For the past five years, a traditional Istanbul street food experience has been quietly cruising up and down London’s waterways. Baltic Sea Food is a floating Turkish restaurant that serves freshly cooked fish sandwiches straight from the deck of a canal boat.
Captained by owner Charlie, the family-run operation takes its inspiration from Turkey, where vendors famously catch, grill, and sell fish directly from boats to the shore.
While the London crew thankfully refrains from fishing in the local canals, they stay true to the authentic open-deck cooking style. According to the team, it is the first concept of its kind to operate outside of Istanbul.
Spiced seabass and fried seafood
The boat’s signature offering is a traditional fish sandwich built around a generously spiced sea bass fillet. The smoky and tangy fish is topped with a garlic and ginger sauce, raw onions, gherkins, and fresh salad, all served inside a crusty Turkish baguette.
Beyond the sandwiches, the menu features fried calamari and prawns served over chips. The seafood is seasoned and fried without becoming greasy or overdone, leaving the squid tender and the shrimp juicy. Orders are accompanied by homemade tartar and sweet chilli sauces for dipping.
The boat’s location
The dining setup is distinctly laid-back, consisting of simple plastic tables and stools placed directly on the grass along the towpath. It provides a casual stop for people walking or running along the water.
Because the boat changes its mooring every two weeks, it never stays in one spot for long. The mobile restaurant drops its anchor anywhere on the stretch of water between Tottenham and Hackney.
Customers looking to track down the floating kitchen need to check the restaurant’s Instagram page to find its current location.
