Harden's survey result
Summary
“The perfect way to a loved one’s heart” – this “oasis of calm and tranquillity amid the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden” yet again tops our annual diners’ poll as London‘s No 1 spot for romance. “The best tables are in the conservatory” – “intimate, elegant and florally stunning” – which is “like being whisked away to a beautiful spot in the countryside” (but don’t despair if you don’t nab one of the prime slots as there are also may “soft, dark and secluded” tables elsewhere). Another “star attraction is the wine list of biblical proportions”, showcasing its “brilliant” and “fairly priced” cellar. In prior years, we have always said the food and service are surprisingly good for somewhere with so many other competing attractions, and many reports do still laud its “very good modern British cuisine”. There’s no glossing over a big slide in ratings here though this year. No single complaint was to the fore, standards just weren’t rated as excellently as usual. Hopefully a blip.
Summary
“I saw a guy go down on bended knee to his girlfriend… she said yes!” This “luxurious and magical” haven – somewhat unexpectedly located “in the heart of Covent Garden” – continues to “live up to its reputation as the most romantic restaurant in London”, and “for a meal with that special someone, you won’t find much better”, especially if you can bag a table (book months in advance) for the “blossom-festooned conservatory” (which some reporters feel is essential to a successful visit; to others it’s merely “the icing on the cake”). Unusually for somewhere “oozing romance”, standards elsewhere “are not compromised to deliver a memorable experience”: “the food might not be the absolute pinnacle of modern British cuisine”, but “it’s more-than-competent” and “the star gourmet attraction is a wine list of almost biblical proportions”. Top Tip – “lunch/pre theatre set menus offer superb value for the excellent quality”.
Summary
“I saw a guy go down on bended knee to his girlfriend… she said yes!” This “luxurious and magical” haven – somewhat unexpectedly located “in the heart of Covent Garden” – continues to “live up to its reputation as the most romantic restaurant in London”, and “for a meal with that special someone, you won’t find much better”, especially if you can bag a table (book months in advance) for the “blossom-festooned conservatory” (which some reporters feel is essential to a successful visit; to others it’s merely “the icing on the cake”). Unusually for somewhere “oozing romance”, standards elsewhere “are not compromised to deliver a memorable experience”: “the food might not be the absolute pinnacle of modern British cuisine”, but “it’s more-than-competent” and “the star gourmet attraction is a wine list of almost biblical proportions”. Top Tip – “lunch/pre theatre set menus offer superb value for the excellent quality”.
Summary
“Deserving its accolade as London’s most romantic restaurant” – this “special and luxuriant” venue is an unexpected haven of “peace and tranquility”, despite being bang smack in the centre of touristy Covent Garden, and “just has that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to create vibes with your significant other”. “Try to get a table in the extraordinary conservatory” (“where the glass roof opens on summer days and a warming fire is lit in the winter”) as “that is how the magic happens” but NB – “it needs to be booked many months in advance”. The numerous other sections can be “memorable” and “cosseting” too, but there’s no hiding the fact that they do play second fiddle to the “headline event”. Given the emphasis on atmosphere, the surprise here has always been the high standards generally: the “professional” service, “classic and well-presented” French-inspired cuisine and the “immense wine list (you could get lost in it, look up, and find your partner gone!)”. But the formerly high proportion of reports of seriously good cooking here fell off sharply this year, and a few regulars have concerns: “Once I’d have overlooked a decidedly average meal here, but two similar experiences have left me wondering: is it starting to live off a great room and stellar reputation?”
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 Clos Maggiore?
Restaurant details
Clos Maggiore Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Returned again after a long time away from London. It still offers a beautiful intimate atmosphere with food to match to make it my favourite restaurant in the West End."
"Disappointing meal - good service but complaint ignored and management apathy - no response - overall a let down"
"A return visit for lunch after a long break. Food even better than we remember! Set price lunch and pre theatre menu remains decent value and provides enough choice for most. Salmon starter had a special taste. Portions large enough especially with the bread offered. Staff a bit mixed, clearly training in progress. One dropped the cutlery down the back of my chair, others showed inexperience. All friendly. Main gripe is the price of wine. Nothing under £40 means that even a party has to take the (free) bubbly with set meals and perhaps a glass. Also a la carte is now up to the local level which means pricy. £40 a main course. "
"This was better than I remember before lockdown. the sea bass was soft and melted in your mouth. Wine list a bit on the expensive side in that there is little below £50 a bottle. Very comfortable well spaced tables."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £0.00 | £0.00 |  |
|
|
| Lunch | £0.00 | £39.50 | |
|
|
| Dinner | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
|
|
| Pretheatre | £0.00 | £39.50 | |
|
|
| SundayLunch | £0.00 | £39.50 | |
|
|
| Brunch | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 75.00 | Dinner only | 5 |
| Menu2 | 0.00 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £14.50 | £27.50 | £7.00 | £12.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
33 King St, London, WC2E 8JD
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Covent Garden
British, Modern restaurant in Covent Garden
British, Modern restaurant in Covent Garden
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Fish & seafood restaurant in Covent Garden
Fish & seafood restaurant in Covent Garden
British, Modern restaurant in Covent Garden
