If you didn’t book ahead or haven’t managed to nab a walk-in table at celebrity chef Rick Stein’s flagship Seafood Restaurant or its more casual sibling St Petroc’s Bistro, there is no need to panic. You can still take part in the ‘Padstein’ experience, by joining the queue at Stein’s Fish & Chips, which is the seafood supremo’s upmarket take on the traditional chippy.
Situated on the coast and overlooking the gorgeous Camel Estuary, Stein’s Fish & Chips comprises an intimate restaurant and takeaway and at the height of summer, you will often find queues snaking out of the door. Seaside tradition might dictate that you enjoy your fish supper out of a takeaway box while sat on the shore (and in scenic Padstow there are plenty of paces to soak up the views), but for those who prefer the comfort of a table, Stein’s Fish and chips does offer dine-in facilities via a few wooden tables and benches - you’ll need to arrive early though, because this place is strictly no bookings.
Setting itself apart from the competition, Stein’s serves up the likes of monkfish, megrim sole and john dory alongside the more traditional cod, haddock and plaice – all sourced from non-threatened stocks. Choose either deep-fried in batter or grilled and enjoy ‘proper’ chips alongside it, with a helping of mushy peas and your choice or tartare or curry sauce. For the young at heart, you can even order a freshly baked bap to make the childhood favourite of a chip butty.
There is a dedicated menu of small portioned dishes for little ones (think scampi bites or sausage and chips), while grown ups can explore the list of beers and ciders, as well as a short but well considered selection of European wines. If you are dining in, there’s pudding too, including salted caramel cheesecake.