the average price is usually £17, so this was my bad for not doing more research. However, take the almost x3 markup however you'd like. Starters - Oysters: two each of Jersey Rock, Morecambe Bay, and Ostra Regal. - £18.50 total - Dorset Crab Salad - £17.95 Comments: Starters were fresh enough. However, the plates were very much unceremoniously dumped onto our table with very little explanation. As well as this, when we were ordering and inquired further about the differences between the oysters (e.g. size, flavor), she told us that there was little difference between them, besides the Jersey Rock, which would be saltier. Probably one of the saddest and least detailed explanations of oysters I've ever heard. Rules proudly states, "as we are confronted with so much mediocrity... when everyone is deluged with homogeneous brands, we like to create the special." Not sure if the definition of special has changed to inadequate, but it seems Rules believes so. Mains - Roast Squab Pigeon - £29.95 - Rib of Beef for Two - £35.95 Comments: Mains were also fine. Yorkshire pudding was underseasoned in its bake. Meat was also underseasoned, but we were provided rock salt, pepper, gravy, and horseradish sauce. I've never been a fan of having to season my own food with salt and pepper, preferring the chef to do it for me, but I do understand that some do prefer that. To be honest, I've had better Yorkshire pudding in America at House of Prime Rib, which is concerning. Cut of meat was lackluster. Since there was a 2 hour limit for our reservation, and we finished our courses with 15 minutes to spare, we were strongly discouraged from ordering dessert, which added even more unpleasantness. However, at this point, we were just ready to leave. I usually don't write long, arduous reviews for restaurants, especially negative ones. But this has by far been one of the most disappointing restaurants I've ever been to. There's a reason why, even after over two centuries of operations, Rules still has yet to have a single Michelin star. Before I came to the restaurant, I believed the prestigious history of past diners' would be reflected in the quality of service and food. Now I feel their attendance can be explained away to not having a better option back then. But hey, there's better now elsewhere. The uptight Rules need to be left behind. read more

100th review of London's oldest restaurant. ---------------------------------- I had never been to Rules in all the time that I lived in London in the 1990s. I had never even heard of it. I suppose I was young and didn't go to places like this in my 20s. Probably I would not have even had a place like this on my radar. For our 5th wedding anniversary I took my wife to London and chose Rules for the anniversary dinner. The world always puts British food as a butt of a joke. They mark it as bland and overcooked, but the truth is that when done well, though simple, can stand on its own against any cuisine. Rules is the best example of this. We walked over from our hotel that sat below Trafalgar Square, though Covent Garden and on to Maiden Lane where Rules is located. Rules is not your typical restaurant. It cannot be put into a box as one thing. It is both formal and casual-quirky and traditional. It is all that is British through and through. I brought my own bottle of wine, which they do not like and charge a £25 corkage fee for, but I had chosen the wine five years earlier for this specific night and was not going to deviate from my plan. They have a great wine list, and I probably would have done better, as far as pairing, if I had used their sommelier. I started dinner with the Foie Gras Terrine with apricot & toast and Ting had a half dozen Duchy of Cornwall Rock Oysters. The Foie Gras was rich and buttery, like silk if it could melt. The oysters tasted of the dark, cold, salty sea and could not have been fresher. My main course was Scallops with Braised Pork Cheeks, carrot & ginger, and hers the Fillet of Sea Bass with white beans, summer vegetables & a light basil broth. Both were magnificent. My scallops were sweet and tender and the cheek separated at the touch of the fork. The bass was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The vegetables and broth that accompanied it were subtle and delicious. We both have a sweet tooth and I love English desserts. We shared two-the Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramelised walnuts and the Apple & Blackberry Crumble with custard. Both were exactly as they should be-toothsome and traditional. By far the best part of the evening was sitting across from my beautiful wife of five years and telling her that they were the best of my life. _____ read more

