When one of my best friends and her Mum visited the UK recently, I travelled down to the capital to spend a few days with them. While I was there they treated me to lunch at one of London’s Oldest Restaurants, Rules. Established in 1798, Rules restaurant serves classic British food in traditional Edwardian surroundings.
You might recognise the interior from appearances in Downton Abbey and the James Bond film Spectre.
The walls play host to hundreds of drawings, paintings and cartoons which provide an insight into the history of the restaurant and those who have dined there. Over the centuries Rules has been frequented by some of the biggest names in literature and the arts from Charles Dickens to Laurence Olivier.
Upstairs is the cocktail bar with dark wood walls and plush red seating. Known in certain circles as one of London’s best kept secrets it’s a beautiful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a world class cocktail.
Rules is famed for its game but since I’m a big fan of seafood I decided to start with Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs. The smoked salmon was delicious and the eggs were light and fluffy, cooked to perfection.
For my main course I opted for the Cod, Mussel & Prawn Curry with cauliflower, coriander & pilau rice. Visually stunning this curry was full of flavour and tasted as good as it looked.
To finish we shared the Plum, Blackberry & Apple Crumble with vanilla custard. The crumble was beautifully presented and much lighter than I expected.
Overall the food was excellent, as you would expect from a restaurant commanding a higher price point, but it’s the service and surroundings that make a visit to Rules a truly special experience. Thank you so much Lauren and Gina.
- Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs, £14.95
- Cod, Mussel & Prawn Curry with cauliflower, coriander & pilau rice, £24.95
- Plum, Blackberry & Apple Crumble with vanilla custard, £7.95
Rules can be found at 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7LB and you can make a reservation on their website.