roast, Southwark, London

As other reviewers have stated, Roast does exactly what it says on the tin, but at a price.

Roasts and other classic English dishes, well made with quality ingredients which wouldn't be out of place in the stalls of the Borough Market below.

My dining companion and I went for the three course £26 "Market menu", which during our visit offered a selection of starters (such as tomato soup or potted salt beef), mains of duck, trout, pork and a vegetable tart, and a desert selction including potted fig and an apple pie with custard. Everything we sampled was well presented and fantastic tasting.

The restaurant itself was quite full (although it was a Saturday night), but we were lucky enough to be given a window table, providing views overlooking the borough market and the other restaurants below.

My only criticism of Roast would be the expensive wine list, a minimum of £20 for a 500ml caraffe of wine, moving up to £30 minimum for a bottle is pricey. Nevertheless, the South African 2008 Quando Sauvignon Blanc was very nice, and not a wine you usually see on menus.

With a meal for 2 with wine coming to £100, it's not your typical pub roast, but recommended if you want to treat yourself.

Roast is one of those places everyone seems to have been to and have an opinion on and generally the consensus is that it's pricey but you'll come away satisfied and stuffed. Which is pretty much the view I took away from a long and lazy Sunday lunch over a highly quaffable red.

Despite, essentially, being located by a decaying train bridge, Roast makes the most of its space and is light and airy, feeling both open and intimate at the same time - never an easy trick to pull off.

The Sunday lunch option was a three course set menu for £20 (or two for £26) with a decent variety and vegetarian options as well.

The starts were nice without ever hitting spectacular notes, although the trout was brilliantly fresh. Potted pickled herring was tasty, although I could have happily munched on just the soda bread and super-creamy butter.

But the proof, for a place like Roast, is in the mains and they didn't disappoint. Half a chicken was beautifully tender while roast beef was medium rare and absolutely perfect. I'd have liked some wholegrain mustard to go with it as opposed to Coleman's, but that's a minor gripe.

The apple and rhubarb crumble to finish was sublime, although the bakewell didn't quite live up to its name.

Throw in an impressive wine list and friendly and efficient service and Roast definitely justifies the price.

There were lots of families when we visit on Sunday lunch and this place is suitable for all sorts if you want a blow out. The food is delicious yet won't scare off non-foodies. Dates, parent birthdays or a celebration - Roast has them all cooked.

Divine breakfast - recommend early Saturday morning - best if seated before 9:00. Roast have been giving discounts for early bookings. Eggs Benedict is a must, veggie breakfast very nice as well. Atmosphere is fabulous with not-to-be-missed views overlooking Borough Market. Very busy later mornings with families from suburbs.

I visited Roast for lunch a few days before Xmas so the atmosphere at Borough Market was buzzing. Great seat looking down across the Market. The menu here is great, as long as you are a meat lover and not afraid of a few terms such as "bone marrow"! I had scotch egg for starter with Picalilly, may sound a bit dull but it was delicious. For main I opted for the famous pork belly with mash and apple sauce. The piece of pork was enormous but delicious, the crackling was perfectly crisp and the meat tender. Perfect. I was too full for dessert which was dissapointing as they have a great cheese menu, sourced from Neils Yard but I did manage a glass of port, it was Xmas afterall. Great, friendly service, great atmosphere and great food. A bit pricey so not a restaurant for regular dining but great for a treat!

I have been here once for breakfast and really enjoyed it. It the usual suspects on the menu but don't expect the greasy spoon mountain of food for £3 this is more of a 'posh' breakfast. I went for the works which I think is called 'the full roast' its was yummy, good quality sausages and bacon and eggs cooked how you like them. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed and they were in no rush to get rid of us even though we had been there over two hours!
I think breakfast was around £8 and that did not include the drinks (tea, juice etc) so its more of a treat than a regular haunt. I have been back a few times for lunch, looked at the menu and walked away...fish and chips is around £20, I mean it would have to be some seriously out of this world fish and chips for that price...and maybe it is? I have never felt rich enough to try, expecially when the fish place in the market does lovely fish and chips for less than half that on a Friday....Maybe I will get a win on the lottery and I will go eat their lunch and let you know :-)
If you want a nice brekkie though, def try this place

Have visited Roast twice now, once for breakfast and once for lunch.

No booking for breakfast so we were lucky to get a table as it was heaving on Saturday morning. We took the risk and were lucky.

Generally, I was underwhelmed by the menu and the food. It was standard breakfast food with nothing really exciting outside of the norm. We both ordered dishes with poached eggs. Both came out hard rather than with a runny yolk. Had to send them back.

However, lunch was a different society and I think this is where I would recommend it. I went for the fish and chips which I think is a Friday lunch regular. Wow. The mushy peas were the best I have ever had.

Both meals were not cheap, but their quality high.

Oh, lastly, coffee was terrible, but we are both coffee snobs.

Overall, go, enjoy breakfast but expect nothing out of the ordinary. Lunch, I think this is great mid-week if you are in the area or having a Friday off and tour the markets in the morning before a long lunch at Roast.

