Harden's survey result
Summary
“I love it!” say fans of this stalwart of Marylebone dining, set on the first floor of a former stables overlooking St Marylebone churchyard; and with a “lovely rooftop terrace for hot weather”. Opened in 1997 by the late Terence Conran and now part of D&D London, its accomplished modern French cuisine delivered a couple of best meals of the year in our current annual diners’ poll, and is generally judged as very “reliable” (especially by the standards of the group).
Summary
A “gorgeous bright room, overlooking a churchyard” – “especially lovely on sunny days when you can get a terrace seat on the roof” – this D&D London property above Marylebone’s Conran shop provides a classy and intimate setting. It’s no longer seen as a particularly gastro destination, as once it was, but the kitchen is currently putting in an “expensive but reliable” performance that avoids criticism and makes it a potentially useful choice, especially for a slightly “formal” or upscale occasion.
Summary
Above Marylebone’s Conran Shop, this “well-spaced”, first-floor dining room has historically been a D&D London flagship thanks to its stylish interior, charming views over a churchyard, professional standards and – a relatively recent addition – a “lovely outdoor rooftop terrace”. For the second year since the pandemic struck, though, its ratings remain well below their historical levels. Some do still report their best meal of the year here, praising “outstanding modern French cuisine”; but sceptics are “disappointed because it used to be so much better”. It doesn’t help that “the ambience of this long and thin chamber has always been slightly precarious” and, at worst, reports are of “mediocre food (relative to the price) served in a very underwhelming manner in a dead environment”. One regular, though, thinks it’s just a passing phase: “after being through something of a culinary slump, I had an excellent meal!”
Summary
“Cool, calm and elegant” – this D&D Group operation usually rates as one of the late Sir Terence Conran’s better creations, but suffered uneven reports this year. On the first floor, above the eponymous Conran Shop – it’s a “smart” (slightly “clinical”) space with agreeable views over the neighbouring churchard, and, up above, “a very nice terrace on the upper floor, which makes this a very suitable summer venue”. But even fans who reported “lovely” modern French cuisine felt “the bill can really mount up, even after a very modest meal”; and critics thought that “though dishes were well-prepared and presented, for verve and flavour they didn’t really punch up to their (high) price point”. Similarly, “service sometimes isn’t as good as it should be, but they are doing their best in difficult times”.
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 Orrery?
55 Marylebone High St, London, W1U 5RB
Restaurant details
Orrery Restaurant Diner Reviews
"I love the Orrery - the service, the room and normally very good food. On my last two visits it has been disappointing - for example, a risotto lacking flavour, overcooked fish. I shall keep trying."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £35.00 | £40.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £58.00 | £68.00 | |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 125.00 | Always available | 6 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £36.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 13.50% |
55 Marylebone High St, London, W1U 5RB
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
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