Lynn's review of Rules

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.