La Poule au Pot

My wife and I visited La Poule au Pot for lunch on a weekday and arrived at 12:30 which is when the restaurant opens.

Our experience can be broken down into the following:

Service

Absolutely terrible. Never experienced such poor basic customer care from any restaurant in most parts of the globe I have dined at. After waiting 45 minutes for a waiter to take our drinks order, was forced to place order with the kid who was offering us bread rolls! After 1 hour had to go to the waiter and ask them to take our order and he appeared to be upset when we asked them for set lunch menu. After 1 hour 45 mins had to go and ask the waiter again when our starters were to be arriving. When paying for the meal, I refused to pay the service charge and the waiter simply shrugged his shoulders and agreed to the deduction – what French passion!

Food

Good, wholesome French regional dishes. Very much akin to a regional French bistro, although the food is rather heavy so beware!

Ambience

The atmosphere is good as the place tends to be busy and all the staff are native French speakers.

Conclusion

Atmosphere great, food simple and unsophisticated (more French rustic then Parisian) and service in our experience terrible (I have experienced far better even in Paris!)
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Dil
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, October 08, 2007

We went there for dinner last week and just loved it! The decor is rustic, you really feel like you are in the nice french countryside. The food is excellent, we had foie gras for starter and lamb and duck breast for main, everything was really good and perfectly cooked. The staff (all french) are really friendly and the service is very efficient. The bill was quite high (180 for two, service incl) but we had aperitifs, digestif and a nice bottle of wine and foie gras was not the cheapest thing on the menu either so I can guess you can end up with a lower bill!

Can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu though!
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Caroline - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 22, 2007

You can't help but be totally charmed with this place, I for one, love it. Happy with its' lot and really not trying to hard to be anything other than a great French restaurant unlike many other places across the capital. Food fine, hearty and tasty, service typically French, slightly flippant but very endearing and funny, and the price reasonable. I always leave here feeling satisfied and charmed by its atmosphere. If you want a romantic evening without trying to show off this has to be a top recommendation. Love It!
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Jax - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, July 23, 2007

Love this place. La Poule originally came recommended by a friend. Last weekend was our 2nd time time there, and it did not disappoint. We went for the Saturday lunch set menu which is very reasonably priced for superb and hearty food. This is a cosy, informal, buzzy restaurant; the food was excellent on both occasions; when we've been there the staff have been attentive and amusing; the overall "vibe" is spot on. After three hours or so of food and wine, we left, feeling hugely satisfied. Top marks.
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Toby and Claire
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Returned to LPAP last night for the 5/6th time and was just as charmed as my first visit. The foie gras terrine was stunning and my veal a la creme was so naughty but so, so worth it. Service was charming and cocky at the same time, which in my eyes is a fab combination as you can always have a laugh with the sexy French boys. The decor has not changed and nor should it - incredibly rustic, cosy and romantic - just a shame I was having dinner with my father!!! ;)
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ems - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

I visited La Poule au Pot last weekend with a party of 10 to celebrate my girlfriend's 30th...and we we were not disapppointed.

It goes without saying that the French service was at times 'brusque', but the food and wine more than made up for it. An excess of fine wine means that details of each diners' choices has been erased from my mind, but my foie gras on brioche followed by bouillabaisse was the finest that I can remember.

I booked the table 6 weeks previously (although I was asked for credit card details at the time - an annoying but increasingly prevalent trend) and requested the table upstairs at the back for 10 - this request was granted which, I believe made the veneing all the better as I am told that downstairs can be a little 'dingy'.

3 courses each was £40 per head...although I'm not sure about the alcohol part as my father-in-law contributed that part!

I can recommend this venue wholheartedly.
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Vestan Pance - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 07, 2007

Love this place. Superb French country quisine, and even if the 'Frenchness' of the place is so overstated it feels like you've walked onto the set of 'Allo 'Allo, every meal here has been a delight. Have always found the staff to be genial and helpful, perhaps even too much so for that genuine French restaurant experience...
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NT - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I've eaten in this restaurant only 3 times this year. I'd go more only I'm lazy! I've booked again for tomorrow night because I reckon I have withdrawal symptoms from teh food and wine they serve. Last time I had the escargot to start and the Lapin ( rabbit ) for main. If I close my eyes I can remember the taste of my main course.. Simply delicious. In my opinion this restaurant is better than Racine or Chez Bruce. It's better than any Ramsay restaurant. It just about tops Richard Corrigans fine establishments in the city. Eat here every chance you get and give your taste buds a party.
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JJ
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 10, 2007

The service was just superb. We were a party of 14 celebrating a milestone birthday. The waiter did all he could to ensure we had a memorable time. The food was amongsr the bast I have had in a London restauranr and at under £18 for three coursesfantastic value
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 26, 2007

I love Maggie Jones - the sister restaurant - but having been to Poule au Pot last night I am suprised how bad it was. Service took ages! fizzy drinks were flat! everything like sauces, milk, bread had to be chased up at least a few times!

cold coffee! fatty steak! cold chips! It was just exhausting to continue having to chase up orders and actually twice we had to get up to GO AND GET a waiter, who then seemed rather annoyed! It was just sloppy and it was expensive and I would not reccomend it!!
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tamsin
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 07, 2007