Loch Fyne, Portsmouth – Restaurant Review
The port side location is perfect for The Loch Fyne Restaurant in Gunwharf Quays. Despite being slightly pricier than the other restaurants along the Quays, I found it did outshine them all in freshness and quality of ingredients.
The interior of the restaurant is naval themed; knotted ropes and wooden decking makes the atmosphere ideal for a seafood restaurant. I loved the fact that you could see the cooks in the kitchen; it added to the authenticity and revealed their simple approach to cooking fresh fish.
The restaurant chain takes its name from a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland; and before diversifying into the restaurant business they started out as an oyster company. Loch Fyne begun life as a small oyster shack on the main West Highland road at the head of beautiful Loch Fyne.
Their pledge to care for the marine environment was set in stone at the outset and they have led the way in encouraging sustainable fishing and supporting small, high quality producers, fishermen and farmers around the UK.
I decided to take advantage of their fantastic rate at lunchtime; where they offer a fixed price menu for just twelve pounds. It’s incredible value as you get two courses plus a side, enough to curb even the most voracious of appetites.
After much deliberation, as there was so much sumptuous food to choose from on the varying menu, I started with the mussels.
The mussels were cooked in a Thai style soup which was a fantastic twist on the original moules marniere. They were also served in a rustic metal bowl, with slices of fresh granary bread as an accompaniment. The mussels, which are reared on ropes near the loch’s headwaters at Ardkinglas, are sustainably sourced, like so much of Loch Fyne’s produce.
For the main course, I opted for kiln roast salmon fillet, which was beautifully seasoned; and melted in the mouth, as fresh fish should. I choose to accompany my side with a mixed leaf salad, which although simple, was a lovely light addition to the meal.
The salmon is farmed with care and caution by independent companies, dedicated to looking after the local ecology, and is also accredited by RSPCA Freedom Foods. Those of you who are environmental minded, can rest in the knowledge that the organic salmon is from sustainable sources.
The customer service was also impeccable, and the waitress was very attentive thorough the course of my visit. My only complaint would be that I couldn’t eat more, so I will defiantly be looking forward to another visit in the near future. This really is a restaurant for seafood lovers, and will probably convert most fish haters too!
The freshness of fish, added to the fact that there is a fish counter, so you can even take home some freshly prepared fish; this really is the ultimate seafood dining experience. It is not surprising that Loch Fyne is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most successful restaurant companies; this is one not to be missed.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:02 am
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June 4th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I think i’ve seen this somewhere before…but it’s not bad at all
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