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I loved this place as did my wife and daughter. My daughter put this on her "fancy places list that she has been to" Yes it is one of the oldest restaurants on London and has an air of English pomp and circumstance with it's old world theme and decor which is probably the same decor from when it first opened. I have read a few reviews that state the waiters are rude and that the people believe that they experienced racism and/or elitism. Yes they have a strict dress code as many fine establishments in the US and other countries have. Yes you need to behave like a gentleman or gentlelady and not like a yahoo. This is why people want to come here and feel like they are in sophisticated establishment. If you want to wear shorts or yell at a TV whilst your football club loses a match then go to one of the many pubs close by. We were treated extremely well, the wait staff were all great, respectful, helpful and made us all laugh. I'm not sure where some of these negative reviews are coming from. Anyway the food was fantastic and made our first night in London memorable. All the recommendations from our waiter was spot on including the steak, haunch of lamb and rabbit. He even picked us out a great wine. I actually wanted to come here because they are supposed to have a great Beef Wellington. Alas, we found out that it must be ordered 24-48 hours in advance and it is for four people. I guess we will have to preorder when we next visit London. Of note: They were very accommodating, I had made reservations weeks ago for the first night we were to be in London, 6pm reservations as I figured we would be tired flying all day, unfortunately we missed our connection flight and could not make it. I emailed them from the airport to let them know, when we got there the next day they were able to squeeze us in the night we got in at 9pm. We will defiantly be back! read more

Yelp strikes again! After being turned away from many traditional (and highly rated on Yelp) British pubs because we were dining with a minor, Rules Restaurant saved the day. Despite the fact that our family was clearly under-dressed compared to the other patrons and the wait staff, they didn't turn us away. While my husband and I do prefer to dress appropriately when we dine, we also realize that our money is green (or multi-colored as the case may be) like everyone else, our son very well mannered, and our appreciation of good food hard to beat. While I would have loved to stay for an entire fixed menu, the host had made it clear when we arrived that the only table he had for us was reserved by another party in 2 hours, so we settled for a salad and main course. All was delicious! Clearly, my somewhat low opinion of traditional British food was formed by eating at all the wrong places! All of our salads (green and a beet/goat cheese) were as fresh and crisp as could be and perfectly dressed. Our "main" courses (daube of beef, the rabbit hot pot, and the wild boar pie) were simply out of this world delicious! And the wine....oh the wine. Perfectly paired, and perfectly French. Overall a very nice experience with excellent food and wine and a pleasant, if reserved, wait staff. Next time I find myself in London looking for a quiet, relaxed place to dine I will know exactly where to go. (PS I marked this restaurant as "not good for kids" despite the fact that our 10 year old son enjoyed his meal and experience. He is an unusual boy with lots of dining experiences under his belt and incredibly good restaurant manners and presence. If yours are the same, then by all means bring them!) read more

Rules - Decor d'mirror. And antler. - British Near Me - London, XGL

This place makes me LOL. On one hand the food was decent. On the other, the service was probably the most pretentious, snobby, nose up in the air @#(%@, that I have ever experienced. Seriously, I could have practically tasted the waiters nose hairs if he came any closer to us. It's not like we weren't well dressed, or spoke sh*tty english...it was just Mr.Belvedere doing his PMS thing. Based on this, I couldn't recommend coming here but the food was actually decent. While the meat dishes we we ordered were solid, the shining dish was actually the dessert. I guess caramel soaked cakes (sticky toffee pudding) really kicks my ass. While we were able to snag a table without reservations, they didn't seem to happy that we walked in without one. 3 stars. read more

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Oh Rules. I grew up hearing about this place. My parents are anglophiles, and ate here on one fabled trip to England during the 1970s. When I came to London for my junior (third) year abroad during my BA, my dad constantly pestered me to visit Rules. I did not. Then I came back five years later to study my MA in London. My dad constantly pestered me to visit Rules. I did. When my mom came to visit me here. And picked up the check. And I'm glad we went. I felt similarly to Michael D. - Rules is not my typical kind of place, but it was much enjoyed. It is a delightful mix of upscale stuffy and quirky English with a great interior. English through and through, oh yes. And definitely delicious, not in spite of its Englishness, but because of it! Mom had the Caesar salad to start, a glass of white, and the fish pie. Smelled so smokey and delicious I wished I had ordered it. I enjoyed roasted pheasant and a glass of red. It was all marvelous and we didn't even have room for dessert! read more

I think their food are from 1798 as well... Veal: well.. You have to taste with your eyes first.. It looks like 7£ food, and taste like 10£. But cost 30£ Oyster: it's just ok, but too expensive. The yearprobably is the only thing left here. read more

