Allium
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Quick info
About Allium
Allium is a restaurant on High Street in Downham Market where reservations are required. The menu leans on a French backbone, with onion soup on the starter list and roast chicken finished with a tarragon sauce as a regularly noted main. Sunday lunch is offered as a set, giving the week a second rhythm alongside the evening service. The dining room is set up for proper sit-down meals, and seating by the corner window takes groups of five. Service is run in-house by the team, including the owner, and the kitchen keeps the menu tight rather than broad. The room is presented with care, from the table layout to the way the food is brought out, and the focus stays on classical French technique applied to a short, considered list of plates.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsHigh chairs
- DietaryVegetarian options
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Menu & Prices
54 dishes · mains £0–18- Grilled Cornish Sardines£0.15
- Panko Prawns£0.12
- Full English£17.50
- Half English£12.00
- Avocado On Toast£13.50
- Poached Eggs£12.50
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast chicken supreme with tarragon sauce, french onion soup, roasted vegetable risotto and sunday lunch.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast chicken supreme with tarragon sauce, french onion soup, roasted vegetable risotto and sunday lunch.
Customer Review Summary
Most diners single out the food as the standout reason to visit, with the Sunday lunch and the roast chicken supreme (paired with a tarragon sauce) drawing particular praise, alongside a French onion soup one reviewer rated above versions they had in France. Service is the recurring source of friction: several describe it as slow or surly, plates arriving with a thud, an order arriving wrong, and feedback on portion size going unacknowledged, leaving some to feel the prices are hard to justify. A few diners also report small portions, especially the roasted vegetable risotto sold as a main, and one reviewer notes that despite online information, the kitchen cannot accommodate gluten-free diners. On the positive side, the room is repeatedly described as nicely presented and the staff are often called lovely, with several already booked to return.
Customer Review Summary
Most diners single out the food as the standout reason to visit, with the Sunday lunch and the roast chicken supreme (paired with a tarragon sauce) drawing particular praise, alongside a French onion soup one reviewer rated above versions they had in France. Service is the recurring source of friction: several describe it as slow or surly, plates arriving with a thud, an order arriving wrong, and feedback on portion size going unacknowledged, leaving some to feel the prices are hard to justify. A few diners also report small portions, especially the roasted vegetable risotto sold as a main, and one reviewer notes that despite online information, the kitchen cannot accommodate gluten-free diners. On the positive side, the room is repeatedly described as nicely presented and the staff are often called lovely, with several already booked to return.
Featured reviews
- Shari Arbon
“Came here on the recommendation of a good friend and an Allium Employee. What a fantastic night,hidden gem in Downham Market and wonderful Birthday meal. We like to eat somewhere new and different so it was a lovely change from going into the city - Norwich. The staff were lovely the food was amazing and the atmosphere wasgreat! We were seated in the corner by the window, there were five of us and plenty of room. The atmosphere was perfect and will definitely be returning in the future ☺️”
- Colin Wooltorton
“What movie can I say five out of five on everything I think is say it all”
- Gus
“Our experience was mixed. The food quantities were insufficient for our two eighteen year olds, the roasted vegetable risotto in particular being a starter portion rather than the main course it was sold as. It all tasted fine which you would expect. Service was slow despite there only being 4 tables occupied and my comment to our server about the risotto portion being of starter size was either not passed on to the senior staff member or was ignored as there was no feedback. Value for money is poor. The food and drink does not justify the high prices. The dining area is nicely presented.”
- Lisa B
“Despite a Google search saying they do gluten free, they don't! This is what's on their website Our dishes may contain allergens, due to a small working environment we are unable to cater for persons with food allergies. Our apologies. Allium”
- Pauline Maddison
“Brilliant Sunday lunch amazing food cooked to purfecsion. Will be going again definitely Large portions. recommended PM Setchey”
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Vegetarian options
Show more amenities
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Beer
- Coffee
- Small plates
- Dessert
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Seating
- Table service
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Offerings· 5
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 3
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs
- Highlights· 4
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Planning· 4
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Restaurants near Allium
- giardini di NAXOS4.82730.1 mi£20–50Outdoor seatingGood for kidsReservations
pasta, panna cotta, seafood specials
- Little Chippy4.41810.1 mi£1–10Good for kids
generous portions, fish and chips, sausage and chips
- The Cave Restaurant4.83800.1 mi£20–30Vegetarian optionsWheelchair accessibleGood for kids
portion sizes shrunk, mixed grill for two, roast onion and vine leaves
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlliumOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible | 4.6214 | — | £20–70 | roast chicken supreme with tarragon sauce, french onion soup, roasted vegetable risotto |
| giardini di NAXOSOutdoor seating · Good for kids · Reservations | 4.8273 | 0.1 mi | £20–50 | pasta, panna cotta, seafood specials |
| Little ChippyGood for kids | 4.4181 | 0.1 mi | £1–10 | generous portions, fish and chips, sausage and chips |
| The Cave RestaurantVegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible · Good for kids | 4.8380 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | portion sizes shrunk, mixed grill for two, roast onion and vine leaves |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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