Whether it’s wooing with oysters, a sharing platter of fruits de mer or just a good classic version of fish and chips, when it comes to seafood, London has something for everyone. Here are 17 of the best seafood restaurants in London
1 Loch Fyne, Twickenham
A real seafood favourite that is also doing wonderful things from its Twickenham restaurant. Loche Fyne has just unveiled a wonderful new look to go alongside its top class a la carte menu. A real local favourite that has just got even better, then.
175 Hampton Road TW2 5NG; 020 8255 6222; lochfyneseafoodgrill.co.uk
2 Olley’s Fish Experience, Brockwell Park
The multiple award-winning Olley’s (The Food Award’s Best Takeaway in South England 2014) serves over 20 species of fish, and every Monday and Tuesday serves up gluten free fish and chips. Talk about proper seafood choice.
65-69 Norwood Road SE24 9AA; 020 8671 8259; olleys.info
3 The Wright Brothers, Spitalfields
The masters of food shelled and finned, the Wright Brothers have a real passion for all things from the sea. Their Spitalfields restaurant is the latest addition to The Wright Brothers family, which offers a bold and innovative ‘sea-to-plate’ dining experience, not to mention holding masterclasses so you can learn to shuck like a professional.
8/9 Lamb StreetE1 6EA; 020 7377 8706; thewrightbrothers.co.uk
4 Harvey’s Bistro, Blackheath
This Blackheath favourite specialises in seafood and don’t we know it. Try the succulent octopus and baby squid, pan-fried with chorizo; the Scottish lobster Thermidor; or the whopping surf and turf that comes replete with half a lobster.
121 Lee RoadSE3 9DS; 020 8318 2116; harveyslondon.co.uk
5 J Sheekey, Mayfair
A London institution, J Sheekey has for many years (over 100 years and counting) cooked up the finest fish, oysters, shellfish and fruits de mer going. Known as a pre- and post-theatre hang out, there is always a really good atmosphere and its intimate setting adds to the appeal of this seafood restaurant. What’s more, if it takes your fancy, you can just pop in without booking and enjoy half a dozen oysters and a glass of Champagne.
28-34 St Martin’s Court WC2N 4AL; 020 7240 2565; j-sheekey.co.uk
6 Denny’s Seafood Restaurant, Chislehurst
Denny’s, established three decades ago now in 1985, is located inside the old waiting room at Chislehurst train station and offers an extensive range of fresh seafood, from lobster and rock oysters, to winkles and whitebait.
Station Approach, Chislehurst BR7 5NN; 020 8467 5612; dennysseafoodrestaurant.co.uk
7 Kerbisher & Malt, Brook Green
It’s all go at Kerbisher & Malt. They have just opened their fifth outlet in North London – which looks like it will revolutionise your typical fish and chips takeaway – but it all began in Brook Green, West London. The secret to their success? Kerbisher & Malt is simply all about doing fish and chips very well indeed.
164 Shepherds Bush RoadW6 7PB; 020 3556 0228; kerbisher.co.uk
We chat to Kerbisher & Malt co-founder Nick Crossley
8 The Cow, Westbourne Park
The fish stew at The Cow is the ultimate comfort food. It’s served as part of the two-course Cow Classic set menu for £15. There’s quite a variety on top of that too, with a menu that covers all bases – perfect if you happen to be dining with fussy eaters.
89 Westbourne Park RoadW2 5QH; thecowlondon.co.uk
9 Kensington Place, Kensington
Last year Kensington Place received a great deal of attention for its gourmet fast-food pop-up FISHBone, but it’s a great seafood restaurant in its own right too. It even has its own fish shop, so everything looks and tastes very fresh. Wonderful.
201 Kensington Church StreetW8 7LX; kensingtonplace-restaurant.co.uk
10 Angler, The City
Perched at the top of South Place Hotel in the City, our spy says they had arguably their finest meal of 2014 at Angler. Executive Chef Tony Fleming has certainly come up trumps with wonderfully accomplished seafood pairings, which includes a much vaunted tasting menu.
3 South PlaceEC2M 2AF; 020 3215 1260; anglerrestaurant.com
11 Notting Hill Kitchen, Notting Hill
Again this is another on this list that doesn’t exclusively serve seafood, but its Portuguese chef Luis Baena prepares these dishes so well that it warranted a mention. The swordfish, hot smoked in Azores black tea, is truly superb for a lip-smacking price of £17.
92 Kensington Park RoadW11 2PN; nottinghillkitchen.co.uk
12 The Fish & Chip Shop, Islington
At the moment it seems like Des McDonald can do no wrong. When he opened The Fish & Chip Shop on Upper Street, Islington, it seemed a world away from some of the high end restaurants he dealt with at Caprice Holdings, but the down-to-earth vibe complemented the good, old fashioned menu perfectly. A new branch has recently opened in the City.
189 Upper StreetN1 1RQ; 020 3227 0979; thefishandchipshop.uk.com
13 Brady’s, Wandsworth
This popular local favourite recently celebrated 25 years in the business, so it must be doing something right. That something, it appears, is its fresh fish offerings, tried and tested by theresident.co.uk team very recently and everything consumed received a hearty thumbs up.
39 Jews Row SW18 1TB; 020 8877 9599; bradysfish.co.uk
14 Bonnie Gull, Exmouth Market
Newly refurbished, Bonnie Gull Seafood Bar has a great look and wonderfully cheap prices in return for good food. One part of what makes Exmouth Market such a draw in London, this is as close to the sea as you will feel without actually heading to the coast.
55-57 Exmouth Market EC1R 4QL; bonniegullseafoodbar.com
15 The Fish Club, Clapham
Talk about doing what it says on the tin (although that’s where the similarity ends as everything you’ll find here is the freshest produce possible), The Fish Club has two restaurants in close vicinity of each other – one on Clapham High Street and another on St John’s Hill – that have become firm SW London favourites.
189 St John’s Hill SW11 1TH; 020 7978 7115; thefishclub.com
16 Outlaw’s at The Capital, Knightsbridge
Though not as romantic as his Cornwall location, Nathan Outlaw’s Knightsbridge restaurant serves some of the best fish dishes in town. Last year, it was awarded a Michelin star thanks to Outlaw’s tireless (and top quality) work there. A real treat.
The Capital, 22-24 Basil Street SW3 1AT; capitalhotel.co.uk
17 Motcombs, Belgravia
Amongst the top class menu you will find at Motcombs, the brasserie serves beautiful oysters, along with a very good selection of elegant fish dishes. This is a great place for seafood lovers to frequent, but also if you are accompanied by those who prefer a bit more choice when it comes to their meal.
26 Motcomb Street SW1X 8JU; 020 7235 6382; motcombs.co.uk
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