Rockfish Poole in Poole

We arrived at Rockfish between what might be considered normal lunch and dinner service slots, when many restaurants close for an couple of hours, so the restaurant was relatively quiet. The dining room felt spacious with its high ceiling and partitioned seating and everything was bright and clean. Sadly the staff seemed a bit muted and despondent. After a half-hearted welcome at the door, we had to stand around whilst they found one of the many empty tables for us. It all felt a bit beige After MONKFISH SCAMPI starters we both plumped for the SEA BREAM with NEW POTATOES. No complaints about the food as such. It was all ok, on a par with any other fish and chip restaurant. Whilst we appreciate Rockfish's sourcing ethic, all in all it seemed a little expensive for what we got and I'm sure that the atmosphere is much better when the place is busy.

Blown away by this place. Everything seemed to be very good. The team were all excellent and engaging. Our waitress TJ was outstanding - very courteous and knowledgable. A great experience.

First visit to Rockfish but certainly wont be the last. Great atmosphere, lovely meal and we could hear each other speak. Very enjoyable.

Lovely little restaurant specialised in seafood. We are lobsters which was excellent. The veg tempura, unlimited chips were really good. Their mushy peas with curry sauce was interesting and flavorful. Would visit again

We were in Poole to see the truly amazing blues singer, Beth Hart. We booked this restaurant, situated right on the quay side of Poole harbour, and we were very pleased we did. Rockfish, from Mitch Tonks, is a large restaurant space, with an open kitchen. We were warmly greeted by Anette and she served us really well, describing the menu and the available fish then looking after us beautifully throughout the meal. I chose: - Mussels: freshly harvested rope grown mussels steamed with white wine, bay leaf, onion garlic & butter Followed by: - Pan-fried gurnard fillets (caught in deep water, nice & firm, slightly oily, with a wonderful flavour), "unlimited chips" and spinach The mussels were really fat and full of flavour, in an excellent steaming liquid. The gurnard equally good: wonderfully fresh, cooked perfectly, with a great flavour. Chips perfectly crispy with fluffy insides. A great meal in a really good setting and with excellent service. Thank you Rockfish. (And then onto a fabulous, storming performance from Beth Hart!) (Also posted to my food blog on Instagram @AbbeyKing16)

We were in Poole to see the truly amazing blues singer, Beth Hart. We booked this restaurant, situated right on the quay side of Poole harbour, and we were very pleased we did. It's a large restaurant space, with an open kitchen. We were warmly greeted by Anette and she served us really well, describing the menu and the available fish then looking after us beautifully throughout the meal. I chose: - Mussels: freshly harvested rope grown mussels steamed with white wine, bay leaf, onion garlic & butter Followed by: - Pan-fried gurnard fillets (caught in deep water, nice & firm, slightly oily, with a wonderful flavour), "unlimited chips" and spinach The mussels were really fat and full of flavour, in an excellent steaming liquid. The gurnard equally good: wonderfully fresh, cooked perfectly, with a great flavour. Chips perfectly crispy with fluffy insides. A great meal in a really good setting and with excellent service. Thank you Rockfish. (And then onto a fabulous, storming performance from Beth Hart!) (Also posted to my food blog on Instagram @AbbeyKing16)

I visited at lunchtime having chosen this because I am on a keto diet at the moment. I had the set lunch, wine and coffee. The fish was very fresh and perfectly cooked, the coffee was good. OK the wine was a bit of an extra, but it was very good for the price. It is years since I had a lemon sole and this was brilliant, I’ll be back.

If I look like I'm asleep, it's because my taste buds have gone to heaven. I had oysters, the best mussels ever! Followed by the most divine Brill and new potatoes and a palettable devil's roughage, because you have to. Andy was the best, he recommended the brill, such a good choice.

Rockfish is a small chain that has it spot on when it comes to a light lunch or casual evening meal. They employ staff with good knowledge of their menu and the seafood is really fresh from the simplest half pint of prawns to their excellent fish dishes. We have already visited Weymouth and it was equally excellent 👌

What a find this was! Lovely cozy atmosphere. Ambience was good. Excellent service.Very attentive especially to my aunt who has dementia. Wide range of fish caught that day on menu. Food was tasty and I really have not tasted food like that for years! Very flavoursome. Would definitely go there again. Thank you !

