Keep your wits about you. While the fish and chips are decent enough (albeit very overpriced), there's something off with the wait staff. Our first indication was when my dining partner and I were discussing which plate to share, the server made a forceful suggestion on which type of fish to order (haddock over cod). I usually am quite appreciative of recommendations, and we agreed on the haddock. But the body language and manner in which the server firmly insisted on this choice was .. odd. Turns out our gut feeling - that something here was amiss - was accurate, and was a foreshadow of our entire dining experience. When we placed the order - a regular haddock plate and some mushy peas to share - then she insisted that because we were going to share the haddock, we were REQUIRED to get the Large size, not the regular size, because of the size of the fish pieces. We honestly didn't care if we had to cut a piece in half to share, so my dining partner asked repeatedly where The Rule requiring a large was stated on the menu, and there is zero indication of this rule. (Later we came to understand her insistence of a larger order had ulterior motives.) We finally gave up arguing with her and agreed to order the Large. Annoyingly, sure enough it was far too much food for us. Then when it was time to check out, she came to the table acting very cagey, holding the credit card machine at an awkward angle, urging us to tap our card quickly without letting us see the screen to verify the amount of the charge. Meanwhile, my dining partner reviewed the paper receipt we'd been handed, and she saw that an optional service charge had been added into the total. This is very unusual. Tips aren't required in the UK, so that was .. annoying. We insisted on seeing the credit card screen, and the server ignored me. I ended up having to physically tilt it down in her hands and peer over the screen to see the amount. Sure enough she was charging us for the "optional" service charge and trying to not let us see it. We asked several times to have it adjusted, and she kept ignoring us, telling us to pay. She finally went to get a supervisor. Lest you think our server's behavior was a one-off experience, the supervisor continued the campaign. The supervisor proceeded to also argue with us and tell us that the optional charge was standard practice, everybody always pays it, it's expected / usual / normal etc, which is all utter BS. UK tipping culture is vastly different from how it's handled in the US; in the UK, tipping is for rare occasions. The manipulative, pushy, and deceitful behavior of the wait staff certainly did not warrant any tip. And now we understood our server's stubbornly manipulative behavior throughout our dining experience: her sneaky self-generated "bonus" depended on the check size. After repeating ourselves several times, we finally got her to understand we did not want to pay it. In retrospect we should have just left after the first manipulative interaction. There are plenty of other fish and chips places in London with amazing service. Poppie's was tasty, but there is something systemically wrong with how the waitstaff treat customers. Perhaps it's turned into a tourist trap. Avoid. read more

The restaurant is big and has lots of seating. The waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about fish and chips. The fish and chips were just okay. I wanted the halibut but they didn't have for some reason. The waitress suggested the haddock which I ordered. The fish was cooked nicely but a bit bland. There was salt and pepper on the table which made it taste better. Also the malt vinegar they provide was not very vinegar in flavor. read more

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Fish & chips is a London specialty, so what better place to try it at than a classic old-school diner. With our server's recommendations, my boyfriend and I ordered the haddock fish supper (fish & chips), 1/4 chicken, and sides of curry sauce and mushy peas. Sadly, all the savory pies were sold out by the time of our late dinner. Fish & chips is literally fried fish and fries, but the fish was fresh from the morning's catch and lightly battered and fried. I could actually taste the fish since it did not get downed in heavy batter and oil. The potatoes were also fresh from the farm, so they tasted good too. The chicken was bland, but it made it pair perfectly with the flavorful gravy and curry sauce. I am not a huge fan of peas, but the mushy peas were surprisingly good, and I happily finished them off. Eating out in London is expensive, but Poppies is one of the more affordable options. I never thought much of fish & chips until I tried the ones at Poppies. The freshness and quality of the food allow it to stand out despite being so basic, and I think I learned what real food is supposed to taste like. read more

