Tollingtons in Islington

love the food but quite uncomfortable seating :) still will come again!!

The best tapas I have ever eaten. Amazing food

Oh my! Came here today to give this joint a go. Blown away by the scallops. Was given bread to dip the sauce from the scallops and grilled asparagus in butter. Would definitely come back to try more food from their menu! Only down side is that the place is small!

Incredible fish and super fun atmosphere, quick service and fun menu. Must try tje chips and scallops. We had the squid and sole which were also incredible - great flavours and not too rich or heavy. Hands down best restaurant in the area I've been to for a long time. I dont agree with reviews complaining about the price - I'd say it's very honest for the quality of the fish. Quite small space so best to go as a group of 2 or 3 max - perfect date night. Will go back soon!

We really enjoyed our evening at the Tollington. Our table wasn’t ready so we were quickly served drinks and then seated in 10 mins 🙌🏻 We enjoyed the Bravas, omelette, squid, piri piri lemon sole and the Bifina. All the dishes were amazing we were so full and ate everything probably could have done with 4 dishes between 2! There is a great atmosphere about the place! We will be back as there was dishes we wanted to try but were sadly sold out, book an early table 🥳

Had previously had a great meal here so gutted to have to write this. Started off strong with some great pinchos - the chips bravas are amazing. However when our shared main came out, the grilled John Dory it was full of sand. At least two tablespoons of sand gathered by the head. I understand that these things happen but when we brought this to the attention of our waitress who had otherwise been lovely, things took a turn. She quickly took the fish (before we could take a picture) and informed us that ‘sometimes when you catch fish they have sand in them’? and offered no apology. We were offered a free dessert which was one portion of the flan between four, but were treated with quite grumpy indifference from this point. A big song and dance was made that the flan was ‘on the house’ (as our waiter waved his arms around sarcastically) which we felt was quite rude and unnecessary? We still paid the twenty quid for the sandy fish, and had never even asked not to pay for it so this charade all seemed quite unpleasant and unnecessary. As aforementioned had a brilliant meal here back in October so maybe a bad day for them, but sadly will not be returning.

The food was for the most part okay, but not worth the price. However, when we ordered the John Dory, we found a golf ball sized lump of sand. When we brought this up with the waiter, she stated that they don’t usually clean the fish as it would decrease quality. I would argue the quality already decreased once we found sand in it. Afterwards, the wait staff had giving us dessert on the house, however were extremely unhelpful and catty. Will not be going again.

I looooove Tollingtons. The food is gorge, the vibe is great and can usually accommodate walk ins(not the best seats in the house but hey). The right way to do small plates. It is pricy but at least you’re getting quality food!

november 2024 old chippy repurposed to spanish fish restaurant 🐟. some stunning dishes; and some that didn't live to expectations. the visuals of the chips bravas were rly 👌🏼✨ but maybe the tomatoes they used wasn't in season? the sauce rly fell flat and there wasn't enough seasoning on it 😮‍💨. hot food also incredibly slow so they'll ask you to order everything first saying it'll take upwards an hour before the hot dishes can come 🤔. questionable service but foods not bad 🤷‍♀️ - saltfish and pickled chili - cockles with new season olive oil - chips bravas - smoked eel omlette ✨ - battered cod cheeks - prawn fritter ✨ - mussels with chorizo ✨ - squid on the plancha ✨ - piri piri brill ✨ - chocolate mousse with cold custard ✨ would revisit: yes reservations: yes price range: £50-100 pp

I’m still reeling from my dinner at Tollingtons. Definitely the best food I’ve had in London in a while. It’s the first time I’ve left a restaurant and wanted to immediately rebook; first time I’ve wanted to rebook after tasting the first dish 🥹; and more importantly, the first time in SUCH a long time that when the bill came we weren’t shocked in disgust — the value and quality matched the price equation 🤌🏾. Hanging on the walls is a newspaper excerpt from food critic Jimi Famurewa asserting; “the hype is mighty…” but boy is the food phenomenal. Since my visit last week, I don’t think I’ve stopped raving and showing pictures to friends, urging them to book ASAP. Star dishes ⭐️🌟✨: The scallops - so rich and moreish the sauce phenom; the omelette - simple, garlicky, yum 🙂‍↕️; least we forget the grilled prawns 🦐 just WOW. Oh and the patatas bravas tasted just like we were in Spain - more aptly, the atmosphere felt like we were in a small semi-rustic, very busy tapas bar at a seaside in Spain. We loved it. If there’s one piece of advice I’ll leave you with is, BOOK NOW❗️. Great for sharing meals with 6+ people. I’ve heard it’s easy to get a walk-in table too.. if you time it right.

