Fisherman’s Wife Whitby Review: Can it rival The Magpie?

We love the charming, seaside town of Whitby and visit often – it’s home to The Fisherman’s Wife. This seafood restaurant has been on my radar for a while now. We’ve walked past it many times on our way up and down to the famous Whale Bones. You can also see it from the beach, as The Fisherman’s Wife looks right down onto the beach and has stunning sea views.

So let’s learn more about The Fisherman’s Wife and talk about my visit there to see if it’s a better seafood restaurant than the famous Magpie Cafe.

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

One of the standout features of The Fisherman’s Wife is its commitment to using locally sourced and sustainable produce. With over 50 years of experience, the restaurant prides itself on serving the freshest seafood available. The fish is sourced directly from Whitby’s fish market, ensuring that only the finest quality is served to customers. The crabs and lobsters are caught fresh each day, guaranteeing a true taste of the sea. Even the meat used in the dishes is provided by local butchers, Radford, in Sleights. This dedication to supporting local suppliers ensures that every meal at The Fisherman’s Wife is not only delicious but also contributes to the community.

See also: The best things to do in Whitby.

From Starters to Mains

The menu at The Fisherman’s Wife offers a wonderful selection of starters and mains, showcasing the best of British seafood cuisine. Start your culinary journey with mouthwatering options such as mussels cooked with white wine cream and garlic or a classic Whitby crab and prawn cocktail. When it comes to mains, fish and chips take centre stage. Choose from a variety of battered fish options, including cod, halibut, and plaice. Each piece is fried to perfection, boasting a crispy exterior and tender, flaky fish inside. For those who prefer something other than fish and chips, The Fisherman’s Wife offers some alternatives like steak pie, seafood curry, and even indulgent lobster thermidor. There’s a fish pie that also caught my attention, as well as a selection of specials on the chalkboards.

There are a couple of vegetarian options available but no vegan mains, which is very disappointing to see.

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, it makes for a great dining experience.

I loved the navy blood and brass tones weaved 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.

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The Reviews Speak: Customers’ Experiences

The Fisherman’s Wife has a strong reputation, which you can see in the positive reviews shared by customers. Let’s take a closer look at what they have to say about their experiences:

1. “Lovely outlook on the Abbey and also the beach: take your pick. We specifically wanted Whitby crab sandwiches and weren’t disappointed; with a lovely side salad. We would visit again.” – May 2023
2. “We tried to get into the main restaurant but couldn’t get in as it was full, so we sat in the outside/covered area just up the hill. We were not disappointed. There were heaters to keep off the chill. We got a seat by the glass ‘wall’ and enjoyed the view of the beach and the sea while awaiting our food. The food was served quickly and was delicious. We thought it was great value for money.” – May 2023
3. “Reserved a table and was lucky enough to get a sea view. A good selection of starters and main courses. Enjoyed the King prawn starter. My chosen main had just sold out, but the medium haddock and chips was a good substitute. All served by friendly and efficient staff. Washed down with a chilled bottle of wine.” – April 2023

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 almost crunch, are 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!

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, then 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: Goats 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 Shepherds 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 all the time, I feel it’s very important to discuss the menu.

Opening Hours and Contact Information

Planning your visit to The Fisherman’s Wife? Here are the restaurant’s opening hours:

• Monday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Friday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Sunday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM

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

The Fisherman’s Wife in Whitby may be a seafood lover’s paradise for some, but not for us. The menu does look delicious and although I was put off by the chewy prawns, I would probably give it another chance. I really want to try the fish pie! The Fisherman’s Wife’s 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 and 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…

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