Rochelle Canteen in London

16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA, United Kingdom

★★★★☆
(671 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Breakfast restaurant Modern European restaurant

About

Cafe/restaurant in bike shed of school turned arts and media complex serving short, modern menu.

Website
rochellecanteen.com
Address
16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA, United Kingdom
Plus Code
GWGG+87 London, United Kingdom
Time Zone
Europe/London

Business Hours

Monday
12–3 PM
Tuesday
12–3 PM
Wednesday
12–3 PM – 5:30–7:45 PM
Thursday
12–3 PM – 5:30–7:45 PM
Friday
12–3 PM – 5:30–7:45 PM
Saturday
12–3 PM – 5:30–7:45 PM
Sunday
12–3 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Dine-in Delivery Takeaway
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic Trending Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Reservations required Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
671 reviews

Most Mentioned

garden (42) school (19) lamb (18) starters (12) british (11) tent (10) wine list (8) courtyard (5) lentils (5) buzzer (5)
5 stars
455
4 stars
121
3 stars
49
2 stars
25
1 stars
21
★★★★★
November 23, 2024

First time here, and can't wait to come back The food was just perfect, drinks were great, the staff was great and attentive everything we ate made our eyes roll back in our heads I was stuffed but I wanted more. Can't wait to go back to London next year just to eat here again. Thank you for making our experience so special!

★★★★
November 12, 2024

Beautiful and quite elegant canteen, focusing on classic dishes. You could either sit inside or in their heated tent. Located by a lush cute garden, in a calm neighborhood. Very popular, so a reservation is recommended to dine here. Food was good, but slightly overpriced perhaps. Service was polite, but not the warmest nor happiest.

★★★
October 13, 2024

Waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to take our order. Food was good, but when ordering, I was told the item I wanted wasn’t available. Ordered 2 espressos at the end of the meal, waited 15 minutes and finally just decided to get the bill instead. Bit disappointed due to how long we’ve been waiting to try Rochelle.

★★★★
September 1, 2024

Nice British food in an old school. If you can manage book the terrace. On a lovely day, the sun shines through the grapevines and the terrace. Food was great, they messed up with order ss it was late but they make it up by offering us some snacks and extra side. A bit expensive all considered but we would be back, especially on a great sunny day for lunch.

★★★★★
August 11, 2024

Iconic restaurant with the lovely garden setting- the food is always delicious and generous. Service is pleasant and the tent at lunch/ early evening time seems always convivial. Really enjoyed the classic watermelon feta salad this time around and the meats were lovely and filling. Keep coming back!

★★★★
July 24, 2024

Haven’t been back here in a while and glad to return with a pleasant experience overall. Service was lovely, staff would check in every now and then to make sure the food was okay. Starters and mains were wonderful, desserts are sometimes a hit and miss. The elderflower and peach jelly we had was overly sweet and with too much flavouring for us to finish.

★★★★★
May 19, 2024

Ive been several times and always had a positive experience. I particularly like it when it’s sunny as you can eat outside. Food is always great. I really like it. If you have kids, it’s useful to know that they have a changing table in the toilets. Overall would recommend 👍

★★★★
April 14, 2024

A hidden restaurant where you've got to ring a bell to enter through a garden. I loved sitting in the tent on a warm, sunny day. It was like being inside a conservatory, so you got sunshine and warmth even in April. Food wise, we got 4 starters and 2 mains. I was shocked at how well the cold roast beef was prepared. I was fully prepared for a bland cold cut, but the capers and sauce on top was delicious. Although I have to give the crown to the quail. Our mains were both tasty (hake and lamb) with sauces that went well with a side of hispi cabbage. The only disappointment was the monkfish liver. My first bite tasted almost like throw up. Aside from that one dish, everything else was top notch. Service wise, they were very attentive. Aside from bringing more water as soon as we needed, they brought over a different knife when they noticed I was having trouble with the butter knife. They also brought over a plate to put the hake fish bones. Ambiance - I couldn't ask for a better spot on a Sunday. It was chill, busy but not too loud, warm but not stuffy, and above all - calming. I can't wait to come back!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 20, 2024

Great food and good service but nothing exceptional. We were inside a heated tent however it wasn t super warm. Would love to go back in spring to enjoy the garden.

★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

The place is nice but the dishes are disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Lovely concept, friendly service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

taste for slow relish lavishing nomads unite hugs around our hearts Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Vry cozy and welcoming restaurant in east london All dish very fresh and savoury Food

★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Four of us went to the Rochelle Canteen in the evening because the reviews were quite good. I cant confirm that. First we stood at the address in front of a locked door in a high wall. To get in you have to ring the bell. You have to find that out first. There is no information about this. The food was ok. but certainly not excellent. My starter was zucchini with lime zest. Overall it was rather tasteless. The main course was the Pork Chop. That was ok. but also the lentils and beans as above. My companion felt the same way. The Tuna, for example, was very fishy. We had a bottle of white wine together. I had to ask about the cooler... Overall, the service wasnt attentive. The ambience is an unusual glass house look. The bill included an additional service charge of 12.5% for whatever...

