The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant

mishacaroline

wow, what a feast!!! 29th October 2009

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A friend took me to the Gate sometime ago, it was a birthday surprise. We found it hidden in the church yard, in an airy room that apparently used to be a gallery. After delicious rasperry bellinis we polished off a mezze for two, a portion of ravioli and roasted almond and cauliflower korma. It was a great feast accompanied by a bottle of a lovely organic beaujolais. I enjoyed the evening thoroughly, tasted amazing flavours of the Gate culinary inventions, and even got a the Gate cookbook on my way out. As I am not the best cook myself, I am sure I will be coming back to the Gate very soon for another taste bud- blowing experience!!

JanMich

consistently delicious 13th January 2009

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I work nearby and if I want a good reliable place to take someone out to lunch this is where I go. The food seems to me to have got better and better in recent years, twice in the last few months I have been and everything on the menu was appealing, and my guests liked it as much as me. The dishes are sophisticated but not fussy, they taste delicious, the portions are generous but not overfilling, and the service is good. I would recommend to anyone, as even people I know who normally rather despise veggie food have enjoyed it.

hither

Great for Vegetarians and Carnivores alike 29th August 2008

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My husband used to be a vegetarian so we ate here a lot when courting, and have continued to do so even though he has slipped back into meat-eating.

The experience starts with lovely bread and flavoured oil, and continues with an ever-changing menu of delights. Accompanied by a range of wines (and I always think that you don't get a hangover with organic wine, so we always have plenty!)

In the autumn of each year they do a Mushroom Feast which has six or seven courses all containing mushrooms - even the dessert. It is a culinary masterpiece and a great experience.

We also have the Gate cookbook which has provided us with some interesting dinner party options.

Izabel_blue

Delicious but busy 21st April 2008

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I've been to the Gate about twice a year for the last 5 years with my veggie husband and the food is almost always great.

Unfortunately the rest of the world seems to know this too, and it tends to get very busy, especially at the weekends. As it's a small noisy room, I'd not recommend it for an intimate first date, unless you go on a Monday or a Tuesday night!

The food is very eclectic with influences from all over the globe, especially Asia and the Middle East. Omnivores will be so overwhelmed by the interesting choices that they'll barely notice the lack of meat on the menu. Expect to spend around £80/couple for three courses with wine.

Oh, and be sure to save room for pudding - especially the house crumble or (even better) the chocolate fondant if it's on the menu.

sue

Vegetarian for meat eaters 5th April 2008

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I ventured to Hammersmith one mild spring day to lunch with a friend. The venue was The Gate, an upmarket and well renowned vegetarian restaurant in an unlikely location next door to a council estate. I had eaten at The Gate several years earlier and was pleasantly surprised by the food back then, so willing to return and see if the standards had been retained.

I am not a big fan of the room, it is attractive enough, but the tables are too jammed in and the atmosphere is not good when it is quiet, as it was when I arrived. Thankfully, plenty of other lunchers arrived and perked things up a bit, though I was surprised when they seated people right next to us when there were plenty of other empty tables available.

To eat I had the Tortillas - wheat tortillas filled with sweet potato, sweet corn, goats cheese, coriander & chilli, served with guacamole, sour cream & a black bean & red pepper salsa. The dish was attractively presented (apart from the burnt edges of the tortilla) and all of the flavours worked well. For dessert I had some Ice cream which is made in house - coffee, maple and coconut lime - nice and refreshing, but nothing special.

Not being an experienced vegetarian restaurant visitor, I'm not sure how the menu compares to other veggie places, though there were plenty of interesting options which sounded good to this meat-lover.

Cedric

Veggie food at its best 29th November 2007

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For me veggie was an equivalent of healthy but also boring... Until I discovered The Gate. They are providing you with some outstanding dishes that make you enjoy your meal like rarely before. The funny thing: it is so good that I even forgot that it was a vegetarian restaurant. The location is a bit akward, as you seem to get into someone's house. The restaurant room turns out to be really noisy when full (well, it is always full), but it does not disturb you from your food. However forget it if you want a cosy, romantic place. You are there for the cuisine, not for the ambience.