fish! Kitchen - Kingston

fish! Kitchen is the brainchild of restaurateur Tony Allan. Following the success of the magnificent glasshouse that is fish! in Borough Market, the Kingston restaurant was opened. From the outside, the venue paints a pretty picture thanks to its front tiling and quiet location. Inside, fish! Kitchen boasts contemporary decor and an inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place to relax and partake in a delicious meal.

To the right of the restaurant area sits Jarvis, a traditional fishmongers. Here, you’ll find sustainably sourced fresh seafood. From this counter, visitors are invited to choose their fish or seafood of choice, with the option of having it cooked to order for lunch next door in the restaurant, fish! Kitchen. We began our visit by perusing the lengthy à la carte menu, which changes regularly in line with the produce available. From seasonal options to classics like beer-battered cod, plaice, haddock, skate and halibut, we made our decisions. Although tempted by the seared tuna Carpaccio and diver-caught scallops, we couldn’t resist the Cornish dressed crab on toast, and hot smoked salmon croquettes. Both proved excellent choices. I then opted for grilled gurnard fillets, fresh from the counter in Jarvis next door. The fish arrived alongside scallion mash, brown butter and capers, and was very flavoursome. From the grill menu, my partner chose swordfish accompanied by salsa verde and a side of buttery new potatoes. While the first two courses were substantial, we couldn’t resist sampling from the mouth-watering range of desserts, and opted for a couple of scoops of palate-cleansing ice cream, which is locally made.

Our meal was completed by a bottle of delicious dry house white, which we chose from the excellent wine list. Beer and soft drinks are also available. If you’d prefer to enjoy fish! Kitchen’s offering at home, the venue offers a takeaway service, and home delivery is also available thanks to Deliveroo.