Here’s my next Flexing Vegan review. As with my last review (Mooshies on Brick Lane), this one’s located in East London but a bit up the road in Hackney and does proper East End eats but with a vegan bend.
I’m talking about Sutton and Sons Vegan Chip Shop near Hackney Central Station where “fish” is code for batter fried banana blossom, but chips are definitely still of the potato variety and done up right to please the palate of any Brit.
I had a tasty early evening dinner at Sutton a couple of weeks back and thoroughly enjoyed it. The banana blossom (£5.50) was tasty with a flaky, meaty texture kinda like cod. The chips (£2 for a regular portion) were excellent: thick cut with fluffy interior and a crisp exterior. I also got some obligatory mushy peas (£1.50) on the side as well as a kombucha soda to drink.
Service was friendly, appreciative and pretty fast. It was on the early side of evening during my visit, and all manner of Hackney folk seemed to pass through to make a variety of takeaway and eat in orders.
I’d be just as keen to go for this vegan version of old school East End nosh as I would an actual fish and chips dinner. Indeed, if Sutton had an outlet nearer my home I’m certain I would have patronised it by now (definitely for chips probably for another banana blossom or to try some other menu item).
So yeah, I highly recommend going to Sutton and Sons, and I’m certain I’ll head back for more sometime soon. However, I probably should point out that the experience was different in one big way – how I felt afterward. A (real) fish and chips dinner results in a protein-rich fullness. The banana blossom was delicious and without the chips and pies would have been an ample meal, but I didn’t have that “all set” feeling I’ve come to expect from the real deal. So bear that in mind.
Sutton and Sons Vegan Chip Shop is located at 240 Graham Road, E8 1BP. Sutton and Sons also have other chip shops with traditional fish and meat based items. Find out more at suttonandsons.co.uk/vegan.
I’ll be back soon with my next Flexing Vegan review.
