Shoals Restaurant in Torbay

Blimey! Well we certainly didn't expect that. Popped in for a rather impromptu date lunch on the recommendation of a colleague from Brixham and what can we say. Everything from the view to the staff to the food and drink was exceptional. Really attentive and relaxed staff (who deserved a much bigger tip NGL!!) and the food was sublime. Left feeling so full up we didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day! Couple less potatoes for me next time! Thanks again Shoals we'll be back next time after a dip in that chilly looking lido lol! 🤣👌🏼🤌

Amazing view across the sea & Lido & absolutely amazing food. Staff were really friendly & helpful & the chef clearly knew how to cook amazing food.

Had an excellent lunch. I would highly recommend the meals at this place

Lovely afternoon.. Nice & cosy even on a stormy day at Shoals for a family 60th celebratory meal. Delicious food, great wine. Hosted by the lovely Sarah (owner) & her friendly crew 😊

A great evening at this excellent restaurant.

Poor service. Left because nobody came to take our order.

Great little restaurant on the cliffs overlooking the lido and Torbay. Had a lovely scallop and monk fish in cream bacon and whisky sauce with veg, very tasty

Fantastic does not do Shoals justice. Chef Yaya's personal approach to a curry (with day catch monkfish and crevettes) was the best I have enjoyed. If you love fish and Brixham, try Shoals first. We wish we had taken our own advice. It's small, so reservation recommended. High five Chef Yaya.

Great place lovely food will be back soon

The food and location is fantastic. Second time here but didn't like being sat right next to the kitchen as previously we were seated in the outside area which was much better. The servce was good but the staff rarely smile and didn't look happy in their work. Also when first approached the young lady was very brusque and unwelcoming. We will be back however because we couldn't fault the food.

Perfect evening. Great food, well cooked and the staff were really attentive.Wonderful views over the bay, with the bonus of an amazing sunset. We hope to visit again soon.

Excellent meal ,lovely staff highly recommend x

what a expensive lunch 42 quid for 2 burgers and two standard hot chocolates. Food was good but portion way to large and to expensive. Capitalizing on only being the only cafe by the pool.

Great restaurant, delicious food, fresh fish, really worth recommending.

We did book ahead so we were lucky to have an amazing view, beautiful settings and location. Food was fantastic, the hot crab starter was to die for and the monkfish and scallop main we almost licked the bowl clean. Service was ok at the start but then it tailed off and the table behind us had premium service but we had to keep asking for a drink a few times and the bill a few times too, we didn’t get offered a dessert menu or checked up whilst eating either so the service definitely could be improved but overall was a fantastic meal and would definitely go back!

Starters were sensational, mains felt a little more clumsy. Atmosphere was great and the staff were fantastic.

High quality seafood cooked perfectly with lush views out over the pool and sea. We had grilled mulled and fried hake, both excellent!

It's a cosy restaurant with a normal sea view (but also a yellow water pool). The food is very tasty, we ordered Linguini with prawns and Dover Sole. The waiters are not the most polite, but they know their job. We had strawberry cheesecake for dessert, which was decorated with fresh strawberries - very tasty.

Absolutely disgusting way to run a business as I was unfortunate to find out looking for a fish restaurant in Brixham. After walking up from the golden hind it is a 20 minute walk I was told to sit in the metal chairs I was on a cycling few days away. Well after sitting down I found the table covered in black grit from the beach although it wasn't windy so I can only assume at past 2pm it hasn't been cleaned so I asked after 10 mins I waited patiently only to see two lads opposite just arrived and the young waiters lads took their order instantly although they never booked like me . I got up and left and thought I'd leave a feedback they deserve. That's what you get employing teenagers with no customer service manners or respect a good fish restaurant the best for fish in Brixham apparently but sadly the worst service and I certainly will not recommend to anyone.

Great location with fab views, super small inside so we had booked ahead which is pretty essential for dinner in high season I think. Food was very nice and great to champion local seafood. Service was laid-back, brusque at times but overall we had an enjoyable meal. We had starter and main in a couple of hours which was fine but weren't offered a dessert and service tailed off at the end

Food delicious, so fresh & tasty. Would recommend and revisit when next in Brixham. Also dog friendly although big dogs means sitting outside as limited space inside.

A fantastic restaurant, the most beautiful setting looking over Torbay and the seafood that it produces is even better. A must if you are a seafood lover.

