Riley's Fish Shack in North Tyneside

Love this quirky little fish restaurant!

Beautiful food, gorgeous setting. Definitely recommend.

Such an awful service. After waiting for 40 minutes, the food never arrived. When we asked, they said it's a mistake and we have to wait for another 30 minutes. The girl on the cashier has been rude, so as the guy with a big beard. I would advise anyone to avoid. They have got only the location I think...

Always amazing food and drinks from here and from Sept to May you can sit on the beach with your dog too, making this a wonderful place to visit. They have a small bit of seating by the the shack itself, as well as some more on the beach when the weather allows.

First visit and it did not disappoint. Staff were really friendly, food amazing and the best view to top it all off. Will definitely be back!

I've lived here for 2 years and finally made the trip to Riley's. It might just be the best meal I've ever had, oysters, crab Souffle, lemon sole, Dover Sole, skate wing, halibut rillete and Monkfish were all absolutely incredible! Not a single plate that wasn't brilliant. The indoor fires we're a lovely touch, the only (very minor) adjustment I would make is proper cutlery for those eating indoors. 10/10

We visited here after wanting to go for quite a while, and it did not disappoint. The weather was unseasonably warm for March and so the restaurant was busy which added great atmosphere. The food was amazing, we had Lindisfarne oysters to start followed by escabeche of red mullet and John Dory with crispy garlic and anchovy vinaigrette. The John Dory was amazing. All accompanied by a bottle of picpoul. We booked a table inside in advance as we were travelling specifically for the night with our two dogs.

Lovely food with a great view! Delicious oysters 😋🦪

A very. different fish dining venue in a shipping container on shoreline As there were 4 of us we got a table inside with coke burning wall fire. Outside seating and fire pits on beach for the hardy. Great fish. A good many steps to get to the venue and of course a climb up after eating. Can not just order a drink. Must eat something, even if only a small dish. Fish food of good quality and very reasonably priced. Worth a visit especially in a warm sunny evening.

paid £50 for two meals that we had to eat with a wooden fork and out of cardboard dishes, a pint in a plastic cup and a can of water, had to sit on dirty deck chairs on the beach in the freezing cold and wind because we didn't reserve a table although the restaurant was dead the whole time we were there, the staff member who was taking our order was so so rude and acted like we were bothering her for wanting a bit of lunch, we weren't told we could bring blankets from the shack down to the beach so i walked back up and grabbed them, food was okay but disappointing for that price, should've stole the blankets as they were by far the only good thing about this establishment but we felt so nauseous and ill after the meal we couldn't have made it up the steps quickly enough without being done for theft, but i feel like it would've evened out the playing field as £50 for essentially a takeaway is madness and not worth it, please don't come here you will be sorely disappointed.

Absolutely delicious... The food, the view... And that cheesecake was the best I've ever had.

Fantastic place to eat! Delicious food and generous portions with a great view too, the price is fair for the experience you get and the quality of the fish they have. Will be going back

I had vouchers to spend and we booked brunch for 10am on a Friday. A beautiful sunny day and what a place to enjoy it in. The steak breakfast was spot on. We had our pup with us and were given water for him as soon as we arrived. Pup was excited but well behaved and was treated so kindly by the team. We had a leisurely brunch in between dog walks on the sand and honestly could have stayed all morning. I have read some reviews with negative feedback on service however I couldn’t fault the 2 guys we spoke to. They were welcoming and friendly.

Can't get enough of this place and food

Amazing place. Despite 4 degrees celsius, Rain and wind the shack was operational and full of people. The food Is great the atmosphere way Better. We even saw some brave women plunging into the waves below (It was the beginning of february). All in all a great experience. I'll definitely be back. By the way , make sure to reserve, it's very popular and deservedly so

Riley’s Fish Shack is a popular restaurant located on King Edward’s Bay beach in Tynemouth, known for its fresh fish and seafood dishes. The menu changes frequently, reflecting the availability of local fish and a commitment to sustainability. Customers praise dishes such as crispy calamari with aioli and sea bream served with leeks and hazelnuts, highlighting the freshness and simple preparation that allows the ingredients to shine. The complimentary focaccia bread is also appreciated for its soft texture and crispy crust. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are considered reasonable, considering the quality and freshness of the dishes on offer.  

