Rock and Sole Plaice

Undeniably fresh fish, but that was the only positive. The chips were overcooked to the extent that they lost their fluffy texture inside. The tartare sauce was terrible, the worst I have ever had, it was more akin to garlic sauce.

Also, I ordered a large haddock whereas a friend ordered the regular/small portion. To our surprise, both portions were identical in size. I'd like to think this was due to variations in the size of individual fish and not the chef/waiter attempting to deceive us.
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James Bishop
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, January 30, 2010

From 2 visits from the USA, I was told this is one of the oldest fish n chips in London. The first visit since we visited twice we ate upstairs and across from 2 ladies from Italy since we shared the same table. I thought in the states I'd never do that, but since in another country, I thought oh why not, so we sat across from them. We ordered and got our fish n chips quickly. It was a bit crowded, but when in another country do as they do, and be part of the English ways. It was excellant and the two Italians were really nice and we chatted some. The second time was a year later....We had to go downstairs and eat down in the darker atmosphere of the eatery. Not as nice as upstairs, sorta like the baggage area of a ship I suppose, but really had a nice meal and again I enjoyed my second visit. I love the English people and their ways.
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Michael Lang
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 04, 2010

Apparently erratic as to quality, generally pretty good. DON'T eat downstairs. It smells like the drains have backed up. It was the same 2 years ago!!!! They should fix that.

Our waiter spent most of his time getting his meal at the store across the street, then preparing it in the R&S-P kitchen.
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Jim
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, October 23, 2009

We had a really great meal with our disabled friend and they couldn't have been any more helpful. Great staff and great food.
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jan - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 04, 2009

Just a bog standard chippy - so don't expect anything mega-tasty. The downstairs seating area both smells and looks like an aquarium. Not quite sure how they managed to achieve that. Maybe it was an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of the seaside? Very Heston-like.

Foodwise, their batter mix is too thick, so by the time it is crisp, the fish inside is overcooked by far. The fish itself had very little flavour. Chips are not bad - chunky and with good size variation, so you get a mix of crispy shards and chunky lumps. Mushy peas were nice.

Tartare sauce, as described below, was bordering on horrific, being both too liquid and tasting strongly of garlic.

All in all, a bit overpriced for the quality.
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MJN
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Great F&C - simple chairs but great food!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 20, 2009

This is a fish and chip shop. If you go expecting more im sure you will be disappointed. This is not to say that it is a bad one just thats all it is. Its not a restaurant but nor does it pretend to be. I went to this eatery on the recommendation of my good friend. i had the large Cod, 11 pounds eat in, and my father the Haddock, 10 pounds, both were tasty. However we felt the cod was better as the batter seemed fresher, it was a nice big piece of Cod. had i just ordered the Cod the Food would been given 8+ but the chips let the overall score down :( they seemed to have been re-fried which is a bit of a shame when it doesnt take that long to freshly fry up chips!

i would recommend going fairly early to eat, we ordered at about 6 on a tuesday, as the downstairs eating area isnt too pleasant and upstairs does get busy with take away orders. when it gets busy obviously the service deteriorates which i can imagine would be worse when sitting downstairs.
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Bradley
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, March 03, 2009

A birthday visit to London. Theatre tickets bought and a stroll towards Covent Garden brought my wife & I to the Rock and Sole Plaice. While looking through the windows, one of the chefs passed us & advised they opened at 11.30. This was fine for us so, after an excursion into Covent Garden, we returned. The ground-floor restaurant was full so we were shown downstairs. It was a bit chilly in the empty basement restaurant area and a shout from the kitchen advised that a table upstairs was available. The food was excellent, service cheerful & quick. Only downside was a power cut but this did not detract from the experience. Will definitely go again when we're in the area. Thank you for a very enjoyable lunch.
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Chris Penny
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 12, 2009

Due to my mixed experience in this hyped fish & chip establishment, I have decided to write my first ever review.

I'm an ex-pat living in Spain who decided to spend a long weekend in London to do some sightseeing and to include fish and chips as part of the real English experience. I had read some online reviews prior to visiting (including Time Out London) where the name of one chippie really stood out 'Rock and Sole Plaice'!!!

The fish & chip shop is located on a corner, it's fairly small and fairly cramped. I guess there must be about six to nine tables on the ground floor which looks a little cramped. Opposite the tables you will find the counter where customers can collect and take away. If the ground floor is full then you will have the option of eating in the basement, (yes basement!!) where the loos are also located. I don't know about you, but the idea of sending punters to the basement which means they have to squeeze pass the counter and steaming coffee machine, march through the restaurant kitchen, down a steep narrow flight of stairs to eat or to have a pee doesn't really sound risk-free or hygenic to my ears.

Well, after being sent to have lunch in the basement and settling down at a table, we had to wait a good 10 minutes to be attended by one the waiters. after placing an order of one cod and chips with mushy peas and one plaice and chips with drinks, we were later approached by another one of their waiters 20 minutes later asking to check whether we had ordered a cod mixed with plaice!!! We stayed calm and reassured the waiter that it must have been a misunderstanding with their waiter whose level of English was not a 100% . We were given two plaice instead of two cods and chips, and finally after settled dow to lunch.

The presentation looked tidy, although the batter was quite hard and thick. I had to eat some parts of the fish with my bare hands. As for the chips, one plate had good old honest chips on them which were easy to get tucked into, but on the other plate the chips seemed reheated and were too hard to bite. In favour, the chips didn't seem greasy or oily, but make sure they are freshly fried in front of you.

To conclude, make sure your order is clearly understood, try and get a seat upstairs rather than downstairs (claustrophobic and grimy), be careful if you don't leave a tip (after spending 22 pounds on fish & chips for two with two cokes) as you will definately not receive any postcards of the chippie and you'll run the risk ofthe cook/owner having a go at you along with some very very bad staff manners.
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Paul Gill
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The fish and chips in "The Rock and Sole Plaice" is the best i have ever had. I really recommend it! For me it is not only restaurant where the food is nice, for me it is place where i met wonderful people, who treated me like family, and what is more -this is place where i met my love...So always when i think this place, i feel like crying...I know what i am telling because i used to work there for 8 years (during summer time).The atmosphere is wonderful, the staff is so friendly like family. Even i am a lawyer in Poland, i always miss this job, because i learnt there how to work and how to enjoy what You are doing whatever You do. I had wonderful time with my Mum, who was also working there. Thank You Boss for everything! I will never forget You and Your place !Ismet Zijadiin- the owner- is doing His best to make fish and chips so wonderful and this restaurant is part of Him, He loves what He is doing and it the most important. Wioletta from Poland
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Wioletta
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 19, 2008