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The outdoor bit is lovely and warm enough with heaters even in the winter. Food was really good too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Everything you want it to be, and more. A lovely, hidden-feeling setting, delicious fresh food and a great wine list. The team are polite and attentive, the food comes out quickly, and they are generous with their portion sizes. I ve been wanting to swing by for a while, but it will now be a local haunt for me. Thanks so much!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Fantastic

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Really delicious food, and friendly, attentive service. Decor is simple and comfortable, with a lively, interesting crowd.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

one of the most elegant meals I ve had in london all year. service was so friendly and unobtrusive, the food was perfect and the patio was warm and cosy even in torrential rain. a perfect date spot

★★★
October 22, 2024

Lovely setting. Unfortunately our waitress was quite emotionless, not at all engaging. Our main course vegetables arrived after we had eaten almost half of our lunch. It wasnt until our plates were cleared for desert, that I mentioned, we couldnt eat them as they had arrived so late. A different waitress came back and said we wouldnt be charged for them. When the bill arrived, they had been charged, so not sure communication between staff was that great. My partner thought his polenta, new potatoes and venison were under seasoned. However the red pepper, goats curd starter and the John Dory was superb..

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Impeccable service and amazing food!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

One of the nicest restaurants in London

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Beautifully done, chill place. Perfect for lunch

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Lovely place, very tucked away, entrance is a gate in a wall on the circus with Boys written above it.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Favorite restaurant in London

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Incredible team Dream worthy food Best food spot. Radishes and smoked cod roe is the one. And most importantly dog friendly

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I dont have any pictures of the main course because I was busy eating it. It came a little late but it was worth the wait. Dessert... the combination was perfect. I think it would be better to come on a sunny lunch day. I liked that the garden was pretty and had a private feel.

September 22, 2024

Salad was over dressed, sardines were under seasoned-as in no seasonig-lamb was tough. Altogether disappointing.

★★★
August 22, 2024

The setting of the restaurant is beautiful and unique. The wine list is great. Our waiter was very agreeable. Some of our dishes were good; some lacked the refinement youd expect for paying £25+ a plate. We had been there for 1.5 hours before our mains emerged and we finally got a bottle of wine that wed ordered some time before. This was a bit disappointing given it was a family birthday and wed travelled from the suburbs especially to go to the restaurant. They made good by giving us the wine on the house when it eventually arrived, at least. On that day you could tell that the restaurant was struggling to get the basics right before they could add flourish. Im not sure Ill go back, but was glad to have tried it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

This place is a hidden gem

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Accomplished food and old school approach to service in this old school. Not cheap (nor exorbitant) but worth the expense. Would happily return.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Really cute garden dining spot. Lovely scenery.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

a PERFECT restaurant, a thousand out of ten

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Im from New York and was really excited to get a lunch reservation in the outdoor patio. Its a gorgeous spot, albiet it was a little confusing how to get in as the first time we rang the bell, no one answered. The food is bright, beautiful and really delicious. The mackerel was divine and understated. The food is really an 8/10, and the service and vibe maybe 7/10.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I m moving to London

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Exceptional food with complex flavours exquisitely presented. Will come here again for sure.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

A very pleasant place in the borough of Hackney, away from the hubbub of the city. Impeccable service and excellent food. Just one small remark: no vegetarian choice.

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

3.5 stars - parfait and fish pie was great! Although quite expensive for what it is Nice vibe for a lunch outside in the courtyard

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

My partner booked this for his 50th for him and 3 of us. He and me were vegetarians. The vegetarian main was appalling for a restaurant like this. One main course choice and not even a special. It was basically a tasteless courgette watery stew with borlotti beans. Starter and desserts fine but not enough to make up for a woeful main. Really let him down on his big day. Despite knowing it was his big day they didn t make any effort. Waiting staff were otherwise very attentive

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Wonderful setting and delicious, rich, vibrant food, takes on classic dishes. You take the ridiculous wine glasses and the high prices for given as its a St. John family restaurant. What was not acceptable was my starter of four ingredients missing one of the ingredients and this fact being shrugged off. Really poor form.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Lovely place. We were there for a birthday lunch. Asparagus was great, and the red mullet and brill. I noticed too late in the day they have an Orgo Rkatsiteli on their wine list which is a very good sign. Next time....

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

First time here. Best restaurant Ive been to in ages. Wonderful food catering to dll dietary preferences. Great wine selection. Delightful staff. Beautiful location.

★★★
May 22, 2024

Very underwhelmed after hearing such great things. The food was average and overpriced and while the service was very friendly, it was very slow.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Everything you want. Super food, nice staff, nice place

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Food is always amazing. Small interesting menu, perfectly cooked. Interesting non alcoholic options. No surprise its the place chefs choose to go in their day off.

