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The Orator, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The Orator

4.2 (528)
£26 to £40
Contemporary British
The Orator, Round Church Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB5 8AD

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
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
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary British, Fusion / Eclectic, Beer Garden
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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.
  • Neighborhood
    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, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 528 people are saying

The Orator reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.0Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.0Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Best Ambiance

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Innovative

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Good for special occasions

  • Cambridge

    Best Ambiance

  • Cambridge

    Good for business meals

  • Cambridge

    Innovative

  • Cambridge

    Hot spot

  • Cambridge

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Orator offers a delightful dining experience characterized by "fantastic food," "lovely attentive staff," and a "great vibe." With a central location, it features a range of delicious offerings, including a standout Sunday roast. Guests appreciate the inviting decor and helpful staff, making it a "hidden gem" in Cambridge.
528 Reviews
  1. monique

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    food was excellent and staff were so helpful, thank you for a great fathers day lunch

    Is this helpful?

  2. Rosalind

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Lovely place. It was quiet, so not much atmosphere. We were ignored on arrival and we had to ask for menus and water, but once engaged, the service was fine. We were in a hurry and service was prompt. Food quality was good, and it was presented nicely.
    The OratorResponded on June 9, 2025
    Thank you for your feedback Rosalind, we hope to see you soon for a 5 star service! All the best, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  3. Cindy

    London4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    No check back on food, no one asked if we wanted more drinks, we had to ask when they cleared food plates away. Food was a bit bland.. the bavette steak was a really weird texture- not like steak at all. A bit disappointing really. Probably better for cocktails and bar snacks
    The OratorResponded on May 28, 2025
    Hi Cindy, we are sorry to hear that your visit didn't meet our usual standards, I have passed the feedback onto our team members. We hope to see you again for an improved visit. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  4. Katie

    Greater Boston1 review

    3.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    some hits and misses. ambience was nice, service took a long time. some nice dishes but the creme brulee was inedible
    The OratorResponded on May 28, 2025
    Thank you for your feedback Katie, and we are very sorry that your experience wasn't a wholly positive one. This isn't the standard that we wish to achieve. We hope to welcome you back soon for a better visit. Best wishes The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  5. Steve

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Had lunch with friends at the Orator. The service was very good with no pressure to order. The food arrived in good time and was very good well prepared and presented. I would recommend the Orator for lunch.
    The OratorResponded on May 28, 2025
    We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit Steve, and hope to see you again soon! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  6. Maria VIP

    London26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very nice experience, the food is fantastic and very good value. The French white house wine was delicious. We both enjoyed the variety of the dips and flatbreads.
    The OratorResponded on May 28, 2025
    Thank you for the great feedback Maria, we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  7. steve

    London6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The Orator was extremely busy. We were served professionally within a reasonable time, though our starter never appeared. Apologies were given and accepted, and desserts / coffee were offered gratis
    The OratorResponded on May 28, 2025
    Thanks for the honest review Steve, and once again apologies for the mix up with your order. We hope to see you again soon for an improved visit! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  8. Astrid

    London3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As ever, it was a super dining experience at the Orator, even though we had booked very late to dine on B.H. Monday, nevertheless, Natalia and Emilia made us very welcome and were very knowledgeable about the food and wine. It's good to hear the Orator is promoting staff to attend courses and expand their knowledge, especially about wines. It was sad to see that the restaurant was nearly, was it was near the end of service, so perhaps this was the reason, although we didn't feel rushed in any way. We would urge visitors and diners to support this lovely local venue. Astrid and Jan.
    The OratorResponded on May 10, 2025
    Thank you for such a positive review Astrid, I have passed all your comments on to our tea. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Claire Hey, Restaurant Manager

    Is this helpful?

  9. Christina

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service and food was very good and we enjoyed ourselves while celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary.
    The OratorResponded on May 10, 2025
    Thank you for leaving such positive feedback, and we are delighted we helped to make your anniversary special. We hope to see you soon! The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  10. Charlotte

    Northampton/Northamptonshire5 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    So disappointed, great vibe but service was slow and the fod dreadful.
    The OratorResponded on May 10, 2025
    We are sorry to hear that your visit was not enjoyable Charlotte. This is way below the standard we strive for. We hope that you do return and allow us the opportunity to turn this around. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Orator is rated 4.2 stars by 528 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Cambridge/Cambridgeshire
  4. Cambridge
  5. Cambridge

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 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.
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary British, Fusion / Eclectic, Beer Garden
  • 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, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • 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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