The impressive choice of fish varieties at Stein’s blows your average fish and chip shop out of the water. The pebbled counters, shell-framed mirrors and clean interior create a comfortable beachy atmosphere – although it is all too easily packed out by the hordes of families clamouring to sample the Stein reputation. Ultimately, it is the food that matters, and the quality of the fish is impeccable.

The restaurant was created, like the 36 bedrooms across three different Padstow properties, by Jill Stein, hardly the better known of the pair but nonetheless with a crucial role. “There are few well-known women in hospitality,” says Jill, who began by offering bed and breakfast at home at the same time as running the nightclub.

And they eat, these rare folk, in places called ricksteinrestaurants, of which there are several hundred in the throbbing metropolis of Padstow, from the original and epochal Seafood Restaurant (reviewed rapturously by me 20 years ago in a previous piece of intrepid reportage) to smaller offshoots such as Rick Stein’s Café and Stein’s Fish & Chips. But these were all full to the eyeballs with yodelling, ruddy-faced, lusciously blond-haired Cornishmen and women in classic Ralph Lauren cruisewear, chatting of imminent ski trips and week-long Maldivian jaunts before the irksome return to such places as Eton and Kensington, deep beneath the grimy waves.

According to celebrity chef Rick Stein, “The heart of a British seafood restaurant should be great fish and chips.” He especially likes his fish fried in beef dripping, accompanied by freshly-cut chips “which have never been near a freezer”. As you’d expect from a town renowned for its fishing boats, cod and haddock feature alongside countless other species, including hake, bream and lemon sole, plucked fresh from local waters. Everything is cooked to order and available grilled or battered, including gluten-free.

Padstow is Cornwall’s centre for exceptional fish cuisine and it shows this by being home Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurantwhich is probably the best restaurant in England as far as fish and seafood are concerned. Also Stein’s Fish & Chip s – a cheaper version of Stein’s fine cuisine, and I can confirm that the prices here are much more relative to a normal Fish & Chip shop but they are meant to be some of the best still. Essentially, eating good food should be high on your list of things to do in Padstow!

If you’re looking for some Padstow fish and chips but still want to claim that you had a Rick-related experience, pull out a stool at Stein's Fish & Chips for a classy taste of the coast. Order a classic battered cod or haddock or opt for some bream or lemon sole, all served with thick-cut chips that have never seen a freezer. Settle down at the traditional wooden tables and patiently wait as your ketchup creeps out of a glass bottle – fancy – or arrange a takeaway and stroll upon the shore.

Stein's Fish & Chips offers a dining experience with both a restaurant and takeaway option, set in the picturesque town of Padstow on North Cornwall's stunning coastline, overlooking the Camel Estuary. Their menu features classic options such as cod and haddock alongside an extensive selection of locally sourced fish varieties including hake, monkfish, John Dory, and bass—often delivered fresh from Padstow itself. Looking for a holiday cottage in Padstow, we've got all your needs covered.

There’s always a queue for Rick Stein’s stylish take on a traditional chippy with its white tiled walls and simple wooden bench seating, but it’s worth the wait. A selection of fish including hake, sea bass and, of course, cod is deep-fried to perfection in beef dripping in the crispiest homemade batter and served with proper thick chips. For something a bit different try the chickpea curry or samosas with tamarind chutney supplied by two Michelin starred chef Sat Bains and his family.

Ah, there’s nothing quite like indulging in classic fish and chips with your closest friends and family, especially in the scenic setting of Padstow Harbour. As we sat there, the sea air filling our lungs and the seagulls providing a coastal soundtrack, our crabbing nets were busy doing their thing in the water below. The portions were incredibly generous, almost as if challenging us to see who could finish first.

Tucked away in the heart of Padstow sits a gem known as Stein’s Fish & Chips, a must-visit destination for seafood enthusiasts. Renowned chef Rick Stein brings his culinary expertise to this humble dish, elevating it to new heights. The secret behind their delectable fish and chips lies in the quality of ingredients – fresh catch from local waters and potatoes sourced from nearby farms.

Rick Stein’s Cafe adds yet another string to the celebrity chef’s bow and is a casual, family-friendly space complete with three contemporary bedrooms upstairs that can be rented for overnight stays. The Cafe features a pleasant, rather intimate dining room with bright contemporary art on the walls and close-packed wood tables, with young and cheerful service matching the ambience.

For the gourmand mariner this could prove a good reason for visiting Padstow, where they will have a choice of The Seafood Restaurant, St Petroc's Bistro, Rick Stein's Café and Stein’s Fish & Chips. The problem is naturally that everyone else wants to eat at one of these establishments and you need to book weeks in advance during the summer. We provide a link to his website below:

There’s so much to choose from – hake, cod, haddock, sea bass and chips with goan curry sauce, or if you’re feeling like something a little different, opt for the fish chilli burger or fresh fish tacos. You can take away your fish of choice to enjoy wherever you can find the best view, or choose to dine in and try a sharing platter with friends or family.

2022 Review: “Well worth a visit if in the Padstein area” when you're in the market for “great fish ’n’ chips”; “other Rick Stein eateries are available but this one has views over the estuary” – although they come with the caveat that your reveries “can be interrupted by tourists peering through the window to see what is on your plate!.

Situated on the quay on the main route to and from the car park, the smells emanating from this fish and chip shop make it hard to resist. As well as its famous battered cod, they have other varieties of fish served battered or grilled alongside hand-cut chips. You can dine inside if there is space, otherwise takeaway is available.

Rick Stein's Padstow chippie is as good as you'd expect, with a choice of locally caught fish served with proper chip-shop chips. Go for the take-away option, and enjoy a box of fish'n'chips perched on a bench by the harbour (watch out for gulls). Drench them with vinegar, and eat them with a wooden fork for a real nostalgia trip.

One of Mr Stein’s numerous conquests, the quality of food served in Stein’s Seafood Restaurant cannot be denied. Stein’s flagship restaurant in the heart of Padstow, this restaurant has established an international following, embodying Rick’s love for fresh, quality seafood. Also, visit the Bib Gourmand-awarded Rick Stein's Cafe.

Famous throughout Cornwall and the UK, you can’t deny that Rick Stein’s fish and chips are pretty damn good!. They also offer lots of other great seafood (including battered oysters – yum!). The only reason they don’t get joint first place is because they’re super expensive.

You can’t visit Padstow without having fish and chips, and if you want fish and chips then you need to go to Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips. The venue (one of many he owns in Cornwall) has a takeaway and sit down option in a casual environment. It’s ideal for kids.

On the coast overlooking the Camel Estuary, Rick Stein’s fish and chips boasts both an informal restaurant and takeaway. Serving hand-cut chips and freshly battered fish, as well as an array of other tempting dishes, the food here is some of the best.

If you’re after the most delicious fish and chips head down to the South Quay and you will find Rick Stein’s famous fish and chip restaurant and takeaway. He’s said himself all the fish is ‘prepared with love’, that’s probably why its so tasty!

Featuring a large range of locally sourced fish served battered or grilled alongside famous favourite sauces and sides, our hand-cut chips or even oysters to shuck.

Then there are all the other Rick Stein outlets, including St Petroc’s Bistro, Rick Stein’s Café, Stein’s Deli and Shop, Stein’s Patisserie, Stein’s Fish and Chips…

Choose a bench and place your order using our app or grab a takeaway and find your favourite spot on the harbour or along the Camel Estuary to take in the views.