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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Category: Fish & Chips [Edit]
47 Endell StCovent Garden (Piccadilly)
Holborn (Central, Piccadilly)
Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly)
Mon-Fri 11:30 - 23:30
Sat 12:00 - 22:00
Sun 12:30 - 23:00
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Based on our guide book, this is the oldest, or one of the oldest, Fish and Chips places in London. Fish and chips shops played a big role for the Brits in the 2nd World War as they held neighborhood meetings to see which areas in their community needed food the most. And...oh forget the history lesson and let's move on to the food!
It's tucked in Covent Garden and it is worth every damn step of the way. Tables inside, outside were all full. Heck, if tables could be hammered on the wall, I would take one to eat here again. You can get two type of portions and the hammock that I ordered only came in large that night. The chips were potato-y and the fish was just fried to perfection. Nothing fancy, just fish and chips. A tin of ketchup and tartar sauce. A bottle of malt vinegar and have at it.
There were 2 Japanese tourist in front of us as we waited and the hostess asked them to follow her in. When she walked in and didn't see them, she looked at us and said, "Too slow, come with me." You snooze, you lose. I don't know if they waited, but they lost their table, just like that *snap*. So be patient and wait for your table, but more importantly, be alert. Don't lose out on your table because you were too busy taking pictures or looking at other people eat.
£30 for 2 with 2 sodas, and 2 fish and chips orders.
Fairly good cod and chips place with a nice outdoor patio facing a pretty albeit busy street in Covenant Garden. The shop itself is tiny, greasy and poorly ventilated. Very much a take away or eat outside kind of place. Several different kinds of fish to be battered and fried - I liked the firmer texture of skate.
Service is intolerably slow, with the employees having to run down to the basement to fetch even the most common items. It would have worked better to just have a counter or window where customers could order, pay, get their food and go sit down.
I was disappointed that the beer selection was so limited - no English brews, only Efes Pilsen. Hmm Turkish beer + fish and chips? Nooooo... the Efes is far too light. The oily crunch needs an ale.
So yeah, went here with a craving for some decent fish and chips, and while it didn't suck, it didn't exactly delight. And make no mistake, this is a FISH AND CHIPS PLACE ONLY. Small menu with really only options around the type of fish. Not much variety in drinks or sides even.
It's a tiny place with not much seating so that is also a negative. Honestly I don't need a huge place, but if you have a small place, at least have a staff that is competent enough to turn tables quickly. While waiting for a seat, we had to watch one table ask 3 times for the bill, and then once they had it, had to wait 10 minutes for them to take the money.
More specifically on the food, it was HUGE portions, even the regular size was big. The issue I had really was around consistency:
1.) While we all ordered the same fish, some was colder than other, and less crispy.
2.) The Chips were not that great. Mine were cold while my fish was hot. But my wifes were hot with her fish colder.
3.) Malt Vinegar was weak.
4.) Tartar sauce more a dill based taste more than anything.
That being said, it's not a bad for a stomach filler after a long day of pints. We went after the Community Shield match and it hit the spot for quantity for price, but just not the best experience that a lot of other reviewers were selling me on.
After my trip down the Thames to Richmond I came back to London by train and worked up quite the appetite at the Seven Dials Club drinking a few pints with friends. I confessed to my friend Steve that I have yet to have a great fish and chips meal in London. Steve suggested that we have a nice meal of Fish and Chips at the Rock and Sole Plaice located in Covent Garden which is within walking distance of the Seven Dials; what a great suggestion!
Rock and Sole Plaice is a small restaurant offering indoor seating as well as sidewalk seating. The sidewalk seating which is where we ate has tables of 6 so if you are a small party be prepared to have others seated at your table but no worries, I noticed that when strangers were seated together they enjoyed each others conversation and who knows, sharing your meal with a stranger or two could enhance your meal!?
We started with an appetizer or "starter" as they say of Hummus and warm pita bread. The Hummus was nice and creamy with a generous pour of olive oil, the pita was very soft and fresh and was the perfect bread to accompany the hummus. My entree was a large serving of Cod that was battered and deep fried and served with home cut fries or "Chips" as they say over here. I have to say that the fish was very fresh and the batter was crunchy and I loved every bit of the meal. The chips were nice and thick, cooked perfectly and with a couple sprinkles of malted vinegar tasted great. We finished the meal with a bottle of house white wine which I think was a nice Pinot Grigio
I'd definitely return to the Rock and Sole Plaice.
