A REVIEW LOCH FYNE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

I dined at Loch Fyne one evening last week, and took the precaution to book a table. We arrived early in the evening, but already the Restaurant was at least half full. We were not too happy with the table offered us, and asked for another nearer the doors on to the terrace garden (unfortunately it was yet another night for not sitting outside). This gave us more light as my guest does not have very good eyesight. This was no problem to them at all; they could not have been more helpful. We had brilliant service throughout the evening, friendly without being over friendly and attentive without too much presence.

We ordered an Alsace wine, which was pleasantly dry with a smooth and faintly aromatic finish, which complemented the fish beautifully. I was slightly disappointed though that it was brought to the table already opened.

Our starters were ‘peppered mackerel pate with oatcakes’, and crab cakes from the ‘specials’ board. Both were delicious, but the crab cakes could have had rather more crab in them, and the mackerel pate was a tad salty, but we tucked in and enjoyed. For our main course we had ‘Pan-fried fillet of organic Shetland cod with roasted vegetable ratatouille’ and ‘Pan-fried fillets of bream with olive oil mash and watercress pesto’. It was difficult to make a decision on what to eat because it is such a sensible menu with a good and balanced choice, and you do not have to have fish if you don’t want to.

However, we felt very happy with our final choice. The cod was perfectly cooked, the flakes succulently falling away, to join the beautifully roasted vegetables. The fillets of bream with a different texture were also perfectly cooked and were excellent with the olive oil mash, the watercress pesto lifting the flavours with subtlety.

We did not reach the pudding stage although they all looked delicious, but we did have an excellent glass of dessert wine each instead.

All in all we were there for nearly four hours, chattering away, enjoying our food, and receiving excellent service, and we were not made to feel we had out stayed our welcome.

A Fyne evening!  

Review by RM 15/8/2007

Editor' Note: Loch Fyne went through a 'troubled' period when it first opened in Midhurst and we had some bad reports; but our reviewer had a successful evening and has given it her 'blessing'. We shall be revisiting the restaurant again in the Autumn.

Another user of the Good Restaurant Guide asked how Loch Fyne compared with Cassons. In short, Loch Fyne is about eating fish, simply and well whereas Cassons - in a different league - is about 'fine dining' with an extensive wine list and ambience to match. See our review on Cassons at Tangmere.

What is quite outstanding with Loch Fyne is its Terrace Garden with 32 covers where you may enjoy just a drink or coffee anytime or have a meal. The original garden with shrubs, flowers and crazy paving has been retained and the view across to the Cowdray Estate and to the Castle is magical on a fine summer's evening and shouldn' t be missed. One visitor said she sat there with her friend for 4 hours and then only left reluctantly. The mangement are quite relaxed about it.

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