Great place on the beach. Good food and atmosphere.

Brunch basically on the beach! 🫶🏻 Food was phenomenal 👌🏻

Absolutely fantastic seafood in a picturesque setting. Accommodating staff as we rocked up without a reservation.

My favourite place 👍 friendliest staff Beautiful chilled out place A hidden Rolls Royce of a place !

Cracking location and nice atmosphere. The grumpy ginger haired girl obviously didn't want to work - wasn’t welcoming in the slightest. Could barely crack a hello or a smile or a polite conversation of any sort. Seems pretty standard of the entitled youngsters working these days.

Visited for an early lunch on a cold sunny day. Service was good, but I can imagine when it’s busy it may be stretched. The Food was really exceptional. I really love the flavour combinations here and the quality of the ingredients is really very high. This place may not be absolutely perfect but it’s genuinely special and the food is truly unique. I really enjoyed my visit and booked a table during quieter time. My Onglet steak wrap was cooked perfectly and the portion was very generous. I’ve never really had anything like it before. I think overall this is one of the best places you can eat in the whole of the UK if you really want to enjoy the food and location.

I would say it is a bit expensive, for what it is, but the location and the view made up for it.

Fantastic fish cookery in an amazing location, with knowledgeable, engaging service. These guys worked their asses off all day and made the almost impossible look easy. Loved it.

It’s not open at all - wasted trip. They need to update their opening times. When someone is this rude in their reply it tells you all you need to know about this place and how it views their customers.

This used to be an amazing place. Sadly, every visit in the last year has left me disappointed; service today was absolutely appalling. The woman who served us was beyond rude, stand-offish and condescending. Treated every customer we saw arrive as if they were an inconvenience. Such a shame.

An absolute delight.. the place, the food... sea!!

Absolutely nailed it - food is incredible, service next level and location is fantastic. In many ways I don’t want to review this place so well as it will become too popular.

The food is not too bad but the poor service ruined my lunch time with my friends.

Always love my kippers from this palace after one sea dip the stafff are wicked alway happy especially chefs Oi Oi

Bit dark but that added to the experience

Good food but very expensive and £15 per person to have heat at a table which is effectively outdoors is outrageous. To confirm there was no heating where we sat just an empty fire. So not false information thanks for your input.

Great little find on the beach, wouldhighly recommend

Stunning location and lots of blankets and heated lamps over the balcony seating to keep warm. The best fish bouillabaisse! The monkfish was gorgeous and my son loved the oysters! The waitress who served us was lovely, however, there was an extended wait before we could even order our food after being seated. Well worth the money. Definitely recommend.

This was the worst service I have ever l received and believe it was intentional. 4 tables who all arrived after us and ordered b after us were served there food before us. POC please don’t waste your money here as I believe this was racially motivated. The place was absolutely freezing , service beyond poor and when I reached out to the restaurant to share my many concerns I was ignored. Don’t waste your money or time as the food was not worth it. There are many other restaurants near by.

Booked for midday, run out of kedgeree (easy to eat from a box with disposable forks on the balcony). Had smoked haddock pollenta (delicious & generous portion size) craster kipper wrap (kipper delicious, wrap on the side) and the only non fish option empanata (delicious).no steak option. Potatoes would have been superb but very salty, side dishes ordered but main course comes with sides (server should maybe tell you that?) sides were salty but tasty (delicious breadstick, tasty salad, salty potatoes & alioli). 4 people, £107, tasty, different, interesting location, dog friendly, difficult to eat comfortably (hence kedgeree selling out?), memorable, glad we visited, staff friendlyish. Cant honestly say kid friendly, but not not kid friendly, just nothing. Great music, quirky, different.

