A TINY Scottish restaurant has been voted one of the best new places to eat in the WORLD.
Luxury magazine Conde Nast Traveller ranked it alongside just 28 other fabulous dining experiences on the planet, including the best in France, Italy and the USA in their 2024 Hot List.
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The panel of expert judges hailed it a “beautifully designed seafood restaurant”.
The Fish Shop opened just last year and was given Royal approval when it was visited by King Charles and Queen Camilla, who both know a thing or two about great cuisine.
In fact the Queen returned a few months later to officially open the restaurant, much to the delight of staff.
But don’t be fooled by the name, because The Fish Shop doesn’t sell traditional fish suppers, so as not to upset the local chippy!
Instead it serves up sustainability-focused seafood all sourced from its very own fishmonger right next door in the town of Ballater, near Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside.
It comes from the team behind the eclectic Fife Arms hotel in nearby Braemar, frequently voted one of the best the UK and the world and is run by husband-and-wife team Marcus and Jasmine Sherry.
The Conde Nast Traveller judges said: “ Despite its name, Fish Shop is not a classic British chippy but a smart, double-use venue is the sister property of Scotland’s slickest hotel, the Fife Arms, which is located just 25 minutes away.
“The menu is local and seasonal but might include Cape Wrath oysters in Champagne tempura or Shetland mussels with East Coast cured nduja.”
The interior of the restaurant features 120 floating fish hanging from the ceiling, created by Aberdeen-based artist Helen Jackson using her own homegrown willow.
The laid-back eatery also incorporates salvaged wall lights, portholes, and a table taken from an old Western Isles tender boat. The curtains are made from undyed Scottish linen and the chairs are handcrafted.
All the fish on their menu is ethically-sourced, often caught by hand or creel in Scottish waters the same day. Most of the fruit and veg are grown locally, too.
Dishes include Monkfish tail with cauliflower, pine nuts and sorrel and for meat-lovers there’s Highland beef tartare with smoked oyster mayonnaise.
The restaurant also recently featured in the MICHELIN Guide who said: “Fabulous produce, much of it Scottish, powers a menu that offers a good choice of ways to enjoy your seafood, from a whole undressed crab and natural oysters to fritto misto and lobster taglierini. As always with the best seafood restaurants, keep an eye on the specials board for more fresh delights.”
It also has rave reviews on Tripadvisor, with one commenting: “The fabulous thing about the very best restaurants is that they devise a menu, then deliver dreams. For a few hours, the other afternoon, all mine came true – courtesy of lunch at The Fish Shop, my partner’s ‘special occasion’ treat for me.”
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Another added: “One of the best meals we have had in the UK in last few years, outstanding quality of fish and a real vibe about the restaurant. We had the tasting menu which we would highly recommend. This restaurant is worth a significant journey to experience. We hope to make that trip soon.”
The Fish Shop was ranked alongside London’s Chishuru, Datil in Paris, Saporium in Florence and Le Pristine, in Tokyo.
For the full list of Conde Nast’s Travellers Best New Restaurants in the world: 2024 Hot List see here and for their Hot List Hotels and Cruises 2024 see here