Great and friendly staff. Excellent quality food and we also love their tin fish available on line. We've been to Dartmouth and Poole and it's our go to South coast retaurant

Can't fault the service but the place was almost empty so it might be different when busy. Smoked haddock was amazing as were the tempura prawns.Squid main was a bit of a let down in my humble opinion they were cut extremely thin and just tasted a lot like just heavy batter.I feel the prices are a bit expensive for what you get.That said it was a nice treat and the best thing it's dog friendly 👍

My Mum and I were so impressed with the staff service and attention to detail when taking my Grandma out for a birthday lunch. They when above and beyond to be helpful and it was a lovely lunch out. Thank you so much.

First time visiting, had the fish and unlimited chips deal. Staff friendly, food nice although had to re request ketchup. Drinks a little pricey but guess that's normal as in a lovely location. My gripe is they add a £1 discretionary charge for charity to the bill. Perhaps they should reassess this as people tend to donate to charities of their choice and this has never happened to me before in a restaurant. Had my daughter with me so bit my tongue and paid. Felt the tatic of adding this to the bill without even asking is wrong, especially as the CEO/top dogs in many charities are on 6 figure salaries. This is why I research when I donate for a good cause.

Wonderful Saturday night evening meal, excellent food. Attentive staff, would highly recommend.

Best fresh seafood I had in a long time. Fit to feed a ‘seafood fussy enthusiast’ European like me who grew up by the Mediterranean Sea! The service and staff were absolutely lovely! And their presentation of the manu included a complimentary live drawing of illustrated seafood/fish characters! So original and sweet. Great fun. Thank you

Just had an incredible late lunch at Rockfish in Poole! From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional—friendly, attentive, and perfectly timed. The relaxed, coastal atmosphere made it feel like a true getaway, letting us unwind and fully enjoy our meal. The fish was the star of the show, cooked to absolute perfection—so fresh and flavorful. Paired with a delicious cocktail and a crisp, chilled white wine, it was everything we could’ve hoped for. Highly recommend Rockfish for anyone looking for a tasty, laid-back dining experience!

Don't forget to visit this wonderful restaurant, traditional fish and chips. I love it!

Best fish restaurant on the quay. Outstanding food, service and atmosphere. Recommended

Amazing atmosphere and fresh delicious seafood!

What a fantastic place for fresh fish the atmosphere is great.The knowledge of the fish & the service that Ellie & Bel gave was fantastic & definitely a place to return to.

Every restaurant should have a waitress that just comes to your table to ask "Time for more chips?" Top notch service and beautiful fish (even according to the Croatian girlfriend which is high praise)!

In the UK, from the US. The staff was awesome, and the food was 10/10. If you're staying in Poole, get your table reserved! It's worth it.

Fantastic place, delicious food. I recommend it.

Food was perfect. Service was great

I have not had the pleasure - since I was turned away, at 5 o'clock. It seems the restaurant was 'busy and booked'. Interestingly, there were only 5 customers seated, and 90 minutes later, the place was still less than half full. - As a local, I shall think twice to bother entering this place. Just for the sake of this review, I have tried 2 more times - and with the same result. The joint is mostly empty or half-empty ...

Great fish restaurant, fresh fish, well cooked, excellent service and atmosphere. Not that expensive either. Great value.

We had a simple but truly delicious meal at Rockfish in Poole. Fish and chips main, I had the hake. Very fresh tasty fish, delicious unsalted chips just the way I like them, with extra chips included although we didn’t need them. The homemade tartare sauce also delicious. Dessert was 3 sorbets - so light but perfect to finish the meal. And a pot of Exmoor tea in a ForLife teapot. Just perfect. Service was friendly and so efficient. Worth every penny. Thank you, Rockfish Poole.

Imagine you were invited to a friend's house somewhere in the Mediterranean. While there, they cooked you a meal with love and care. This is how the fish tastes. It's the freshest we'd ever had in the UK and the tastiest by far. I need to come back to try so many of the other dishes on the menu. Highly recommended.