Rules - veal.. Overcooked - British Near Me - London, XGL

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This was my second trip to Rules, and I wanted to impress my husband with the historic restaurant. The atmosphere is awesome and historic, but I wish the waiter would have been more informative. I asked him to explain the history of the restaurant to my husband, and he told us it was written on the back of the menu which was disappointing to me. We also had a hard time getting drink and ordering service, which since we had a play to get to and were tight on time, was an issue for us. The food was pretty good, not the best in the world. I don't know. I remembered having such a good experience there years ago and this trip really disappointed me (especially for the price). I probably won't be coming back on our next trip unfortunately. read more

Rules - Featherblade, - British Near Me - London, XGL

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For my last dinner in London I went to Rules on a recommendation. This ended up being a very good choice. I understand why it's the oldest restaurant in London and has stuck around all this time. So I get there and the first thing I notice is the décor. It's older, bunt done very beautifully, a bit of a mash of painting and game. I started off with the Jerusalem Artichoke Soup, this was excellent and really set the stage for the main course! The Spiced Leg of Lake District Lamb was my choice, and the lamb was cooked perfectly. While I can't remember the name of the wine, I know it was wonderful and I believe a Bordeaux. Dessert was inspired, Golden Syrup Sponge Pudding. This was so good I nearly ordered two of them, but that would have just been too much. Everything tasted excellent. Finally I had a pot of the Earl Grey tea, served as loose tea with all that comes with. I would absolutely consider returning here on my next visit. read more

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Awesome birthday dinner! The rib roast was very good - made even better by the horseradish The game soup was a wonderful surprise The Mac and cheese was so yummiest that I could have made a meal out of it Don't miss the sticky toffee pudding for desert Allow yourself some time to appreciate the great service and food read more

Rules - Yorkshire pudding and rib roast - British Near Me - London, XGL

As one of the oldest existing restaurants in London, I've long considered Rules a "must" on any trip to the UK. I've been perhaps a dozen times over the last five or six years...though my most recent visit may well be my last. Normally, their charming period decor and usually deliciously unusual game-oriented menu make them a truly unique dining experience, even in a world-class city like London. Where else can you find excellent "delicacies" like potted hare, pheasant breast, wild duck, grouse, and similar English fare? Alas, Rules' weak point is rarely culinary; it is customer-service. Or lack thereof. A restaurant of the usual quality, and certainly price of Rules, should never inflict *any* the following on customers...much less all in one sitting. Here are some highlights, and some tips for the management: - Note: the only table available on the night was for 11PM. A bit late, but the place is indeed popular. - This assumed popularity made it rather confusing to learn that, including our table...a total of three others were occupied. - We were promptly seated at 11PM. And promptly rushed through almost every step of the experience. We paid our bill barely an hour later, at 12:05AM. - For a restaurant of the quality and price of Rules, a customer should never feel rushed, or as if they are being timed by a stopwatch. Nor should a customer receive such clear and unambiguous signals from the staff amounting to "Hurry it up, the staff would like to go home." - I can understand if a restaurant, for whatever reason, prefers an early or inflexible closing time, such as midnight. But if that is indeed the case, no reservations or tables should be offered past, say, 10PM. - If you want your customers gone by 12 midnight, and intend to begin loudly cleaning dishes, turning on all the bright lights, and reminding your customers that the bar and kitchen will close in 15 minutes...then, for heaven's sake, don't offer an 11PM seating. Pure insanity. - Make certain you have enough food for an 11PM seating. By the time we arrived, a solid 50%+ of the game menu was sold-out and unavailable. The food we had was indeed fantastic; at least as far as I can recall from the speed at which we needed to order and consume it. Despite the great setting and cuisine...on this night as customers, we were made to clearly feel as if we were interfering with, or delaying, the staff's other plans for the night. And that's just not acceptable. read more

Rules is an experience that you need to have at least once. It's the oldest restaurant in London. It's featured in Downton Abbey. My father was in town, so we treated ourselves to check it out. Yes, it is sometimes labeled as a tourist trap, but there are plenty of the higher members of London society also dining. It was established in 1794 complete with tons of stories about the royals and celebrities surrounding the establishment. There's actually a secret entrance for the royal family as well as a private club to be invited too. The walls are decorated with photos, paintings, clocks, etc. from over the years. The atmosphere was elegance left over from the days gone by. And, the food was divine! I ordered the Kate Middleton 29 signature drink to start with before switching to wine with my father. Absolutely amazing. We had course after course including filet, crab cake salad, and plenty of options for dessert. I highly recommend the experience! read more

