Anstruther Fish Bar

We’ve been coming up to Anstruther for years in the camper, and more often than not we’d find ourselves in the queue outside the famous Fish Bar. Years ago, the wait always felt worth it—the fish was generous, fresh, and paired perfectly with their always-delicious chips. Sadly, this visit left us underwhelmed. The chips are still very nice, no complaints there, but the fish itself was a real letdown. The portion was so small it felt like there was more batter than actual fish inside. Granted, the batter was tasty, but when the fish is meant to be the star of the show, it just didn’t live up to what it once was. The service also seems to have slipped a notch. Not terrible, but definitely not what it used to be when things ran like clockwork. All in all, it just didn’t have the same sparkle that made it worth queueing for in the past. Next year, we’ll probably give somewhere else a try. Still good chips, but sadly the Fish Bar has lost a bit of the magic it used to have.

You know you're in for a treat when you see the queue stretching down the harbor—and it's worth every second of the wait! The Anstruther Fish Bar is simply a Scottish institution for a reason. The fish is incredibly fresh, with a light and crispy batter that's cooked to golden perfection. The chips are thick, fluffy, and just begging for a generous splash of salt and vinegar. Enjoying your meal from the paper on a bench by the water, watching the fishing boats come in, is a quintessential coastal experience. The service is fast and friendly, even with the crowds, and the quality is consistently top-notch. It's more than just a chippy; it's a delicious, memory-making part of any trip to the East Neuk. Don't miss it!

Just go! A friend who used to live in Edinburgh recommended this place for fish and chips. I had the lemon sole and my wife had the traditional haddock. Both were excellent! The lemon sole was a little more flaky but a thinner filet. Both had excellent batter and the fries were great. A very, very good fish and chips!

Great stop. They have an outdoor area on the marina to eat when weather is nice. Ordered to go and went across the street to that area to eat. Ordered the Mackerel. Was a little fishy, but good overall. I cant say for sure, but the fish may have made me pretty sick the next day of our trip. My wife got the fish and chips and really enjoyed it, and was more than fine the next day. Very helpful and friendly staff, and quick service. Wouldn't recommend against this place- a great stop.

Arguably the best fish and chips I've ever had. My partner recommended this place with good reason. There's sometimes a queue to eat in so be prepared. We only waited ten mins for a seat and got the classic haddock and chips each. It was just so well done. Crispy batter and soft fish with decent chips. All sauces including Edinburghs chippy sauce is available which was a bonus. Mushy peas were even decent and I'm not usually a fan. There is a small ice cream and sweets shop attached to the restaurant where you can get desert. I'd recommend it too. We had the chocolate sundae and the banana split. Both were very good. The staff are attentive and work so hard here with a tightly run system alongside a takeaway. The eat in menu seems expensive but any order comes with chips and a hot drink of your choice. The interior does get a bit cramped however. Seats and tables are fixed like an old style restaurant so it's a bit awkward if you're tall or elderly. the toilets also sometimes generate a queue. Beware old people who forget to bolt the door! I'd definitely return here if in the area.

Visited Anstruther Fish Bar and it lived up to the hype. Fresh, flaky haddock with crisp batter, proper chips, and everything served piping hot. Quick service, clean space—solid spot for a classic seaside meal.

Loved the fish and chips at Anstruther Fish Bar! Super tasty and perfectly cooked. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Anstruther. The bar is also located in a very beautiful port area - great spot to grab a bite and enjoy the views! 5/5 stars for the food!

It was OK. I came here a few years back and it was really nice but this time it was not as good. The fish was flat and had a lot of batter. Chips were mediocre. I've tasted better. Brown sauce was watery and did not taste like my local chippy sauce. Bit dissapointing

The fish was simply amazing - a nice crock in every bite. The chips were crumbly on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The service was good, nothing special. Had a duvet rope vibe. But the food was awesome.

The best fish and chips I've ever had. Batter that didn't feel heavy; deliciously flaky fish. Huge portion.

