Ye Olde King's Head

manchester citys games are all important!!

Posted 08/30/09

I went to the pier for my birthday and thought I would splurge at this place.

I ordered the Queen's Fish and Chips, which consists of one piece of fish and fries and tartar sauce. The price $13.99. A little bit steap for no side!! My companion ordered Chicken Cordon Blue, which came with Mashed Potatoes, a spot of Gravy and Brocolli and Carrots, for $14.99, which I thought was a better value.

We dined inside. A woman with a British accent took my order. Brought the order and never once checked to see I we needed anything. I was tempted not to leave a tip, except that the busboy did ask if we wanted anything and filled our water glasses.

The food, at least the fish and chips were alright, but not worth the $13.99. I would not go back becaues of the price and the total lack of service!!!!

Pros: Food was OK

Cons: Poor Service

Posted 07/24/09

I had the pleasure of trying Ye Olde King's Head for the first time last night. The Shrimp Marie Rose (appetizer) was a little bland. The Vegetable Samosa more than made up for it. YUM!! For dinner, I had the Chicken Mushroom Pie?to die for. We wrapped up our scrumptious meal with a Pear Triffle and some soothing teas. I couldn?t have asked for a better dinner or a more relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely be back.

Pros: food, atmosphere

Cons: service was a little slow

Posted 11/14/08

The food is great here, especially the fish and chips or the curry, but the service is absolutely horrible. They do not really make an effort of coming to your table. After you order, the customer has to be the one to call them over. The bus boys tend to be much more polite and helpful than the waitresses, in my experience the smallest thing will offend the waitress and she'll be short with you for the rest of your time there. Despite this, my friends and I absolutely cannot resist coming here for their food. As long as you do not expect the best customer service, I'm sure you will have a good time. I should also add that they have a "rule" on their menus, which do not allow you to share fish and chips with anyone at your table and if you do, they charge you extra. I do not know if this is even allowed in the first place.

Pros: Food, Location

Cons: Customer Service

Posted 10/17/08

Haven't been to Ye Olde King's Head in a few years. Since I was in Santa Monica last weekend, I thought I'd give the othe old place a try for dinner. Rude service, very slow to be served my meal and the quality had certainly gone down the tubes, friend ordered the fish and chips, and I had a steak and kidney pie. The fish was overbattered and overcooked, chips were certainly not freshly cut and fried, tasted more like a frozen variety. My pie was below exopectations, mostly a tasteless gravy and not much in the way of steak or kidneys. I found out the ownership had changed a few years ago, that could explain the decline in qualtiy at this old standard. Gave the shop next door a try for some tea, way overpriced........I'm going to one of the other shops in Santa Monica, on Wilshire Blvd next time I need my tea fix.

Posted 05/20/08

Terrible service. I came here with a friend early one night, at 5. We were seated all the way in the back room, and the hostess seemed cold and dismissive. So did the waitress. We ordered one king sized fish and chips to split, 1 DISH!!! We ended up waiting more than an hour. All the while, other people were seated, a party of 8 was seated, a party of 4, and they all ordered many dishes. They all got their food within 15 minutes, even those that ordered fish and chips, while we waited an hour for our one dish which we ordered at least half an hour before all of them. Our water glasses were never refilled. With no apologies or explanations, (it would have been nice if our waitress came over and explained to us why we were being ignored), when our food finally came, I told her that we had been waiting for more than an hour for our one dish and wanted to know what happened. She merely chuckled in a patronizing way, and said "i don't think it was an hour". I said yes, it was, we came in at 5, and now it was 6:10. She said it was a slow day. I told her everyone in the room had gotten their food within 20 minutes after being seated after us. She said in a horribly condescending tone "Well I don't know what you want me to say". I was flabbergasted.

RUDE. RUDE. RUDE. avoid the fat lady with the belly.

Pros: fish and chips, or so i thought

Cons: rude staff, untimely and irresponsible

Posted 11/26/07

It amazes me this place gets such high reviews. When we ate there it was terrible.

1) Service was extremely slow (waited 20 minutes for our first drinks)
2) They don't know how to cook a steak. I ordered a medium steak and it overdone.
3) Fish and chips were dry and inedible
4) They screwed up french fries. How do you screw up french fries?

This place is, at best, marginal bar food. If you want to hang out in a smoky, noisy pub and eat mediocre fried food then you might like this place. If you want a good meal in Santa Monica look elsewhere.

