Rochelle Canteen

Reviews

• Brian C.

  star star star star star 5 June 2026

  Great lunch spot, especially if it's a nice day and you can sit outside.  Be aware of where you're going, you'll need to find the door on the southeast side of Arnold Circus (which goes around the beautiful Boundary Gardens park) and then ring the buzzer to be let in but once inside it's a bit of an oasis from the city.  Service was very friendly from the beginning and it's clearly a professional staff.  The menu is small with about 6 starters and 6 main courses of which a number are vegetarian.  The prices may be a bit high for lunch, and the food may seem a bit "simple" in some respects but it takes a lot of work to make things this good.  Even the little things like bread & butter (which you pay for but it's worth it) are great with amazing rich salted butter served at the perfect temperature along with hearty bread slices.  It's astounding how few places get bread & butter right but they've got it here.
  
  As for the menu, it will change daily so don't necessarily go looking for something in particular - whatever you get will likely be great.  My wife raved about the Tomato & Chickpea Soup which was almost more of a stew consistency and she said it was the best tomato soup she's ever eaten.  She also loved her main course of Courgettes, Borlotti Beans, & Feta which had a simple rich sauce which brought everything together.  We had a late breakfast so I I went basic with Parma ham and perfectly ripe melon and then a salad that was a bit misleading on the description (at least to me) as Brown Shrimp, White Cabbage, Capers & Dill.  Turns out the shrimp were dozens of exceedingly tiny shrimp that you really couldn't taste dispersed throughout an acidic cabbage salad trending toward a coleslaw.  Still fine for what it was, but definitely not what I was expecting.
  
  Overall, it was a great day and there's no question that Rochelle Canteen is a unique place for a unique experience.  Some will appreciate it, some not, but I'm very glad it exists and it will always be one of my wife's favorite places in London.

• Chris C.

  star star star star star 31 May 2026

  So, London weather in April in the mid 70s and beautiful sunny is crazy, right? When that happens you know you are in for a special day and tonight was no exception- the wife and I had a fine meal at Rochelle Canteen that was as great as the weather!
  
  The restaurant is in a usual setting where they share some common space (apparently) with a school. As a result they are kind of hidden behind a high brick wall and door. Only a sign on the walk path actually let us know the restaurant was there. The restaurant has dining inside and out and it was all being used that night.
  
  To start, the wait staff was great, helpful and on top of things. Our meal started with the Fennel celery Berkswell (cheese) and caper salad. Totally recommend this dish! Also had fresh fill and fruity olive oil. At the end of eating that we swore we would try to figure out how to make this at home. My main was the Braised lamb lentils and green sauce along with cooked greens. Lamb cooked to perfection and the lentils so complimented the meat. The greens were delicious (I think they were Tuscan kale leaves) as a side. The wife had Courgettes chickpeas and goat curd (all vegetarian) and she loved it.
  
  We finished by sharing a slice of Lemon meringue pie which was the best our slice I've had in years. Why isn't this restaurant in my home town?? I'd be there every night!

• Lynette L.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 27 May 2026

  Waitress looked at me and my Asian friend, and promptly turned us away. She claimed that they were "booked for breakfast" despite the restaurant being completely empty, save for a smattering of (all-white) customers. A thin excuse, especially given the lack of any notice online or outside that the restaurant had been reserved in advance. At best, this is evidence of extremely poor service. At worst, this reeks of racism.

• Michael D.

  star star star star star_border 17 May 2026

  Original menu. Outstanding food. Helpful, accommodating service.  Went on a summer evening and sitting in the walled garden in the heart of Shoreditch was just ideal -  a rare option in London.
  We also took advantage of the corkage to bring our own bottles, which we also appreciated.  We then also drank from the wine-list and selection was great.
  Overall, a great experience.

• Elizabeth L.

  star star star star star 14 May 2026

  Lovely outdoor oasis for lunch. We managed to find this place and snag a table on a Sunday afternoon. The wait for food was a bit long, but maybe because I ordered the chicken and leek pie, which was amazing. The crust was incredibly flakey and the chicken tender and leeks juicy. A very light broth awaited under the pie crust. Husband got the lamb, which was also excellent, some of the best he's ever had. Topped off with some fresh spring greens. Would definitely come back. Bathrooms are surprisingly modern and clean for a mostly outdoor restaurant.