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Rules (∗)

Address:35 Maiden Lane WC2E 7LB
Tel:020 7836 5314
Email:
Website: Visit Rules website
Price: £58.00 Wine: £21.95 Champagne: £54.50
Opening Hours:Mon-Sat 12N-11.45pm Sun 12N-10.45pm

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Rules ‘still rules’ declares one devotee of this 200-year-old, true-Brit stalwart, while others wax lyrical about everything from the top-hatted doorman to the raspberry syllabub trifle. The experience of eating at this ‘unchanging & reliable’ establishment is likened to ‘going back in time – though there’s never enough time to take in all the amazing decor’. The plush velvety interior is bedecked with pictures in the Victorian style – a comfy backdrop to hearty food that might feature rare-breed beef from the owner’s estate in the High Pennines, notable game such as teal with parsnip purée, or wild duck breast with black cherry sauce. The style of cooking means that Rules is at its best in winter, but throughout the year its old-fashioned charm makes it an obvious choice for business lunches, special occasions or post-theatre suppers. Other bonus points include a notable British cheeseboard & a wine list with numerous choices by the glass.

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Reader reviews of Rules:

Mike H.

Mike H. (50s, Male, United Kingdom)

Went for a pre theatre meal. Arrived at 6pm and our order, which was a main of Steak Diane and another of Lamb, no starters, was taken almost straight away. There was us, a few others and lots and lots of empty tables.

After 35 minutes nothing to eat, no bread (table next to us got some) and sat with a soft drink and a glass of Pinot Noir.

Finally asked the waiter about the food, who grandly infomed me that a (pan fried) steak diane, as my wife had ordered it medium/ well took 35 minutes to cook. Yes, if you have to go halfway across town to buy the meat, but otherwise complete tosh. How do they cope when it's half full?

The food when it arrived was OK, not exceptional, but well cooked and presented.

Now it was nearly 7pm and we had to move on, the waiter then seemed disappointed we only had time for coffee… whose fault was that?

Cost : 1x cola; 1 glass Pinot noir; 1 steak diane; 1 lamb; 1 mixed leaf salad; 1 tomato and shallot salad; 1 espressso; 1 cappucino = £79.00.

Overall a nicely presented place but as a dining experience, completely underwhelmed – never going back, there are many more that offer much better.

I can understand why it appeals to tourists, but if you are going to spend money, go to somewhere where a fine dinging experience won't cost you much more, but will leave you totally satisfied – try The Square, Sketch, or even top floor Smiths of Smithfield, not fine dining but great atomsphere and very good food. If you have to stick to the group Sheekey's or even the Ivy are better, but London's got so much to offer – dig a… More

3 March 2009
Overall:5
Food and Drink:7
Service:3
Atmosphere:3
Value for Money:3
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Michael W.
Reviews: 1

Michael W. (50s, Male, United Kingdom)

Yes it's a great room, and yes the traditional comfort food is very welcome on a cold, wet winter's day; the problem lies in the service. It is smug, complacent, inefficient and – to paraphrase an earlier reviewer – haughty.
Let's be quite clear: this is a £100-a-head restaurant. Compare the levels of service with other nearby and almost equally venerable institutions like Sheekeys or The Ivy. Rules doesn't come close.
A glance through the visitors' book provides some clues why this might be so, with page after page filled with (complimentray) comments from American tourists and anniversary celebrants. These are not potentially regular customers whose patronage needs to be encouraged; they are once-in-a-lifetime diners who are so distracted by the surroundings and the traditional “Britishness” of it all that they fail to notice the contemptuous manner in which they are treated.
Message to Richard Corrigan: Could you make Rules your next project and give it the kick up the backside it clearly needs.

24 November 2008
Overall:6
Food and Drink:5
Service:2
Atmosphere:4
Value for Money:5
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Lynn P.
Reviews: 1

Lynn P. (40s, Female)

We have just read about Rules in the Times having dined there last night and wondered if we went to the same restaurant! Yes the dishes are classic British standard but the service was sadly lacking. Having chosen red wine from the special selection, which was duly decanted we asked for bowl-shaped wine glasses only to be told ‘these are our standard glasses’ and ‘we used to have other glasses but not any more’. The starters were exceptional, as were the main dishes but the ‘creamed brussel tops’ turned out to be halved sprouts you could not get a fork into, the parsnips were equally hard and the mashed potato was gloopy school-dinner reject standard. We did not see a waiter throughout the meal, either to pour wine or check everything was ok (I know some people do not like this but at least we could have discreetly sent the veg back, rather than have the maitre d' sent to our table like a stern headmaster!) We declined to pay service charge as the ‘impeccable service’ was not in evidence on our visit.

23 November 2008
Overall:6
Food and Drink:8
Service:3
Atmosphere:8
Value for Money:4
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Flying Foodie
Gold Reviewer

Flying Foodie (30s, Male, United Kingdom)

Editor's pick

I had lunch at Rules after a long absence and found it a delightful experience, particularly on a dreary winter afternoon. Its inviting, clubby atmosphere, and cosy well spaced tables make it a great place to while away a few hours in good company.

The menu is extensive and very game focused, but my vegetarian guest found enough fish to enjoy the place fully. The rest of us enjoyed duck, pheasant, grouse and other less-often seen meats.

Service was a little bit scatty and had to be occassionally prompted to pour more wine, but was otherwise courteous and swift.

5 November 2008
Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:7
Atmosphere:9
Value for Money:7
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Simon B.
Reviews: 1

Simon B. (30s, Male, United Kingdom)

On our first visit to Rules we were impressed with the interior design which was cosy and as old fashioned as one would expect. We decided to dine as we know the barman in there, young Michael who is a superb barman and Londons finest. Not only can he make you any drink you name, he also creates his owns drinks and many of the bottles behind bar you simply cannot get anymore. Real connoisseurs the guys upstairs and very friendly.

If only the same could be said about the staff downstairs. The front of door manager literally looked me up and down on my entrance. I thought I might have left my flies undone or perhaps had something on the bottom of my shoe but I think I passed the first test. I was not jettisoned into the street anyway.

The menu was nice and the food good but the entire evening was ruined by the extremely miserable waiter we had. Never smiled once.

I wish these places would ram home to their staff that surly and miserable staff does not make one want to return. Its basic stuff really and if they don't like working there then go elsewhere…as we did. Straight back into the bar upstairs where the friendly people are..and did I mention the drinks??!

4 November 2008
Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:4
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:5
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