Pier 1 brings posh fish and chips to Camden.

The Venue
From a distance, one would expect Pier 1’s cool, stylish exterior (glass front, neon blue signs) to belong to a nightclub rather than a fish and chip restaurant. Inside things are similarly sleek, with wooden flooring and a mezzanine level; it’s light, bright and very airy. The takeout counter is downstairs and there is even a display where you can meet your dinner.

The Atmosphere
Unsurprisingly, at weekends Pier 1 is as crowded as Camden High Street, filled with a mixture of tourists and teenagers. On weeknights it’s a more sedate affair, with a few young couples and groups of friends chatting over the background pop music.

The Food
Starters include scallops, prawn and salmon fishcakes, king prawns and deep fried chilli squid, the latter appearing as curly pieces of peppery battered squid which have been cooked for just a little too long, but not long enough to turn to rubber. Despite this they are very tasty and hardly need the accompanying pot of sweet chilli sauce.

The fish is either grilled or fried in batter and there is a choice of cod, haddock, plaice, skate, sole, scallops and salmon. There are non-fish options too such as steaks, but this seems sacrilegious. Price varies according to the fish - a plate of deep fried plaice in a crispy batter with chunky chips, mushy peas and tartar sauce is £9.95, the sole equivalent is £10 more. The grilled haddock is fragrant and flakes easily when touched with a fork, and portions are on the generous size making dessert (safe choices such as apple and blackberry crumble, sticky toffee pudding, crème brulee) seem like an impossible feat.

The Drink
Alcohol is limited to house white, red or rose and bottled beers such as Peroni. Juices and soft drinks are also available.

The Last Word
Fish and chip fans will love the smart dining area and wholesome food, be warned however, it’s not as cheap as chips.

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