RestaurantsLondonChelseaSW10

survey result

Summary

£115
£££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“It may not have the best location in an obscure end of the King’s Road”, but this “low-key” Chelsea operation (est. 2011) “continues to quietly excel” and is one of the most popular in our annual diners’ poll. “Imaginative” modern British cuisine “with a good range of ingredients” is “expertly cooked by co-owner and chef Joe Mercer Nairne, and with excellent but unobtrusive service overseen by co-owner David O’Connor”, including “well-targeted wine advice” on the “terrific list”. Another “star of the show is the cheeseboard” (“I am still talking about it months later!”). “Much better than many one-starred Michelin restaurants in London”, “it is incomprehensible that this restaurant has been passed over for regaining its star for so long”. Top Tips – “the three-course lunch for £45 and lunchtime corkage of only £15 are some of the capital’s great culinary bargains”. “Old favourites on the menu include the Crab Raviolo.”

Summary

£115
£££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“A class act that consistently punches above its weight”: this low-key but high-quality Chelsea indie (opened in 2011) flies somewhat under the radar in terms of PR profile, but regularly ranks in the top 40 most-mentioned restaurants in our annual diners’ poll. Joe Mercer Nairne’s “superior” modern British cuisine is “always a delight”, often “special” and comes at a “reasonable price”. Service (overseen by co-owner David O’Connor) is “likewise expert” and it’s “well worth asking the sommelier to recommend something offbeat”, as there are “some unusual gems on the wine list”. And while the interior is “low key”, the atmosphere is “conducive to a wonderful evening”. “It’s not clear why it lost its Michelin star”: “it should have regained it long ago”. Top Tips – “the tarte Tatin for two is to die for. Corkage of £10 at lunchtimes and £25 in the evenings is one of London’s great bargains”.

Summary

£99
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Consistency and total professionalism” have won a major following (in the Top 40 most-mentioned names this year) for Joe Mercer Nairne and David O’Connor’s “first class” and “always welcoming” destination in a nondescript corner of Chelsea, which transcends its neighbourhood character (“it’s a bit of a cheek-by-jowl affair”) by attracting a far-flung fan club. Reporters have often cited Joe’s cuisine as worthy of a Michelin star (which it briefly held) and he continues to win praise for well-judged cooking that’s “good value, too, considering the quality” (even if its ratings slipped a smidgeon this year on some reports that were “good but not outstanding”). The “fabulous wine list” is also a major attraction in its own right. “Sommelier Melania has put together a stellar selection from across the world, at fair mark-ups, and with plenty of variety”. And “the £10 corkage deal at lunch is an added incentive to regular visits”. “It’s filled with people who love great food, and not just another trendy ‘place to be seen.”

Summary

£75
 ££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Well worth a visit in this remote corner of Chelsea”: this “outstanding oasis in Worlds End” has won a big culinary reputation, and chef Joe Mercer-Nairne “maintains high standards year-in-year-out”, with a “classic French approach that’s not so over-refined as to suck enjoyment out of it”. “Very good ingredients are cooked with great care, love and attention, but not overdone, nor over-fancy”. Service is of a very “high class” too, while the interior is “sophisticated” (“if a little cramped”). “It’s another surprising omission from the Michelin star list: is it because it’s at the wrong end of the King’s Road?”

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 Medlar?

Restaurant details

Highchair,Portions
Yes
28
No dress code
75

Medlar Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Medlar Restaurant in SW10, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Medlar restaurant.
Jin L
Good cooking, outstanding crab raviolo. A s...
Reviewed 6 months, 10 days ago

"Good cooking, outstanding crab raviolo. A stalwart reliable restaurant with a regular following. Grouse well prepared. Reasonably priced good wine list. Lovely service. "

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Mike W
We have been here several times over the ye...
Reviewed 7 months, 15 days ago

"We have been here several times over the years. I would say that this was the least successful visit. The food was pleasant but not outstanding. The liver was over salty. The chocolate mousse tart was very runny. Other guests also said the food was too salty."

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stuart r
Medlar never disappoints and has been offer...
Reviewed 7 months, 26 days ago

"Medlar never disappoints and has been offering terrific food at great prices for years. This visit was no exception though the dessert was particularly exceptional (warm chocolate mousse in salted caramel tartlet…”best dessert I’ve had for ages” exclaimed my dining partner). "

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Craig H
Great value lunch. Superb food and a BYO o...
Reviewed 10 months, 11 days ago

"Great value lunch. Superb food and a BYO option"

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Tim Y
Maintaining really high standards over a de...
Reviewed 10 months, 18 days ago

"Maintaining really high standards over a decade and more: imaginative cooking with a range of ingredients, a very generous choice on a reasonably priced lunch menu, pleasant service."

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David W
Established west Chelsea foodie destination...
Reviewed 11 months, 8 days ago

"Established west Chelsea foodie destination with attentive and refined service. Little changing menu somewhat tired and lacking former edge. Starters of Marinated tomatoes with cured trout rather muddled flavours, Blue Cheese and beetroot a somewhat crude assembly of chunks of cheese and beet with very small if excellent crisp tiny onion tart. Mains of Cornish Brill nicely cooked and well sauced and much enjoyed, Rump of lamb pink but touch of fridge taint and enveloped in undistinguished mix of onion with sad sad leaves plus soggy potato galette. Puddings good and all popular. Perhaps a chef's night off after Easter. "

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Jeremy B
Restaurant could do with a makeover. But th...
Reviewed 11 months, 11 days ago

"Restaurant could do with a makeover. But the food and service are a delight."

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Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Lunch £40.00 £45.00
Dinner £60.00 £70.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £43.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Bread £6.00
Service 13.00%
438 King's Rd, London, SW10 0LJ
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Thursday12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Friday12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Saturday12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm
Sunday12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm

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