Ok so this place has a line and it's a long one most times. We got lucky and it took 10 min. There's a line/que to get a table or order to go same line then splits closer to front. We ordered fish and chips, motz sticks, shrimp salad, pickled mussles and curry (forgot the name) The curry, not for us. Everything else yes! lol But peruse through the menu there's a lot of options and don't miss out on their ice cream sundaes. We should've ordered that first!

Several of our neighbors in Utah (America) recommended this restaurant so we ate here. We had to wait a few minutes for a table then were helped by several servers. My husband loved their fried haddock with homemade tartar sauce and chips; I loved their baked macaroni and cheese. Chips were too many carbs with my meal. We both got hot chocolate which was delicious. They have an ice cream area with dozens of jars of candy to buy. We devoured orange chocolate chip ice cream with a yummy wafer for dessert. We parked across the street for free because it's not the busy tourist season.

Got a sausage supper-very expansive, and the sausages were the size of a spring roll. The chips were full of crunchy over cooked bits. I have no idea why people wait ages in queues to get served at this place and no idea how it won ANY awards. I think it may be living on the reputation of the awards alone, if I could give it a zero star I would. My partner and her family got fish and chips and they were not impressed with their offerings either. None of us will go back there again. Overpriced rubbish, could get a better and cheaper meal out of a hot dog van.

Food was over cooked and over priced. Try The Waterfront down the block. Had the haddock and squid. Crowded in like sardines in a can.

It is famous for a reason! Yum! "Nuff" said! Oh and bring your appetite. Reasonable price for the portion you get!

Unfortunately, not as much to write home about anymore after their good years -- a decade ago -- when they won the laurels it seems they're resting on now. They're not very distinguishable from any other good chippy on the east coast of Scotland. I'm local and now prefer The Wee Chippy up the road, the Crail Fishbar (in Crail and excellent!), or the chip shop in Pittenweem nearby. All less crowded and friendlier too, with a wider selection of food )).

Amazing fish and chips! Did not disappoint! A must have if you're visiting Scotland you have to make a stop here!!

Poor quality fish it was all batter and no fish. This is the second time recently I went. I don't know what has changed. If its owners or source. It is not anywhere near what it was. Avoid and go to the wee chippy or waterfront. The food in this oreviouscawardcwinning restaurant is well below par. Avoid

Nestled in a fishing town, the food, and ambience are hard to beat in Scotland. Cost SUPER high compared to any other chippie.

We drive 30 minutes for the fish and chips here after hearing about all the hoopla. We really lucked out and there was no wait to be seated. Granted we were here in the off season. Everything was very good. Loved that they had indoor seating. For a small fee you could choose homemade tartar sauce instead of bottled. Do it ! It was very good. Also , you got a coffee, tea or cocoa included with your meal . The cocoa was a disappointment. Made with water , it tasted blah. Not worth drinking at all. Overall , we have had equally good fish and chips in St Andrew's and also at a pub in Skye. True , not all fish and chips in Scotland measure up , and these were good but not so uniquely good that you'd need to go out of your way to get here. However if you're in the area - this is a good choice to fill your fish and chip cravings !

Best fish n chips I've had in all of the U.K.! Yea you can go to a fancy shmancy restaurant and order fancy shmancy pale ale battered cod with gourmet chips cut from organic potatoes blah blah, but that is nowhere near as fresh and authentic as Anstruther's fish bar. For the same price that you would get fish n chips from any other little chippy on the side of the road, you get fresh lightly battered deliciousness. Tip: get it to go (take away) and sit across the street on the wooden benches facing the harbor. Can't get any better than that.

Had fish and chips Tuesday night on arrival to Anstruther after a walk to St Monans and back. Quite a lengthy queue as you might expect with COVID restrictions combined with the popularity of the AFB! well worth the wait!