Poppies - Fish supper - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

A cute little Fish & Chips spot located in the heart of London. This place made some delicious fish alongside chips which were super yummy! Gives you an old school diner vibe, and the staff was really kind. Definitely recommend if you're in the area! 8/10 recommend! read more

Poppies - Cod and Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

One of the first food dishes people think of when referring to the United Kingdom is fish and chips. It's definitely the first food item I think of so I knew that I had to try it in London when I visited. Before the trip, I researched a bit to decide where to try this dish since I figured I would only eat it once during my trip. After reading some articles online and reviews from people, I decided on Poppies. It was the perfect restaurant that had consistently good reviews and was conveniently situated near places in our itinerary. The restaurant has an old diner vibe and there are many tables that accommodate small to medium groups. Decor on the walls are photos of famous people. Service was quick and friendly. Mink only wanted to try a couple bites so I ordered a Large Haddock and a Pint of Camden Pale Ale. Our server was quick to bring out my beer and the kitchen had my order on the table several minutes after. They even brought out a smaller plate for Mink. The fish was perfectly fried as the meat was moist and flakey. It was more on the bland side but the tartar sauce, lots of vinegar and lemon wedges helped. The chips were ok, not the best I had during the trip but it was decent. Thankfully there was a lot of ketchup and ground pepper. I'm satisfied with my pick of trying this dish at Poppies. Overall, it was a good meal and I'm happy that I got to eat this dish in its originating country. read more

Poppies - Large Haddock (Fish and Chips) - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

So first off not sure if this is a fair review since I am used to Long John's Silvers and processed foods. The fish had no flavor so definitely needed tartar sauce and squeezing lemon juice on it. Service was really good especially when they were taking care of a large party of 40 people. read more

Poppies - Fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

Ordered: Regular Fried Haddock with Chips (~£20) Tartar Sauce (£1) Aya's take: Poppies is another one of those popular fish & chips spots in London. We were looking for a bite to eat around 10:30pm (they close at 11pm) but they weren't allowing dine-in anymore. A bit disappointing but we went next door to the takeaway side to place a quick order. The Fried Haddock with Chips was below average. 1) it wasn't fresh, 2) it lacked flavor, and 3) they charge £1 each for any condiment you want. They gave us the tiniest amount of tartar sauce which was crazy considering the size of the fish. We also asked for ketchup and were told it was also £1. I have never experienced having to pay extra for condiments like this when it should come with the meal. Who in London eats fish & chips without tartar sauce!? That should never be a separate charge. This meal will fill you up but not satisfy you. Maybe dining in during the day would be totally different but based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend it and wish I saved the calories for something better instead. read more

Poppies - Regular Fried Haddock with Chips (~£20) & Tartar Sauce (£1) - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

Mediocre fish and chips. Visited the Notting Hill location and the decor and smell of the place seemed really enticing. They have a to-go window, so we decided to give it a try. I ordered the medium cod and chips, and was surprised that tartar sauce was an extra cost. The system is slightly strange that they give you a ticket and ask that you wait outside by the window. When your order's ready they call your ticket from the window and ask that you come inside to pickup the food. It would make more sense to hand the food out from the window? I did like that when picking up the food the staff asked if I wanted vinegar and salt on top, considering the batter itself was pretty bland. The exterior of the dish wasn't very crispy which I was looking forward to. We ate it a few minutes after taking it to-go so I don't think it had time to become soggy. The fish itself was juicy and flakey. The chips were good, not the best. Enjoyed the tartar sauce and without it would've found the fish to be bland. Overall, an Instagram worthy spot but the taste is lacking. Hope to find better fish and chips the next time I'm in London read more

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My friend and I were visiting London and wanted the best authentic fish and chips we could get our hands on. We asked a local on the tube and this is where we ended up! The fish was great. Flaky, crispy, pretty much unseasoned, but I prefer adding the salt and vinegar myself. The chips were good too, and the portion sizes on them were huge. The interior was of a nice vintage style and very clean. Service was quick and friendly. The price is unjustfiable, however. The fish and chips were already expensive, but to add onto the tiny amount of tartar sauce provided would be an extra charge (and they don't even let you take the jar!). Otherwise a pleasant experience! read more