This place is a gem of a restaurant with ans big views out to sea. You definitely need to book. It was so good I want to keep it secret but they are worthy of a review. The 3 waitresses worked really well as a team. A constantly busy trio, smiling and hard working. The food was outstanding and beautifully presented. 100% fresh and fish lightly and perfectly cooked. Small menu, nice selection of specials. We had dinner but they do lunch too . Remember to book and savour each mouthful.

Best fish restaurant in Brixham by far. Absolutely love sitting by the sea eating delicious fresh fish. My favourite place to be!

Shoals is a couple of minutes outside of Brixham but you have to go there! You really need to book if you want to sit inside but there is plenty of space outside if the weather is good. The food is as fresh as can be and is absolutely fantastic! If you don’t go here whilst visiting Brixham you’ve really missed out!

Picked a bad night as it was the euro final. Chef rang and asked if we could go earlier than our 7.30 booking. No problem for us. Food amazing, staff lovely..we were happy and chef got to see the match..next visit planned after the school holidays. We loved it

It seems like a very small, stereotypical coastal restaurant. I was brought here by my partner's lovely mother. She recommended the scallops and monkfish, and I was mind-blown. The flavourful seafood essence, the salty, charred whisky bacon bits, and the freshness of the herbs all melded beautifully in the creamy sauce. The quality of the scallops and monkfish is unbelievable. The view is incredible, and the vibe is very chill. I will definitely visit again.

We hadn't been here for a while, but the food , the service and of course the views were wonderful- we were lucky enough to see dolphins swim past the pool! The fish here is to die for and simply prepared which ensures the best flavour. We are lucky enough to have this gem on our door step but if you're visiting make sure you book ahead

Nice place, nice food, great views.

Fantastic location with unspoilt views across the bay. The Hot Crab Dip, Scallop starter,Torbay Sole and Lobster Linguine were all superb. Book a table especially if you want to eat inside. We will definitely be going back again.

The perfect spot and the food is great too.

It's one of the few places we've been to where all the boxes are ticked - especially the food.

Best restaurant ever for food, service and atmosphere just love it and will always return

Best seafood restaurant on the English riviera, we just had seafood soup, fish tacos, and fish coujons absolutely delicious, main course freshly cooked hake perfection, king prawn linguine fresh and delicious, king prawn and monkfish curry with rice and naan bread so delicious the best curry I have ever eaten, the flavours came through beautifully and the prawns and monkfish were so tasty. Service was impeccable, thank you.

Had a wonderful birthday meal with my close family yesterday evening. Very intimate & characterful little place right on the front. The food was superb and the service was very good too. Highly recommended.

Seven of us went for an evening meal when we were on holiday in June.The food was superb. I had the skate it was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent. The view was second to none. I would definitely like to return one day.

Lovely cafe/restaurant right by the sea, parked in a gorgeous location just over the Shoalstone open air lido. Stopped here for a light lunch and had a few starters between the two of us, all of it was lovely and far more than expected, for example fish gujons brought to mind posh fish fingers and instead were half a fish fillet in wonderfully thin crispy batter, the fish taco and scallops were equally amazing. Finished off with a lovely honeycomb cheesecake (walking back to town is my excuse for the indulgence) and even that was even more than advertised, coming with some nice fresh fruit on the side. It's a little way out of town, but we'll worth the trip.

Fitted us inside even though we were booked outside. Outstanding service, but that’s nothing compared to the food. Absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to come back.

A superb choice of fish dishes all served with more than ample portions. An excellent location and very friendly service.

Good food. A tad on the pricey side but large portions. Nice decor, staff friendly but a little mechanistic. Good sounds and not too loud. Wonderful views. A very enjoyable evening

We dined at Shoals On Monday night , food was really great , best grilled Hake in town.

Brilliant cozy restaurant, great staff, beautiful food.

Came as a walk in with my partner and 2 dogs and sat out on the decking area. Friendly helpful staff and amazing food. Ordered fish goujons (which were massive!), spicy garlic prawns and monkfish/scallops in whiskey bacon sauce. All delicious, generous portions and served promptly (as promptly as you would expect fresh cooked food). Will definitely be back when we visit brixham again!

