One of the smaller places in London, Church Key gives off a classic "pub" vibe (dark woods, exposed brick, dim lighting). Really nice for an intimate dinner or drinks with friends. They also have a phenomenal patio during the summer that is worth checking out. Cocktail options are nice, their "Church Lady" martini in particular being nice if you prefer something sweeter. Draught options are... more

The atmosphere is nice and our waiter was really nice but the food here felt like a hit or miss. I got the duck and I thought that was pretty good but the burgers that two of the people in my party got was a hot mess. The cheese on the burger really threw them off and all they could say the whole time they were eating it was how everything tasted like poison. I would also like to note that... more

We came here on s recommendation from a work colleague and couldn't have been happier. Atmosphere is friendly - there is a pretty outdoor patio and garden.

We had the steamed mussels which were PEI and absolutely delicious in a tomato goat cheese broth. We also tried the fried bacon which of course was very tasty. It came with two dipping sauces - one ranch that was kind of runny and bland and... more

This was one of my last meals as a Londoner, and it was pretty darn great. My date and I shared the Ploughman's Platter to start, which is essentially a large cheese platter. On the platter were to hefty slices of cheddar, some slices of stilton, pate, sausage slices, pickled onions, onion compote, quail eggs, smoked salmon, roasted garlic, and some crusty baguette. All the components were... more

This place was great. Liked the outdoor patio and beer selection. Mussels were great. Will come back again for sure.

A quaint and cozy place right across from the Grand theatre. The patio is well covered to avoid the neighbouring noise and sights, making it feel very cozy.

We went on a Sunday just after brunch finished so we had to wait a little bit before the kitchen was ready for its dinner menu - not a big deal, and the host let us know right away so we could decide if we wanted to come inside still.

We... more

This place is a blessing to London city. Features local produce from around Ontario at a very good price. Their daily menus and menu card are great. The service is decent. They have a pretty good choice of wines too. Always had a good meal here. They are also very generous with their portion sizes.

Excellent food and always very friendly, the beer selection is always interesting.
Try the eggplant dish!!!

My father used to go here for coffee during his breaks and to relax with his co-workers. Went there while looking for a place to eat on the strip and decided to try this nostalgic location.

Wife had the portabelo mushroom and I had the burger on the waitress' recommendation. Also ordered the sweet potato tempura. Both entrees were large and amazing. The appetizer was spectacular. The prices... more

My husband and I decides amidst all the great yelp reviews to give this restaurant a try,and I am happy to say we were not disappointed!
We are both "restaurant people" having tackled almost every position in a restaurant, so when we indulge in eating out our expectations may be a bit high . Our daughters tell us we are very picky lol
We were greeted at the door by Bret the server/assistant... more

The Church Key Bistro-Pub is a great place to grab "upscale pub food", as another Yelp review mentioned. The interior is a little fancier than your typical pub, and this is directly reflected in both the food and the price point.

With this being said, the food is absolutely delicious and the service is great as well! I tried their fish and chips, which was fantastic. When I went, they also had... more

During my last trip to London, I popped into this spot for a dinner meeting. It's a smaller place set in and down a few steps from the street level along Richmond street. The ambiance is cozy and warm which definitely matches their menu, a feel good sorta joint.

Before even ordering the server came around and brought out an order of soft warm pretzel bread with a side of grainy mustard to... more

The number one thing I enjoy about The Church Key is the ambiance. It is such a cozy, warm spot with a friendly atmosphere. While it is considered a pub, it isnt kitschy in any way.

They have a lot of different types of beers here as well as a unique selection of cocktails. The menu has a lot of different types of meat on it like buffalo! I had the chicken with mushrooms and tarragon and it... more

The curry gravy on the fries and the lamb was disappointing. The fountain soda pop had a bad taste. The corn beef and cabbage was tasty. Enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding dessert.

Visited the Church Key on a Saturday night to celebrate a birthday. We had made a reservation the same day and they were a little rude on the phone because we were calling the same day to make it. To our surprise, the restaurant was completely empty when we arrived so I'm not sure why there was the need to be snotty about it on the phone.

We were served a warm pretzel bread with whole grain... more

Had the curried lamb which was deelish!
Ordered a glass of prosecco which was flat but the waiter immediately rectified that.
Great atmosphere here as well!

I had the lamb curry and the Church key beer. The food was excellent. The curry was the perfect level of spicyness and the lamb was very tender. The service was really good although it took a while to be acknowledged and get a table

Great place to get lunch with a friend.

