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La Poule au Pot

231 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UT Full details & map

Restaurant: French (traditional)

Time Out says 5 Users say 3/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Dec 15 2009

Few places scream 'Chelsea' more loudly than La Poule. The place is normally packed with smart couples discussing holiday plans in plummy accents. On a sticky summer's day, the terrace (its tables attired in starched linen) made a pleasantly fresh-aired dining venue, but the romantic interior is more atmospheric. This wooden, rustic affair features cosily arranged tables, dimmed lights and candles. Wicker baskets, dried flowers and fake grapes hang from the ceiling and from bare-brick walls. But our food was underwhelming - especially considering the high prices. A starter of rocket, grated cheese and mushrooms seemed to have come pre-prepared from the fridge, with dry rocket, unexciting cheese and oily mushrooms. Asparagus was fresh and generous, yet drenched in a thick supermarket-style vinaigrette that seemed to cover several dishes. Mains weren't much better: tuna steak was overcooked, despite being requested rare; dorade with fennel was tasty enough but unmemorable. Desserts tend to the classic (tarte tatin, chocolate mousse), and there's plenty of dessert wines and digestifs. Service was pleasant if rather inefficient (with long waits between courses, and side dishes forgotten). So, a popular spot with people who seem to have more money than discernment.

Tags: European, French, French (traditional), Outdoor : Dining, Romance, Central, Belgravia, Mid-range, Restaurant

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La Poule au Pot details

Address

La Poule au Pot

231 Ebury Street SW1W 8UT

Transport Sloane Square tube

Telephone

020 7730 7763

Lunch served 12.30-2.30pm Mon-Fri; 12.30-4pm Sat, Sun. Dinner served 6.45-11pm Mon-Sat; 6.45-10pm Sun.

Main courses £15.50-£21. Set lunch £18.75 2 courses, £22.75 3 courses.

Credit cards AmEx, DC, MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 12, terrace ), Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking essential, Separate room for parties ( seats 16 )

La Poule au Pot map

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 5 ratings)

By ford - May 9 2011

1/5

Before meeting a friend here I read the scathing review on Timeout but was struck by how many readers on other sites commented on the lovely atmosphere and food of this restaurant that I took the bad review with a grain of salt. I am sorry to say that I completely am in agreement with the negative review. To be fair, this does seem like the sort of place that has such a staunch posse of regulars so they probably have no need to cater to new ones, so I am sure that the glowing reviews are possible. My experience here however was one of terrible service and mediocre food. I have honestly never had such terrible service, I waited about 45 mins upon arrival before having the drink order taken and spent 2.5 hours before we even saw the first course. It was not a busy day and to my estimation the wait staff just seemed to have forgotten about the table tucked in the corner. It is a shame because I agree with the comments on the romance of the ambience and the potential of the food (the cheese quiche was superb and my sub-par poached salmon was perhaps just an aberration?) but overall I truly think that unless you are a regular do not bother. The proverbial cat dragged in would be treated better here if it were a local.

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By iheartmientay - Apr 26 2011

5/5

I normally have a great deal of time for Timeout reviews - they are considered, well-informed and borne from a great appreciation of food. In this case i really feel i have to stand up for this fabulous restaurant, and can only put this reviewer's experience down to sheer bad luck. Poule au Pot may be a solid Chelsea restaurant but that does nothing to detract from the extraordinarily good food, service and wine list. There are so many half-arsed restaurants in this area, where you pay far too much for average bistro-ish food served in un-atmospheric, charmless rooms. Poule au Pot may seem old fashioned but its in fact the most characterful, generous restaurant in the area, if not in west London. The wonderfully romantic, but spacious interior notwithstanding, the food is extraordinarily plentiful - from high-quality bread and crudites, to fabulous copper pots of perfectly pitched meats and sauces. Yes it's expensive, but there are few places in london of such good value. you could easily share a main course and not have a corner to fill.
TimeOut may have had a rare bad experience with this restaurant, but they are verging on the prejudiced but qualifying their two-star review with inverted snobbery.
Get the tube to Victoria and try it for youself. I've never felt compelled to write a comment on the internet before, but this restaurant is worth it.