Magpie Cafe in Scarborough

We visited last night for tea - after driving 76 miles specifically to go. It was a round trip of 152 miles not well spent. My husband had the haddock (he said if that's haddock I will eat my own shoe) - it was the blandest and most tasteless fish he said he had ever had. I had the Scampi - it was average to say the least. The bread felt and tasted a couple of days old - not squishy and fresh. The staff we're ok but we waited an eternity for a bill - it wasn't that busy either. In my opinion, it's had it's day - it's over hyped, living on a historic reputation that is no longer warranted and as somebody has previously said there is a lot of very good competition.

Not so great in fact big disappointment. Mussels tasteless, fish mediocre, knickerbocker ridiculous, straight out of the freezer and not cheap. Will be giving it a miss for a while. Lots of competition close by so no need to climb the steps, bad for disabled.

Best fish and chips ever,service and attention to detail by all staff is amazing .Thet deserve every accolade that comes their way. Well done

We used the takeaway service after hearing some great reviews. We did think having a takeaway may affect the quality but we were so impressed! There are many Fish and Chips vendors in Whitby, and we did try 4, and this was by far the best! Always queues for the sit in, so best to book in advance. Well worth a visit, even if it is just for a takeaway.

I am not the greatest fan of fish, but we have just spent three out of our four evenings in Whitby here. Food and service were excellent. I could be converted!

Booked dinner for our first night. It was ok nothing special, chips were not nice and it was quite expensive, but service was good.

Made the mistake of ''dining'' at Papa in Whitby the day prior. Praise be for wonderful Magpie's restoring our faith in Whitby's cod & chips Truly scrumptious and perfect in every way. Many thanks to all x

Wow wow wow! We had a great evening at the magpie cafe ! The fish and chips were fantastic. We also ordered some mushy peas and curry sauce which were great additions to the meal. Service was brilliant and very attentive. Definitely will come again on our next visit to Whitby!!

We got fish and chips to take away - mine gluten free and normal ones for hubby. My haddock and chips were very greasy as though the fish and chips hadn't been allowed to drain and had a snatch to them as if it was cooked in old oil/fat - I'm not having fish and chips from there again. Hubby thoroughly enjoyed his, they were an expensive take away - most of mine went in the bin!

Fish crispy and fresh, no complaints. The real star of the show though was the chips. Wow! Could happily just have them. Quick service also. Will definitely return!

Sadly it seems the once great Magpie Cafe is in decline. The fish and chips we had were crammed onto a really small plate and the quality of the haddock was way below what we have come to expect following eating here for three decades. We had a similarly poor experience earlier in the year but wanted to give it a second chance. We won't be going again. Real shame that its standards have slipped so much. And it appears that many of the good, long serving waitresses have gone. Still relying on its reputation but that can't last unless it gets back to former high standards.

Had the haddock chips and mushy peas and it was very nice. The staff very friendly and would visit again. My only minor grouch was the batter was pretty greasy and not as crispy as I like

We had a takeaway but they have a comprehensive menu. Tasty fish & chips but quite expensive. The restaurant menu is very interesting, again very comprehensive & varied. Recommended to book a table in the restaurant as it can be extremely busy.

Totally AWESOME... So Fresh and the Choice was incredible As it states on their daily boards and Menu's Everything is cooked Fresh and yes it was.. Even to tell you which potatoes they were using for their incredible chips.. 5 STARS ... Could easy be 10

Brilliant. Lovely hot fish and chips with accompanying sides of mushy peas 👍 Be prepared to queue, can get very busy...

Not great for wheelchair users as a venue but once we got sorted and seated Audrey was very attentive and we could not fault her friendly welcome. All the seafood was amazing and really good value for the portion. Sizes. Thank you for making Mums...

We had three nights in Whitby & ate at the Magpie on two of them. Honestly it's that good. Fish & Chips superb & it's worth delving into the rest of the menu. The Hake wrapped in parma ham ! The woof with crayfish &...

went to the magpie yesterday came from wolverhampton just to try the magpie long car ride had fish 8pound 50 what a let down batter greasy small amount of cod so dry it was stuck between your teeth very poor

We arrived early for lunch, winnowing how busy it gets. Probably the best fish and chips I have ever eaten.. Delicious and fresh. Well worth a visit.

Pre-booked our table for 2.30pm on a Wednesday afternoon. We arrived a bit early but still had to queue outside. The restaurant is well presented with nice views over the harbour. Service was swift but a bit rude. Ordered three 6oz fish and chips at...

