The Castle — Restaurant in London

So, there I was — in London, tired of pretending I didn’t come all this way just to eat fish and chips in a pub like every other wide-eyed visitor with a pint and a dream. I wandered into a pub — yes, a pub. Not the pub, not my local, not some trendy gastropub trying to reinvent gravy foam. Just… a pub. Four walls, some wood, a chalkboard, a menu. Unremarkable in theory. But in practice? Oh, dear reader — what unfolded was nothing short of divine.

First of all, and I can’t stress this enough: the place was clean. Suspiciously clean. Not a sticky table, not a ketchup-crusted bottle, not a single beer mat fused to the surface of a bar by decades of ale and apathy. It was like someone actually cared. Like they mopped before opening. Like hygiene wasn’t a nostalgic concept. I knew right then I was in for something… serious.

Naturally, I ordered the fish and chips. Why wouldn’t I? I’m not here to experiment with quinoa tacos or deconstructed shepherd’s pie. No. I came for the classic — battered fish, chunky chips, a side of mushy peas that dares you to pretend you don’t secretly love them.

And what a plate it was. The fish arrived cloaked in golden armor, hot enough to warn your fingertips but too inviting to wait. The batter was crisp without being obnoxious, and the fish underneath was flaky, tender, and completely devoid of mystery. The chips? Thick. Not fries pretending to be chips. No, these had substance. They had soul. They were exactly the kind of chips that deserve to be dragged through vinegar and salt until you forget your own name.

And the mushy peas. Look, I know the reputation. They’re the punchline. The side dish that gets nervously nudged around the plate. But not these. These were smooth, properly seasoned, and just the right shade of green — neither radioactive nor army-surplus. I didn’t just eat them. I respected them.

To drink? A pint. It doesn’t matter what kind. It was cold. It was fresh. It was served without the server looking at me like I’d personally ruined their weekend. And it came in a glass that was clean enough to see my reflection — which, frankly, was a little emotional.

There was no fuss. No song and dance. No desperate attempt to modernize the British pub experience by installing filament bulbs and naming things after livestock. Just solid service, honest food, and the quiet satisfaction of a job done properly.

In conclusion: nothing went wrong. Nothing was weird. Nothing needed to be “fixed” or “improved” or “twisted with a modern flair.” It was fish and chips in a London pub, done exactly the way it should be — flawlessly, unapologetically, and without even the faintest trace of pretentiousness

Five stars. I’d go back now if I...

Thank you for the opportunity to elaborate on my earlier review (3 star). Appreciating that one’s experiences are unique and individual. The reasons for giving a rating of 3 for our visit are due to the food. We ordered a prawn and crab linguine and steak and ale pie together with apple crumble and couple of drinks. There were 4 shrimps (I counted) and cannot find the crab meat with my (rehydrated) pasta. The shrimps (small) were defrosted, understandable as we are no way near the fish market. My partner (son of a baker) indicated that the pie was frozen and reheated which account for the cold stew inside and the tough pastry. The mash was great though with lots of cream and butter. While we were there, a party of 12 came in and resulted in a major reshuffle of the tables and chairs - the noise of dragging furniture across timber floor can be challenging to people of our age - the patrons kept mentioning that they had made reservations. The South Asian looking waiter was very attentive, thank you. While we were here yesterday, there were a number of tables which were not clean up after patrons left - partly account for the reshuffle...

While on vacation with my hubby, having a beer in Portobello Market, I noticed an appetizing dish, meat or something, in someones plate, a table next to ours. I just couldn't contain myself and had to order! The best meal decision I ever took! Never had before a chicken cooked like the one at The Castle on Portobello Road! The juicy meat, the gravy, the side dish - exquisite! The food was so goood, that for the rest of our vacation we only went there to eat! We wanted to personally thank the Head Chef, Simona, who made sure that every day we tried something new, flavory, delicious. The Open Kitchen is a major plus, cause you can basically see how your dish is being prepared! The English Pub atmosphere, excellent customer service, amazing food, lovely, very talented Head Chef (Simona is a keeper!!!), these are our main reasons for which we will always come back here! Don't miss out this place, you'll definitely have a wonderful gastronomic experience, full of flavors, tasteful food, accompanied by great atmosphere and...