Stein's Fish and Chips
Celebrity chef Rick Stein is so prevalent in Padstow, and brings so much custom into the pretty harbour town, that it can only be a matter of time before the local dignitaries approve changing its name to Stein's Padstow. At the time of writing Stein has four restaurants ... Read review
A review by brereton66 on Stein's Fish and Chips August 3rd, 2006
Author's product rating:
Advantages:
The best fish and chips you can get
Disadvantages:
It gets very busy
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Stein's Fish and Chips
Celebrity chef Rick Stein is so prevalent in Padstow, and brings so much custom into the pretty harbour town, that it can only be a matter of time before the local dignitaries approve changing its name to Stein's Padstow. At the time of writing Stein has four restaurants and two deli / gift shops all within a hundred yards or so of the harbour front. At the top of the tree is his flagship Seafood Restaurant, opened in 1975 and offering an excellent choice of mainly fish dishes with prices you'd expect from such a famous chef. Next on the list is St. Petroc's Bistro, a more relaxed place that also offers very good food at prices that are slightly more reasonable than the Seafood Restaurant but still not for the faint hearted. Further down the food chain there is Rick Stein's Café, a place where you can drop in for a coffee and a slice of cake or a three course meal. The final piece of the jigsaw is Stein's Fish and Chips, situated on the South Quay.
Sited in an industrial looking building overlooking the quay where the fishing fleet unload their catches, Stein's Fish and Chips sits alongside his Deli / Gift shop and various other retail outlets. It's a chippy, but not like many you'll have seen before. The décor is reminiscent of an old fashioned fish mongers with plenty of bright white tiling overlaid with pale blue fish designs and lettering, the overall impression being clean and fresh. The restaurant is split into two sections, the take-away counter and the seating area. The take-away section is based around a large serving counter, manned by several blue and white dressed staff. Service at this counter is brisk, the food being served in white cardboard boxes with all the usual condiments you'd expect close to hand. The seating area has three long wooden benches, each capable of holding 10-12 customers. There are a small number of high chairs available.
Details~ Stein's Fish and Chips South Quay Padstow Cornwall
On Arrival~ You cannot make reservations at Stein's Fish and Chips so it is a matter of turning up and taking your chances. In high season and other busy times you will invariably have to queue, either before the restaurant opens or for seats to be made available if you wish to eat in. Outside, there are two cordoned off areas, one for those queuing for the take-away counter and one for those looking for seats. It is usual to see queues forming up to 30 minutes before the doors open, even for the take-away. Throughout the opening times expect to see queues for seating.
Once the doors are open things happen at a brisk pace. Within minutes the early arrivals are leaving with their take-away's and that queue quickly clears. If you are lucky enough to be at the front of the seating queue you will be shown to the benches where you are expected to find your own place. With the benches full you will be elbow to elbow with strangers but there is plenty of room. A menu will be waiting for you and within minutes a waitress will be round to take your order.
Menu~ The menu lists the usual fish and chip fare of cod, haddock and plaice but there are several more exotic options as well such as john dory, gurnard and monkfish tails. There is a selection of side dishes including mushy peas and curry sauce and a children's menu is available. The fish is either deep fried in batter or griddled and all come with chips. Prices range from £5 - £10 per dish. The restaurant is licensed so there is a selection of beers and wine available as well as soft drinks.
Service~ The restaurant operates at such a pace that there is precious little time for interaction with the staff. They are, however, very efficient and courteous and despite working at a high tempo never transfer the sense of pace to the customer. Although you are not expected to linger, and the seating doesn't encourage a long sitting, you never feel rushed despite the lengthening queue outside. Your order is taken within minutes of arrival and you can expect your food and drinks to be delivered within 5 minutes of that. Once your food has arrived you are unlikely to be bothered again unless you attract their attention. Trays are not removed as soon as you've finished the last morsel and your bill will not come until you ask for it. When you have finished your meal and been given the bill, payment is taken at a till by the take-away counter.
Food~ Now this is why you come to a Rick Stein restaurant and despite the humble roots you won't be disappointed. Stein is proud of the claim that the majority of his fish is caught off the coast of Cornwall and is brought directly to his restaurants and this is reflected in the quality of the food on offer. The food is cooked to order and there appears to be no stinting in the preparation or ingredients. The batter is a deep golden colour and flaky rather than soggy and the chips are dry and crispy and taste how you always hope chips will. The food is served in the same white cardboard boxes as are used for the take-aways but you are given real cutlery to use. On the tables are plenty of condiments. I went for the monkfish tails in batter and these were moist and chunky and bursting with flavour. My wife had the plaice and the speed at which it disappeared is testament to its quality. Quite simply it was the best fish and chips I'd had in my life.
