Harden's survey result
Summary
“Going from strength to strength... surviving a flood in its first year... then Covid… it shines triumphant!” – owner Katie Exton “has dedication in abundance” and her “superb and fairly priced” Pimlico favourite is the result. That the “lovely and intimate” room can also appear “a little understated” is the nearest any report gets to a criticism; and most are a full-on hymn of praise to its “stunning, clean-flavoured seasonal food” served with “enthusiasm and knowledge”. La patronne is a top sommelier and “pound for pound her brilliant, eclectic and accessible wine list is one of the best in London; punching well above its weight for a restaurant of its size and price-point”.
Summary
“Fabulous Katie Exton and her team never disappoint” at her “lovely, small and intimate Pimlico restaurant”, which “is coming into its own despite all the terrible setbacks when it opened” (including a flood closing it for months) and “hits a sweet spot of value and reliability”. A major attraction is the “clean and well-executed modern European cuisine” – “with interesting ingredients and dishes on the right side of edgy” – but the rarer attraction is her “endearing” personal style and “enthusiastic gentle guidance to the right wine pairing” from the “supremely clever and wide-ranging wine list” she has assembled as “one of London’s top sommeliers”. Top Tip – “there is a great glassware selection too for a restaurant of its size, which is often overlooked in guides!”
Summary
“Having survived the lockdowns which were preceded by a major flood”, this “modest” but “delightful and comfortable small restaurant”, a short walk from Victoria, “is back and on top form”. “Katie Exton is now sole owner, with a new head chef (previously the number two in the kitchen) and the food remains superb”. “Katie is not only one of London’s slickest hostesses but also one of its best sommeliers”, and has assembled a “focused, somewhat classical list” which she introduces with “knowledge and enthusiasm”. “Bang for buck, given the size of the restaurant and its prices? Lorne can’t be beaten!”.
Summary
“Lorne has gone from strength to strength since its recovery from its awful flash flood”, which closed it for a significant portion of 2018 – “it’s a measure of the warm feelings it generates that just about all staff came back when the restaurant reopened, as did all the regulars who had become loyalists in a relatively short period of time”. Owned and run by Katie Exton and Peter Hall, it’s a “tranquil space” with “no fuss and no pretentiousness”, but “unexpectedly good, seasonal food for a street a stone’s throw from Victoria, and lined with medium-priced, fast-food restaurants”. A good chunk of its appeal lies in its “vast and interesting wine list” on which “Katie provides guidance”.
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 Lorne?
76 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1DE
Restaurant details
Lorne Restaurant Diner Reviews
"First visit, very impressed. A bit clattery acoustics but otherwise welcoming, strong wine service, light sea bream tartare very delicate flavour followed by hearty robust porchetta. "
"Pre theatre menu very good"
"I wanted to like this as all the reviews had been glowing but I'm afraid the food was forgettable, and the room was a bit pokey. Nothing made me want to return."
"Starters of eel veloute with Jersey royals and sea bream tartare were neatly plated and tasty and a main of veal rump was very well cooked. The restaurant was quite quiet at lunchtime which made it easy to converse during the meal."
"Excellent pre theatre menu"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £36.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £10.50 | £31.00 | £8.00 | £9.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
76 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1DE
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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