Watford, Fish & Seafood Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: “Great fish ’n’ chips” are the hallmark of the Andreou family's fixture (also with a Bushey Heath offshoot) which marked its thirtieth birthday with an expansion not too long ago. Nowadays, they do gluten-free Mondays too.

“The fish is always fresh and the staff are friendly” at this “good local fish ’n’ chip place” that has been a fixture in Finchley for three decades. “Best fish and chips in London?” – probably not, but just what you want in your neighbourhood.

“Always fresh and good-value fish ’n’ chips” – cooked “over charcoal as an alternative” and backed up by a selection of Turkish small plates – ensures this 25-year-old family-run operation remains “an attractive option” for eating in Finchley.

“Sensationally good grilled plaice” and the “freshest fish and prawns” help make this 55-year-old north London chippy a “favourite place to go to be cheered up” (“my partner and I think it’s well worth catching the two buses needed to get there!”). “Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is known to frequent it when playing in the Masters Championships at nearby Ally Pally”. Top Menu Tip – “always order the delicious Greek salad, with the family’s own-recipe dressing”.

Simon & Jolanta Bradley’s “efficient” veteran of 30 years’ standing near Swiss Cottage station “never lets you down” and it’s a “great option if going to the Hampstead Theatre around the corner”. But while fans say “the quality of the food is such that it shouldn’t be only for pre-theatre”, there’s also a view that “it can feel rather soulless” as a destination in itself.

This modern fish ’n’ chip shop in Dartmouth Park is “a nice, healthy (and non-smelly) alternative” to the classic old-school chippy, with “good-quality” fresh fish.

This “brilliant, buzzy local seafood restaurant” is much-loved in Crouch End and beyond for its “exciting, high-quality dishes from a short menu” and “exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff”. It works equally well for a meal with a large group or a “snack at the bar”.

One of London’s original gastropubs, Tom Conran’s Irish-themed “neighbourhood joint” in Bayswater still hits the spot after nearly 30 years. “Whoever is in the kitchen does a terrific job, as the food is delicious”. It “can be noisy with bigger parties” and “the upstairs dining room is only small” – but you can always eat in the main bar.

“Sitting by the canal is relaxing, and in cooler weather the heaters are turned on and the entire experience is warm and welcoming” at this “beautiful” spot by the Regent’s Canal in Little Venice. Views diverge on the fish-centric cooking: to fans it produces “well-cooked staples”, to the odd harsh critic the performance is verging on “unskilled”. All agree, though, that “personal and un-rushed service” contributes to its appeal.

2021 Review: Mussels, prawns, calamari and other seafood by the, er, bucket-load is the promise at this “lovely local” yearling on the Bayswater/Notting Hill border – a “comfortable” modern bistro with simple-but-effective decor, serving “a wide selection of very fresh fish and seafood” (in small metal pails) that’s “very good value”. Top Tip – oyster happy hour 4pm-7pm weekdays and 4pm-6pm on weekends, when oysters are £1 each with any bottle, jug, cocktail or bucket of beers.

“Make sure you sit in the front garden” or the “nice covered terrace” to get the most out of this “lovely local”, not far from Notting Hill Gate. Despite the “fresh fish on display”, lots of regulars “only ever have pizza, which is very good indeed with lots of very fresh-tasting toppings”. “Nice gelato” too. And it’s “excellent value for the quality and area”.

“The lobster noodles are as legendary as ever” – “best in the world!” – chorus a legion of fans for this 45-year-old Queensway institution that’s “tops for Chinese seafood in London”. It’s a “buzzy family restaurant” too, with “really lovely friendly staff”, even if it’s “a bit too brightly lit”.

“A wonderful display of fresh fish on ice” (“including the biggest scallops with the coral attached”) greets diners arriving at this “unique Italian” in a quiet corner of Kensington, whose “cooking is precise with a light touch”.

“Best dim sum I’ve had in a long time – everything was best-in-class”: reporters are unanimous in their praise for the “always great” Cantonese cooking at the Marylebone flagship of the Royal China group. But there’s some pushback against the prices: “eye-wateringly expensive, compared to the standard competition, if comparable to their Hakkasan/Yauatcha-peers”.

The “super-fresh fish” – “simply prepared” and “never overcooked” – “never disappoints” at this “good value” trio of West End seafood brasseries, in Covent Garden, Marylebone and Swallow Street, off Piccadilly.

A “lovely location on the river” with “vistas over the Thames” is an uncontested attraction of the London outpost of the famous TV chef, near Barnes Bridge. It’s not a huge advertisement for choosing a place according to the celebrity name over the door, as results are “hit and miss” to the extent that many diners view it as “consistently disappointing”, “especially given the elevated prices”.

Sommelier Xavier Rousset is behind this “wonderful and quiet little restaurant” and wine bar in Marylebone, “serving delicious, serious food” – mostly inspired by Italy – and “an outstanding Rhône-specialist wine list”. Service is notably “friendly, with a relaxed vibe”.