Harden's survey result
Summary
The “great pies” from chef Calum Franklin – from classic hand-raised pork pie to curried mutton or dauphinoise, black truffle and aged Comté – are “justifiably well known” at this “very well-situated” and very business-friendly dining room on the edge of the City, which also specialises in grills and British charcuterie. The imposing interior is certainly “grand”, although some find it “a bit cavernous”.
Summary
“Savoury pastry heaven” – “outstanding pies, steak puddings and beef Wellington” are the orders of the day at this “fabulous” dining room on the edge of the City, where Chef Calum Franklin oversees a “great menu” also featuring British charcuterie and grills. The setting is “a little hotel-like” but “tables are nicely spaced” helping to make it a big hit with business types. Top Tip – “pick up a takeaway pie from the Pie Room”; and there’s “an excellent breakfast, to boot”.
Summary
“Savoury pastry heaven” – “outstanding pies, steak puddings and beef Wellington” are the orders of the day at this “fabulous” dining room on the edge of the City, where Chef Calum Franklin oversees a “great menu” also featuring British charcuterie and grills. The setting is “a little hotel-like” but “tables are nicely spaced” helping to make it a big hit with business types. Top Tip – “pick up a takeaway pie from the Pie Room”; and there’s “an excellent breakfast, to boot”.
Summary
“Pies to die for” are the ace in the Brit-food pack at this “huge dining room” of a business-friendly hotel on the edge of the City. Chef Calum Franklin is the “wizard” behind this “savoury pastry mecca”, which has its own Pie Room with a dedicated take-away hatch, along with pie and Wellington masterclasses. Top Tip: “excellent choice for breakfast, too”.
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 Holborn Dining Room?
Restaurant details
Holborn Dining Room Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Very disappointing. The starters were good, but the famous pies were poorly cooked and really notworth the hype or the money."
"So disappointing. Starters were promising (fabulous scotch egg) but the pies, although looking good, were not particularly interesting, rather stodgy and in the case of the potato and cheese pie appeared to have been made without any salt. I had been really looking forward to visiting and this was a real let-down, whether we were unlucky in encountering a Tuesday evening chef or whether this place has gone right downhill I'm not sure. Puddings were similarly uninteresting, sticky toffee pudding lacked both stickiness and flavour. Overall this was a disappointing, bland and stodgy meal that we wouldn't want to repeat. Faultless service and an attractive room, badly let down by the food."
"The pies are justifiably well known but, though allowances must be made for current conditions, it definitely feels like a hotel with patchy service. Good if you are in the area and need it, not a destination."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
252 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EN
Opening hours
| Monday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Friday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 7:30 am‑9:45 pm |
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