Lovely food and service, reasonably priced for a restaurant. Only downside small portion of chips which are unlimited and waiting time for some more took to long. Would have been nice to just have a big bag full and not have to chase waiter for more even though they are unlimited. Manager guy was extremely friendly and food was excellent and fresh. 9/10.

Had a delicious meal here yesterday. We were spoilt for choice from the extensive freshly catch of the day menu. Lovely location right on the quayside. Very welcoming & helpful staff. Quiet at this time of year, so an extra treat for efficient service. Modern, clean atmosphere. 👌🏽

Great dinner with family. Lobster, which my wife had, looked the star dish.

Had a fabulous girls lunch there on Saturday. Andy who looked after us was amazing. Attentive, professional and fun. Loved the food. Can’t wait to visit again.

Very nice place for a casual dinner on the water. Fish n chips were fantastic. I'm not a fish lover, so I had the chicken and really enjoyed it. Dog was a fan of the dried fish treats too!

The best seafood restaurant we've been to in the UK. Hearty, sophisticated but unpretentious, and (unlike rivals in Sandbanks) fairly priced. Service and interior lovely, too, and it's a nice touch the chips are all you can eat.

Great selection of superb quality fresh fish, brilliantly cooked to perfection!

Food was delicious and I am so impressed with the friendly and helpful service from Andy . I would definitely recommend this 👌

Drove from Surrey to this restaurant after eating on the Weymouth one. Did not disappoint at all. Will be back soon

Really? Massively overpriced, non existent service, and those endless chips really weren’t so.

Visited for lunch as an anniversary treat for myself and my partner. We had a booking for two, but they offered us a booth so we waited happily as we prefer booths; my partner and I are both autistic so somewhere that reduces noise is greatly appreciated. The wait staff were kind and patient, and when we needed help (I wasn't sure what to eat, nor how exactly I should eat what I ordered; ray wing was a first for me), they explained things clearly. They also managed a less than patient customer behind us who kept causing a fuss effortlessly. The lunch time ambience was perfect, not too loud and plenty light. You could argue it was a little pricey, but ultimately what isn't these days? You're definitely getting what you pay for. Having dined in the Rockfish in Plymouth numerous times, I was sure this would be a dependable choice and it certainly was. Can't argue with unlimited chips either. Very pleased overall.

Lovely welcome Nice touch having a dried fish for the dog Really enjoyed the Rock Fish and Chips

Absolutely wonderful Ellie was so attentive and informative the food was beyond amazing best fish we have ever had

Best fish I've eaten in the last ten years. Fresh, succulent and beautifully cooked.

We had such a lovely evening at Rockfish - many thanks! We were early but the maitre d' immediately found a way to seat us, and the service was impeccable throughout. The wonderful waitress told us they were struggling with just one chef all day, with back up from foh staff who had been called in to the kitchen - quite a brave thing to tell us I suppose, but they were all doing an amazing job, the service was still snappy and the food completely perfect. There must be a great team atmosphere to keep up that level of quality in those conditions. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening, I wouldn't hesitate to come back. Just one criticism... there is a quote on the wall attributed to one of my great heroes. His surname is spelled 'SLOCUM' (not 'Slocombe')!

An English style, open kitchen, friendly staff, delicious food, good beer (but quantity is not enough). Highly recommended for couples 😋. A lot of varieties. (No clam chowder in summer 😱)

Rockfish in Poole is an absolute gem, a culinary masterpiece nestled in the heart of the town. I never imagined I would stumble upon a place that serves such exquisitely delicious fare. We visited on a Sunday evening, and though the restaurant was bustling, the experience was nothing short of exceptional (I highly recommend booking in advance). From the moment you step through the door, you are enveloped in an atmosphere that is both warm and inviting. The ambiance, thoughtfully designed interiors, and, most importantly, the food, all come together to create an unforgettable dining experience. We indulged in their classic Fish and Chips, as well as the Chicken dish, which were both exceptional. However, the highlight of our evening was the catch of the day: a divine Devon Lobster, a dish that truly deserves a chef’s kiss. Not forgetting we wrapped up all of that with a Crème Brûlée. The visionary behind Rockfish has curated not just a menu, but an entire experience, with every detail—from the artfully crafted menu to the beautifully arranged bathrooms—reflecting a deep love for the craft. Our servers, Anette and Andy, epitomised what true service should be. Their warmth and attentiveness elevated our evening to something truly special. To anyone reading this and contemplating a visit, I can’t recommend Rockfish highly enough. It’s a place that exceeds expectations, and one you’ll remember long after the meal is over.

