The Orator

Review summary

1. N

   Neil

   Kent

   19 reviews

   3.0

   19 reviews

   Dined on November 9, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   A lovely team of staff and very quick and efficient service, a trifle noisy for our taste, very convenient location just off the main centre of Cambridge
   

   The OratorResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Neil, Many thanks for your honest review, it is great to hear that our team looked after you well. Hopefully you will visit us again Best wishes, The Orator Team
   

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2. H

   Howard

   London

   37 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   37 reviews

   Dined on October 27, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   The Orator was a great choice for a relaxed family family lunch. The main attraction was its large, airy and gracious dining room: high-ceilinged and flooded with light on a sunny Sunday. It was also not super busy. Perhaps Cambridge has not yet cottoned on to what a nice place this is. Food was pretty good, wine was fairly priced and, all in all, it made a very agreeable change from The Ivy.
   

   The OratorResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Howard, Many thanks for your feedback, we look forward to welcoming you back soon, and will strive for 5 stars next time! Best wishes, The Orator Team
   

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3. T

   Thomas

   London

   3 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on October 26, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   I arrived early to have some drinks at the bar. I was on crutches so I wasn’t able to stand around so the staff told me to wait by the entrance in a seat. We were then totally forgotten about for 50 minutes and then ended up just getting out table. The staff were apologetic but no goodwill gesture was made. Service was the rest of the evening was very slow.
   

   The OratorResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Thomas, I am sorry to hear of your experience on your recent visit to The Orator. This is not the service we aim to provide. We take all feedback seriously, and please be assured, I will investigate this further. Best wishes, Claire Hey Restaurant and Catering Manager
   

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4. S

   Sally

   London

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on October 12, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Service seemed a little slow. Took a while to get our initial drinks. Main course was delicious. Dessert very disappointing but was deducted from the bill. Lemon posset was like rubber. Very poor. Saying that surroundings were lovely, would try again
   

   The OratorResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Sally, Thank you for your honest review. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for a 5 star experience ! Best wishes The Orator Team
   

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5. B

   Binks

   London

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on October 6, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   The venue is very comfortable and attractive. There was plenty of space for couples/families etc. The starters were good. Lovely breads. The side order salad was very poor - basically what seemed like bowl of washed leaves with a very soapy dressing (not very Sumac IMHO). Other dishes were satisfactory though not overly well presented. Whilst the staff were friendly, they seemed very inexperienced ie not offering high chairs etc. The service was a bit too slow. But must emphasise they were thoroughly pleasant but seemed to lack training.
   

   The OratorResponded 5 days ago

   Thank you for your feedback, which we will take on board and improve. We hope you will visit us again for an improved experience. Best wishes, The Orator Team
   

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6. S

   Stacy

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on September 28, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   The venue is fantastic! Modern but classic and spacious. Such a great looking restaurant but it is let down massively by slow and unattentive service. We waited more than 5 minutes to be seated while queue started to grown out the door for people just wanting to get a table. Once seated, even with a reservation, we waited a while for someone to come to take a drinks order. Even worse, tables on either side of us, who came after us, were served and had paid before someone even came to clear our table. The unattentive service was appalling. The food was mediocre at best. The crispy gnocchi is an interesting concept and well presented but sadly lacks any sort of flavor. The flatbreads are good but the bread gets soggy quickly so be prepared to eat fast or have cold and soggy bread. We had high hopes for this place but sadly it was disappointing in many ways.
   

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7. B

   Bernadette

   Essex

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on September 13, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Simple menu, great food, great service and love the ambiance.
   

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8. D

   Daniel

   Cambridge

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 9, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Excellant food, nice location, history, good drinks, warm and friendly. What’s more to like.
   

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9. L

   Louise

   London

   7 reviews

   4.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on September 7, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Really excellent food - only real annoyance was that the special cocktail (with a big advert on display) wasn’t available as they had run out of some of the ingredients; we booked that afternoon for 7.30 and there was plenty of availability so it didn’t seem that they were overwhelmed. Additionally, one of the items was off the menu but we weren’t told that up front so discovered when trying to order it. Otherwise, the experience was good and I’d recommend if you want a non-chain restaurant
   

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10. M

    Mark

    London

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2

    Fantastic venue let down by confused service and unavailable menu and drink choices. Could have been so much better with a bit of care and attention.
    

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