Wright Brothers Borough Market — Restaurant in London

Nestled in the heart of Borough market, standing out amongst the trendy food stalls and high end restaurants is no easy feat. Wright brothers not only stands out, but excels. With outstanding food, excellent service and their ‘£1 a pop’ oyster deal on top, you have a recipe for a truly memorable meal.

Arriving just after 5pm on a Monday evening, we were lucky to grab a table for two in an already packed restaurant, despite not having a booking. With less than an hour left on the oyster deal, the mission was simple - how many could we get through before time ran out?

As soon as we opened the menu it became clear that sticking to just oysters would be impossible. A wide selection of seafood called out to us, and we just couldn’t resist. We ordered a 1/2 pint of Atlantic prawns alongside a trio of salt cod and crab croquettes (adding an extra one for good measure) alongside our first round of 8 oysters.

The croquettes were sensational. Crisp on the outside and packed with a rich, flavourful filling, it’s one of those dishes that will have you thinking about them for days after. The Atlantic prawns served in their shell were a pleasant surprise. Piled high into the half pint, it really felt like you got your money’s worth. With a bowl for the shells and a lemon water bath to rinse your fingers, the dish was messy but entirely worth it.

The real star of the show were the oysters. I’d been unimpressed by oysters in the past, but if there was ever a chance to change my mind, this was it. The platter arrived, beautifully presented on crushed ice with accompaniments of shallots in vinegar, Tabasco and lemon wedges. I was blown away. The taste was like nothing I’d tried before: juicy, briny and bursting with flavour, I was instantly hooked. We polished off the first 8 in no time and before long had another 6 on the table, bringing our final total to 14, and at just £1 each they were absurdly good value.

The service was just as impressive as the food. Our waitress was an absolute delight. She was warm, funny and attentive, making sure to check in regularly. Service was very quick yet professional - If you ever want a reminder of what great customer service is, this is exactly it.

Between the food, drinks and service charge the bill came to about £60, value that is incredibly hard to come by in central London these days. Whether you’re a seafood enthusiast or a shellfish novice, there’s something here for everyone. I cannot wait to return and explore what else the menu has to offer, but one thing’s for sure: I’ll be back, Tabasco in hand, with a craving for oysters, eager to dive in to some of the freshest seafood London...

Wright Brothers, Borough Market. 207 reviews, 4.4 rating. Four branches with remarkably similar review ratings. Can't go wrong here. Two people, native English speaking tourists, widely world traveled and fed.

Tried Wednesday evening without booking, ferociously busy with after work drinkies, but dining area largely empty ... apparently no tables for approximately 3 hours. Booked for following night. Thursday evening fairly early, still very busy with after work drinkies ... did they go home? Dining area again largely empty. Warning?

"Table" for two turns out to be "bar bench" overlooking kitchen. "Only three or more at tables" we are told. Hot area but interesting watching.

Carafe (500ml) Reisling ... unremarkable but quite quaffable. Starters both "Oysters New Orleans". 3 oysters each, bread crumbed and deep fried. Nicely presented in half shells. Tartare sauce. Nicely cooked but unremarkable. Very little oyster taste or smell (no idea what variety oysters used). Tartare sauce does little to rescue situation. Mains, fish pie. Excellent reviews and comment. Served in shallow, square, cast iron dish. Potato topped, nicely browned, looks good. Potato a little wet over a bland white sauce containing generous quantity of alternating pieces of smoked white fish and salmon. That's it. No shellfish, no prawn, nothing else "seafood" for taste, texture or colour, still, it is marketed as a fish pie, not a seafood pie. Very little "taste" of anything except the salmon pieces.

Disappointing all round. Not cheap, that lot £94.33. Bright spot, no sign of wait staff rudeness complained of in many reviews. Perhaps some wait staff incompetence displayed by the young lady who whipped away entree dishes and bread and butter plates while I was still holding a piece of bread. Considering that alcohol appeared to be the "dish of the day" throughout our time there (and any other time we've walked past), it might be prudent to think of this branch as "pub first, snacks/food (distant) last", rather than an upmarket expensive restaurant with alcoholic refreshments. Below average overall, can usually do a lot better for...

Being an Anthony Bourdain fan, I came here because 'Wright Brothers' was mentioned in the London episode of 'Parts Unknown' (there is however no footage in the episode of Bourdain actually visiting this place). The interior is quite cosy but service was of the typical vendor style with a cynical undertone. I hardly sat down and someone of the staff asked me if I wanted water. In some cultures offering water is complimentary, but here answering 'yes' will cost you £ 3,75 (plus service charge). For the real 'drink' I ordered a glass of Processo (£ 7,50) and chose the 'rock selection' (see photo) which offered a nice selection of quality oysters (£ 18,50). Be aware although the menu states £ 18.50 which seams reasonable, there will be a 12,5 % 'service charge' on everything you order. I finished the oysters with a Bloody Mary (see photo) with an extra oyster which came at £ 11 (but you still need to add the 'service charge'). And without asking they added £ 1 to the bill for 'charity' action against hunger. The total bill with service charge added came in at £ 46,97 which is leaning towards expensive for 6 oysters, a glass of Prosecco and a Bloody Mary. After all, you're not sitting at fancy dinner tables and in my case I was even sitting at the counter. Although the interior has a cosy vibe to it, upselling staff who try to make your bill more expensive, turns it down for me. Let this be a warning to tourists who are offered water the moment they sit down and don't forget to add the service charge (12,5 %) to the price next to the dishes. Even on the £ 1 involuntary added donation the 12,5 % service...