Always a favorite of mine! Been here a hand full of times and the wait is worth it! There's a line for takeout and a line to wait and be seated. It's cozy and the decor makes you know you stepped into the best fish and chips bar in Fife. While waiting they show videos of how they go about their daily preparation. The menu is extensive from pizza, burgers, and the all famous fish bar. Fish is fresh daily and the chips/fries are done to perfection. The waitress was patient and on point. They provide you with bread and butter, 1 1/2 slices of haddock fish covered in their secret batter with chips and a cuppa tea or drink of your choice and all the sauce you could possibly want all for £10.65 if you want take away, the price is £7.95. All in all it was worth the 30+ minute wait.

Ahoy, Me Hearties and Shiver Me Timbers, this is the place to eat Fish n Chips!! Recommended by the patrons at The Station Bar in Fife, so we drove out to Anstruther which was about a 20 min drive. We ordered and brought it back to the Pub and enjoyed it with a pint. The fish of choice was 'haddock' and the breading was light and not greasy at all. Having tried other places in St. Andrews, this by far is the best local spot. Prices definitely match the quality of the plate and if we ever make it back, I'll be right there again standing in line salivating for my food!! Cheers

After a boat ride to the Isle of May, the best thing to eat is this! Ordered takeaway with a coke, and sat by the bay. It was quite warm and sunny, but that didn't last long. The fish was delicious! Still warm after a little while of sitting there, and the salted chips dipped into tartar sauce were so good. I don't know if it's because I had a light breakfast, but man this meal was amazing.

Great smoked haddock! Had great takeout on first day of trip, but then they were closed a couple of days, but thankfully they were open last night of trip, ate inside and everyone enjoyed their meals.

** Gluten Free Fish and Chips ** Every last sunday of the month gluten free is offered and it is quite a varied menu and there did not appear to be any surchage on gluten free compared to the main menu. I have not had a battered sausage in so long so was excited to see smoked sausage on the menu and the guys were happy to batter it for me. It was really tasty. The batter nice and crispy and the chips tasted really fresh. My bf tried the gluten free fish and chips and i couldnt help but sample a wee bite and it was equally as good. We did initially want to sit in but were put off by the queues. Whilst the takeaway queue was just as busy we were happy to take ours away and sit at the harbour as it wasnt too chilly. Definetly worth a visit if looking for gluten free fish and chips and in the area!

Rarely have i tasted fish and chips this good, one exception is a wee place in northern New Zealand, but that's just a bit far too go for a takeaway! The fish is cooked to perfection, the batter is light, drained well so not slimy, crunchy and damn tasty, the chips were fresh from the fryer but also properly drained so as not to create that big lump of fried mess you get so offer elsewhere. With the number of people going through this shop it's always fresh food you're getting as it doesn't hang around for long and the prices are good for what's possibly one of the best fish suppers in Scotland!

If you arrive at this chippy at the right time of day you will actually see the Fishermen sail into the pier, unload their catch and then carry a box of what must be the freshest fish in the world into the shop. How perfect! Not only are the Fish and Chips here phenomenal but the setting is beautiful. On a sunny day there are few things that are much better than grabbing a couple of suppers with your friends and then wandering out to the small beach in Anstruther. Even if it's raining you still get to sit in your car and take in the view of the sea and the boats all around. The fish is fresh, batter crispy, chips fluffy in the middle- yummmm! Oh and you get brown sauce. Brown sauce was something I took for granted when I lived in Scotland, I wasn't even sure if I liked it that much. Now there is a vinegary, brown sauce shaped hole in my life. Just a little on the chips, none on the fish please. I can't wait until my next trip home for a proper chippy like this. I love this place!

I've never had better fish and chips, and I probably never will ever again. If you're in St. Andrews (or even in Edinburgh), it's definitely worth a trip to Anstruther Fish Bar! We came here on a Saturday afternoon as a party of 6. The place is quite busy and small so we had to wait for about 20 minutes, but it was well worth it. The servers were all attentive and donned in cute old-school diner type outfits. All orders of fish come with chips, bread and butter, and a hot drink (what a deal!). I had the battered Lemon Sole, which was perfectly fried yet light. The portions are massive, so you should come hungry!

