With two successful restaurants in Marleybone and Mayfair, it’s safe to say that Fishworks know a thing or two about seafood. So much so that they have scaled up once again, opening another Fishworks in Covent Garden earlier this year. What the new restaurant has over the others is that it’s home to Fishworks’ first dedicated oyster bar, meaning people can literally pop in for an oyster and a glass of fizz. We went to check it out for ourselves and boy was it busy.
A table by the window gives us a great view of the restaurant, all kitted out beautifully with scale tiles and marble and copper accents. Our eyes were drawn to the fishmongers topping up the display with ice, causing us to wonder if any of the fish will suddenly turn their heads to us and break out into Al Green’s ‘Take Me To The River’. We’re told all the seafood is brought up to the restaurant every morning from Brixham, and there’s strictly no singing.
We can’t resist mussels and the Catalan-style steamed ones here, cooked in almond, white wine, garlic, chilli and saffron sauce, are great. Argentinian prawns pan-fried in chilli, ginger, white wine and garlic, served with a fennel and mint salad, pairs beautifully with Riesling – a true taste of summer right there.
Moving on to mains, we opted for the oven-roasted sea bass and Cornish ale battered monkfish with double cooked chips, minted mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce. It’s yin and yang, healthy versus indulgent. Hppily both were beautifully cooked and generous in portion size.
If you’re in the mood for seafood, Fishworks is the catch of the day. We’ve got our eye on that classic bouillabaisse for visit number two.
2-4 Catherine St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JY
fishworks.co.uk