I remember hearing of Anstruther Fish Bar's reputation from a very young age. It has always been the place to go in Fife for the best fish and chips and so, when my parents moved to Anstruther about a year ago, I must say I was rather delighted. The thing is, unfortunately, though the fish shop is good, it's really nothing particularly more special than anywhere else I've eaten. The fish is fresh and the chips cooked well enough, but then on the east coast of Fife it's not that hard to find great fish! The place is always rammed and queued out the door which, though living up to it's reputation of great popularity, can be a bit frustrating when you're starving and want a quick tasty meal. The one thing I do love about this place though, is it's charm. It's very much part of the quaint seaside town and the staff are all dressed the part, with big smiles on their faces too. It's the perfect spot to take an out-of-towner - Americans seem to love this place as it really does epitomise the great, Scottish seaside town. I also have a little soft spot for this place because, after dropping my card into a lucky draw a little while ago, I won £10 worth of fish and chips! £10 doesn't get you massively far in here, but it sure was a lovely gesture and made my day! In terms of their menu, they serve everything you'd expect, plus haggis and they also have an ice cream counter and sweet shop at the bottom of the store, in case you're feeling extra naughty! :P If you've never been - go! It's a fun experience and I'm certain you'll enjoy your meal. For tourists, this place is perfect, but as your local, if you're not a fan of waiting for your food, maybe this isn't the spot for you! read more

We like this place. Of course the seafood is delicious but on another count, you have to admire the management of this business. All of the employees seemed to to be on top of their game, as I watched them scurry around to clean tables, smilingly take orders, serve food and drink, etc. Young people all, they have been well trained. Business schools and other business people could learn a lot from this business. As mentioned, there is an energy about the people. Management has spent time on communication pieces from the menu to visuals. Attention seems to be paid to food being very fresh. As a businessman myself, I know how hard it is to run a business. You cannot be good at one thing. You must have a variety of talents. The success of the Anstruther Fish Bar proves this. read more

For those that have read any of my other reviews, you'll know by now that I love seafood. I could have it 7 times a week, 365. So with this in mind, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers in the street have given me tips on the best fishmongers, the best seafood restaurants...and the best chippies. Now as far as chippies are concerned, I bellow at the top of my voice that you have to go a long way to beat The Tail End...and now I know that "a long way" equals Anstruther in Fife. To be specific, Anstruther Fish Bar. Each time I've visited I've needed to wait patiently in a sizeable queue, often flowing out the door and down the street in a scene that must resemble Soviet Russians queueing for toilet paper...but I'll tell you this, the wait is worth it! read more

The best fish and chips I've EVER had. Seriously mouth-watering with the perfect amount of crunch. So full of flavour and an unbeatable price. Had the Mac and cheese as a side as well and it was amazing. Would eat here again for sure. read more

Probably a 3.5 star review but I always round up so a 4 it is. Busy, busy place. Famous for fresh fish so the queue on a Sunday at 4.30 was out of the door. there is a little sit in area (Yep, queue for that too but the queue moves faster!). Despite it's fame, it is actually pretty reasonably priced and I expected it to be more expensive. £5ish for a fish supper and £7 for a crab supper. They do gluten free days but it doesn't look like this has happened for awhile according to their twitter feed. Lots of varieties of fish are available and this includes sustainable varieties too. Venison burgers from a local farm are all provided and fish is usually locally caught and landed further down the coast, if not at Anstruther. It is busy - 1 hour wait at peak times. The place is clean though and even in the eating area, staff take care to clean not only tables but also floors to get rid of debris between customers. Price between sit in and take out is £2.35 but the £2.35 includes a hot drink and bread and butter. Crab is divine. Locally caught and dressed but no breadcrumbs or egg - just pure white and brown meat presented in a crab shell. Lots of it too! It comes in a plastic tub with lots of salad, cheese and coleslaw but to be honest, once I had the crab and chips, I was done. The chips were lovely - warm and perfectly cooked. A bonus of the place being so busy that chips aren't sitting for any length of time. Server got my 'tons of salt and vinegar' request spot on :-) (If you are waiting for take away then one of the staff will come and take your order whilst you are in the queue and then by the time you are at the till, your order is ready.) So, it is busy but the crab being gluten free and those fab chips will no doubt lure me back again. Maybe at a time when it'll be less busy though... read more

