J. Sheekey for posh pre-theatre seafood | London Dining

J. Sheekey Atlantic Bar: Seafood institution near West End theatres. Photo: Paul Winch-Furness HR

J. SHEEKEY ATLANTIC BAR
33-35 St Martin’s Court
London, United Kingdom
WC2N 4AL
(020 7420 9865)
https://www.jsheekeyatlanticbar.co.uk/

By Scott Harrah

Seafood is not the first thing that comes to mind when dining out in London, but J. Sheekey Atlantic Bar, located between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, is a great place for fresh prawns, oysters, seared octopus, scallops and more before or after a West End show. In fact, J. Sheekey has a rich history of serving seafood to theatre-loving Londoners since the late 19^th century.

J. Sheekey Atlantic Bar, a more relaxed sister restaurant to the venerable J. Sheekey restaurant next door (in business since 1896), celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year and has become a staple for pre- and post-theatre dining with its wide selection of fish, shellfish, salads and more. The older J. Sheekey started serving seafood in St. Martin’s Court in the late 1800s under the condition that dinner must be served to Prime Minister Lord Salisbury and his friends. The Atlantic Bar restaurant offers both indoor dining and a comfortable outdoor terrace for al fresco dining during warm summer nights.

During our recent visit to the British capital to review West End shows, we stopped by for a pre-theatre bite. We opted to mostly enjoy the prawns available and started with the Crab, Prawn and Avocado Salad, served with grated Parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons and a spiced cocktail sauce. This was a great summery starter and much like a Caesar salad with a twist. Next up was a half pint of Atlantic Prawns, served with the deliciously tangy Marie Rose Sauce (a savory blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and cognac). The sauce really brought out the freshness of the prawns and did not overpower the taste too much. The prawns (or “shrimp” as we call them in many parts of the USA) come with the shell still intact, so eating them requires some work, but it’s well worth it. A fine wine list compliments the menu.

For the main course, we split two entrees: Seared Tiger Prawns with “bang bang roasted peanut sauce,” and the succulent Prawn Tempura served with spicy chili jam. The Prawn Tempura was among the best we’ve ever had: lightly battered, helping enhance the flavor of the giant prawns without being overbearing. We also indulged in a side of chips (fries), so hot and salty and one of the best we’ve had in Europe.

For dessert, we tried the honeycomb ice cream with chocolate sauce. The ice cream had a smooth, honey-infused texture, topped with decadent chocolate sauce and with several crunchy biscuits. We also indulged in a coffee with the raspberry parfait with buttermilk crunch, a perfect end to a light pre-theatre meal.

The staff at J. Sheekey Atlantic Bar is also noteworthy, from the people greeting one at the door to our friendly waiter who explained everything on the menu in great detail.

Although seafood is not often what one thinks of when dining in London, Britain is, after all, an island, and J. Sheekey has some of the best seafood we’ve had in this part of Europe. From seared octopus to crab cakes, oysters and salmon to the famous Sheekey’s Fish Pie (a favorite among theatregoers, served post-theatre with a glass of house wine for £19.75), J. Sheekey should not be missed on your next visit to London.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published June 30, 2018
Reviewed on June 21, 2018 in London