Loch Fyne Restaurant
Fish and Scottish Restaurant
from 14 reviews
25 Pier Place
Newhaven Harbour
Edinburgh
EH6 4LP
map
Phone: 0131 559 3900 (save)
Price: £££
Licensed: Yes
BYOB: No
Pre-Theatre: No
Takeaway: No
Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 0900-2200
Menus:
Menu Winter 2007
Tags: restaurant licensed fish scottish lochfyne mussels oyster
Details last confirmed by andy 2 years ago
14 user reviews:
from JoeyPike on October 12th, 2009 (10 months ago)
Update - 11/10/09
When I first reviewed Loch Fyne, I mentioned the high prices but that this was countered to some extent by the quality.
Having been a few times since, the latest being last night, I can now firmly say I have eaten my last meal there. It is no longer a lovely place to eat.
Still a nice location, still a nice layout but still high prices and boy oh boy, what a slide in quality (and consequently value). Muffindog is spot on.
Start to finish, we have:
A maitre d/manager who seemed to have been bitten by the huffy monster
A table by the door even though the restaurant was empty
A waiter who didn't know how the lobster was served
A waiter who got extremely confused at ordering five starters for a table of four (starter each and some oysters to share - not difficult)
Measly whitebait portion for a starter
Lobster thermidore served with a couple of leaves classed as a salad
A very pricey "seafood selection" that consisted of two small scallops, one prawn, one small square of salmon, one titchy bit of bream and eff all else
Poor excuse for chips that resembled four times reheats
A waiter who couldn't read the dessert board as he didn't have his glasses
And finally, four production line desserts that would be at home in any Harvester or Brewers Fayre.
With the exception of the chips, none of the food was particularly bad but it was all extremely disappointing.
For this, with a bottle of wine and a couple of softs, it came out at over 35 quid a head.
35 quid a head, I want good creativity, impeccable service, immaculate presentation, quality ingredients and an ambience to match.
35 quid a head is fine dining.
35 quid a head is an exemplary experience.
35 quid a head is about double what Loch Fyne should be charging.
I won't be back, I can dine at Rhubarb for 30/head for goodness sake and that's in a totally different league.
(And who has a special event to mark the launch of their "winter menu"...??? You're celebrating the fact that diners will be eating the same thing every day for the next three months? No thanks.)
This is what I originally wrote last year for comparison.
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Having dined at a couple of other Loch Fyne restaurants, the Edinburgh branch is definitely my favourite and I've been three times now.
The location is great and the internal layout strikes just the right balance between overly spacious and too cosy.
I always enjoy the view, I always enjoy the service and I always thoroughly enjoy the food.
BUT...
I never enjoy paying for it, I always come out feeling I've overpaid by about 30%.
For what is basically a corporate menu, the prices are a bit steep. At the prices charged, I would like to think the chef was creating something special for me rather than assembling something dictated by head office.
A few more specials or a menu that was updated more often would certainly make for better value in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely place to eat but you will pay through the nose (as will I the next time I go!!!).
Moderation scores: Useful: 4 Agree: 0 Funny: 2
from jbm5 on February 22nd, 2010 (6 months ago)
We visited for Sunday lunch (a very nice day too which makes the walk pleasant) and all in all we had a very pleasant time. They have a set lunch menu which is very reasonable and available every day and kids eat free. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and the food was tasty. One criticism would be that the main courses took a little too long to come out (my wife disagreed and said it was nearly too long).
I have eaten here before and the service was shocking that time. Definitely much better now. I think the food is decent too although it's not as good as the original Loch Fyne branch. It's a very nice setting and car parking is handy too. I will go back...
Moderation scores: Useful: 1 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from Teddy on November 15th, 2007 (2 years ago)
Hmmm, this was really expensive fish, with no sides and really forgetful staff. It's hard to decide which was worse really; the extraordinarily salty fish dishes or the million and one staff members all forgetting to bring you what you've ordered. I don't think there will be a next time!