I can't understand the hype of this place, but maybe I am spoiled by American food. We made a trip with the family out here from Edinburgh which was a good 2 hours with traffic. On arriving, there was a wait line. I understand the nostalgia of having a long line outside a place that can only support a dozen or so tables at any given time, but they have multipe Best Rrstautant awards since 2004. How do I know? There are stickers all over their windows. In 12 years, if you would rather still have people stand out in the miserable cold waiting... well that is just unfavorable behavior in me opinion. We got there after 8 pm and probably didn't sit until a little after 9pm. Once we were seated, a grumpy older man greeted us but wasn't going to take our drink order until everyone at our table was ready. Having had fish and chips in Edinburgh, I wasn't thrilled with the fried haddock or the grilled sole. The meal does come with a piece of white toast, chips and a hot drink (tea, coffee or cappaccino) for under 10 pounds. The fried calamari was nothing to write home about. Most fish items were not even available like Hake or halibut or mackerel that you could get grilled. The biggest advantange of thos place is tgat all fish was caught that day. I would recommend the curry sauce for the chips though for 1.20 There is a Gelato stand in this restaurant which was a nice treat after the grease ingulence. read more

We were in the next town over , 3 miles away , and a local highly recommended this place . Now I know why. This is an award winning fish and chips place, and it did NOT disappoint ! We went on an off hour, and still had to wait in line .i would highly recommend having your fish and chips here. But if you go during regular lunch or dinner hours , be prepared to wait in line for quite some time . Omg the sides are killer as well , but skip the onion rings . Everything else was top notch ! read more

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I'll admit - I arrived at Anstruther with the secret knowledge, that I, Catriona C., know the best fish and chip shop in the world. Perhaps I would be wrong about this. But... what I think Anstruther may do well is consistency, as otherwise I didn't see much difference between this and my own beloved first choice of many a year. What I do like about Anstruther is the responsible sourcing of fish, broon sauce on the table, and succulently cooked calamari - seriously, not had better which is where the star scale notches up a little. Chips are comparable to my local, and I didn't see too much difference with the batter, bar it wasn't too soggy - but then again it looks like it would be cooked fresh given the volume of people flooding it's doors. Not sure if 10pm on a Tuesday would be the same, but who knows? Overall, best fish and chip in the world it may be, but I don't find it a far cry from my local chippy - and I am not sure if that means the local is good... or the heights to which a fish and chip shop can ascend to is more achieveable than first thought. read more

I visited this famous fish bar last Sunday. We had to wait close to 15-20 mins for a table to be freed so that we can finally enjoy the secret-recipe battered fish and chips! There was a different queue for take away only, but that wasn't an option as the weather was bad and we were only passing by, not staying. The service was reasonable but not amazing. The serving quality is simple: basic white sliced bread, paper plates and cups with their own brand and design on top. They have a big selection of fish dishes, no starters though. We did try their pineapple fritters, which were ok. In terms of the fish, I can't say we were blown away. I found it ok but not that special to make me go back. There was also a hot drink included with each main meal, but the black coffee I took was rather mediocre. After 9 years in UK I have had fish and chips in some pubs which were far better than this one, that's probably the reason the awards it has are a few years old. Anstruther is a good place for a walk on the beach though, so I think I'll go back again in the area at some point. read more

Having had a lovely day driving down from St Andrews, roof down, on a Friday February afternoon, the idea of warm fish n chips by the harbour at Anstruther was too tempting to resist! You can tell that this place gets seriously busy, as they have queue barriers in place for the busy days. The restaurant part was pretty busy, and it did feel as if they were taking priority over those coming in for a take away - but i suppose that's fair play! I ordered the haddock and chips. I could have been far more adventurous but it's what i fancied at the time. I like the fact there is a sign telling you which boat today's fish were caught from, as you can actually go out and spy for it in the dock! They have a big screen TV by the counter, filming various sea scenes and the catching of big fish, so it's certainly very interactive! I think it was because we were a wee bit early that the chips were slightly undercooked but the batter was pretty damn tasty and the fish itself was lovely and moist. i'm not sure it's Alba'd'ora quality but maybe I was on a bad day. Saying that, i was satisfied and it finished off my day nicely. Even if you don't stop for the fish and chips, Anstruther is a lovely wee town and if you're into photography, you will get some great shots here! Definitely worth a trip! read more

