Harden's survey result
Summary
This “beautiful venue”, built in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society, is let down by a restaurant from D&D London which “fails to deliver” on multiple fronts – it’s “overpriced”, “the food is meh”, and “service is terrible from top to bottom”. The “prime location” near King’s Cross and St Pancras means it’s busy, and on the plus side there can be a “lively atmosphere”, “the German breakfast menu is good”, and the selection of food is “mostly authentic” (wurst, schnitzel, spätzle und so weiter), if “heavy-handed” in execution. For the majority of reporters, though, it just doesn’t cut the mustard – “if you like poor imitations of German pub food in a noisy barn, this is the place for you”.
Summary
“It occupies an amazing, high-ceilinged space” (built in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society – and venue for London’s first indoor Olympic games), but “it’s a shame other aspects of the offering are so weak” at this D&D London property, immediately behind King’s Cross station. Fans do claim “all German food boxes are firmly ticked, with tasty and well-presented schnitzel and weißwurst”, but even they admit “the building is the star of the show”. And far too many reporters “expected much better than the very poor quality for the prices” – which are “on the high side” – “terrible service that doesn’t seem to care” and cuisine that’s somewhere between “pretty standard” and “below average”. Top Menu Tip – breakfast with “pretzel to die for” is its most recommended feature.
Summary
“The impressive building is the best part of the experience” at this D&D London operation, whose location – a Victorian former gym, immediately behind King’s Cross station, could not make it handier as a rendezvous. Having opened in quite a promising vein in 2015, its ratings in recent times have started to match the “style-over-substance” performance too often discerned in the group’s approach. Custom isn’t a problem – it can be “so busy (and excessively noisy”). But service can be “perfunctory” (“they seem to think they do not have to try or otherwise expend any effort to retain customer loyalty”) and although some fans do feel its “easygoing” menu of sausages, schnitzels, burgers and other brasserie fare are “great for your German food fix”, too many find it “limited, unexciting and overpriced”. Top Tips – most often recommended for business and/or breakfast.
Summary
“A truly lovely building”, this huge Victorian former gym from D&D London has “a great buzz” and a “really handy” location, immediately behind King’s Cross station. It’s generally regarded as “great fun”, but although some reporters take a shine to the “delicious schnitzels”, most rate the German-themed cooking “unimaginative” – no more than “decent fuel”, “which rather lets down an intriguing wine list”.
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).
Have you eaten at German Gymnasium?
1 King's Boulevard, London, N1C 4BU
Restaurant details
German Gymnasium Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Beautiful venue, German breakfast menu good."
"An amazing space but food a bit meh"
"Travelled into St Pancras on a Sunday evening and enjoyed an impromptu bite in the Grand Cafe part. Server looked very fed up, no chance of a smile though he still did his job."
"Interesting menu and good service "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £30.00 | £35.00 |  |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £12.50 | £27.50 | £8.00 | £0.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 13.50% |
1 King's Boulevard, London, N1C 4BU
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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