Reviews & Ratings for The Whale & Ale

02/29/12

Our favorite hang-out!!!

by MartaR483

I have gone several times. I love the area blocks from the water. We go for the friends we have met there and the great food. I had the lamb salad. it is something you can not find on just any menu. Great English food!

02/19/12

Excellent English Food and Atmosphere!

by Doris Ressl

What a treat to get Shepards Pie, and other English fare. Nice owner, servers, bartenders. Great atmosphere - doesn't fee like California!

10/04/10

Great Happy Hour

by Michelle Ramsey

The Whale & Ale has a great happy hour. This is one restaurant I like to visit when ever I'm in San Pedro.

03/03/10

Awesome place!

by Dion Isis

Best food of its kind in the area. I've never had a bad meal or a bad drink here. They have great music and holiday specials and the owners and wait staff are really, really nice. Just great!

• Pros: Excellent Scottish/Irish/British menu, good brews on tap
• Cons: kind of small and carpet could use a cleaning

09/05/08

Classy English Dining in San Pedro

by thesilb

These are some reviews for The Whale & Ale that I have gleaned from the web:

1. The Whale & Ale brings much class to San Pedro. The food is always superb and the service is always friendly. Anyone looking for a wonderful time dining out should discover The Whale & Ale.

2. Wow. Terrific beer selection, live music on many of the weekends I've gone. I have had such a good time, I go back as often as possible. Sit by the fireplace, you'll feel as if you're in London. Dishes I've enjoyed include: fish & chips, welsh rarebit, salmon, sticky toffee pudding, bread pudding. I've had nibbles off other people's plates and always liked their food; (people I know, - I'm not grazing from stranger's tables).

I had one of the best Beef wellingtons here - and they have a really impressive wine list for a 'pub'. The fish & chips are delicious. Fish, (Atlantic Cod), has a crisp, buttery batter surrounding perfectly flaky but firm white fish, and it comes with a glorious tartar sauce. The prime rib au jus with horseradish is juicy and flavorful, and I'm a particular fan of the creamed spinach that comes with it. Try their house burger with blue cheese....it's absolutely delicious. The meat is superb, it tastes like ground steak, but the texture is perfectly tender and top notch.

3. Beautifully oak-paneled place with aged decor.

Upstairs they have darts and a giant metal whale. And, yes, I mention bathrooms in almost every review. That's important to some people. The bathrooms here are numerous enough that you won't have to wait, and clean.

4. Great service, great drinks, great food, AND the best salad dressing in the history of the world.

It was August's First Thursday in San Pedro, and the joint was jumping. Not to worry, though, we were treated royally. The kids enjoyed Shirley Temples, fish & chips, pasta. My man and I loved the New Zealand Red Snapper with rice and Asian Veggies. We also had the chilled pea soup with spicy crabmeat - to die for!!!

• Pros: Friendly, efficient, interesting dishes well prepared
• Cons: None

08/23/08

Best British Pub

by NEWTEAM

Excellent service, great food and family-friendly. My son love it. Nice place to have a great time with family and friends.

• Pros: Service, Big portions.

01/29/07

Authentic style english pub - would return!

by sangria1

Reminded me of pubs in England (although, of course, I'm not a Brit so I might not be the best judge - I did spend three months in London, though). I ordered a snakebite (half beer, half cider) and it tasted authentic. The food was also really good as was the service. I would definitely return, great atmosphere too! I think I got a chicken sandwich, cajun spiced maybe, and it was good, as the was the fried calamari.

• Pros: food, snakebites, service, ambience
• Cons: parking, area

Nip over to this authentic British pub for meat and potatoes and a pint of ale.

by Contributor

The Scene
Outside, two flags wave: One for merry olde England, the other for the nation that kicked its butt. Inside is a letter-perfect British pub, with dark-wood paneling, granny-style wallpaper and a cozy fireplace. The long wooden bar in back serves seven excellent brews on draft, and darts are available to entertain. But it's not a raucous bar full of hooligans, but a family-friendly hangout.

The Food
England may not be known for its cuisine, but the pub grub here is always comforting. Goliath-sized tiger shrimp are fried golden brown in Bass ale batter, yet still ooze a lush creamy center. Many dishes come partnered with classic "chips"--thick-cut steak fries--meant to be doused with malt vinegar. Vegetarians can order eggplant rarebit, a dish of breaded and fried eggplant medallions awash in a cheesy sauce.

02/09/06

FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE GREAT FOOD

by dfinklong

Last week, my parents were in town and were very impressed with our 'little treasure' of a find in the Whale & Ale. They have been to London many a time, and were quite impressed with the whole experience, of their visit to our favorite San Pedro restaurant.

Over the past few years, we've enjoyed many a wonderful evening of dining at this unique establishment, from intimate dinners for two to our rather large family group of 12!! You can always count on being greeted by the owner Andrew, with warmth and a genuine expression of care and gratitude. Wait staff is always ready to ensure you have a great meal. And the food is TERRIFIC, each and every visit!!

• Pros: Reasonably priced, inviting atmosphere, friendly staff
• Cons: no espresso/latte

06/05/04

The Whale and Ale

by anntompkins

The Whale and Ale is a delightful place to visit. Not only is the service and the food great but the people are friendly and you can not help but have a great time.

• Pros: fair price, friendly people, good service