You would be hard to think of a better fishmonger – or one so engrained within its seaside hometown – to take on the opening of its very own restaurant.
But CA Seafoods, based in Sheringham, has absolutely proved itself by going above and beyond expectations with Fishmongers’ Tavern aka "FT".
This company became a huge hit with us, and many others, during lockdown; from offering tasty seafood platters to expanding its services by offering home delivery far and wide.
It is no surprise then that as soon as word spread of a restaurant opening, we were already sold.
Needing a breather from the recent royal festivities, we headed to FT on a warm and sunny Saturday.
Although the eatery was sparsely filled with lunchtime diners, the waiting staff were upbeat and friendly.
The menu is succinct yet plentiful and it was hard to make a firm decision on what to eat as so many things sounded mouthwatering. You won’t be surprised to read that we managed though.
From the starter menu, Mr W. had Cajun butter whole tiger prawns with craft bakery sourdough and New Farm Blakeney rocket (£8).
For fans of crispy seafood, the rocket from this place is a must. The dish was huge and enjoyable, albeit messy. Thank goodness for a finger bowl.
For our mains, Mr W. opted for a hearty selection of nibbles (£5 each or four for £17) that included crispy squid and sweet chilli sauce, Korean dressed beef and sesame seeds, Panko crumb fish bites, and Sheringham Smokehouse smoked prawns and tartar sauce.
A sucker for tradition, I was drawn to the Cromer crab salad, priced at an incredibly reasonable £16. It was served with a delicious chive potato salad, sourdough, and a very generous and tasty side salad with homemade honey and mustard drizzle.
In a nutshell, the crispy squid rings were disappointingly underwhelming but we hardly had a chance to notice as the fish bites were fresh and delightfully fishy, the smoked prawns were some of the best smoked fish we’ve had before, and the beef dish was a knockout.
The Cromer crab salad was a joyful meal from beginning to end. The flavours were divine, the presentation impressive, and the overall meal was a total success on a Norfolk classic.
I’m already checking the diary for the next time we can visit here.
Setting
The Sheringham restaurant, on Cromer Road, has opened on the site of the former pub dating back to the late 1800s. The 1930s-build is known for its Tudor style as is also the previous home of The Dunstable Arms. It’s full of character and is light and modern. The place is also clean enough to eat your dinner off the floor.
Value
It’s clear that when it comes to eating out, the elephant in the room is no longer hidden. Going out for dinner has become an expensive pastime. It was a pleasant surprise then that eating at FT is both affordable and reasonably priced. Any savings made by owning their own fishmongers appears to have been passed on to the customers and its massively appreciated.
Drinks
The bar offered a selection of drinks including draught and bottles beers (from £2.50) and ales (from £2.20), soft drinks (from £2), the full range of spirits from Norfolk-based The Black Shuck Distillery (£3.50 per measure) that includes gins, vodkas, and rums, and other spirits (from £3).
There is a wine menu featuring red, white, and rose (from £3.50 for 125ml) as well as Jack Rabbit prosecco (£23 a bottle) and champagne (from £55 a bottle).
Toilets
Roomy, clean as a whistle, and perfectly functional.
Accessibility
There is enough level space to be able to swing a wheelchair or a pushchair around. The car park out the front also leads nicely inside the building.
In terms of the food, there is a note on the menu to advise diners that ingredients are separated, work areas and equipment are cleaned down, and servers should be advised of any allergies.
There are also non-seafood options available including FT burgers, tempura vegetables, and a Norfolk chicken breast with tarragon gnocchi, to name just a few.
And a welcomed selection of less conventional side orders (£4 each) include Korean dressed broccoli and herb jewelled couscous.
Finally, between 12pm and 3pm, open sandwiches (£8) are served with a selection of toppings including fish fingers and tartar or a herring and pesto.
Service
Our server was welcoming and friendly. The whole team mucked in to bring our plentiful number of dishes to the table too. The team here seems like a winning one.
Highlight
The food, especially the seafood, is amazing, the bar looks spectacular, and the ambiance of the restaurant is really lovely, so much so it’s hard to pick a highlight. The Korean beef was pretty spectacular though.
In summary
I really, really hope FT continues to thrive. It has all of the right ingrediants, and more, to make this work. Hopefully it gets a good backing from both the locals and holiday makers to transform this place into an all-year-round mark on Norfolk’s foodie map.
Disclaimer
Our food reviews are always independent. They are the opinion of the reviewer based on their experience of the venue when they visited. The establishment is not aware of our visit, is not informed we intend to write a review and bills are paid by the reviewer. The choice of places reviewed is also independent and is not based on venues which do or do not advertise in our publications.
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