Vanderlyle

Featured reviews

• M

  Miss Szypula

  ·1 month ago

  “A beautiful experience which I will remember forever. Each dish seemed to have a star ingredient which was really allowed to shine. Particularly surprising was how far chef Alex and his team were able to elevate the humble cucumber. A striking feature was how quiet and calm the kitchen was - you didn't even hear plates clinking down on the pass - everyone was just purposefully busy. Before coming here, I'd looked in through the window and noticed that the diners didn't seem to have any food. I now understand why: you're constantly brought something delightful which you devour instantly, then sit in amazement waiting for the next surprise. Wonderful. Save your pennies and go.”

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• H

  Henry Robertson

  ·3 months ago

  “Excellent meal as always; fantastic food and staff. Great to sit at the pass and interact with Alex and the team. Also really appreciated the card; was a lovely touch! Thank you!”

• J

  Jemma Hunter

  ·3 months ago

  “My partner and I recently visited for the second time. This place is so warm and friendly, and the service is second to none, such a well oiled machine. You never need to flag anyone down for anything because it's never that long before someone checks on you, but equally you're not so frequently visited by the team that it feels intrusive. As for the food... I could eat here every day and be very happy. It might sound a little woo-woo, but you can really taste the love that goes into creating each dish and I do think that makes all the difference. I'm still dreaming of the cashew parfait and could have easily eaten 4 or 5 servings of that alone. Coupled with the non-alcoholic drinks pairing, it was just the perfect meal. Absolutely love this place, we'll be back!”

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• B

  Brenda Zhou

  ·4 months ago

  “Flavourful and fresh seasonal ingredients with a great team of hospitality! The chef himself has great personality and you can see how passionate and dedicated he is when making each dish. Really enjoyed the experience here.”

• D

  Dale Chapman

  ·5 months ago

  “Simply unparalleled. If I had the energy to downgrade every 5 star review I have ever given to make space for Vanderlyle I would. Unfortunately I am full, following my meal, so I do not have the energy. The restaurant itself is very unassuming, sat next to a dry cleaners with relatively casual decor, this fine restaurant doesn't feel snooty but instead most warm and welcoming. We came for my partner's 30th birthday and the entire staff body had signed a birthday card for her-- a touch i certainly was not expecting but is really very much appreciated. The May menu was astonishingly good. They absolutely captured the essence of the positive feeling of Spring in full force, with all of the 14 individual pieces of the menu radiating freshness. We loved the wild garlic, the forced rhubarb, the white asparagus, all capturing the moment in time so well. The wine pairing was certainly worth getting. Shout out to the Bacchus. There is a small team and we were served at different moments by virtually everyone there, it was so great to meet everyone that works hard together to make this a truly special restaurant. We will certainly be back as soon as we have another reason to celebrate. Thank you very much.”

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• S

  Spencer Read

  ·7 months ago

  “As meat eaters, we went in with expectations firmly in check — and still left disappointed. The good: Service was attentive without being intrusive, and the atmosphere is genuinely well-curated. The open kitchen is a lovely touch. The bad: For a tasting menu north of eight courses, the pacing was simply too slow. Worse, the food itself rarely justified the wait. Aside from a standout bean dish with brassica leaf and one of the desserts, everything else landed as either overly sweet or just plain bland. The main — a roast cauliflower with mushroom ragù — was, quite frankly, unseasoned cauliflower alongside a ragù with the depth of cardboard. The wine pairing was its own ordeal. We’re genuinely enthusiastic about wines from lesser-known regions, so the off-the-beaten-path selections weren’t the problem — the quality was. The red served with the main, a Mallorcan bottle that smelled aggressively of aged cave cheese on the nose and delivered exactly that on the palate, was a low point by any measure. Taken together, the whole evening felt like something reaching for fine dining without quite understanding what that means — and charging an absurd premium for the effort. Cambridge is chronically short on truly great restaurants, so Vanderlyle will no doubt keep its diary full. But I won’t be returning.”

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• U

  U & V Tuna

  ·7 months ago

  “We had an amazing evening celebrating my partner’s birthday. The atmosphere was so calm, and the service and staff were wonderful. I really loved the overall ambiance - gave me a real sense of peace. ..let’s talk about the food. Oh wow!!Everything on the menu is delicious, but some dishes have an element of surprise. Some of the flavours were completely new to us, and I loved that. Even when a taste feels somewhat familiar, the texture surprises you in a whole new way. It makes you think, ‘I’ve never eaten anything like this before.’ And the way they create such artistry using only vegetables is incredible. It’s truly impressive. They deserve a Michelin star, and I genuinely hope they receive one very soon.”

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• J

  Joanna Swan

  ·1 year ago

  “Dining at Vanderlyle is an amazing experience and such a privilege. My partner and I have been 4 times in the last 7 months, and every time we are blown away by the food, atmosphere, and service. We have celebrated our 30th birthdays and our engagement here at the pass, as well as dining during the changing seasons to experience the seasonal menus. I cannot fault this place - the food is absolutely unbelievable: the menu is so creative, and whether it’s something completely novel or something you’ve had before, every bite feels like the best version you’ve tasted of what’s on the plate. We plan to keep coming at least once a quarter to try the seasonal menu, but make sure you set your alarm for a table as they sell out fast! Our favourite restaurant ever!”

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• D

  Dom Jacklin

  ·1 year ago

  “We had an amazing evening at Vanderlyle enjoying the tasting menu. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, with excellent service throughout. Every course was creative, varied, and full of flavour - The oyster mushrooms were a standout for us, and the lemon sorbet was incredible. They also adapted the menu for gluten intolerance without any fuss - amazing gf brioche too! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a sublime dining experience!”

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• R

  Richard Nuttall

  ·1 year ago

  “Food was well presented, visually pleasing and tasted delicious. Service was efficient but not intrusive, the atmosphere was relaxing. Little touches like choice of ceramics to present dishes enhanced overall experience. We are not vegetarians but if we ate dishes like you created everyday., we would be.The cashew parfait was outstanding - I could have eaten it all to myself. We both appreciated the amount of preparation, thought and skill which went into all of the dishes.We will be back!!”

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