Prawn on the Lawn London

Restaurants have a tendency to overcomplicate things. Rick and Katie, however, started theirs simply: fresh seafood, served in a fishmonger. Initially, they didn’t even have a hot food licence, but diners fell in love with Prawn on the Lawn regardless. After nearly a decade of outgrowing its shell and relocating, it now boasts permanent sites in Islington and Padstow.

Strolling past the Islington branch, you would be forgiven for only seeing a fishmonger. The walls are white-tiled and the window display is piled with stunning catches. But peer further in, and you will see Prawn on the Lawn’s hot food licence being put to good use.

After a chat with the well-versed, logo-adorned staff, we dived into our seafood odyssey. Fresh oysters, paired with sparkling Cornish rosé, whisked us to the beach in a heartbeat. With each slurp, this felt less and less like London. Next, heavenly scallops arrived in their shells, bathed in fiery ‘nduja butter and topped with fresh tarragon. Warm Coombeshead Farm sourdough was provided with a knowing nod from the staff. In the blink of an eye, the bread was gone and the shells were clean. Even the non-seafood options were stellar. A huge, intoxicatingly creamy burrata might seem like overkill. But, adorned with marinated anchovies and smoked almonds, it was spot-on.

The signature seafood stew, like the menu, changes daily. For us, it showcased fresh clams, giant prawns and monkfish. The orzo, a springtime addition to the stew, was imbued with warming broth, elevating the dish further. The pricing is fair, but it’s dangerously hard to stop ordering. The crispy, delicately spiced potatoes, for example, are insanely addictive.

When it comes to seafood in London, we would argue Prawn on the Lawn is a must. We left resembling the logo: smiling and licking our lips.

Prawn on the Lawn’s journey began in 2013 when owners Rick and Katie decided to open a fishmongers and seafood bar in North London. It had just eight seats, humble beginnings for a restaurant that’s gone on to become one of the best fish and seafood spots in the capital. After two years of raging success, the duo decided to up sticks and move to a bigger site, albeit on the same street. They now have two restaurants, one in London and the other in Padstow.

Its ethos is all about fresh produce cooked simply, and it relies on daily deliveries from Cornwall and Devon to create its stellar dishes. Things start with small, but flavour-packed plates, such as seared tuna with soy, mirin and spring onion, cod with feta, dill, mint, basil and pine nuts, and buttermilk fried fish with sriracha creme fraiche. You could easily dine on a few of these with a glass of wine, but seafood purists are sure to want to try one of the larger dishes, which include the likes of John Dory, wild sea bass or brill cooked whole in a classic, Thai or Chinese style. Elsewhere, crab and lobster are served over ice, while oysters are in abundance.

Feasting on large quantities of fresh seafood may seem like a lavish way to dine, but Prawn on the Lawn offers a relaxed, rustic setting which is bound to make diners feel at ease. Exposed brick walls, a tiled counter, wooden floors and furniture and hanging light bulbs achieve this effect.

A sizeable drinks list completes the experience, comprised of refreshing cocktails, low and no-alcohol concoctions, G&Ts and a wine list with a heavy lean towards whites.