Updated 21/5/13 with preview offer details.
We listed Islington as most improved postcode in our Hot Dinners awards last year and the trend is continuing with news of another promising addition to the area. It's called The Fish & Chip Shop and is opening on Upper Street in May.
What makes this more interesting than the common or garden variety chip shop is that it comes with a very high pedigree indeed. It's being put together by Des McDonald, ex CEO of Caprice holdings, through his new eponymous company and he's lined up a couple of high profile people to take on this venture. So in the kitchen is Lee Bull, a former head chef at Caprice. Best of all, in charge of front of house as well as the drinks and the wine list is Tower Isho who many will remember fondly from his years at J Sheekey.
The restaurant is being billed as a "posh fish & chip" shop, but on our early viewing, it seems much more besides that. The feel they're aiming for inside is a mixture of a Victorian fish cafe, with plenty of wood panelling planned. Up front, there will be a cold counter dining area, and towards the back there will be a few booths as well as some "refectory style" dining along a long table. At the back, the kitchen will be visible through glass that will be made to look like an old fish & chip shop window.
Food wise, there will be dining in-house as well as takeaway. One of their signatures will be a revamp of the buttie. So there are a number of buttie options including a shrimp burger, curried chips, crab and a saveloy (which they'll be making themselves). Many of these will be available to take away, alongside the usual chip shop staples - cod, plaice, scampi, haddock and pollock.
If you're dining in, there's a fish pie, a lobster bridge roll, crab and fish curry too. Oysters, London particular ham and beef fritters, fish of the day and Jersey Royals with seaweed (referencing their origins) also feature. The menu will change seasonally, so expect a few new dishes to be added in future (there's a focus on asparagus for the opening too).
Drinks wise, they'll have Camden Hells on draft alongside Brooklyn and Beavertown beers as well as a short wine list of about 5-6 or red and white (including a house blend) as well as a couple of sparklings and rose.
The Fish & Chip Shop looks set to continue the decent restaurantification (our word) of Upper St when it opens on the May 23, 2013.
Opening offer:
The Fish & Chip will be opening this week for preview diners - offering 50% off food Thursday pm, Friday pm and Saturday all day. To book call 020 7704 2074.
The Fish & Chip shop is at 189 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1RQ. Find out more at their website or follow them on twitter.