Good fish and chips. Seating is interesting... we kept thinking a wayward cabbie would take us out. They have a good selection of types of fish to use in your fish and chips. Peas are quite good. Nice beers.
Listed in: UK Places
Hmm, haven't had fish n chips for...years! But why did I drag my wifey to eat here? Hey, we're in London!
Instead of take-away, we sat down next to other tourists with the same idea. I must say, the cod was awesome! So much better than the frozen stuff I remembered having in San Francisco.
Although I don't normally crave fish n chips, I'd come here again after a few pints.
A. I scewed up and ordered a meat pie...ugh
B. I did taste the 'skate' platter and it was fried fish heaven
C. Sharing the table with these dang american tourists was a hassle, but struggling over who gets the vinegar was entertaining
D. Wait staff was quick
E. Price was not over-the-top
F. Eating outside under a leaf-shedding tree was also a mess
I will hit again, I'm 50% sure of it.
Listed in: World Cup: US over England
Thank heavens for mushy peas!
Our party of 5 heard nothing, but rave reviews about this spot, which made us very eager to check it out. When we arrived the restaurant was extremely crowded! We thought that was a good sign.
We made our way in and told the staff behind the counter that there were 5 of us. She quickly directed us to come to her. She led us through the kitchen and down the stairs. To an overly cramped lower level.
The tables were pushed so tightly together we could not even access the three chairs against the wall. In order for each of us to have a seat we needed those chairs. We separated our table, two of us squeezed in and then pushed the table back together. We were left with our menus and began to determine our choice of fish. It wasn't a very large menu, so we were shocked when it took forever for anyone to check back with us or even take our drink order.
When the server appeared we felt we better get it all in at once. An order of calamari, one order of mushy peas, 5 Efes Pilsener, 3 Cod and 2 Halibut. Our food arrived and we dug right in.
Unfortunately, either our taste buds are off or we did not receive the same glorious fish and chips everyone else raves about. It was nothing special. The chips were soggy and cold, not a good combination.
We had finished picking at the tasteless meal and were ready to go. We hadn't seen our server since he delivered our meal. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity we decide to head upstairs and hunt our check down ourselves. People are pouring in and out. All 5 of us are standing there trying to pay our check. It was so ridiculous. Seriously? Do you want our money or not? Well, you got it this time, but I can assure you there won't be a next.
After trying fish and chips by the Victoria Station, I asked myself, there has to be a famous fish and chips joint around here... so I yelped it and I found Rock & Sole Plaice.
When we got there, the line was long and outside the door, so this was a good sign! Inside the restaurant, it was packed and all the tables taken, the line was for take out orders (take away)... but we got seated at their outdoor seating area.
I ordered the large cod fish and chips... they have like 8 different kids of fish... so I guess I'll have to try other types of fish with each visit :)
The fish was crisp, fried to perfection... the chips were excellent as well... with some vinegar and homemade tartar sauce... oh may... it was excellent. Fore sure I would go back!
The service was great, prompt and we were out of there within 45 minutes... drop by if you are able too.
By far this is the best fish & chips I've ever had. Simply amazing.
We yelped to find the best fish & chips restaurant in London, and we found this place.
Their food is just terrific. Far better than the average fish & chips you'll find in a neighborhood pub. I liked the fact that they offer various kinds of fish to choose from, cod, haddock, etc., which is fun if you are a group.
The only negative is that they only offer a couple of kinds of bottled beer. I wish they had a broader selection on tap to choose from.
I recently went to London on a trip and found out about this awesome little place in a guide book that was sent to me. First off, I LOVE FISH and CHIPS. I grew up loving and being in the land where they cannot do wrong in making it, I was like a boy in a candy store.
I love the fact that it's simple, rustic, and fresh. The fish is battered nicely in a cornmeal batter. It's crisp, and light, and isn't heavy at all. They have a variety of fish and that really appeals to everyone who loves the different textures and tastes of the sea.
We ordered the Large Cod as well as a Large Haddock. By far, the Cod was one of the best that I've ever had. Each portion came with a healthy mound of thick cut chips and served well to round out the meal.
My favorite thing is their tarter sauce, which was nice and light, and had a hint of dill with it. By far one of the most amazing experiences I have had in eating authentic Fish and Chips.