Conclusion~ For a famous chef to open a fish and chip shop could be seen as a strange decision, but for Rick Stein and his passion for fish it is a natural progression and provides an excellent option alongside his more celebrated restaurants. Our meal for two came to about £20 with alcohol and although this is rather more than you'd normally expect to pay for a fish supper does represent great value for the quality of food you're eating. You may have noticed that I've used the word 'queue' in this review an inordinate amount of times but if you want to eat in you will have to wait for anything up to 30 minutes at busy times, but that's the only negative I can come up with. Don't worry though, it's worth the wait. The place has a great bustling feel to it and whether you're eating in or taking away you will not be disappointed. As much as I love my local Fryday's chippy, Stein's is a world away.
More Reviews
Quick review of Stein's Fish and Chips Review ofStein's Fish and Chipsby
pushkin71
we visited Padstow on our recent Cornwallian jaunt, and thought why not go for the "best fish and chips in the country"...?
So off we trotted, wavering in our minds tales of "extortionate prices & endless queues".
Pleasantly surprised by a reasonable wait of 10-15 minutes (it was raining though), & a £6 bundle of warm loveliness - it has to get the thumbs up!!! Not the best I've ever had, but certainly up there.
Of course, if you want expensive fish, it is there, but who would really waste £11 for deep fried and battered monkfish...?
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: excellent food, excellent service, picturesque Padstow Disadvantages: can be pricey
Padstow is a great place to visit and with it also being the base for Rick Steins seafood restaurant, you cant go wrong. You cant visit Padstow without experiencing Rick Steins. The service is very good and the location of the restaurant is easily locatable. When it comes to seafood, you cant get any better. I had mussels for starters and they were cooked to perfection.. This was followed by lobster and to finish, Hot chocolate fondant. The food ... ...paying for quality and you certainly get what you pay for. I have also dined out at Jamie Olivers 15 restaurant and in comparison for price and quality, Rick Steins is by far the best place to go. If you like seafood, take my advice and visit Rick Steins Seafood resaturant. You wont be disappointed. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Wondeful landscapes and seaviews Disadvantages: none
...restaurant, St Petroc's Bistro and Stein's fish and chips. He also has a deli, patisserie and a gift shop here. There is a working harbour in the centre of the village where you can sit and watch the world go by whilst enjoying a creamy Cornish icecream.
Port Isaac where Doc Martin was filmed and also the location used for the first Poldark television series. Narrow winding streets lined with old whitewashed cottages and traditional granite and slate fronted houses, many of which are listed as of architectural or historic importance. A stream runs through the village finding it's way out to sea over the harbour wall..
SOUTH COAST
The South coast is a world away from the pumping Atlantic surf of the north coast. Here the river estuaries of the Helford, the Fowey and the Fal can be explored along with unspoilt fishing villages and harbours...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Smart eating in friendly atmosphere Disadvantages: Need to book well in advance and slow service
...Rick Steins St Petroc's Bistro - Cornwall
Rick Stein and Padstow in Cornwall are synonymous with one another. He has four restaurants in the small harbour town and is probably responsible for there being many other excellent places to eat there. At the top of the tree is Stein's flagship: The Seafood Restaurant. Opened in 1975 this restaurant is the heart of the Stein empire. Next up is St. Petroc's Bistro, more accessibly priced with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. He also has Rick Stein's Café and Stein's Fish and Chips. If you enjoy eating out in good restaurants, and are in Cornwall, a trip to Padstow is a must. In addition to the restaurants, Stein also has a well stocked gift shop / deli on the habourside.
St Petroc's Bistro is sited in an unpretentious building on New Street, a short walk from the harbour front. The white...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good quality food Disadvantages: Long queues, expensive, limited vegetarian options
...to the town with its quality fish and chips, the final surge in popularity came when the famous food critic, Rick Stein announced that this place served the best fish and chips in Britain. This saw people flocking here from all over the country and indeed from other parts of the World too, and this placed the Magpie, within the market of fish and chips at least, into a league of its own.
In many ways the Magpie has become a victim of its own success and other local traders are now complaining that the daily queues outside are obstructing their shop entrances and their trade is suffering. The local Council here first looked into this matter, before the trading standards agency become involved and now it is being investigated at the highest level. It does seem unlikely that this Cafe will be forced to close, as it is one of the town...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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