The Sea The Sea in Hackney

A fascinating range of shellfish and fish cooked with a Japanese influence ( chef’s from Portugal and a Kiwi ! ) with a great deal of complexity and thought having gone into the menu and presentation. The couple’s on either side of us loved the food but thought the portions were on the small side…we thought ok..just ! Unfortunately the restaurant is soon to close ( there’s another branch in Chelsea) but the chefs are class and we’re sure will be popping up in equally classy restaurants

Terrific lunch while they were offering the "shorter" lunch menu at a slightly lower price. Still a bill of £172 with only 2 glasses of wine is hardly cheap. That said, it was a sensational performance lunch under the arches. The horseshoe shaped table seats about 12 comfortably for the 4 staff to manage. This is about fish of course and indeed on Saturdays, the public can buy fish from the wholesale counter at the entrance. We saw wonderful huge Turbot and lobsters in tanks. Back to the lunch, the chef is right there on stage in front of the diners and prepares the food as you watch. Presentation is perhaps less than some places with the emphasis on the quality and ingredients paramount. It is also super fresh and seasonal. The advertised 4 courses were 2 starter dishes, bread and butter (both home made), 2 main courses and 2 deserts! In mid February, Sea Urchins are sweet so that is the opening offer. The main courses were tuna and monk fish with one dessert of sponge cake with fennel seed ice cream and the other being 3 petit fours including the best macaron ever. Wine is not too overpriced although in an uncharacteristically mean touch, the glasses were only modestly filled. Also they charge £3.50 per person for filtered water.