The decor of the place is nice and quant, and very comforting. It's seated on the corner and we sat near the window, soaking in the sights and life of the British people. Nothing better. Love it.
Sunday night in search of a place
Googled fish and chips, ready to stuff my face
Rock and Sole Place came highly recommended
So I grabbed 10 pounds, and there I'd spend it
Ordered cod and chips, served very fast
Still hot when I got to my flat, at last
Post-salt and vinegar I dug in
Grease dripping down my chinny chin chin
The cod was decent, though cooked perfectly, a little bland
and the batter overzealously applied by someone in the kitchen
Chips were thick, they were just okay
I'd go back, but would take Fish Bone over RASP any day
The counter staff was so pleasant, so I have to say
When my trusty old standby's closed, I would return straight away
Best fish & chips I've had in the world. So good I went there twice on holiday. I was recommended this place by a local Londoner, and boy did this place did not disappoint. The only bad part is that no matter where I get fish & chips nothing compares for me. I guess that gives me reason enough to go back to London.
This is one of the best fish and chip joints in London? I beg to argue. Literally I can only give it a passable rating... for the price (£10 for reg fish and chips) I was expecting something more as I've had some pretty amazing fish and chips for around that price (and in London albeit outside Central London).
I was under-impressed with the wait staff as well as the fish, asked me to take a seat once I got the front of line and said I'd eat in and then proceeded to take orders from the 10 people who were in line after me before coming to to my table to take my order (couldn't I have just ordered in line)? Dropped of my f&c when it was ready and dropped was really the appropriate word there and forgot my drink until halfway through my meal. I know this is a small mom and pop style place so I wasn't expecting great service, but I've had better at smaller f&c places so wasn't even up to par with them.
Fish was just okay: batter was far from anything special, fish didn't taste particularly moist or fresh and the chips were soggy. I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, clearly many of you love this place so maybe it was just an off day, but there are just too many f&c places to explore in this town for me to ever venture here again unless I hear of some massive change in what they currently offer.
I think it's suppose to be a very old fish&chips place (although doesn't look any older than it's 1980's decor) so I guess maybe that's the biggest appeal here?
Listed in: Fish & Chips
London has everything. Well, almost, minus a lot of familiar American labels. However, the benefits of going to a country which speaks English (I'll go into British-speak and its differences a little later), are that it's relatively easy to get around, even if you are a chronic directionally-challenged tourist, and the convenience of already being assimilated into a Westernized country. There are a billion cultural differences, and I will attempt to give a glimpse into what I see via words.
Today marks the three weeks that I have been here, but I believe that I have hit both the local and the touristy scenes. Because of my internship, I have "assimilated" into being a Brit, somewhat. My supervisor is from Liverpool, and most likely the funniest girl I have met in my life. She is so full of life (increased by her heavy accent), and ready to embark on the world. The other young interns have given me fantastic advice about where to find great nightlife, and mostly, a rounded perspective on Brit vs California life. Hence, many conversations over door-to-door campaigning (in other words, freezing our asses off and walking up and down three blocks), pizza, exploring food on Sheen Lane, and moving offices.
ANYWAY, to start off, FOOD. All sorts of restaurants and small eateries in the last few weeks, I can FEEL the dire need to hit the gym soon, before my Asian-girl metabolism cannot handle it anymore.
Apparently, tonight I went to one of the best fish and chips restaurants in London, Rock and Sole Pliace, located in Covent Gardens off of Endell Street. This hole in the wall restaurant did have delicious fish and chips (but I still think nothing could compare to Old Street Kebab). Lucky for MD and me, we shared a large cod and chips (11GBP), and they gave us two fairly large fish (yay!). It filled us up right quick, and I'm ALWAYS down for anything fried!
There was tartar sauce and ketchup in pots to your own liking on the table, with vinegar too, which was probably the most amazing thing ever because I absolutely love tartar sauce (as awful as it is for you!). The fish was crispy and succulent in exactly the right place, but not too greasy. Fries were chewy, and steak-cut. Not my most FAVORITE chips, and just lukewarm though.
The interior design of the restaurant was quirky-- upstairs was a typical take-out area with a few seating areas, but walking down, you sort of descend into an underwater aquarium.
Malt vinegar came in a box, LOVED that when I found it.