This place probably came to fame when there was just a very basic understanding of good fish & chips. They celebrate this nostalgia very excessively in this small restaurant and take-away. But honestly: the fish was only mediocre and the chips were a mushy insult. It is edible if you drown everything in ketchup and tartar sauce. But I would not come back.

We arrived in Anstruther during the dinner rush so we waited in line approximately 20 minutes just to order our fish and chips, but it was well worth the wait! I got the fish and chips standard meal with mushy peas. Everything was delicious. The fish was SO very fresh, the chips were perfectly cooked and came with just enough vinegar. The mushy peas were salty and delicious. I wish I could eat here daily, alas I live in California...

Went here yesterday as I was in the area and had heard all the chat about awards and best fish and chip. I do like my fish and chips so it was time to get this done. Most places around this neck of the woods claim to have the best etc....this place had won awards many times though, and they showcase it. On the walls outside and in, on the staff uniforms too. Place was kind of busy. A maze like queue of such I have not seen in any chippy I have visited, then again most of those don't win awards. Seemed pointless taking orders as everyone was here for the fish and chips. Took a while to get to the front and the place was quite toasty. Once at the front we were given our meal £5+ not bad for a prestigious place. Salt and vinegar plastered on there, some tommy sauce and a wee can of bru. Superb. We chose to take our meal outside to sit across the road with the stunning views of the harbour and all its boats/yachts. Take out was cheaper by somewhere near £2. Easy decision for me, plus I didn't want to sit in that furnace. Cold blooded me. The food was good you could tell it was fresh. The staff were efficient and orderly, not much chat but they were busy. Also the price was good considering. Usually expect a price hike when I travel about Scotland. Good place, definitely take a stroll in if you are around the area. I recommend it!

We were sent here by a local and on a whim we decided to make a trip to the cute fishing village of Anstruther for fish and chips. While this isn't an all day excursion there are plenty of other villages to explore as well. OK, back to the fish and chips. They claim to be the best fish and chips in Scotland and from what I can tell that is an accurate title. The fish was perfectly fried, not greasy and tasted super fresh. My only complaint - they don't make their own tartar sauce. That seemed super weird, but I got over it. This is for sure worth a try!

Had a nice meal service was good Place is very clean fish was fresh I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a good fish and chips

This place is brilliant. We attended on a rainy day so no queue thankfully but can see why this place may be queued out the door in the summer. I had Prawns in batter with chips. Basically Scampi. The guy battered the prawns in front of me and deep fried them. That's how fresh they were. The batter was light as a feather, good portion size as well. Chips were so good. Will deffo return here in the summer. Worth the wee 2 hour drive up the road.

Rather expensive for what you get. I didn't feel it was of value and otherwise it was just alright. This place received an award and it seems they're just resting on their laurels.

We like this place. Of course the seafood is delicious but on another count, you have to admire the management of this business. All of the employees seemed to to be on top of their game, as I watched them scurry around to clean tables, smilingly take orders, serve food and drink, etc. Young people all, they have been well trained. Business schools and other business people could learn a lot from this business. As mentioned, there is an energy about the people. Management has spent time on communication pieces from the menu to visuals. Attention seems to be paid to food being very fresh. As a businessman myself, I know how hard it is to run a business. You cannot be good at one thing. You must have a variety of talents. The success of the Anstruther Fish Bar proves this.

The best fish and chips I've EVER had. Seriously mouth-watering with the perfect amount of crunch. So full of flavour and an unbeatable price. Had the Mac and cheese as a side as well and it was amazing. Would eat here again for sure.