May 22, 2024

I went there yesterday and got the worst food poisoning (most likely from the milk-based pudding dessert as that was the only dish I didn t share with friends I came with). Avoid!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Flawless from start to finish. Seasonal, fresh and delicious menu. Classic cooking with modern twists. Wine list well curated with classic wines from classic regions to more undiscovered grapes and varieties. Divine.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Lovely place and terrific food - 10/10 recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

GORGEOUS GREENHOUSE MEAL Shoreditch, London 4/5 £££ Nestled within a picturesque greenhouse adjacent to the Playground Gardens lies the charming Rochelle Canteen, a culinary gem in central London that has been beckoning me for ages! Rochelle Canteen s seasonal, daily changing menu is a celebration of both classic and modern European cooking The menu is small, yet ready to please all stomachs, focusing both on quality product and beautiful cooking My last weeks favourites included the divine Smoked Cods Roe accompanied by crisp pigs skin, perfectly complemented by their heavenly bread selection as starters For mains, the Braised Lamb served with creamy mash and tender green beans stole the show, alongside the indulgent Pheasant & Bacon Pie, bursting with rich flavours and hearty goodness! Unfortunately we didnt have time to go for dessert, but Im def coming back again to try them all!

★★★
April 22, 2024

We were unfortunately disappointed with our visit, given the £50 p/h price and reviews. Fishcake starter was nice, but my partners starter (monkfish parfait) had quite an unpleasant taste. Our mains were pretty average. Garden salad side was acrid/bitter tasting. Service was fine, but a bit cold/unfriendly. Id like to return once more to see if this was just an off day, given the reviews.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Heaven is a place on earth, and that place is Rochelle Canteen.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Wish I could eat there every day. The quality of the food is outstanding and everything tasted perfect. I loved that it felt like going to a secret garden, the area and also the restaurant itself are just so special and beautiful.

★★★★
April 22, 2024

Great atmosphere and very good food. Hats off to the kitchen crew. Gladly again.

Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Rude staff.

★★
March 22, 2024

Let down by under-seasoning and burnt desserts. Sad to say I was disappointed by my first trip to Rochelle canteen. We ordered cockles in cider as a starter and they were gritty and wildly under-seasoned. Bland as you get. The mains were better (seabass with aoili and chard, and an aubergine stew), but again quite under-seasoned. Dessert was a fail safe slice of date cake with toffee sauce and ice cream. Excellent ice cream, but beneath the blanket of toffee sauce, the cake was burnt - not on the top but on the sides, like it had been in a too-hot tin, where the metal itself ended up burning the cake. Despite the food disappointments, the atmosphere was lovely and venue magical. A big shame that more care was not made to avoid such basic cooking errors.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Beautiful atmosphere with unmemorable food. Truly do not remember a single thing I ate. Maybe soup I think was good? But so pretty to look out onto the garden! And lots of hip good looking people. Pricey so be warned.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Best food I ve had in while, the dishes are delicious. You can taste the outstanding Quality. The portions very generous too. Will definitely be back. Amazing restaurant, a must visit. Food : 5/5

★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

I really wanted to discover this restaurant with rave reviews. The place is really very pretty, located in an old Victorian school, with a private garden. This is why it is better to choose the heated tent, which overlooks the garden and is naturally lit, than to go inside. The food, on the other hand, was very disappointing: prices too high for the quality and quantity. A good point for the excellent and very British Sutton Hoo, Chanterelle and Wild Garlic Pie and for the excellent new potatoes. In terms of service: a somewhat dilettante waiter who made a mistake when ordering my main course. Result: 15 minutes of waiting for the other guest, its not ideal but his colleague was very friendly and I was not charged for the dish.

★★
March 22, 2024

What a let down. It starts with the unpeturbed service - a waitron who didn t introduce herself, runners casually passing us dinner plates or placing them carelessly and recklessly on the table , no communication or apology about unavailable good, no water despite asking 4 times.. 0 charm or care from staff. The food was average and ungenerous at best. The ambiance in summer might be nice but was freezing, sterile and just felt like no effort had been made. Even for London, this was extraordinarily expensive for what was delivered. Would never recommend and cannot believe the hype.

March 22, 2024

Food was genuinely terrible incompatible flavors, bland, and over/under cooked items. Please don t waste your money here! It s super overpriced and it s not just underwhelming, it s fully disgusting. Service was nice! Staff are great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

impeccable vibe incredible food and lovely staff. I usually take all my guest here and it never disappoints!

★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Nice atmosphere but the food was too expensive for what it was

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

We visited three restaurants while in London. Rochelle Canteen was the best by far: excellent food, very helpful and knowledgeable waiting team and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. We will definitely be back Food

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

We couldnt find any fault with this place, everything was spot on. Out of four dining out experiences over a long weekend, this was by far the best. Excellent food with high quality ingredients, perfectly cooked and served well, and fine wine - what more could you ask for. We will be back, soon.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Delicious seasonal fare locally sourced served in an intimate convivial setting

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Highly recommended. The most beautiful garden & restaurant, the staff were so lovely and the food was incredible - will be back!