Pros: Black and Tan was good

Cons: Food, atmosphere, service

Posted 08/13/07

I'm a British Expat feeling the need for some old fashioned fish and chips and a pint of draught cider. They had a wide selection of draught beers and the menu was full of great British fayre. The person on the table next to me had a steak and kidney pie that smelt lovely. Although his veggies looked overdone.

Food: The chips were not traditional British chips, just the regular frozen variety found in markets everywhere. It was topped with a huge piece of battered cod. The cod turned out to be a small piece of cod encased in a batter that was solid and over an inch thick. Sawing through caused it to crumble into little pieces. The cod wasn't able to hold it's shape, it crumbled too. It was accompanied by a lovely tartare sauce that tasted home made. No vegetables, traditional peas or even a small salad, just a sprig of parsley.

Dessert was rice pudding, tinned but warm and a treacle pudding with custard. The rice pudding came out in a glass trifle dish on a glass plate, it tasted ok. The treacle pudding was served on a dinner plate with a strange pattern around the edge. It looked as though they had been to a garage sale for their settings. The plate allowed the custard to develop a skin and get cold very quickly. And the treacle pudding was a dry, stale, square with a slightly sticky crust. It was so stale it had the the same aftertaste you would find in a soggy, stale cookie. I can't imagine what they were thinking serving something that had clearly lain around for quite some time.

Service: This was slow and tired despite the patio having just four parties. Glasses of water arrived after dinner. I also noticed that, despite the fact that most of the tables were empty, she made a party of three move over to share one small table suitable for only two diners, then pulled the tables apart to allow a couple to use the other table. Made no sense at all.

All in all it was a very disappointing meal.

Pros: Wide selection of British Draught Beers

Cons: Food, disappointing and tired

Posted 05/12/07

I came here one Friday night with a bunch of buddies and had a blast! Their beer selection is excellent and they have darts which are fun. Their bathrooms could afford to be tidied up a bit.

Posted 11/23/06

All the people that work at YOKH is actually from England. This place knows whats going on. Good beer.

Posted 10/24/06

Wow, I'm blown away by the fish and chips here...they've also got the best rhubarb pie.
Service is absolutely wonderful. Watched a bunch of the world cup soccer games here. Really crowded but the servers seemed in on all the fun and they kept the food and drinks all flowing. Good food, fun atmosphere.

Pros: Guinness on tap, best fish and chips!

Posted 09/07/06

Every bar has its days; this review is only a reflection on Friday, since that's the only day I've been:

The crowd was a lot older (I'm 22), but interestingly mixed. We knew this Brit pub was legit when I heard Brit/Aussie guys talking. The crowd was friendly and seemed like they all knew each other. A whole bunch were playing a round of darts. The white Russians I had were ok-strong. I'd like to come back happy hour and try the food. Overall, just an average Friday night.

Pros: friendly crowd and bartenders, local feel

Cons: horrible music, older crowd

Posted 08/09/06

I had the queen size fish and chips, and it was great. Nothing pretentious like what other restaurants are trying to make the dish into (no Japanese fusion please), just traditional British fish and chips. It's almost as good as the one I've had in Bath UK, a hole in the wall place where all the locals go to. I am going there again today to watch the world cup series.

Pros: Fish and Chips!

Cons: Parking is confusing, don't park right across street, super expensive.

Posted 06/25/06

This place was fantastic! I had my birthday dinner here last weekend with about 12 people, and they were more than accomodating. Our table was set up for us before we arrived, and we were sat immediately. My girlfriend brought a cake, and they even served it with candles, sang, and gave me a souvenir card with a polaroid! Our waitress, Deb, was excellent. She was very nice, attentive, and made sure we were all having a good time throughout the entire night. The food is great! A very traditional British menu- the fish & chips were the best I've had outside of London! The atmosphere is very cool - you feel like you could step outside and see Big Ben... very authentic.
All in all, it was a great time and I will definitely go back!

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Beer selection

Cons: Nothing

Posted 05/18/06

Having lived in London for a year and just having returned for the third time, it's nice to know that the King's Head is so close. The pub food is generally good (just as it is in the UK) and will give you a sense of what that food is like (filling!). Everyone is always friendly - you may be invited to join in a game of darts or chatted up by a true Brit. Beer is a pretty good selection but PRICEY - 5.50 a pint to be exact, and there isn't anything you can't find if you look for it elsewhere. Go for the hospitality, the friendly people, good food if you eat it, and the nice beer variety, but don't expect a normal bar tab at the end of the night! Great spot, a vital part of the touristy section of Santa Monica, nevertheless. Cheers!