Went to dinner with friends, super food, friendly staff, great atmosphere. A fantasy evening. Highly recommended

Have been a couple of times. The first time we loved it. The second time they had sold out of pretty much everything we wanted and ended up with 2 starters, 3 haddock and chips and 3 icecreams which cost us £150. We thought it was very expensive for what we had. Probably won't return now.

Not tasty, sorry. But looks beautiful

Marvellous food, excellent serving staff

Had a wonderful birthday meal at Rockfish. They accommodated us early and both Lisa and Andy our waitress and waiter were brilliant, explaining the catch of the day and giving recommendations. Our food was amazing, so tasty and well presented. Would certainly recommend this place for great food and staff

Third visit to a Rockfish but first time to Poole, lovely meal as with all the restaurants we've visited before and excellent service

Rockfish Poole is an outstanding seafood restaurant that offers a delightful dining experience right by the waterside. The atmosphere is both cozy and vibrant, making it a perfect spot for a casual meal or a special occasion. The menu is a seafood lover’s dream, featuring an impressive variety of fresh, sustainably sourced options. From the succulent oysters to the perfectly cooked fish, every dish is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to quality. The flavors are rich and well-balanced, enhancing the natural taste of the seafood. The service at Rockfish Poole is impeccable. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve. They are more than happy to provide recommendations and ensure that every guest has a memorable experience. A special thanks to the chef for their sensitivity and attention to detail. The chef’s ability to cater to individual preferences and dietary needs is truly commendable. This personal touch makes the dining experience at Rockfish Poole even more exceptional. Overall, Rockfish Poole is a gem for seafood enthusiasts. With its exceptional food, superb service, and welcoming atmosphere, it’s a restaurant that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended!

Fish n chips for two with one drink nearly £60. Haddock was good but chips were quite hard and small. One tiny can of Ipa cost £4:50 which is ridiculous. A bizarre pickled green chilli on the plate. Nobody asked how the meal was...would have liked more tartar sauce and better chips for the price.

Had a great meal here. Fresh fish and food were delicious. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Lovely sitting outside. Would recommend to make a booking to save disappointment.

In addition to the normal menu, there is also a daily menu with an even larger selection of fish. I was here twice in one week, the fish is really great. The price is okay.

Great food served by friendly and attentive staff. Very homely and relaxing atmosphere that makes me feel comfortable booking a table on my own. I ordered the Dover sole on this occasion which was cooked to perfection by the perfect chef. It was so very well seasoned and absolutely yum! Always book a table here when visiting Poole, with or without my husband. They absolutely deliver on the freshest seafood, there’s nothing not to like. See you soon guys x

Had a wonderful birthday meal at Rockfish. Our server who was from Germany (sorry didn't get her name) was fun and helpful and kindly gave me a glass of sparkling wine as a birthday treat. The food was all so fresh and tasty. The coleslaw was addictive and the chips crispy and fluffy in the middle. Great ambience for a Sunday evening as well. If I lived locally, I would be a regular!

I had delicious dressed crab, my husband black bream. Both very satisfied. The modest outward appearance doesn't do the place justice..it's wonderful and right on the quay front. We'll be back!

1. Starters very disappointed, prawn cocktails salted and mackerel starter served directly from canned ( the most expensive canned fish in my live , 12£) 2. Extremely cold 3 . Cider to sour and smell as vinegar 4. To pricey for what they ofer

Excellent fish, great service, nice atmospher

We had a table booked for 8.30 and some of our party was delayed and didn't arrive until 8.45. We were informed that the kitchen shuts at 9!! When booking we had limited choice on times 5pm or 8.30pm! So by the time we'd got there the freshly caught fish menu was limited and we had to order quickly! We ordered bread and anchovy mayo and monkfish scampi. They anchovy mayo was amazing on bread and the monkfish was a little bit tougher then expected. We moved on to mains. The fish tacos were amazing, really Mexican tasting but only a small amount of fish. Gurnard was delicate and delicious. Fish and chips- robust as you'd expect. Unlimited chips that were left behind for a while but arrived after requesting. No dessert as there wasn't anything we fancied. Initally we had a good rapport with waitress, but it slowly went downhill. We were being hovered over alot, even though there were 4 other tables still eating. All in all, maybe go back for lunch or early dinner as food was nice but everything else let it down. Shame as it was expensive and a birthday meal out.

