The Stockpot

I don't understand how people can write bad reviews on here about the Stockpot, as I have been eating here for over 3 years now, travelling nearly 9 miles across London and back in an evening just to eat here, when I have a huge choice of cafes and restaurants to choose from between North London and Chelsea. The manager is not annoying at all, he is friendly and makes sure you are well looked after, now and again saying something in Italian or singing a line of a song to himself, never to any patrons. I had a meal with my mum here and finished with 2 mugs of tea after our desserts, it was very busy in there on a Friday night and yet no one pressured us to hurry up or leave, we could've drank that tea for a good hour if we wanted to.

The waitresses are pleasant even when the place is packed and they are super busy serving the food in good time. Other diners are happy to start a conversation with the manager or seem genuinely surprised by his friendliness when he leads them to a table - it's nice to see a manager of a restaurant this pleasant, especially living in London, you don't see many happy positive people - just take a ride on London Underground.

The food is what you would expect 'British food' to be... roasts, pies, puddings, fish and chips, etc... although the fajitas and pasta are very good too. Nice selection of dishes for vegetarians too - about 6-7 daily specials (always including 1 veggie special) on the boards which are always changing and remain interesting.

The price is just as good as the food - get this... 2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, 2 teas, 1 glass of house wine and 1 can of coke and the optional service charge totalling just under £30 - in Chelsea? In London even?!

There is no 'upstairs' at this Stockpot restaurant, so I don't know what an earlier reviewer was talking about.

This is more of a cafe/diner style restaurant - don't expect anything super-stylish, trendy or posh here - it is what it is and that's why people love it here.
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Stephanie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 15, 2008

I go to Stockpot in the Kings Road with one of my friends who is a but fussy about her food but she loves Stockpot!!! I also visit their branch in Panton Street Nr Trafalgar Square and the food and service etc is just as good. I highly recommend Stockpot.
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Diane Donovan
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Went to the stock pot a few last month it was really poor i will not be returning :O
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Ano
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Friday, February 22, 2008

i cannot believe some of the reviews written ...especially the one where the gentlemen would not pay a service charge because he intended to come back again. Short arms and deep pockets my friend.

People who wait tables and provide a service to the public should be given a tip without exception unless of course the service is bad as they rely on us to top up the low wages they are normally paid. 10% at the prices here is good value...each time you visit ........

The food here in this restaurant is very well priced and good with a excellent choice of dishes for everyone. Please remember you are in one of the most expensive areas of London...... some dishes served here are cheaper that a Big mac meal !!! no brainer ...home cooked or mass produced.

These places are busy for good reason..they provide good well cooked meals
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Jonathan H
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 11, 2008

Myself and my partner Ian have been enjoying The Stock Pot restaurant regularly since1975. Everytime we visit London from where we live in Northamptonshire we always make a point of dining at The Stock Pot. It has a great atmosphere, the staff are always very efficient and polite even though they have changed several times since we first started going there. Even when it's very busy, you don't have to wait too long to get a table.

Best of all is the high quality and variety of the food, it's always served very quickly and hot and is extreemly well priced.

It takes some beating and has been highly recommended to many of our friends over the years who have visited London and all come back with praise.

Keep it up Stock Pot

Regards

Dave
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David J Lewis
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 29, 2007

Been to the Stockpot many times, and always glad to go back!

Good food, service and value for money.

Staff always pleasant and helpful.
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Luke
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 14, 2007

I have been to the restaurant a couple of times. We went again last night and had a three course meal bottle of wine and coffees all for a total of £30 including tip. The food was lovely; we both had pasta for the main course which was freshly cooked, smelt delicious and came in large portions. We waited no more then 10minutes from entering to having our first course served.

The place was quite busy with some people just popping in for a quick snack and other like us staying a couple of hours

I would class the place as a cafe/restaurant and perhaps the service is not quite so good as top class restaurants in the area but the staff were pleasant including the manager, and with the prices so cheap and the style of place to be honest you don't expect 5* service.
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Elizabeth
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 03, 2007

The convenience in both price and location of this restaurant is unfortunately destroyed by the irrational rudeness of the owner. I and a friend had been dropping in about 4 times a week for several months, during which time we sometimes ate a meal, sometimes just a pudding and occasionally just tea. Due to our schedules we usually went in close to closing time, the fact that they served until 11:30 being one of the main reasons for our visits. Last night, we arrived at 11:15, were deliberately ignored by waitstaff for 10 minutes and then told brusquely and with outrageous rudeness by the owner that they were closed and that we could go somewhere else never to return. We politely questioned him as to what we had done to upset him and he insulted us further, the jist being that we arrived too late and didn't spend enough money. The fact that we were locals and regulars who have brought many other people there and knew several other patrons eating there at the time, did not seem to matter. He was unbelievably rude. My friend and I have always tipped over the service charge, have never complained about the truly awful food, and have never had any indication that our late arrival was a problem. In my view, if a restaurant kitchen closes at 11:30, that means you can place your last order AT 11:29! I've worked in restaurants and this is standard. I later found out that this man had done something similiar to an elderly neighbour who had been going there for 20 years! Because she didn't spend a lot and sat at a table for a while, he basically threw her out one day saying she spent too long at not enough money. This man has no manners and obviously doesn't care about neighborhood goodwill, customer loyalty, or local business. In any case, and as I told him when we departed, never to return, the food does actually suck. If you're looking for someplace cheap on the King's Road, go a bit further down to the road
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Karmabandit - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 08, 2007

I have been a regular to various Stockpot's in London for years and have never been so humiliated in my life, until i visited Kings Road branch. I had been for a meal with a friend, we both agreed not to pay the 'optional' service charge. Our reasons was because we both work for the same company and would be making very regular visits to this restaurant. Anyways, we explained our reasons to the manager, who understood. Fine, we went back twice since then, with no problems, still not paying the extra charge. The third time we went back, was rudely told by the waitress that because we refuse to pay the extra charge, we can go and eat somewhere else! We were shocked and humiliated by this, we even pointed out the word 'optional' on the menu and she didn't want to know! I will never go back to this particular branch, ever!
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Martin Carrigan
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 23, 2006

The stockpot is a lovely place with a warm, cheery atmosphere. i regularly go there; the food is cheap and delicious! The location is perfect and in the middle of chelsea...wonderful!
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Rhianna
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 11, 2006