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This is the oldest restaurant in London, and it has aged gracefully. We have dined here several times and have never been disappointed. It's definitely too pricey to become a regular hangout but it's the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. We usually have eaten here in the winter, so we tend to order hearty dishes that will prepare us for a walk in the brisk night. The Windsor soup with Welsh rarebit and potted rabbit with apple chutney are wonderful starters. If you want a traditional British dish for your main course, the steak and kidney pie is perfect. I also recommend the curried pheasant and rack of lamb. If you have room for dessert, try the date and toffee pudding or spotted dick, whose name unfortunately makes me think of an STD! The decor is elegant and the service is impeccable. With a starter, entree, dessert, a bottle of wine, and service, dinner for two will run about £125 on average, and it's worthy every pence. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

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My husband and I recently celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary here. We shared the rib of beef on the bone with Yorkshire pudding, Anna potatoes, fine beans, roast shallots and fresh horseradish. The food was wonderful. Loved all of it! The fresh horseradish was brillant! Ambiance was awesome, service was perfect and price was quite reasonable. read more

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Established in 1789 by Thomas Rule, Rules boasts as being London's oldest restaurant. However, despite this, it has become more of a tourist trap, luring them into trying something from their large menu at typical tourist prices. The food they serve is that of traditional, heavy British cuisines such as game (which is sourced by Rules itself), pies, oysters and wonderfully rich puddings. The menu is extensive and enticing, and the food, depending on what you chose, not too bad, but far too expensive for what it's worth. The decor is very over the top, old-school English, where every wall is covered with ornaments of some sort, paintings and mounted heads of animals. The eccentricity in its design is amusing and is worth a look, but all in all you can get what they serve in a decent gastro-pub without all the pent up hype and at less of a dear cost. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

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Many Yelp reviewers point out that this restaurant often advises they have promised your table to another guest by a certain time and seem slightly, if not completely put off by this. This is part of managing a busy restaurant and honoring reservations. If they walk in and can get a table, they're lucky! And if they had made reservations and were required to wait, they might be even more incensed. So get over it. Rules is gorgeous. Wood, tile, fireplaces, plush draperies, framed art, cut-up cozy spaces and loads of history. For this, I would gladly return. The Maitre 'd was polite and accommodating. The service adequate. The food--Veal and Morel Pie for lunch--delicious! I would ask that patrons not take children here, unless they are consistently well-behaved in public. The quarters are close and this is the kind of place you want to feel is special. read more

Rules - The stunning fireplace in the entryway. - British Near Me - London, XGL

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If you want to impress, this is the place. The history, the decor, the food and the service - everything is exceptional. I've been here twice during one trip and it did not disappoint. It has lasted a long time (oldest restaurant in London) and the reason why is because it's great! Rules get's my patented Four Thumbs Up! read more

I try to get to Rules when I'm in town. The food is consistently very good. The game, when available, is fun to try. The service is excellent. And the bar is outstanding. Sam helped me with my cocktail orders, was a delightful young man to speak with and extremely knowledgeable. And you are surrounded by history in London's oldest restaurant. It all adds up to a delightful experience. Will be back next time I'm in town. read more

Rules is London's oldest established restaurant, dating back to 1798. It specialises in game, oysters, pies and pudding - quintessential English fare. Situated at 35 Maiden Lane it is well placed to serve pre-theatre meals although to really experience Rules I feel that one must dedicate a whole evening to sampling the delights it has to offer. The building itself is reason enough to visit this restaurant. The walls are a testament to the many famous people who have dined here. Much of the building is original with stained glass skylights and panelled walls. Due to the original nature of the building the restaurant, spread over three floors can often seem cramped and it is always very hot. One concession that the restaurant has made to modernisation is the acceptance that the staff need not run backwards and forwards to the kitchen. Each staff member now has an electronic pad which takes your order and communicates it to the kitchen instantly. So what do you eat? Perhaps you would try the cream of herb soup with roasted king scallop, celeriac and hazelnut oil (served hot or cold) or maybe the fois gras and duck terrine with walnut and raisin bread, sauterne and port jelly. Not very PC but. For main do consider whatever they have on special and expect to pay around £20 for a dish. The deer and teal come highly recommended. Then dessert. You cannot eat at Rules and not have dessert. My old favourite, a sauterne crème brulee has disappeared off the menu but I would recommend them all! The cheese board is simply spectacular. The wine list is particularly impressive from £13.95 a bottle to £395.00, something to suit most. If in doubt ask for a recommendation. I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy good food and a convivial atmosphere. For any veggies who are still with me this really is not the place for you. There are constant reminders of what you are eating and no mistaking a bird on a plate. Booking is almost essential here, especially at the start of the Game season (12 August) and at Christmas. If there are more than two of you do not count on getting a table. read more