Super views on a sunny evening seated at the perfect table at the window!! Drinks arrived quickly,not quite so for the starter,but not a real problem especially as it was gorgeous 😋😋!! The mains took ages,it seemed as the noise level from the kitchen was headache making...dishes clanging in my head🙉!! My Torbay Sole was not as warm as I would have liked,same problem with the overlarge chips..warmed it using a shared of husbands creamy hot sauce with his monkfish and scallops!! All in all a new venue with a view to die for, especially with the amazing sunset over the water...but for me too noisy and fish insufficiency cooked!! The Birthday boy whose choice this restaurant was...loved it..therefore a successful evening and meal🤗🎂🌄!!

Really impressed with all the food and the setting was gorgeous in the Sun. My husband had fish tacos, spicy prawns and fish goujons, all delicious. I had the seabass special also really good and tasty. Will definitely be back.

Fabulous food! We shared huge fish goujons of hake with homemade tartar. I had monkfish and scallops in whiskey sauce absolutely delicious! Husband enjoyed a beautiful piece of freshly grilled hake and roasted new potatoes. Third time we’ve been to shoals and will definitely return next year!

Had lunch today 😋 the best restaurant in Brixham with beautiful views. Will be back in September.

Great value lunch deal. Two courses for under £30 We shared starters of prawns and chorizo and fish tacos. Both good size portion and very well seasoned. Very tasty. Both opted for Hake in rojo sauce. Absolutely delicious. Fish perfectly cooked. Sauce so good and plentiful we had to ask for spoons to make the most of it. Amazing views Lovely staff

Very tasty, great service. Thank you very much. We would definitely return.

Excellent restaurant. Small and cosy with great views over Torbay and good fresh seafood as well. If you use the parking there be careful as rain or shine, dawn or dusk they'll attempt to nail you!

Excellent place to get dinner! Good views, interesting and fresh fish dinners and desserts, and pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Came highly recommended by the chef who ran our b&b (Hervé at the excellent Beacon House across the small harbor) and didn't disappoint!

Wonderful place with the most amazing fresh fish on offer. Overlooking the lido, what a view.

We had lunch out on the terrace - the first day of the year when this was possible. You need to book if you want to sit inside as the place is tiny. Food is delicious! I had the seafood chowder, my husband halloumi kebabs and brother in law the fish curry and the hot crab dip. Service was attentive - they had mucked up our order at first but gave us free drinks. Much appreciated gesture. 🙏

I was attracted by this small, intimate, independent restaurant and was not disappointed. The location and views are amazing, but the food did the talking. I had the best skate I have ever had and my son’s whole brill was out of this world. The scallops and prawns we had as starter were amazing. Would definitely recommend.

The freshest fish with the most fabulous view and lovely staff. An absolute must if you’re visiting the bay. ❤️☀️

Fantastic seafood dinner with awesome view on the sea!

Booked last minute on a last minute trip. Was FANTASTIC! Amazing food, amazing views, great ambience for a quiet and delicious meal.

Stumbled across this place when we were rockpooling as a family. Popped in for a hot chocolate to warm up. After being continually ignored by the waitress with grey hair, one of the party went in to order their drinks. When we went to go in to order ours we were abruptly stopped by the same waitress who was quite rude when she told us she would take our order at the table when they're less busy. Needless to say she didn't ever come back to take our order. We ended up with 2 hot chocolates coming out and having to ask a different waitress for 2 more who was pleasant and returned with 2 more hot chocolates promptly To our amazement, another family sat down not long after us and were attended to quickly and given very friendly service by the waitress so had been so rude to us and ignored us!! It's unlikely we'll return, which is a shame as it's tucked away with lovely views!

Lovely restaurant that I would absolutely return to. Both the starters and mains were delicious, generous in portioning and with seafood that was so fresh. Best seafood I have ever had, better than Rick Steins including his main venue in Padstow.

I am loathe to say this as it’s difficult enough to get a table at the best of times….but…..I had skate today and it was sensational! My husband and friends had the mussel scallop king prawn samphire special and all had trouble finishing it - so much them having msg indulged in starters! Big compliments to the chef - so beautifully prepared and presented

Perfect. Scored 4 for atmosphere because only 2 tables filled.