Absolutely brilliant, we call in every weekend we get chance to traveling from south Lanarkshire to Ellie beach, great staff lovely clean area and decent prices read more

Worth the 2.5 Hr Drive from Glasgow To be succinct. Fan-bloody-tastic! Done! read more

Visited after hearing such marvellous reviews. It was the worst fish and chips weve ever had. The fish was dry and the chips even dryer. The only good thing was the peas. We had fish and chips a few night before from the Wee Chippy and they were far superior. Would definitely not resist when we return to Andtruther read more

We were sent here by a local and on a whim we decided to make a trip to the cute fishing village of Anstruther for fish and chips. While this isn't an all day excursion there are plenty of other villages to explore as well. OK, back to the fish and chips. They claim to be the best fish and chips in Scotland and from what I can tell that is an accurate title. The fish was perfectly fried, not greasy and tasted super fresh. My only complaint - they don't make their own tartar sauce. That seemed super weird, but I got over it. This is for sure worth a try! read more

Cleanest, freshest fish and chips I have ever been fortunate enough to taste. EVER. Rented a car and drove here for the day because numerous locals mentioned the place. It was so worth the drive. The restaurant is small and they do a brisk take away business. Restaurant stays full but moves people quickly. Staff is very good about keeping the place clean and tidy. Saw the Manager sweeping beneath chairs and cleaning tables to help out. The restaurant is all about the fish. You see a whiteboard at the front of the restaurant that tells you the name of the boat that the fish was brought in on for the day. So incredibly good. Cannot find the words to explain how delicious that quick little meal of fish and chips was. Everyone should try this restaurant. The town is beautiful but I would drive just about anywhere for fish and chips that good. read more

This chippy has won numerous awards, including several best in Scotland and runner up in UK. Good service. Can be very busy at times with visitors from all over the UK. read more

Anstruther Fish Bar - Fish & Chips Near Me - Anstruther, FIF

If you are in the Fife area and you enjoy your fish and chips then there is simply no place better then the Anstruther chippy. A chip shop that has won countless awards for its fish and chips and its service, Including The best in Scotland and the runner up in the United Kingdom. It is more than 15 miles away from my home so I cannot use it all the time but I do regularly visit it after a Sunday drive along the coast. Anstruther has a lot to offer with parks for the kids and some decent shops on the water front so you can make it a day out and then have a nice chip shop dinner before heading home. The chip shop can be found right down by the harbour and is easily recognised although there are other chip shops down there. Simply look for the bright white building with the sign that reads Anstruther fish bar. You can also pick it out by the queues of people waiting to get in. This is the only problem with this chippy, it is so well known now that it is always very busy but well worth the wait and the service is generally quite quick. Thanks for reading. 2008 thebigc1690 read more

We were in St Andrews for the day en route to Aberdeenshire and when choosing a place to spend the night, Anstruther Fish Bar was right up there in the criteria. So, we stayed in Pittenweem (just a mere 5 minutes away in the car) and had dinner at the Fish Bar. It is, indeed, as good as they say. A good choice of fish - some even sustainable (and certified by the Marine STewardship Council) - and all looked delicious. The two that we tried were delicious and came with good, chunky chips and crispy batter. Yummy. Well worth the effort. There is also a wee sweet and ice cream shop attached and we grabbed some strawberry bonbons for dessert! Excellent. read more

What more to say, other than excellent. Had takeaway fish suppers this time, but have persuaded hubby to sit in next time. read more

Honestly, many nostalgic or hyped locations don't live up to the hype. This one did! The location couldn't be any better as it was on a seaside street in a very quaint little town. When you walk in there are two lines; take out and dine in. The take out line was very long! However, that tells me the locals love the food. The line to wait had only 6 people in front of our party and it took about 25 min to get a table. WELL WORTH THE WAIT! The menu was simple, FISH AND CHIPS. Well, maybe some other selections but why would you want to get anything else. We all ordered the traditional basket of fish and chips and were not disappointed. The fish was just so lightly battered and not too heavy like many other ones I've had in the UK/Scotland. The fish was tender and had a great flavor. I challenge any establishment to beet the location, staff friendliness and great food! Deserving of a visit even if it's out of the way on your travels! read more

