Magpie Cafe in Scarborough

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

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

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 and maybe a little grumpy. She asked another staff member to show ist to a table which she did and left menus on the table. Another staff member came along and took our order and was efficient and friendly, she also asked about anyone having any food allergies which we found helpful. The food arrived fairly quickly - small sized fish & chips with side dish of mushy peas. We had the small size as we weren't particularly hungry just peckish. Everything was nice and hot which is always good. The fish looked good with nice coloured batter and nicely cooked white cod. It tasted ok and wasn't greasy or sloppy like some places when the battery isn't cooked. This was well cooked and crispy batter and I ate it all. It's a 6 ounce piece of cod so not very much but ok if your not too hungry. There was a reasonable amount of chips but unfortunately they were quite pale in colour and had no real taste. The peas were ok and helped to give a bit more taste to the meal. Small cod and chips was £10.95 with peas extra. It was ok, nothing too special. I've been here a few times over odd 30 years but this was the first time for a few years as the last time it was very over crowded and too busy. It was nice this time to find it much quieter - due to the rainy weather and being early evening in the middle of the week out of season. Obviously there's a lot of hype and history about this place and it's ok. It's clean, in a quirky building in a great location but if you don't like steps then try one of the many other fish & chip places nearby like Trenchers near the station or Quayside restaurant a few yards away from Magpie. This isn't a place you can relax in after your food as there seems to be an urgency to turn over the tables as it gets so busy and they want to maximise sales. The bill arrived on our table without us asking for it which is obviously a hint to leave. The staff are ok and appear reasonably friendly but not chatty as efficiency is important and is clearly in their training. It's a well oiled machine with well drilled staff that know their jobs which is great but unfortunately for me the Magpie lacks charm, soul and atmosphere because it got a feeling of a fast food place as everything's been so finely tuned to work with precision. It is what it is, a busy cafe in a busy tourist hot spot with a wide and varied menu on offer.

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.

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.

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 the menu........next trip !!

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.

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 😬😬

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!

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.

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

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 meals on the menu. Everything was very tasty hot and cooked well.

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

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

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 quickly! Good choice on the menu, including a range of vegetarian options - including vegetarian chips, many places only offer them done in beef dripping. Everyone who had fish remarked on how fresh and tasty it was. The homemade tartar sauce is delicious! Reasonably priced.

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 no longer the best in Whitby.

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 is because it still retains the 'cafe' rather than a restaurant, but that in no way makes it feel that you aren't somewhere special. We both had traditional fish and chips and I opted for mushy peas, as well as two drinks, one soft and one alcoholic. It was about a tenner cheaper than a restaurant nearby for more or less the same thing and it was SO SO good. The fish was just beautiful - crispy batter, white and flaky - so fresh and the chips were to die for, not too dry and not greasy. The staff were friendly and attentive and we did not have to wait too long, however it isn't served straight away as they cook everything to order, and there is a sign making any potential impatient customers aware of this - it is worth the wait I can tell you. Can't wait to go back to Whitby to visit this gem of a place again.

Great fish and chips famous location!

Not bad but trenchers is better value and much more comfortable

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

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 said but worth it for such fresh fish.

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. Mushy peas too. Excellent. Jane McDonald approves too.

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

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

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.

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.

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...

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Excellent! Fantastic menu and great service. Highly recommended.

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...

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.

Always excellent food Recommend the kippers and fish pie.

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

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.

Posh fish and chips but fantastic flavour. Staff where fantastic

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.

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. 🙂

Just great , go there and you will see

Always a favourite go to when we visit Whitby

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

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!

Having previously visited the Magpie on a number occasions this time left very underwhelmed, portion sizes were below average and the quality wasn’t we have previously eaten . The haddock seemed watery and tasteless such a shame as we were really looking forward to the...

Best cod and chips we have ever had. Absolutely amazing. Lovely family meal out. Amazing staff and great atmosphere. Can definitely see why this place is so popular. Excellent value for money too. Thank you

Bit of a cold greeting from reception but the food was absolutely first class. What a gifted chef.

Very very poor food and the service wasn’t great.

Stop whatever you are doing right now and go to Whitby to the Magpie Cafe and order Crab salad , then large Cod and Chips . You will thank me for it , you may have to book .

Great helpful staff delicious food and service . Really clean toilets! They accommodated 7 of us with buggy & wheelchair really easy and efficiently and no fuss!

