Ocean Basket Kingston — Restaurant in London

Ocean Basket in Kingston-Upon-Thames is more than just a restaurant—it's a euphoric experience that leaves you smiling and dancing with joy as you walk out the door.

Venturing into Ocean Basket was a nostalgic trip for us, as we reminisced about our South African roots and longed for the flavors of home. As we were in the area visiting friends, we seized the opportunity to indulge in a taste of our beloved "local" favorite.

Our lunch began with a glass of the house Sauvignon blanc, a delightful choice that transported us back to lazy afternoons on the porch, watching African thunderstorms roll by. The wine's familiar flavors served as a comforting reminder of home, setting the stage for a memorable dining experience.

We kicked off our meal with the lemon garlic butter mussels—an absolute delight that had us eagerly mopping up every last drop of sauce with the crusty bread provided. A pro tip: add a dash of green chilli from the table condiments to elevate the flavors to new heights.

For our mains, we opted for the Platter for 1, which proved to be more than enough to share between us. Overflowing with squid heads, calamari, prawns, fish, chips, and rice, the generous portions and exquisite flavors left us thoroughly satisfied.

To conclude our culinary journey, we indulged in the decadent don pedro—a heavenly dessert consisting of ice cream and Amarula liqueur. The perfect ending to a magical lunch that left us longing for more.

In terms of value, our experience at Ocean Basket was well worth every penny, with our bill totaling £60, inclusive of tip. Each dish was a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity.In summary, Ocean Basket in Kingston-Upon-Thames offers a taste of South Africa that is both nostalgic and exhilarating.

With its joyous experience and delectable flavors, Ocean Basket earns an exceptional rating of 6/5, solidifying its place as a memorable destination for those seeking a culinary journey...

Food was delicious but terrible service.

The front of house was very friendly and we got seated at a lovely table with a view over the river.

Unfortunately after we were seated no waiter came to the table to take our order. After 20minutes I managed to grab the front of house to ask if someone could take our order (other staff seemed to disperse or ignore you when approached). She very helpfully came and took our order. We never did receive a bread basket although every other table did seem to get one and there were plates on the table for it.

The blood orange lemonade was lovely and food arrived very quickly. We ordered 2 bite of the ocean’s, grilled fish with half chips half rice and a fish and chips fried.

Everything was cooked to perfection, with lovely tender calamari, tasty prawns and soft flaky fish.

We sat hoping that our waiter would return so we could see a desserts menu and perhaps order more drinks but after a 30 minute wait we flagged someone down to get our bill instead.

It did seem that other tables served by the same waiter had the same problem but other tables appeared to have much better service. Just quite disappointing for us as it’s a bit of a drive to get there but at least the food was good and we had...

Disappointing and disheartening experience

Our visit started off positively, the first waitress was proactive and helpful in getting us seated. Unfortunately, that’s where the good service ended. We waited around 10 minutes just to be given the complimentary bread rolls, and then another 15 minutes before anyone even acknowledged my father trying to get their attention that we were ready to order.

When a waitress finally approached, her tone felt patronising, especially given how long we had already been waiting. She seemed unsure about the menu and couldn’t clearly explain the different options, so I ended up prompting her myself before reluctantly agreeing to something just to move things along.

What truly ruined the evening, however, was when the European waitress, openly mimicked me to a colleague (who appeared to be Filipino) while glancing in our direction. It was unprofessional, upsetting, and completely unacceptable. I mentioned it to my sister, who then went to the manager to raise the issue.

The manager was attentive and tried to handle the situation, but by that point we were too upset to stay and eat. What was meant to be a pleasant family dinner ended abruptly, leaving us disappointed and...