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As a tourist just looking for fish and chips I was more than satisfied coming to this mid-century "diner" that had a nice little buzz going on, which was enough to draw me in from the street. It was nice to see they offered a multitude of fried fish options and a full bar to boot! Knowing how expensive London is I was only marginally surprised that the bill for two for lunch, which included two "small" beers each was over £85.00. read more

Poppies - Fried Halibut! - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

I can't help but to LOL at the dumb comments I see on these reviews. Long John silvers? Really? The food was as expected for an English fish and chips restaurant. Cod was fresh and there were plenty of chips. Tartare sauce did come in a small jar but it was enough for my large cod fillet. The mushy peas was excellent although it does have baby food texture. read more

Yea ... probably the worse fish and chips I have ever had . Im unsure why this place was so crowded . The food definitely gave neighborhood latenight / im starved and theres no other place open - energy . It was just that. Nothing helped with taste , not the tarter , not the ketchup, DEFINITELY not the malt vinegar .... Annoyed by my choice to experience "fish and chips" and to have had it taste so Mediocre was a Major disappointment. Even more so because we were headed to our train to Paris and had no time To eat elsewhere ... read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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There are TONS of places to eat fish and chips! This place was recommend by this YouTuber that's lives in London. Also, on Facebook there are two different London groups I belong too and they all recommend this place. This place did not disappoint. The staff were really helpful explaining the different type to f fish to choice from. My mom had a beer & I just had tap water. I hate her fish since it was huge. It was Delicious! It was so light and flaky. The tarter was good. I am so glad we stop here. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Surprisingly good for a very beige plate! Wished everything came more salted but I didn't mind seasoning on my own--like a pick your own adventure. I can't remember if we had the haddock or cod but the fish was lovely and flakey, chips were also surprisingly good though visually a far cry from the shoe string this Yankee is accustomed to. Cute retro ambiance. Not sure why there were a bunch of photos of iconic Americans such as Elvis but it works! read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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A hopping place to get some great fried food and a beer. The spot is full of character and vibes. Dine in or take out. Food came out fast and extremely hot. If you eat here, expect to pay a decent amount for your food. Prices lean to the higher side. An example, halibut and chips, 25.00 plus the service fee. So 28.00 for a fish and chips. Having more tarter sauce would have made my day. I did not ask so I do not know if someone can more tarter sauce without a charge. Worth a stop and I suggest splitting with your other human(s). Large amount of food. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Really not great. The cod was ok (to be fair I don't like fish with skin on it and that is how every restaurant serves it in London). The haddock was just ok. No flavor. The service was nice but not enough to make up for the poor food. read more

My first (and only) fish and chip experience during my London trip. I made reservations on open table but we didn't need them. For a party of 3 on a Tuesday night around 8pm we walked in and got sat almost immediately. Food was good but bland. The chips has absolutely no flavor and were undercooked (in my opinion). The fish was good. Served very hot and the fish was cooked very well. It was a very busy place and in true London fashion all of the tables are super close together. We had multiple servers attend to our table. It was the end of the night so could tell they were trying to clean up, restocking condiments and such. Overall I liked Poppies. I came here based on a "places you have to try in London" list. Good experience, just not someplace I absolutely have to come back to. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Came in here on our visit to London, based on a local's recommendation. We had to try the Traditional Fish and Chips before we left. It did not disappoint. We tried the Haddock, the fish was fresh, mild in flavor. Not impressed with the chips. They weren't crispy enough. Rotisserie chicken was ok. Ambiance was great, a different vibe. The homemade tartar sauce was yummy! read more

Poppies - Haddock - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Don't go to this location always go to Spitsfield location it's night and day, soho location consistently fails you to night at £22 I had cold scampi that had obviously been cooked and left under the lights.. this would never happen at the other location where it always serves hot and fresh... sad to say but it's true Told the staff and they could not careless and said we will tell the manager lolll ok wow read more