What a lovely restaurant...superb food and service

Excellent food. Quick and friendly service. Panoramic views of the bay. Even had binoculars! also Heinikin 0% - I'm doing Dry January....Aargh!). My wife and I shared 3 starters. Seafood Chowder with scallops,mussels and white fish.....Delicious! Dayboat Scallops.... Fresh, fantastic and amazing value for money (6 scallops ... yes...6!!! in a starter portion!!!!... and 2 variations to choose from!!!) & Spicy King Prawns with garlic and chorizo....Spain in the rain!🤣Hehe! All came with crusty bread (and butter). We left slightly after closing time but were never rushed or made to feel hurried. We were well fed, well looked after and very very pleased with our lunch. Thank you Shoals for a lovely time. We'll be back!

Visiting for the weekend and craved for some fresh fish. Discovered this restaurant on tripadvisor and was not disappointed. Scallops to start with and Hake (Catch of the Day) Delicious 😋. Must visit another day to see what must be a spectacular view.

Staff were friendly. Both efficient and attentive. Food was deliciously prepared and beautifully presented. Great choice. All fish was very fresh. Restaurant is snug but that just adds to the charm. We dined in the evening on 30th Dec 2023 but the venue would be stunning in the day light. Could hear the waves crashing. Fab location. My only negative is the weather was so wet so without adequate lighting, the short distance from the car park was hard to negotiate. Very slippy steps! Just one lamp positioned by carpark leading to pathway to entrance would be sensible!

A fabulous sea food lunch and highly recommended.

Best fish restaurant in Devon by far. Food is superb and so fresh. Staff are so polite and very helpful. Would recommend booking as can be very busy.

Best restaurant for food in Brixham - is expensive, but top quality.

Lovely fresh seafood in a small restaurant beside the sea. We sat inside as it's winter but in better weather we've also had a table outside. Excellent both times.

Great food, great views, slightly slow service

Excellent in every way. Stunning views - crashing waves, seals and lit up boats. Friendly service from Mia. Delicious food - starters of prawns and scallops, both outstanding in flavour. Awesome chips!! Recommend booking.

Visited this restaurant last year and returned this year as previous experience was excellent. It didn’t disappoint the second visit! Food amazing - battered fish was the best ever had ( forgot to take a picture) Attentive staff and great view whilst eating dinner. Highly recommend

Great little restaurant, great food and service was fast and polite

Have had various recommendations from family and friends to visit this restaurant. We were not disappointed. Great food and great service. Small interior means limted numbers but if you book in advance you are sure of a table. They have an outdoor area too but obviously can only be used in good weather conditions. Now we have found this restaurant we will be visiting again in the very near future. I have no hesitation in recommending this eatery if you are a lover of fish.

Thoroughly enjoyed the meal, service was fast and friendly! Will go again!

Love this place. Great food. Great view lovely people. Definitely 5☆

Wenn man gerne Fisch hat, ist man hier richtig. Frischer kann man Fisch nicht mehr bekommen und näher kann man nicht mehr am Meer sitzen. Der Ausblick auf Torquay und Paignton ist fantastisch, das Essen mit Muscheln, Garnelen und Jakobsmuscheln klasse, der Service sehr freundlich. Gehört zu den besten Restaurants, die wir in den zwei Wochen Frankreich-Ferien hatten.

Situated right on the edge of the ocean, this tiny family run restaurant serves some of the best seafood in the area in some simple but inventive ways. A local crab and chilli cheese bake was delicious to start and my Turbot main course was perfectly cooked and served with some butter sauce and new potatoes. The price (as expected for seafood) was quite high, but it was well worth it as we had a really nice evening..

Came here again as enjoyed it last year, this year wasn’t quite as good, the food was still very good although not as many specials as last year and my scallops main was a little bit grainy but not enough for me to complain about. Main course said it came with crusty bread but it was just sliced brown bread. Service was lacking had to ask twice for water, I didn’t receive a spoon like others did for my main. We went for the later seating compared to the early one last year, the late one felt manic and on arrival a bit rushed but it did settle down. The prices had gone up significantly since last year so we did expect better. Overall good but not quite spot on.