★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Came here bc of anthony Bourdain mentioning it on one of his London/UK episodes. The space this restaurant is at is undeniably beautiful, the outdoor space + with the use of the lunch tables is really nice. I can imagine a group dinner at a lunch table in the summer being lovely. We ordered the Seared Steak w/ Anchovy Sauce, Braised Rabbit, and had a side of potatoes + greens. I found the steak to be quite good, the anchovy sauce is VERY anchovy so be prepared for that. You have to really like anchovy. The braised rabbit was delicious, i would recommend. I also thoroughly thought the greens were A1 delicious, a specific green I haven t had before; at least in NYC. Would recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Beautiful space, with even better food. They are focused on outstanding quality product, cooked using brilliant technique. We absolutely love all the dishes we tried (and we ordered almost the whole menu!). Their wine list is also splendid. Would very much recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Always the best food, brilliant staff and gorgeous tucked away place, never fails

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Vitello tomato, lamb chop lentil green sauce

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

I love Rochelle Canteen but... I cant be the only one who would appreciate more options for carnivores that doesnt involve sharing, also a way to protect people from the cold draft when people enter or exit, especially in winter, perhaps a curtain lobby? The food is always tasty, the service is friendly and professional, definitely will be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Lovely simplistic dining. Food was delicious. Staff were very helpful

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Really nice, high quality and simple food. Great service and a really nice ambient within the walls of an old school building.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Has long been on my list and it did not disappoint. Great menu, great service and truly wonderful food. But most importantly me and my friend spend three enjoyable hours laughing, drinking and enjoying ourselves. All the while said wonderful food was touching our souls!

★★
February 22, 2024

Wait 45 minutes for the leg of lamb that comes as 2 small slices of high sodium meat of about 3-4 oz, half of which is fat and pay 26 pounds + tax and tip... Quite the rustic and uncomfortable seating. Interesting and cool place but...

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Loved it. Food was excellent and service was better.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

As expected, cracking meal.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Hidden behind the walls. It was a five-star exp. Food was awesome - fresh ingredients and flavourful menu. Wine and Service was great. Will definitely go back for their lunch during the day.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice place to go to. Wonderful staff. A little tricky to find. Some very creative dishes. The smoked artichoke dish was delicious and the cake with toffee was surprisingly light. Great bread too. I dont think Ive ever had bread in a starter main and side

★★
December 22, 2023

I know inflation is here but some restaurants have gone too far. Dishes over £20 for small portions and mediocre flavor. I was so disappointed. Do not get the pork. The service was good and the location is beautiful but the menu is uninspired. The value is extremely poor for what is being served. You would be better off trying another restaurant. Sadly many London restaurants have felt an entitlement to raise prices beyond the quality they are serving. Rochelle is one of those restaurants.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Seasonal dishes made with great taste and perfect presentation! The space is very nice!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great constantly updating daily menu. Make sure to leave room for dessert!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I loved this place. Fresh seasonal food in east London at a very cute place with cheerful atmosphere

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Some of the best food I have ever had. We went in a large group and had a set menu. Service was attentive too!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very good service, nice wine selection and the place is very nice in a simple way

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I was excited to try Rochelle Canteens take on modern British food, having greatly enjoyed St. Johns, but I concur with some of the reviews here - its fine, but nothing that special. We had the bread and butter, grey mullet, and terrine for starters, and the onglet and cuttlefish (best dish) for mains. I cant fault any of the techniques used, but texturally all the dishes except the cuttlefish were a bit cold and chewy. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things? The service was good and attentive, and I liked the ambience of the heated tent for a lunch, but its a steep price point for the dishes.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place is a favourite of food bloggers I follow, so Ive been wanting to go for a while. I went for dinner with 3 girlfriends. The best bits: the service (every person I talked to was absolutely lovely), the cozy, casual ambiance (it was warm in the tent even though it was zero outside), and the desserts. The starters and mains were good (pretty rich and heavily seasoned... it is winter after all), but we agreed they didnt wow us. We shared 3 starters / mains / desserts / drinks. Would have been £60+ per person if we had ordered 4 of everything. I can imagine the food and setting being standout in the spring / summer, when you can appreciate more variety of seasonal produce and the garden setting. P. S. The knives were quite dull, which made it slightly difficult to eat the quail and the pigeon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, great service, lovely setting and ambience! I had the quail to start, the managalitsa pork, and the cheesecake to share. The quail was great, although always a little finicky to eat. The pork was flavoursome and well cooked and sat on a bed of lentils. The cheesecake was a slight let down, still nice but we didn t realise it would come with rum soaked raisins. My friends had the grilled squid and French onion soup for starters, and the ox tongue and potatoe pie for mains, all of which were also delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Just lovely RC is in a lovely spot tucked behind Columbia Road in the nicest part of Shoreditch (all surrounded by redbrick mansion blocks). The restaurant itself is tucked in the garden of what used to be a school and is now a modern art complex (not sure what that means - but the crowd is undoubtedly achingly cool). A short-ish menu of all delicious sounding things and, sure enough, everything I ate was indeed delicious. As you might expect, the wine list features quite a few of the (excellent and fairly priced) St John wines. Most of the tables are in a sort of permanent tent/ greenhouse annex and it was slightly chilly when I ate there in mid-March - but they do provide blankets and as soon as the sun came out it warmed up nicely. And the ambience and service were all very warm. All in all - a fantastic restaurant. I d been meaning to come here for ages and so glad I finally did. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Since I tried it, it s been my favourite place to go at the weekend in London. The staff was very welcoming when got to find a slot for my special occasion. Once there, they were kind and very close with their recommendations. The food is delicious so we enjoyed it a lot. Its like a perfect fit. We ll be going again soon!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent food, lovely setting, but pretty bad service. Very surly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place never puts a foot wrong. The outdoor space is very cosy in a lovely setting, the food outstanding and seasonal. Simply prepared perfect very British dishes. Feels very inclusive and not at all stuffy delighted it s open all week and evenings too. Busy place, best to book but they do take walk-ins. Lots of meat and fish but very easy to eat there for veggies. One of my favourite places in the world.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Imagine paying £20-something per dish to eat on a table which is so lob-sided the sauce is almost off the plate how is this just an acceptable way to dine, when you re handing over that much money? Not only that, it s a table which is literally inches from the queue of people arriving & waiting to be seated. And if their table isn t available yet, they ll just be told to stand where they are just inside the door - mere inches from a table of paying customers eating food. Two of the people stood their today each had a dog with them, which were sniffing around my feet. Sides arrived half way through our mains, and my lamb was so full of inedible gristle (the sort a knife won t cut through) that I looked forward to leaving. Hands down, the most overhyped and overpriced dining experience I ve had in a long time.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great venue, interesting menu