This chip shop is located near Chinatown. It's pretty tight inside, so all the tables are squeezed together. Service was quick and the atmosphere is pleasant. As for the food, I wanted to like it but it just fell pretty flat for me. I ordered the regular sized haddock fish and chips. The dish is pretty large and you can probably share it with someone else. The breading was soggy, unfortunately, and lacked the crisp that you'd want in a proper fry. Also, the fish lacked flavor. Malt vinegar didn't help it much, neither did the tartar sauce, which they give sparingly. The chips were actually solid. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, the way a proper chip should be I've heard the other spot might be better, but I think I'll pass. Too many other options in this big city. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

I was told by a local of the area that coming from America, Poppie's would be the place I can get the best flavored fish & chips. It did not disappoint. It could've used a tad more seasoning but I enjoyed how fresh and flaky the fish was. The tartar sauce was on point! Easy, super casual and decently priced! read more

Poppies - Fish n chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Yum! I guess it's well known and it didn't disappoint. Food was fresh and crispy! The service is A+. The ambiance was great gave a bit of old school flair. read more

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I really like this spot - it's my second time visiting this restaurant and it did not disappoint. I had the Fish & Chips (Cod) and it was fantastic: perfectly fried and seasoned so that the fish flavor came through; the chips were also very good and were a nice contrast to the flavorful fish. This spot offers a pretty large menu, but I think most people tend to go for the fish and chips and that's what they're known for. We also shared an order of the Sticky Toffee Pudding and it was a nice way to end the meal. We were here on a Saturday night around 7pm, which is prime time, but we only waited for about 15 minutes. The service was attentive. read more

Had heard the Poppies was a good place for fish and chips. Tonight we felt like something simple. When we arrived we were greeted and seated right away. I got the regular size Cod and chips and my partner had the calamari and chips. Both were great. The team at Poppies checked on us regularly. Being American I am use to a cocktail style sauce with my calamari but all meals there come with a jar of Tarter spice and vinegar on the table. I liked their style of vinegar. It was good. read more

Poppies - Calamari - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Perfect place to try authentic fish and chips in heart of London. The fish is fresh and the staff was extremely helpful. read more

Poppies - Mashed peas - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Came here on our long day layover in London. The servers here were very nice however the food was very bland, the fries had no flavor and the fish has was pretty subpar. read more

Poppies - Fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

very slow service but good funk blues and RnB music. The food average. They don't give a lot of fish compared to USA. However it's a nice concept . I think they forgot about me I waited 30 minutes for fish. read more

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When you enter the restaurant you feel like you hopped into a Time Machine and went back to the 60s. Wall paper, furniture, and photos give you that retro feel. Very little frills, we got the haddock and cod fish and chips. They unfortunately ran out of halibut. The fish and chips were fried perfectly, not greasy and well crisped. Both the fish and chips lacked flavor so I had to add some salt pepper and malt vinegar. Overall solid fish and chips. They come in two sizes regular and large, we both got the regular and could barely finish our plates. If I had to choose one over the other, I'd get the cod and forego the haddock. The cod was flakier and thicker so it's less likely to be overcooked. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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There is a very pushy waitress who recommends placie fish and then goes on to recommend a different fish every second as if she forgot she recommended the first one. "It's so good so good". Came in as a group and wanted to share a few plates just to try it and move on. Female waitress complained because she said she doesn't allow people to share plates at "booking time". What? So confused. She allowed it eventually but I didn't see any rules on the menu about sharing plates. Not trying to fill up here because there are a lot of other places I want to try. Not that hard to be nice. It was very disgusting. Very fishy and dry. The crips were hard/undercooked potato. The mushy peas are gross. The beans are gross. She recommended all of this and it was sooo nasty. Call it poopies cause it taste like .... Absolutely disgusting. She said everything was fresh and homemade. Lies. Please avoid this place. Golden Union is much better where you can truly tell the tarter is made from scratch and the fish is fresh. This restaurant is also doing too much besides fish and chips so that should be your hint it's not good. Horrible customer service even after we complained. read more

