Harden's survey result
Summary
“Led by fantastic British ingredients, the cooking seems simple but it’s not” at James Lowe’s acclaimed canteen, at the foot of Shoreditch’s well-known landmark, the Tea Building. His “superb combinations” deliver “amazing and unexpected flavours” – “it’s easy to see why this restaurant is so highly rated” and fans still consider the cuisine “some of the best in London”. (In February 2020, co-founder John Ogier stepped away from the business).
Summary
“Notwithstanding the hipster canteen vibe, this is the real thing!”. James Lowe’s “brilliantly executed”, seasonal British small plates – “fresh and light, yet sturdy and filling when required” (and often “using a wood-fired oven to give that extra tang of flavour”) – are complemented by “delicious bread” and “a proper list of natural wines”, and have rightly won renown for his venerated foodie champion: a light-filled space at the foot of Shoreditch’s iconic Tea Building. Its ratings are not quite as beyond-stellar as when the venue first opened, however, and it’s no criticism to say that its No. 2 ranking in the UK according to the World’s 50 Best has less to do with its “sublime” cooking, and more to do with the in-crowd criteria of the fooderati who vote for it. Top Tip – “the Lyle’s Guest Chef Series programme is great”.
Summary
“Notwithstanding the hipster canteen vibe, this is the real thing!”. James Lowe’s “brilliantly executed”, seasonal British small plates – “fresh and light, yet sturdy and filling when required” (and often “using a wood-fired oven to give that extra tang of flavour”) – are complemented by “delicious bread” and “a proper list of natural wines”, and have rightly won renown for his venerated foodie champion: a light-filled space at the foot of Shoreditch’s iconic Tea Building. Its ratings are not quite as beyond-stellar as when the venue first opened, however, and it’s no criticism to say that its No. 2 ranking in the UK according to the World’s 50 Best has less to do with its “sublime” cooking, and more to do with the in-crowd criteria of the fooderati who vote for it. Top Tip – “the Lyle’s Guest Chef Series programme is great”.
Summary
“Don’t be put off by the hipster canteen vibe” say fans of James Lowe’s venerated Shoreditch foodie-mecca, offering “always-original” small plates and “a small but really interesting wine list”. But ratings here no longer scale the absolute pinnacles they once did, dragged down by a minority who find the place “too impressed by itself” for an achievement level that’s good, but no more.
For 31 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).
Have you eaten at Lyle's?
Restaurant details
Lyle's Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Extraordinary high quality tasting menu full of ingenious combinations "
"Great food, friendly service, nice atmosphere, a great little restaurant - I was very impressed."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £34.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £6.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JJ
Opening hours
| Monday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Friday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Shoreditch
British, Modern restaurant in Shoreditch
British, Traditional restaurant in Shoreditch
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Italian restaurant in Tower Hamlets
Steaks & grills restaurant in Shoreditch
Japanese restaurant in Shoreditch