Probs best meal of my life:) I feel like I didn’t know how perfectly fish could be cooked until I ate here. Everything tastes completely perfect, in a gorgeous setting. Eat here!!!!

Absolutely amazing fish and seafood. Always pay a visit when I'm in the North East

Simply WOW! Kiosk on the beach with open kitchen of fresh fish. Varied and dynamic menu, based on availability of the day/season. Spectacular scenery, worth trying!

Amazing location and surprisingly amazing good quality fresh food! I totally recommend!

The Steak Bavette is absolutely the best, a cheeky day off away from work with the wife, it was about 2 degrees on the balcony but that didn't take away from the beautiful food👍

Excellent food and super friendly staff. We came on a weekday evening but still booked in advance. Would recommend plenty of the plates to share. Great atmosphere with quick service.

Great location food atmosphere staff bang on if in area a must

I frequented here for for over 5 years living as a local resident of Tynemouth. Riley’s Fish shack was quaint and kind with good quality food. Nowadays however the service and hospitality has degraded to very poor state. The head of staff is particularly unwelcoming and hostile. Food is still good but the service will leave a bad after taste.

One of best restaurants I have visited in the UK. Location - incredible. Situated on the beach at Tynemouth near Newcastle - a stunning seaside town. Parking accessible on the main street above pay and display. Down some stairs to the beach. Beautiful views out to sea. Service was excellent. The restaurant is a beach style cabin with log burners. Some of the cooking is done by wood powered stoves. Fish is fresh everyday and is simply exceptional. Oysters were out of this world. The sides also deserve mention - creative combinations and utterly delicious. They serve alcohol too. This is a place for seafood lovers more than anything. Thank you for an incredible lunch.

It’s almost like not the same place as pics. The service is outrageous, day and night staff are rude and horrible, unwilling to assist. They suggest customers to sit on beach for food but doesn’t provide tables?! Overpriced, mediocre food and drinks served on paper plates and wooden cutlery! It also says dog friendly but staff doesn’t seem the like them…£15 for a fire pit which is paid in advance but they forget to bring

Truly amazing food, fantastic service and a great atmospheric location. What more can you ask for? Can't wait to come back

Great food but they need to sort out the queue and wait times

Haddock very salty and greasy and small. Pricy. Booking system not good as left message but no one rang back!

Fabulous breakfast on a bracing Sunday morning. Well worth a visit - even in bad weather. The kippers were absolutely delicious.

Incredible place. The food was out of this world. Flavours that really paired well with the fish. We went for the Creole chef collaboration.

Wow. Never disappoints, just nipped down for a very swift lunch in time for the Decatur X Riley’s guest spot and good lord! Had the n’duja devilled scallops, bacon cured pork chop and clams, crab, andouille and langoustine wood fired jambalaya and a bunch of sides. Unreal. Sunshine, Two by Two beer and a beautiful beach view from a deckchair. Thanks again, always a pleasure.

Excellent place good atmosphere nice food, fire 🔥 pit nice chill night

Simply superb service from the chefs to the waiters - witty, smiling - and the fish soup and baguette out of this world

Fantastic food. Excellent, picturesque location. Helpful, friendly staff. Highly recommended

I had a terrible experience at Riley’s Fish Shack due to an aggressive waiter, Richard, who repeatedly demanded my son and I move our chairs over while we were eating our meal to accommodate a couple having drinks, despite us already moving three times to the point we barely had room to eat. The starters arrived with the main course, and when I queried this given the limited space, Richard abruptly stated, "That’s how the food comes here." Richard’s rude attitude, combined with the lack of space to enjoy our £100 meal, made the entire experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. As a local and regular, I am shocked by such disgraceful service—this was by far the worst waiter service I’ve ever encountered.

The potatoes were stand out in an altogether brilliant meal.

Didn't eat but food looked lovely had drinks only 😋 view very nice need to book if you want to eat under cover

Superb view, great staff and terrific food. What else do you need to know to pay a visit to this shack if you're in Newcastle area?!?

