La Poule au Pot

We have going to this restaurant since the 1980s but the last time we went, we were disappointed with the food and the service for the price we paid. Nevertheless, I decided to give this place another try for old time sake, by booking a table for our wedding anniversary but the person taking the booking was so unfriendly and rude as if he was doing a huge favour that I decided not to go ahead. I would agree with other reviewers that quality, taste and service have definitely gone down. I don’t understand why it has remained a popular restaurant. It is obviously riding on its earlier reputation.
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4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Clearly this one has plummeted downhill. I went last night. Pate was flavourless and too long in the fridge. Rabbit was dried out. Sauteed potatoes like something a school kitchen would produce. Pudding - flavour clearly contaminated by other items in the oven or fridge. Wine - average. Cost of meal over £150. Far superior options are out there. Also the tables are too close together.
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Penny
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, September 01, 2010

This is definitely one of the worst ‘French ‘restaurants I have been to in ages. The restaurant was surprisingly fully booked which makes me wonder if the clientele find it quaint to be served dinner on chipped plates with brown paper table covering or do not venture out of the area. The bill came to around £100 with no starter and half a bottle of wine. The presentation was sloppy and the crème brulee was overcooked. The only good thing was the bread shame it was served up with raw dried out carrots.
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sarah
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Friday, August 27, 2010

I thought it was shut it was so dark inside the restaurant, but we were seen promptly and spoken to in French. Our waiters were attentive and friendly, and the free crudites and bread were of a high standard. Unfortunately, that's not what I can say about the bought food. My moules were boring and overly fishy, however my friend enjoyed her salmon. The garlic rabbit was bland and over seasoned, and the "sauce" it came with was a pretentious dribble underneath a heaving carcass. The duck my friend had was well cooked, however she had ordered it with a lime sauce rather than with foie gras, and they decided simply to deliver the more expensive option, which she wasn't keen on. The creme brulee to finish had been crusted (and burnt) days ago and left in the fridge to become soggy. The coffee was of a high standard, however. The bill came to £116, including a bottle of wine.

All in all, I would say this is a restaurant for those with money to burn, or with no knowledge of how food should taste, and are going for the whimsical french atmosphere.
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Sarah
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 0
Thursday, August 19, 2010

La Poule au Pot is very in and out. I've been going there for years. Earlier in the year my wife and I had an excellent lunch for reasonable value but the following time we were ripped off on the number of glasses of wine we he'd had and the surly waiter refused to back down. The staff are, and always have been, shockingly rude and the service is usually terrible. Went again a week ago and was served a tasteless bit of scrawny chicked with some tastless watery potato concoction. The one constant of the place is the famous cheese and onion tart - I always have it and always love it.
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Jimmy
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, July 19, 2010

Definitely one of the worst restaurants I have visited recently.

Average food and slow service, and guess what I learned from one of the serving "waiters " - French restaurant with not even one french chef in the kitchen.

I will not be coming back for sure!!!
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Peter
2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, June 13, 2010

Well, French it certainly is, and the service was excellent, but I left feeling: "Meh."

Our fillet steaks were only okay (though I'd have to say that the fries that came with them were superb), and they also brought some pea-and-onion concoction for us to share that was something and nothing.

The creme brulee to follow was massive but ordinary and had obviously not been freshly-caramelised, but done some time before and allowed to stand, making it a battle to eat.

We had a glass of ordinary red each and a coffee, bringing down on ourselves a lunch bill of some £85. Not particularly good value in credit-crunch times, and we won't be rushing back.
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Stuart
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, February 22, 2010

My second dinner here; first upstairs, then downstairs. While I wouldn't enjoy the experience right next of the bottom stairs , there's no bad location. The food is perfect. The atmosphere is pure French country charm. The service is youthful.
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John Harrold
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

What a place! I love it! So many restaurants should take a leaf out of this restaurant’s book. The food is just perfect, no nonsense French brassiere food. Chicken liver parfait, quiche, moules and onion tart for starters. Beef bourguignon, cassolet, steak béarnaise for main course. Fantastic flavours, great cooking and just put on the plate, no fancy presentation just great tasting homely food. If that is not good enough, I can certainly recommend the magnum of house red which is perfectly reasonable quaffing juice. Don’t worry if you can’t finish the entire bottle as they drop a wine dipstick in to see how many glasses you have drunk.

The décor is something that has to be seen to be believed as it is the only restaurant in London that can get away with having net curtains. Even a trip to the gents is like walking through the mind of Laurence Llewellyn Bowen.

The staff are fantastic even down to their unbuttoned, medallion wearing gallic swagger. I recommend this restaurant to everyone, pretty pricey but worth every penny and a great night out.

Staff – Great / Ambiance –Excellent / Décor – Incredible /Food – fantastic and homely / Value – Pretty pricey but well worth it.
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Huwy - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 13, 2009

An incredibly romantic atmosphere, with a genuinely French feel to it, right down to the impatient waiters!

The food is delicious and has none of the pretentions that a lot of "French" restaurants have.

Very reasonably priced, especially considering the surroundings.

Lovely to sit outside for lunch or dinner in summer, and really warm feeling inside in winter, but a great atmosphere at any time.

We keep going back for more!
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Ed
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 10, 2009