The food was fantastic. Really varied menu with lots of options. We both had the small cod and chips, with some mushy peas and we tried the oysters too. All the food was delicious. There was a good drinks selection too. We went later in...

Extremely disappointed with this restaurants food. Completely bland and tasteless, wanted fresh fish, served up slurry !

Visited Whitby and only heard good things about this restaurant so thought we would give it a try! Needless to say we were very impressed. Decor is lovely, staff very friendly. The service was excellent, food brought out promptly and i have to say it...

Called in on a Saturday night ad hoc for a table for 7 at 8pm. Audrey said a table would be free in 20 minutes so we nipped next door to the pub. We had a great table and Audrey was our server - brilliant...

We had been recommended the Magpie previously after trying somewhere else on a previous visit to Whitby and being disappointed. The owners of the b&b we stayed at also recommended the Magpie. We went early evening and was glad to have booked.

Terrible! Just a grease mess. All I could taste was old grease and the chips were undercooked. I think they still ride on their past reputation.

Booked a table , glad we did as we got one of the best views, both had the cod fish and chips , the fish was the whitest fish I’ve ever had and the crunchiest batter , tea comes with an additional pot of water...

Very nice food, good range of options from scampi to grilled salmon. Nice surroundings. Very pleased. Staff didn't seem to happy but perhaps it was a stressful day.

For 30 years I have been loyal to the Magpie and loudly proclaimed its preeminence in Whitby to anyone who would listen. It was a very special place. Not anymore. My wife’s Risotto was ok but the Haddock and Chips were very disappointing. There are...

Went to Magpie Cafe last year and had to go again. Was not disappointed. The staff were still very nice and friendly and the food was just as I remembered it. The fish was amazing

Outstanding, the best fish and chips I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot!! A lovely pot of Yorkshire tea 🫖 as well , I’ll be back ASAP

Lovely atmosphere and service , the staff were very friendly and attentive and the meal was very good

Went on a wet evening. No booking and just went up the steep stone steps outside and walked in. No waiting or queuing and there were plenty of tables available. Lady on the front desk as you walk in was ok but not particularly friendly...

Excellent cod and chips, but the real star of the show were the mushy peas. Service was lovely and prices (and portions) were more than reasonable. Would definitely return!

Lovely fish and chips friendly staff

My partners small fish and chips was better than my skinny tail piece. The chips were average and I thought the curry sauce was bland. The ambience was pleasant and the staff courteous. Didn't quite live up to the hype.

Outstanding. This isn't a chippy. It's an experience. The menu is extensive, to say the least. Halibut? Yep. Turbot? Yep. Oysters? Yep. Lobster effing Thermidor? Yep 😅 - you can have it all. Great staff, great service, world class.

Fish and chips was good with a crunchy batter but the service was very bad. For some unknown reason, the waitress asked our order multiple times and made the process a little stressful. Another guy who looked like he was the chef or works in the kitchen came out, stood there and just stared at us with the worst RBF ever. I don't think we did anything wrong besides giving this place business and I don't know why we were treated this way. The food is definitely not good enough for me to come back despite this service.

Muscles for starter..fab,sister had fish pie and it was loaded with fish which is something you don't always find so that was great and as you would expect of whitby great fish and chips

First time visiting Whitby , pop in this restaurant, amazing staff , friendly made us feel welcomed ! Food was beyond delicious , large portions , great taste . Highly recommend!

Had a lovely to course set meal lots of choice and food was delicious. Staff could not have been more helpful. Any food being served at other tables looked nice .

Top notch! Staff 10/10. Extensive menu - a bit too much choice tbh. Food was fresh, nicely cooked & piping hot. Portions were huge. We had 2 beers, 2 starters and 2 mains on Tuesday lunchtime and it was £60 (inc tip). If you fancy three courses I recommend taking a friend to help you eat it all. Can't wait to go back.

So glad a friend recommended this. Fabulous fish and chips and we enjoyed it so much we went back the next day and had the amazing fish pie. Stall all lovely and a really nice atmosphere and setting. Could happily have worked our way through...

If you have never visited the magpie, you dont know what you are missing, having visited here many times over 20 years+, it is my favorite fish restaurant in the UK, the food and service is stunning, if your in whitby put it on your list of places to eat.

