Rock & Sole Plaice

Restaurants, British Covent Garden
3 out of 5 stars
(16user reviews)
Rock & Sole Plaice

A corner cafe in Covent Garden.

Posted:

Venue name: Rock & Sole Plaice
Address: 45-49 Endell St
London
WC2H 9AJ
Opening hours: Meals served 11.30am-10.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-9.30pm Sun
Transport: Tube: Covent Garden
Price: Main courses £10-£20
Do you own this business?
Static map showing venue location

Average User Rating

2.5 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:2
  • 4 star:3
  • 3 star:2
  • 2 star:3
  • 1 star:6
LiveReviews|16
1 person listening
tastemaker

If you’re looking for a bit of an institution, this place is it. It’s where you get your no fuss Friday fish and chips with a pint in the (hopefully) sunny weather outside. 


What I had: 

  • Cod Fish and Chips

The fish was good - there being a good fish to batter ratio; however the thick cut chips tasted like the potatoes were boiled before frying; which brings about a starchier and stodgier affect and were less crispy. The atmosphere is like a canteen, people rushing around coming and going, so I would recommend sitting outside when the weather is good. Overall the service is good and the food is fine; however at £15, there are plenty of other solid choices out there.


Tip: they do get very busy and have outdoor seating for those who want to eat in; however if you’re keen to just pop in, they also offer takeaway at cheaper prices too (around a tenner). They also offer traditional sides like mushy peas and pickled eggs and gherkins.


Good For: something quick, cheap and cheerful takeaway, seafood, casual work lunch, small groups. 


The Rock and Sole Plaice has been working very hard listening and applying customers constructive feedback to improve and deliver the best service possible. It has been around since 1871 indeed, keeping strict to its traditional recipe and values, never giving away quality for profit and that is something to be proud of.

Tastemaker

London’s oldest fish and chip restaurant (and with arguably the best puns), set in the middle of Covent Garden. With an underwater world décor downstairs and tables on the street upstairs, this is a great place to stop for quality fast food and a beer.

All the old favourite additions such as pickled eggs, gherkins and curry sauce are available, along with traditional British puddings. Those hankering after a pie “chaser” will also not be disappointed!


It's not a place to really experience great food, because British cuisine doesn't tend to lend itself to greatness.  But worth the experience!


Several years ago I picked up some takeaway scampi from here and it was the best I'd had in ages.  Now though it's a total tourist trap. The scampi was the worst I've ever had - I had to send it back.  It was incredibly overcooked and like dog chews.  The new less overcooked version was better but definitely not like what I'd had previously, meat was small and unremarkable.  Service was awful - almost comic they forgot both our starters and our mains.  Calamari was pretty poor.  Chips were a waste of calories, frankly, bland and dry as others have said. 


My friend had skate - part of it was OK but the thinner end was like leather it was overcooked.  The only highlight was the sticky toffee pudding which was also given on the house (as we had complained so much) - if I ever went back it might be just to have dessert. Even the tea was stewed and dark brown like coffee as not enough milk.  And to top it all - £50 for 2 people - maybe tourists don't know how much fish and chips costs normally but £16 for preprepared scampi is quite a shocker.


My friend says he picks the restaurant next time and I have no say in the matter. How embarrassing.


Went here last night with 2 friends, fish was lovely and moist, I had Cod. Sadly we all thought the chips were bland and dry a real let down. Agree with others that the service is a little abrupt. My biggest gripe though is the price, certainly not worth the £18 to eat in. Won't be returning anytime soon, which is a shame


it used to be a good place for fish and chips in central London.. Too bad that they decided to multiply by three the prices. Now if I have to pay 20 pounds for some fish and chips I don't want to eat in a basement begging for being served. There are plenty of better places at that point. So no, I won't go back there.


We paid £19 for two large cod and one portion of chips to take away! Fish was cold, dry and flaky. Will never go back. Had much better quality elsewhere and half the price.


Just been here. Rubbish. Asked for bag of chips and mushy peas. "ONE MINUTE" they shouted at me. They shouted this every two minutes for the ten minutes I waited. Still no chips, so I left. You're a chip shop - have chips ready. Rude staff, bad service, give it a miss.


Went here yesterday with family, I would highly advise anyone of going to think twice. The fish is severely over-priced BUT since it's a tourist trap I understand why/ due to location. HOWEVER, I was at lease expecting it to be good. WRONG! The calarmari's coating was so hard, it was literally rock hard and over fried. I know because I am a chef myself. I hate complaining but when u serve fish and chips at this price, it's totally unacceptable. Waiters don't seem to care and cant wait for u to leave... There's always people waiting!!! And yes plenty of tourists too. AVOID


If you want proper British fish and chips served by a Romanian and two Polish people, this is the place to come. Apparently.


Took my girlfriend out for lunch and we ate in. You walk through the kitchen to get to the downstairs walking right next to the food they've left on the side to be collected by waiting staff. You get put on tables with other people, have to climb over them or have them climb over you. The waiting staff don't seem to understand what you ask for. I asked for salt, they brought pepper, it took quite a while to explain the order in the first place. It's really expensive, £37 for cod and chips twice, a curry sauce, fanta and a coke. It was okay though, nothing special.


Ate at Rock &Sole Plaice with visitors from south of France. They were extremely impressed with the quality of fish and enjoyed the chips. Portions were huge if a little expensive - but, then, it is in Covent Garden...


The best fish and chips I have had in a long time, can't wait to go back again. People saying the price is a bit steep but it's no more expensive than anywhere else in London and I personally think much cheaper for a city with such over inflated prices. Food was delicious and a nice atmosphere, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting London.


I must agree with P Burton. It was expensive and the fish and chips was dreadful. The batter was dark, oily and required a chisel to break through it's carapace, revealing a dry little portion beneath. The chips were far too thick and utterly tasteless. I really didn't thing fish and chips could be quite so awful.