Great place in Tynemouth beach booking is a must if on Saturday and Sunday, fish is excellent must try if you are in the area Oysters are amazing

Had a lovely meal there the staff were lovely,can not fault it

Probably a little disappointed as evening menu had been very limited compared with other visits, they also ran out of a few alcohol options, food was still very well prepared and tasty, but atmosphere was great and service was good, hope to be bk for a better experience next time,

Had a fabulous time celebrating a birthday, food was fantastic, staff very attentive, value for money, highly recommended.

Fab little shed on beach, fresh seafood

Great little beach side restaurant. Shame you can't order good weather as it would be the cherry on the cake.

Great setting, food overpriced and unfortunately service over the last year has deteriorated significantly. E.g they won't give any take out good, only if u have a reservation. Almost escorted off the walkway before even getting to ask a question! Not just me saying this either, lots of others coming to same conclusion. Seems they are just interested in the cash, not the locals who got them to where they are now.

Really liked the food here, went with family. My only criticism was that if you go with kids and they are a bit picky then you may struggle with the menu as there isn't a child friendly option. BUT saying that the food was excellent I highly recommend the fish cake which was delicious!! Friendly staff and I would definitely go back.

The culinary preparation was executed flawlessly, resulting in a highly palatable experience.

What a gem! Had an amazing time, the vibe was so chill. Food was delicious. Probably the best place I've eaten at in the UK because everything the atmosphere, the view, the food was 10/10. The harissa skate was divine as were the potatoes. First time trying oysters 😋 loved them!

Incredible food, views and people - can’t recommend enough. Proposed to my fiancé here just under a year ago - amazing communication and forward planning with the restaurant. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Best seafood ever, amazing dishes. Would be a weekly visit if I lived here. Stunning views. Friendly atmosphere.

We had tea on the deck chairs on the beach. The food and view were great. Service was friendly and efficient. Pre arrival I was a little worried about the temperature as we had booked for 8pm and how we were going to eat on deck chairs but the weather was really kind and I didn't actually use my jacket. The deck chairs were quite firm and not too loungey so you could eat comfortably in them but we're comfortable enough to chill and take in the setting. The menu wasn't huge but I like that. I would rather have a select range cooked well than an overwhelming choice. We both chose wraps which came with the mixed side and a side of fishcakes.........we didn't need the fishcakes! The portions were very generous. The food tasted fresh and fab! The view is great, there was hardly anyone on the beach and the sea was calm. I really didn't expect to experience this little gem in the north east. Definitely worth a visit x

Amazing restaurant with fresh fish (caught less than 40 meters from the shore) that you enjoy while sitting on the beach ⛱️ Definitely worth the visit - but you must book!

Brilliant little spot. Fantastic food that changes based on what fish has been caught. Must book in advance.

Great food view money carnt buy. And best date with my girlfriend thank you

Perfect location and atmosphere. Definitely will go back .

Very nice location right on the beach! We just wanted to have a quick beer. Unfortunately you only get something to drink if you also order food... which is a real shame 😩

Seats were uncomfortable, however the food was great, although a little overpriced

You can't go past this place. The setting is everything. Food was very good indeed. However I must say the service was first class. We had a great afternoon. Thankyou to your team,they did you proud.

Delicious fresh fish and friendly staff. Very chilled atmosphere sitting on the beach.

What a fabulous evening we had. Food and service was fabulous. Thank you 😊

Love this place so much - one of the first I visited along the coast and the one I keep coming back too. Live the cod, hake and plaice with tossed rosemary potatoes, mixed salad and sourdough. I feel the costume service, comms, and reservations had a low ebb but improved recently. Very happy about this - unmissable!

This place is a total gem of the north east, we visit multiple times a year as a treat. Very saddening to see the front of house teams letting such a brilliant business down. I really hope this can be put right soon. Front of house are rude and dismissive but waiting staff much better. Food absolutely incredible.

