To be honest, we were kind of in doubt about what claimed to be 'the oldest restaurant in London' since it located in young and buzzing Covent Garden. Not quite the place where one would expect to find a period building set up as a restaurant. Even we finally arrived at Rules, we were still not quite convinced.
Well, until we actually entered the site. It was simply impressive. We could not help to wander the reception area admiring the original features displayed all around (yes, we were like tourists entering a museum, basically). We felt like stepping a couple hundred years back. The fire place, the wooden panels, rich red velvet upholstery, paintings and drawings, statuettes and so on... Beautiful.
We sat at a corner table by the window. The area that we found out later on where the staff have a tendency to seat new visitors or tourists. Not that it was less comfortable, but we noticed that they seat foreign guests at the same area. The more frequent we visited Rules, the further inside we were placed. The manager also could appear to be a little bit above everybody else at the beginning, but it changed over time.
Unfamiliar with the menu, we ordered some aperitif, Campari Soda – great choice to refresh and clear the palate and it always work to buy some more time when you get pushy waiters, which was not the case this time.
After a lot of considerations - as there were so many delicious options we would like to try, we decided to have Pressed rabbit with blood sausage, jelly and mustard sauce served with toasted bread as starter. It turned out to be a very tasty starter, but quite filling. Maybe the bread should be replaced with melba toast to lightened it down.
As main course, we chose Steak and kidney pie – it never let us down, tender steak and kidney, fluffy pastry and rich gravy poured over blanched savoy cabbage. Heaven!! Fantastic choice of comfort food for typical a grey, wet and cold English weather. To accompany the steak and kidney pie we opted a good bottle of Chateau Neuf Du Pape 2003 Chateau de la Mordoree, La Reine des Bois. What a beautiful matured red wine, served in a decanter to bring out all the goodness. A real treat!
Well, until we actually entered the site. It was simply impressive. We could not help to wander the reception area admiring the original features displayed all around (yes, we were like tourists entering a museum, basically). We felt like stepping a couple hundred years back. The fire place, the wooden panels, rich red velvet upholstery, paintings and drawings, statuettes and so on... Beautiful.
We sat at a corner table by the window. The area that we found out later on where the staff have a tendency to seat new visitors or tourists. Not that it was less comfortable, but we noticed that they seat foreign guests at the same area. The more frequent we visited Rules, the further inside we were placed. The manager also could appear to be a little bit above everybody else at the beginning, but it changed over time.
Unfamiliar with the menu, we ordered some aperitif, Campari Soda – great choice to refresh and clear the palate and it always work to buy some more time when you get pushy waiters, which was not the case this time.
After a lot of considerations - as there were so many delicious options we would like to try, we decided to have Pressed rabbit with blood sausage, jelly and mustard sauce served with toasted bread as starter. It turned out to be a very tasty starter, but quite filling. Maybe the bread should be replaced with melba toast to lightened it down.
As main course, we chose Steak and kidney pie – it never let us down, tender steak and kidney, fluffy pastry and rich gravy poured over blanched savoy cabbage. Heaven!! Fantastic choice of comfort food for typical a grey, wet and cold English weather. To accompany the steak and kidney pie we opted a good bottle of Chateau Neuf Du Pape 2003 Chateau de la Mordoree, La Reine des Bois. What a beautiful matured red wine, served in a decanter to bring out all the goodness. A real treat!
We did not stop after the dessert. We were simply being piggy at this point. With tummy almost exploding, we just could not leave without having the old stilton. We decided to share that. Although it was served with water biscuit, rye biscuit and digestives, we stuck to celery sticks and sliced apples. Lovely!!
Good job the seats were so comfortable, we could sit there all day and start the meal all over again! The restaurant opens from 11.30 to 23.00 non-stop. Which is fantastic. As true foodie like us we love to have a long and relaxing lunch so we can devour our food with full enjoyment. As Chinese people would say, eating in a rush isn’t good for digestion system. We definitely can use that excuse ;)
To sum it up, Rules is a very good restaurant that provides traditional English food, has high standard of service and great atmosphere. We could get use to that...
Highly recommended!!
Rule's Restaurant
35 Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7LB, UK
Phone: +44 20 78365314
Website: http://www.rules.co.uk/