After hearing that Rock & Sole Plaice was one of the oldest and best fish & chips places in London, a group of us decided to head over to Covent Garden and lose our British fish & chips virginity together.
The place was pretty busy for a Sunday night, but we were lucky enough to be seated within 20 minutes, despite the place being absurdly cramped. My friend and I shared a cod with chips. It was pretty amazing -- the fish was huge and perfectly cooked, the batter wasn't overly greasy or tasteless, and I actually liked the chips, though not everyone in my group did. The tartar sauce and malt vinegar were amazing. They went perfectly with the fish. The fish and chips alone were £10, so it was a pretty pricey meal, but if you're not starving, definitely share with someone else -- the portions were huge.
I've been here once before but this is the first time that I'm able to leave a review so here goes!!!
I ordered the Large Cod Fish and Chips and it came within a couple of minutes. The fish itself was one large piece (as if they took one side of the fish, battered it and deep fried it...skin an all). Along side it was a healthy portion of fries.
This is bar far the best Fish N Chips I have ever had. The fish is lightly battered and produces an amazing crunch with every bite. The batter is lightly flavored so the cod is not overpowered. Obviously this is deep fried but its not greasy at all. As far as the chips are concerned, they are similar in size and shape to steak fries. They have a good crunch to them but also had a meaty and chewy interior. Oddly enough, when I ate the larger fries they reminded me of a plantain or sweet potato fries. The fries were good as well. A little different but definitely good.
Tourist Tips:
1. There is a sit down price (10 pounds for the small) and a take away price (7 pounds for the small).
2. If you see that the place is packed, don't be discouraged there is additional seating downstairs
3. The place does accept credit cards but requires a minimum charge of 5 pounds.
4. If you order a coke, they will bring a glass with no ice.
Listed in: London
On my parents last night in London my dad really wanted Fish and Chips and after reading timeout's and some yelp reviews we decided on Rock and Sole. Their outdoor area was just a few picnic tables set up on the street not very picturesque but it was a beautiful night so we waited for an outdoor table. The food was OK, nothing special, and they had a limited beer menu, 2 choices to be exact. Yet, the service was good and so was the location, only a few blocks away from Covent Garden.
This is one of the best fish and chips place I've been to in London but it comes with the price!
My boyfriend took me to this "so-called" best fish & chips place which I have my doubts just because I haven't been to a good chippy before. When I saw the price of it, my eyes popped out! I was so shocked but when I bit into it, I realised why it was priced at a higher price than the rest of the chippies... but this still doesn't mean they have the rights to because fish & chips is suppose to be a cheap & cherrful food :)
Love the outdoor seatings. Love the fact there's a good chippie in Central London. I had a great experience and would go back... if I really want to treat myself!
I am soooo disappointed. This place used to be one of the best chippies in London. They were voted in the top 10 in the UK and were very proud of that ..this was 5-6 years ago. The service used to be fab, they communicated if there was going to be a wait and the food was always awesome...
What Happened?
We visited here last night and after a truly crappy service didn't even end up eating. So what happened ?
We we were on our way to see the Editors in Brixton. We thought the perfect way to prepare ourselves for lots of Brixton lager was to fill our bellies with delicious fish or sausage and batter and chips ( I don't eat fish...). so we rocked up ..decided to eat in and waited ... and waited ..we were then served , one rock and chips and 2 sausage in batter and chips with extra beans ..mmmmmmmmmm yums! The place was in a certain degree of chaos which should have been a warning sign. so anyways .. we waited ...... and waited ... the queue of take away was been served immediately ...they were getting there food straight away and wandering off to enjoy .... we were left ... the take away purchasers kept coming and walking away with their hands full. By this time it was getting late .. we were close to missing the editors if we had to wait much longer. I politely asked the waitress ( not a smile in sight) how much longer it might be as we had already let them know when we sat down that we needed to be somewhere and were assured that it would be a quick service. She responded with 'its coming now' ..so we waited ...and waited a bit longer ....still the take aways being handed out .... other people in the cafe being served ..not us ... so I asked again ...only to hear her declare to the kitchen people that table 1 was complaining .. i wasn't even complaining .. just asking as she had told me it was coming now 10 minutes ago .... so a place of cod and chips was put in front of me ...hmmm i'm sorry ,i think this is not for us .. we ordered one rock and chips and 2 sausage and chips .. so the guy huffed and took it away ..coming back to let us know that the Rock was taking a bit longer as was fresh ... he said he could bring the sausage over anyway ..lovely we thought ..starving by this point and rather late! ....