Enjoyed it. Service is polite. I think it’s a little overpriced for what it is. For example, the cuttlefish dish is basically very nicely cooked beans that have been introduced to a little bit of cuttlefish. Going by the overall cost of the experience compared with other local options, I’d rate this as a “try once”.

Great concept. As ever way too expensive but fun night. Chips fab. Chistorra small but so tasty. £40 bottle of house red nice but ..sorry..too much. Hats off to the owners for converting a chip shop to a high end london restaurant. Again..fun but portion control off the scale. Maybe another time...

Was really skeptics about this place despite loving the plimsol. It was fantastic, really happy to have it local . Great food, great vibe, decent prices relative to quality. Can’t wait to go back .

Food was good but overpriced in my eyes, was £150 for two of us with a couple of glasses of cava.

Staff were cool, food was good, feels like you're somewhere else, in a good way.

Great food, in an overpriced hipster stylie. Imagine turning a cramped chippy into a tapas restaurant. Good music and service though.

Tollington’s is a true neighborhood gem — the kind of place that doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you’re in, you realize you’ve found something special. The space is intimate and low-lit, mostly bar and ledge seating, with a few tucked-away tables in the back. The vibe is relaxed and unfussy, with cool (but approachable) staff who keep things moving smoothly. The menu is short, seafood-focused, and shareable — we had squid ink croquettes, scallops (prepared beautifully in the shell), cured stone bass, bifana, and chips bravas. The scallops were the standout. They were out of a few dishes we’d hoped for (octopus, red mullet), but the server’s recommendations were spot on. Drinks are just as minimal — a tight list of beers and wines, but our jug of Estrella came in a charming little glass pitcher and felt just right. If you’re looking for something truly local — far from the tourist map — this is it. I’m not sure what would draw a visitor to Finsbury Park otherwise, but Tollington’s is a destination all on its own. Bonus points if you stop for a drink before or after at The Robin around the corner. I’d absolutely go back.

Excellent service, excellent food!

Great, cozy atmosphere. Fresh food.

I like the food here, we ordered about 6 dishes to share. I would say that the cockles does need purging more as we were chomping down on sand at every bite which isn’t very pleasant, flavours were great though. The cured sea bass could be more chilled as it was a bit warm/room temp. But I’d defo come back again to try the other stuff

Great place for a nice fish dinner. Lovely atmosphere, great time and great to have so many fish choices. Everything cooked very well but it’s just too overpriced for the quantities you are given. Either come down a £ or two on the plates or add a bit more to them. We had bacalau dish and honestly delicious but barely any fish in it and it was one of the pricier dishes. Same with others. Honestly was rammed so unlikely will take my heed but just that smidgen overpriced

What a place! Upon arrival, it's busy, it's packed up more than a usual London restaurant but it immediately reminded me of pintxos bars in Spain and the buzz was inviting. It's definitely a get-involved, hands dirty, casual vibe for close food-loving friends type of place, not a calm and tranquil experience. You won't find 12 pieces of cutlery, but piles of little plates and a vibe of Spain. And I loved it! Staff are all kind, food came super quickly considering the busyness of the place and the amount we ordered. I know they change the menu frequently, but my highlights were: sausage and tomato, chips, squid, scallop, Caesar salad, bifana, anchovies and the potato ice-cream. They had run out of desserts and offered the ice-cream as an unlisted option. Sounded odd, but it has changed me forever and I will hope for it next time. Overall, I can't wait to go back, you gotta pick the right gang, but you'll be rewarded. Booking opens 28 days in advance, enjoy!

Over-priced for what it was. Uncomfortable seating, cramped space. Food, ok.

Had a great meal at Tollingtons. The food was really tasty, the waitress helped us with the menu and it's in a cool setting as well. Great for small plates sharing and a drink 🎣

Cool place. The chips braves were a highlight, but everything was quite tasty and reasonably priced (for London). Opening hours are wrong both on google and on the door, so we had to stand outside until they opened 😂 Worth the wait.

I think we may have over over ordered so too much spuds! I wasn’t sure what to expect and was disappointed. Also realise I’m Ja not a fan of being squashed in looking at the wall.

