Riley's Fish Shack Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Food is of thy highest standard, tasty and well presented with stunning views over the beach."
• "Some of the best seafood I've ever had and in such a lovely place."
• "The food was fantastic. It really loved up to our expectations."
• "The oysters were perfectly plump and full of flavour and the monkfish spicy and beautifully cooked."
• "The food is amazing, cooked fresh from whatever the local catch of the day is."
• "The quality of fish is excellent. The monkfish teriyaki kebab was exceptional and the halibut chop amazing."
• "Everything was incredibly tasty and beautifully cooked."

Cons:

• "I would skip the oysters as they weren't great."
• "The food was average, and so was the service, which save for one or two borders on arrogance."
• "The potatoes did ruin the meal due to the overwhelming taste of charcoal."
• "The monk fish itself wasn’t very tasty and rubbery and the plaice very average."
• "The burnt pieces of potato were essentially charcoal and they were too hard to physically eat."
• "Was not a lot of meat on the fish and it was very boney."
• "Some coated Haddock with a pesto/caper sauce that dominated the fish which I could barely taste because of its potency."

Service

Pros:

• "The staff were very attentive and the food was as brilliant as ever."
• "Very friendly staff, very fresh food, perfect location."
• "Great staff, fresh fish well cooked and a hipster vibe that includes fires on the beach."
• "The staff were lovely, organised and knowledgeable."
• "Service was good and our food was brought out fairly promptly."
• "The staff are friendly and attentive!"
• "Service was super friendly & knowledgeable."

Cons:

• "Part of me did think that the restaurant-level prices were too high for a place where most people were perched outside under blankets."
• "Don’t go there on a Sunday evening when they are running out of stock."
• "This review is only off todays visit…….. I know it’s Popular, but 25 minute wait for 2 takeaway coffees and a hot chocolate is poor service."
• "The only downside was the staff; they were far too overstretched, which made them quite short and stressy."
• "Not sure if a 'discretionary' service charge of 12.5% on the bill (without an offer to remove) is acceptable for two people."
• "The service was slow and we were never asked if we wanted any more drinks."
• "Service was markedly slow and we ordered drinks and food at the same instance to avoid further delay."

Atmosphere & Location

Pros:

• "Well worth the walk down onto the beach."
• "The location can't be beaten with stunning views over the bay."
• "It simply is one of the best places for food in the UK."
• "The whole experience was amazing, staff were great and I'd definitely go back next time we're in Tynemouth."
• "The service was second to none, a totally unique dining experience that makes you feel like you're on holiday."
• "The setting is exquisite, beautifully back dropped by the sea rolling out from King Edwards bay."
• "A gorgeous day, with beautiful surroundings."

Cons:

• "It was a surprise to find the seating facing the sea exposed only covered by a canopy."
• "Toilets installed within 30m of venue, overflowing, waste running down towards establishment as only one working."
• "No lights on externally with no music so quite disappointing."
• "Very expensive and some food was a bit small and a bit cold (others in out group)."
• "Called in while out on a bike ride for a coffee before return leg and was told we couldn't have coffee if we weren't eating even though we only wanted to take away."
• "And it smelt horrible in the stack."
• "No hand sanitizer available for guests using the bathroom, or available at check in."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "£100 deposit was steep however high prices are merited by the quality of food and ample portions!"
• "The food was expensive, but delicious, so worth it."
• "While it can seem a bit pricey, it's worth every penny."
• "Overall a definite treat and a must if you're in the area."
• "Had a wonderful experience at Riley's! We all agreed it was some of the best seafood we have eaten - everything we tried was absolutely delicious and the portion sizes were also very reasonable."
• "Yes the prices are on the high end but well worth every penny."
• "May be pricy but it’s worth it."

Cons:

• "Lost itself. Went from being a casual, friendly establishment which served outstanding seafood to an overpriced and distinctly pompous venue."
• "The prices are outrageous for the portion size."
• "Food tastes amazing but removed two stars for the following reasons: firstly due to expense."
• "Prices seem to have been inflated, and a 15% service charge now gets added, which they only tell you about when you get the bill."
• "£80 would buy you a healthy sized seafood platter in pretty much any coastal resort in the UK so using that as a benchmark I think Riley's needs to get back to basics."
• "The prices are outrageous for the portion size, and the quality did not mitigate that disparity, with fairly average food served."
• "Unfortunately the Seabass was raw in the thick loin though so we had to leave a fair chunk of it."