Comments on: Edinburgh’s Best Fish & Chips, The Tailend Restaurant & Fish Bar

By: Mary Kenneway

Mary Kenneway — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:55:50 +0000

Best fish and chips we have tasted in a long long time would recommend to all, especially those who are totally fed up eating turkey lol

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:50:26 +0000

Visited the Tailend for the first time on Tues 2 November, 2011 and was delighted with their battered fish and chips - crisply fried fish with golden chips - absolutely delicious.
So unlike the Peacock Inn at Newhaven whose fish was greasy.

By: Greig

Greig — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:24:33 +0000

I, and my wife, had an awesome fish supper tonight which I had to share with everyone. We went to Gino’s chipper near the bottom end of Dalry road, and we had had great fish suppers from there previously, but we were surprised when we still got the same thing 6 months later. They literally have enormous haddock portions. And all are resh I can assure you by taste. Only £5.80 and even the hugriest of blokes wont be dissapointed. Really fantastic and worth a try. Nice couple who run the place as well.

By: G

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:54:00 +0000

I notice the other reviews are old…so here’s a new one.

The Traditional Fish Special @ £10.35.
At that price, I wondered why it wasn’t accompanied with fireworks and an accompanying violinist).

It’s been 14 hours since I ate this and I’m still trying to figure out where the word “Special” applied to the meal.
I feel a bit like when I bought my new car, thought I’d got a bargain and spent the next week trying to figure out how and when the salesman had fleeced me.

Fish (battered) - OK, standard akin to that from a chippy - so it was good enough. Quickly determined as not the source of the 2special” tag. Not a huge fillet, but enough.
Chips - OK but a wee bit waxy. Tasted like they’d been in stand-by mode for a while though i.e. underfresh.
Mushy peas - from a tin? Apologies if not, but they tasted like from a tin. Came in a small ramekin (portion control).
Bread and butter - (this is where I think the “special” was meant to apply) - small dimensioned white loaf straight from the plastic packet and cut, expertly and precisely on the diagonal. Two halves per person. Served with airplane packets of butter.
Additional expenses : Pot of tea for two - which was really a pot suitable for one (held only two cupfulls) accompanied by two cups which were one step up from expresso cups and apologetically trying to make the teapot look bigger.

Now I’m old enough realise that applying the word “restaurant” may allow an increase in price…and I realise that the menu is more expansive than just fish and chips…but, as you can tell, I wasn’t too impressed with the “special” which I am told is the signature dish.

I notice many of the previous reviews mention Anstruther, Anstruther, etc etc perhaps now it’s time to stop lauding the elsewhere and the past and judge on the hear and now?

By: David

David — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 11:13:33 +0000

Might be worth advertising that it is still the same owners after all the press coverage when it was to be sold

By: darren spink

darren spink — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:49:24 +0000

following the comment made by ‘chips’ on July 19th… Ian Whyte along with his wife Anne and son Stuart (who now works with us in edinburgh and St Andrews) and Colin Cromar were all partners at Anstruther and built up their reputation over a twenty year period. My father Gordon, now partners with Colin, supplied Anstruther with all their seafood; however was not a business partner there. In response to ‘Cat’ on April 2nd… We have decided to take the shop off the market and look forward to continuing the business on Leith Walk… Thanks to all the positive comments made, very rewarding and reassuring….Darren @ Tailend

By: John

John — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:29:38 +0000

Superb and worth a visit every time we are up shopping in Edinburgh.

By: Dale Winton

Dale Winton — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:10:31 +0000

As a chip shop connoisseur and after reading these comments , I shall be rushing down to sample the delights of the tailend

Might even try the skate !

By: BC

BC — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:33:16 +0000

As for all you folks who agree with the fish being dry,the chippy being overpriced.
Just because you dont want to taste QUALITY it dosent mean you have to take it out on the Tailend
In the new tailend in St Andrews, the fish is fresh from fishmerchants in Arbroath(Spinks)The fish is brilliant, and a plus, the food is cooked to order not left warming for ages.Like many other chippies i could mention,The staff are frindly and helpful,many other chipshops dont have these qualities

By: Saucy Sal

Saucy Sal — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:58:00 +0000

I agree with Mrs Joy about ‘perfect’ -especially the chips. I often think chip shop chips haven’t been cooked enough - too pale and not fluffy inside, but these were incredibly moreish -crisp and golden and fluffy inside. And a bowl of Luca’s ice cream is just ‘perfect’ to finish off when you have only a little bit of room left for pud.