The Prince of Wales, Battersea

I remember this pub being the rowdy, hockey team favourite The Settle Inn.  Its atmosphere couldn't have been much more different when I went for lunch with a friend and her parents.  It is very much a food orientated pub (when I popped in recently on a Sunday every table was occupied by diners, there was nowhere to have a drink) and we sat in the large dining room. Everyone went for a sandwich - some of us for chicken and some for steak.  Mine (a chicken version) was good, if a little dull - salad etc all fine but nothing that sticks in the memory and some decent chips.  The steak, though was tough and chewy - served on a skewer to be placed into the bread yourself - and at one point a member of our party had to discreetly spit a particularly unpalatable piece into her napkin.

Determined to end the meal on a better note we had sticky toffee pudding with icecream which was delicious, and a generous size.  

As it's local, I expect I will give it another go sometime but a disappointing start.

Two courses and a glass of wine: £16 per head

Value: 6/10

Service: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Food: 6/10

SCORE: 27/40

The Prince of Wales, 186 Battersea Bridge Road, London, SW11 3AE.  Tel: 020 72280395.