The L Shaped dining area is decorated in pure white and grey with minimalist furnishings and rows of bare tables emphasising metallic steel and chrome to create a contemporary Industrial look. An intimate room at the back can be booked for party groups of around a dozen diners. Across the main restaurant is the Champagne and Oyster bar with shiny aluminium counter and high backed stools - a place to perch for a glass or two of Bollinger. On warm days, there’s an outside patio deck for a Continental, alfresco meal.
Open for lunch and dinner, with a la carte and 2/3 course fixed price menus. Under Starters, Shellfish, Mains and Puddings, dishes are described in one short, snappy line. I visited for lunch and was impressed by the choice: Thai spiced cod cakes – chilli – lime – cucumber; Shetland blueshell mussels – tomato – coriander – chips.
Quick and easy to understand all the ingredients on the plate. Oysters tasting of the sea are sourced from Donegal, steak is from Orkney and Monkfish from the Pentland Firth. The selection of seafood is dictated by the day’s market so there could be squid, langoustine, crab and scallops as well as good old Fish ‘n Chips - Café Fish, crushed peas and tartare sauce - a popular favourite.
The wine list has several served by the glass amongst a good selection. If you have a sweet tooth, finish perhaps with Affogato, Luca’s ice-cream, with a liqueur and espresso shot. Alternatively, chocolate dessert or a platter of cheese from Ian Mellis cheesemonger, just down the street.
“The monkfish and prawn goan curry, with fragrant rice - just about one of the best fish dishes I have eaten.” A diner this summer at Café Fish
Head Chef Stuart Lynch has been at Café Fish for over a year, recently joined by Chef Ciharu, who is professionally trained in preparing Japanese sushi, so this delicacy will no doubt be on the menu soon.
My friend and I had a glass of bubbly and shared a bottle of dry Italian wine. On another occasion, back again for dinner, our table of four sipped two bottles of wine – very slowly over the meal - and then ordered another bottle as we needed a tad more red wine to complement the cheese! With its cool and casual, laid-back ambience, it is tempting to linger longer!