The Rosendale

We booked this place for our annual Christmas dinner because of the 3 course set menu deal for £21.
However when we arrived we were told that was excluding Sunday’s — although we’d double checked this with the manager on making the reservation. They said there wasn’t anything they could do about this — even though it was their fault — but after much bartering they offered us £25 for a 3 course from the normal menu. So we accepted this.
For starter I chose the chicken liver terrine… The toast was stone cold despite the chargrilled affect and the terrine was pretty much tasteless, the chutney was what saved this dish. My friends who had the tartlet complained it was not really warm enough and the calamari seemed to be the best dish of the lot. For mains we went for the traditional Turkey — which was a bit of a disappointment. The portion was very big, and the presentation was nice. However, as for taste it was all pretty mediocre. The cranberry sauce was acidic, and there was about 4 cranberries on my plate. The turkey wrapped in bacon and stuffing was just blah. There was no distinguishing taste between them. The roast potatoes saved the dish.
As for dessert — we were all pretty happy with our Apple Crumbles, Sorbets and Sticky Toffee puddings.
Now — as for service. It really could’ve been better — the waitress who first attended to us looked like she was having a bad day and treated us that way. We had to continually get their attention to clear our plates or get more water for the table — and one of the waiters was just a bit rude and impatient.
I don’t think we’ll be rushing back here any time soon. But I think the atmosphere was nice enough for a small group to enjoy a beer.

I would sum up today’s Sunday roast experience as ‘pleasantly surprised’. We have been meaning to try the roast here for months but I was always out off by the mixed reviews on various sites, but my partner convinced me we should at least try it. Service to begin was less than good — 5 staff standing around while we stood waiting to be shown to a table. However the girl who was looking after us was really lovely. Beat of all the roast beef was one of the best I’ve had locally in recent memory. Generous portions, lots of vegetables which weren’t over-​cooked, beef was delicious as was the gravy. Loved it! Would honestly go back for it again. And £14 each plus drinks. We did order Cauliflower Cheese on the side but didn’t really need it given generous serving.

On the spur of the moment my wife & I came here, and we weren’t disappointed. I wouldn’t classify this as a ‘pub’ pub but more as a gastropub. For lunch I had a roast beef lunch and glass of Shiraz while my wife had a fish & chips and glass of coke. The service was excellent and despite the pub being full, our food was with us within 20 mins. Both of us were very happy with the food and would happily recommend it.
The pub itself is very nice and looks to have recently been done up. It is also very child friendly with us being clearly in the minority, not having a baby or child with us!

Very average food and service for Sunday lunch, but even less appealing when overcrowded by families with unruly children (which seems to be the norm here). This pub should be avoided if you are seeking a relaxed, more peaceful setting.

Nice pub for food. Slightly uncomfortable for just sitting about though and wifi is hard to get in. Otherwise good local

This isn’t my local but I tend to pop in every now and then and don’t tend to be disappointed. It used to be really bad in here, the service would be awful, food wouldn’t arrive at the same time. All of that sort of stuff.
But now!
Things are really good. The food and service are great. Sunday lunch time tends to be very busy so definitely book ahead of schedule. The roast beef or lamb is very good!
All in all a good gastropub in Dulwich!

We’ve just moved to the area and the Rosendale is our new local. And on the whole, it’s a pretty good place to have as your local we sometimes go there for Sunday lunch, the service is pretty good, the food is good too although I do wish they wouldn’t smother the pasta in olive oil (‘drizzle’ is the word, guys, not ‘flood’).
But in fact the best thing about the Rosendale is that it’s just a really nice place to go for a drink, it’s very comfortable and spacious with a choice of big sofas or traditional tables and chairs. It tends not to get too crowded but it’s never empty. It’s clean too not like some other nearby pubs where the tables are sticky and it hasn’t been decorated since the year dot.
Happy with my new local!

i really like this place and just want to love it.
I feel as schizophrenic about this place as the varied service that has on occasion greeted me when visiting here.
Now don’t get me wrong, this place could easily be a five star venue. The ambience is lush, the food competent — if a lil pricey — and the location perfect. But it’s all about the service.
Sometimes i’ve had to wait a year and day to get served, other times I’m taken aback by the snappiness of the service staff.
And that’s the problem. My time is as precious as yours and for that reason, i want, expect and pay for consistency.
OK, so they have a great selection of wine at the bar, some nice beer (but no Guinness) and the food is competent, especially the cinnamon-​infused homemade apple crumble with ice cream or custard but it’s not enough.
I want every visit to have echoes of the first time my senses were assaulted by the venue’s promising sensations. Too often have I sat in here thinking, ‘It’s not as good as when i came when…‘
And that’s not good for business or morale, right?
A great place, worth a visit but simply letting itself down on minor (some would say major) details.
For that reason, it scores two stars.

really good restaurant in a typically deprived area for good food. Staff is great. ask for the home made smoked fish. superbe.