The Orator
Quick info
About The Orator
The Orator is a restaurant in Cambridge on Round Church St, set in a Victorian building. Profits go to the Cambridge Union and charity, so a meal here supports both, and photos of Union speakers hang on the walls. The menu includes a burger, and the bar mixes cocktails, among them a gin & tonic and a Long Island Ice Tea. Coffee and other drinks are served alongside lunch and dinner, and the restaurant is open daily. A private dining room gives groups a space of their own. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Usually plenty of parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burger, outdoor garden seating, signature gin & tonic and 3 course tasting menu.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burger, outdoor garden seating, signature gin & tonic and 3 course tasting menu.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the setting, a beautiful interior and a garden with outdoor seating, where several settled in with drinks, a laptop, or lunch. Friendly, welcoming staff come up repeatedly. On the plate, diners name the steak sandwich, the burger, a pork chop with apple and fennel slaw, a Sunday Yorkshire pudding, and the new 3 Cheeses Toastie. The signature gin and tonic and a Long Island Ice Tea get praise from the bar, and one couple describes huge mains on the three course tasting menu. The food draws the sharpest criticism. One reviewer found the chicken Caesar focaccia dry, with three slices of chicken on a small square of bread that did not seem homemade, and felt the portions were overpriced. Others mention a long delay from the kitchen and a slow wait for the bill and the card machine. Two reviewers note that profits go to the Cambridge Union, whose 200 year history fills the walls in photos of past speakers.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the setting, a beautiful interior and a garden with outdoor seating, where several settled in with drinks, a laptop, or lunch. Friendly, welcoming staff come up repeatedly. On the plate, diners name the steak sandwich, the burger, a pork chop with apple and fennel slaw, a Sunday Yorkshire pudding, and the new 3 Cheeses Toastie. The signature gin and tonic and a Long Island Ice Tea get praise from the bar, and one couple describes huge mains on the three course tasting menu. The food draws the sharpest criticism. One reviewer found the chicken Caesar focaccia dry, with three slices of chicken on a small square of bread that did not seem homemade, and felt the portions were overpriced. Others mention a long delay from the kitchen and a slow wait for the bill and the card machine. Two reviewers note that profits go to the Cambridge Union, whose 200 year history fills the walls in photos of past speakers.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“We went for Sunday lunch. The 200 year history of the Cambridge Union is all around in the photos of many of the speakers. Fascinating! The food was excellent (one of our party said the Yorkshire Pudding was the best she’s eaten!!). The wine list is very good, and the staff are very welcoming, friendly and professional. And finally it donates its profits to a charity!!”
- Google user
“Great food, great location, just a few steps from car park building. I had the pork chop with an apple & fennel slaw. Pork was moist & cooked through properly. The plaise fillet was also delicious, not overdone. I've rated service lower as there was a long delay in the kitchen, but front of house was attentive. Up some stairs, but there is a lift for access.”
- Google user
“I popped in for a well earned drink on Saturday morning. What a wonderful location sitting in the garden along with many others who were mostly eating. The staff were so so attentive and couldn't have been more helpful. New seating, beautiful surroundings and prompt and kind staff. Thank you for my small respite from the busy Cambridge streets. PS Love your food but no time to eat today!”
- Google user
“We stopped by the orator on our stroll through town and was pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous interior that provided a lovely atmosphere. The service was excellent and as a plus it was dog friendly! We were however very disappointed with the food as we felt it was overpriced for the quality and portion. (Burger was £18, chicken Caesar focaccia was £12 with three slices of chicken breast on a small square of bread) the bread did not seem homemade and both the focaccia and chicken were very dry. Definitely a lovely place to go for coffee and drinks and I can imagine it will be a perfect spot for dinner.”
- Google user
“A beautiful relaxing restaurant in Cambridge city centre to come and enjoy lunch/dinner and refreshments. Been here twice this week, had a bite to eat with a friend, and also work on my laptop, a great atmosphere to do that, and enjoy refrehments. A refreshing change to most of the places in the city. Friendly and helpful staff, not a huge menu selection, but the food is very good! Enjoyed the steak sandwich and fries today, yesterday had the burger 👌 *I enjoyed the background playlist, just the right volume, I could hear myself think and hold a decent conversation. Thanks all.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Stylish brasserie in a Victorian building, offering cocktails, classic plates & a beer garden.”
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Family-friendly
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Offerings· 13
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Free water refills
- Happy hour drinks
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Private dining room
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 8
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Planning· 2
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Highlights· 7
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 4
- Casual
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Parking· 1
- Usually plenty of parking
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Restaurants near The Orator
- yori bbq cambridge4.27210.1 mi£20–50Vegan optionsVegetarian optionsReservations
korean fried chicken, beef bulgogi, ribeye steak
- 0.2 mi£20–50Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
raclette, sunday roast, fish pie
- Ittou Noodle Bar4.55480.3 mi£10–20
tonkotsu ramen, galbi tang, korean wings
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The OratorOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.2930 | — | £20–50 | burger, outdoor garden seating, signature gin & tonic |
| yori bbq cambridgeVegan options · Vegetarian options · Reservations | 4.2721 | 0.1 mi | £20–50 | korean fried chicken, beef bulgogi, ribeye steak |
| d'Arry's Restaurant, Bar & CheesemongerOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.31,202 | 0.2 mi | £20–50 | raclette, sunday roast, fish pie |
| Ittou Noodle Bar | 4.5548 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | tonkotsu ramen, galbi tang, korean wings |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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