You might recall I visited a fish and chip restaurant called Sutton & Sons at Boxpark in Shoreditch over the Summer. It didn’t blow me away. The food was great, but the venue just didn’t do it for me – it felt like a lot to pay (and a long time to wait) for a fish and chips takeaway experience. When I saw that they had a restaurant in Stoke Newington (where their fishmongers are based), I was keen to try it out to see how the experience would differ. And then a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try out their brand new restaurant on Essex Road in Islington. On a Sunday lunchtime, Tim and I headed up there to see what it was all about. I can tell you right now, we were very impressed! And having grown up in Cyprus with beautiful fresh fish available all year round, we had high expectations.

Sutton & Sons’ (S&S) fishmongers was established in Stoke Newington High Street back in 1998 by Danny Sutton and, with wife Hana, opened their first restaurant across the road in 2010 with a reputation for serving the freshest fish and chips in London while remaining sustainably responsible.
Previously I'd written about S&S after I visited their Boxpark location. After this, I lauded over how great they were, even proclaiming them to be serving the best fish and chips in town. So when I caught wind that they were opening up a third location in Islington and was invited down for a taster, you can imagine I was rather enthusiastic.

Like its predecessors, the Islington menu reads like a fish and chip lover's Christmas list with a vast variety of deep-fried fish all coated with their own special batter and served with fresh hand-cut chunky chips. For the calorie counters, there is also the option to grill the fish. For those looking for something different however, breaded whitebait, tempura prawns and chip shop classics such as pies and battered sausages are also on offer with specials such as the tuna burger, lobster sub, grilled oysters and moules marinière sitting alongside.

Having already tried the S&S fish and chips, I went for something a bit different tonight with orders of the fresh tuna burger and the lobster sub. It was hard to turn down the fish and chips (they were soooo good) but I was not disappointed.

The tuna burger was beautiful and so fresh it tasted like the fish had just jumped onto my plate from the ocean. In truth, this wasn't far from reality given that the fish delivery to S&S had likely happened that morning and next thing, Matthew (site manager, chef and all round top guy) was slicing me off a massive steak from a huge slab of tuna ready for my grubby hands. That's quite alright with me thanks.

The lobster roll, filled with mayonnaise dressed lobster topped with a Cajun sprinkle, was equally delicious and was so rich, I couldn't help but just inhale it.

Our night finished with one of Mrs Sutton's tasty homemade desserts which tonight was a sticky toffee pudding topped with vanilla ice cream and sitting in a pool of caramel sauce. Oh my days this was a triumph! A template sticky toffee pudding of there ever was one and a definite recommendation from me.

So another location, another winner for S&S who are fast starting to become THE place to get quality seafood in London. There is now less and less reason not to find out for yourself. Get there.

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