Harden's survey result
Summary
“It may not be quite as high on ‘places to be seen’ lists as it used to be”, but – “having made a name for itself as a celebrity hotspot” – this beautiful-crowd haunt in Marylebone is proving surprisingly enduring. “You’re paying a pretty hefty premium for the trendy location”: “the food/price ratio is off kilter, as the food really is not good and outrageously expensive”. But does anyone care? For its many fans “you can’t go wrong with the Firehouse – it always feels like a treat!” (“Our daughter was excited to spot one of David Beckham’s sons and his girlfriend, so extra brownie points for me. LOL!”)
Summary
“Blindingly expensive, but unforgettable” – “you’re paying for the experience not the food” at this sexy and enduringly fashionable Marylebone operation, which “everyone knows is about the ’scene’ and rubbernecking the clientele”. When it comes to its long, luxe-brasserie menu (burrata, oysters, steak, tuna tartare, pizza…), results are “OK, but not worth the cash, unless you are as super-rich as the rest of its customers”. Top Tip – “go for breakfast, to get a sense of the ambience”.
Summary
“A place to be a guest, not the host!” – this splashy Marylebone scene still attracts “the smart set” on account of its gorgeous decor and “stunning gardens”, but over half of reports on it are votes as London’s most overpriced restaurant. “The food takes second place to the venue”, while service – though friendlier than in its heyday – “can at times be rather amateurish”. All in all, it’s “a pleasant enough place, but £80 a head for a one-course Sunday brunch is a bit much. More than a bit much, in fact…”.
Summary
Five years on from its heyday as London’s hottest celeb hangout, this “gorgeous” Marylebone destination is a “contender for the most overpriced in town”, and attracts increasingly caustic comments: “how this poseur-filled dump hasn’t been found out yet is a complete mystery: with food that’s ‘all fur coat and no knickers’, and service which – if you’re not a member of the smart set or the Z-list – is appalling”. Some folks still respond to its shiny glamour, though: “the food is tasty and aesthetically pleasing… as are most of your fellow diners. Finish things off in the very sexy bar – if the romance doesn’t spark, ditch each other for the beautiful staff...”.
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 The Chiltern Firehouse?
1 Chiltern St, London, W1U 7PA
Restaurant details
The Chiltern Firehouse Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Not sure why there are so many negative reviews, the food is good and the ambience is fantastic. It’s a great place to while away more hours in a restaurant than you had planned to do. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £40.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
1 Chiltern St, London, W1U 7PA
Opening hours
| Monday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 3 pm‑10 pm |
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