So he reappeared with one sausage in batter and chips with a bit of very greasy battered fish dumped on the top ...' you can have the fish for free as you have been waiting so long he declared' .... Im sorry but as someone who doesn't like fish, someone who was hungry and fed up with the way that we had been treated so far ..that did it. 'im sorry' i replied, 'but I dont eat fish' he went ahead and removed the fish from my plate with his fingers ...touching my chips in process ..leaving a lovely pool of grease on the plate and put it back in the cabinate ... that did it .. we needed to remove ourselves from the situation so left.
Now there are a couple of things to say ... if this was a chippy that was selling fish and chips for 5 quid, i probably would have let it go ... but these guys charge 10 to eat in ... in my book that is an expensive fish and chips and expect some sort of service, even if its just to be notified when i order that Rock takes longer to cook .. not to be told when I sit down that they would be able to do our order quickly.\
I will never go back here. Neither will the people I was with. Really disappointed as they used to be so good and I was so looking forward to some scrummy sausage in batter and chips ....
I am a northerner and know a good chippie when I come across one. Rock and Sole Plaice kicks ass, serious ass. The chips are big, strangely shaped (this is a good thing) and soft and fluffy. The mushy peas, are a lumpy swamp of green deliciousness. Best of all, the steak and kidney pie was perfect. A slight resistance of crust melts away in to a savoury brown heaven. OH GOD! IT WAS SO GOOD!
For eating in or outside on the bench chairs this meal will put you back £7. Taking away is cheaper. For such a big portion of chip shop perfection, Rock & Sole Plaice deserve 5*. The service was somewhat erratic so the critic in me cannot allow a perfect score. Henceforth I bestow this splendid eatery 4*.
Listed in: Covent Garden, Visiting London, Where to go when the weather's…, Chip Shops
For many moons I have sauntered past 'Rock and Sole Plaice' and longingly gazed at the battered wonders that graced the diner's plates.
Finally the opportunity arose and £11 worth of cod and chips with mushy peas was heading my way. Sat outdoors enjoying the exhaust fumes, it was somehow less glamorous that I had imagined but the atmosphere still ensued. The food arrived and I dove in, drooling on myself at the massive feast that lay ahead. It was hot and oh so tasty!
Clearly not-a-one-of-you has had the experience of visiting the lou in this establishment. It is beyond shocking, comparable to Porta-Lous at overcrowded festivals and utterly sub-standard. The basement seating area reeks of must, the bathroom floors are soaking wet and mould is encroaching on every surface.
I got back to my table and had a hard time finishing my meal. The food is by far 5* but the dreadful toilets are 0*'s in my book. It is a really unfortunate flaw in an otherwise amazing restaurant.
Fissssssh cakes please!
This place has changed a little since I first went 4 years ago and when I worked close it was a Friday lunch favourite. If you don't have a big appetite this place is not worth the money though, at £10 per portion that better be a damn posh bit of fish.
A while ago this place had some fantastic chinese lanterns outside which made it a really romantic place to eat but I haven't seen them up in a while. What is good about this place though is the fact that even though it's not the original owners (this is the oldest fish and chip shop in London you know?! - jellied eels anyone) the current owners use all the old passed down traditional recipes. Mushy peas are as good as mine, the fish cakes are beautiful (NB only order one they are HUGE) and the tartar sauce is homemade. Mmmmm.... I know what I want for tea now!
Listed in: Great Dates in London, Proper Fish and Chippies
Mind you, I am not a fan of "fish and chips" so this review may be a bit biased, but I decided I had to try it seeing as this place was supposedly famous for this typically English dish.
For the 15 pounds I paid for my meal (cod fish and chips, tea and diet coke) I felt completely ripped off. Oil soaked and average overall. And seriously, what the hell is up with two different prices for take out or eating inside? I was definitely confused by this.
3 stars simply for the fact that a local Londoner told me to go here and I really have no idea what a "good" fish and chips meal tastes like. Maybe it is good and I'm just dumb.
5 star Fish & Chips.
I was wandering around Covent Garden, starving, when I found this restaurant using the Yelp iPhone application. With a 4 star rating it didn't seem like a gamble and I wasn't disappointed.
