Applebee’s has been doing its quietly impressive thing since 2000. Starting life as a fishmonger, it casually morphed into a cutesy family-run seafood restaurant (making it now one of the oldest on this Stoney Street strip) which remains fit-to-bursting every evening.
Brown crab rarebit was delightfully chunky, and layered with a heroic portion of salty samphire
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Applebee’s had a bit of an interior spruce up in 2025, and is now a light, bright and ultra-convivial space in which to plough through a superlative seafood offering from executive chef, Frankie van Loo. Super-sustainable, the menu at this Borough Market mainstay charges regularly, depending on what the Devon and Cornwall dayboats have brought to Brixham Fish Market.
Our oysters were hearty and so fresh they might have made a run for it had they had legs, while a starter of wild seabass ceviche came meaty-thick and lifted by a vibrant strawberry and citrus dressing. Brown crab rarebit was delightfully chunky, and layered with a heroic portion of salty samphire, and followed by two sturdy and sizable grilled wild prawns honking with garlic butter. If there’s something Applebee’s does just as well as fish, it’s beautifully buttery sauces swirled with radiant green herbs.
We clock a massive fish and chips complete with a tower of tartate being delivered to another table and almost stand and applaud, but it’s creamy Cornish hake on top of a melt-y potato rosti with beurre blanc and a slab of wild sea bass with wilted spinach for us. Wine is British, and desserts are old school with a modern wink; an audacious cherry and pistachio trifle just about finished us off. And that is why Applebee’s is still rammed every night.
The vibe Laidback former fishmonger with an outdoor terrace by Borough Market.
The food Fresh British seafood cooked with care.
The drink Homegrown wine and a couple of considered cocktails.
Time Out tip Staff are well-versed on the freshest, tastiest catches of the day - get their advice on the menu and don’t ignore the specials board.