Rules - Rules new "internet friendly" awning! - British Near Me - London, XGL

Yep..fun place. Lots of historical memoribilia. Went for dinner after the theater..you really feel like you are in London circa 1940's. Lots of interesting menu options. read more

Traditional English restaurant, excellent food and service , delicious dishes. To my personal opinion, this is a must go restaurant if you are visiting London. Prices are fair for the quality of food and service provided. Ask their waiters for any reference needed. Order the right dishes are essential to a pleasant dinning experience, since their staffs know their dishes in details, please do search for their advices when one is not sure ... read more

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This is a must do! 4 stars for the food, 4 for the service and 6 for the experience. Your not going to find this many places on the planet. The maître d's are iconic, the atmosphere like dining at Downtown Abbey. Reservations are a MUST and do dress up! I noted the shabbily attired were welcome but they were also seated under the staircase on the way to the WC. The herb salad was very nice a simple olive oil dressing. The Steak and Oyster pie was wonderful but GET THE HORSERADISH! It was the highlight of the meal and I almost missed it. From what I can see, you can't go wrong with any dessert. Note: The more popular dishes were 86'd by the end of the night. I dinned at 8:30PM on a Saturday. read more

Great restaurant and the food was faultless. I had pigeon and foie gras followed by the grouse. Everything was perfectly cooked and of the highest quality. One of my favourite meals. Waiter was charming and there is a great bar upstairs. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

Horrible ! Rude Maitre,d .. Don't go. I've been around the World 3 times. Have eaten in every corner of the world. The maitre,d here is rude, and I'm very surprise how sub-par the service in London is in general. Not good. read more

We booked for 6.00pm on Sunday evening, on entering the restaurant I was welcomed by the manager saying "he needed the table back by 8.00" (bearing in mind I had booked here several weeks prior I was tempted to turn around and walk out). However as there were four of us and we where celebrating the other couples second wedding anniversary I thought I would keep stum (anyway if we hadn't finished that would be his problem not ours). We each had our starters two opting for the dressed Crab, and two choosing the Coronation Terrine which I must say was excellent. For our main course my partner choose Venison Loin, I choose the Duck breast which was cooked exactly as requested, and the other couple opted for Steak and Kidney pie and fish pie, both I was reliably informed was excellent. The Treacle sponge pudding I had for dessert finished the evening of perfectly. We did finish later than 8.00pm but fortunately we where not interrupted so didn't have to get my stroppy head on, and were all very satisfied with the evening. Looking at some of the other meals leaving the kitchen these also looked excellent especially the HUGE Yorkshire puddings. The restaurant is reputed to be the oldest in London dating back to 1798, the decor is certainly unique and adds to the occasion. Don't expect a cheap night here but do expect a pleasant one. The only criticism I would make has already been mentioned but didn't spoil our evening. read more

Rules - British Near Me - London, XGL

I got pictures as backup so you can tell I am not playing. PLEASE READ TO SAVE YOURSELF! I have to let you people know. You want to get robbed like the mona lisa? You want to get the masked man? You want to leave with a stomach emptier than even your wallet? No? Then you do NOT want to go to this place. Super overrated. Mediocre food. Trust me. I was a victim, but you don't have to be. First off, the waitress. I thought the portions would be big because of the prices. Boy was I wrong. I should have known something was wrong after asking the waitress how many dishes my family of 5 should share and she said 5.... Also did a great job reciting the special but didn't even know the price of it. And not once were we asked how our meal was. Overall poor service. Onto the food, the crime that deserves the torture tower. We ordered the turbot which was 40 damn pounds. For 40 damn pounds I thought it would be a large whole half of a fish at least. Holy cow, we were hoodwinked. 3 pieces.....3 freaking pieces of fish. See picture! Next up the gressingham duck breast. You would think I got a whole breast right? BZZZ wrong! 3 pieces! I repeat, 3 pieces of duck breast. Not even the whole thing. What a cheap ass place. Are you kidding me? Next the steak and kidney pie. Look at the picture... A store bought microwavable pot pie is bigger.... And 50x cheaper. My girlfriend laughed when she saw the picture and told me she thought it was a muffin. Is there no justice for an honest family trying to eat an honest meal for a birthday? God I was so embarrassed. Only thing remotely decent was the veal but I wouldnt even get that after seeing how sad it looked. Came with boiled potatoes......great, I have no idea how to make that... Oh my goodness I get so pissed thinking about that meal. Im taking my time writing this to let you know that you can definitely feel free to skip this place. You are not missing out on anything. The only thing youd be missing out on is a chance to eat at a better place. Seriously. Again check my pictures. I'm not lying. I'm trying to save your wallet's life and let you know the truth about this place before you make a mistake. Overrated and overpriced. Pretentious but cannot seem to back it up. Save yourself and go somewhere else. 1 star. 1 freaking damn star only. read more