I do not like fish, and have never had fish and chips. The thought of eating fish actually makes me nauseous sometimes. Same with my mom. She read that Anstruther had the best fish and chips so we decided to try it. The first thing you will see is the long line. That's for take out: order at the counter, get your food and be on your way. If you want to eat in, you don't wait in the line, just make your presence known to the hostess. Mom and Dad got the fish and chips and I got the battered sausage. My dad is always trying to force feed me fish because he knows my irrational hatred of it. Mom and dad shared their fish with me, and it was amazing. Not just edible, it was good. And this is coming from someone that usually gets nauseous thinking about eating fish. I almost wanted more. With the lemon, vinegar and tartar sauce I probably could have eaten a full helping and enjoyed it. It's a little weird that they do not make their own tartar sauce though. The battered sausage was good, but not what I was expecting, so I won't say anything negative. I was expecting something similar to an Italian or breakfast sausage (beef or pork) from the US, wrapped in a batter. The sausage was actually very smooth pork sausage with no fat or grittiness. This is great, it just lacked the flavor I was wrongly expecting. It was still pretty good, so if you know what Scottish sausage is, then you'll probably like it. I still ate all of it. I finished off with some ice cream from the counter by the exit. Scottish ice cream (or maybe it's just non-American ice cream) is so much better and more satisfying than ice cream in the US. Even though the fish and chips at Anstruther was very good, I still think I will be avoiding fish ;-) because now I am spoiled. read more

I think the only thing that let this down was the wait. We waited about 20 minutes for our table and were taken before others in the queue. Don't get annoyed if this happens as it means we were the first group of 2 they had and had a free table for. The groups in front of us were a 4 and a 5. The menu is extensive and isn't just fish and chips. You can of course choose the type of fish you want and decide whether you want breadcrumbs or batter. They also do other meals like macaroni cheese and lasagne if you're not in the mood for fish. We ordered the fish teas. You get bread and butter, fish, chips and mushy peas and tea or coffee. I think we were about £15 for the two of us. The fish was beautiful and the batter was light and crisp. The service can be slow, please don't take this a s a bad thing, they are always mobbed and the food is always done fresh, no re-heats. They also offer ice cream and other desserts and next to the exit is there ice cream bar and sweeties. All old style sweeties in jars on the shelf. I can see why people keep going back, the constant chatter in there is nice to see and the locals seemed very friendly and helpful. They also do take away but unless its a warm day I would recommend sitting in. read more

This fish and chip shop was an old family favourite when a child. Went back and was not disappointed. The fish and chips are delicious, great range on their menu, from fish either in batter or breadcrumbs to sausage in batter or a fife speciality red pudding. Wee deal for your supper, bread and butter and a drink, nice touch the staff being in old style uniforms, all friendly and efficient. Nice little village with plenty to see and do either before or after your treat. read more

This is "the one" apparently that William and Kaye liked. It also won Best Fish and Chips in the UK. It was very good. Full order was 6.30 GBP. Although long line ups are discussed in other places, we went for a carry out lunch (prices are higher if you eat in) and walked right up to order. As we waited to get our order, a line formed behind us. The wait - short - provided us with very fresh fish and chips. It was excellent. We ate whilst waiting to go on the Isle of May Puffin Tour. There are a number of "Chippies" on the street. We enjoyed our lunch and experience here. If you HAVE to the one that is famous, you won't go wrong. read more

This is the best fish n chips shop/restaurant I've ever tasted, and when I say that I think it's true, since they've won so many awards and been nominated thousands of times. They hit the top on every level. They know what boat your fish comes from and where it was fished. They use organic potatoes and make posh chippy chips. You can take out or sit in, and if you want a wee desert they have there own ice cream parlour at the side, with some old sweets for you (if you have a sweet tooth that is) it's family run and I think looks like a great place for a nice family meal, or a nice romantic night out with your partner, as they have a candlelit, light-dimmed corner for couples to enjoy a chippy. Who knew a chippy could mean so much! They have all the favourites and have tweaked some of them, like battered mackerel, cod, haddock, tuna, salmon, beer battered, etc. They have a children's menu, with macaroni cheese, pizza, fish n chips, chicken nuggets, gluten free, etc. The queue can be quite big for ages, it's so popular. They don't have a car park so it's just street parking, which isn't that great for popular restaurants, really do need a car park. read more

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Came all the way from Tucson, AZ to try this fish and chips. It definitely did not disappoint. Had to wait a bit to be seated, but once we did the service was quick, the fish was fresh, crisp and oh so tasty. read more