I like these guys. From rescuing at least N1 during Covid years with delicious burgers to now their 2nd place, they are always in front, opening our pallets to different interpretations. This place is delicious, all I can say. The bifana is totally worth all that fat it comes with. The sausage pinxto is also a must. Everything is a must! They are a talented bunch!

AWFUL! 😭 Freezing cold dining room, we had to eat in our coats. Wine options are limited and quite frankly horrible. And the food… wowza, where do I begin. Probably the worst food I’ve ever eaten in a restaurant. We paid for 3 dishes that we ended up asking them to leave in the kitchen and not bring out! We had just had enough at that point and wanted to leave. I do not understand the hype with this place, the food is try hard and the good reviews must be from hipsters with no tastebuds. Gutted we wasted our Saturday night here. AVOID. AVOID. AVOID.

FANTASTIC food - we had mostly smaller dishes and I think that’s probably the best way to do this menu. The bravas chips and the cod with curry sauce were my favourite, but we loved everything. The staff were very kind and attentive, food came quickly. My only gripe was that we were sat right by the front door and on a cold day it felt a little uncomfortable. Didn’t ruin the experience and of course part of the charm is the chippy vibe which I loved, but maybe just a warning if it’s a special occasion make sure you don’t book the counter near the door!

Lizzie was cracking. Food was better (sorry Lizzie - but tough competition)

Quite priced for what they serving you.

Tried this spot last night with a group of other foodies - overall the food was decent. It was good, but not exceptional. Quite reasonably priced though. Favourite item on the menu was the fried prawns with the chip sauce, that just hit different!

What an absolute gem of a restaurant, especially pre football. Absolutely adored everything I ate. Those chips bravas are addictive! Especially loved the piri piri John Dory and can’t wait to eat it again!

As a Spanish person I must say the prices and portions here are ridiculous. London hipsters are getting ripped off!

Great service ,brilliant food went on a Sunday lunch service so managed to get a table. Bifana was incredible

Absolutely delicious and creative tapas Presented in an old fish & chips, totally adding to the charm and quirkiness of this unique restaurant. Counter searing in the front and tables in the back. Cannot wait to return to explore more of this fantastic menu!! What a find in Finsbury Park!!

Overrated. Social media over sells it. Cheaper to get a flight to Spain and have a higher quality meal and bigger portions. Stick to the four legs. Bosh

Outstanding! Great vibes , great food, great service.

Food was incredible! Lots of sharing plates, including lots of gluten free options.

Food and service were excellent. It was a bit cramped inside, which became slightly annoying. But I would give it another try.

The Fish and Chips tasted amazing. I heard through a friend about this place and I wasn't disappointed.

Top Basque inspired food, chips live up to the hype. Little pricey and cramped, but overall great experience.

We had a great meal here. Loved the Spanish bar-style decor, especially the toilets. Standout dishes were the sausage and peppers, chips bravas, and leeks with blue cheese sauce. Food started arriving very soon after we ordered. Paid about £85 between two people for six very good dishes, a glass of wine and a large glass of beer which we felt was very fair - we could have ordered less and still been full. Will be back!

Really solid food in compelling surroundings. Service solid and catered for us being in a slight rush. By far the best tapas I’ve had outside of Spain. Better Bravas possibly than most of Spain…

Lovely stuff, such a fun atmosphere and the best staff! Super attentive even though it was so busy. The food was unreal, genuinely felt like we were in Spain and it was fantastic. We were walk ins so a bit of a wait but it was such an efficient system. We will be back!!

Hate to give a 1 star review for a place I haven't eaten at, but we arrived at 3.30 hoping to get a table between busy times to be told the kitchen was closed. If you don't have a website, at least make sure your opening hours are correct on google/your booking system (they currently say 12-23:00). We came from South London to eat so we're pretty disappointed

Food was superb and really good value for what you get - fish is expensive so it will never be the cheapest meal around! We were absolutely stuffed and the plates came out nicely paced. Drinks also great value. My only criticism is that it’s a little cramped and uncomfy seats, but I already can’t wait to go back and eat there again!

I had a terrific experience on a Sunday afternoon and was desperate to go back. Maybe it was my luck that a critic was in the house - because this Wednesday evening was really poor quality food. The chips were the overfried husks, the cod was negligible within the batter, there was not a hint of truffle on the scallops and the most enjoyable thing to eat was a piece of cheddar. I wouldn’t leave a review if I didn’t think it might help the restaurant identify what’s up. Really disappointed.