Posted 05/24/05

Try the King's head burger..it's beyond juicy; one of the best burgers I've ever had!

Posted 03/15/05

The English aren't necessarily know for their food - but for the few things they are known for - this is the best place on the westside to experience them. The fish and chips are a must - served with perfect tartar sauce and vinegar - and the portions are huge. Of course, a great selection of beers from across the UK. The crowd is a little older, which gives this place a little character.

Posted 03/07/05

I loved the decor and atmosphere here. They make a great English breakfast, but I'm afraid that'sa once-a-year meal for me because it's absolutely swimming in grease. That's the style though, and it's authentic and lovely.

Pros: Nice atmosphere, Good food

Posted 12/07/04

For those who grew up on fish, chips, sausages and the like, this is an excellent spot. Try the bangers and mash or just the banger sandwich- heaven. They also make great liver.
Love the food and when DJ Danny is spinning the music is superb! Wish it had a bigger dance floor and more Danny nights though.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Nostalgic

Cons: None

Posted 07/13/03

Friendly service and comfort-style cooking is what you can expect at King's Head. Everyone in our restaurant tried a little of everything else what someone ordered. The pub appetizers are just that, food to tide you over while you have a beer, it's not an indication of the restaurant food to come.

Dessert was tasty, too. For those American Harry Potter fans, you can finally find out what treacle is. There is another Harry Potter dessert, though not named as such in the menu, you can order with spotted dick (bread pudding with raisins).

Pros: Great atmosphere, Good beer choices

Cons: Pay for parking

Posted 11/27/02

Went to the afternoon tea -- endless pots of tea and a three tier tray with the best sweet & salty finger food you can get. It doesn;t look very much, but it adds up -- nobody left hungry! The service was excellent and very accomodating for our group of twelve, and the atmosphere is just fabulous. With tax & tip it's $17 per person, which is not very much. The only thing I didn't like were the plastic seats -- they make you feel sweaty.

Pros: Authentic, good value, very friendly service

Cons: Plastic seats

Posted 11/18/02

The reason I love this place so much is that not only is it geared toward the older crowd with the Pub but it is great for families also. I love to take my kids there with a group of my friends and eat fish and chips and drink a Shanty and get the mashed potatoes for the kids! I can't afford to go to England myself so I love to go to The Kings Head and at least get a little taste of it.

Posted 11/01/02

This is a great place to go and have a kick back relaxing meal. After eating fish and chips in London, this place could teach the Brits a thin or too.

Pros: Relaxing, Great service, Great British fare

Posted 10/17/02

We were referred to Ye Olde King's Head by some Brits - they said it was the best Fish & Chips around - and it was the best we've ever had!!! Wonderful moist, flakey, lightly battered hunks of fish.

Pros: parking across street

Posted 10/03/02

This is a great place for fish 'n' chips, a good beer, and a "true" Brittish feel.

Posted 08/29/02

Sample some genuine English pub food and wash it down with a pint of some real ale! Every time I'm in Santa Monica, the King's Head calls to me, and I've yet to be disappointed by answering.

Great service, excellent food, and beer better than the watery swill you'll find in most places. Now if only parking in Santa Monica was as good...

Posted 08/16/02

Out standing food and the Cornish Pasty is GREAT. I'd make a day-trip from San Diego just to eat here.

Pros: Great Food, Comfortable, Nice crowd

Posted 08/07/02

There are quite a few British Pubs in Santa Monica but I'd rate this one the best. I can't think of a better place to get a pint. The food on the bar side is ok, nothing fancy but certainly palatable. A nice side of chips will help your Boddington's or Carling to go down just a bit better.

Posted 07/09/02

There are two parts to this place. There is the sit down restaurant where you can get all of your favorite English dishes. And then there is the pub. Two distinctly different atmospheres, but neither out of place.

You can go straight from your nice relaxing dinner right into the pub to hoist a few pints and sing your favorite songs with the regulars.

Pros: Ambience, Beer Selection

Posted 06/20/02

The British expats who came to L.A. decades ago, must have thought Santa Monica was as close to Brighton as they were going to get. How else to explain the scattering of pubs, tea shops and traditional English restaurants that dot the blocks between Ocean and the Promenade. This is the real thing: Cornish Pasties, Steak and Kidney Pie, Bangers and Mash. English food is more than an acquired taste--it's an acquired sensibility. But there's warmth and friendliness and excellent beer with a game of darts in the pub after lunch.

Posted 05/20/02