Moderation scores: Useful: 1 Agree: -2 Funny: 0
from Kenny on January 16th, 2008 (2 years ago)
Nice restaurant, attentive staff and could not really fault the food. However, and it might be because we went on a Tuesday and the main chef probably wasn't on duty but I ordered a tomato and mozzarella salad with my main course and it arrived with feta cheese. When I complained, I was told that they didn't have any mozzarella and they took it off the bill. One main course we ordered was the home-made fish stew with chorizo and olives and it was very nice but there were no olives in it. Small things but you do tend to remember them. We will probably will try it again sometime.
Moderation scores: Useful: 2 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from LAWRENCE WHALLEY on January 22nd, 2009 (1 year ago)
Best seafood lunch at the price in Eastern Scotland. Been lots of times, service always excellent and the one time we complained (mussels were below par) staff more than made up. Compared with pub lunches, they're less expensive and food is (almost) always just what we like. Although the weather doesn't compare, the superior service, prices and menus make this competitive with much flashier places on the Med.
Moderation scores: Useful: 0 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from Lucy Law on October 12th, 2009 (10 months ago)
Sorry the rating stars don't go into negative. Here is a copy of the recent complaint letter sent to said restaurant.
For the attention of the manager:
I would like to bring to your attention the substandard quality of food served on a recent trip to the restaurant. On Sunday the 27th of September on a business trip to Victoria Quay my husband suggesting that we try the Loch Fyne Seafood restaurant. Being a Fishery Officer and having both a keen interest and love of seafood I was enthusiastic about going. We entered the restaurant which I must say was clean and well presented. My husband and I accompanied by our two children decided on the special menu and two children’s meals.
Firstly the children’s meals, the chips were black, either the oil needed to be changed or the chips had been previously cooked and reheated in the oil thus overcooking them and the Haddock goujons were ok, if not a little greasy; the portion sizes were fair.
The starters: my husband had the mussels which were okay but the portion size was very small. My soup however was both cold and tasted like most of the beach was left in it. I was ready to complain at this point but thought I would reserve judgement for the mains.
The main course: My husband had the salmon and potatoes with red onions. Firstly his salmon was the size of a postage stamp and extremely overcooked, he had a huge portion of thickly cut gooey onions on his place which did not complement the fish and potatoes with no butter or herbs - just slightly undercooked potatoes in a dish; he was not impressed. My main was the hake and Mediterranean couscous. The portion size of the couscous was pathetic - about a heaped dessert soon with no real Mediterranean flavour. The hake which was served on the bone was raw in the middle and the sauce a salty slime that I can only liken to something that is not fit to grace the pages of even this letter. It was inedible. At this point I was ready to let our waitress (who apart from being ill informed about the source of the seafood served was okay) know of my disgust at the meal we had just been served. My husband being a more reserved character asked me not to spoil a rare family evening and with my young son becoming bored and fidgety I was encouraged to leave the restaurant and return to the hotel. My husband and daughter enjoyed a bowl of ice cream each which with the bread was the best part of the meal by far.
Having spent £50 on our what was supposed to be a lovely family dinner before a busy meeting the following day was the worst meal my family and I have ever eaten. I would certainly advise anyone keen to try some local shellfish that the Loch Fyne seafood restaurant was not the place to go.
Food has the ability to make a great day better and leave you feeling satisfied and happy. Such a poor meal left us all hungry and disgruntled and rather poorer that we had set out.
I will certainly not be returning and feel disappointed that Scottish seafood which is some of the finest produce in the world is being served so poorly; it is a disgrace.
Moderation scores: Useful: 7 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from NealeG on June 4th, 2008 (2 years ago)
Went on a sunny Sunday evening with a party of 14 and had a very nice time, staff were attentive while we took ages to order and the food was very good. Nice selections even dishes like chilli squid, plus good presentation. Not too expensive and a great location. I think I would even be happy to go back there for drinks at the wine bar on a nice day.