Such nice laid back atmosphere, delish food, only took one photo Estrella Truffle omelette Mussels Tomato salad Potted shrimp 🦐

Good food but at least twice the price it should be. We had 6 plates between three, left hungry and it was £95. Ridiculous. Service slow. Uncomfortable stools being bashed by the server every time they went past. Save your money and go elsewhere. I felt mugged!

Had monkfish with girgoles and chicken sauce. Everything was truly excellent.

Tollington's Fish Bar is a new restaurant. From the outside, it looks more like a British fish & chips shop, but as soon as you step inside, you feel as if you're in a tapas bar that's been open since the 1940s in Barcelona, like Bar la Plata. Yellow walls, terracotta tiles on the floor, wooden shelves, folk art pieces on the walls, and some abstract artwork – these elements create a rustic Spanish tapas bar ambiance. And of course, there's the team working like bees in the open kitchen and staff kindly taking orders, all of which create a warm, inviting atmosphere that instantly draws you in—especially if you're hungry. I had a tomato salad with onions, patatas bravas, grilled dory, and monkfish with girolles mushrooms. Everything was flawless. The dory was cooked just right, remaining juicy inside, and the patatas bravas were even better than some tapas bars in Spain. In the monkfish with girolles mushrooms, the ingredients were used in perfect balance, making the dish harmonious and delicious. Btw I paired the dishes with Cava, which complemented them beautifully. This is definitely a place I'll be going to whenever I have the chance, and I can't wait to try the other dishes.

Great food, staff and vibes. Epitome of what modern London eating is about, doing something in an excellent way whilst being friendly and unpretentious.

Food was all seafood and fish, with a few carb exceptions. Vermouth and tap and heaving atmosphere. The kitchen is fully open and waiting staff really on the ball

Really enjoyed our meal at Tollingtons. Loved the selection of small plates and the vermouth and wines. Like everywhere else in London, portions are tiny and pricey. You’ll need at least 3-4 plates per person.

Excellent meal at Tollingtons. We tried most items on the menu with a number of drinks. Was a brilliant evening and lively atmosphere. Keen for the next visit!

Last week I visited Tollingtons as a walk-in late on a Saturday. I was excited to try this place after seeing great views, living local and being a Plimsoll / Four Legs fans. There were no tables inside so we sat outside and asked if there was a table to let us know. No one let us know but half way through we asked and were successful to find seats in side. The venue is very cool, however, it is small the bar away to eat. For me it added to atmosphere and was fine for a casual meal. The food was tasty, some a bit pricy. We had a pork loin, cod collar, chorizo and crisp, sea bass crudo and patatas bravas. This is most definitely a small plates restaurant. I’d come back just for the patatas bravas and a glass of wine. Not sure id come for a full dinner service, but enjoyed for light casual dinner.

Over priced, very small portions, very oily food but maybe I made a bad menu choice? On the whole I was disappointed with the experience and won’t be returning.

Great concept, excellent food and the beer was perfectly chilled! Having seen some reviews I was a little concerned but people must have had a completely different experience to us. Ours was excellent and felt like we were in a Spanish town. Loved the Chips Bravas and amongst other dishes we loved the Piri Piri John Dory. Highly recommend!!

Come here if you are looking for some of the best small plates you can eat in London in a busy, lively space in Finsbury. Yes it’s crowded but I’m not sure what the bad reviewers were expecting - it’s clearly a small space that looks to bring some Spanish atmosphere to north London. The food is simply excellent - the cod collar, sea bass, red prawns and chips were all outstanding. For the quality, the prices are very reasonable - we spent £110 for two (service and 5 drinks included) and were stuffed. For those complaining, look up the price of fresh Spanish red prawns per kg and you’ll see it’s great value here. Can’t wait to go back.

Nice and hip place, but prices are definitely exaggerated. To mention but one: £16 for 4 mini prawns. High prices for rather small portions! That's a pity for such a cozy place

They’ve crammed tables into what’s meant to be a takeaway to maximise profit and it shows. The kitchen can’t cope. Some dishes arrived undercooked, others arrived cold.

Finally nabbed a 6pm table here. So the hype about the chips is real and justified. We were "out the back" and I'm sure if we'd been in the front part we'd have given it 5 stars for atmosphere One or two of the dishes were a bit heavy on the salt. Not enough to send back but not far off. Even the apple cake had a hint of salt.

