Latest news with #AnstrutherFishBar
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Discover Scotland's best lunch spots with all our reviews here
If you're searching for some fresh lunch break inspiration, you can find all of these reviews ranked from best to worst below: (Image: Newsquest) Grumpy Pedro's 127 Douglas Street, Glasgow This city centre spot gets a lot of love on social media as a 'hidden gem'. Deciding to try it out for myself, I nipped over to Douglas Street for a Caesar salad and Cuban sandwich and was thrilled to be met with friendly service, locally sourced coffee and above all, fantastic food. It remains our highest-rated lunch review to date with a 5/5 score. Read more: This city centre lunch spot is so good - I almost don't want to tell you about it (Image: Newsquest) Chez Jules 109 Hanover Street, Edinburgh Our most recent review wins a lot of points for unbeatable value, with this bistro in Edinburgh city centre offering three courses for just £15.90. Expect French onion soup, steak frites and a chocolate mousse all for a bargain set price. But how did it taste? Read more: At £15.90 for three courses this might be Scotland's best value lunch (Image: Newsquest) Ho Lee Fook 1 Mcfarlane Street, Glasgow A tiny hole in the wall street food spot that's said to serve some of the best street food in Glasgow. An order of the pork Tonkatsu sando, alongside thick ribbons of hand-stretched noodles in the team's signature fiery chilli oil, was a must. Read more: Looking for the best street food in Glasgow? Head to The Barras (Image: Newsquest) Paesano 94 Miller Street, Glasgow Following news of plans to expand the Paesano brand across the UK, I revisited an old favourite to see if it still lived up to the hype. My colleague reckons this pizza stands up to the ones crafted by pizzaiolos in the Italian city of Naples. But did I agree? Read more: Paesano is going UK-wide: Is their pizza still worth the hype? (Image: Newsquest) The Anstruther Fish Bar 42 - 44 Shore Street, Anstruther Ah the Anstruther Fish Bar, often hailed as the best chippy Scotland has to offer. During a trip to the East Neuk in the wake of Storm Eowyn, I made a pitstop at the picturesque harbour location to order a portion of haddock and chips while marvelling at stories of the many famous faces who have done the same over the years. Read more: Is this the best fish and chips in Scotland? (Image: Newsquest) Alby's 94 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh Purveyors of 'Big Hot Sandwiches', Alby's, operate two locations in Edinburgh. I grabbed a seat by the window on Buccleuch Street just as the lunchtime rush began, and ordered the Battered Chicken Thigh filling served on two massive chunks of bubbly focaccia. If you're looking to do the same after reading, just remember to arrive hungry. Read more: This might be the biggest sandwich I've ever ordered - is it quantity over quality? (Image: Newsquest) Sister Midnight 61 King Street, Glasgow A new outlet from the team behind Southside brunch institution, Cafe Strange Brew, opened just this year. The chicken caesar sandwich was my winner of the day, but there's also a lot more than meets the eye at this funky little deli, provisions store and hub for glossy magazines. Read more: They serve some of the best brunch in Glasgow - does the new sandwich shop compare? (Image: Newsquest) Sprigg 264 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Our first ever lunch review came following a festive period of sheer gluttony as I searched for fresh vegetables and saintly kombucha to atone for weeks of cheese eating and red wine drinking. The £10 price tag is a hefty ask in the current climate, so I set out to answer whether a build-your-own bowl from this titan of city centre lunches is really worth forking out for. Read more: Are the salads from this Glasgow favourite really worth almost £10 a pop? (Image: Newsquest) Mootz General Store 62 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh At this bustling Stockbridge shop, the team favours schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread that seems a far better fit for sandwich making than its thicker, doughier cousin of focaccia. It's not all about the carbs though with fillings of mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio pesto and crushed pistachios as well as a Reuben with pastrami, provolone, sauerkraut and pickles winning them some serious rating points. Read more: I vow never to buy a meal deal again after visiting this Italian sandwich shop (Image: Newqsuest) Sub126 126 West Regent Street Just before they took over the kitchen at Max's Bar, I visited Sub126 on West Regent Street to see what all the fuss was about with their Italian-American inspired menu of sandwiches. I'm still not sure how they manage to pack so much salami, prosciutto cotto, turkey, mozzarella and iceberg lettuce into a soft roll, but man, do they do it well. Read more: They'll soon run the kitchen at one of Glasgow's busiest bars - but how is the food? (Image: Newsquest) Falafel to Go 116 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow This review took me back to my first years in the Glasgow Times newsroom on Bath Street, when at least once a week a colleague would return from their lunch break with a parchment paper wrapped parcel from Falafel to Go. It's a tiny spot with a tiny menu, which despite a couple of price increases in recent years, remains one of the best value lunches in the city centre. Read more: It's no wonder this hole in the wall streetfood spot has outlived competitors (Image: Newsquest) Banh Mi & Tea 401 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow The service at this student-friendly hangout in Partick was so fast, it had me worrying that it might be a red flag. Could these BBQ pork Banh Mi sandwiches really be prepared with care if they were served in under two minutes flat? Read more: This restaurant's service is so quick - I wonder if it's a red flag (Image: Newsquest) Homemade 11-13 Dowanhill Street,Glasgow A comment on our newly launched TikTok account led me to Homemade in Glasgow's West End for this lunch review. They had urged me to check out the shop which serves messy, Sopranos-style sandwiches, and I was more than happy to oblige. I wanted to love their signature French Dip, but overall, was left with mixed feelings about the meal at this trendy spot that often enjoys sell-out success on the weekends. Read more: A TikTok tip, Sopranos-style sandwiches and a mixed review in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest) The McMillan Bar and Chop House 862 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow It was a case of Instagram vs reality when putting this Southside restaurant's steak and chips lunch deal to the test. Sure, steak for lunch will always feel like a naughty indulgence, and that £12 price is impressive. So why did I walk away feeling a little disappointed? Read more: A case of Instagram vs reality with this Glasgow steak deal (Image: Newsquest) Halloumi 161 Hope Street, Glasgow Hope Street during the day is a funny place, feeling suspended in purgatory as restaurants and bars await nightfall to attract dinnertime diners and post-work pint drinkers. It wasn't just the atmosphere that was lacking at Halloumi, and in particular the 'Greek mac and cheese' felt like a sad attempt to modify a comfort food classic. Read more: You deserve better than the mac and cheese at this tired city centre restaurant
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
The Scottish seaside village home to two of the country's top fish and chip shops
The chippies have earned rave reviews from critics and customers alike. Scotland's many seaside towns and villages are a great place to head when the temperature warms up. They all have something unique to offer, but if it is good fish and chips you are after then one place stands above the rest. Anstruther is a coastal village in Fife, around an hour and a half out of Edinburgh by car. The fishing village, which is situated in the East Neuk of Fife along the Fife Coastal Path, is home to a population of around 4,000 people. A popular destination among day-trippers and holidaymakers alike, top sights in Anstruther include its historic harbour and the Scottish Fisheries Museum. The village is also just a short distance from a number of fabulous sandy beaches. What Anstruther is arguably most famous for, however, is its world-class fish and chip shops. Two chippies in particular have earned acclaim from both critics and visitors. The Anstruther Fish Bar is tucked along Anstruther's scenic harbour-front and is a family-owned business that serves up fish suppers that customers often eat at the picturesque seating area opposite the shop. Only four people in the world are said to know the secret recipe for the restaurant and takeaway's renowned light and crispy batter. The eatery has a huge and varied menu that includes everything from Scottish haddock deep fried in batter to lemon sole in breadcrumbs. It also offers pizzas and burgers, and even home-made curry. The Anstruther Fish Bar has won many awards throughout the years. It has been named Seafish Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, Takeaway of the Year and more. As we previously reported, the Anstruther Fish Bar was also praised by a top online reviewer as "perfect". Danny Malin from the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway, who reviews takeaways all across the UK, described the food at the chippy as "full of flavour" and "absolutely fantastic". It isn't just critics that the Anstruther Fish Bar is popular with. The takeaway currently has an average rating of 4.5 out of five based on 7,218 reviews on Google. One happy customer shared: "Food was delicious, so fresh and not greasy. Smoked fishcakes were very nice too. "I've cream conveniently placed for a cheeky wee scoop on departure. Only downside is a queue and a long wait but the taste is worth it." Another positive review reads: "Always the best fish and chips In beautiful surroundings. From first bite to last, they are simply the best." Elsewhere, Anstruther is also home to The Wee Chippy takeaway. The family-owned business prides itself on its fresh produce, with its local seafood supplier "delivering fish second to none" according to The Wee Chippy website. The takeaway fries to order in vegetable oil utilising a "tried and tested method". As a result, the takeaway's batter is known by visitors for being light and crispy. The Wee Chippy's takeaway menu includes classics such as battered or breaded haddock suppers, fishcakes, and wholetail scampi. It also offers a gluten and dairy-free menu. Similar to the Anstruther Fish Bar, it has been recognised with a range of awards. The eatery has received prizes from The Food Awards Scotland, The Scottish Takeaway Awards, and the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards. Also like The Anstruther Fish Bar, The Wee Chippy has an overall score of 4.5 out of five on Google. It has received 1,627 reviews from customers. One posted: "Heard great things about here and was very excited to try it. After a 10 to 15 minute wait I wasn't disappointed. "Easily up there with the best fish supper I've tasted. Chips were spot on, batter not too hard or soft and the fish very fresh and tasty. Can't recommend enough." Another echoed: "Other chippies may be available, but this one came recommended by locals and did not disappoint. We had a fish cake supper and a haggis supper. Freshly cooked, beautifully flavoured, not greasy, and great value."