Although I have only tasted the food from the little market stall downstairs those have always been delicious and I have only heard good things about Roast. Hope to review it more in full soon, but for all those people who can’t get reservations, just pop down to the stall on any market day and enjoy the preview!

For various reasons, I’ve probably been to Roast more than any other London restaurant now. And it’s never a hardship.

At breakfast, I’d suggest the Haggis. The Full Roast is excellent but even someone of my, ahem, generous girth struggles. Lovely toast too.

Otherwise, the pork belly is always a fine choice and the daily special has never let me down - a recent visit delivered the single best piece of beef I’ve ever eaten - but if you can get organised order the day before and have the rib. The burger - Saturday brunch and on the bar menu - is also dazzling. I’ve not tried the Hawksmoor version yet but it’s got to go some to knock this burger off the “best in London” perch.

Happily this isn’t a place to rest on its laurels. They’ve introduced a new “own blend” wine from Chapel Down which is not just the best English wine I’ve ever had, it’s one I’m convinced will throw even vociferous Aussies in a blind tasting. The new “own roast” of coffee is also up there with Monmouth in terms of being Borough Market’s best bet. Love it.

Excellent space overlooking Borough Market; a friend and I were tippin around lookin for somewhere to eat and a local guy we bumped into recommended it…if you not lookin for full silver service just amble up and look at the bar menu; mainly little bits’n pieces that added together make for some real tastiness. Bar staff are discrete and give good service. Nice spot altogether, wouldn’t mind comin back for a proper go, may have to save the pennies first!

Yes you have to look out for the lift entrance, we almost walked round the block before we saw the right in front of us sign. Very light inside and pleasant. Not inexpensive, but you do get a big plateful of quality food. You would have to be very hungry to do 3 courses. Good staff. Useful if you are in the area rather than a special visit, but other reviewers rate the breakfast highly so that might alter my opinion if I get to eat one there. And a goodly number of wines on the list, though most above £32 from what I saw. And not suffering from recession judging by the number of people there on a Monday lunch!

Have been to this place for both breakfast and dinner. It is extrordinary food. It is so fresh and vibrant. There is no question that the quality of the produce (being above borough market, this is to be expected! The service and restaurant are very highly rated to, but it isn’t a stuffy restaurant, it is buzy and enjoyable when ever you fancy visiting it. The breakfast is the best i’ve ever had.

Having tried their brunch here a few months ago, I was eager to see how they fared on their namesake. With every choice of roast possible, I opted for the roast beef after debating it over with the pork. I did cheekily ask the waiter if I could have a tiny slice of pork with my beef to settle both cravings and to my surprise he delivered. The beef was lovely but perhaps a little too much sinew for my liking and the pork was just perfect and I had meal envy right there on my own plate. Opting for the two courses for 26 quid, (yes, it’s a fancy roast place) we all chose a main meal and a dessert. After spotting a Knickerbocker Glory that a kid was having on an opposite table, a few of us decided that we must have that for dessert and while not appearing on our menus, the waiter handed over the “Young Diner’s” menu where Knickerbocker Glory featured. Ahh, there is no shame ordering from a children’s menu when ordering in numbers, is there? It was mighty tasty and a fine afternoon.

Not sure if my mother would appreciate me calling it the best roast ever, but it was certainly pretty damned good.

Had a great Sunday afternoon here, rolled out very full but extremely contented. I had the roast chicken, which was enormous and the roast potatoes were perfectly crunchy. The pork and the beef were exceptional, particularly the pork. Nice wines, and a great location - the bill was a bit on the steep side but we weren’t shy with the wine so it was worth it overall.

I went along for breakfast here today and was mightily impressed although I think you pay for the entire experience. We had booked for a fairly early seating on a Saturday morning shortly after it had opened yet there seemed to be a constant fuss at the entrance with checking coats and bags in and out. Once we got through all of that though, we walked into the magnificent dining room, with amazingly large windows and a bright airy space we all thought perfect for a wedding reception (or something like it).

Our waiter didn’t seem to bother us too much throughout the meal, providing both prompt and efficient service. They charged over £12 for two eggs benedict, a little on the pricey side and even though they were good, they definitely weren’t were that much.

After we finished they took our plates and asked us if we wanted anything else. We didn’t feel at all pressured to leave our seats despite the growing queue of people waiting to be seated around the corner at the entrance.

I’d certainly be keen to see how they react during a dinner service.

Without a doubt, a really fantastic space. They haven’t compromised on trying to squeeze more people in here - the tables are well spaced and absolutely huge, so much so you might have to speak up to make yourself heard across them! In conjunction with the lofty roof, it gives the place a grand, classical elegance, and of course, the price of everything is adjusted to match. Still, I did enjoy my boiled eggs and soldiers, although the bread is cut far too thickly to fit into an egg. Maybe an ostrich egg would have been a better match.

The full English is priced somewhere between astronomic and ridiculous, and I wasn’t hungry at 0745 anyway, so we didn’t try it. But, perhaps next time. If you’re struggling to find the entrance - note well - it’s inside the market under cover, and the place is above you!

