Orrery

I had been wanting to come to The Orrery for years and thought perhaps I had missed the boat as the chefs came and went and some reviews said that had affected on the overall impact of the restaurant. Well if it has I would have loved to have gone when it first opened as for me it was FANTASTIC!

My GF and I relaxed in the bar before moving to our table where we were amazed with the minimalist dining room, the superb service and amazing food and wine.

The most amazing thing was that I found it very good value for money. Yes of course you can have cheaper but for the quality of the surroundings the excellent food and wine and second to known service it makes you wonder why you bother with the average food, service etc… you can get at many restaurants that cost almost as much

A firm favourite of mine

Terrible meal last night. Was there for a romantic anniversary. Started off with a cocktail each, I had to send mine back as whoever made it has no idea how to mix a mohito, which is really not that difficult. The food was patchy. My girlfriend had the gourmand vegitarian menu. The problem was it was all very rich and lacked any texture. So foamy thing (are we not past that yet) followed by a soup, followed by a good salad and then a gelatinous risotto. I had the gourmand menu and it was so-so. Couple of ok courses, couple of duff ones.

The real problem was the time between courses. It took 25-30 minutes between each of them. After two and a half hours we had not got to the pre-desert, so I asked for the bill. Like waiting for Godot but with disinterested waiters…

Started evening in bar with appropiate cocktails. Followed by set tasting meal with pairing wines. The wine waiters were excellent and adapted the wines according to our taste. One problem they were only present for part of the evening and left tondo paper work! How strange. The frois grois was beautiful seared and unusual. No wonder the star disappeared from orrery as the service was not consistent. Would go back and use as a local!

Our March 2010 Sunday lunch was our first visit for 9-12 months. We came away with the same good impression we've always had in the past.

Some people may not like the elongated shape of the room, but we feel that it adds to privacy. Since the restaurant is on the second floor, with large windows and a conservatory style roof, the room is wonderfully light and airy. A perfect location for a long relaxing lunch. The décor is stylish and muted, with a slightly luxurious feel helped by the long banquette along the back wall.

For Sunday lunch, the menu had a good choice. Both our starters and mains were extremely good – very tasty pigeon, followed by equally tasty and tender lamb. All our courses were cooked and presented to a very high standard. The highlight for many is the fabulous cheeseboard, which must be one of the best in London. Circa 30-40 choices served by knowledgeable and interested staff, which is very unusual these days and a big plus. we also like the bread trolley and its choices. As is usual, there is a supplementary charge for the cheese.

The Sunday special menu really cannot be faulted at £30 plus service for 3 courses. Superb value that is difficult to beat (ie 10 / 10). Evenings, the bill will be a bit stiffer. With supplements, service and drinks, it won't be a cheap meal, but it will be good. Roughly £100 for 2 for 2 courses inc service ex drinks (my overall 8 for value)

The wine list is extensive, especially for France, but the choices are a bit limited sub-£50. We tend to end up spending £60-£90.

Front of house and waiting staff were all very charming, efficient and professional. Plus, they actually seemed interested in the food they were serving ! Could not be faulted.

Overall, still a very good restaurant, with great staff, serving very high quality dishes. We shall be back soon.
Must be the best of the rather mixed D&D bunch ?

I have eaten twice at Orrery, once excellent and once very good.

Precise food and service, a place for a special occasion.

Excellent cheese trolley – a great chance to cut the nose off fine fromage.

Although the food was very good the portions were incredibly small and the service was very slow. Staff were helpful with wine suggestions etc but it took so long to get glasses refilled we ended up getting up and helping ourselves. Additionally the menu was a set price for 2 or 3 courses however at least a third of the options had an £8 supplement which makes this quite an expensive lunch in a restaurant that feels feels really dated and could do with facelift.

Fantastic place with a fantastic atmosphere. Food is gorgeous, service incredibly quick and impeccable but not invasive or over the top. Impressive wine list and very helpfull sommelier. The cheese selection is absolutely divine and couldn't get enough of it. Also great selection of breads. Although the portions seemed rather small at first, they are acutally very satisfying without leaving you feeling stuffed and sluggish. Quiet and discreet atmosphere, waiters make everyone feel very welcome and comfortable.

We went on whim for our first anniversary and managed to get a table at very short notice, which was great.

The service was impeccable throughout.

I had a fois gras parfait, which was glorious, for starter, followed by Tournedos a la Rossini, the steak was very tender, cooked to perfection and the accompaniments very good. For desert I had blueberry soufflé, which again was very good.

We had a nice bottle of wine, and although was racked up a reasonable bit, if you stuck to the two course menu with a lower priced wine you the price would actually be good value for the quality of the food and the experience.

I will return and would be happy to recommend to others, one of the nicest restaurants I ve been to for a while.

The Orrery certainly lives up to its excellent reviews. The restaurant itself is very elegant and tastefully designed. On our visit we found the set menu to be carefully compiled and the food was simple but with clearly defined flavours and cooked to perfection. The staff were incredibly polite with good humour and personality. The wine list is extensive but the sommelier was very helpful and recommended an excellent but very reasonably priced house wine. The atmosphere is calm with a gentle buzz which allows one to talk quite comfortably. It is perfect for a romantic or business meal or just catching up with friends.

The food here is of top quality. The prices reflect this but the standard is one of the best in London and always delicious. This restaurant is not for the faint hearted when it comes to price however they do have fixed price lunch menus which are great value. We have been eating here for over 10 years and despite several changes in management it is always an enjoyable experience. The decor is clean and modern with a fabulous view over the Church gardens opposite, service is impeccable. If you are looking for somewhere special you can't beat the Orrery. They have a lovely summer terrace available for cocktails and snacks weather permitting and a comfortable modern bar for pre or after dinner drinks. My favourite London restaurant. Value for money is good albeit high end!

It’s good, of course it is, but so it should be, considering the prices. A menu that is full of imagination as well as classic dishes. The service was ok, strong on visual appeal, but not so strong on the basics of providing a meal quickly and efficiently. Wine list is immense, with lots of variety. The room is an odd shape but it works, the atmosphere (at dinner) was quite formal; the clientele, the type you expect in that part of town – a well dressed contemporary crowd who all like themselves a bit too much. Good for intimate dining with well dressed friends, bad for relatives young or old whose table manners can't be trusted and who don't scrub up well.