Visit for my birthday. What a fantastic restaurant. Food was amazing and staff so friendly. Sadly 1 set of very loud and obnoxious patrons but this was not the staffs fault.
MerialE1
We hgd an excellent lunch with an amazing view. I was a bit concerned having read some of the reviews, but I'm glad I decided to see and taste for myself. First of all, the restaurant is in a brilliant location, perched above the harbour with views of the bay, Golden Cap and Portland in the distance. It is furnished in the casual style of most of the seafood restaurants I have enjoyed in the South West and I couldn't give a fig if the tables are from Ikea (as commented upon in other reviews), as long as the food is sublime; wouldn't you rather pay for excellent food rather than extra for high end decor? The staff were super friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. We had excellent oysters to start - a mix of cold and hot. We couldn't resist the idea of smoked anchovies with the Wiltshire beets for the second course and they didn't disappoint. A masterful balance of potentially big flavours: earthy slivers of beetroot, smoky anchovies (not vinegary, which they can often be), and a delicate dressing with horseradish shavings. We chose the fish platter for two, enticed by slip sole, bass and gurnard. Sadly the last piece of gurnard had just been served to our dining neighbours, but this was replaced with perfectly cooked cod. The slip sole was the highlight and we found that the excellent sauce verte complimented it really well, while enjoying the hollandaise with the more meaty fish. The fries were perfect and the accompanying salad of watercress and macerated red onion was dressed beautifully. We also enjoyed the wilted greens on the fish platter - sea beets, perhaps? The fish dish was served on a metal platter in a simple format which showed off the fillets of fish, which were of course the main attraction. Again, my observation is that this is pretty standard in most seafood restaurants, so no complaints here. The fish knives did their job of sliding the meat of the bony sole perfectly; if you don't know how to do this, I am sure the waiting staff would show you. The chips came in a hot tin, which was great, but sadly our plates weren't warm, which is literally the only criticism of the entire experience. As the preceding courses had been of an expertly judged size, we had room for pudding! I love treacle tart but nearly always find that it is heavy, too sweet and often too citrussy; however, having had excellent courses so far, I was sure that a Hix treacle tart would be good and I was again rewarded. The pastry was fine and crisp, the treacle filling was very light and not cloyingly sweet - the best treacle tart that I have had in a restaurant. To accompany pudding, as the driver, I chose to have a cup of Tregnothnan tea, which I always drink black and whose malty, lightly tannic flavours cut through the sweetness of the pudding. To drink, my partner enjoyed a flinty Albarino, while I was delighted with my non-alcoholic cocktail; I later chose a glass of a nicely rounded Viognier We appreciated the short, well chosen wine list which champions English wine. After lunch, we took a bracing walk round the harbour which was really busy with others enjoying an afternoon by the sea. We were surprised to find how lively Lyme Regis was on the first Sunday of January - the shops were open and the place was buzzing. Bring appropriate footwear if you are planning a hoof round the town - the hills are steep! The car park was only a short walk up the hill above the restaurant, so you could always dress up for lunch and then go back to the car to change into more comfortable shoes. Unusually, we were so busy enjoying ourselves that we didn't take any pictures of the food; it didn't really feel appropriate. So I hope my description has helped you visualise our culinary experience. This was our first visit to The Oyster and Fish House and we will definitely be back!
Lesley S
Unfortunately our New Year’s Eve experience turned out to be a disappointing ordeal. However good the food is, our starters and desserts were exceptional, it doesn’t compensate for poor restaurant management. We arrived a little early for our 5pm fixed price menu NY dinner but turned away as the restaurant was still full of lunchtime diners. Fair enough. But pouring with rain and when we returned at 5pm we were made to queue with several other people in the entranceway. Still we finally got seated and waited patiently while drinks were served, for our food. Over an hour before anything arrived. Not even a simple bread basket. Then another hour before the main course. We decided to just pay the bill and leave before our last course but that appeared 50 minutes later. I don’t think we were the only guests exasperated by the slow dinner service. Something needs to change.
Belle1312
Booked by some friends as they had heard good things about this place. Very disappointing experience. We were seated at our table which was still dirty from the previous occupants, salt and pepper all over the place. Knives missing from 2 place settings. Not a good start. The food was mediocre but sooooo pricey £28.00 for a prawn burger and fries, okay there was a fair number of prawns in it, but really £28.00. One of our party opted for the Bacon Chop a whopping £27.00, you then had to order veg and or fries on top of that. The veg consisted of 2 green leaves, undercooked pieces of parsnip and 2 very thin slices of what looked like swede, all swimming in butter. Will not be in any hurry to return, paying for a name, although I must admit I had not heard of this chef before. If you value your wallet – Avoid. On the positive - The view was exceptional, but could have got that eating fish and chips from the local chippy.
