Fish, fish and more fish (Loch Fyne Restaurants in general)

Member Name: pagso

Product:	Loch Fyne Restaurants in general
Date:	30/08/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reliable quality and service

Disadvantages: No good if you don't like fish, extra charge for veg

I have eaten at Loch Fyne restaurants in Farnham, Guildford, Ascot, Beaconsfield, St Albans and possibly somewhere else. They have all been similarly decorated in a fairly rustic fashion with wooden tables and chairs, slate floors and I think all have had an impressive ice filled fresh seafood display centrally situated which looks like a fishmongers counter - although I have no idea if you can buy fresh fish to take away from Loch Fyne, I don't think so though.

The menu is almost entirely fish based and it probably isn't worth visiting if you don't eat seafood and fish. The menu is fairly extensive but there are usually at least 4 starters and 5 or so mains also on a specials menu. The seafood platter for 2 is an impressive selection of seafood including mussels, crab claws, whelks etc. served in a ice crystal filled silver bowl. On a number of occasions one or more of us has played safe and gone for the beer battered fish and chips which comes in at around £10 and is very good.

The childrens menu is fairly safe but good value and the chain is welcoming to children with high chairs available and friendly staff. For some time now the website has had downloadable vouchers to give £10 off a meal for two which also helps the budget for eating out. Starters are about £6.00 to £7.00 each and mains up to £19 or so. My only real bugbear is that some of the main courses do lack side dishes and you have to pay for potatoes or vegetables on top - which I hate doing, I wish they would add them and include in the price of the meal. Desserts are about the same price as the starters.

Service has always been pretty good at Loch Fyne with attentive and presentable staff. On our last visit we had cause to complain about the cheese platter (it had clearly been left out too long) and the manager without hesitation took all the desserts off the bill. The Loch Fyne brand seems to have grown rapidly so I hope it continues to offer the same quality of food and service across the chain.

Summary: Great choice of fish dishes in quality surroundings