The Rock & Sole Plaice

Alice2009

good if you like burnt chips and scrag ends 30th July 2009

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I went to this place this evening with a friend, having paid for a packet of chips to eat out we went on our way. Only to discover that we had been given a bag of burnt chips and scrag ends, bits left in fryer too long and no longer able to be described as potato. Obviously they saw us coming and thought, 'lets give them our rubbish and then take their money'. Charming. I would have happily gone back and and demanded a refund but my friend has an aversion to complaining. Needless to say we won't be going back. And they don't let take way customers use the ketchup on the tables, I guess its all about the profit margins but a little customer service wouldn't go amiss.

gastro1

Very Poor 28th January 2009

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Revisted The Rock and Sole Plaice yesterday after an adsence of a couple of years .

The fish was awful and not cooked to order as were the chips both had been hanging around for a considerable period of time.

Batter was poor and I suspect the cod was not cod either.

This place has gone to the dogs I'm afraid.

walid at 28/01/09

Oh nooo, this is my favourite place in London to get a good Fish & Chips. Really hoping it was a one off and not a sign of things to come.

gastro1 at 28/01/09

might be a change of ownership - used to love it myself and was looking forward to regular visits again as just moved to an office that is very close by

sokratis at 28/01/09

Wow, shame to hear. This is the only place I was remotely close to being a 'regular' for fish&chips (about once every 12-18 months.

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Cedric

Fish and Kitsh 22nd January 2009

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Ok, not the most grandiose restaurant in London, but if you want to tick the box of a traditional Fish And Chips meal during your stay in trhe British Capital, this is the spot to go.

Typical, not over-stated, with a great diversity of fishes to be dumped in frying oil, alongside the traditional chips and pea mash. Not the cheapest, but really worth the money.

Always very crowded, not to say cluttered as you need to fight your way to the counter to get your portions and rush away or eventually go downstairs in their small extra room with its evocative frescos.

KateGreat

Battered 24th November 2008

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I went in for a take away full of hope and came away disappointed. Maybe they were having a bad fry day.

The chips are an old shape- not the original chunky fish and chip shop variety that my local Chinese Take Away manages to perfect, not sure if it's the oil, potato or shape, somehow they rendered the chips inedible.

The batter is soggy and oily. I didn't enjoy the meal.

If you are after good fish and chips look else where, it's fair to say that there aren't many around central London, however just a few minutes walk away on Theobald Road is the best one for miles around, and it offers better value for money and atmosphere.

Alsation

Al fresco chippie 15th September 2008

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Imagine cheap outdoor light, lots of them, with row upon row of benches and tables. Then, once you’re seated and look up, your mouth drops open in unbelief. Between the trees and the tacky lights is a huge shark, strung up from its nose to its tail fin.
Unfortunately, these occasions are rare, as the elderly Cypriot has handed over to his son, who seems less inclined to do something bold and imaginative.
There is plenty of space inside, but the big attraction of the Rock & Sole Plaice is the outdoor seating. Some of the seats are uncomfortably close to the endless row of taxis speeding down this narrow street, but generally speaking you can find a better or quieter place to sit.
One of the more annoying ‘treats’ is the troupe of street musicians that tours the surrounding area. They are quite pushy and must be making a small fortune on a warm summer’s evening!
The fish is generally fresh and well cooked. The chips are big and chunky and tend to be cut on the premises by one of Ishmael’s many assistants.
This is a great, traditional chippie in an unlikely location. Go and touch that shark’s skin – it feels amazing!

Polkadot

Best fish and chips in London bar none 4th September 2008

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Theatre posters on every inch of wall space welcome to you into this old and venerable London institution, serving fish and chips to London for decades. The places is small inside but offers lots of tables outside in the summer and even if you can't get a seat straight away it's worth waiting for the fat and crispy hand cut chips and various kinds of fish both typical and unusual freshly battered and fried to order. Speedy service and lots of fish options you can't find in your traditional chippy, this place is legend. Don't miss it if you're in the area!

kathlane

best fish! 2nd September 2008

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this believe it or not is a fish and chip shop near covent garden, well of sorts, its not a greasy sppon take away and it will set you back over a tenner. This place has been around for a long long time and it still serves the best quality fish. The cod is cooked to perfection and you get a good solid chuck on fish which is moist and never dry and overcooked. The chips are thick superb chip shop chips. I really can’t fault this place and even the interior is interesting with posters and paintings on the old tiled walls.

topruss

The Rock & Sole Plaice 23rd June 2008

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the best fish and chips in the west end

mazphd at 25/06/08

say no more i'm convinced!

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sokratis

Fish and Chips with History 6th March 2008

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Fish & Chips is not a very frequent dish for me, but if I'm gonna have it then The Rock & Sole is the plaice to do it (sorry about that, couldn't help it).
The fish is deep-fried perfectly and arrives to your dish crisp and dry. No grease and soggy batter here. The chips are generous and home-made and the decor simple and clean.
A bit of history on the place:
It has been going under the current ownership for 30 years now and it is actually one of the first chipies in London. It was set up 140 years ago and it's the only one of its peers that remains open.
The staff and ethos of the business are probably the reasons why. Allow me to illustrate. I ordered the halibut, which was £12 on the sit-in menu. While waiting for the order to arrive the person from the kitchen came over to inform me that the only piece of Halibut left was a bit smaller than usual. He asked if I still wanted to have it and offered to take a bit off the price if I did. I obliged and when my order arrived I was happy with my decision. There was no way I would have spotted the non-standard weight of that portion, which was perfectly fine for my appetite.
Credit to the guy for coming up and admitting to it. He not only got the price difference as a tip, but won a very loyal customer as well (not to mention a four star review ;-)

Jimbo at 11/04/08

Great stuff. Service is almost as important as food quality to me.

Added to the top my "to visit list"...

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tristan

A proper chippy in Central London 23rd March 2007

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Loads of thick chips and fresh fish. Traditional Comfort food. The walls are tiled and full of theatre posters and the windows are big so you can watch Covent Garden street life.

Also there's a hidden downstairs bit that gets filled up on weekends where its all painted like you are underwater. It felt like a student hang out down there and makes for a pleasant surprise.