Way too expensive, portions tiny. 60% hype, and it’ll probably work for them because there’s a lot of fools out there willing to part with their dad’s cash.

Wow wow wow 👌 The fantastic mega family of friends strikes again (if u dont know check out The Plimsol). Next level food and flavours, eye for mega design and detail, super soundtracks but also best of all the team and owners digging deep into the community. Big respect. Lots of love. MFP massive xx

Decent food but this is a review to reflect the fetishism of hyped restaurants. Let’s all just calm down please.

One of the best meals I’ve had. Food, service, vibe - everything. £110 for two, inc service and drinks. Great value for what you’re getting, would’ve paid double for those chips. All these negative on the cost need to get a price list from a decent fishmonger. Good seafood ain’t cheap anymore, I’m afraid.

Please can I order two of everything multiplied by ten + 1… paid well over a ton for a three man and definitely could or eaten the whole meal in 21 seconds. One of my mates actually thought he was coming to eat cod and chips. Then, to his relief, realised it was European style small plates. No one wants to be slotting a full fish and chip at 9pm on a Thursday when you have to operate on Friday. But in hindsight we could have done with a little side battered sausage for le tabla. Honestly Pinchy the crab would feel hard done by with these pinchos. First item on the menu is called ‘extra baguette’ and costs £6. We didn’t even recieved the initial baguette until after the main food had come. Kind waiter provided us with three whole extra slices of baguette for our troubles. Caneca Estrella were delicious… jugs too. Even had the rubbish little napkins on the table. Felt like holiday. Rice pudding for dessert with a crème brûlée crackly top and some hidden raspberries down low. But.. I am sitting at home writing this with a Twix Xtra in my hand. Romeo

Probably the best meal I've had in London.. every dish was outstanding. Cheap drinks, reasonably priced food, great service and atmosphere.

Amazing place to live good transport Link.. freshly parks not to much crime love to live there .

We had a wonderful time at Tollingtons, our server Stephen and his team were so kind and welcoming; they looked to care for any needs of ours and had a comprehensive understanding of the dishes and their components. Despite it being a busy day (Hozier at Finsbury Park), the staff took their time to talk to us, make us feel welcome and comfortable, all the while getting food out in good time. The drinks are affordable and delicious, I could not recommend it enough! A massive thank you to Stephen, you were fabulous!

Over priced to such small potion. We could tell the bread for pan con tomate wasn't good quality... Also everything was burnt but somehow not cooked inside in not a good way.

Food was excellent. The space is quite tight but when we were there several groups with prams and babies were accommodated in the back room. Staff were friendly. Serving sizes are on the smaller side, which is the only reason for 4 rather than 5 stars

I had heard the hype, and being a local and lover of fish n' chips, I finally got to dine in Tollingtons. Though the restaurant is actually a London take on Spanish tapas. The food was very tasty, with the Bravas and Beetroot and Eel real highlights, but boy is it expensive. E.g. £10 for a small plate of tomatoes and onion. It's not really worth it. The staff were great and friendly, though the guests were what you would expect in a posh dark room. So, no atmosphere. The high expense and the lack of atmosphere means this was a once off for myself and my partner.

Don’t get me wrong their food is cooked perfectly well and just simple cooking but overpriced. Price list vs the portions on the pics and I’ll let you be the judge. £16 for 4 prawns. £16 for the octopus 🤣🤣🤣.

Warm, friendly, knowledgeable service. Interesting menu. Pretty good food, with the eel salad and the cod cheeks being highlights... but we just couldn't get over the cost to quantity ratio. Small plates for large prices are nothing new in London but this tested the limits, particularly the fatty tuna - two thin slices for £10. After spending over £30 per head excluding drinks, we left hungry. No wonder the server had recommended we get some chips to share. Good advice... but they were £7.

Fun little fish&chips meets tapas. Got drinks order wrong twice but we're quick to rectify. Food is delicious though I thought the veggies were the best, which isn't ideal for a fish-focused place. Really loud, wish they've invested in sound-proofing.

The best fish and chippy in the area *Edit* The old chippy has since shut down and is now some poncy affair. Maps listing has been hijacked and any reviews after April 2024 are of the new place...

