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The Orator, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The Orator

4.1
4.1
491 Reviews
£25 and under
Contemporary British

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 p.m.
Booked 12 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
Nothing delights quite like The Orator, serving up contemporary British food, cocktails, beer and wine. Set in a stunning Victorian gothic venue with high ceilings bathed in swathes of natural light.

We can offer private dining for up to 20 in our private Dining Room used to host guests of the Cambridge Union Society, recently including Dua Lipa and Robert de Niro. For larger groups, we have a number of different rooms throughout the venue to cater for any occasion.
Speak to our events team at enquiries@theoratorcambridge.co.uk for more information on all private hire options.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary British, British, Café
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 9:00 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 9:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01223 417142
  • Payment Options
    Cash not accepted
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    We have a number of small and large event spaces available to hire. Contact us at enquiries@theoratorcambridge.co.uk for more information.
  • Neighbourhood
    Cambridge
  • Cross Street
    Hidden behind the Round Church, between Bridge Street and Park Street.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 491 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1
4.1 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Good for business meals

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Innovative

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Hot spot

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Lively

  • Cambridge

    Great for brunch

  • Cambridge

    Good for business meals

  • Cambridge

    Child-friendly

  • Cambridge

    Innovative

  • Cambridge

    Hot spot

  • Cambridge

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Cambridge

    Great for fine wines

  • Cambridge

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Cambridge

    Romantic

  • Cambridge

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Orator offers a delightful dining experience with airy, light-filled spaces and a charming garden perfect for music nights. Guests praise the "great food" and "perfect service," though some note occasional service delays. Ideal for relaxed gatherings, the venue's decor and ambiance shine, making it a "favorite" spot in Cambridge.

491 Reviews
  1. Clement

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was totally incredible.... really. Was so surprised to get this level of food for the price and location. Do not be deceived the menu is simple, but totally delivers. Cannot recommend enough - brilliant restaurant !
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for the 5 star review! We hope to see you again soon! Best wishes, The Orator team

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  2. Madeleine

    Cambridge

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and cocktails were delicious, but what made this evening so special were the staff (our waitress was particularly fabulous, so wish I'd got her name) and the overall atmosphere. Gorgeous seating, lovely furniture, a variety of areas to eat, drink and socialise. The history of the building and pictures on the wall were a great talking point. The ability to play the piano, just made it! We will be back. Thanks so much :-)
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! We are so happy to read that you enjoyed your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best wishes, The Orator team

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  3. Beverley

    Cambridge

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great bar and restaurant located in the centre of Cambridge. Food was delicious and the service was great! Will definitely be coming back again!
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    We are glad to hear you enjoyed your visit Beverley, and we look forward to seeing you again soon, Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  4. Emma

    VIP

    London

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    wonderful - and the staff were just about the most motivated and welcoming of anywhere i’ve ever been. a credit to the restaurant
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for the review Emma, I shall make sure to pass your comments on to my team! We hope to see you soon, Best wishes, Claire- Restaurant and Catering manager

    Is this helpful?

  5. Laurence

    Cambridge

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere and delicious food. Excellent service. Highly recommended.
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for the 5 star review Laurence, we look forward to welcoming you back soon Best wishes, The Orator Team

    Is this helpful?

  6. Nicole

    VIP

    London

    26 reviews

    2.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Visited the Orator after a really good experience last year but alas we were all disappointed. The Turkey meal was much better the previous year, the whole table was forced to have the set menu when the previous visit only one of us had the festive meal. The waitress did not explain that actually the two course option wasn't available on a Friday night so we were all made to desserts too. The Turkey was the only part of the meal we enjoyed, the Coley option looked poor and apparently was not nice. We were seated right in front of the kitchen, whilst we were there three separate incidents of dropping large pans and glassware happened not making it a pleasant experience. It's a real shame as a lovely building and we all loved 2023 so unfortunately won't be returning next year.
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Nicole, I am sorry that you did not enjoy your visit to The Orator. The festive menu did state it was 3 courses, but this should have been confirmed by your waitress too. We hope that you will visit us again for a more enyoyable experience. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  7. helen

    Cambridge

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 12, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Our little team gathering was lovely, food was fantastic and the place is always exquisite but although staff are attentive and helpful when they come to the table it is quite hard to get their attention and obviously paying the bill and leaving is always a challenge - especially when you are tired at the end of the night. Otherwise a lovely place to eat and celebrate Christmas.
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for the feedback Helen, we hope to see you again soon for a 5 star service. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  8. Steve

    VIP

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good. Service was slow, especially when it came to getting the bill.
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Steve, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we hope to see you again soon for an improved service. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  9. Poppy

    London

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The cocktails were very nice, and the staff were all very kind and helpful. Although, there was a lot of confusion when we ordered as some of our table requested starters for mains and the waiter had to return 3 times to clarify what was what and the food still came out incorrectly. The food was ok, a lot of what was on the menu wasn’t actually what came out to the table. An example being the menu stated focaccia bread and we got sour dough instead, the menu stated goats cheese and Gazpacho (a cold tomato soup) and we got sliced tomato’s with blue cheese. There were also some random combinations like the gnocchi which came drowning in a lemon curd soup… The mains were nice, I had a burger which was a standard yummy beef burger. Can’t really go wrong. I will add, the food took 2 hours to get to the table. The place had a nice atmosphere, with a guitar player throughout the evening keeping us entertained while we waited. We did feel a bit peed off when the bill came with the service charge added as we had so many issues throughout the night, but decided to pay it as the staff were doing their best and it seemed to be more of a kitchen error than an error of their own. Overall, I wouldn’t come back and I wouldn’t recommend others to go. With a few tweaks to the menu I think the place has potential.

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  10. Iris

    Cambridge

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very tasteful food, fresh ingredients, perfect service, beautiful setting. Can highly recommend.
    The OratorResponded 2 days ago
    Many thanks Iris for the review, we look forward to seeing you again soon! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Orator is rated 4.1 stars by 491 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 p.m.
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for The Orator

The Orator, Round Church Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB5 8AD

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Hidden behind the Round Church, between Bridge Street and Park Street.
  • Neighbourhood
    Cambridge
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 9:00 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 9:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary British, British, Café
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    Cash not accepted
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    01223 417142
  • Private party facilities
    We have a number of small and large event spaces available to hire. Contact us at enquiries@theoratorcambridge.co.uk for more information.
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