Poppies Fish & Chips — Restaurant in London

We visited Poppie’s in Soho as a group of four on Saturday. It’s essential to book a table as it gets very busy, and there’s no space to queue inside – we saw several people waiting outside.

The service was good overall, with friendly and knowledgeable staff. However, if you offer constructive feedback, don’t expect an apology; it’s more likely to be met with excuses. That said, the team were attentive and approachable.

The food was enjoyable, though not exceptional. We tried both the cod and haddock and found the cod to be slightly better than the haddock (despite the servers recommending the latter). Both were delicious but unfortunately served cold. The chips were underwhelming – lacking the quality you’d expect at this price point. On a more positive note, the pickled gherkin and onions were excellent, and the tartar sauce, though served in a miniature jar, was very tasty.

What truly let the meal down were the mushy peas. They were cold, bland, and completely unseasoned – reminiscent of something straight from a tin. For a fish and chip restaurant, this was a big disappointment. Mushy peas are easy and inexpensive to make, just add some fresh herbs and seasoning . So it’s baffling that they’d serve something so lacklustre when it detracts from the entire meal.

The drinks menu offered a good selection, and the atmosphere was lively with charming décor. However, the space is incredibly cramped, making it feel a bit overwhelming during busy times.

Overall, it was a pleasant and satisfying meal, but at £30 per person, it fell short of expectations. I’ll continue my search for a favourite spot for...

The food was barely passable, nowhere near the standard I expect from Poppies. Slightly Soggy Batter, a slightly Mushy Fillet, (when everyone wants flaky) and slightly Soft Chips that didn't feel freshly fried at all - they were not giving off any heat!.

Worst of all, the service was diabolical, not at all what I expect from Poppies, and I have been a customer since the opening of the first in Spitalfields.

The Indian female waiter, tried to school British nationals, on how to eat fish and chips?.

My partner requested gravy with her chips, and the female waiter actually tried to dissuade her from doing so!?. How can she serve in a fish and chips shop in England and not be aware of a combination which is eaten all across the UK?! She was culturally clueless, and her menu knowledge was just as bad.

She didn't even know what tartare sauce was! I asked for Mayo, and she pointed to the pots of tartare sauce, and said it's "mayo with this green stuff" No, that is not mayonnaise, that is tartare sauce, I replied. She just looked away and didn't even apologise.

Worst of all, I asked for a single battered sausage to be served with my meal, but she came to the table with an extra dish which I was forced to pay for!. I didn't ask for battered sausage with chips, just a battered sausage.

Not even a single staff member on the floor, I felt inclined to speak with, for cultural reasons.

This Poppies is crap. Avoid. Go to the one in Spitalfields, or better still, the Mayfair Chippy near Bond Street. Far better quality fish, and distinctly British non Indian Street Food Service...

TLDR; get 1 regular dish between two, ditch the sides, and remove the optional service tax off the bill.

First things first, the haddock fish was great. Soft inside, crisp outside, well and fresh fried. Delish.

The chips were good but nothing to write home about. Unsalted, however you can salt as much or as little as you like with a selection of salt, vinegar, and ketchup on the table. Chips were a little outmatched by the fish that was definitely the star of the show.

The portions are gargantuan with a regular serve equating to 200 grams of fish and a large XXL size serve of chips. We noticed a lot of people with unfinished dishes so opted to get a regular between two with a couple of veggie sides, which was a better choice. They also have a large version which was 300 grams of fish and what I imagine to be more chips, not necessary.

Couple of gripes. The tomato salad was a complete disappointment. I get that this is a fish and chip place, not a salad place, but if you are going to charge 5 pounds for a handful of cherry tomatoes and a couple of chops of washed lettuce, no dressing or seasoning - simply take it off the menu.

Felt a little swindled at the end when the bill had an "optional service tax" that was AUTOMATICALLY keyed into the EFTPOS machine without advising or checking with us. Tax was about 10% on top of the meal when the meal was already just under 13 pound (fish and chips only). We noticed the charge and questioned it, and the waiter then removed the charge. This gave me a pretty negative impression and made me feel like the place was a bit...