Went on a Thursday night for a family meal when we arrived in Whitby. Few minutes wait for a table but not a problem. Staff were brilliant throughout. Kids had the children's fish and chips which looked and tasted brilliant, portion size was plenty for...

Our order was taken in good time and our meal delivered fresh to our table within 15 minutes. Beautiful mussels for 2 of our table, cod for another two, and haddock for the fifth. The batter was crisp and light, and the chips the best I've had in a long time! I was beaten by the medium portion and even the teenage boys were full!

All 6 of us dined here this week and can honestly say it went beyond my expectations! Fabulous meal, best we have all had in a long time. Everying fresh and tasty and very reasonably priced. We will definitely be back. Our waitress was exceptional.....

We choose to dine here due to the reputation built up over a long period of time. Once you step foot inside it is clear it has a cafe feel to it rather than a restaurant. Cramped seating around shabby old fixtures and fittings. Underneath...

After running the costal path from Robin hood’s bay we enjoyed a large haddock and chips and whitebait to share was exactly what we needed.

Great as always, food was excellent, view amazing.

Beautiful fish and chips,and the sea food medley was excellent 👌

We have visited the Magpie since 2010 and always find the food remarkable. The quality of the food is exceptional for the price, the service is always attentive and efficient and the daily specials and menus are hard to beat anywhere in the UK. Well...

Overpriced for the food. The cod and chips were okay and just like any other fish and chip shop in a seaside town, but was majorly overpriced. A small bottle of coke was £3 and a medium cod was £15, while i understand prices have...

The staff were very friendly nothing was too much trouble for them.. It was quick service, and the cod and chips were lovely . We will definitely go back .

It’s so good in here, I’ve been coming for years, it’s seafood, and ultra fresh. Never had better, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, oysters,lots of fish. It’s all fantastic, fish pie or sharing platter, did I mention the clams? There’s so much fabulously fresh sea food...

Outstanding in all aspects as usual.

Obviously award winning etc but definitely not for me. To be fair, the whitebait starter was nice. But I had cod and chips and it was poor. Not nice cod and made worse with poor batter. Unfortunate given the reputation. There are other great fish and chip places in Whitby so I would suggest trying elsewhere personally.

Excellent cod and chips and scampi

Food was ok but overall experience not as good as i expected.

The best cod and chips we have ever tasted, simply beautiful! Lovely friendly staff, excellent service, would highly recommend.

Deliciously fresh cod with chips and Magpie's pickled egg! Excellent service with a smile on a drizzly day. Good choice of wine by the glass carafe or bottle.

Brilliant as ever, the loose leaf tea is "the best" and amazing fish n chips and fish cakes.

Absolutely love this place food is amazing

Wonderful service, explained in detail the menu and asked every diner if they had any allergies. The food was excellent, hot and tasty, and again the server asked if everything was OK. Would highly recommend.

Excellent service, food good, just smaller chip portions

Just about the best fish & chips I've tasted, so lovely, would recommend to anyone. Just one thing, you have to queue to get in as I don't believe you can book. Having said all this I've been twice and never waiting longer than 5-10...

Brilliant fish and chips. Great little restaurant. Views across the harbour to the Abbey and church. Bit pricey, I felt but the portions were massive. Maybe stick to one course.

No questions about this place winning; definitely worthy the awards they keep receiving… Probably one of the Best cod, chips, mushy peas in North Yorkshire. The batter was light and flavourful, chips were beautifully cooked/fried (crispy edges), mushy peas were tasty as well! I tried grilled plaice and it was cooked to perfection, buttery fish and delicious with a fresh salad to go with it. Very good ambience, excellent service even when we entered during closing time. Impeccable! Location is also very convenient… Returned to the place and I tried Lemon sole and will return again for the crab dishes, scampi and seafood chowder. Seafood heaven for a seafood lover.. True to word, “always fresh, never frozen” Returned a third time for crab bisque and crab&chips… AAAmazing! 🦀 Back again for grilled halibut and seafood pot… FRESH and BEST! Couldn’t be any better… And again for grilled cod and hake with crispy fried whitebait, prawns in butter-garlic sauce And another visit for lobster and grilled herbed hailbut A BIG thank you to the whole team @Magpie for the fresh catch, delicious meals and wonderful service.

Probably would have been better to take the food from "take away" downstairs. Coffee was very bad, mixed order....but the lady that served us was very nice and helpful.