The Orangery

Enchanting Venue with Great Vegetarian Options

On a recent Sunday afternoon, I found myself meandering through the verdant expanses of Kew Gardens, its flora flourishing with all the promise of an eternal spring. As treks through such greenery tend to do, it was not long before hunger began knocking on my door, and I made my way to the Orangery—the fabled eatery that's sparked both delight and dissatisfaction among so many garden-goers. A historical building with light streaming in through tall venetian windows, the Orangery exudes charm; stepping inside feels akin to being warmly embraced by old-world elegance. With an exciting din and the sight of rare bird feet dancing whimsically atop sun umbrellas, it's difficult not to be entertained by the place.

However, this illusion teeters precariously when you start to engage with the modern cafeteria-style service, often frenetic, bustling, and as unruly as a hive of agitated bees. The pricing—a conversation starter if ever there was one—presents food more valuable as subject matter for debate than sustenance. Namely, flavor and inventiveness struggle against the financial steepness typical of London's tourist hubs. Still, within those overpriced plates, glimmers of culinary mastery persist—especially the Harissa roasted chicken paired with roast butternut squash, each bite echoing the seasonal brilliance outside. While you navigate this chaotically charming venue, one can't ignore the exhausting negotiation between form and function: delectable corn on cob nudges up against an elusive cutlery station, and wooden forks buckled under a rogue cauliflower. Nostalgia mingles with frustration here—it’s just another eccentric London gem that couples gilded geographies with alchemical menus, seemingly versatile enough to inspire love or loyal picnic wanderers, prepared scornfully beside their bespoke hampers. — Clarissa Cuisinier