The Rookery

I have been to The Rookery several times and eaten there on a number of occasions. Off the back of mine and my husbands rave reviews of the food my friend recently booked it on a Tuesday night for her birthday. Though the food lived up to the standards we expected, the service really was very disappointing. We were one of the only large groups in there on what was a very quite Tuesday night and yet still the service was very slow. Our waiter was more like a petulant teenager than an enthusiastic owner of a popular new bar/restuarant. Getting the staffs attention was a struggle particularly when we required more drinks, when they wouldn't even wait for the rest of the table to give their drinks orders! When we first visited the Rookery the thing we liked most was the enthusiasm of the staff to tell you about the produce and beers etc. Bring that back and continue the high standard of food and this really would be a superb place to visit.

High expectations, low results.

Service was the shambles. They couldn't tell if we were coming or going. Changed tables to sit in the sun (literally moving no more than four feet), and was told by a waitress they thought we had left so had cancelled the food order. Actually saw and heard a least two couples come and go without food as they decided it would be easier to eat down the road. Honestly should have refunded what was paid and followed suit.

Waited it out and the roast was average, if not disappointing. There was a piece of pork that was nothing but gristle. No apologies for bad cut of meat or cancelling the order.

First time I have gone out of my way to not recommend a pub in London. This venue was better when it was Firefly.

Better options for eating and drinking are a stones throw away.

As one of the owners of The Rookery, I'd like to comment. I'm very sorry that some of the recent reviewers on this site haven't had the best experience. I think Jon gets it right when he says that we are becoming popular, and it is now about maintaining the very high standards we have set.
In honesty, I really think we are maintaining those standards. We did have a difficult period in Jan / Feb when we were frankly taken aback by how busy we'd become. We weren't prepared for it, and at times we weren't adaquately staffed, or stocked. We're a small business, and this is our first site, so money is inevitably tight. Working with very fresh and seasonal produce and a constantly changing menu is a challenge when it's hard to judge the level of custom.
It's painful to read some of the comments below, but we have to take it on the chin, but the fact that we had such a busy Jan and Feb (where the vast majority of the diners left very happy indeed) means we now have more confidence as a business in our ordering and staffing.
I'm also sorry that some customers felt the food wasn't up to scratch, and again with such a fast moving menu, we'll inevitably have the odd miss, but i will not hear of things being frozen, or cheaply bought in. All of our meat is from rare breed, organic, and out-door reared herds; and everything from the bread to the ice cream is made in house. To be serving this quality of food at these prices, around £13.50 for a main, I think is something pretty special.
The Rookery was set up to offer something different. Top quality food and drinks in atmospheric surroundings with staff that care about what they're serving. The fact that we have become pretty busy is, I think, testament to that. And we're certainly not about to forget that's what we're about. It just took us a little while to adjust to the new order of people really liking what we're doing. We now have.

food was great, service pleasant and good beer and the winner that it is100 metres from my house unlike the windmill which is none of the above.... Well except from beign 100 metres from my house!! Summer will be brilliant with the garden and hopefully none of the ' gangstas' from the windmill!!

Terrible experience: Stuck in a dingy, drafty (several guests kept their coats on) room at the top. Took about an hour to even order the food. Then it turned out that they'd run our of half of our orders. Offered some "free" olives for the ridiculous wait (which they then realised they'd actually run out of and charged us for on the bill). When the food eventually arrived it was ok- but nothing special. Took another hour to then get the main course-which was also ok but just not really good enough to lift the mood. All in all, just a disappointing experience. Made me feel sorry for the waiting staff as they had to cope with such terrible staff management.