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Definitely an institution but unfortunately they don t make anymore an effort to life up to the expectations. Service very slow and clumsy, drinks came after food, and food is overpriced but nice. I d say more of a neighbourhood restaurant than a restaurant to make a journey for.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best food in london

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This space is run by the Ferguson Family of St.John, a representative British F&B company, and especially his wife Arnold, and was created by remodeling a bicycle storage room in a former boy school. In fact, when the various restaurants of the Saint John Group were born and were in the spotlight, their sensibility, unique grotesque finish, and choice of ingredients were representative of the middle price era, removing preconceptions about British food, but more than 20 years ago, they were prepared even before that. As the generation of runners blossomed and showed their witty side in a similar price range, it was a time when I thought that Inje might have to make a different effort to be chosen. Considering that there are too many options and competitive prices to choose this place for a meal due to old-fashioned sensibility, it is a bit difficult to erase the thought that it is more old than the word classic. It is recommended to eat during the day rather than in the evening, and although it may seem blunt like Gyeongsang-do in Korea, it is accompanied by sweet service. Also, because the menus are fool-proof, they show a very stable balance no matter what you choose, so you can enjoy your meal without difficulty no matter what you choose.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A friend of ours who was visiting wanted to try this restaurant. I wasnt expecting much, but I was pretty impressed by the location, atmosphere, and food. The restaurant is located within a private garden space, so you actually have to ring the buzzer to be let. Once inside, the restaurant is split into the garden area, which is currently covered and heated, and an indoor area thats fully covered. The restaurant serves British food and frequently rotates the menu - we ordered the veal, asparagus, potted shrimp, cow tongue, and the pigs head terraine to share. The portion size is generous, and we were stuffed after finishing everything. Id definitely like to come back to this restaurant during the summer, the garden space is gorgeous. Id definitely recommend making reservations as they were quite packed (our friend made reservations for us). One thing to note is that apart from a couple of the asparagus and potato options, the restaurant isnt really vegan friendly. My mom is vegan and will be visiting at the end of the month, so I thought I would ask.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great place.. if you can find it

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Such a nice lunch! Food was incredible, service lovely.

★★★
December 22, 2023

The atmosphere is lovely but the food is just mediocre

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Superb seasonal British dishes, just slightly off the beaten track

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My last meal at this restaurant was a few years ago. I really enjoyed this restaurant but this time I was a little disappointed by the food and the service. The green asparagus served as a starter was bathed in butter The lamb was quite good and the salad served on the side was delicious I had to wait an extremely long time to get my dessert which was very good The service is slow and not very attentive

