The Old Ship

Winter

Really, really bad. 2nd November 2009

1 found this helpful

My two friends and I visited the Old Ship yesterday, on the basis that we couldn't get in to our usual Sunday Roast place, so we thought we'd give it a try...

Other than the good company of my friends, I can't possibly say anything good about my experience at the Old Ship. Firstly, the service was dire, the one waitress who eventually served us apologised for the delay, but when asked if they were short staffed today... no, it was just that the manager was spending the day in the office downstairs. Handy.

So, on to the worst part; the food. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that the food was disgusting, to the point of being comedic (see the second course below).

I ordered the "Slow roast pork belly", by the texture and almost impenetrable quality (I was going to ask for a steak knife just before I sent it back) I would guess it had been slow roasting all day, the previous day. It also smelt rather musky, with an unpleasant odour of gone off blood (I grew up on a pig farm, I know the smell well unfortunately).

This was sent back to the kitchen via a second uninterested waitress, who agreed (well, vaguely nodded) she would swap it for the roast... until the manager arrived from the depths below, and got wind of this. No, he explained, I couldn't swap it for a roast; he would have to charge me a £6 on top of the price of the pork. I told him I'd rather go without thanks.

On to dessert; now this is where it goes beyond bad, beyond just rubbish food, to well, just seriously hilarious!

We all ordered the "Chocolate and raspberry tart with ice cream". I can only smile when thinking back to what actually arrived. I think the ingredients would probably break down to the following.

1 x Tart base, probably Tesco
1 x Tub of frozen raspberries
1 x Slab of standard cooking chocolate (nothing fancy mind).
1 x Dollop of ice cream on the side

And the recipe, like this...

Whilst slowly melting the cooking chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, liberally sprinkle the frozen raspberries into the Tesco's tart base, don't worry about de-freezing the raspberries (I'm sure the ship don't), the choc will warm them up. When the choc has fully melted, pour over the raspberries and allow to settle. Place in fridge.

Hang on you're saying, surely there's other ingredients? Where's the flour? Eggs? Surely there should be some caster sugar in there? And some butter? What about some cocoa powder for dusting the top??

Not for the Old Ship's chocolate and raspberry tart, that's the lot. Just melted cooking chocolate poured over frozen raspberries in a Tesco tart base. Gorgeous!

So, that was that, £60 later we left. Obviously I won't be going back, not even for another slice of that delicious tart, or for another bit of that two-day, slowly-roasted, strangely pungent smelling pork.

But if you fancy a long wait for overpriced, very shoddy food, go for it. And remember to have a slice of that tart!

Yum yum!

bigger

Over priced but a good break from troubled Hackney 9th February 2009

2 found this helpful

I work in Hackney and visited the Old Ship after a recommendation by my work colleagues. The ambience is indeed good and you’ll find the evenings after work relaxed and buzzing with life. I think the menu and drinks are over-priced, however this does have the desired affect of rooting out undesirables.

With regards to the food, my advise is don’t bother. The portions are fair too small and it’s well over-priced. The Tapas menue is a good idea but the quality is far too poor.

I’ll continue to go because I like the professional crowd that hangs out their, but as for buying food, thanks but no thanks.

larryholmes at 10/02/09

Dear Reviewer, very true, the customer base at the Old Ship is very professional and one that appreciates good food, good service and a safe and inviting ambiance. However above all we believe our customers appreciate that we support British farmers and wine makers and will therefore pay slightly above normal prices for their products. However I would very much like to learn where you can buy quality British vegetables, lamb and Venison, Scottish Beef and freshly landed fish for an average main course price of £10.00. Now there would be a restaurant all the reviewers to this website would like to visit during this current financial downturn!

goggy at 03/11/09

Interesting that you [Larryholmes] have also written a review of The Old Ship below

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ChloeBuxton

Brilliant British food 20th March 2008

1 found this helpful

Having heard that it has been recently refurbished, I headed down to The Old Ship in Hackney to check it out. My partner and I went, not expecting too much, but it has definitely lived up to my expectations, and more.

The food, for starters, is excellent. All of it is sourced from around the Uk and it is traditional British food, done very well. I had the goat's cheese salad and mutton and my partner had the roll mop herrings and venison burger - all of which were quite generous portions.

The staff are down-to-earth and friendly and very happy to recommend what to order, without getting in the way of actually enjoying your dinner. Our waitress was just the right mix of friendly, attentive and professional which really helped as I find the problem with most restaurants is sloppy service.

All up, I will definitely be coming back here again and recommending it to my friends. Good place to go for a drink as well as its right next to Hackney Empire.