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Cape Town Fish Market

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Sutherland House, 5-6 Argyll St, W1F 7TE Full details & map

Restaurant: Fish & seafood

Time Out says 3 Users say 2/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: May 14 2009

CTFM tries to create a broad appeal to many kinds of visitors in this tourist trap part of London. There's a sushi conveyor-belt and a fish restaurant menu. There's a wet fish counter near the entrance (no takers on our visit), but also lighting that suggests a bar or nightclub. The overall effect of this and various tacky details - the fisherman mannequin in a sou'wester, the Phil Collins muzak - create a chain-like, formula feel that wouldn't be out of place in a shopping mall. This impression is reinforced by the menu, which is dumbed-down to the lowest common denominators of seafood dishes: 'surf and turf' and chicken burger sit alongside the sushi and salads. In its favour, CTFM does a couple of things very well: the South African wine list is well chosen, and the seafood we tried was fresh and of tip-top quality. The sushi platter was more than decent, but a small piece of sea bass was cheekily priced at £19.95. Prices throughout the menu are on the high side for a lower-middle-range restaurant of this type. Given the name and provenance - this is a branch of a South African chain - we had hoped for at least some South African seafood on the menu, but there was none. One of the few, token South African dishes was a seafood stew, served in a potjie (pronounced 'poykee''; it's a cast-iron pot). The stew was based around an overpowering tomato sauce that closely resembled tinned tomato soup. We didn't stay for dessert. A note on our menu invited diners to enquire about international franchising. What CTFM doesn't seem to understand is that discerning diners want to eat in a restaurant with character and soul, not in someone else's business plan.

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Tags: Fish & seafood, Central, Soho, Expensive, Restaurant

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Cape Town Fish Market details

Address

Cape Town Fish Market

Sutherland House, 5-6 Argyll St W1F 7TE

Transport Oxford Circus tube

Telephone

020 7437 1143

Cape Town Fish Market website

Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm; Fri, Sat 12noon-11.30pm; Sun 12noon-11pm

Meal for two with wine and service: around £80

Cape Town Fish Market map

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Comments & ratings 2/5 (Average of 3 ratings)

By Maria - Nov 21 2011

1/5

I came to your restaurant on saturday night with my friend and our three children. As adults, we ordered the mussels, which were swimming in what can only be described as a powdered soup. There was no more than a dozen mussels, many of which had been thrown in the bowl for us to eat around the broken shells.
We were in a real rush to get to the show for 7.30pm. Under any other circumstances I would have complained at the time and been happy to see if an alternative dish would have improved my perception of the food served.

Not good.

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By Tom - Jun 9 2011

3/5

Went to CTFM last night, spur of the moment decision, expectations not great based on reviews but was actually pleasantly surprised. Bit of a hotch-potch concept, granted, but the staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the service quick and the fish tasted very fresh. It's not J Sheekey, granted - more a fishy equivalent of TGIs - but perhaps early reviews weren't a fair indicator after all. It's a West End tourist trap so judging it by the same standards as Scotts is not exactly relevant.

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By tammy - Feb 26 2011

2/5

went to cape town fish market last night and i must say i am never going back. whilst expecting the same grade A service and food quality as in Jo'burg the london restaurant is a disappointment. We waited for 15 minutes before someone came and gave us a menu or asked what we'd like to drink. after asking for an exchange for the starter as the mussels were not up to par the waitress spilt the mussel cream all over our table and clothes and found it very amusing.
the fish cakes are to die for but mussels are a disappointment. for mains we had grilled sea bass and surf and turf. the sea food was lovely but the steak lacked in taste.
when asked about the spillage the management said they could not do anything about it since it was a mistake and took off £13 off our £82 bill stating thats all they could do and if we had a problem with it we should write a letter as he could not spend the whole night talking to us because he had customers.
for a place with mediocre food the service made the experience very upsetting.
if you were to go there wish and hope for nothing to go wrong because if it does, the staff cannot do anything about it. they are more or less useless.