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Believe the hype. This place was on our list of UK must do's. It did not disappoint. I got the regular size haddock fish and chips and it was spectacular! Moist, sweet, flaky fish with a crispy crunchy coating, and it wasn't greasy. Wish we had one here in the states. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

I liked the fries. Perfectly cooked. The fish was crispy on outside but soggy on inside. The fish smelled a bit too. Service was prompt. I think it was an off day. The fish and chips was seasoned better here. read more

Poppies - Apple pie - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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I don't really know what really good fish and chips are but I would guess this is one of the places. My husband and I got the large fish and chips (cod) and an app of the calamari. The fish was extremely flaky with the skin still on the bottom that added more delicious fish flavor to every bite. The batter was airy and crispy and, with the tar tar and lemon, it was delicious. The calamari app was also delicious but, I would probably pass on it for next time. While the pieces of squid were big, there were so few pieces, I didn't think it was worth it. Overall, I'm giving this place 4 stars because the fish itself was delicious. The downside is that the chips were WAY under seasoned and both the calamari and fish and chips were definitely on the pricer side. Also, services was meh. It was quick, you got your food, but this place is far from hospitable. read more

Poppies - Fish and chips large cod - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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Came here because this chain is a classic? I found it terribly overpriced with rude customer service. The portion of seafood was very scant. Chips were plentiful but not that good. Also very skimpy with the tartar sauce. Optional tip is included. read more

Found this place online in the soho area. Very old school place. We ordered fish and chip which was good. But the batter kept falling off the fish. The fries could have been cooked a little longer. The fish cake was actually surprisingly the best thing. It was fully of fish instead of cake which was delicious. An ok place to come. for a quick bite. read more

Poppies - Fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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If you are looking for real english fish and chips - besides going down to the docks, this is your place. Fast good service, food was VERY good, and they have a number of locations - we went to the one near picadilly. Only downside - ordered the Calamari as an appetizer - it came with 4 small rings - not a pile, not a group - just single rings.... read more

Fish was nice and crispy (haddock), light in flavor. Chips were not super fresh, but still serviceable. Takeout available, which is cheaper than dining in, but you don't get all the cool condiments. read more

I felt like I needed to have fish and chips since I was in England. This wasn't my first choice of restaurant, but it was the closest. I went in with one other friend on a Wednesday afternoon and got seated right away. I think every guest was a tourist. We had cod fish and chips. Yes, the taste was pretty bland, but I expected that lol. There is really not much to write about the taste. You just need to salt and pepper your fish and chips yourself. Cod is flaky, chips were fresh and crisp, and the tar tar sauce came in a cute little jar that maybe you can bring home as a souvenir? I would say if you can go to a different fish and chips restaurant, maybe try those. But if you are in the area and have to have fish and chips, this could satisfy that. read more

Poppies - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

Hands down the BEST Fish & Chips in London! I always look forward to Poppies on every trip to the UK. I don't know their special ingredient is, but gosh their Fish & Chips is delicious! read more

For my second Fish and Chips meal in London, I knew it had to be Poppie's. I swung by one morning just as it opened, and waited ~10 minutes for my hot and fresh cod and chips to come out. Overall, I thought theirs was a bit softer than other spots, but just as delicious, especially when doused with vinegar on a cold winter day. Everyone was quite welcoming and nice, and I felt like a true customer during my visit. I'll likely be back for another visit during my next trip to London! read more

Poppies - Cod Fish and Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

Amazing fish and chips! Solid and very cute restaurant. We were a big party of 8 and got right in for lunch and had good service too. Fish was perfectly cooked and a nice big piece for the large order. Totally hit the spot and the restaurant was great. read more

Poppies - Kitchen - Fish & Chips Near Me - London, XGL

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