With scallop ceviche and jersey oysters on the menu visible from outside, they had me over a barrel, well sat, rather upright around one at least.
For a midweek late light spot of supper I was rather surprised at how full they were. Punters crammed in like sardines, they even had a full basement dining area. I didn't venture below deck pass the powder room to find out what that was like, visiting the shanty like bathroom with a broken loo seat and hearing dulcet plinky plunky off beats of piano garage lilting in the background I could have mistakenly thought I was in some shabby crab hipster hideout Eastward, but nay you naysayers I was dinner dating in the civilised and hidden gem of Highbury.
Out front, the enticing looking fish display and it's aficionado staff were the stars of this plaice, sorry, place. Knowledgeable handsome and cheeky yet not intrusive. Happy to answer questions and the half dozen team served the little morsels as they prepared them; order-eat and repeat is the rule here.
The running joke of the evening was, have what you like unless its crossed off the menu, the mackerel pate that evening was popular.
Pointing out their board rules, my only discontent was that I was served only a Jumbo prawn, not 'prawns' as the menu suggested.
The lobster salad was ok, a little boring, the passion fruit ceviche scallop was delectable, yet overpowered by the adornment of the mini sprouted coriander. The winning item for me was the smoked scallop taramasalata. Served with homemade (meanly, sorry I mean thinly sliced!) soda bread.
I was placated for spotting the misplaced prawn plural, by being offered extra 'bread' for the remains of my Tarama. How cute, two whole postage stamp sized pieces for my literary efforts.
Overall, fifty squid for 4 small plates and a couple of glasses of sherry, enough to soften my hard shell and make me merry! read more