Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack restaurant
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack started their humble beginnings as a pop up in Hackney by before finding a permanent home at Foley Street in Fitzrovia. As it stands Bonnie Gull by Alex Hunter and Danny Clancy has been going strong with another addition in London and a chip shop Salt Sauce in Oxford. They are opening another restaurant and fishmongers in Chelsea in 2020.
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack has been following me on Twitter for years and I never made round to visit. In a recent article I read, the author wrote how Bonnie Gull had one of the best fish and chips in London and I just had to pay a visit.
Location
Working in the Fitzrovia area means I could get to the restaurant very easily during lunchtime. Bonnie Gull is located on Foley Street with outdoor table seating for that al fresco dining. It occupies a corner of the street, white and pale blue painted walls against the dark blue font typography and logo. The colours instantly transport you to the seaside towns of the UK.
Interior and space
Push past the white doors, and you see tiny small square tables throughout the whole area. Indoor interiors use a lot of light natural woods, neutral colour palettes and nautical theme. Although there were only a few diners eating during lunchtime, the waiting staff asked if I’ve booked. They happily accommodated walk-ins and there’s also extra seating downstairs. The menu changes seasonally but the Schiehallion battered North Sea haddock with beef dripping chips & mushy peas dish are a permanent fixture. The current menu online shows a selection of oysters, scallop ceviche, fishcakes, croquette, and more.
To start
After placing my order, a wooden board with a slice of soda bread, salted butter and seaweed butter arrived. It’s a great start to the meal, and I couldn’t stop eating the seaweed butter.
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack Fish and chips
The neighbouring diner had ordered the fish and chips, and proudly chirped how it was the best he ever had. The dished up arrived on a white plate, chunky fat beef dripping chips are used as the foundation to keep the battered fish up, it is sprinkled with coarse sea salt. It comes served with a pot of mushy peas homemade tartare sauce on an oyster shell and a slice of lemon.
Squeezing the lemon juice all over haddock fish, it is beautifully fried in a light tempura batter, and bubbled up in certain spots. It crunches loudly with a knife cutting through, in the mouth, it is airy light exterior with fish that flakes and crumbles in the mouth. Tartare sauce is stellar, a thick creamy mixture with tiny pickles that keeps you wanting more. Beef dripping chips, on the other hand, satisfies ticks all the boxes, it is fat and very chunky compared to the chip shop ones, the outside and inside is very crispy looking darker golden brown. Mushy peas are sweet and balance the richness of the tartare sauce and heavy thick chips.
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack more information and 15% discount
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack nails a good British classic of fish and chips. It’s a more refined dining experience, but you know you’re eating quality from a place that specialises in seafood. The shack just went and underwent a refurbishment and is officially re-opening on the 7th of February. Diners can get a 15% discount off their bills from the 7th to 13th February 2020.
For more information please visit Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack website.
21A FOLEY STREET, LONDON W1W 6DS