I ordered the Sole and it was by far the best Fish & Chips I have ever had. The piece of fish was huge (I ordered the regular, I can't imagine how big the large would have been) and tasted wonderful. They didn't go over board with the batter, which is always a good thing, and the chips were thick-cut and tasty.
I'd recommend this place (or plaice) in a heartbeat, especially to visitors looking for their first fish & chip experience. The only problem is they probably won't enjoy fish & chips anywhere else after they've eaten here.
Yay, my first proper English fish n chips!!!
We were exhausted from walking in the downpour of rain and it was nice to sit down and have a hot cup of mocha and some bomb fish n chips. I got the cod which was huge and so moist with the perfect amount of batter fried to a crisp. After I doused my fish with vinegar and chips with ketchup I somehow managed to scarf it aaaall down.
It was such a perfect haven from the long day's trek and gloomy weather, and for less than 12 pounds for everything, it made me sigh in content. It's making my tummy grumble just thinking about it.
Listed in: 'Ello, 'enry 'iggins!
This may be a restaurant for tourists, but I had a satisfying meal of fish and chips. This corner shop reminds me of Guy Fieri and his show DDD...the fish was big and the chips were plenty. I liked what I saw on the menu - a variety of fish, not just the ol' boring cod. I ordered halibut. The batter was crispy and light, and the fish was nice and meaty. Their homemade tartar sauce was tasty, I used all of it and wanted more. Sure you're not going to get excellent service from this place, but that was okay with me because I didn't expect much. It was a wonderful fish & chip experience I had in London.
As my first "official" fish and chips in London, I have to yell "Hooray!" The chips have this strange crunchy, yet soft consistency with is awesome. I did get the mushy peas just to and as a non-pea lover - they were delicious! You get to choose from several kinds of fish, I chose the Sole and I was floored by how large it was! I swear it took up half the plate.
I went mid-October, it was a beautiful day, the line was out the door and was lucky enough to snag a table out front! The service was fairly quick, no complaints.
Not bad. It was fish and chips and it tasted pretty good. So I'll insert this caveat...I had fish and chips from several places while in London and my palate could not distinguish huge differences so maybe you should completely discount my review.
The service was a bit slow and I got spotted as a non-native in 2 seconds but that's my own cross to bear.
So bottomline, if you want fish and chips and are in the area, go for it, but in my opinion Rock and Sole ain't worth traveling more than a couple tube stops.
The fish-and-chips are known to be the best here at Rock & Sole Plaice. I can't say it's the best since I haven't had other fish & chips while visiting London, but I can attest that it was great for what I've had.
I got the regular cod. The batter was probably a tad too crispy and crunchy for me, but the fish was nice and tender. Chips were fine, nothing to complain about. The pleasant surprise for me is the mushy peas! I HATE peas, but when it's mushy like they made it, I couldn't stop eating it. Never knew I had it in me to like peas.
Listed in: What's there to eat in London?
Great fish in a cozy environment. I tried their Skate fish and it was very tasty!
Damn, I DON'T EVEN LIKE FISH, and I like the fish n chips here!!
if you want to eat inside, don't forget there's basement seating that is much larger than the small dining room on ground level
Rock and Sole Plaice has to be one of the best fish and chip shops I have ever been to. The chips are cooked to perfection, golden and crispy whilst maintaining that traditional chip taste that defines Britain. When some relatives of mine came over from Canada, it was a must visit to show them what fish & chips are all about.
You are able to sit in and eat meals too. Price wise you would have thought a place like this could charge premium prices but they resist, charging that of an average chippy which is a refreshing change from most money grabbing establishments in town.
Rock & Sole Plaice is well worth going out of your way for if you are in the Central London area,
Yummy fish and chip shop! A must GO!!!!
If you're visiting London for the first time or not.....you're probably going to be stopping by covent garden anyways, so you should stop in for some fish and chips and a pint! Don't forget to pile on the malt vinegar!!!!!!
Large portions....and that's what us Americans need with the GBP conversion!! Shiiiiish!
Enjoy, wankers!! =)
So as a tourist I went hunting for the best fish and chips and this place came up in my cousin's TAIWANESE tour book. Apparently everyone else dining that day had the same tour book because everyone was either Japanese or Taiwanese, but I did see a few Brits going in for takeaway orders - ANYWAY - Get the cod, like you're supposed to when you eat Fish and Chips and you honestly can't go wrong. Best fish and chips EVER - that is exactly how it is supposed to be. And I love the condiment tray they provide, with the tartar sauce and the dill - didn't get that anywhere else. And the chips are damn good as well! I kind of still think about it.