Its decor is like an upscale pub, which perfectly reflects its food. I had an open faced steak sandwich with grilled onions and peppers smothered in a buttermilk mornay sauce. The meat was tender, the bread got soggy from the sauce while still remaining crunchy on the exterior (just the way it should be!), and the dish overall was very flavourful. I also... more

This is a great option if you want a place to relax and unwind after a long day. Good drinks, friendly service, and delicious food. I started with the ale and onion soup, and for my meal, had the chicken pot pie. The soup didn't really carry an ale flavor, but it was perfectly balanced and so delicious. So if you're unsure of the "ale" part of the soup, go for it! It's not overwhelming and just... more

Love this place for its decoration and great service. Friend recommended to us and I tried scallop salmon wrap and grilled steak. The scallop was cooked beautifully and I loved it! However, the steak was a tragedy. It's hard both on the coat and inside! And the sides a re too greasy(too much butter I'll say) besides that, it's a really good place to catch up with an old friend and have a little... more

I don't know what took me so long to go here, but it was worth it.

We were greeted immediately and got to choose where to sit (wasn't packed on a Sunday night).

There is a great variety of drinks on the menu, as well as unique dishes served involving wilder choices of meats (game).

Had a Guinness and they poured it perfectly. Girlfriend had a glass of McManis Sirah and enjoyed it. The menu... more

This is the best place I ate at during my one week stay in London.

Came here with 3 co-workers for dinner on a Thursday night, around 9pm. Decor is lovely, it looks exactly like a bistro, with a bar and some tables with high-rise chair seating, and a couple of steps down you have regular dining seat with maybe 4-5 tables. It's not big, but very cozy and they have TVs if you feel like watching... more

Excellent service and tremendously well put together menu. I have been four times, all a consistently great experience.

Wonderful restaurant. Very inviting. The food was amazing. Vegetarian menu is small but great. Nice to have the option. I had the portobello mushroom burger. Portobello mushroom stuffed with spinach, battered and deep fried on a ciabatta bun. So big I couldn't eat it all.
Start with the smoked mushroom dip is a must!!!
Very nice beer and wine selection as well.

Bland, Inconsistent. While There Are Many Interesting And Creative Combinations, Some Of Them Turn Out Bland Or Just Disastrous, One Of My Favourite Dishes Being Bangers And Mash Is Something I Have Wherever I See It, And Compared To Other Actual Pubs I've Been To (Even The Waltzing Weasel) - Not Too Great. Really Nice Decor And Ambience Though!

Good gastro-pub, staff was attentive and courteous, server knew his beers, 2 of us were satisfied after sharing 3 appetizers and a duck confit salad, overall great value.

This is a small bistro that is easy to miss but well worth the visit.

We had reservations and were seated right away. Turned out we were 45 minutes early but they handled this without issue.

We received prompt and attentive service. Questions and special requests handled without issue. Water refilled promptly as glasses emptied.

Three of the party ordered the Church Key Burger and all... more

After a random stroll around the area, my boyfriend and I decided to stop here for an early supper. The place was practically empty. I would like to go into an in-depth review about this establishment but there isn't anything too exciting to say about it. Our waitress was genuinely friendly which made the dinning experience slightly better than the norm.

Complimentary pretzel bread was given... more

A little Gem in London's downtown - go for a drink & stay for dinner. The owners are there and very friendly. Try the burger, but there is lots of choice on the menue.

EDIT - JUNE 2011: they've recently added a rotating tap devoted to Premier brands such as Hacker Pschorr and La Trappe. Bottles rotate occasionally but it's mostly LCBO stuff. While it's good to see the addition of another solid import tap, my rating remains unchanged.
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EDIT - AUGUST 2010: new arrivals include Meantime Chocolate, Negra Modelo, Chimay Red, Cameron's Auburn, and Barking... more

What a difference a year makes. Although, it's more 3.5 stars. Service is still a bit dismal and it's quite possible we had the same server. But she did automatically add extra crusty bread to the mushroom/parm dip, which is what really added the stars here. Oh my, soooo good. I ordered the chicken pot pie and liked the big pieces of chicken but the rest was lacking something. Curry fries were... more

A new bistro/gastropub located in London's Richmond Row. Nice modern decor with some antique church keys on the walls and other similar accents. Nice large patio sits along the side of the restaurant, and faces Richmond Row. 8 taps, of which half are Ontario micros, with plans to further this as the demand increases. Bottle list was quaint, but solid,and contained local micros and some nice... more

A nice little bar, maybe 60 people capacity, on a main street. This could be a cute micro beer bar, however from 8 taps, only 1 was Tankhouse. The others were the usual macros and imports that have made inroads by providing fake handpull, etc. So a long way to go. Lighting came in fine, many large windows. More of a wine bar to me.This place would not be listed in a major city anywhere. Some... more

Great location right beside the Grand Theatre. I had the beef stew which apparently is one of the best things on the menu. It was very flavourful with good texture to the beef & it came with a tasty dumpling on top. Not what I was expecting, but top marks for flavour! Good beer selection.

Cheers it's not, likely they won't remember your name or yell when you come through the door but they will give you the stink eye if you ask for a seat by the window. A friend and I ate here for lunch with her mother and I can say what first put me off was the dimness of the place even in the afternoon it was so dark in there. When her mother asked for a seat by a window the waitress abruptly... more