I had a lovely time here and the food was great

Take a walk along the sea front out of the tourist hub and you won't regret it when you stumble on this gem! They seemed busy and we're struggling for space which is always quite a good sign. We managed to get a table outside overlooking the sea pool and beyond. Don't be put off by the plastic traditional style bistro menus, which gives the impression of deep fried fish from the freezer vibes. No this is so much more!... Unfortunately after ordering we were told the dish had sold out, a little disappointed at first just because we really fancied the crab sandwich - but hey ho this happens in hospitality- so we made an alternative choice. The service was impeccable, so friendly, attentive, and automatically bought extra side plates as they knew we were sharing- all the condiments, extra spoons for sauce, and lemon finger bowl and shell plate. They just had it right. And that was before we even ate the food. It completely shocked us how fresh and tasty it all was. The freezer goujons we expected were 2 big pieces of fresh meaty fish hand battered and fried with a delicious herby homemade tartare sauce. Then the mussels, prawns and scallops dish was the tastiest we have had. Sometimes the white wine cream sauce so often with mussels is limp and too harsh with a white flavour not cooked out enough- but this had been reduced and had so much depth of flavour we even found a few bay leaves which was very promising. Overall exceptional portions, value for money, service and food. Will definitely be back and you could see from how many locals were coming back- we wish you all the success.

Disappointed by head waitress attitude. On arrival we were informed that the table we were at was reserved at a certain time, she then pointed out exactly how many hours and minutes it would be until then. So we decided to not order any food and went on our merry way to a friendlier establishment in the town.

Great selection of local and fresh fish You need to bring a bit of wait time for your food to be cooked but its worth it. Outlook to the sunset / sea is phaenomenal

Great view and great food. Lovely spot.

Was slightly underwhelmed by our dinner here. The food was all tasty but I found the accompaniments to the fish that were on offer, pretty uninspiring. Yes the fish is delicious but it would be good to have a selection of different flavoured butters etc on offer as well. Consequently it felt a little on the expensive side. The service was good and it’s a lovely spot.

Stunning food, great views of the lido/coast. Not cheap but for the quality not stupidly expensive either.

Excellent, a little spendy but I would 100% recommend it.

Awesome spot! Great views and vibes.

Such a gorgeous spot, with fantastic food the monkfish in whiskey source was so stunning, I had it on both visits. The scallops in ginger and chilli were some of the best I have ever eaten and amazing to dip the bread in. Would highly recommend this restaurant 3rd time at this taste sensation restaurant, perfect spot, great food, great wine. I tell everyone about this place.

What a fabulous place to eat the kind of food I love with the views of this restaurant. Excellent place to eat.

Love sitting in the window with a beautiful view and pleasant meal. Staff are always welcoming and friendly (thanks Koen). Love the fish options. My veggie partner would always love a wider choice but we are living in "fish town" after all and every restaurant is pretty much the same. Sitting on the terrace with a pre dinner cold beer and a glass of excellent rosé is one of life's pleasures.

Went for a swim in the Lido today, then lunch at Shoals, By far the BEST Fish and Chips I’ve ever tasted ♥️🙌😋. The batter was super crispy from the first bite until the last, and the skin on fries the same. We’ll done chef, and all the waitresses were lovely to. Thanks everyone

The food took a while to come, but boy was it worth the wait! Absolutely delicious. We had the Daily catch - hake on this occasion - cooked to perfection. Also the scallops and monk fish. Again divine. Thank you for an amazing meal. A quirky place next to an outdoor seawater pool, all overlooking the sea. Gorgeous.

Had the most amazing dinner tonight,beautiful surroundings,turbot with scallops,and excellent service 👌

our favourite place to eat ,fantastic food ,very friendly staff that make you feel most welcome,we are local. if you like fish this is the place,the view!!!! what more can i say,👍🤩

What a fantastic find this! Really well cooked fresh, local seafood. Welcoming, with a nice atmosphere and stunning views. It isn’t the cheapest, and you don’t necessarily expect the quality you get from the slightly odd looking building- but don’t judge a book by its cover. The food, staff and service are all fantastic.

Excellent food. I had the fish soup, it was a starter for lunch and it was delicious. This place is well worth a visit. A very good fish specials board. I will be back!

I had the pleasure of dining at this wonderful restaurant by the sea pool, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. The breathtaking sunset provided a stunning backdrop as we indulged in a delightful dinner. The food itself was truly remarkable, with flavors that left a lasting impression. However, I would like to mention that there were a few minor hiccups, as a couple of items from the menu were unfortunately unavailable that night. Nevertheless, these slight inconveniences did not overshadow the overall enjoyment of the evening. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a memorable dining experience.

We came for lunch, I had scallops to start and hake which were both delicious. The staff were so friendly, attentive & the place had a relaxed atmosphere, definitely recommend when in Brixham.

Lovely fresh seafood, great wine