Transporting diners to the shores of Brittany, this fantastic seafood restaurant is a renowned jewel in Kennington.

The Venue
The Lobster Pot is a family-run business which has been running for over 15 years. Located on Kennington Lane, this very special restaurant boasts a great reputation for being a truly unique establishment serving consistently good food. The exterior is fairly discreet and hides a very unusual interior inside. Push the doorbell and wait and see... inside you'll discover that the entire restaurant has been recreated to resemble a ship – not half-heartedly either. Brightly-coloured fish swim happily behind the portholes next to the tables, fishing nets adorn the wood-panelled walls and the sounds of seagulls and distant fog horns are played through speakers in the background, making you momentarily forget you're on land.

The Atmosphere
Cosy and intimate, this restaurant has a friendly and informal atmosphere, where you will feel like you are among friends. Staff are very friendly and the owner often visits people's tables to check that everything is ok – this is not your usual restaurant, this is a truly unique experience that has diners coming back time after time to sample the delicious food.

The Food
Each week the owner goes to Billingsgate and New Covent Garden Market to buy his fresh fish and seafood – this reflects heavily in the menu, which offers a range of signature dishes as well as specials, all of which are sublimely fresh. Meat and vegetarian dishes are available, but the main staple of The Lobster Pot is fish and seafood. Starters start from £8.50 and mains around £19.50 but by far the best value for money is the eight course surprise menu which is £49.50 with lobster and £44.50 without. Expect the menu to change frequently so that the restaurant can keep surprising their diners.

Surprise menu examples include crab and mushroom gratin – a delicious start to a surprise meal and served in a scallop shell. This is both light and creamy, the 'meaty' mushrooms complement the fresh flaked crab meat perfectly and the whole dish is topped with crunchy breadcrumbs giving it a nice moreish texture, too. The Cajun-spiced perch is a triumph, a light, succulent pan-fried piece of perch with a hint of smoky spice, sitting atop a sweet bed of swede with a dash of basil sauce. The flavours combine well together, creating a mouthwatering smoky-sweet dish. The garlic tiger prawns are outstanding and are simply grilled with homemade garlic butter. They are fresh tasting and the garlic adds a very subtle element to the dish.

The next course is an unusual one – pomelo sorbet presented in a cute little pot. You are given the choice whether you would like vodka with this dish and if you do (you should!) the waitress will then proceed to pour a measure of vodka over the sorbet. This palate cleanser is a refreshing delight, both bitter and well-rounded with the alcohol – delicious! Next is sea bass and scallops with a creamy sorrel sauce. A little piece of perfectly-cooked sea bass is carefully curled around delicate pieces of scallop and fried onions. This comes with a creamy yet tangy sauce, which is well-seasoned and light. The French 'cheeseburger' is also a surprise, as it doesn't contain any meat! A little buttery pastry filled with oozing cheese and what tastes like a hint of truffle oil which gives the dish depth and plenty of flavour.

Like French desserts but never know which one to choose from? Don't worry as one of the restaurant's signature dishes is a creme brulee crepe. A little light and fluffy crepe filled with warm vanilla custard and topped with crunchy caramelised sugar, this is then served with a drizzle of sharp raspberry sauce. The last dish, a little bowl of poached strawberries which have been poached in vine peach liquor, is both refreshing and sweet, a light dish that packs lots of fruity flavour.

The Drink
The restaurant has an excellent French wine and Champagne list and also serves Champagne cocktails such as a Kir Royale. The house white is light, fruity and smooth and complements the fish dishes perfectly.

The Last Word
Not only is the food and service outstanding, the atmosphere is what makes this restaurant really stand out from the crowd. It's a little kitsch, lots of fun and you feel like you've entered a French family home – albeit one on a boat! The only true way to experience the unique atmosphere is to come and see for yourself.

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