★★
December 22, 2023

Great venue, great food, however the rude and unprofessional waiting staff ruined the experience. Aware this is a popular restaurant, however the staff seemed to want us to feel grateful and lucky to be there. I would only visit if you re not looking for great customer service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Rochelle Canteen was the first restaurant we went to during our weekend stay in London, and it was fantastic. We arrived just a couple of minutes before the kitchen closed the lunch service, nevertheless the staff were attentive and patient with us and still took time to talk us through the menu and recommend dishes. We didn t order as much as we would have wanted due to time constraints, but that was due to us, and everything that we got was extremely tasty. All flavours felt meticulously put together. The mushrooms on toast were the best I ever had - that was the standout dish. To top that off, the venue is absolutely beautiful. Must visit whilst in London.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had a nice meal in a beautiful garden. The food is decent but not amazing. However, the atmosphere is overwhelming.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really disappointed! First of all, the only main for vegetarians when I visited was a lacklustre overcooked aubergine topped with a bunch of flavorless white beans £20 for what can be made in two seconds and for about £1 is absurd. (Also a tiny portion) Secondly, I had to leave earlier than the rest of my party so when I realized the food was taking a very long time to come out, I asked the staff for an ETA . Because they told me it would be 8 minutes I decided to not cancel .It was actually almost an extra 30 minutes ..I don t believe it was ready when I first asked. considering the amount of effort required to make my dish, that was really annoying. Overall the value is not there. Just another place that has a lot of hype that it doesn t live up to unfortunately :( if you wanna overpay, wait forever for food, and not be treated very well- go for it!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very nice location and incredible food. Hats off to the chef and team. Service wasnt bad but the staff could be much warmer and make you feel more welcome.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Set in an old school near Arnold Circus, with quite a hidden entry if you ve never been you might need some guidance on how to get here! Enjoyed a lovely lunch with some friends, sharing some great dishes with various flavours such as middle eastern koftas, pork skin and cod roe, and chicken liver pâté.. a great place to try a lot from the menu and a great place for lunch especially in the summer when the sun is shining. The staff were very lovely and made it a more enjoyable experience. Reasonably priced, and value for money. We left feeling satisfied.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had been trying to get a table here for months! Finally managed to get a reservation for lunch. It was well worth the wait! We ordered four appetizers for the table to share. Of the lot, only one was a bit of a let down. Dont get me wrong, it was prepared beautifully but it was just a little boring especially compared to the others. The menu changes regularly so Im not sure if youre going to be able to get the lamb with the lentils that I got today but if you do, do not give it a mess! The herb sauce was incredibly fragrant and beautiful with the lentils over the lamb that had lots of crispy bits and tons of texture. Highlight for me was dessert. The Eaton mess was light and crunchy from the meringue and the strawberries were a beautiful contrast to it all. The almond tart itself was quite delicious and reminded me of a Gateau Basque. It came with a creme fraiche of some kind that I just did not enjoy the taste of. It didnt seem to add to the flavor of the tartan anyway and it was a very off-putting sour flavor to the creme fraiche. Perhaps if they had added some vanilla bean or other flavoring to complement the tart it would have been better. The venue itself was beautiful. Its in this little garden behind a very non-descript gated door that you have to be buzzed into.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Consistently one of the best meals in London with a great atmosphere. Can t be beat on a nice day!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The location is just amazing, food was good but the vegan options were a bit basic and there was almost no choice. Service was professional but not friendly. Vegetarian options: Not many, not as great as the non vegetation ones.

★★
December 22, 2023

Really disappointing. Staff were rude, even asking for another water jug felt like it was a huge inconvenience for them. Food was good on the whole but service really detracted from the whole experience. Have been a couple of times now and won t be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing food with lovely service, would highly recommend an early summer evening dinner here outside. Theres a little of something for everyone incredibly done.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

An absolute gem x

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Bumped into this beautiful space, had to ring to get in. We did walk-in and were lucky to get a table immediately. The menu changes often but we had the bread, smoked ox tongue salad, plaice, and a pea & sorrel salad. Love the ox tongue the most! Plaice was delicate to the point being quite hard to move to our personal plate, but it was flavorful. Small portions.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A very pleasant experience. Best time to visit - lunch Hidden secret place. There is a sign, but it is practically invisible. This is a seasonal project of a restaurant group The cuisine is modern British. Therefore, there will be new combinations, new tastes for you (if you are not British) and dishes that you will search on the Internet what is this? I really liked it here Either make a reservation or come to the opening (at 12:00)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Quite simply one of the best overall meals ive ever had. Beautiful food, service and surroundings. A triumph..... Thank you! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

What a lovely findings. A bit of a shame there are not more vegan options, but all they have it is absolutely delicious and fresh.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best greggs slice bake I ever had

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely place in beautiful surroundings. Food was great, good selection of wine

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A place like no other, top, top, top!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

What a gem - really lived up to my hopes for a reunion with ex colleagues

★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was ok, service was not bad would have given it 4 stars if not for the 3 bones found in our cod fish dish

★★
December 22, 2023

Such a lovely place with okay service, but 23 Pounds for a handful of mince and overcooked potatoes wasnt impressive. One of my friends had pork that was mostly fat and the other one fish that had no taste at all. Very average wine. For the price, it was disappointing. We would have loved to make this a regular place. Sadly, we wont be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Have wanted to visit Rochelle Canteen for ages and so happy to have dinner tonight here! Staff were so friendly, food was incredible, and ambiance was beautiful. Looking forward to coming back!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very much enjoyed Sunday lunch here. Food was lovely and selection of wines were great. Only slight issue was the Hake being served on the bone - such a faff and annoying to eat - but that was my mistake for not asking how it was served. Service was wonderful and the dessert was absolutely fantastic - pistachio and peach tart finished the meal off in the absolute right way. Definitely visit if you get a chance.

★★
December 22, 2023

Sorry but this place is massively overrated. The food is in no way comparable to somewhere like St John. Nor was the service. Pretty disappointing :(

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It was so good that we are booking again to take good friends here. Confit pork belly was the best I ve ever tasted. Atmosphere was beautiful for an early dinner - the grapes hanging from the vines on the canopies are all real as well, we got to try one! Compliments to the chef and also Harry, who was our server. Made the meal completely relaxed and was the perfect level of attentive and friendly Vegetarian options: Not brilliant for vegetarian options

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great setting and friendly service. At least on the day we were there, the menu was very fish/meat focused. Just a single vegetarian main.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Tasteless starter, completely no freshness to it. Horribly tasting main course that I couldn t even eat. And even the desert had a bitter aftertaste. Shocking how this place managed to get so many good reviews. And super overpriced.

