Overlooking the River Thames, Applebee’s Fish from Borough Market popped up for a summer long pop up on the South Bank complete with a dedicated champagne & oyster bar, games sandpit, craft beer & cocktails on tap as well as entertainment from some of the best buskers in London to serve some of the finest Fish & Chips in the capital.
We went over on a balmy summer evening after work to check it out and see if this one lived up to the hype of the previous one. We’re pleased to say it did.
Jazz beats played in the background, the sounds of laughter from people playing boules raged on all night, alongside trains rumbling above us across the bridge and cool festival lighting added to the vibes. A sleek wooden setting, the pop-up sits beside the buzzing Underbelly Festival, and features two bustling bars, an open kitchen, a central bar where you can try cocktails on tap such as Negronis and Espresso Martinis and a sand pit for those up for a game of boules.
The menu served dishes straight off the coast, and our host Steve was ultra-attentive recommending what we should try.
We started off with the largest fresh oysters from the Essex Mersea coast, who have been cultivating oysters since 1700’s, shucked to order, served with zingy shallots and perfectly paired with Collette champagne.
Next, we moved onto some fresh sashimi, slices of salmon and tuna which were simply divine served on delicious crusty crostini. The dish also came with chunky slices of seabass ceviche in a tangy dressing which gave an extra fishy punch.
Before too long some supremely large breaded king prawns, served with chipotle mayo landed on our table. The juicy prawns were a pleasing ratio of prawn to batter, and the dipping sauce provided a nice kick.
Next came our mains, an impressively large fish & chips made with sustainable cod and battered in tasty Cornish Lager. The Cod melted in the mouth, and the batter had just enough crisp but didn’t take the attention away from the fish, perfectly paired with large chunky hand cut chips, very minty mushy peas and tangy tartare sauce. Definitely a winner!
Applebee’s Fish is well-known to be THE place for seafood fanatics in Borough market, serving the freshest and most sustainable dishes, and this one is bringing the same fishy and sustainable game to the Southbank. Make sure you check it out, Applebee’s Fish pop-up closes mid September…!
Applebee’s Fish, Applebee’s Fish, Queens Walk, London, SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