Lovely lunch sitting in the sunshine. The food was absolutely delicious. The mussels were the best I’ve had for a long time. Such a good variety of fish. The staff were very friendly and attentive but not intrusive. Would highly recommend.

This is a fabulous place. The food is fantastic, and I mean really fantastic. The lobster was the best I have ever eaten, and the other fish dishes are all fresh, well excellently cooked and tasty. The service was excellent too. Friendly, attentive, and unfussy. The only downside is, it's in Poole. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in Poole, head to this place and it will make it all feel better.

Delicious food every time. Excellent service from friendly staff who are welcome and attentive. Enjoying the newsletter updates too! Thank you.

Excellent chips and service, if only there was more vegetarian options, but this is a fish restaurant so must appreciate the vegetarian foods which were lovely.

Concept and menu promise much but they wholly fail to deliver. Gurnard was overpriced and underseasoned. 'Mitch's favourite' fritto misto was shocking. Incredibly dry fingers of redfish, overcooked and bitter sardines, not one prawn and fists of rubbery squid ('cuttlefish') with hunks of fried flour. Service friendly but confused.

Most incredible experience tonight. Lisa who served us was an absolute star and really looked after us tonight. The food was incredible. Those were mussels were the best we have ever had. Everyone raved about the food tonight. So again thank you very much.

We love coming to Rockfish Poole. The decor, the vibe & the fresh, fresh fish are second to none. Plus the staff are always so friendly and welcoming. We make special 45 min trip whenever we’re in the area. Also my husband is GF so if he feels well catered for then I also have a greet meal as well! Thank you for another lovely meal

The fish is cooked beautifully and the room is pleasant.

When ever I'm in that area, I always have something from Rockfish Pool Seafood

We had a lovely evening at Rockfish. Service was excellent, attentive but not rushed. The food was delicious. Highly recommend

Fantastic fresh daily caught fish, plenty to choose from, a bit pricey but well worth it

Great place, good fish and fantastic staff.

Stopped at the restaurant afte visiting a very wet Brown sea Island. Staff were very helpful and courteous. I had a Hake whilst the wife had Haddock complimented with unlimited chips. Both of us enjoyed the meals.

We asked for a table for two, waitress told us she gonna ask the manager if they had space the guy straight away came to us with a very bad attitude and told us they don't have any empty tables and they are fully booked even though the half of the restaurant was empty and we told him we gonna be super quick. the way he told us wasn’t nice at all. Probably they don’t want to make money in this shop!

Chose haddock and chips and my wife had scampi and chips and it was fantastic , good service great food extremely fresh fish and unlimited chips and great ice cream and great choice of drinks excellent dark beer the staff where very knowledgeable and responsive will go again , open kitchen so you can see the chef at there work .

Nice setting, food fairly expensive but good quality, staff and service really good

The food was amazing, and the flavor of the John Dory was exceptional. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making the experience even better. This restaurant has definitely made it to my list of favorites😍

Nice food but a little bit chaotic. They'd run out of quite large amounts of the menu, and the service was a bit all over the place, though everyone is very nice. I'd go back but I hope they work on making the whole thing run a bit more smoothly.