Moderation scores: Useful: 1 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from Alex on March 24th, 2008 (2 years ago)
The food was overcooked and too salty. The staff seem a little inattentive, even when the restaurant was at nowhere near capacity. The portions were inconsistent -- some were alright, but others were too small. Finally, charging separately for the vegetables pushes the price right up.
A disappointment.
Moderation scores: Useful: 4 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from muffindog on August 26th, 2009 (1 year ago)
The Edinburgh/Newhaven restaurant used to be a favourite. Today, I handed back my order of Mussels, many empty, some dead. Replaced - just as bad, or do they 'sell' the empties? No apologies offered.
The chips used to be fresh, cooked in dripping, now soggy nasty McCain offerings. The plaice [tasty & nicely cooked] still had a nasty bit of gut in it.
The house red was powerful but all 3 glasses we had were spoiled by enough sediment to keep a clan of Gypsies in fortunes for a month!
Pity we were not warned of the sad deterioration in standards!
Moderation scores: Useful: 4 Agree: 1 Funny: 2
from campbell on September 3rd, 2010 (4 days ago)
We went in on a whim on a lovely evening in July, because I wanted to sit on the harbour side and enjoy a glass of wine in the evening sun. They welcomed us, said it was "no problem" to seat us on the balcony, we only wanted one course, and that was also ok, and the staff were very quick too. We returned with a guest on Friday 14th August for dinner. After reading so many bad reviews, I am happy to say that we all had yet another lovely meal. Our waitress introduced herself and sort of allied herself to our service, which was a lovely touch. She asked if we had enjoyed everything, and we had. On a nice evening, with the sun setting, a lively buzz of conversation in the restaurant, and staff who look so motivated and capable, it is a superb place to eat. In the past it was not good, but it really is now. It is much more relaxed and informal, and the old attitude of not giving you a table when the place is half empty (!) has gone!! Long live the new relaxed Loch Fyne.
Moderation scores: Useful: 1 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from jimobe on December 6th, 2007 (2 years ago)
I left Edinburgh to work overseas as a diplomat in 1966. I returned with my wife, to retire to Leith, in March 2007. Shortly thereafter we discovered the Loch Fyne Restaurant in Granton. It is a revelation. The staff are delightful, helpful and attentive. The food is excellent and the atmosphere magical. The Arctic chard if it is on the menu is a must. It is one of the finest fish dishes I have ever tasted, cooked to perfection. The vegetables served with this fish dish are crunchy and fresh. The cost of the meal with a glass of wine was amazingly good value. Highly recommended and we will go back. But you must book. It is very popular, and rightly so.
Moderation scores: Useful: 2 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from oh4goodgrub on May 2nd, 2008 (2 years ago)
Yes Yes Yes oh fantastic, Loch Fyne restaurant in Edinburgh, if it's as good as the origional we're in for a treat!!!
I went, I tried to get a table but couldn't. (Ah I hear you all saying "he should have booked!"). The place was practically empty, I asked the nice Maitre D for a "table for two please".
"Sorry sir it's only bookings". I looked around expecting to see a large queue forming behind me... nothing!
"You can have this leaflet which tells you all about the restaurant, and then next time phone us to reserve your table".
What next time! Maybe in a couple of years... I'll just drive to the original thanks.
Moderation scores: Useful: -2 Agree: -1 Funny: 2
from Bill on July 2nd, 2009 (1 year ago)
Osysters to die for, they are amazing -
if you like fish this restaurant is a must.
Moderation scores: Useful: -1 Agree: 0 Funny: 0
from sharman on July 23rd, 2010 (1 month ago)
Absolutely dreadful!
Very slow service (1.5 hours to get main), food lukewarm at best and all tasteless.
Desserts equally poor, do not waste your money...
Moderation scores: Useful: 0 Agree: 0 Funny: 0