Sunday Roasts are a staple of British cuisine. The traditional family meal has its origins in post-Sunday Mass back in Medieval England, or if you follow other versions of the story, its roots are in the rewarding of servants for their faithful and diligent service by providing them with roast beef, an expensive commodity even during that period. Either way, the tradition has lasted for centuries and is a staple of almost every pub and restaurant throughout the land.
London has been no stranger to this tradition, with the Tower of London’s keepers popularly known as “Beefeaters” as their status as royal guards to the monarchy meant they could easily afford such luxury. The roast has been reinvented and uplifted countless times to now be either or both a comfort food staple or a hallmark of haute cuisine within the United Kingdom. The following spots are the finest in town to try a wholesome, hearty or unique sampling of this most glorious dinner.
The Savoy Grill
Few dining rooms in London can match the gravitas of The Savoy Grill. Set within the eponymous hotel, a hallmark of the London hospitality scene in its second century of service, the Sunday roast here is elevated to theatrical proportions (and portions), with dark woods, mirrored walls and a dining room that has hosted statesmen, actors and royalty. This is a formal, unhurried and unapologetically classy dining affair, with silver service and an unmistakable sense of continuity that belies the institution's reputation and experience.
The finest roast top sirloin of beef is effortlessly carved, Yorkshire puddings are light but crunchy, rich yet fluffy, and the usual trappings of roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and rich gravy reduction are executed with panache. Vegetarian options rotate constantly, with a celeriac wellington serving as one popular favourite, and a carefully cooked selection of traditional sides that can be prepared to almost every allergy or intolerance specification. The Savoy Grill is open for Sunday lunch between the hours of 12:00 pm and 17:00 and whilst walk-ins can be accommodated, it’s best to book in advance.
Claridge’s
Sunday roasts at Claridge’s can’t escape the ritual of traditional servings, but they can elevate it, by way of the fine surroundings one finds themself in and (most importantly) by virtue of the labours of the kitchen. The art deco dining room is calm, elegant and unmistakably Mayfair, with immaculate service and an open space that caters to everyone from family get-togethers to birthday parties and solo diners.
The roast itself bets strongly against fellow big-name venues like The Savoy and The Dorchester. Norfolk Black Leg chicken served with a side of truffle stuffing is one mouth-watering take on roast bird that diners will thoroughly enjoy. Another brilliant twist is the roasted porchetta served with caramelised apple puree, whilst vegetarians and pescatarians are similarly well catered for with a raft of mouth-watering options from Monkfish tail, to celeriac and mushroom pitcher.
Rules
Rules are inseparable from London’s culinary history. Dating back to 1798, the dining room is time capsule-esque, filled with oil paintings, red leather banquettes, and an atmosphere that suggests very little has changed by design. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this establishment has been frequented by everyone from Charles Dickens and Graham Greene to members of the current Royal Family. Rules plays by its own rules when it comes to serving up the finest fodder of British heritage, with a kitchen that can source the finest ingredients from the mainland and isles.
Braised shoulder of lamb is served with roast or dauphinoise potatoes and buttered green beans. Grouse, mallard and partridge come with the seasons. The showstopper on the menu at Rules, though, is the monstrous cut of Aberdeenshire beef that’s aged for 28 days, and so thick a piece that it's recommended for sharing between two people, alongside the usual trimmings. Nostalgia lovers should try to save room for a dessert, with the Jam Roly Poly being a criminally underrated menu item that’s faded from many modern British dining properties, but happily still has a home at Rules.
Simpson’s in the Strand
Although temporarily closed for refurbishment, Simpson’s will be opening its door once again come February and the anticipation couldn’t be higher for the return of one of London’s most significant destinations and a Sunday Roast magnate. If any restaurant can claim to be synonymous with roast beef, it is Simpson’s in the Strand. Established in the 19th century, this is a dining room built entirely around the ceremony of carving, with silver trolleys wheeled between tables and joints sliced to order that has become an iconic part of the experience.
The Sunday roast here is unapologetically traditional, with beef taking centre stage. 28 dry-aged Angus ribs of beef dominate the menu alongside choice alternatives such as Lord Woolton pie and roast leg of lamb. It will be intriguing to see what the new owners intend to serve, although by all indications, they will be carrying on with the silver trolley and mouth-watering slices of meat tradition that’s been a fixture of this establishment since 1848.
Ronnie Scott’s
A Sunday lunch at Ronnie Scott’s offers something genuinely distinctive that sets it apart from any other destination on this list. The comfort of a traditional roast is enhanced with a very different flavour within one of the world’s most famous music venues. The intimate, low-lit setting bedecked in red velvet has hosted jazz royalty since the 1950s, and there is no finer set-up for both performance and prime sirloin of beef in the whole of London.
The Sunday menu centres on classic roast dishes, with the prime sirloin coming highly recommended thanks to both a generous serving and fantastic cooking. Other options include salmon, shoulder of pork, or dishes like wild mushroom tart or puy lentil served with spinach en croute for vegetarians. Dining is always facing towards the performance, creating a most serene setting where one can indulge in the delightful music echoing around the room despite the attendance of what is usually a sell-out crowd, whilst savouring the flavour of a delicious Sunday roast that tastes all the sweeter with a side dish of jazz.
The Dorchester Grill
One of London’s most beloved hotels, The Dorchester’s Sunday lunch unfolds within an atmosphere that beguiles long-established hospitality. The standout feature of the dining room is undoubtedly the hand-blown Murano glass chandelier that hangs magnificently over diners' heads. The Dorchester consistently feels like a throwback to a bygone age of unrestricted, unapologetic glamour, that is unmistakably, old-London.
Under chef Tom Boone, the Sunday roast menu opts to bring out fresh twists on classic British dining, but in the interest of something more indulgent, there’s one option that stands above all others: the beef or vegetarian wellington to share – an inspired way to enjoy a classic. The Dorchester does no disservice to this staple of British cuisine, and for such a heavy dish, splitting it with a friend or partner is a terrific option for a more intimate Sunday roast.
