Stockpot (Old Compton St)

My partner & I have been there 2 occasions recently - first time in 20 years. It hasn't changed. Has always been so cheap (starter around £2, main course around £5), they're never "delicious" or "great" but not bad at all for the price you pay.

Menu's quite fancy but the actual dishes all look like out of 1970's cookery book, come with "salad" - shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced cucumber & tomato.

Our waitress was a hard-working girl but the barman (we sat right opposite the bar) was chatting to another waitress the whole time we were there, forgot to serve our drinks. Again for the price we paid, we wouldn't complain.

I would recommend if you ever feel like stuffing your face meaninglessly (don't you ever sometimes...?)
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Ray
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 22, 2010

I always bring my lunch to work, but at times when I want to go out and chat up some lads, I'll have to splurge on lunch and I go here. I like it because it's not expensive and I leave with a full belly.

I wish I could just sit and have a glass of lemonade, and that I didn't have to pay for a meal, but i guess that's ok once in a while.
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Richard Rosenburg
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 1
Saturday, October 17, 2009

The food is very basic at best and the place just looks dated, tired and not very welcoming. Having said that, it won't break your wallet by any means, and the service was good.
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4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Saturday, May 30, 2009

We first visited the Stockpot in October and were so impressed we went back in November, we had not been to London for 25 years! Unfortunately, the last visit was not as good for service.

The waitress seemed to be on a mission to get people in, fed, and then out. She took my starter plate away while I was still eating and then within a few minutes we had our main course. My husband had dessert, served very quickly of course.

The worst bit was when she tried to take the plate with the money on while my hand was still putting the money down.

I believe her intention was to get as many tips as possible, not sure I would go there again, it seemed like a route march.
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Dorothy
5 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I usually pick up a cheap flight to London from Canada. I rarely stay in London, I usually arrive in the AM, the go to London for the day (Brit Museum, Tate etc), and then get on my way to Italy or France for my vacation by taking a later evening flight. But when I do go to London, I always go to The Stockpot for lunch. The Britons are correct when they say, "rip-off Britain". I refuse to spend a ton of cash on British cuisine! The Stockpot offers value - relatively speaking. I still think 8 lbs ($15 )for a plate of spaghetti is nuts, but in Britian you won't find better value then here at the Stockpot. Get the sponge cake with custard, it's bland - but what traditional British food isn't??? My budget in London is 25lbs, and I always can stay within it by going to the stockpot - i don't tip the server, they don't expect tips in the uk.
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Harvey Stein
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, October 31, 2008

Yes, I have to agree with Dave Mobley. My wife and I went with a friend to see Jersey Boys (great show) last Saturday. We were upset to see that our usual haunt, an Indian restaurant in Denmark St. had closed down (the first one ever?). We could not get into the Italian next door, so went into the Stockpot.

We were pleasantly surprised. The prices were very reasonable (we paid about six quid each for the two course special), the service excellent and the food good. The casseroles and liver and bacon eaten by other people looked mouth wateringly good. We would definitely go in there again. The efficient service and good value made a change from the usual shoddy service you get in London on a Saturday night.
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John Speller
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 23, 2008

My wife and I first discovered Stockpot about ten years ago on one of our ten visits to see the wonderful Les Miserables/

We had walked the length of Old Compton Street looking for a reasonably priced place to eat before the show. We had just about given up when we struck gold and now we would not dream of eating anywhere else.

The prices are extremely reasonable for the West End of London and the staff are so friendly and always ready to share a laugh and a joke.

When we walk into Stockpot now it is like coming home and since London can be a very lonely city it means so much to walk in and feel that one is among friends.

There is a joke that one of the staff has three wives and I always ask after them when I am able to visit.

Because we live in the Midlands we are not able to visit London as often as we would wish which makes our visits even more precious and each visit reminds us of the occasion when we last visited and which show we had come to see (Usually Les Mis).

I will be in London on 6th November 2008 with my daughter to see Piaf at the Vaudeville theatre and am looking forward very much to our visit to - guess where. for a nice inexpensive meal with a bottle of house white to wash it down.

So when you visit the wonderful city of London do yourselves an enormous favour and head for Stockpot in Old Compton Street.
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Dave Mobley
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 18, 2008

Love it! Cheap, nice staff and full of character.
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8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 04, 2008

The Yummymummy clan love this sort of sensible, no frills, knock-em-up type of cafe/restaurant, the like of which is dying out sadly. Their breakfast is real value. tea or coffee, bread and butter and toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and usually a few other extras - for approximately £3. Where on Earth (outside of some dive in Eastern Europe) can you get 'full up' for that sort of price. The average evening meal of 3 courses with tea or a glass of wine rarely exceeds £8. Wonderful!

And Stockpot have the loveliest, friendliest staff. Most of them have been there for years and know all their clientelle by name.

I have, as my readers all know, an encyclopaedic knowledge of cuisine, and when I say that Stockpot's level of cookery skills and taste are the equal of places such as the Ivy or Renforth's then I can be quoted as being correct. Would rather eat here than the Bluebird.
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Yummymummynumberone - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 12, 2008

Stockpot is a place where i alwas go with pleasure. I like the simplicity of the place, the familiarity and the unbeatable value...

the food is always fresh and good and abundant portions. the menu is varied and healthy...where else can you eat liver so well made???
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Lucia
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 12, 2008