Took my Dad for his birthday, as he loves traditional English food. Booked in advanced which worked out fine, and the waiter we had was both friendly and polite.

The food was okay, but my order of mashed potatoes was instant mash and not real (you really can tell). For a restaurant of this type, you expect proper potatoes and not something from a tin. My Dad said his new potatoes were very soft and overcooked. The rest of the main was fine.

My Dad ordered a spotted dick for dessert, and was given steamed pudding instead, but they were quick to replace it.

Overall I expected so much more from a restuarant that is in the heart of Covent Garden, and that seem to have a high reputation. I very much doubt I'll return. As my Dad said at one point, this is an overpriced version of the Stockpot. Maybe we should have gone there.

I prebooked a table at Porters for Mother's Day. I had never tried it before but thought I'd treat Mum to some traditional, hearty English fayre.

Firstly, having compared the Mother's Day set menu to the regular menu, it worked out approximately £5 more expensive per person, for exactly the same dishes...

Secondly, I ordered the steak pie with mashed potato but was told that there was no mashed potato available...strange, seeing as I could have new potatoes or a jacket potato.

I spoke to the somewhat abrupt manager, who explained that the mashed potato would not be ready for 2 hours...he then contradicted himself by telling me that the 'mash machine' (mash machine???) was not working today.

Sadly Mum and I chose to leave. What a completely ridiculous explanation for the lack of mashed potato!

If you're looking for friendly couteous service from people who actually care about their customer's, don't bother visiting Porters.

We had our works Christmas party here Dec 07
Food was awful, Pies were dry, luke warm, tasteless, veg were slightly over cooked but staff were nice and friendly.

I had a family meal at Porter's as it's one of our favourites but it was disappointing. The vegetables were cold and the waitress looked as if she wanted to be somewhere else. A disturbing trend seems to be taking place in a few restaurants lately whereby pints of beer (£3 here) are not available, but the same brand bottled is, at £3 per bottle, double the price of a pint. Not sure about that. Porter's was not up to its usual standards this time.

Sorry, but Porters is horrid. It’s an olde English typee of placee, and just sooo old fashioned.
I’ve only eaten at Porters once and it was more than enough thanks.