Authentic teas, pints and fish and chips at this lively British pub by the beach.
British pub and restaurant
Gift shoppe
One block from the beach
The internationally known British Pub and Restaurant has flourished through several expansions. The restaurant serves daily specials like Sunday roasts, fish-and-chips, burgers, bangers and more, inside a comfortable and casual setting. The Pub is traditional with its own social life. Its popularity for a "pint-stop" is almost legendary. People come from all over for happy hour, soccer games, Trivia Night, karaoke and of course, the warm comfortable atmosphere that is second to none.
The British tradition continues next door with Ye Olde King's Head Gift Shoppe, offering PG Tips, Cadburys chocolate, Heinz baked beans, Jewelry, fine wines, cheeses and other wonderful gifts.
In Short This well-appointed, laid-back pub is full of accented expats who traded London fog for California sunshine. The menu features traditional British pub and teahouse fare. The Welsh rabbit, a concoction of cheddar cheese, beer and spices, is a good base for a bellyful of British ale. Fish and chips are filets of fried Icelandic cod. The chicken salad features cream curry, raisins and celery. Fortnum & Mason tea, Royal Dalton china and other British goodies are available at the attached gift shop.
While in Santa Monica I stopped by Ye Olde Kings Head since I heard it was good. I sat at a table for about 15 minutes before anyone took my order. Finally I was able to flag the waitress down. She said oh I forgot about you. I ordered my fish and chips and got it about 10 minutes later. The food was very good. I waited another 15 minutes after I was done eating to ask for a box and to get my bill. While I was waiting I heard the wait staff telling other customers that their credit card machine was down. It was down for about 45 minutes then I was able to pay and leave. I wasn't even apologized too not alone offered a discount for the trouble. So overall the food was good but I probably won't go back back because of the service.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
This little store is fun to visit, and as an ex pat I really enjoy being able to find my favourite childhood eats and drinks - even Ribena! It's predictably expensive - but I haven't found another with the product variety or anywhere close to it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
Though I'm not English, I enjoy browsing this store - and there is so much to see. Tea cups, tea, greeting cards and so much more. Staff are attentive and friendly. If you're looking for a unique gift - this is the place.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
I like to shop here at Christmastime and around my husband's birthday. He's English and loves a Lion Bar (proper English Chocolate bar) or a good 'ol Plum Pudding. I am fond of the soft serve ice cream machine they have now. You get a choc/vanilla swirl with a Flake Bar sticking out of it. It's yummy. Don't forget to get your tea and crumpets here as well.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
I pass by ye Old King's Head Shoppe all the time and finally one day I decided to go in. People always seem to enjoy themselves there. I liked the chill atmosphere. Also their teas and flowers were fabulous at a good price!
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
The restaurant offers great English food. Loved the chicken curry. The service was excellent and the price very reasonable for the quality of food served.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
The food here is classic English pub food, its ok, and overpriced -- It was about $12 for fish and chips. Their kids menu is a good deal thou-- $5 for a kids fish and fries which is equitable to a more the more expensive single piece of fish and fries on the adult menu.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
I have a weird fetish with candy bars outside the United States. Nothing is more delightful than having candy from England, and Ye Olde Kings Head has over 50-60 selections.
The store also has little pots and pans, but I really do not pay much attention to that.
It was made infamous when the Ozzy Osborne came and bought $700 bucks worth of candy from the store.
You need to check it out.
PROS: The Best Selection of British Candy this side of the Pacific
CONS: Store is extremely small and cramped
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
Here's a funny story...not funny "ha, ha" but you know what I mean. I was in Santa Monica entertaining friends from the UK who felt a bit home sick - so we went to the famous or should I say infamous Ye Olde Kings Head pub for a pint.
We were coldly greeted by the hostess and told her that we'd like a table to drink at and perhaps nosh on some snacks. We were promptly seated at a nice cozy booth.
Then it went downhill fast. After we ordered the first round of ale, the waitress asked if we were eating - and we said that perhaps we will later after we chit-chat and drink a few cold ones. She got mad that we weren't ordering food and told us (didn't ask us) to leave the table and go the bar. So we asked for a manager. He was just as unfriendly, but at least asked us politely to move to the bar, which we did.
Because of location change, she gave us our bill and transferred us to a new waitress. We paid with a credit card and when we got our check - the 20% tip was already included. Given the fact that she was so rude, we found it ridiculous that she would add a tip to our beer tab. Again after talking to an uncooperative manager, he took the tip off and gave us a new check. We paid in cash minus the tip and decided to leave. Fortunately my UK friend (who's VISA card we were using first) has this service that whenever there is a charge on his card, he gets an instant message. Well - Ye Olde Kings Head decided to add another $50 to their total having our credit card info on file. We went back and literally almost had a fist fight with the manager.
Nobody apologized or treated us politely. I would avoid this place like a plague. They're rude, unprofessional, dishonest and the place is a total UK knockoff anyway with a limited seleciton of beers.
Stay away from this place and don't use your credit card.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
(you must log in or
sign up to vote)
Latest reviews by Citysearch:
(read all 28 reviews
on Citysearch)
Definitely check it out
By sheridanm1
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
Food worth the bad service?
By SK1985
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
Not what it used to be
By BrianfromGlendora
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 and rude service
By flimsypaperdoll
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
Don't eat here
By jm9999
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