I can't understand the hype of this place, but maybe I am spoiled by American food. We made a trip with the family out here from Edinburgh which was a good 2 hours with traffic. On arriving, there was a wait line. I understand the nostalgia of having a long line outside a place that can only support a dozen or so tables at any given time, but they have multipe Best Rrstautant awards since 2004. How do I know? There are stickers all over their windows. In 12 years, if you would rather still have people stand out in the miserable cold waiting... well that is just unfavorable behavior in me opinion. We got there after 8 pm and probably didn't sit until a little after 9pm. Once we were seated, a grumpy older man greeted us but wasn't going to take our drink order until everyone at our table was ready. Having had fish and chips in Edinburgh, I wasn't thrilled with the fried haddock or the grilled sole. The meal does come with a piece of white toast, chips and a hot drink (tea, coffee or cappaccino) for under 10 pounds. The fried calamari was nothing to write home about. Most fish items were not even available like Hake or halibut or mackerel that you could get grilled. The biggest advantange of thos place is tgat all fish was caught that day. I would recommend the curry sauce for the chips though for 1.20 There is a Gelato stand in this restaurant which was a nice treat after the grease ingulence.

We were in the next town over , 3 miles away , and a local highly recommended this place . Now I know why. This is an award winning fish and chips place, and it did NOT disappoint ! We went on an off hour, and still had to wait in line .i would highly recommend having your fish and chips here. But if you go during regular lunch or dinner hours , be prepared to wait in line for quite some time . Omg the sides are killer as well , but skip the onion rings . Everything else was top notch !

Absolutely brilliant, we call in every weekend we get chance to traveling from south Lanarkshire to Ellie beach, great staff lovely clean area and decent prices

Visited after hearing such marvellous reviews. It was the worst fish and chips weve ever had. The fish was dry and the chips even dryer. The only good thing was the peas. We had fish and chips a few night before from the Wee Chippy and they were far superior. Would definitely not resist when we return to Andtruther

Fish n Chips... It doesn't get more British than this. Fish n Chips was the UK national dish until Chicken Tikka Masala recently swiped the crown. Even still, 276 million fish suppers were eaten last year in the UK. Thats alot of fish... This plaice (sorry - couldn't resist the bad pun) is awesome! They literally do serve the best fish n chips in the whole of Scotland. They're famous and rightly so. There's always long queues and people come here from miles around to taste the deliciously fresh, locally caught fish. According to the news today, the Anstruther Fish Bar has just been named "Best Fish n Chip Shop in Britain". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7844047.stm http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/23/uk.fishandchips/index.html?eref=rss_latest *Congrats*

BEST CHIPPIE IN THE UK.... NO BEST CHIPPIE IN THE WORLD!!!! Took my parents here and they loved it too. The fish is fresh and the batter is AMAZING. The only thing that I would critique is that the chips could be a bit better... and that I thought that the brown sauce was a bit below my expectations but besides that it was amazing. I think that its must easier to critique this chippie though just because it SOOO outshines the rest. Love it. Loves Loves loves. BUT A WORD TO THE WISE: ONLY ORDER THE FISH AND CHIPS... ORDERING ANYTHING ELSE FROM THIS PLACE WOULD BE SACRILEGIOUS!!!

THE best fish and chips in the whole of the United Kingdom, without a shadow of a doubt. Fresh, succulent fish enveloped in light, crispy batter, with humongous, fluffy chips....NOM!!! Best served with a pickled onion and can or coke/irn bru, sat out on the harbour :) Usually you get a fish and a half so save your appetite!! Also good for sitting in, they do tea special with juice and bread with your supper. Expect mega long queues, but well worth the wait.

We were told the Anstruther Fish Bar had won a prize. We took some fish and chips to take away and it was delicious. The food was cooked as we waited and the staff was very nice. Enjoy

4 stars due to harbour location, it would be 3 without this picturesque vista. They don't fry in dripping which is the only thing holding them back I think. Otherwise the fish tea is a great deal. Slice of nice white bread and some mushy peas on the side and you have a winner. Chips are decent. Worth going to tick a box but there are better and I think it is slightly over hyped. Saying that though after a nice walk along the Fife trail you will be gagging for this, pray for a nice day and go sit quayside.

