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The Orator, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The Orator

4.3 (537)
£26 to £40
Contemporary British
The Orator, Round Church Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB5 8AD

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • 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
    £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

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What 537 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

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Good for business meals

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Innovative

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

    Great for fine wines

  • Cambridge

    Best Ambiance

  • Cambridge

    Good for business meals

  • Cambridge

    Innovative

  • Cambridge

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Cambridge

    Hot spot

  • Cambridge

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Orator offers a "lovely venue" with a "great vibe" and "fantastic" food. Patrons appreciate the "very polite service" and "helpful staff." The garden is a "pleasant place" to dine, and the restaurant is "wheelchair accessible." It provides a "great value set menu" and "delicious" desserts, making it ideal for both casual and special occasions.
537 Reviews
  1. Anastasia

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire1 review

    2.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The waiting staff were polite and generally attentive and the atmosphere of the place was really nice. But the food was terrible! The pasta genuinely tasted like it was from a jar and I'm no food snob. Every other option was very expensive and the wine was massively over priced for the brand. It is such a treat to go for dinner so very disappointed - I went 2 years ago and it was really good but gone massively down hill. I won't be returning.
    The OratorResponded 4 days ago
    Its disappointing to hear that you were unhappy with the food Anastasia. I can reassure you that our Arrabiata sauce is freshly made in house. I will, of course, take your feedback on board and discuss with our head chef. It is good to hear that you found the service and atmosphere welcoming. All the best, Claire Hey Restaurant and Catering Manager

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jane

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had lunch on Saturday for a friend’s 40th. The service was fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble and they brought out a little cake with fresh fruit for the friend’s birthday. The decor/interior design is well done and the food was of a good quality, especially the desserts.
    The OratorResponded 4 days ago
    We are delighted to know that we helped make your special occasion ! We do hope to see you again soon! Best wishes The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jo

    London2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely venue, menu a bit limited but the desserts were delicious. Waiting staff were very friendly and helpful. Was a very hot day and with no A/C was a little uncomfortable
    The OratorResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback Jo, and we do hope to see you again soon Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  4. William

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Booked the Orator for a business lunch for three. Wasn't sure what people would want to eat or how long they wanted to stay. The Orator menu was absolutely ideal offering everything from a set lunch menu to a range of small and large dishes. In the end, after discussion, my guests elected to go for a full lunch and had a range of nicely produced dishes that seemed well balanced and tasty. I elected to go for a lighter salad option. Staff paced the service really well and went at our speed offering extra items, drinks etc exactly when needed. in the end our "quick business lunch " took nearly two hours because my guests really enjoyed themselves and didn't want to rush. Highly recommended, good ambience, quality service and really good food.
    The OratorResponded 6 days ago
    Hi William, We are delighted to hear that you and your guests enjoyed your visit to The Orator, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Best wishes, The Orator team

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  5. Joanne Allen

    Oxford/Oxfordshire11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on July 14, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was tasty but rather overpriced for what it was. My daughter ordered a burger and chips, priced at a hefty £19. She asked for no onions, but when it came we had to send it back as it came with onions in it, and peppers instead of the tomatoes listed on the menu (my daughter can’t eat peppers). The staff member did deal with it well though, and took it off the bill. I ordered the quinoa, goats cheese and sweet potato salad, which although tasty, was very small for the £14 price tag. The garden is a pleasant place to eat, but you’re only able to order a limited menu at the bar if you want to sit outside, and although there is a QR code on a board provided for ordering drinks, it has been placed right by the door into the bar, which is quite a long way from most of the outdoor seating. Overall I enjoyed the experience and the food and probably will go again and perhaps try the larger indoor menu next time.
    The OratorResponded on July 15, 2025
    Thank you for the feedback Joanne, and we do hope that you will try us again for a more improved visit. Besy wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  6. Beverley

    Cambridge/Cambridgeshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Unhurried lunch of drinks, mains and dessert. Everyone enjoyed their choices. Very polite service, and helpful advice with regard to allergies. Local produce including a good gin for everyday g&ts. The garden looked lovely but too hot for us the day we visited. Would definitely recommend for informal dining or a special occasion.
    The OratorResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you for the great review Beverley, we hope to see you again soon! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  7. John

    Norfolk/Suffolk2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent lunch, well prepared and served. Very good price
    The OratorResponded on June 23, 2025
    Thank you for the great review John, we hope to see you soon. Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  8. Astrid

    London4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    As ever, we enjoyed a lovely dining experience for Father's Day. We decided quite late, but everything was fine, especially the complimentary espresso martinis! Maybe a small comment on the food - the beef croquettes were very nice and moist, but would have benefited from an extra zing of horseradish.
    The OratorResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you for the 5 stars Astrid, we look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  9. monique

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    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
    The OratorResponded on June 23, 2025
    Many thanks for the great feedback Monique, we are delighted to have helped you celebrate a special day! Best wishes, The Orator team

    Is this helpful?

  10. Carol

    London6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 14, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The staff were attentive and helpful. The food was awful! I was also upset that on a beautiful day, those eating from the full menu (and spending more money) cannot eat outside!
    The OratorResponded on June 23, 2025
    I am sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your visit Carol. We run a reduced outdoor menu due to the capacity of our garden, and to enable our team to provide great service for our guests. It is simply not possible outside unfortunately. We do hope that you will try us again. Best wishes, Claire Hey, Restaurant and Catering manager

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Orator is rated 4.3 stars by 537 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 10 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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