My star rating would have been 5 based on my first visit, which was exceptional. Quality wine in carafes (ideal as I drink red and the girlfriend white), great selection of beers , fantastic interior (not sure what the reviewer below was suggesting as "naff" - clearly does not understand New York style) and staff exceptional. Generous portions and great quality. However, based on that visit I went a second time and classic - I invited friends - and wouldn't you just know it would be diffrerent. Don't get me wrong the night was great and the atmosphere buzzing. However, besides the initial pint of Meantime Lager the rest was seriously downhill. It seems clear to me that this place has grown in popularity and the quality must be maintained with that growth. Whoever orders food needs to be shot for starters. And before you say it I fully appreciate that fresh produce runs out but this is much more than that. We sat down at 8pm and there where no starters avialable at all! So we all had to go with Humous and bread. Now the Humous was fantastic but it is not what you want to start with when there are other great options. The main course was also a huge, huge dissapointment - probably the worst Pork Belly I have ever had in both lack of taste and size. It was literally like eating 2 pieces of Asda budget streaky bacon on top of a tasteless barley mix. No consistency in the meat and no quality with no taste. My fellow diners mains where no better. We then opted for cheese, which was decent but the crumble at desert was clearly frozen and re heated as it had water residue in the bottomof the bowl. The cream was simply tasteless. I really wanted to love it here and I did on first try but unless the ordering of food is better (they ran out of all the starters, all the lamb for the main and all the Moules M as a main by 8pm on a Saturday evening!) and the quality is maintained you will loose people who want to remain. The staff and owner are simply fantastic and I would definitely try this place out as I am sure it will get it right but if nothing else I hope this is a push to get things better! I will unfortunately not return after spending £450 between 6 (we did have great wine) as I simply expect if you charge this price you better make the food right.

I've been there twice now and I have to admit I found it to be quite the NY inspired local neighbourhood joint, that Mr Dimond suggests. Where we differ is that I don't see this as something to sneer about. In my opinion the guys behind The Rookery have set out to be a stylish, laid back venue for Clapham hipsters and have achieved it with considerable heart and style. Coupled with genuine care and attention to both the food and drink I personally think they shoudl be applauded. My only criticism is that they don't do breakfast.

Just done Sunday lunch and don't normally add stuff to these websites but had a great experience so felt I should. Decor is new and not inherited... Glamour gal must have missed it as a claphamite I went 2 months ago and was naff and boring. Infact exactly the same as the first time I went in 2002! The food was ace but more than that, I have never been anywhere so designed for me! Forget Stella, teachers. They had black velvet for 5.50! Laguvlin (bad spelling), London lager ( meantime) and Havana 7...., an open fire, light airy space and pleasant staff. Bring it on! I see lots of Sunday's here enjoying the winter in a good atmosphere.

We needed somewhere like this in the area. Well done to Mark, he's the owner apparently - had a brief chat with him on my first visit last week (opposite of brusque); very open, seemingly clued-up and I thought motivated to do this best he can in his first venture - this shows well in The Rookery.

Very., very cool vibe to this place.. topped off with the excellent range of meantime beers and reasonably priced but unreasonably delicious food. I think I'll be coming here a lot more in future. The prospect of a sunday lunch is one I look forward to with relish. Only negative is the somewhat expensive spirits, but the beers and winelist more than make up for that.

Soon as I walked in I thought I was in a trendy New York bar!! Fantastic beers on tap and a great selection of reasonable wines. FOH are calm and friendly and help the buzzing atmosphere.
The food was superb I started with the bath chaps which were slightly crisp with great flavour and my partner had the salmon which was delicate and presented lovely.
For mains I had the crispy lamb shoulder which just melted in my mouth with a lamb and mint sauce to die for and my partner had the duck with the punchy salsa verde which was fantastic with the broth.
We shared a rice pudding which was something else, hints of orange and cinnamon and a dark caramelisation on top served warm with a apple puree under the topping which was chilled and gave a fantastic hot and cold sensation.
Couldn't recommend this place anymore. Will defo be going back soon!!

They've inherited the decor from the former bar and they're in an odd location, bang between Clapham Common and Clapham South and opposite the hugely popular Windmill Pub. But they make up for the location and slightly naff interior with charming staff and really good food. The Bath Chaps were beyond compare and the Mallard (though it could have done with 5 more minutes resting) was a delicous and a great change from the ubiquitous duck breast. Prices were fair, wine list not hugely imaginative but not greedy - a great local place, I hope they make it work for them.

Amazing, went there last night, food incredible and so reasonably priced. Wine list again is incredibly good value, especially for such a good quality selection. I never write these things but I just can't believe how good this place is.