The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby Review 2026: Sea Views, Seafood and Mixed Results

Updated June 2026 – The Fisherman’s Wife is still open and appears to be trading well. This review is based on our 2023 visit. A commenter below has had consistently positive experiences there, and reading the recent Tripadvisor reviews, the fish and chips in particular seem to get strong and consistent praise. It’s possible we caught them on an off day with the seafood platter — the prawns being the main issue. Worth going with that in mind: the fish and chips and the fish pie seem to be safer choices than the seafood platter if consistency matters to you.

The Fisherman’s Wife’s Location

Located in the heart of Whitby, The Fisherman’s Wife offers a breathtaking view of the bay. Its prime location just steps away from the white sands of Whitby beach, makes it an ideal spot to enjoy a delicious meal while taking in the surroundings. You can dine in the restaurant or have a takeaway to enjoy by the sea.

Locally Sourced and Sustainable Produce

This is one of the things The Fisherman’s Wife is known for, and it’s worth mentioning because it’s genuinely not just marketing talk. The fish is sourced from Whitby’s fish market, the crabs and lobsters are caught fresh each day, and the meat comes from Radford’s butchers in Sleights — a local independent that supplies several of the better restaurants in the area.

You can tell, when the produce is fresh, that this is the point of the place. Which is also why the chewy prawns we ended up with were such a disappointment — it doesn’t fit the story the restaurant tells about itself.

See also: The best things to do in Whitby.

The Menu

The menu is focused on Whitby seafood, which is exactly what you’d expect and want. Starters include things like mussels in white wine, cream and garlic, Whitby crab and prawn cocktail, and scallops. Mains are built around fish and chips — cod, halibut, plaice — but there are alternatives: lobster thermidor, seafood curry, fish pie, and daily specials on the chalkboards.

When I was looking at the menu before we arrived, the fish pie caught my attention specifically. Reader, I wish I had ordered it. Instead I went for the seafood platter and immediately had regret when I saw it arrive at a neighbouring table. The fish pie looked magnificent.

There are two vegetarian options (a vegetable linguine and a vegetable lasagne) and virtually nothing for vegans, which I’ll come back to later.

You can view the the fisherman’s wife menu here.

The Perfect Pairing: Drinks and Desserts

No meal is complete without a refreshing drink and a sweet treat to round off the dining experience. The Fisherman’s Wife offers a fancy drinks menu. You can pick from a selection of draught beers, spirits, and liqueurs to complement your meal. If you’re a wine enthusiast, they have a separate wine list, featuring a variety of options to suit every palate. Save room for dessert and indulge in delightful offerings such as sticky toffee pudding, white chocolate cheesecake, or tangy lemon meringue.

The Decor

The Fisherman’s Wife has a warm and inviting atmosphere. The wooden chairs and tables, coupled with large windows overlooking the water, create a charming and rustic ambience, making for a great dining experience.

I loved the navy blue and brass tones woven into the decor. The restaurant looks high-end. I was quite surprised as that’s the impression I got when seeing from the seafront. It looks more like a typical fish and chip shop in a seaside town, but in reality, it’s really nice inside and feels very much like a quality restaurant.

Related Post: The Captian Cook Experience at Whitby

The Reviews Speak: Customers’ Experiences

Looking at recent reviews, visitors consistently praise the location and sea views — getting a window table overlooking the beach comes up again and again as a highlight. The crab sandwiches and fresh seafood dishes get strong mentions, as does the outdoor covered seating area for those who can’t get a table inside. Service is generally described as friendly and efficient. The main gripe in reviews echoes my own experience: prices feel high relative to portion size on some dishes.

Our Visit to The Fisherman’s Wife

When we first walked into the restaurant, I was impressed by how it looked. As I said earlier in the post, the decor was very tasteful and we were seated in one of the booths that looks over the sea.

I had looked at the menu before we came and decided I wanted the fish pie. But when we got there, I really struggled to decide! In the end, we shared the starter, which was king scallops in garlic butter and ordered the Seafood Platter for two to share.

I ordered my toddler the kids’ fish and chips.

The scallops came out, and it was a very small portion. Only three scallops – and one was really small – not a king scallop for sure! I felt £13.99 was very expensive for what’s essentially two and a half scallops. Although they were cooked really nicely and the sauce was delicious.

The seafood platter had the following:

A dressed Whitby crab, oak-roast salmon, smoked salmon, mackerel, pâté, mini prawn cocktail, two oysters, two king prawns and two king prawns with heads on. This was served with brown bread and butter plus two bowls of chips.

I’ve never had mackerel pâté before, but wow, this was delicious and my favourite part of the dish. I really enjoyed the salmon, too. I let my husband eat both oysters because I just don’t enjoy them!

The prawns were a big problem, though. I fear they may have been frozen. It didn’t matter with the mini-prawns, but the larger prawns were disappointing. They were chewy and lacked flavour. You know how fresh prawns are. They are almost crunchy, meaty and have a great flavour. These were rubbery. It did bring down how we felt about the meal and has put me off going again.

I wish I had stuck with my original plan of the homemade fish pie!

What to Order (Based on Our Visit)

From what we ordered, the standout was the mackerel pâté — which sounds simple but was genuinely one of the best things I ate that day. If you’re doing the seafood platter, eat all of it.

