James Bissell-Thomas (Restaurant Connection) wrote on 10 July 2010

The Orrery, we believe has to be one of the most lavish locations for a vegetarian venue. Muralled walls and Ceilings based on a celestial globe made using characters from Lewis Carroll's two Alice books, with one of the finest planetariums in the United Kingdom, in fact the planetarium we believe is surpassed only by 7 other far finer planetariums that we know of, and these are to be found also within the cafe! (cryptic puzzle). Beyond the cafe you will now has a superb museum! This museum pays homage to Donald McGill, King of the Seaside Postcard, who made over 12,000 comic postcards, for more information please visit our other website: www.donaldmcgill.info Thank you all for voting for our cafe, best wishes from all at the Orrery. (2.5 hours from London Waterloo, get a train ticket to Ryde Esplanade and it will include the fast ferry!) We are just 5 minutes walk from the station. Alternatively, drive to the Hovercraft terminal at Southsea, park in the car park opposite the terminus and we are 7 minutes walk up the hill. Both companies have discount tickets for day returns, look on their websites for printable vouchers.

R Lythgoe. (Wolverhampton) wrote on 13 August 2008

Well this was a dinner with a difference!.. As soon as the order was placed the efficiency of the staff and service was unsurpassed, it took minimal time for them to serve up my favourite veggie dish and as im from the West Midlands it was "Bostin Grub". I dont visit the I.O.W. often and i usually dont go to the trouble of writing a review but i felt i must as the food combined with the inspiring decor was brill and would definately pay a return visit year after year.... Well done The Orrery! you deserve it, cheers R.Lythgoe.

Kerry Ashmore (Sandown, Isle of Wight) wrote on 7 January 2007

This is the most unusual Veggie place I have ever visited. Although the cafe is not marketed as vegetarian, it most certainly is. The cafe is a Globe museum, beautifully decorated with a star lit ceiling map that can be viewed through the tables which have mirror surfaces. All designed around the Alice in Wonderland theme and even more amazing is the spiral staircase leading down to the toilets that makes you think you are trully going down the rabbit hole. Favourite dish Falfel and hummous in a warm pitta, scrumptous!! The cafe is non smoking and serves pots of herb tea. A must to any vegetarian visitor.