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Fish & chips, haggis and... seagull poo?! Anstruther's ice cream just got seriously strange
Anstruther Fish Bar and Restaurant is legendary. Its fish and chips are world-famous, with queues often snaking out the door and down the street. But here's the real scoop — it also makes some of the best ice cream in Fife in house. In fact, it has been doing it since 1919, churning out fresh, creamy delights using a closely guarded family recipe, yet somehow, hardly anyone knows about it. Some Courier online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as 'Partnership' on the site and on social media channels, This can take two different forms. This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser. This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team. Until now. This summer, Anstruther Fish Bar is turning up the chill factor with the launch of three utterly bonkers Scottish-themed novelty ice cream flavours: fish & chips, haggis, and — you heard it here first — seagull poo! No, we're not joking. 'We're known across the globe for our fish and chips, but we wanted to have a bit of fun and give people a reason to try our artisan ice cream,' says Walker Murray, owner of Anstruther Fish Bar. 'Our regular ice cream is traditional and lovingly made in small batches right here in the shop, but we thought, What if we went a bit wild with some limited edition flavours to show people what they're missing?' A more savoury play on its famous traditional fish supper. Its base mix with the flavours of the award winning product, gives a hint of fish and chips with the sensation of ice cream and surprisingly, it works. Even better with the smooth sensation of ice cream and the crunch of the batter bits on top. It's crazy but you need to try it to 'sea' how good it is. A Scottish play on ice cream, again something that doesn't work until you try it. A must for haggis lovers or the brave people who like to experiment with food. This one is kept sweet, it's a play on the traditional stracciatella ice cream, with a little fruit twist that helps with the appearance. 'We wanted to do something that is in line with fish and chips on the harbour front, and seagulls are something everybody associates when eating ice cream along the beach. Thankfully, this one's just a name It's pure novelty fun and guaranteed to get a laugh, a photo, and hopefully a taste too.' Walker said. Behind the humour and outlandish flavours lies a rich heritage in the craft of ice cream-making. Anstruther Fish Bar's ice cream has been part of the family since 1919, when the original recipe was first developed. It's been passed down through generations, and today, it's still made fresh in-store. From classics like strawberry, mint choc chip and Scottish tablet, to seasonal specials like raspberry ripple, there's a flavour for everyone — whether you're in for a laugh or just want a scoop of something sweet to finish off your fish supper. Walker added: 'what makes our ice cream stand out from the rest if that we handmake every batch with locally sourced ingredients. It is pretty cool that we have the ability to create these ideas and test how brave our customers may be. We are not quite at the Heston Blumenthal level yet, but whilst staff have questioned the ideas, we have all had lots of fun at the trial tastings.' The novelty flavours are available for a limited time only, and while they're mainly just a bit of fun to discover the Fish Bar's secret sweet side, there's every chance they could become cult favourites. So, whether you're a brave foodie looking to say you've eaten haggis in a cone, or just want to laugh while licking your seagull poo, make sure you swing by Anstruther Fish Bar this summer. Because while everyone knows it does some of the best fish and chips in town… soon, everyone will know it does ice cream just as well — even the weird ones. So hurry! Head over before the secret spreads to beat the queues. Discover more and plan your visit in line with opening times.
