LIVEBAIT, London. WC2E 7DN.

LIVEBAIT
21 Wellington St,
Covent Garden.
London
WC2E 7DN
www.livebaitrestaurants.co.uk

Food Style: Seafood
Closest Stations: Covent Garden (Piccadilly), Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo)

Recommends: Seafood. Steak is also an option but given the choice why would you, its a Seafood restaurant after all!
Avoid: If you don't like fish on the raw side or if you don't like seafood (and steak!)

Review:
A short walk away from Covent Garden, located in a fairly quiet street but still within close proximity to the numerous theatres close by lies LIVEBAIT. Many theatre goers pop in for a quick bite to eat before the 7.30pm shows. (You can book online if you wish)

I have been here a couple of times before, the first time by random change and the second just before seeing Lion King in the adjacent theatre. However, being too young (and having not fully developed my palate) I couldn't remember much apart from 'The Seafood is good!' so the fact that there is currently 30% off food (until 31st March) seemed a good reason to go.

I settled on the Pan Fried Smoked Haddock fillet and poached free-range egg served with parsley mash and a wholegrain mustard sauce. Presented with the sauce acting like a blanket on my food, and unable to actually see what was under it without moving it aside, all was forgiven as it was a delightful looking and tasting sauce indeed. The Parsley Mash was not too creamy (a la Michelin restaurants), and not too 'chunky', just perfect to complement the smoothness of the Haddock. The Haddock seemed to be lightly cooked, and flaked easily to show the translucent middle (think sashimi).I don't particularly like eggs, especially with a runny yolk so I can't comment on that, apart from it looked as though it was nicely done.

Other things worth mentioning:
-The bread (free): 6 slices of a baguette accompanied by butter and an anchovy paste, which was divine!
-My friend found a deep fried hair tangled in one of the Deep Fried Calamari Rings, so as always keep an eye! The manager was super apologetic and offered a replacement and when this was denied, a dessert. My friend declined any sort of food, and the manager took this off the bill.
-Service: The food was delivered in a timely manner, which I always find pleasing. And the manager was very hospitable when my friend explained that they didn't feel right to pay for the chips, seeing as though the meal was ruined and this (as well as the cover charge when asked) was promptly removed with no question.

Rating: B+(+). A bit on the pricey side with main meals from £11-£19, oysters/lobster etc more, but let's be honest this is seafood after all so it's not unexpected. I would go there again, but for the calamari a la hair it doesn't deserve an A. The extra '+' is for the helpfulness of the manager though.