RestaurantsLondonEC1V

Breaking news

August 16, 2026: 

On the move! To nearby Smithfield. This year-old operation, open in July 2025 is already on the move, shutting on August 16 2026 to shift operations to a new address: at the George & Dragon Pub north of Smithfield Market, a site that older foodies will remember when it was the talk of the town for a few years as The Peasant.

Harden's says

Originally at Mare Street Market in King's Cross now in Smithfield – a modern take on 'surf and turf' created by two highly regarded chefs. Tom Brown of Pearly Queen and formerly Cornerstone looks after the fish and seafood, which Brad Carter of the late, lamented Carter's of Moseley in Birmingham is in charge of the steakhouse portion of the menu.

survey result

Summary

Occupying a huge, new unit in Mare Street Market – part of the northward creep of the King’s Cross regeneration zone – this modern take on ‘surf ’n’ turf’ opened in July 2025, complete with lots of chandeliers (and a rather dubious carpet). The menu is overseen by two starry chefs: Tom Brown of Pearly Queen and the Capital Hotel looks after the fish and seafood, which Brad Carter of the late, lamented Carter’s of Moseley in Birmingham is in charge of the steakhouse portion of the menu.

For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Island, The George & Dragon?

240 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PH

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Times

Jay Rayner sampled this collaboration between “seafood maven” Tom Brown (ex-Cornerstone and Pearly Queen) and the “carnivorous” Brad Carter (ex-Carters of Moseley), who “stick resolutely to the idea that surf and turf don’t merely have to cohabit; they can mount each other rigorously.”

Hence dishes like squid stuffed with sobrasada salami; kofta of duck minced with mussels; and beef flank mashed with whitebait and deep-fried – “brash” flavours on a menu that is “the edible equivalent of a Roy Lichtenstein canvas. It’s all ‘Wham!’, ‘Blam!’ and ‘Pop!’.”

If these “flavour bombs can become relentless”, Jay conceded, the venue is aimed firmly at a younger crowd and is “all huge fun and also completely bonkers” – while he also ventured to suggest that “a little inebriation” might help one’s enjoyment of the experience.

Jay Rayner - 2025-09-28
240 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PH

Best Fish & seafood restaurants nearby

Fish Central
Fish & seafood restaurant in Clerkenwell
£52
   ££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
Daffodil Mulligan
Irish restaurant in London
£93
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
Angler, South Place Hotel
Fish & seafood restaurant in City
£153
£££££
3
Good
3
Good
2
Average