We went there on a Friday evening. It was very busy and adorably lively. There are not a lot of tables for two people, unless you don't want to freeze outside, so we accepted two stools and a narrow countertop. It was charming but not the best experience one can wish for. We got a bottle of Cava for 30 quid which can be considered acceptable if compared to the 45 pounds asked for the Txakoli (in a restaurant in San Sebastian in Spain a bottle would set you back around 15 euros). The good: the scallops were good, the padron peppers with Beauvale (a very good British blue cheese) were genius and the patatas bravas were very nice with a rich sauce that remembered me the ones I eat every time I go to Logrono in La Rioja. The bad: the John Dory was small and bony but, more worryingly, it tasted off like badly frozen or badly kept, like one of those cheap salt fish that each of us has tried at least once. The monkfish was a few days over, it was tough like a steak that one forgets in the fridge after removing the packaging, all the magical taste and texture was gone together with the freshness and my hopes. The brill wasn't fresh either but was the least concerning. Now let's face it, this is not Madrid nor Milan nor Paris, quality of food is not the name of the game in London (and in all of the country really) so overall it was not a bad experience and given that seafood is a taboo on these isles (ridiculous, right?) and places like this are oases in the desert I'm going to even stretch it and say: I'll be back!

We had a good craic time there. They kept traditional English fish and chips shop and add new Spanish tapas food, nice combination. food was more than we expected. Very friendly staff and the owner were top man. Defo come back again.

Best meal I've had in London in a long time. Made me feel like I was in Madrid or San Sebastian.

An update - this is no longer a chippy, and instead serves fancy seafood dishes at silly prices. Noone round here asked for this. For Tollingtons chippy: An oasis of normality in a desert of soggy chicken shops and kebab shops serving fries. A proper chippy, reasonably priced, friendly service, what more could you want?

Overrated and Overpriced! Sizes of the plates too small (kid size) price to expensive. Do not go there hungry as you will leave hungry. Thank God for Nando's down the Road. Have they paid for the 5 star review??? Most Definitely. Not worthy! Trust me

Worth the hype, great food, incredible produce, cooked simply but to perfection.

Hands down best fish bar in london. Just imagine what goes into these seemingly unassuming dishes… while in fact with such precision. Every dish is packed with skills and cares. Get the flan. You’ll keep going back for more.

Such a treat for a Friday night. Our server Lizzie was an angel. She gave us great recommendations and was a smiley delight from start to finish. The pickled anchovies and chip bravas were divine. All washed down with some sweet a delicious vermouth. A London hot spot worth checking out for sure.

San Sebastián wanna be for hipster Londoners. Service disorganized. Welcome and waiting list disorganized. Some dishes were really good (eg. octopus) some were average (eg. pickled sardines) Paid 100£ for 2 people, not sure if we are full or not. Definitely an insta hype. Mixed feelings

Pretentious and overpriced. Tasteless fish. Noticeably stingy and ungenerous portions. Came away hungry and unimpressed after spending decent money and being excited to try.

It’s very deceiving as it used to be my favourite chippy shop ran by Asians and they’ve changed it for high end trash.Remove all the past reviews,geotag and menu thanks.

I really wanted to love this place, but sadly, it felt fairly disorganised, overpriced, and not a particularly comfortable or joyful eating experience. I could put poor service down to teething problems, but at the moment, I simply couldn’t justify the price and am amazed anyone can in this day and age. The produce on the whole is good, so most dishes tasted as expected. But it was decidedly average. Unfortunately, the food came out one by one so slowly that it made for a very disjointed lunch and laborious to eat. For instance, I don’t really want to eat a plate of tomatoes and then wait 15mins for another dish to come out. The bread then arrives by itself with nothing. I guess that’s the nature of tapas but the dishes didn’t seem strong enough by themselves and all felt like side dishes without much satisfaction or heartiness. It’s not quite a bar but not quite a restaurant either, so it provides a fairly frustrating dining & drinking experience - I don’t really know what this place is trying to be. I’d like to say if you were in a big group it may be better for a casual hangout, but there are no tables. It’s all ledges attached to the wall so it’s actually not a particularly social layout either. It’s also incredibly hot as you’re basically sitting in the kitchen. We also had to keep reminding staff for water and food. I really recommend diners at least get served a jug of tap water on arrival, especially as the food and drinks trickle out so slowly. Having to grab a waitress to refill a little cup every 10-15mins is annoying. Errors were made on our order and it was rectified by the other waiter, but the dish we actually ordered was remade and took a very long time. So long in fact, that we thought they forgot it and we tried to settle the bill. We were given a complimentary drink for this though, which was very much appreciated. The prices are exorbitant and I understand fish is expensive, but £10 for a small plate of tomatoes? £18 for a small slice of turbot? The bread looked good on the counter and was a couple quid, but on arrival, it was a few small slices of a supermarket style French stick, plonked down with no butter or oil, and the quality of the bread didn’t justify it. It was dry. What we thought would be a nice relaxing light lunch ended up being a slow, expensive, uncomfortable, disorganised, very loud and hot outing. It was kind of a relief to leave to be honest and unfortunately we were hungry within an hour, which at those prices is insane. The queuing is staggering for such a place, and the slight pretentiousness and hype of it all made it all the more disappointing. I respect them honouring the original interior of the former chippy but it honestly made me just want a chippy rather than over priced, fussy tapas. Unfortunately - despite its promise - overall, Tollingtons seems more of an aesthetic place; another ‘instagrammable’ establishment which has adopted a faux-humble facade for well-to-do twenty-somethings to cosplay working class culture in an old British chippy. Tapas also has working class roots and even today is usually cheap or even complimentary in Spain. So I find it almost soul sucking to pay £18 for a couple mouthfuls of food.