This place brings back memories of playing under 13 football in the East Neuk o Fife. Great Fife fayre and very much worth a visit. Fife is the place to be. If this place is good enough for Tom Hanks, it's good enough for a'bdy else. As I'm a Fifer I can say this - the portions should be bigger - but then again maybe I've been stateside for too long.

Cleanest, freshest fish and chips I have ever been fortunate enough to taste. EVER. Rented a car and drove here for the day because numerous locals mentioned the place. It was so worth the drive. The restaurant is small and they do a brisk take away business. Restaurant stays full but moves people quickly. Staff is very good about keeping the place clean and tidy. Saw the Manager sweeping beneath chairs and cleaning tables to help out. The restaurant is all about the fish. You see a whiteboard at the front of the restaurant that tells you the name of the boat that the fish was brought in on for the day. So incredibly good. Cannot find the words to explain how delicious that quick little meal of fish and chips was. Everyone should try this restaurant. The town is beautiful but I would drive just about anywhere for fish and chips that good.

Location - beautifully set on the docks and overlooks the water. Nice scenery and a great little town. Price - about average for a fish and chips shop. Food - best fish and chips you can find and that I've tasted. Full of flavor fish with great tasting chips. I've been here plenty of times and always fill up cars to carpool and eat here. Never have heard of a problem or dislike of the food here at all. Service/Atmosphere - waiting times can vary significantly but I've only had to wait as long as 20 minutes. Always a line for food. Staff seem to be a bit grumpy when serving but food is made quickly and correctly which is the main thing. In my honest opinion, this fish bar lives up to it's reputation and certainly worth a visit if you love fish and chips!

Whilst driving around this part of Scotland we decided to stop in and try their award winning fish & chips. The line to sit in the restaurant was very long and so we decided to just take out our food. You kind of have to cut across the folks waiting to sit down and they get a bit grumpy until they realize you are going for take out. We both had haddock and chips and a curry sauce. The portions were very generous and affordable - if you are not super hungry you potentially could share a single order. The fish was crispy and the chips very good, but I was blown away by the curry sauce, it was absolutely the best I have ever had at a chippy - it made me force down way more chips than I wanted. Eating the food across the street looking at the North Sea was way quicker and more fun the lining up in the restaurant.

Went here on Sunday as was in the area. First thing I noticed was a very small queue which was a result after reading previous reviews. There were 7 of us but got a table in 5mins. The menu was full of standard chip shop fare. But it was all cooked very well and not too greasy. I had the batterered pitenweem prawns which were lovely and crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Others had the lemon sole which led them to ask why fish always tastes better by the sea! The batter was also scrumptious. Everyone else had the haddock, either breaded or battered. Big chunky bits of flaky, tasty fish. The portions did not look too big but we were full stuffed by the end of it. One of the most amazing things was that with every meal, you also get a FREE hot drink and bread and butter with every meal!! What more can I say!

I do not like fish, and have never had fish and chips. The thought of eating fish actually makes me nauseous sometimes. Same with my mom. She read that Anstruther had the best fish and chips so we decided to try it. The first thing you will see is the long line. That's for take out: order at the counter, get your food and be on your way. If you want to eat in, you don't wait in the line, just make your presence known to the hostess. Mom and Dad got the fish and chips and I got the battered sausage. My dad is always trying to force feed me fish because he knows my irrational hatred of it. Mom and dad shared their fish with me, and it was amazing. Not just edible, it was good. And this is coming from someone that usually gets nauseous thinking about eating fish. I almost wanted more. With the lemon, vinegar and tartar sauce I probably could have eaten a full helping and enjoyed it. It's a little weird that they do not make their own tartar sauce though. The battered sausage was good, but not what I was expecting, so I won't say anything negative. I was expecting something similar to an Italian or breakfast sausage (beef or pork) from the US, wrapped in a batter. The sausage was actually very smooth pork sausage with no fat or grittiness. This is great, it just lacked the flavor I was wrongly expecting. It was still pretty good, so if you know what Scottish sausage is, then you'll probably like it. I still ate all of it. I finished off with some ice cream from the counter by the exit. Scottish ice cream (or maybe it's just non-American ice cream) is so much better and more satisfying than ice cream in the US. Even though the fish and chips at Anstruther was very good, I still think I will be avoiding fish ;-) because now I am spoiled.

