It’s all in the name at The Sea, The Sea in Chelsea, a fishmonger, deli and seafood bar that really does it all - from sourcing the best ingredients, to catching the fish themselves, and ensuring it reaches the kitchen within 24 hours. Excitingly, after five years at their first location, the team have supersized, moving just down the road but expanding to three floors, a much bigger kitchen and an impressive outdoor seating area after further investment - a show of their popularity.
The Sea The Sea is open for lunch and dinner, with a menu that spans elegant snacks like blinis topped with crème fraîche and caviar, alongside rock oysters. Smaller plates include aged sea bream with white asparagus and shiso; fried sseaweed dumplings with lobster; and cuttlefish ragu with salsify and green almond, before moving onto larger plates. Across these, the butterflied gurnard, whey and smoked herring roe sounds like a must try, as does the plaice with wild garlic capers and pickled dulse.
As well as serving up delicious plates, the team at The Sea, The Sea do their best to be aware of sustainable practises and are currently not offering cod either in the fishmonger or restaurant. Instead, you’ll find white fish alternatives that have healthier stock levels - it’s a move that not only shows they care, know their stuff, but also encourages diners to try something new, which we’re all for.
The drinks menu is just as long as the food, with some gorgeous sparkling, rose and orange wine options, alongside classic reds and whites. The cocktail list also deserves your attention: the Fish House Punch, for example, brings together cognac, rum, créme de pêche, earl grey tea, lemon and sugar. If you’re interested in having a nose around the deli (and we suggest that you do), you’ll find all sorts of collectable food stuffs from salmon caviar to pearl serving spoons.