Harden's survey result
Summary
“Top-class fish prepared well” makes this Covent Garden seafood bar “a welcome oasis in this part of London” and disproportionately popular for its modest size. Happy fans also note that “service is generally prompt and friendly”. On the debit side, the interior can feel “cramped and workaday”, and one or more regulars reckon its performance generally has been a little “chaotic” in recent times (causing a dip in the ratings). Top Menu Tip – “the lunchtime special of fish pie with a glass of house wine for £20 is a steal, particularly in these surroundings”.
Summary
“Our favourite seafood place in central London”, chorus the many fans of this appropriately named outfit “in the touristic area of Covent Garden” – “I love this place for the location, the energy and the super-fresh dishes” (“there’s no greater fun than wrestling with a crab” here or the oysters and lobster!). “Attentive staff” and a “lively, unpretentious atmosphere” are part of the appeal, and the “quick service helps if you’re on the way to the theatre”. Any negatives? It “may be a bit cramped”, with an “interior that’s a bit stark for some”.
Summary
“Constantly updated on blackboards, you find a selection of fresh oysters, crab, lobster, other seafood, and fish to choose from” at this “brilliant little place” in Covent Garden, which “despite its location in the central touristic area, doesn’t feel expensive”. “Tables and chairs are a bit basic” though – it’s “pleasant and convivial” enough, but “you do pretty much have to accept being part of the next table’s conversation”.
Summary
“Lovely oysters and fab fresh fish generally” from a “daily changing blackboard of specials” fuel a meal at this successful joint which is “just like eating in a seaside restaurant”. It’s “a bit cramped and uncomfortable” for some tastes, but conversely “feels surprisingly intimate for Covent Garden”.
For 34 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 The Oystermen Seafood Kitchen & Bar?
32 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8NA
Restaurant details
The Oystermen Seafood Kitchen & Bar Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Really disappointed with our pre-theatre dinner. Starters were generally enjoyed but main courses were very average.The fish itself was fine ( but grudgingly small) but the horseradish sauce with the mackerel lacked the horseradish bite and there was too much creamy sauce which did not match the gurnard it accompanied. Starters very slow to come. Service OK. All previous visits have been good so standars are slipping. It is now ordinary."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £36.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
32 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8NA
Opening hours
| Monday | 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9 pm |
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