I remember hearing of Anstruther Fish Bar's reputation from a very young age. It has always been the place to go in Fife for the best fish and chips and so, when my parents moved to Anstruther about a year ago, I must say I was rather delighted. The thing is, unfortunately, though the fish shop is good, it's really nothing particularly more special than anywhere else I've eaten. The fish is fresh and the chips cooked well enough, but then on the east coast of Fife it's not that hard to find great fish! The place is always rammed and queued out the door which, though living up to it's reputation of great popularity, can be a bit frustrating when you're starving and want a quick tasty meal. The one thing I do love about this place though, is it's charm. It's very much part of the quaint seaside town and the staff are all dressed the part, with big smiles on their faces too. It's the perfect spot to take an out-of-towner - Americans seem to love this place as it really does epitomise the great, Scottish seaside town. I also have a little soft spot for this place because, after dropping my card into a lucky draw a little while ago, I won £10 worth of fish and chips! £10 doesn't get you massively far in here, but it sure was a lovely gesture and made my day! In terms of their menu, they serve everything you'd expect, plus haggis and they also have an ice cream counter and sweet shop at the bottom of the store, in case you're feeling extra naughty! :P If you've never been - go! It's a fun experience and I'm certain you'll enjoy your meal. For tourists, this place is perfect, but as your local, if you're not a fan of waiting for your food, maybe this isn't the spot for you!

For those that have read any of my other reviews, you'll know by now that I love seafood. I could have it 7 times a week, 365. So with this in mind, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers in the street have given me tips on the best fishmongers, the best seafood restaurants...and the best chippies. Now as far as chippies are concerned, I bellow at the top of my voice that you have to go a long way to beat The Tail End...and now I know that "a long way" equals Anstruther in Fife. To be specific, Anstruther Fish Bar. Each time I've visited I've needed to wait patiently in a sizeable queue, often flowing out the door and down the street in a scene that must resemble Soviet Russians queueing for toilet paper...but I'll tell you this, the wait is worth it!

Probably a 3.5 star review but I always round up so a 4 it is. Busy, busy place. Famous for fresh fish so the queue on a Sunday at 4.30 was out of the door. there is a little sit in area (Yep, queue for that too but the queue moves faster!). Despite it's fame, it is actually pretty reasonably priced and I expected it to be more expensive. £5ish for a fish supper and £7 for a crab supper. They do gluten free days but it doesn't look like this has happened for awhile according to their twitter feed. Lots of varieties of fish are available and this includes sustainable varieties too. Venison burgers from a local farm are all provided and fish is usually locally caught and landed further down the coast, if not at Anstruther. It is busy - 1 hour wait at peak times. The place is clean though and even in the eating area, staff take care to clean not only tables but also floors to get rid of debris between customers. Price between sit in and take out is £2.35 but the £2.35 includes a hot drink and bread and butter. Crab is divine. Locally caught and dressed but no breadcrumbs or egg - just pure white and brown meat presented in a crab shell. Lots of it too! It comes in a plastic tub with lots of salad, cheese and coleslaw but to be honest, once I had the crab and chips, I was done. The chips were lovely - warm and perfectly cooked. A bonus of the place being so busy that chips aren't sitting for any length of time. Server got my 'tons of salt and vinegar' request spot on :-) (If you are waiting for take away then one of the staff will come and take your order whilst you are in the queue and then by the time you are at the till, your order is ready.) So, it is busy but the crab being gluten free and those fab chips will no doubt lure me back again. Maybe at a time when it'll be less busy though...