FishWorks

I will not be going back to FishWorks and would strongly advise anyone else against it too. It was an embarrassment to take my folks to dinner there and if I could put minus points on the value for money I would. Extremely stingy servings, and veggies are not even included with main dishes that cost anything between £15-£25 each! There was hardly anything available on the menu, the restaurant should not have been open. The service was ok (the poor waitress had a tough job to keep us happy given that there was hardly any fish left, and no tomatoes, avocados or anything other than olives and feta to put in the salad!). When my dad found a muddy clam in his dish, a waiter kindly took it away, but didn't seem particularly bothered, or apologetic - perhaps he should have asked if it had affected the soup..?

The only thing I'd give good marks for was the sticky toffee pudding!

I left the restaurant hungry, which is a usually a good indication that something is seriously wrong with the place. (Either, food is revolting, servings too small or too expensive. In this case, two of the above - the latter two.)
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 16, 2006

FishWorks is very much a mixed bag, both in terms of service and the capability of the kitchen.

My fishcake was a tepid cricket ball of overworked potato and unidentifiable fish, tasting of nothing but burnt oil. The ball sat next to a pile of good quality fresh spinach, which has been left to catch in the pan, providing a wonderful sour carbon bite and rendering it inedible. The dish was finished with a drizzled mass of lemon custard, which the kitchen believed to be hollandaise.

The squid starter was, however, fantastic and the sea bass, pan fried with rosemary, was a fresh and superb dish, if a little overcooked. Again, the kitchen was let down, with grossly overcooked langoustine, which I witnessed from my table, sit under a heat lamp for a good 5 minutes. This is nothing short, but the of murder of fine ingredients.

Service can only be described as mixed. Waiting staff are friendly, but much of the service happens to you. This included a damp J-cloth being wiped around the table between courses. Little or no interest is given in what you are eating or whether you enjoyed it (including, why you left your entire meal untouched).

In short, the restaurant cooking is too poor for the high quality ingredients provided, but critically, it is just too expensive, for what it is. Fish soup, at £22, is ridiculous. All I could think about is what I would be getting in some of the best London restaurants for the same money, not just in terms of cooking, but critically in terms of service.
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Nathan
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, July 31, 2006

have been twice now and both times it was excellent. fantastic seafood and good service. if you don't like seafood don't try its as nothing else on the menu but if you do its is superb. will definatly be going back
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, July 02, 2006

Service v slow. We were ignored for about twenty minutes after arriving, also waited well over an hour from ordering to arrival of our main courses. Food was a mixed bag; some good, others dull and disappointing. Lemon tart for dessert was inedible, though toffee pud delicious. Wine list expensive. A pity as could do well on Northcote Road but I won't be heading back.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Saturday, June 24, 2006

Most of the reviews of this and other Fishworks restaurants are pretty critical... but on the basis of an evening meal last week, I am surprised. The quality of the fish (at least four out of five main courses anyway) was excellent, and the overall standard of cooking was simple but effective. We thought the atmosphere was fun and enjoyable and the service, if not top-drawer, pretty good - our waiter certainly knew the menu well and was able to give good advice. However, I agree, it is expensive...but overall a great night out.
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Arthur - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Fabulous fresh fish but everything else was a disappointment. The restaurant had a "cafe" ambience, the service was poor and other than the quality of the fish, the cooking was mediocre at best. The prices are in line with a West End prices and represent poor value for money. Definitely a missed opportunity to add to the Northcote Road eating options
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DT
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, May 30, 2006