Egham, Fish & Seafood Restaurant Guide

This “long-established Brittany-French restaurant” is “much loved in Richmond for its good food – galettes, seafood and the rest”, “amazing value” and “decent (if sometimes hectic) service”. Its sale two years ago by founder Lindsay Wotton, who ran it for 35 years, has not dented its appeal.

“The view over the Thames makes it worth the voyage” to this outpost of TV-Rick’s empire (in reality, run by his ex-wife and sons) near Barnes Bridge – but only “if you’re lucky enough to be seated by the windows” – “otherwise it never seems quite to live up to the reputation of a famous name”. The food can be “good”, but “of course it is not cheap”, and too often it is “disappointingly ordinary” – “you’re paying for the name and location, not the food”. More than 50 years after opening his first restaurant in Padstow, the TV chef’s family is reportedly planning to open a venue in central London: no news on the location as of summer 2025.

Three and a half decades since the Andreou family first opened doors, this local fixture (nowadays there’s also a take-away offshoot in Bushey Heath), remains of note for its “consistently good” catch — especially the fish ‘n’ chips, which are a feature of the £16.95 two-course set lunch; there are fans, too, of their gluten-free Mondays.

“Just what Richmond needed!” – this “stunningly decorated” and “buzzy” three-year old “has a wonderful site by the Thames” and is “proving a valuable asset to the area”, especially as a “date-night go-to” for a taste of “pure opulence”; and in warmer weather “its roof terrace makes for a superb sunset dining experience (as long as it’s not raining!)”. In terms of its seafood cuisine, fans say it’s “expensive, yes, but serves excellent quality fish, with service all splendidly orchestrated by Pierre, the general manager”. Critics of the place agree with a lot of the above description, but for them the experience is nevertheless “unquestionably overpriced” for food in particular that’s “very average” (“better than much in Richmond, but still not great!”).

“An unexpected find in Hammersmith” – this “classy” seafood yearling continues to thrive despite an unpromising site right on the trafficky Broadway roundabout. “The fish is so fresh”, “excellently cooked and not exceedingly expensive”; and “the menu changes depending on what’s available at the market” (“we found ourselves comparing food notes with the next table!”). It’s run by a team with a number of seafood ventures around town, and executive chef Ollie Bass launched a Faber seafood counter at the Rosewood hotel’s Holborn Dining Room in summer 2025.