Great atmosphere, lovely and friendly staff. Exceptional service from Andy our waiter. With his guidance we were able to make fantastic food choices. Excellent meal, tasty food and delicious drinks. Thank you ❤️

Seven of us went to the restaurant for Sunday lunch. Having booked on line we were delighted to be shown to a private booth, themed as a beach hut. We were served by Ellie who was absolutely charming, very knowledgeable and professional. Three of us had mussels to start, three had the ‘half pint’ of prawns and one vegetable tempura. All were excellent. My mussels were well cooked with just enough liquor and soft bread to soak it up. For mains, Dover sole was the choice of two, lemon sole another, two had John Dory fillets, one other and I had the battered hake. We all agreed our mains were faultless. The batter on my fish was very light and crispy, the fish was moist and tasty. We asked for a couple of extra portions of chips as the meal progressed. Three chose crème brûlée for desert, my wife’s was complementary with a candle! It was a wonderful way to spend 3 hours. Price wise, we knew what to expect, portion size was good and quality excellent. We will come again and if you are looking for a casual and quality dining spot this is for you!

Delicious food. My kids loved the endless chips. Our server Lisa deserves special mention - she was fab.

Absolutely excellent. Friendly and attentive staff, fantastic food. Faultless. We had the tempura prawns, cockles, fried rockfish and grilled gunard.

Fantastic food and great friendly service. Andy could not do enough to make our visit a great experience

Had a lovely meal with my family.

"Is there anything else I can get you sir". "Well I certainly don't need anymore garlic butter"! I ordered the 'Garlic Butter with Halibert'. To my surprise when my meal arrived I realised that the poor fish wasn't killed by being pulled out of the ocean but instead had drowned in the garlic butter. I managed to act in time to save my chips from an unfortunate demise as they were served separately. They were nice chips, tasted like chips shop ones. Unfortunately can't tell you about the Halibert as all I could taste was the garlic butter. Next time I'll make a point of ordering it without it ( it didn't say it did on the menu) or the Haddock which was spared it. What's the point of serving fresh fish if you can't taste it? It's like smothering steak with tomato ketchup.

Extraordinary and amazing. Great food and they looked after our daughter so well and made sure that her gluten allergy was not an issue. Best of all was Nikkola’s service which was of the best I have had anywhere in the world. Rockfish made my wife’s birthday so special which has made us all smile, our dog included!!!

Great place for a dinner. Lovely atmosphere, outstanding customer service, food is delicious and fresh. Best fish I have ever had! Will be back soon!

Delicious food and great staff!

If you like fresh, healthy, tasty, modern food, Rockfish is where you need to visit. Brilliant from start to finish.

The best fish restaurant I've been too. Amazing quality food and the staff were amazing as well 5 stars

My 87 year old mother said of the hake and chips: "That's the best fish annd chips I have ever had". Enough said I think... Service was very friendly, informative but (I'm sorry to say it) a bit slow given that the restaurant wan't busy on a Monday lunchtime. It wouldn't stop me going back though, the food was fantastic...

The coquille St Jacques were great As well as the mussels!!

Fish was decent, bottomless chips a nice touch and the cider was fantastic. Staff were helpful too.

Love this place. We go every time we go down to Sandbanks. Staff super friendly and food is great. Highly recommend.

Absolutely tasteless and bland food. We travelled from London to Bournemouth and saw very good reviews so booked for dinner. The fried squid had no seasoning and served with bottled chilli sauce. The fried scampi again was totally bland. The fish of the day was pan fried till death and again no seasoning. The side dish of new potatoes was average. We had to pay for the side salad although the waitress had mentioned we could choose two sides. The crème Brulé again was not creamy and soft, probably too much egg. I would stay away from this one. The service staff is not attentive at all.

Middle of summer and day - all chefs gets break LOL so we have been refused to seat and be served despite place was almost empty. Sorry no excuse or explanation. We all gets breaks at work but there should be better system in place to serve people , not refused them to sit - its very unprofessional then all staff take a break at the same time . Very weird system and definitely we will never come back or recommend. Maybe update operating hours so at least customers wont be misleaded. One of the worst visited places - will never back .

Unprofessional , rude management and staff in unkempt outfits, with untidy hairs, some with a strong fume of cigarrets and alcohol. The food served chaotically, the kitchen clearly can"t keep up. 25 pounds for fish and chips for the pleasure of being served that way is a dubious pleasure. However, when the place is almost empty there are tables that have not been cleared.

What a treat - and such good value for fresh fish and delicious sides. We thought it was really excellent. Very impressed by our friendly server Charlotte who was really knowledgeable about species and provenance. Also shout out to her delicious wine suggestion and their own brand beer. 5 stars *****