Rick Steins fish and chip shop

We were very, very disappointed with the experience. The shop, not busy at the time, had a strong "stale fat" smell. The fish was fresh but was overpowered by a very heavy, greasy batter. The chips were soggy and undercooked, the bread was stale and the fishcake was dry and tasteless. I particularly disliked the small thin paper plates which made eating the food difficult. 

The fish was very good but the chips were poor. I would not expect to be served a meal for 2 of cod & chips with mushy peas costing over £20 to be served in a cardboard box! Although cost effective it doesn't give you the restaurant experience. I have never been to a sit down fish and chip restaurant and sat at a long bench type table on a heavy wooden bench squashed in with people I don't know eating out of a cardboard box. A classic example of paying for a name without the justification of a price to match the experience.

It was awful fish and chips at twice the normal price and the staff were unhelpful to say the least. My Haddock could have been any cheap rubbish in a no name fish finger.

Fish was nice but chips were terrible and at that price it is totally not worth the money. Whitby has the best fish and chips at a much better price.

Rick always seems such a nice guy on tv that all he has to do is serve up a decent portion of fish and chips at the right price for everyone to be happy . Sadly this does not happen whilst the fish was good the batter was so so and the chips were leathery In comparison to other outlets the meal was overpriced especially when served in a cardboard box in a restaurant !

Visited once out of curiosity. Not impressed with the quality or the price. My family are from Porthcothan Bay and can I say my grandparents would be rolling in their grave if they knew that Padstow had been Rick Steined. We  go to Padstow less since it has been given this transformation. I think that it would ahve been better for Rick to commission some local places and employ different chefs rather than 'Brand' himself all over the place. My advice, get a fresh pasty, some cornish ice cream clotted cream and take a walk up the hill!

Chips were dreadful and I didn't apprecitae eating out of a cardboard box at this price! This place has a good name, but I have absolutely no idea why now I have visited it. I can assure you that just about any chippy does better food than this at a greatly reduced price!

Rick, you need to check on the Padstow shop, it's letting your name down badly....

me and the wife been aiming to try ricks fish n chips for a while and made a detour to padstein during our september holiday in south cornwall. admittedly it was a busmans holiday as i run a f&c shop in birmingham, so with the reputation of this place i was eager to sample. firstly the service was rapid despite a large number of customers,well organised system to order-collect. had a nice fiery ginger beer to go with my haddock,chips. did feel a bit rushed off, wasnt offered knife n fork or salt n vinegar like most shops, however the food was presented well. very little option on places to sit outside but we made do with a wall. the batter was crisp and the fish perfectly cooked,not huge fillets,approx 7oz. haddock did taste excellent but wasnt equally blown away by wifes cod. chips were ok, crisp but slightly undercooked. mushy peas were very poor though. all in all, bit disapointing, the name and presentation is why u pay the money, did see other fish shops in padstow that probably benefit from same fresh supply of fish but dont over price it. wouldnt make the effort to return,if i ever pass by id book a table and eat inside. the one high note was a battered oyster served in the shell, original and delicious.

Ok, cheap it ain’t. £8.70 for Hake and chips. Chips good but nothing special. Fish v nice, excellent thin crispy batter. Here’s the thing; if you’re in Padstein, you like fish and chips, then this is your Mecca. Go worship.

After hearing all the great reviews decided to visit Rick Steins fish and chip shop with my wife and son on the 01st August 2011. After queing for nearly an hour and paying through the nose i was hugely dissappointed. The batter was soggy, the fish was dry and overcooked. There was still skin and bone on the fish. The chips were undercooked. Had i known this to be an average chippy for the price i would have ate somewhere else. Avoid at all costs i do not know what all the hype is about for poor quality food that my 3 year old son could have cooked. Go into Padstow there are some lovely fish and chip shops at half the price. Rick i suggest you do a spot inspection i think it is only the name of your chippy keepiing you open for buisness, it is certaily not the food.