I grew up less than a stone's throw away from the sea and an even shorter distance from the best fish and chip shop in Kent so when I'm came to London I thought my days of decent fish and chips were probably gone for good. Fortunately on the advice of a friend I sought out Rock and Soul, hidden amongst the back streets of Covet Garden and after biting into that battered haddock I could almost smell the sea-salt once more.
For anyone sick of chicken shops and kebabs this is a reminder of the great British takeaway at its best. Rock and Sole offer a range of battered fish including, not surprisingly, rock, sole and plaice alongside staples favourites like haddock, cod and scampi as wells as battered sausages, saveloys and the like. The chips themselves are hand cut and absolutely delicious.
You can opt to eat in or takeaway but be warned you will be charged extra to sit on their benches outside. This 'Plaice' would have got 5 stars had it not been for the extortionate prices they charge. For a large haddock and chips I had to fork out £8 and had I opted to sit-in it would have been a further £1.50. I know this is London but this is taking the piss a little.
This really is a real old fashioned style fish and chip shop stuck right in the centre of town on Endell Street on the north side of Covent Garden. If you find yourself in London and fancying fish and chips - find this place it is the real deal.
It is abit pricey but hey you are in the centre of tourism land. The rock and chips will cost you 6.00 to take out. It is good though and since you will pay this sort of money pretty much where ever you take out, I suppose it is worth it.
You get the good old fashioned wrapped up take out to enjoy on one of the benches in the street if you can find an empty one.
There are a lack of sit down fish and chips places in central London, so when I saw this one with its wonderful name I was keen to check it out. It a couple of streets away from the main Covent Garden / Neal Street drag and so feels a lot more relaxed. The restaurant itself is positioned on the corner of a crossroads with outside seating and two floors of seating inside. The fish bar is on the ground floor by the entrance (though if you're eating in there is waiter service). It's best to go when it is sunny and sit outside, though failing that the downstairs has a general undersea theme which is charming in that slightly rubbish way.
I've grown up in the south, not by the sea, which somewhat disqualifies me from judging these things, but I've never been particularly impressed by the food at this place. Everything is as it should be in terms of format and appearance, unfortunately the food is pretty London chip shop generic. This would be fine but the prices and general feel of the place promise something better.
A pleasant enough place, convenient located if you're a tourist interested in trying fish and chips, though unfortunately the actual food is fairly average.
The Rock & Sole plaice is my favorite place for the traditional fish&chips meal during summers. This in not only because of the excellent food, but also because of the nice outdoor seating. You can have some beer, food, and fresh air, sun set.. hah haa, well it is still in Covent Garden!
Also at this area it is hard to find any place that authentic as it is all so touristic. This place is hidden to a more quiet street, well at least away from the shops.
The only downside is the restaurant itself. I would not call it charming. With a little decoration they could do major improves and I don't understand how come they don't seem to care? Until that happens I will just keep sitting outside.
I believe I may be the only 2-star review for this place, but I was really disappointed in the food here. In fact, 'Meh' implies a certain level of indifference in my book and I feel almost more strongly that the fish and chips here were Bleeeaaarrrgh.
That's a very scientific bit of terminology by the way.
Why? First off, the fish and chips were £10 at minimum with table seating, twice as much as takeaway. That seems wholly overpriced for what is essentially a huge plate of greasy breaded randomness. I wasn't really that hungry so I got the fish cake for £4.50 and it resembled a dry deep-fried hockey puck. Chips were soft and kind of mealy rather than crispy and flavorful. The outside seating is nice but the inside just doesn't seem that clean. Now I fully admit that I didn't try the fish and maybe it's so orgasmic that it overrides all the other negatives. But there is so much better food in general and in the vicinity, that you can get for half the price. And in terms of my fish and chips experience, even a posh place like Canteen has fish and chips for about the same price if not cheaper and they do a really good crunchy breadcrumb shell rather than an oily battered crust. I realize this may be fish-and-chips blasphemy, but it seems like an overpriced tourist trap without the chops (chips?) to back it up.
Neighborhood: Marylebone
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Neighborhood: Borough
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Neighborhood: Pimlico
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