Cramped and uncomfortable. Bottle of cava was warm. Portions are small, thin slice of skate wing. Chips bravas were delicious. Service was good, friendly, but could have done with them shifting the other people down as was a fight for space. Too expensive for the experience, San Sebastián can get away with it because it’s cheap but this was Stroud Green and was too pricey and we weren’t full. Had to go get more food elsewhere afterwards.

Such a great addition to the neighborhood- great food and such a cool laid back vibe ! Been 3 times already .

Having been to the plimsoll I knew what to expect from this new venture. Take an old aesthetic, add in some uncomfortable seating, eliminate standing options, confused waiting service, booking gatekeeper forcing you to wait by the door, and tiny portions at high prices. Sadly I was right. Pintxos works because in Europe those places are a hub of standing tables, standing people, and groups enjoying canas and a quick bite. Doing that is impossible here so you get weird small hushed groups in the first room huddled around the shelf/table areas and louder shouting groups in the back. It's a very strange mix in spite of what grace dent may say about the place. This could have been great but it's just another modern British small plates joint where you come away feeling like you've been robbed and still hungry.

Went a few weeks ago with friends and still thinking about it. Dunno why I'm posting this I should be gatekeeping it

Nice food bad service small tables small plates high prices cheap booze

Actually a pretty horrifying joke if you think of the price. Tiny serves, Sainsbury's french stick pretending to be "baguette". God help me if I ever pay £5 a mouthful anywhere ever again. I'm conflicted, because bits and pieces were actually very tasty, but it's 40% too expensive for what you get, the service was scattered, and the vibes weren't great regardless. Also, it's a moral wrong to change an address so entirely and still inherit their historical Google reviews. It'd be two stars if they hadn't done that nonsense. Also, 12.5% service charge is added but not mentioned on the menu anywhere. Dodgy.

Loved Four legs, love the Plimsoll, but definitely not that place. Full disclaimer: we didn’t stay despite having a booking and left without trying the food. Please don’t take bookings for the bar area, there is no bloody space. There was no room to sit next to each other at the bar. The staff is too cool to be nice or have any politeness basics. I have never lefts a bar / restaurant after 5 min in. Love a hype, love a trend, not this one though!

Gorgeous and relaxed spot, lovely service and delicious authentic tapas. Banging!

Bit overhyped, price to food quality ratio a bit off! Big fan of plimsoll burger and local so thought we’d stop by. You are better off going here for drinks and 1-3 plates not dinner is my thoughts. Had over 10 dishes - full details below. The good: chips bravas, devilled crab, scallops and chistorra. The bad: octopus overdone, john dory more bones than fish. The okay: prawns, hale pili, salad

So sad. Once a traditional chippy run by a lovely Asian couple only not that long ago, for some cheap and really good classic fish and chips. Now turned into a wanky fish bar that serves tiny portions of pretentious yet mid food for outrageous prices, that surely only the gentrifiers will go to. I'm starting not to recognise my city anymore. We've got so few humble places left. Don't be fooled by Google maps telling you this is still a chippy. It isn't. Somehow they've kept the same geotag.