We had lemon sole, halibut, haddock, grilled mackerel with chips and the best of all these are haddock. So good we had it two days in a row. Service is friendly but queue can take forever. But, aroud 8:15 onwards, the queue was way shorter. They have an homemade ice creAm parlor as well but we were so full we couldn't eat anymore, otherwise, they look yummy! read more

Overall the food was eh, but the fish part of the fish and chips was very good. I can see why they have been awarded the title of Best Fish & Chips in Scotland, but the chips that come with the fish are dry and I barely ate any of them. The pineapple fritters are...unique, not horrible, but not worth the money if you buy them when dining in. We also ordered mushy peas, I personally wasn't a fan but to each their own. With your meal (at least when dining in) you get a complimentary hot beverage, I do not recommend the hot chocolate; it's just brown tinted water with no actual chocolate flavor. Although the waitresses are very friendly, I would definitely recommend takeaway instead of dining in as the prices are at least a pound or two cheaper and the takeaway line moves A LOT faster. Plus, there are benches across the street with a great view of the water that you can sit and eat on! read more

Anstruther Fish Bar - Pineapple Fritter. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Anstruther, FIF

I'm so disappointed, I've come her for years and they've change the fish supply or something. There's a lack of fish inside the batter and it's a real shame, the good name that once was is no more! read more

This place is over-rated. Go to any other fish shop in Anstruther, it'll be cheaper, less queue and it tastes EXACTLY the same. read more

Best fish and chips ever!! We came here 4 times on our week long trip because it was so good. You may have to wait, but it's worth it. Be mindful that they do charge extra for their homemade tarter sauce, but my brother said it is worth it. read more

This is definetly one of the best fish and chip shops in fife. Sited across the road from the harbour in Anstruther there is also a sit in area if you prefer that you eating with your hands. If sitting in I like the fish teas the best but often we just buy to go and eat them while walking out by the harbour. You may well have to wait nut please don't be put off by the queue - it is only there because the end product is well worth the wait read more

When I go to stay in fife I regularly get a takeaway from this fish bar - delicious! It can be so so busy at lunch times though. i always chuckle at the packaging, they come in boxes with newspaper prints on with headlines such as 'man battered by cod' read more

I don't consider myself an expert on fish and chips, but I always seek them when in the UK. These are the best I've had by far. Great service in a casual atmosphere right across from the harbor. What's not to like? read more

Great fish and chips. Wonderful staff and great casual dining. This is a must stop when in This part of Scotland. This is a wonderful little town and a beautiful harbor to see. read more

Stopped here at the end of a long day of sight seeing. Could not wait to get in the restaurant and away from the gusting winds and sub 45 degree temps. Unfortunately, the place was packed and there was a long wait to sit. So, I followed the lead of the tour guide and ordered take out. I chose the haddock with chips. After a few minutes waiting for the fish to be cooked fresh, I received my order and followed the tour guide to the exit... Did not realize his plan was to just sit outside. Definitely not the best place to sit for a desert rat, but the fish and chips were so good they made me forget how miserable the weather was. Fresh, flaky fish and hot fries. Awesome meal. read more

Yes it is a fish and chip shop. Yes it is that good. People do drive from Glasgow to wait in a queue outside for 30 minutes to get their hands on one of their fish suppers. And the wait is worth it, with impeccable fish, fresh and crunchy batter and chips like you wouldn't believe. Despite its great fame they still try hard to keep up a high standard. You can sit in, but the food is basically the same, and there is nothing to compare to sitting outside watching the waves hit the pier, while protecting your catch from the predatory seagulls. An experience worth having. read more

up there with the best fish suppers iv'e ever tasted,only surpassed by the fish shop in pittenweem circa the 70's but not that far off in quality,everything cooked to order and worth waiting for read more

A real must when in Fife. Superb and well worth the day trip I made from Cumbria to this beautiful area Oh Dear. Went in there for lunch a week ago and the fish was overcooked. Always busy but don't let your standards slip. One star deducted. read more

We found ourselves spending a few unexpected hours in Anstruther when the car broke down - best wasted time ever! This is absolutely the best chippie we have ever been to. Watched the fish being brought in straight from the boat to the door. It was mid week and you wouldn't expect it to be busy but there was a queue. It was only about 5 minutes wait, but after tasting the crispy golden goodness I would have waited far longer. We ate outside, sitting on the harbour watching the fishing boats. A pretty town, great food and a perfect day. read more