Edinburgh’s Best Fish & Chips, The Tailend Restaurant & Fish Bar
My mouth watered when I heard Colin Cromar was to open the Tailend restaurant and fish bar in Edinburgh. Cromar and business partners were behind the amazingly successful and delicious Anstruther Fish Bar, which has won a whole host of awards. I’d always felt Edinburgh lacked a truly great fish and chip shop, so the opening of the Tailend on Albert Place (just off Leith Walk) seemed just what the city needed. After my midweek visit to their sit-in restaurant I am positively glowing in praise for what was an outstanding serving of fish, chips and mushy peas - just the way I like it!
The kitchen, with Cromar applying his trade to both takeaway and sit-in orders is clearly visible from the sit-in section of the Tailend. The interior is modern, yet simple: marbled table tops with numbers, wooden chairs, black and white photographs along the walls and a light bright decor. A specials chalkboard hangs by the kitchen hatch. Specials varied from a starter of king scallops with roast hazelnut and herb butter (£5.50) to a main of swordfish steak and chips (£11.85).
The Tailend’s restaurant prices can’t be described as cheap, though I think good fish and chips everywhere stopped being cheap a long time ago. On our visit we both opted for Tailend’s Traditional Fish Tea (£9.50). The fish tea consisted of haddock served with lemon, tartare sauce, chips (or ‘chipped potatoes’ as the Tailend prefers), bread and butter, and mushy peas.
Thankfully the Tailend has not messed with the simple and winning formula for fish and chips; although the presentation has been well thought out. Our chips arrived in a large bowl, the fish was served on a separate plate and the mushy peas had their own small bowl. It was clear from the drinking glasses that someone had been shopping at Ikea!
The fish was absolutely delicious - lovely flaky white fish encased in a light yet crispy batter. Perfect. The freshness of the haddock demonstrated that the Tailend receives fish daily. The chips were among the best I have tasted - nice and chunky, crispy on the outside and enticingly fluffy inside. The mushy peas, which I think no fish and chips should be without, rounded the fish tea off well. Though on a slightly negative point, the tartare source didn’t taste as homemade as it should.
All the fish is Scottish sourced and filleted/smoked in the supplier’s fish house in Arbroath. There is a choice of having fish served in the Tailend’s tasty batter, breaded (50p extra) or grilled with olive oil. The grilled option means the health conscious diner can, if you exclude the chips, enjoy the Tailend’s menu.
It’s likely most diners will, at least for their first visit, stick to the traditional fish tea. This could be disappointing for Cromar and crew who have created a menu of langoustine tails, salmon and pickled herring starters, Arbroath smokie, sole and a solid selection of enticing specials. Non fish-eaters are catered for with the Tailend burger and griddled chicken fillet.
Eventually the Tailend will have a drinks licence, and serve wine and bottled beer. In the absence of a licence our waitress was happy for us to ‘bring our own booze’, so I had a quick walk to Tesco and bought a few cans. A pot of tea costs £1.80. Service was delightfully friendly and welcoming from the young lady serving us. This was a real plus point.
Our fish tea was substantial in size and there was ample fish and chips for the two of us. However the Tailend have a St Luca ice-cream counter by the door. I couldn’t resist and, with a gun to my tummy, forced down two scoops of delicious mint choc chip and strawberry ice cream (£2.95).
The takeaway section of the Tailend fish bar sells a fish supper (haddock or cod) for £5.50. Many of the more adventurous fish dishes are also available e.g. sole/prawns. Standard chip shop fare e.g. burgers, steak pie, haggis and chicken are also on the menu.
The perfect fish and chip restaurant?! Well it’s certainly very good and definitely a clearer number one choice for fish and chips in Edinburgh.
Definitely try the Tailend restaurant for a sit-in meal or the Tailend fish bar for takeaway. It’s a welcome and quality addition to Edinburgh and put very simply: a fish and chip shop Edinburgh needed.
The Tailend is a great establishment and I’ll certainly be visiting on many more occasions this year.
The Tailend Fish Restaurant & Fish Bar is located at 14-15 Albert Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH7 5HN.
When I moved to Leith Walk last year I was gutted at the lack of a good chippie. I had driven past this place a few times since they started work on it but it is not clear it was a takeaway as well. Saw an anticle in the papers about it being the same people that used to run the Anstruther Fish Bar and I was off my seat and straight there for a carry-out!!
Was not dissappointed by the Haddock supper. Staff were a bit slow and the French girl was having a bit of trouble with all the Leither’s accents but I am sure they will work this out in time.
The food was more than worth the wait and will be going back for a sit-down meal soon!!
Hi - I am trying to find a contact number for this place but can’t find it anywhere online or directory enquries - can anyone help?
Their number is 0131 555 3577
14-15 Albert Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh (where Sugo used to be)
I’m afraid the pictures do not corroborate the words. The chips look a little undercooked and the fish looks quite skinny and unsubstantial. Surely everything is going to get cold, really quickly, served up separately in dinky glass bowls like that.
We tried the Tailend for a sit-in fish tea on Sunday. Absolutely wonderful!
Tasty, succulent haddock in a light crispy batter. Yes the chips are light in colour but try them! They are perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and light and dry inside ( with lots of lovely crispy small ones!) and the tastiest mushy peas (yes they do stay hot).
Good, cheerful service. We’ll be back.