★★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely setting, but the food was disappointing. When I asked what the Sutton Hoo dish on the menu was, I was told it was chicken. The other options also seemed uninspiring so thats what I ordered. What came was a salad with 3 little strips of chicken for £20.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very much anticipated lunch and the food lived up to expectations really a couple of the best vegetarian courses I had for a while. Stand out was the roasted aubergine. Service was slow with a long wait at the start but bread and olives eased the hunger pangs, well done for noticing and actioning from the staff. It was a bit of a struggle to locate entrance so if youre going its at the old school boys entrance door. Just delicious food awaits Vegetarian options: Leeks to start and roasted aubergine was outstanding

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I have lived in the area for 15 years; this is hands down the best place in East London.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I am starting with the service because it was really laughable. I try not to say bad things/ make comments about service and hospitality because I know how much work goes into it, but today it was too much. I had heard really good reviews of the food at Rochelle and thought it extended to the service as well, but I guess it doesn t if you re not white. I don t like to accuse people of treating people differently based on race, but it really is a fair assumption. Maybe it was because we are American, or we weren t speaking in english. We were the only group of Asian/ non-white people there besides the table behind us, but they seemed to have been treated better than us. Our server Tess looked really bothered from the moment I told her the reservation name, and only became happier when we asked for the check. Compared to her interactions with other tables she looked like she wanted to die when she took our order, and again was annoyed when we wanted to add a soup to our order before any food had even come, citing bluntly that it might be an inconvenience for the kitchen (we were one of the first tables there). Hope this problem gets fixed soon. The food itself was good but not great, and the mains were lukewarm when brought out to us. We were also not asked how we wanted the onglet cooked, and based on the variation in pinkness of the other tables onglets, it seems like this exemption was just for us, too. The highlights were the desserts: all of them were delightful. The other servers who occasionally came over were pleasant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Sat outside in the tented area. Unique place with excellent food.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food and wine.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food, great staff, great lay out. Would recommend wholeheartedly!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Passable but not worth the price. Service haughty. Setting beautiful

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cozy canteen style restaurant set in a lovely garden. The menu offers a nice selection of modernized european dishes. The ingredients were overall of good quality; however, the lamb was a bit hard. Prices are relatively high for the type of dishes served. My rating: 4.1

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was amazing. Simple dishes cooked well with high quality ingredients. For my money, the food is as good as at St.John, if a bit different. The only reason I don t give 5 stars is because of the steep service charge that is automatically added to the bill. Theoretically you can ask for it to be removed but it puts the customer in an awkward position. It would be much more honest to just bake it into the menu prices so people know what they are paying.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Recommended

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

If it wasn t for Peggy this place would be closed down. The food was decent but Peggy s smile was the cherry on top

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wow

★★★
December 22, 2023

Very mixed food - wonderful almond tart with the sweetest, ripest figs, but really underwhelming mains - a tasteless, texture-less braised courgette dish, and John Dory with Cafe de Paris butter which tasted very strongly of shellfish stock and nothing else (personal taste I suppose, but there was no shellfish in the dish, and I wouldnt have ordered it if there had been). The sides were plain steamed hispi cabbage (no charring, no dressing, no nothing) and plain boiled new potatoes. The only other side option was a mixed salad. Only one main to choose from if you dont eat meat, and if you did eat meat, the specials had entirely sold out within about 15 minutes of opening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Hidden gem in London. And impossible to describe better. The only negative point was the bit unfriendly behaviour from one of the staff members, the older woman. All another, super friendly and good. The meal; perfection. From our initial order, 2 meals were sold out, but we did understand as they work with daily market stuff. Price; correct Place; very nice atmosphere. To repeat & recommend !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really fantastic. Romantic hideaway location. Informal environment, yet clearly serious about the food. Great service and wonderful selection of seasonal specials. Some of the shared dishes were relatively small.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The perfect date location. In a dark London evening, you stroll a dimly lit neighbourhood, your partner holds you tight for safety. You press the buzzer on a unassuming door and it opens. You enter a garden bursting with charm. It s beautifully lit and magical. Your date now sees you as a romantic. Get the mutton chops! Rare treasure to find a place that produces such a perfect sear and render. The garnishes are flavour grenades that decorate your mouth hear warming compliments. Eating here reminds me that I have parents who love me.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

An out of the way oasis of calm, nice people and great service.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The menu was seasonable with lots of lovely produce to choose from. Our starters of quail and aoli and langoustines were tasty. However the execution of several other dishes wasnt great, which was disappointing given Rochelle Canteens reputation and prices. Our mains of mutton chops and lentils lacked some seasoning and acidity for my taste. Pork shoulder with red cabbage was similar and felt like a fairly standard pub roast which was also dry in places. Lemon roast potatoes were abit dry. Tarte tatin was cold and abit hard and crumbly. The caramel was by now dry and its bitterness would have been ok but as it was served with creme fraiche I think it was bitter and sour and lacking sweet apple flavour. Service was okay, if a bit slow and somewhat disinterested in parts. A mixed bag overall though disappointing mains and dessert on the day was significant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I recommend you try Its worth it Simple but excellent cuisine

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely incredible food and friendly staff. We came for lunch and were greeted by very chatty and friendly staff. The food was incredible, we ordered a couple of plates to share and were absolutely blown away by everything we had. We had the most tender and flavoursome mackerel, the crispiest chips ever and some incredible fried Quail. We will 100% be visiting again!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

A genuine five star experience. The food was superb, beautifully cooked and packed full of flavours. The staff were swift, attentive and professional. Which all contributed to a fantastic atmosphere that really made for a fantastic and special evening. I hope to be visiting for many years to come.