The salmon (both the oak-roast and smoked) was excellent. I enjoyed the crab. The prawns were the disappointment — rubbery and flavourless in a way that suggested frozen rather than fresh. Given the restaurant’s sourcing story, this was a jarring inconsistency.

What I’d order next time: the fish pie, without hesitation. And probably just the scallops as a starter — three was a small portion for £13.99, but they were cooked beautifully and the sauce was delicious.

If you’re getting fish and chips, the fish comes from Whitby’s fish market, so freshness should be reliable. My toddler had the kids’ fish and chips and was perfectly happy.

Prices:

I found the restaurant expensive for the food we got. The scallops were delicious, but three just weren’t enough for £13.99.

The seafood platter was £50. Had the prawns been fresh, we probably would not have minded!

With our meal, plus my toddler’s fish and chips, a bottle of Coca-Cola and beer for my husband, it came to £80.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options

I mostly eat plant-based meals, and had there been a nice plant-based option on the menu, I would have got it. There were two vegetarian options:

• Vegetable Linguine: Goat’s cheese, cherry tomatoes and sunblush tomato pesto linguine
• Homemade Vegetable Lasagne: served with garlic bread and a salad garnish

I guess the vegan option would be the linguine without the goat’s cheese, but then it’s just pasta and tomato sauce. It’s not good enough, really. Some restaurants in Whitby do vegan options really well, while others are miles behind.

Compare this with two of the five vegetarian options, which can be made vegan at The Magpie:

• Wild Mushroom and Butter Bean Stroganoff
• Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

And if you’re wondering why a vegetarian or vegan may go to a fish restaurant, remember that most have friends and family that do eat fish and meat, so it’s important to cater for them too.

Although I don’t eat plant-based food all the time, I feel it’s very important to discuss the menu.

Opening Hours and Contact Information

The Fisherman’s Wife is generally open daily from around 11:30am, with reduced hours on Sundays. Opening times vary seasonally — always check thefishermanswife.co.uk or call 01947 603500 before visiting, particularly outside peak season.

For reservations or inquiries, you can reach The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby at the following contact details:

• Address: Khyber Pass, Whitby, England, United Kingdom
• Telephone: 01947 603500
• Website: thefishermanswife.co.uk

I really want to try the fish pie! The Fisherman’s Wife has a reputation as a top-notch restaurant in Whitby, so I’m hoping we just caught them on an off day. Although we’ve been to The Magpie twice, we’ve always had a delicious meal.

I really wanted to have a wonderful experience at The Fisherman’s Wife, but it fell a bit short for me. Maybe next time…

Final Thoughts on The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby

I’m genuinely in two minds about The Fisherman’s Wife. The setting is beautiful — the sea views from the window tables are some of the best you’ll get eating out in Whitby, and the interior is much nicer than the exterior suggests. The produce sourcing is genuine. Some of what we ate was excellent.

The chewy prawns knocked it back significantly for us. At £50 for a seafood platter, you expect everything to be at the level the restaurant claims for itself. Some of it was; some of it wasn’t.

If I were recommending to a friend: book a window table, order the fish and chips or the fish pie, and don’t go in specifically for the seafood platter unless you’ve seen recent reviews suggesting it’s on form. The location and atmosphere are worth going for alone.

We’ve been back to The Magpie twice and always had a good meal. The Fisherman’s Wife is more interesting from an atmosphere point of view, and I do want to go back and try the fish pie. Maybe next time it’ll be the great meal I hoped for.

FAQs About The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby

Where is The Fisherman’s Wife in Whitby?

The Fisherman’s Wife is on Khyber Pass, Whitby, YO21 3PZ — on the west cliff side, close to the beach and with views looking back along the bay. You can see it from the beach below, and it’s on the route up towards the whale bones.

What is on The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby menu?

The menu focuses on fresh Whitby seafood — fish and chips (cod, halibut, plaice), scallops, crab and prawn cocktail, lobster thermidor, seafood curry, fish pie, and daily specials on the chalkboard. There are a small number of meat and vegetarian options. Vegan mains are limited. Check thefishermanswife.co.uk for the current menu as it changes seasonally.

Do you need to book The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby?

Booking is recommended, particularly in summer and at weekends when Whitby gets busy. Walk-ins may be seated in the covered outdoor area if the main restaurant is full — as several reviewers have noted, this is still a good option with views of the beach.

How does The Fisherman’s Wife compare to the Magpie Cafe?

Both are well-regarded Whitby seafood restaurants at a similar price point. The Magpie is more famous and always has a queue. The Fisherman’s Wife has the edge on views — the sea outlook from the window tables is exceptional. In our experience the Magpie has been more consistent, but The Fisherman’s Wife has a loyal following and the decor is considerably nicer inside. Worth trying both and deciding for yourself.

Is The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby good for vegetarians or vegans?

Vegetarians have a couple of options — a vegetable linguine and a homemade vegetable lasagne at time of writing. Vegan mains are very limited. If plant-based eating is important to you, check the current menu before booking as this may have improved since our visit.

Looking for other places in Whitby to eat? Checkout:

Cosa Nostra Review
Sander’s Yard Review
Abbey Wharf Review
White Horse and Griffin Review
Whitby Brewery Review
Magpie Cafe In Whitby Review