Downey’s Fish & Chips Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The fish and chips are one of the best I have had in a long time, great value for money the portions are very good."
• "The fish was AMAZING. It was the best fish I've ever had."
• "Fish was gorgeus! Very tasty, crispy, not fat and just the right amount of crumbs around."
• "Quality of the fish and chips was top drawer, lovely cod fillets in a nice batter with a generous portion of chips, piping hot freshly cooked to order."
• "Excellent cod and chips: crispy batter, beautifully cooked, flaky fish and tasty chips."
• "The best fish n chips we've had. The fish was succulent covered in a thin tasty batter."
• "The fish & chips are very well cooked with the fish having light crispy batter."

Cons:

• "Very expensive and asked for a large Cod which was £9.50!"
• "Prices have been put up like most places so you can't even get fish and chips for the family at a reasonable price any more."
• "Both the fish and chips tasted quite bland even with the addition of salt and pepper."
• "The service was slow and the batter on the fish wasn’t cooked properly."
• "The chips were undercooked and not hot enough."
• "Fish n chips were only so so, even though cooked in beef dripping which gives them the best taste usually."
• "Unfortunately the fish & chips were average, nothing to write home about."

Service

Pros:

• "Service was very good, staff were there when needed."
• "Fabulous staff 😊"
• "Staff were excellent. 10 out if 10 for the entire experience."
• "A very nice restaurant with equally nice and helpful and attentive staff."
• "Staff were super nice... the woman who seated us could not have been more attentive."
• "Friendly and helpful staff."
• "The staff were lovely and very efficient in taking orders in the queue and serving the food."

Cons:

• "The wait was over 45 mins no apology staff where to busy having a mother’s meeting slating customer an got the order wrong asked for curry sauce an got bland mushy peas."
• "We've loved this place since it opened. We had family visiting from the Midlands so we thought it would be nice to get them some proper fish and chips. The service we received was awful. Big let down."
• "Didn't appreciate staff by passing me and the Mrs when we had wanted 20 mins."
• "Staff extremely rude!!! Did not understand about gluten intolerance!!"
• "The service we received was awful. Big let down."
• "The waiting staff were really miserable & wouldn't even crack a smile."
• "Unfortunately, despite how nice the food was, the experience was spoiled by the attitude of one of the waiting staff, hardly spoke, didn't say please, thank you, no interaction with customers."

Atmosphere & Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Marvellous fish & chips for Mrs Wifey & me to eat looking out to sea from the car at a storm tossed Seaham."
• "Lovely, spacious room for lot's of people who want to enjoy the free time."
• "Great service and indoor decor."
• "On a positive note, the restaurant itself was light with smart white tiles on the wall & smart comfortable seating booths."
• "Nice inside areas to eat and outside with Seaview!"
• "The restaurant is spacious and bright and at the time of visit quite clean."
• "Plenty of parking opposite by the memorial monument with ample seating looking out to sea."

Cons:

• "Only downside about this place is the crowding which at times is a no go due to a virus still about."
• "No eating in allowed still which is a shame."
• "The shop was very busy and crowded we had a long wait for food we weren't given any serviettes yet we had lemon on our plates the food was fine but very expensive not worth the price."
• "Restaurant could have been tidier."
• "I was horrified to see that these tables were not cleaned between customers."
• "The batter on the fish wasn’t very nice, it was soft, overcooked and tasted funny."
• "Staff on the till not welcoming, looking at their face feels someone is pushing them to do jobs."

Value

Pros:

• "Great quality food and portion size at reasonable prices."
• "The food is great and at a reasonable price."
• "Lovely sized portion of fish and chips, and a really good price - 9 quid for fish, chips, side (beans, peas, curry) and bread and butter."
• "Amazing fresh fish, with excellent batter and scraps, and delicious chips at a very reasonable price."
• "This is an honest to goodness classic British fish and chip shop. Portions are sizable and good value, no shame in asking for a small here."
• "Best fish and chips in seaham! You can eat in or take out, worth the wait on a busy day."
• "Great quality and value with a friendly service."

Cons:

• "Very expensive and asked for a large Cod which was £9.50!"
• "Prices have been put up like most places so you can't even get fish and chips for the family at a reasonable price any more."
• "We were very disappointed tonight as we found that not only had the fish and chips increased to £9 but the fish were half the size as normal."
• "The shop was very busy and crowded we had a long wait for food we weren't given any serviettes yet we had lemon on our plates the food was fine but very expensive not worth the price."
• "Over £12 for Fish and Chips as a takeaway is outrageous even in the current climate!"
• "Slightly on the pricey end of the spectrum for fish and chips."
• "This place does not offer value for money."