December 22, 2023

I was extremely disappointed with my recent visit to Rochelle Canteen, especially considering we had to book 1.5 months in advance, which naturally raised our expectations. To start, we ordered the smoked aubergine focaccia for starters, but without any warning or explanation, they brought us toast instead. This simple lack of communication left us regretting our choice. The disappointment continued when we arrived. The service was astonishingly inattentive, even though there were only a few occupied tables. We had to repeatedly ask the service staff about the status of our food, and they neglected to refill our water, leaving us waiting excessively to catch their attention. The worst part was the delay in our mains, a staggering 45 minutes after we ordered. What made it even more frustrating was that a couple who arrived after us received their food before us. As our time was limited, we had to decline dessert when it was offered. The lack of an alternative solution, coupled with a manager who seemed insincere when apologising, left us feeling unheard and undervalued as customers. To add insult to injury, the beef mince on toast was not only underwhelming but also outrageously overpriced at £24. It was far from being worth the cost. In summary, our experience at Rochelle Canteen was marred by poor communication, inattentive service, lengthy delays, and disappointing food. I would strongly advise against dining here, given the high expectations we had and the unfortunate reality of our visit.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A varied albeit lacklustre menu elevated by a decent wine pairing. The lamb belly starter was a revelation and the exception - perfectly tender and delicate in flavour and texture. The mains were disappointing though - the pan-baked mullet was overdone and the chips that accompanied it - stodgy. The lamb leg was full of flavour but dry and not very palatable. What I saw (from a distance) of the pumpkin and goats cheese main looked promising. Desserts were neither here nor there. Ambience was pleasant and we were plenty warm under the heaters. Service was mostly prompt and knowledgeable but we did feel hurried out at the end.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Always a treat

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A beautiful place, you enter without prejudice and you are left charmed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very charming place that is tucked away and well hidden. Food is more adventurous than mainstream (oxtail, venison...) but there was a pork chop special with sauerkraut the night we went. Delicious pumpkin soup and other appetizers. Desserts are wonderful too. Left feeling like I definitely want to return - not just a been there, done that kind of place. Ill probably return with visitors next time. Service was friendly and attentive. 2 thumbs up!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had such a gorgeous meal at Rochelle Canteen. Its been on my list for the longest time and now having been, I can see why it can be tricky to get a reservation here. Everything we had was delicious and I cant wait to come back again soon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

faultless

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Passionate barrista, hence good coffeé.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

This was absolutely the best experience. Food extremely well balanced, pure flavours and amazing combos. Sounds and looks simple but not at all. All dishes are so well thought out and packed with extremely good produce. A proper culinary highlight. Service also very friendly and cool. Full of knowledge and so down to earth. Perfect match to the concept. Stella, Frances and the whole team were amazing. Hats off to the chefs and the kitchen staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Magical place, delicious cuisine and courageous but very good pairings/combinations. Highly recommended

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My husband and I booked Rochelle for a wedding lunch for 45 friends and had the most amazing time! The staff were lovely throughout the event planning and helped with food and wine selections, making it a very stress-free process. The food, decorations, service and staff couldn t have been better! Our guests couldn t stop talking about how great the food was for weeks after. We are so so pleased and wish we could recreate it all again. Thank you Rochelle team for making our celebration unforgettable!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

We thought about whether it was light or heavy, so they prepared a test and came. If you look over there, I wrote down each one, and I wrote down what was heavy and what was heavy, and I wrote it down with a ballpoint pen in order of wine! Cool! This kindness comes from relaxation. Im going in love with your kindness. Thanks to you, I enjoyed the memories here Thank you.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

slightly missing the old-time bring your own bottle vibe. Still decent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Lovely setting in a walled garden and friendly, attentive and very competent service. Food was slightly mixed. All nice and enjoyable but I didn t feel it was wow . Had lamb with chard for a main and the lamb was cooked very well with a tasty green sauce but the chard was a bit meh and made the plate a little watery. Overall good food but not amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

A really great place that you can only get to know through insiders. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is perfect. The food is exceptional and will be remembered

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We had an incredible dinner here. Stand outs were the terrine and fish dishes, but everything was delicious. British food can be pretty bland and dull but this place really made so much effort to make everything taste amazing. Only downside was we were sat in the heated tent which definitely isn t heated enough to be sat outside in the winter (it was -3 outside and it felt somewhat similar in the tent)

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Lovely place in London, the food was ok, the soup needed some salt and my clams needed less, but in general the food was good, the service was excellent and we had a great time.