Harden's survey result
Summary
“A go-to favourite vegetarian… they have been going for 30 years” – this small group “still maintains high standards” with “very imaginative dishes that will even please your meat-eating friends”. The W6 original – a characterful space, above a church behind Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo – is the most popular, but its spin-offs near Sadlers Wells and in Seymour Village are also well-regarded.
Summary
“Predictably good meat-free food that’s worth a detour” has helped win a big fanclub for this small veggie chain, which vies with Mildreds as London’s best multiple plant-based group. (The Gates are less well known than their rivals nowadays but score higher for food). In particular, there’s high praise for “the original and best” location, which occupies a “lovely light-filled” space above a church, behind Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo (and with a ‘secret garden’ in summer). The St John’s Wood spin-off closed this year, leaving two others near Sadlers Wells and in Seymour Village. If there’s a gripe, it’s the “somewhat unchanging menu”, which has seemed more static of late.
Summary
“Vegetarian food which will silence a complaining carnivore (i.e. me)” typifies the high enthusiasm for Michael and Adrian Daniel’s stalwart veggie chain, particularly the quirkily located original (complete with “lovely courtyard”) behind Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo, which fans credibly claim “has probably been the best place in London to go meat-free for ages”. Of the other branches, the newest St John’s Wood outlet (opened in 2019) inspires most interest, while the Sadler’s Wells and Seymour Place branches in particular are often ignored by reporters. In every case, though, the cuisine generally inspires compliments such as “interesting” or “very acceptable”.
Summary
“Standards remain high” at Michael and Adrian Daniel’s “veggie stalwart” chain – in particular at the W6 original in a “convivial”, offbeat building south of Hammersmith Broadway, which some consider “the best vegetarian in town” thanks to “inventive” food that’s “wow-amazing… even for a committed carnivore”. Its spring 2019 opening in St John’s Wood is also going down well – launching as the second highest scoring member of the group with “a fabulous and very varied selection of vegan and vegetarian food”. The W1 operation in Seymour Village and EC1 branch near Sadler’s Wells are slightly less highly rated, but the tenor of practically all reports hails “thoughtful and tasty fare, catering to a range of dietary requirements”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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