The Watch House

The best fish and chips I EVER ate! The staff is lovely, the location and views are perfect, we had a lovely lunch and lovely time with my friends. Thank you!

Lovely staff and every dish was perfect! So glad we popped in during our visit to St Mawes

We decided to risk this place having read the reviews. The fish was OK but the chips were not good unfortunately. Very thick and dry. Other reviews have said they are oven chips which are fried. Not sure if this is the case, but it was similar. Expectation of a fish and chip shop on a beautiful Cornwall harbour front was not met unfortunately and really should be better. Especially given the price of £28 for two regular fish and chips and one drink. Disappointing.

THE FISH IS UNKNOWN ITS FROZEN , the take away area is dirty, rubbish bins needs cleaning, the food counter bits of food everywhere. This place should be high end and yet this business is taking the biscuit of out customers. The glass cabinet where fish drains the oil needs a total deep clean. So today I have reported this place to food hygiene and photos had been taken to prove the condition of this outlet.the fish is taste less….Just checked and food hygiene rating and it’s 2 TWO IMPOVEMENTS REQUIRED and it was on the 12th of April 2024 and clearly haven’t bothered to do anything.Locals are being taken for fools, food hygiene inspection on the 1st October it’s now ONE, So you would have thought the owner would have taken notice? SHOW me the money that’s WHAT the owners are concerned about. October 2024 had a visit from food hygiene and still rating 1.....

Beautiful chunky chips, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, amongst the best that I've had. Came for large but walked away with a standard portion. £5.90 is overpriced for a large. Hence 4 stars overall.

Popped in yesterday for a 'quick' portion of chips. Wow, what a wait. There was nobody in line so ordered and paid straight away. He then told me (after I paid) that there would be a 10 minute wait. I waited 20 mins. Surely they should have chips on the go in the fryer all the time given its a FISH AND CHIP shop! By the time I got my chips, there was a huge line up of people with nobody taking orders, as the same guy was cooking. Some people just gave up. After all that the chips were greasy and soggy so I threw most of them away. Won't be going back.

Visited here today for lunch. Admittedly it was low season and not overly busy we still received a warm and friendly welcome from Natasha. Her attention throughout our meal was delightful. The food was fantastic,in particular the amazing cod curry. The oysters and prawns were incredibly fresh. I would definitely return here again. The bonus was our ferry ride from Falmouth meaning we didn't need to drive and could enjoy a bottle of wine too.

Best Chips I've ever had with a rating below 4. What I got was crunchy cooked chips to perfection, apart from the odd chip, which is what we all desire. If you want crunchy chips then come here. If you want soggy to soft chips like most chippies & don't want the risk of overcooked chips then go elsewhere. However I will point out that although cooked to perfection I ordered them plain, and they did taste bland so I had to add salt and vinegar to it to bring out the taste. I will also add these tasted exactly the same as the 3rd best chippy in Devon that I visited in March. Contrary to bad reviews which I ignored , I clearly went on a day when the expert was working (Thursday around 6pm) Price & Size: When they come in boxes you will always know they are going to be more expensive and smaller portions compared to the chippies that sell them in paper, which is usually not at the seaside. With its poor rating that maybe the place needs a new management structure as the standards here seem to be inconsistent. On my next visit here i will be asking bystanders how the chips taste if this place continues to get negative reviews. The choice is yours.

Excellent, gourmet level food in a humble dining room with 4 booths and just 14 other chairs, staffed by friendly, helpful servers. Note, the name has changed since the previous review written in 2010. The 'Old' has been deleted. The restaurant is now The Watch House. Google map the location. The address says Truro but the actual tiny seaside village is St. Maws. Use the public parking just to the right of building. The car park sign is obvious. 75 parking spots available. Then walk 200 yards to the eatery. My meal: delicious sweet potato purée. Slightly spicy with chili oil. Liquified with coconut milk. Croutons in a side cup to top onto the soup. Fish was whole sautéed plaice in clarified butter topped samphire & capers. Adequate cup of chips on the side. Fried correctly and delicious. Wife's meal: roasted tiger prawns, spicy exterior, juicy meat. I was a little surprised that the portion of 6 shrimp was considered a meal, as my plaice dish was comparatively huge. Also, shrimp came with no sides. So for £20 This dish is overpriced. But Barbara was satisfied. She ordered an extra side salad for £4. It was sparkling fresh. Small selection of locally made beers (by the bootle, no,casks), wines and a few cocktails on the menu. I had an ale made in neighboring Penryn, it was satisfying. Barbara had a glass of South African Pinot noir. It was passable at best. (I'm a wine snob from Northern California) Verdict: good food, excellent service, not cheap. Meal described above price was £55. You can eat more economically. Fish and chips will set you back £14.

Two stars for the friendly staff, but that's it. A disappointing lunch in a sticky pub. Don't mind cheap food for cheap prices, but this wasn't cheap. There are much better lunch venues in St Mawes.