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I don't think it gets more classically British than Rules. It's like you stepped into the 1800's and everyone just finished a hunt and was looking for a nice warm meal and a stiff drink. The best food to order is obviously the game and a bottle of red wine, can't go wrong with that. I had venison, it was cooked perfectly. The staff is pretty formal, a little uptight if anything, but with the reputation of this establishment, I suppose they have a right too. read more

Didn't love it. Went dressed in coat and tie expecting an elegant, classy place. Instead, it's clear there is no enforced dress code, given the t shirts, tennis shoes and soccer outfits seated around. The restaurant was loud with some raucous tables. Also, a family seated next to us with two 5 yr olds playing video games with the sound on. (Just what does a 5 yr old order there ? The rabbit or the pheasant ?) Just don't expect an upscale dining experience as we erroneously did. And feel free to wear your overalls and tool belt. read more

Fantastic 15th Anniversary dinner with the hubby and kids during our London trip in summer 2017. My husband's father and both grandfathers used to frequent Rules. It is the oldest continually running restaurant in London, serving traditional British fare. We were seated at the "Spectre Table" where a dinner scene from the James Bond movie was filmed. A special night to be sure. read more

The atmosphere alone warrants a 5 star rating. Fun, lively and truly British. This restaurant made us smile as we looked at great art and historical figures. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the truffle mashed potatoes were insanely good. read more

So the oldest restaurant in London unfortunately held too high of expectations for me. I made a reservation for lunch for my family. The day of the meal, I received an email saying that there was no formal dress code, but men could not wear shorts. My brother left to go back to the hotel, got stuck in London traffic, and decided not to come. For an American, it's hard to understand this no shorts rule, so I was a bit miffed at the whole experience alreKiady. I tried to cancel and the manager said he would have to charge me for cancelling the reservation. I could understand for a Friday or Saturday night, but a Tuesday lunch cancellation fee? At 1:45PM? Not exactly high season. The atmosphere is as stuffy as you would expect. Crowded quarters, and lots of game related decor. Service was nice. My water glass never was empty for too long. Food was mediocre. I was told by my London friend to order the specials, so I had the beef tongue. It was okay, but the 7GBP beef tongue I had at John's Salt Beef in Fitzrovia was way better. We also tried the rabbit. Standard. Kidney and steak pudding was super disappointing. Granted, I have never been a fan of kidneys, but the steak was just bland and slightly overcooked. The pudding covering was soggy and flavorless, just an ugly piece of food as well. Not really sure how this place has survived, but I suppose it's just traditional London. read more

I came here for my anniversary with my girlfriend about two years ago and hadn't reviewed it. The experience has stuck with us for so long. Rules has the most home-y and cosy atmosphere of any restaurant I have ever been too. Especially in winter, Rules cuddles you in it's warmth with it's rugged walls and thick, heavy meals. The restaurant is the oldest in London and is absolutely drenched in history. An awesome place to dine at if you're visiting from out of town. We had a huge cheese selection for desert and tons of wine - the way to go! I also remember loving the duck here. We will be coming back for sure! read more

Classic English cuisine in a classy setting in London. I went here on the recommendation of a British friend and wasn't disappointed. Atmosphere was classy and mildly "stuffy" but in a good/traditional way. I didn't feel out of place in my business casual attire (no suit/tie retired), but I wouldn't come in with anything less. We had a couple glasses of wine each, and traditional English game-focused dishes. Topped it off with some custard desserts that didn't disappoint. Definitely consider making a reservation as it was pretty crowded when we were there (Sunday night, November). read more

