If you’re after a fabulous spot in the heart of London’s West End serving up incredible sustainably sourced fish, then The Seafood Bar is the place for you.
The Seafood Bar opened in September and is situated on the iconic foodie hotspot of Dean Street. It is owned by the aptly-named Fons de Visscher (directly translated to “The Fisherman”)who has honed his craft as a respected fishmonger for 27 years as well as his children.
The fifth restaurant in the award-winning group is the first outside of the Netherlands and is sure to quickly garner the rest of the group’s excellent reputation. For example, since the Amsterdam venture opened in 2012, there have been consistently long queues outside.
The Seafood Bar is without a doubt a perfect antidote to year and a half of home-cooked food with spectacular sea-inspired dishes and tantalising cocktails. It offers an array of quality wines from across the world which are perfectly paired to the menu, however, it felt like the cocktails were the obvious choice. We started with a crisp and tangy Moscow Mule as well as the signature Bloody Mary with an Ocean twist of Rock Oyster balanced on top to complement the flavours.
The finger food and starters are the perfect options to peak your appetite. We chose the most delicious crab cakes that I’ve ever eaten with the perfect homemade garlic mayonnaise to dip the crispy bites into. We also opted for the salmon tartare with the freshness of the fish complemented by creamy avocado and a crunch of samphire as well as seabass ceviche with a citrus tang garnished with coriander.
The Seafood Bar goes far in providing fresh seafood which is decently priced and with excellent service. There really is something for everyone, although we were happy to be guided by the ever-attentive and informative staff towards the signature mixed grill. This combined the best of hot and cold seafood platters such as “Fruits de Mer” on ice including lobster, North Sea crab, razor clams, langoustines, Dutch shrimps and sustainably-bred oysters matured in the ‘claires’ in France. The top was formed of the Mixed Grill with a combination of crustaceans and fish cooked on a La Plancha grill including slip sole, king prawns and mussels in a tomato sauce, the perfect dip for a thick-cut chip or a slice of satisfying sourdough.
If you have room for a dessert afterwards, the options sound delectable including a chocolate mousse, cheesecake and a scroppino (a delicious combination of lemon sorbet, prosecco and vodka). However, we were stuffed and washed down the taste of the ocean with a rich Espresso Martini which truly hit the spot.
The decor designed by renowned hospitality designer Woodfever and Fons de Visscher pays homage to the signature style of the other Seafood Bars but with a clean and crisp style of marble, brickwork and mirrors throughout. The London restaurant also features an Instagrammable LED crab light.
The venue is well-suited to the post-Covid era desire to extend the evening and the basement is transformed into a buzzing bar whereby customers can opt for a finger food selection with a cocktail or a glass of wine. It is also the perfect spot for an event whether that be your own or hosted by the restaurant including a late night oyster party.
We would highly recommend popping down to the Georgian townhouse with your nearest and dearest in order to enjoy fresh and delicious seafood. It is a great option pre-theatre or after a day of pounding the streets of the West End. We also absolutely love that sustainability is at the heart of the restaurant so no guilt is needed. The Seafood Bar is partnered with Nordic Blu to source the world’s most sustainably farmed salmon. Moreover, all of the chain’s restaurants are ran on wind energy and the group have a zero waste policy which means that no fish is binned.