Fantastic restaurant with a huge menu. We were very lucky to get a table as it's so popular. Really need to book. The views are amazing and the food really good

We were bowled over by the food and the quality of the fish and seafood . We had hot seafood pot, scallops and seafood risotto. All was very tasty and full of flavours. The service was good and the restaurant had nice feel and atmosphere. Good wine and beer selection too. I read complementary reviews of this restaurant and it’s mentioned on Wikipedia, as being recommended by Rick Stein- and it’s not exaggerated. And even as full as we were, you have to try bread and butter pudding- one of the best!

We went to the magpie restaurant on the 17 March for my wife's birthday with friends. The staff were very good but the food was not very good , wether it was because it was a Sunday night I don't know . I don't know what the fuss is about it being so good, We won't be going back 😬😬

There are so many better fish and chip cafes in Whitby, I am a loss to understand why some find this place so good. Last time we had limp chips, this time the batter was overcooked. I guess it's all about what your standards are.

Bought a takeaway supper this evening. The fish was good except for all the surplus batter and the chips were cold. At least, the mushy peas were hot. Have eaten in the restaurant in previous years and it's usually been ok. However, this place is...

Greated on arrival and shown to a table quite quickly. As you can imagine it is a busy place, however staff are friendly and we didn't wait long for drinks and food order to arrive. We both chose Haddock, and there are 3 different size...

A very popular Whitby fish and chip restaurant, if you haven’t made a booking there is a walk-up queue. Nicely laid out restaurant, attentive and efficient staff - you are not rushed at all but when a table is vacated it is turned over very...

Visited magpie for 1st time for 15yr,it is still best f&chips in Britain.Even better it has turned into an excellent fish restaurant.On 2nd night I ordered pan fried plaice with mash and garlic butter poured over mash,simple but one of best meals I've had

Very nice and professional staff. My cod and chips was so so good!

Wouldn’t go again. Had to book but food was pretty poor. Burger gristly and chips average. Sea food nothing to scream about.

Not bad but trenchers is better value and much more comfortable

It is a while since we have visited the Magpie Cafe and I am so glad we returned. It is no wonder this place is famous and gets such good reviews. We found the menu varied and excellently priced in the current climate. Maybe this...

Great fish and chips famous location!

Couldn’t get in the last time I was in the area but no problems on a wet Wednesday in March. A fantastic selection of fish, which was cooked beautifully. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Yes it’s a bit pricey as other reviews have...

Best fish and chip take away in Whitby. Great food super friendly staff in the takeaway. Couldn’t recommend them enough

Best fish and chip take away in Whitby. Great food super friendly staff in the takeaway. Couldn’t recommend them enough

We always go here for Fish and Chips when we visit Whitby

A nice cafe, restaurant. Famous for its fish and chips. It has an extensive menu of fish dishes plus other choices. The fish and chips were excellent. The staff very friendly. Worth a visit .

I've been to Whitby many time's. Disappointed with most fish and chips that I have tried. But went to The Magpie cafe (Take away)for 2nd visit on the trot. Excellent quality. Cooked fresh worth the wait. In my eyes 👀 best Whitby Fish and chips....

Always great food good service and value for money, cannot recommend enough.

OK but had a lot better, wanted to try this place for years but the fish was tasteless, chips mediocre.

Beautiful fresh fish and great service Extremely busy in the restaurant, so better to book Fairly pricey, but you get what you pay for I guess

One of the best fish&chips I have ever had! The fish was not salty and everyone can use as much salt or vinegar as they desire. If I go here next time, I will order fish and chips with 2x mushy peas, because they were so tasty and I would also add gravy.

Fantastic fish and chips. I had grilled cod and new potatoes and my husband had haddock and chips it was delicious. The staff are great and the view from our table was of Whitby Abbey. The menu was varied and all meals looked great

Beautiful fresh fish. Excellent menu. Plenty of choice for everyone. Lovely friendly staff. We had winter menu special. Available until toward end of March. Fantastic value for money. I had mussels followed by cod chips and peas. My husband had homemade crab pate followed by...

Quality food, they say it's made to order and the timing would match. The seafood was fab, really tasty and felt "clean". Halloumi fries were more like halloumi chunky chips, massive and tasty

Always good to dine here. Food and service are always top notch. It was fairly busy even for this time of year also kids are at school. So it was a relaxed grown up lunch today.

If in Whitby you need to go here. Fish and chips absolutely amazing. Fresh fluffy chips, fish lovely and white. Services very friendly and polite. Toilets immaculate.