Wonderful views out to sea. Delicious and tasty food with huge portions. Price was expensive. Difficult to eat - plates very small & not masses of space. Would recommend.

Really looks good and was looking forward to lunch, however the service up in the shack was none existent. Gave up and left after 15 mins !

Over priced, rude staff and they need to understand they don't own the whole beach.

A great experience and the only reason we took a vacation in Tynemouth. Saw this advertised by @stephspackedlunch and it was well worth it.! Everything was fresh and food was delicious!!

Riley’s Fish Shack offers perfectly grilled fish, slightly translucent and deliciously smoky. The choice of side dishes is limited, but the sourdough bread baked in the wood-fired oven is outstanding. The beautiful view of the sea completes the experience. Price performance ratio is very good.

To expensive and won't accept cash rich woke communists only

I know this is probably a bit of a national institution now rather than a hidden secret, having been in most of the national newspapers etc. 2nd visit & though menu seemed a little bit limited as they were closing for a private event later that day, the food, atmosphere and buzz were all excellent. And although it is a tiny bit on the expensive side you really can't eat with a better view anywhere in the UK. Had the monkfish skewer. My daughter had the monkfish tail. Both excellent.

Average food, small portions, high prices, rude surly staff, and one has to queue ages for it. Grossly overrated.

the first bar where despite the lack of customers you can't sit on a chair because they are only for reservations 🤣 after ordering a coffee the bartender offered one from the counter that another customer didn't take, you couldn't help but notice his indignation when I asked for a fresh coffee 🤷‍♀️ and you can't wait 3 minutes to pick it up at the bar, you have to go to the ramp, so I don't know which coffee I got 😅 definitely my last coffee with them 😁

For years I was baffled why an island country doesn't have proper fresh fish. Fried stuff is unbearable and even expensive fish in London usually lacks taste. Riley's is different, an absolute gem, both mackerel and cod outstanding. Might be the best fish I've ever had (in the UK). Definitely the best cod I've had! The only downside is the space restriction - we had to be on the sand even though there was plenty of space we could have taken for 30 mins or so to eat.

Had a nice lazy dinner on the beach, great atmosphere and good food.

Came here this week for some food and a drink, upon arrival we asked if we could get table service the man said yes walked away and never returned (i believe this was the manager given the difference in uniform). After waiting a while trying to make eye contact with a waiter there was one who was having a conversation with a group of girls bad mouthing customers, we had to ask if we could order again when they had finished their conversation. We managed to order get our drinks and food but no one came over to ask if the food was ok. We again had to ask to get the bill where a service charge was added but for what service? All the people working were just stood in front of the shack chatting not having a care in the world about their customers. There were 5 members of staff working on the floor and about 4 tables full no excuse for bad service.

Absolutely awesome restaurant: very easy-going, fantastic food quality, unique location and view, and super nice yet efficient staff. Go if you can!!

The worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant in my entire life. I booked a table for my birthday for my partner and I on a Tuesday night, paid the £25 per head deposit, and chose a table and chairs on the beach. I was looking forward to delicious seafood and the whole experience. I've heard rave reviews about this place for years and I was stoked. We get there and the server sticks us at the very end of the bar on the balcony. We told him that we booked chairs and a table, but he wasn't having it. So I found the screenshot of my booking and showed him that we booked a beach table. My partner even told him it was my birthday, bless him, but I've never seen a human care less about anything. The server just shrugged. Why should we pay a £50 deposit if they don't even reserve a table? I got a refund and left. I don't think he even looked me in the eye.

Expensive for what it is. Food is okay (quite salty. Highlight was the bread roll ha). Service was non-existent (of course they still added service charge). Paid for a fire pit but no one bothered coming round to top it up or check our food was okay. Had to bend over backwards to get staff to notice us and give us the bill (it wasn’t busy). Disappointing

Lovely setting we were blessed with good weather could have been on the Costa del Sol

Great food, service, atmosphere, and even the weather!!