Soho spot The Seafood Bar has become a firm favourite with our team since it opened four years ago, thanks to its mouthwatering menu. An import from the Netherlands courtesy of the de Visccher family - a surname that literally means “fisherman’ - the first Seafood Bar was opened in 2012 in Amsterdam and there are now five across the country in addition to the London branch.
Whether looking for a light lunch or a seafood feast, their menu is a treat. The Seafood Bar works with suppliers to ensure they are serving up sustainable seafood, with a fantastically varied spread, from creative starters that cross cuisines to seafood towers and delicious dishes from their plancha grill. Quite frankly, there's something for everyone and with 60% of their tables reserved for walk ins, it's a great spot to saunter into of an evening and grab a bite.
We recommend starting with oysters - of course. With varieties on the menu including the rich, nutty Normandy Gillardeau, the delicate classic Jersey oyster, or the distinct flavour of the Maldon, there's one for everybody. There are some fantastic starters, like the rich lobster soup, fantatsic roast scallops with shimeji mushrooms, chorizo and cafe au lait jus, and a vibrant tuna tatake served with wakame and a soy ginger and sesame glaze; we love the variety in flavours across the menu.
A big decision will come in choosing between the fruits de mer - cold platters including seafood such as mussels, smoked mackerel rillettes, clams whelks, clams, crevettes, seafood salad, Devon brown crabm oysters, smoked salmon, langoustines and lobster - or the mixed grill, with shrimp skewer, squid, plaice, king prawn, salmon and seabass fillet and mussels in tomato sauce. We'd recommend a combo of the two to make the most of the spread on offer, or even upgrading to the crustacean mixed grill from the plancha, with lobster, langoustines, snow crab and prawns. Spectacular.
Of course there are other mains as well, like a classic fish and chips and a quite frankly wonderful monkfish fillet with mash, creamy lobster sauce, pickled silverskin onion (shouldn't work, but oh it does) and cherry tomatoes; it was delicate and flaky, with a gorgeous tang from the onion. We will however be returning to try the whole lemon sole and the gremolata crusted cod.
Of course there's plenty on the drinks menu to pair it with; we thoroughly enjoyed an excellent picpoul and the Ocean Bloody Mary - resplendent with a fresh oyster - but the cocktail menu include some other classic like a French '75 and a Spicy Margarita, though we're not too sure of pairing an Espresso Margarita with the fish... maybe save that one for pudding.
There are admittedly a few big-hitting seafood powerhouses in London, but in The Seafood Bar there's a buzzy vibe somewhat missing from the others, with the added bonus of some frankly excellent Soho people-watching if you bag yourself a spot in the window. We loved it.
77 Dean Street, London W1D 3SH