The food and staff were amazing. And they had my favourite oysters, Carlingford Lough. So I was a very happy chap that day. 😀

We all had fish and chips, which were great, but semof the other food, prawns and fish platters, mussels looked amazing too so will need to go back again!

Not very good , go to magpie all the time but today haddock was tasteless and watery spoiling everything else poor quality fish not rocket science

Unreal how nice the food was fish and chips ughh need now .

More McDonald's than famous fish restaurant. Fish not as fresh as it should be, soggy chips, plastic decor, and slow, taciturn service. Good menu selection and wine list, prices sensible. Just average, whereas it used to be great.

The staff we're friendly the menu had great options and the food was lovely. They were very accommodating for us and my three month old. They even had a bouncer to put my little one in while me and my partner ate.

Overrated, average restaurant. Food OK but nothing special. Service friendly and helpful. Surroundings nothing special, low budget cafe with cheapest cutlery glasses and crockery. Not sure why it's so talked about as the place to eat in Whitby.

Probably the best fish and chips I’ve had!

Simply the Best! One of the best and freshest fish and chips lunch I have ever had. I work all over the UK, Ireland and Europe, installing bespoke Home Cinemas and Automotion. I am used to eating in the best hotel chains, etc. Whilst working in Whitby, I decided to try. Magpie Fish and Chips with mushy peas. My tongue was hanging out drooling over the smell and taste of this dish. It was delicious, the best I have ever tasted anywhere in the UK. The fish was the whitest fresh fish I have ever laid my eyes on.chips. I also got a starter of Muscles which again was just great. I would highly recommend Magpie fish & chips if you are visiting Whitby on holiday or for the day! 10/10

Big place fish and chips restaurant. You have to book very busy as queue outside shows people who hadn't booked waiting for a table . Super menu super service great food and a lot when it comes all good

Takeaway fish and chips lived up to the hype. Tasty, fresh and lovely homemade tartare sauce

Excellent! Fantastic menu and great service. Highly recommended.

Absolutely fantastic experience. Food excellent and staff very nice and helpful. Dont know any names but the young man calling people for their tables and lady taking the money at the till very nice.

Lovely. If you're in Whitby then it's a must.

We have been here twice in a row, why not if it is so good? Whitby’s reputation for sea food is enhanced by this restaurant. The first night, the freshest cod in such a long time. White, clean and so good. Tonight, crab bisque, possibly...

Always excellent food Recommend the kippers and fish pie.

The 4 of us had lunch, 2 had the Fish Bites, the rest had Haddock and chips, with the best mushy peas. We had great service, very friendly staff (without being in your face) . The menu had a wonderful range, and the Specials of the Day looked superb . As we were eating out later that night, we had a relatively small lunch. We would love to go again and have a full meal. This is not a place for Vegans and Vegetarians, the name gives it away Magpies Fish Restaurant.

Fish and chips are spot on! Quick service from a nice team

Posh fish and chips but fantastic flavour. Staff where fantastic

The best mushy peas I’ve ever had. Better than cheesy peas. Fish and the chips were fine with good banter with the staff. Worth it for the peas.

At least our 5th visit. Fantastic F&Cs. Mushy peas gorgeous. Jeanette, who served us was a lovely character, very happy to chat and couldn't do enough for us. Highly recommend!!! Book ahead if you can, to avoid queuing. 🙂

If you put a sign on the door saying 'Queue here' you're going to get a queue. Far too much food on the plate and it wasn't good quality. Over priced and overrated. Chips weren't crispy, bored receptionist and actual security guard at the door. Ridiculous. A far more welcoming restaurant nearby, food so much nicer.

Was absolutely fantastic , great food was in Whitby for 2 night , came here for lunch , and dinner both days.. probably the best fish cookery I’ve ever had

Always a favourite go to when we visit Whitby

Just great , go there and you will see

Just a delightful fish n chips restaurant with a great menu, great service and food in a charming restaurant setting.... Perfect

Wanted to say thank you for such a beautiful lunch meal on Monday. Myself and my grandparents had a lovely lunch. The menu is plentiful with so many delicious options. We never felt rushed or hurried. Huge lovers of the Magpie and we will be back

Heard and saw recommendations and had to try it when we came to Whitby and we loved it! We had the fish & chips, a side of scampi and curry sauce for takeaway sat in the harbour - delicious!