Great fish and seafood in Portsmouth
Not to diss anyone, but there's been a real lack of places to get good fish and seafood in Portsmouth over the years. Considering we're a seaside island city, it always baffled me why buying decent fish and even finding it in restaurants was hard.
Before you come at me, yes, I am fully aware that salmon doesn't live in the Solent and that you won't magically find a lobster just off of Southsea Beach. But as a seaside island city, you'd at least expect to find incredible fish and chips.
Luckily, things are changing. Clearly, I'm not the only one baffled by the lack of good fish and seafood because, over the last few years, we've seen lots of local restaurants incorporate more seafood into their menus. The Briny deserves a special mention as being one of the only ones that has more seafood and fish options than meat.
I'm most excited about FISH's introduction in Old Portsmouth (just opposite A Bar). Having taken over the old Viviers site, FISH seemed to have transformed this little camber. Speaking to a man in The Bridge Tavern, he told us that since opening, FISH has not only made it easier for local fisherman to drop off their daily catches, but they're also paying good rates. Now, whether this is true or not, I don't know, but all you need to do is watch the buzzing comings and goings to notice a difference.
FISH has also completely transformed the building, making it so much more welcoming for everyday patrons, not just businesses. If you want to go in for a small amount of fresh fish, you can, which I was never really sure about with Viviers. It always felt like it was for businesses.
Now to the best part. They have a lovely deli section, but a few days a week, Friday through Sunday, they serve a small selection of hot food. To add the cherry on top of the cake, they have a unique agreement with A Bar. You can head over to A Bar, grab a drink, and bring it back to FISH, where you can enjoy things like half lobster and chips, calamari bites, and fish finger sandwiches.
If you want to see more, head to southofthesea on Instagram to watch the Reel.
Before you come at me, yes, I am fully aware that salmon doesn't live in the Solent and that you won't magically find a lobster just off of Southsea Beach. But as a seaside island city, you'd at least expect to find incredible fish and chips.
Luckily, things are changing. Clearly, I'm not the only one baffled by the lack of good fish and seafood because, over the last few years, we've seen lots of local restaurants incorporate more seafood into their menus. The Briny deserves a special mention as being one of the only ones that has more seafood and fish options than meat.
I'm most excited about FISH's introduction in Old Portsmouth (just opposite A Bar). Having taken over the old Viviers site, FISH seemed to have transformed this little camber. Speaking to a man in The Bridge Tavern, he told us that since opening, FISH has not only made it easier for local fisherman to drop off their daily catches, but they're also paying good rates. Now, whether this is true or not, I don't know, but all you need to do is watch the buzzing comings and goings to notice a difference.
FISH has also completely transformed the building, making it so much more welcoming for everyday patrons, not just businesses. If you want to go in for a small amount of fresh fish, you can, which I was never really sure about with Viviers. It always felt like it was for businesses.
Now to the best part. They have a lovely deli section, but a few days a week, Friday through Sunday, they serve a small selection of hot food. To add the cherry on top of the cake, they have a unique agreement with A Bar. You can head over to A Bar, grab a drink, and bring it back to FISH, where you can enjoy things like half lobster and chips, calamari bites, and fish finger sandwiches.
If you want to see more, head to southofthesea on Instagram to watch the Reel.
