It’d be easy to walk past Brixton’s Fish Lounge and assume it’s just another chippy. And in many ways you’d be right. This place does everything your pleasantly inebriated self might want in the middle of or after a heavy night out: chicken, burgers and pies complement the mainstay of fish and chips, topped with a dollop of mushy peas and wrapped in a nicely whiffy, grease-soaked bag. But there are a couple of things that make this joint better than your average takeaway.
It’s breathtakingly spotless, for a start. That might not sound remarkable, but I’d have been quite happy, hygiene-wise, if the man behind the counter had tipped my meal out in front of him and told me to get stuck in. There’s also a neat seating area in the back, with warm-glow lightbulbs suspended from the ceiling and screwed into brass fittings on the walls, making it feel exceptionally welcoming.
The food is fabulous. I’ve never had fish covered in such crisp and delicate batter – breaking the surface was like piercing the lid on a perfect crème brûlée; and the chips were delightfully thick and fluffy. This all came with a peppy tartare sauce, a little pot of curry dip that was absolutely addictive (even if a little too gelatinous) and a posh soft drink.
Best of all is the service. Staff go out of their way to make sure you’re comfortable and happy, and they treat you like you’ve been coming here for your fried-fish fix for years. Which is exactly what you’ll end up doing if they carry on like this.