The food was very good I have to say, but a little too pretentious for me and I would not return based on the atmosphere and experience. They food was expensive as well for the amount served like we ordered the rump roast and they only served 3 measly thin slices of beef with overabundance of Yorkshire pudding. I ordered the pheasant and it was perfectly done and rich. My other friend ordered the pig cheeks and they were very tender and well done, too. I did enjoy the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. read more

In defense of Rules.... Rules, like St. Paul's is eternal. With its odd traditional and wonderful offerings It stands the tests of times; the Blitz, politicians, the sexual revolution and the frequent tourists in from the provinces for a "night at the Theatre". I find great comfort in dining here. It is consistently fine. The service is superb. Like Rules, our family's London roots go back to the early 1800's. For generations Rules has fed our family through lunches and late nights. I will never forget the maitre di greeting my mother by name after a 20+ year absence in the late-70's and gently joking that is was a bit early in the evening to be seeing her. I call "foul" on those declaring this old friend a tourist trap. Perhaps that sort of comment speaks more to the yelper's not possessing the appropriate demeanor to pass as a Londoner. read more

Devastating. I used to frequent Rules as a child and always recommended my friends abroad to dine here for a truly magical British experience. Pies overflowing the with gravy, everything is bountiful and steaming hot with hushed tones and austere dining with wonderful wait staff. It's been 4 yrs since I have been here and I repent. I repent for sending anyone to this horrific place. The food was disgusting. The steak and kidney pie is better bought at Waitrose and heated in the oven. The kidneys were grey bullets, the gravy non existent and the greens were sautéed in garlic !! Has this chef been to a canteen in England ?? The pigeon was good but it sat on a bed of ... Watercress with Parma ham with mustard blobs and balsamic reduced liquid ??? Again, has this chef even visited an English kitchen ?? Or is this 2005??? And the cherry on top was the server. God knows it's not his fault. He has been trained by some orangutan of a manager. The gratuity was included in the bill which, I questioned and his delightful answer, in his foreign accent was "in London, you see always". As someone who grew up in London England, this was absolute rot and obscene!! How rude !!! How dare he say this to a paying customer especially when the receipt says specifically that it is not compulsory and can be removed at request. I was devastated. My childhood treat has been ruined on this terrible night. I will tell all my foreign friends visiting what a tourist trap this has become. The portraits on the walls were all weeping for the good old days, ashamed of what this has become. It was recovered however when i went to St John's in Smithfields and had a delicious dessert straight after. Their bill certainly did NOT have the gratuity on it and it was wonderful as always. read more

Dining at Rules feels a bit like being transported back to a bygone era (as in the fantasy rose-tinted version, rather than how things probably really were for most people in the 1800s). It's not hard to imagine having just stepped out of your carriage as the doorman opens the door and sweeps you in from the cold to be cloistered in a velvet covered booth beneath the antlers and copious wall ornaments. The oldest restaurant in London is literally steeped in history and it's all on display. The waiter was happy to discuss and explain the various pictures adorning the walls and encouraged a little tour around on the way to the bathroom to get a good look at everything, which was nice. With so much effort invested in the venue, one might fear the food wouldn't come up to par, but it so did! For lunch I went for the blade of beef with bone marrow and parsley mash, which was melt in your mouth delicious. And the pies, particularly the steak and kidney pie, were also extremely good, with a thin pastry crust filled with proper meat and accompanied by a rich gravy. Rules is exclusively supplied beef from the Gilmonby herd of pedigree Belted Galloways farmed in the north-east near the Pennines, where they also own Lartington Hall Park estate from which their game is sourced. So that accounts for the quality of the meat. You need to order some sides of vegetables to go with the dishes, and the green beans were cooked perfectly with a bit of crunch still. And everything got washed down with a rather lovely bottle of Saint-Émilion selected from a decently ranging wine list (particularly if you have a preference for French). The choux pastry dessert with creme patissiere, praline & almonds was so light it felt like no effort to eat it all, and it looked exquisite as well. The warm chocolate fondant was also just right, with a hint of mint to take the edge off the richness. It's necessary to book ahead as it was a full lunch service on a Saturday, although there is the option of eating the same menu upstairs in the cocktail bar, which wasn't busy. Throughout the meal the service was attentive without being intrusive but it was a long and relaxed lunch at two and a half hours (although didn't drag - it had just the right balance), so be prepared to take your time, sit back and enjoy it. The cocktail bar looked like the kind of inviting place you could easily lose an entire evening, so certainly something to go back for! read more