Barracuda serves it’s last supper as owner states customers have been burdened with the cost of living crisis and the ULEZ expansion, which has put a burden on their wallets. 

As numerous food outlets across Havering close their doors-Charlie Keeble reviewed Barracuda in Upminster before its departure.

This restaurant review will come as a shock to anyone that would like to dine here. Because the restaurant in question is Barracuda in Upminster and it is closing down. The context of the review here is a rallying call to our readers to support their local businesses, especially the food service industry. These are the places that add character and substance to Havering that we are very proud of.

In the last month it’s been announced by the Havering Daily that three restaurants have closed down so far. I spoke with Catherine, the owner of Barracuda and she told me that she had been working in the catering industry for 38 years and had been running Barracuda for 12 years. According to Catherine her customers have been burdened with the cost of living crisis and the ULEZ expansion, which has put a burden on their wallets. 

I also learned from my visit that the food delivery service providers like Deliveroo and Uber Eats are adding to their financial struggles. Deliveroo charge extortionate amounts for restaurants to pay for the rider’s commission and that means they have to put the prices up to keep their profit margins sustainable. Deliveroo charges around 34% commission on each order they receive and it is pretty much a standard practice of the gig economy to charge such prices. I think it’s gone beyond a joke that they have to pay hundreds every month to these delivery companies.

When I started to plan my review I wanted to encourage people with a story to go out and support their local restaurant. One way of doing this by trying your best takeaway meals as a dining out experience more often than having it at home. It would help if you would for example have a pizza at a pizzeria in Romford once or twice a week to keep the town centre going lively. 

Fish and chips can be a lot better when served in a restaurant where it’s provided by talented chefs in a family business like Barracuda. You get a family friendly environment in a cosy atmosphere providing fresh fish and freshly cut chips. At Barracuda they make their own tartar sauce. It’s very creamy with a light texture and I bet you can find some really nice varieties of home made condiments elsewhere. 

As for the fish lunch I had it was absolutely smashing. It was a step up from home cooking with nice and crispy chunkychips, just the way I like them. The fish was very well battered with a golden crispy texture. The fish when I cutthrough its tender flakes was full of seaside goodness, whichwent really well with the lemon juice and tartare sauce. This is probably the best place I have ever had a fish and chip supper and I am now sad to see it go. Now my nearest place for this kind of food is The Pearl in Hornchurch high street. 

Now a takeaway fish and chip supper in the comfort of your home is also nice but here is the deal breaker. When the fish is served right of their pan to your table it is the best taste of cod, haddock or plaice that you get straight onto your mouththat sizzles. In a takeaway chippie the fish is more likely to be cooked from frozen and it’s kept for hours on a heated worktop that takes away the crispiness of the batter and it goes soggy with the fish tasting like heated fillets of moistseafood. 

My experience at Barracudas was a grand swansong and I am sad to see that it has eaten it’s chips and the last fish has come out of the pan and into the fire. For all our readers I would like to ask you all to go out and get stuck into your local eatery. As the Havering Daily’s food and restaurant critic I would more than happy to come out and dine at your eatery to sample the cuisine and the atmosphere of your venue.

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