I went here for a much anticipated celebratory dinner for a special occasion. The three of us enjoyed a drink at the bar and oohed at the little grass patches on the way in to the restaurant. The meals were lovely and conversation pretty much stopped when we were munching our meaty roasts.

The wine was outstanding so we sat and enjoyed another bottle after dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed while the staff were attentive.

Not sure it quite lived up to all the hype, not the best roast meal I’ve ever had and given the location of the restaurant in the heart of Borough Market I had expected to see more interesting seasonal options at least with the veggie sides.

But all in, a nice place to head for a quality meal. Crisp white linen, proper glasses and heavy cutlery. Old school in some ways but very enjoyable.

Went there yesterday with Andrew and the gang for a breakfast meeting.

I hardely ever have been to such a nice location before in London. This may be a cultural thing. Many places that are hyped in London are windowless, crowded things.

Not so here: Located literally above Borough Market, large windows give view to the old buildings opposite, some sky and also the trains to and from London bridge. I hardly remember enjoying a London location more.

Everyone had some really English breakfast: Eggs with Marmite, Roasted Tomatoes or Porridge. Everyone loved it.
The Latte Macchiato came in a perfact glass in a perfectly like out of the book.

In our case, the service was good and friendly.
I could have stayed here much longer and declare Roast to be one of my favourite places in London.

Overall I’d say I had an ok meal at Roast and felt disappointed as my expectations had been raised with all the hype.

Atmosphere was good for a work night and I was grateful I had managed to get a booking at very short notice. But the food was (a little below) average.

Service was the redeeming factor - very attentive for a busy place. The kitchen staff could see I was struggling with meat which had gone cold and offered to re-heat it.

I don’t think I’ll go back for dinner.

I heard very mixed reviews about this place before I went and now that I have been, I can understand why.

I ate there for the first time with a few colleagues and clients just a few weeks ago - once we had found the well-hidden entrance that is. Bizarrely, one member of the group picked up her G&T from the bar before we were seated and the bottom of the glass just slipped off, spilling the contents all over us. Weird. However, the staff had seen it happen and were so apologetic they gave us the round of drinks for free.

The food is basically posh roast dinners and a few other alternatives. Not a vast amount of choice, but just enough to please almost everyone. I had the special which was a rather tasty roast beef dish. Just good, though. Not amazing. We ordered a variety of the vegetable dishes to share and there was more than enough to go around.

The waiters were very attentive and discreet throughout, and our water and wine glasses were kept constantly full. Due to this, though, I was pretty sozzled by the time dessert came around. I think it was a chocolate and whiskey tart and I remember really liking it but further than that I can’t tell you.

Overall, my impression was 'hmmm, pretty nice place’ rather than anything more exceptional. Would be happy to eat here again though. If I can find it.

A 4 star venue because of the location, looking down on Borough market. I’ve had both breakfast and lunch, always on Friday or Saturday when the market is busiest.
It’s worth booking well in advance for a table overlooking the market, the small coffee/drinks area has a good view, but rarely any spare seats.
The food is generally ok, but somehow the venue adds to the experience. Had a very late breakfast once when obviously the chef was concentrating on lunch, they did put it all right in the end but dissapointing…. but I’ll be going again.

Love the venue, the cocktails and the lunch/evening menu. However, this place can not cook an egg for breakfast.

I’ve been here twice for breakfast meet-ups as it’s such a great location for people working south of the river. The brunch menu is a little uninspiring though and, I have to mention it again, there make bad eggs! The first time my omlette was still clucking, on trying fried eggs for my next visit they were bizarrely chewy with something brown and burnt looking on the base.

Veggies are well catered for in the daytime menu but, as is often the case, doesn’t provide great value for money.

I hardly ever do this but I sent my breakfast bill back to the waiter. After requesting no bacon, I was provided with a big empty plate on which sat in the middle a sad looking tattie scone, two [as we’ve established, awful] eggs and one tiny little mushroom. I figured they must’ve miscalculated the cost at £8.50 as if I’d walked across the road to a Borough High St caff I could’ve had a 3 egg omlette, bacon, chips, beans, toast, hash browns, mushrooms and about 10 cups of tea.

They’re famous for their breakfasts here but I so, so wish the quality would improve as I do like it here the rest of the time.

Update

I hear this place does a cracking breakfast so planning on heading here tomorrow bright and early for what many are claiming to be “The Best Breakfast in London”. Can’t wait!

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Excellent, excellent, excellent.

We came here completely by chance. We’d originally intended to go to Black & Blue but it would have meant a 45 minute wait. After sipping Black Sheep and G&T’s at the bar and soaking up the atmospehere we were shown to our table. Even though the restaurant was very full, the service was still very attentive and friendly and the food came quickly. Both the roast chicken and the roasted pork belly were fantastic. Perfectly cooked and just the right blend of flavours. The meal came to about £80 for 2 people, which, given the quality of dinner, is an absolute bargain.