A bit on the pricey side for fish and chips, but the chips were amazing – crispy and golden on the outside, light and fluffy inside and not greasy at at all. I don’t eat fish but my companion assured me that it was the best fish he’d ever tasted and after initially balking at the cost agreed it was definitely worth it.

Loved it everytime I have been. Always busy busy - but queues are quick moving.

Fresh fish and good chips!!

Grossly overpriced, and not remotely worth the money.

Avoid.

We wandered past here at lunchtime on a sunny Monday afternoon in early July and was amazed at how busy it was. We decided to come back a few evenings later at arrived at about 8:15 and were seated promptly (closes at 9pm). It does not feel like a regular fish & chip shop but then again not many have a restaurant inside - when I say restaurant I mean some tables & chairs or benches which you share with whoever else is there at the time (a bit like Wagamama). It's great that you can choose to have your fish in traditional batter or grilled - we went for the grilled option and were not disappointed by the Lemon Sole or Sea Bream. The chips were a little dry but tasted good. Believe me when I say the portion might look small but we struggled to finish our meals. The fact they come in a box is quirky. It is pricey approx £9 per portion but is worth doing at least once.

I was hugely disappointed by the fish and chips from here. The fish itself was lovely but the batter was very heavy and had a strong taste that overpowered the fish. The chips were very greasy and had an unpleasant aftertaste. For over £8 a portion I expected better.

These fish and chips are in a league of their own and, no matter where you live or are staying, are well worth the trek.

The winter deal, as mentioned in another review, is extremely good value for money. We enjoyed this as a very leisurely lunch at the start of February.

Can get extremely busy in the summer.

Top tip: try the homemade tartare sauce, and although last time it wasn't on the menu, ask for the garlic mayo. Mmmm.

Tremendous fun. The idea of being in a fish and chip shop where the friers shout “yes chef” is enough to justify a visit on its own. It’s expensive, no doubt, but it is quality and there is the added novelty of being able to order different fish (I had the grilled mackerel, which was delicious). One disadvantage I would highlight is that it is situated near the commercial bit of the harbour. If you have a take away there’s really nowhere nice to take it. No seats or benches, but plenty of lorries and vans ready to shower you in dust…

We didnt queue, the fish was delicous with a light melt in the mouth batter, I ate every morsel and I havent eaten cod for twenty years but thought I’d give it a try, I’m so glad I did. There is a winter special cod and chips with bread and butter and a cup of tea to eat in and was cheaper than some of the cafes near me.

Living not far from whitby I am no stranger to excellent fish and chips, so the bar was set higher than usual for steins chippy as we have the Magpie cafe in Whitby, who produce arguably the best fish and chips in the world, put is this way, I drive 45 miles to get some. So steins chippy had a lot to play for, and they were poss on a par with the magpie on our first visit, but lost it on the second as the fish had absorbed a bit of oil and there was a hint of rawness in the batter next to the fish, the chippy was certainly as busy as the Magpie, so waiting was the order of the day, what I did like about Steins chippy was the larger range of fresh fish than the Magpie, although the John Dory was off the menu (which it was everywhere I asked). I can recommend the battered oysters. Oh, and the seating? its easy, plonk your bum on the railings next to the harbour and enjoy. Bill: £20 inc drinks, two covers.

This fish and chip shop is situated in the fishing town of padstow only stones throw from the shops and resturants, and near the harbour. Be prepared for the best fish and chips you have ever tasted , and be ready to queue, as this place is full of people all waiting outside before it even opens, the fresh fish and chips are perfect ad can be smelt 300 metres away. But i tell you that is well worth the wait.but you wont believe it till you try it. The prices i feel are as expected you only get what you pay for . It is situated right near the harbour and a short distance from the other resturants and the shops. There is parking is a problem with the lack of spaces so going early may be the best option. Or perhaps go to padstow on a coach trip.