Every trip to Whitby seems to involve a debate about where to eat. With so many fish and chip shops and seafood restaurants packed into the town, it’s easy to fall back on old favourites. This time, though, we decided to head for The Fisherman’s Wife, a restaurant we saw was recently crowned Best Coastal Fish and Chips in England.
We visited on a very hot Wednesday in June and parked on West Cliff, where there was plenty of (payable) parking on the road. When I was a teenager I worked my summers in Whitby at my family’s hotel on West Cliff (Hotel Carlill – it’s apartments now) so I always like to drive past and see tFouthe old place. I stayed in one of the attic rooms, and fancied myself as Sara from A Little Princess.
The location is hard to beat. Sitting above Whitby’s West Cliff beach, the restaurant enjoys uninterrupted views across the sands and out towards the North Sea. Even before we’d looked at the menu, we found ourselves standing at the window watching dog walkers, families building sandcastles and the occasional brave soul venturing into the sea.
Inside, the restaurant feels bright and welcoming. Large windows flood the dining room with natural light and make the most of the spectacular setting. They also have an outdoor terrace which is perfect for warm days (and again, look at that view!).
Whitby and seafood go hand in hand, so there was never really any doubt about what we would order. The menu offers all the classics you’d hope to find in a seaside restaurant, from traditional fish and chips to seafood platters, lobster and locally landed fish.
It was one of those menus where everything sounded tempting, making the decision far more difficult than expected. They also have a specials board:
The Fisherman’s Wife, Whitby Review
When the food arrived, the first thing that struck us was how fresh everything looked. For starters we ordered the King Scallops, seared in garlic and chilli butter.
We also tried the Cold Seafood Platter (smoked and oak-roasted salmon with prawns in a Marie Rose sauce).
For our main courses, I couldn’t resist trying the cod and chips (a must at the seaside!):
The fish was beautifully cooked, the batter crisp and golden without feeling greasy, and the accompanying chips were exactly what you’d hope for from a Yorkshire seaside meal. There’s something wonderfully satisfying about eating freshly cooked fish while looking out over the sea from which it came.
We also tried the Whitby Scampi and Chips:
And my teenager went for a Fisherman’s Wife burger:
One of the things we particularly liked was the relaxed pace. Nobody seemed in a rush. Families lingered over desserts, couples sat chatting over coffee and visitors gazed out towards the horizon. It felt less like a quick stop for lunch and more like a place to settle in and enjoy being beside the coast.
They also offer some fabulous sounding desserts – which we didn’t try as we foolishly didn’t pay for long enough parking!
Looking at The Fisherman’s Wife perched above the shoreline, it suddenly seemed obvious why the restaurant is so popular. The food is excellent, but it’s the combination of fresh seafood, sea air and those magnificent coastal views that makes it memorable.
Oh and it’s also worth mentioning that they do takeaway and have a seating area for this that is dog friendly.
Would we return? Absolutely. In a town famous for fish and chips, that’s perhaps the highest compliment we can give. Some restaurants serve a meal; The Fisherman’s Wife offers a proper Whitby experience.
