If you like fish, then you're going to love the Harbourside Fish Co in North Finchley's High Road.

The restuarant, which openend last week, specialises in a huge range of fresh, great quality fish that is personally sourced each morning by owner and head chef Costi Costas. For Costi that means getting up at 3am to make sure he gets the best that Billingsgate fish market has to offer but, for his lucky customers, it means that they get to sample the freshest fish, cooked to perfection, every day.

When I walked in on a chilly Thursday lunchtime, I was greeted by a display of fresh fish. Costi explained that their commitment to great quality means that, with only a few exceptions, all his fish are fresh and not frozen. So customers can choose their own from the display or let the chef select it for you.

The menu has a huge range of dishes from the beautifully simple fish and chips, cooked in a light and crispy beer batter, to the decadent lobster thermidor. Starters include thyme skewers made with assorted fish and marinated in olive oil, thyme and lemon. There is also the Aegean sea soup, a rich tomato and herb broth made with a mixture of white fish, shell fish and kalamari, although, as every dish is cooked to order, it can be made without the shellfish if required.

The menu also includes a wonderful mix-and-match section where customers can choose from a range of fish, including sea bass, salmon, scallops and monkfish, and then select one of six sauces to go with it, such as the fragrant fresh herbs, the sweet red pepper bread sauce or just the simple combination of butter and lemon. I chose to have a fillet of premium Peterhead cod with an Asian spice and mild red chilli sauce. The creamy flavoured cod was perfectly complemented by the mildly spicy flavour of the sauce and the slight acidity of the fresh tomatoes. It was accompanied by a choice of new potatoes or chips and although I tried to remain virtuously healthy, I was seduced by the meltingly delicious chunky chips.

The dessert menu definitely did not disappoint and I managed to find room for the creamy and the refreshing lemon panno cotta tart. There are also some decadent ice creams and the more eagle-eyes diners may spot the little joke nestling among the list of desserts.

The Harbourside Fish Co is already starting to build a well-deserved reputation as one of the best fish restaurants in London. But at the moment it remains a real gem and I will definitely be going back for more.

Harbourside Fish Co.
932 High Road
North Finchley
London
N12
020 8445 1351.