La Poule au Pot

Having once read that this was Michael Winner's favourite restaurant, and I an avid reader of his column in the ST I wanted to see what made restaurant could soften Winner's usual acerbic reviews.

We were welcomed with very cosy room, filled with small wooden tables and chairs, the room lit by candlelight and the open fire and met by a smiling group of French waiters.

We were escorted downstairs to a very small room where all the kitchen action was taking place and it felt we were in rural France in the 1950s.

What there lacked in space, the atmosphere made up for. The place was full of friendly noises and animated eating and drinking with the joyous tones of the waiters singing out the day's specials. Again I have motioned the space constraints - it has to be said the proximity to other diners is pretty friendly and I am surprised that Winner would approve!

The wine list could be intimidating (mostly French) but I managed to find a reasonable Crozes Hermitage. On to the food, for starters I chose the ratatouille (Chaude)which was a comforting steaming bowl of all the usual suspects that you imagine to make an appearance. One quibble was the odd woody strand of rosemary that contrasted with the softness vegetables. The others had ordered the pan-fried foie gras, a very generous portion and world’s apart from those creamy parfait concoctions, the real thing. Onion soup was of course there and a cheese and onion quiche that reminded me of a ripened camembert oozing on a plate.

To follow, the couple we were with were die hard fans of the beef bourguignon. With this choice it meant they were allowed to indulge and the chips which they vouched were the best in the capital and served the very important role of mopping up the deliciously rich hearty sauce. I can vouch now for this also!

I opted for the halibut steak which, perfectly cooked and at least an inch and a half thick - the accompanying bowl of hollandaise looked gloopy but the fish did not need it anyway. The remaining maincourse was the lamb, which was pink as requested and very succulent I was informed.

There was no room for dessert what with their generous portions. I would definitely come again as I feel there was so much more I wanted to try. The restaurant was perfect for a cosy evening among friends on a chilly night in January but also it would be ideal for a romantic meal.

The La Poule au Pot has been around for many years and others in the area could learn something from them. Not all of want to enter the themed gastro pubs that are popping up. Have you seen now there are checklists recently as to what makes the perfect gastro pub? I assure you if you are looking for real genuine atmosphere and classic cooking head to La Poule au Pot.
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Annabelle
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, February 01, 2007

Well, i visited La Poule Au Pot last night and the service and the food were of a really high standard. The food arrived within a good time and was gorgeous! The Coq au Vin as a main course came with a delicious sauce. The waiters were pleasent and were able to explain the dish's in detail. I highly recommend this restaurant and i shall certainly be going back there soon.
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Robert Hollingworth
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 29, 2007

I have just visited the Poule au Pot on Saturday for the second time and it was fabulous. The atmosphere is quite dark and yes the tables are close together but the ambience is fantastic! We had three courses and a bottle of wine, our waiters were lovely, really good fun they joked when they felt that they could and were generally very efficient. The meal took us 2 hours which i don't think is rushed and the food was superb - the pigeon and foie gras are both splendid and the choc mousse is to die for. This is not your typical white tablecloth starched establishment but if you are looking for a romantic candlelit dinner it is ideal. As for the stale bread comments earlier ours was fresh and delicious like the rest of the meal. We will be back again and again as we are real foodies and think that this restaurant is a real gem!
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julia koenigsberger
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Ate here last week with two friends who are -or will have been - regulars, and, surprisingly to me, afficionados. We all had the crab salad to start with, and it tasted as if the crab had been run through the dishwasher - absolutely no taste of crab, although it ws well presented in its shell.. I followed with the roast wood pigeon, which was cooked medium rare as requested, but again, lacked any flavor. Two of us ended with the cheese platter, which was abundant but amateurishly presented with an excess of lettuce leaves. Our third had a tarte tatin which was competently done, but was nothing out of the ordinary.

In summary, this is a restaurant that is cute and charming for its cozy and romantic atmsophere, but which is resting on its quarter-century laurels. At 60 pounds per person, one can do rather better elsewhere for both atmosphere as well as cuisine.
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A. Hargreaves
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Very surprised to see Sarah's review stating that she was disappointed by LPAP - it is also a pity that this is the first review that springs up when searching for this restaurant. In my opinion this is one of the best restaurants south of the river - food excellent, service cordial at worst, atmosphere cannot be faulted... we use this place all the time to entertain clients/friends. That anyone could give this place an average score is truly bizarre.
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Richard - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

My boyfriend and I visited La Poule au Pot just before Christmas. From the outside the restaurant was so dark it looked shut but on entering we were greeted by the cosiest, most festive room you could imagine (especially welcome on an incredibly cold day).

We were greeted warmly by staff and shown to a lovely window seat. Yes, we were very close to our neighbours, but this was not a problem and by the time we left we had even enjoyed some pleasant conversation with them.

Thankfully my basic French skills enabled us to decipher most of the menu and we started with two glasses of champagne, foie gras for me (£3 supplement) and smoked salmon rolled with crab for my boyfriend. Both were delicious.

For mains, I had a very good boeuf bourguignon. My boyfriend had entrecote which he had requested medium rare but which came very well done. This was a big disappointment for him. The accompanying chips, however, were excellent.

We both finished up with creme brulee which was good but not as good as Bruce Poole's!

To summarise, the food was generally very good although the steak was inexcusable. Wine was of a high standard. The level of attention from the wait staff varied enormously throughout the meal but was generally OK. I would recommend this restaurant for a long, romantic meal.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 05, 2007

I went with my boyfriend last week to la poule au pot, and was very disapointed. Having stood in the doorway for ten minutes before even being addressed by the staff it didn't get off to a good start. The atmosphere is certainly romantic but tables almost touch each other and are cramped. My steak was sent back because 'medium-well' came back chargrilled and bearnaise sauce was cold and congealed. good . When i called the next day as my boyfriend had left his jumper, they put me on the phone to the chef who arrogantly said he remebered me because i didn not like his 'delicious' sauce. Delusions of grandeur i'm afraid.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Monday, November 27, 2006

I took my partner here for our second anniversary dinner last night and was not disappointed. The food was deliciously rich and attractively presented. The wine list was extensive and had options at all price levels. Service was friendly but distinctly French. At £100 including service for two courses and a bottle of wine we thought it pretty good value for a "special occasion" venue and will return.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

This was the most wonderful experience I have had eating out in London for a long, long time. I could not fault the place, the atmosphere was romantic as I expected having read previous reviews but everything else about the restaurant far outshone my expectations. the waiting staff rather than being surely were charm itself and could not have been more friendly or helpful.

But the biggest surprise of all was the food! I have never experienced anything that tasted as good as the duck served with foi gras - it was absolutely beautiful. The whole meal was equisite. What better review can I give than to say the memory of my dinner at this lovely atmospheric french restaurant is making me want to return again and we only ate there four days ago! I have already implored my partner to book a table for my birthday - which says it all.
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F .Lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 04, 2006

I am puzzled to read ambivalent reviews about La Poule au Pot. While nearly all reviewers agree that the food is very good and the atmosphere excellent, I have always found the service at worst adequate and normally very friendly and courteous.

We use the restaurant for entertaining visitors, working lunches and, occasionally, a celebratory treat. The food is so reliable and the staff helpful and hospitable ... the only problem is when it's too busy to get a table.
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Alasdair Coles
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, August 01, 2006