Beyond Fish and Chips

There is a lot more going on at North Sea than most people realise.

Ask most people what they know about North Sea and they say: best fish and chips in Bloomsbury.

They are right. Our cod and haddock — fresh from Billingsgate every morning, fried in crispy ground nut oil batter or grilled to order — are the heart of what we do.

But over forty-seven years, quietly and without making too much fuss about it, we have built a menu that goes considerably further.

First visit? Here’s where to start

If it is your first time at North Sea, start with the classics. Our cod fillet is the benchmark — a fresh, generous piece of North Atlantic cod with our signature crisp batter. Our haddock has a slightly deeper flavour that many guests prefer.

Both are served with unlimited chips or boiled potatoes. Both are cooked to order. Both will remind you why this dish, done properly, is genuinely one of the great meals.

Been before? Go further

If you have already had the cod and haddock, the rest of the menu is waiting for you — and it is worth exploring.

Our Cornish hand-dived Scallops are pan-seared to perfection with a white wine sauce. These are individually harvested by divers — not dredged — which means both the quality of the scallop and the seabed are preserved. At £15, they are one of the best-value scallop starters in central London.

Our Whole Dover Sole — grilled, on the bone, at £45 — is one of the great fish of the British table. Guests who know their fish always order it. It is the dish that shows off the quality of our sourcing more than anything else on the menu.

The dish that surprises everyone

Our Grilled Octopus is the menu item that generates the most conversation.

Properly cooked octopus — tender all the way through, with a slight char, finished with lemon and olive oil — is completely different from the overcooked, rubbery versions that give the dish a bad reputation. Ours is served with a crisp salad at £29, and we recommend it without hesitation to anyone who has ever been put off octopus elsewhere.

The Fisherman’s Catch — grilled cod, salmon, sea bass fillet, king prawns, scallops and calamari on samphire with a prosecco shallot cream dill sauce — is our flagship sharing dish at £55. One of the most spectacular plates in the neighbourhood.