Classic chippy Faulkners has launched its new fine dining menu in Dalston.
How do you take the humble chippy into the world of fine dining? Faulkners in Dalston has certainly taken a whack at it. The fish bar, which has stood on Kingsland Road since 1981, has undergone quite the face-lift in the last couple of years. Walking in is like entering Neptune’s own dining room. Decked out in blue and gold, with a fish scales motif running through the detailing. Alongside the new digs, they’ve added a drinks menu that numbers some 50 cocktails and a brand, spanking new fine dining section.
The updated food menu sits closer to Bentley’s in Piccadilly than your average East London chippy –haddock and mushy peas have been swapped out in favour of sautéed salmon and grilled sea bass in a fennel and prosecco cream.
Don’t fear, fish and chip purists, the takeaway next door still stands, and the menu still includes classic haddock, scampi, cod bites and the all-important curry sauce. One thing they certainly haven’t tinkered with is the chips. Thick, crispy and a little chewy, they taste exactly like the crunchy little nibs of fried potato you’re used to, they’re just served alongside delicately spiced seared tuna steak now. The desserts too are clearly shown great care and attention, with sweet, pillow-soft Tiramisu and a dish of warm spiced pineapple both available for consumption.
In this latest version of Faulkners, you’ve got yourself a fish and chip shop that can do both. It’s an entertainingly suave update on an old classic, catering to London’s changing palate that wants its fish both battered and drizzled in a buerre blanc.
