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Review by Tom O'Riordan |
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LOCH Fyne offers a large range of seafood delicacies, with an ever changing specials board to catch your eye.
Part of a small chain of restaurants, fresh fish is also served over the counter; when being seated in the non-smoking section, try not staring longingly at the ice encrusted display of the beauties ready for your consumption.
Starters include Kinglas fillet (smooth as you like), herring fish cakes, prawn cocktail and crab cocktail, but forget all those - go for either the half pot, or, if you're feeling ambitious, the full pot of mussels - absolutely stunning. The mussels bathe in a chilli and wine concoction, perfect for dipping the slabs of brown bread that accompany the meals.
For main, if your feeling decadant, why not go for the lobster platter; langoustines, mussels, whelks, oysters all surround the halved lobster on a bed of ice. I recommend going for two lots of garlic mash to roll the cold white meat in; something to enthrall your tastebuds.
Make sure you are not too hungry, though, as I could quite easily eat two platters on my own, not cheap at £36 a throw! Might be an idea to save this one for one of those cheap European holidays where you will pay the same as a bag of fish and chips.
If it is your first time at Loch Fyne, then you must have, for main course, the Turbot marinated in oyster sauce, with a side order of garlic mash (I'm sorry, but I love it), and vegetables of the day. If you won't take my word for it, it is also the favourite fish of none other than Rick Stein...he knows his fish! If you see it on the specials board, the baked sea bass is also an admiral catch.
The desserts are very run of the mill, so not really worth a mention, the fish is the star of the show.
Criticisms are a hurried waiter service; as soon as you're finished, the plates are taken, and the main course appears immediately, there is no time to breathe. The atmosphere, not party like, but maybe for an early meal before moving onto somewhere a little bit more lively. A meal for two will cost you between £60 and £70, making this a restaurant for very special occasions only.
May I recommend, instead of forking out £12.50 for a house bottle of red, nipping down before, and after, to the Fulwell Arms on the corner - a bit old man-ish in there but the Guinness is superb. Ask the Irish blokes sitting at the bar (it could be me!)
Cheers, Tom
Address: Loch Fyne, 175 Hampton Road, Twickenham. Restaurant Tel:
020 8255 6222