MsNTL
Having holidayed in Lyme Regis for many years, we returned for our Christmas break. We’ve always visited Hix on our trips, something of a little treat to ourselves, so made sure we booked way in advance to enjoy a visit. Unfortunately, we didn’t visit this time around after all. Walking our dog through the garden on Christmas Day we had a good look through the window and in the broad daylight we could see just how unclean the place looked. The table edges and legs looked ingrained with years of filth, the same old IKEA glasses being used from years ago that had seen too many dishwasher cycles. Basically, no monies reinvested in the restaurant in years, just a really run down looking cafe, not a high end restaurant charging the prices they do. Then I saw the owner throwing back cocktails elsewhere in Lyme. First thought was “less bloody Mary’s mate, and a bit more bleach spray”……even the sign on the road is covered in green mould, 5 mins once a month with some anti bacterial wipes would sort that out. It’s been a few years since our last visit, granted, but just don’t understand why this place has gone so badly downhill, it used to be such a treat, now it very much isnt. So glad we cancelled, I’d have been furious to spend that amount of money to sit in somewhere that now resembles a bus station cafe.
TortyHutton
Such relaxed vibes, delicious food and brilliant views. Thanks so much, we loved it and can’t wait to come back x
Ines E
Very disappointed! We decided on the shared fish platter, £60. What arrived was literally a large baking tray with a grilled plaice, all intact. An 8-10 cm piece of Sea bass and a smallish gurnard with some garnishing on top and a little bowl of parsley sauce. Sides consisted of a small little container of fries and a bowl of finely sliced butternut and kale. Not being butter fans we opted out of the butter sauce for the winter vegetables which were hardly seasoned.The whole lot was completely underwhelming. Well cooked fish but because of my lack of experience of filleting the fish we ended up with loads of bones. We loved that it was dog friendly and the staff were friendly too. Definitely not worth the money paid. Wine was good too.
Neil L
Had a lovely birthday lunch here and from the moment we walked in we were thoroughly looked after. I had a couple of glasses of wine and the Hix Smokehouse Trout to start which was excellent, then a lobster salad with fries which was fantastic. The staff were really friendly and attentive. Would absolutely recommend. Thank you
Mike Jones
Sunday afternoon meal for two. The fish, vegetables and desserts were lovely. OK prices. Disappointing that there were no proper chips as the French fries were disappointing, especially when having to pay £5 for a small portion. I’ve docked three stars for the following reasons. Firstly, the table top was sticky. Probably from cleaning products interacting with the varnish but it makes it feel unclean. Secondly, the toilet by the front door was not clean and felt grungy. It was wet all around the floor area to the front and side of the bowl, and the door in particular was dirty with a lock that looked like an afterthought bodge job. Not pleasant to use. Finally, the restaurant was not busy but there was no attention from the staff apart from when serving. We had to go to the bar to ask for more water for the table and as they had taken the side plates away, use the small dish the vegetables were served in for waste shells, bones, etc. The staff were very pleasant but not as attentive as I expect from a higher end local restaurant.
Q9858RAanthonyr
Fantastic food in a stunning location with a superb atmosphere, all served by the wonderful Lauren, who really made our evening! You have to try the cockle popcorn!
We've dined at The Oyster & Fish House ever since Mark Hix opened it. We stayed loyal when the empire collapsed and he bought back this place. We supported him through lockdown when things were tough. We've dined in his kitchen in Charmouth. We supported his campaign to retain the decking. We've enjoyed the various food festivals he's been behind. And over all these years/experiences we've enjoyed great food, great wine, great service, and great ambience, all driven by the great man himself. But I think we may have dined for the last time at Hix, based upon our most recent experience. I hope that Mark and his team read this and make changes - but judging by the lack of response to other reviews I fear they might not. I have not desire to see the restaurant fail. It is an asset to the fantastic food scene in Lyme. However that itself presents a problem, in that diners now have other options when looking for somewhere good to eat. On our most recent visit :- The greeting was lack lustre and we were kept waiting in the doorway whilst the managers had a chat. We ended up being looked after by one of the managers (Nick?) who possibly thought he was being charming to the women in our group, but just came across as smarmy and obsequious, smelling really strongly of the various cigarettes he smoked throughout service. The menu was rather limited - of which I do not have an issue - but the prices have escalated. I appreciate that fish has become more expensive, but the prices being sought were excessive. As were the side dishes. They were only surpassed by the prices of the wines. Notwithstanding the normal restaurant mark up, these were excessive The tables, chairs and floor were strangely sticky. The whole place felt like it needed a good clean, and maybe a lick of paint The food was well cooked, but failed to excite. Please Mark find some time - amongst your many other interests with The Telegraph, The Groucho etc - and have a close look at the Oyster & Fish House and bring it back to the fantastic venue it used to be. Yours hopefully. A loyal diner
Maxine E
Save your money, go elsewhere. Terrible service. We waited over an hour to be served after ordering. Staff were loud and scruffy. Terribly expencive. Over £200.00 for a bit of overcooked bony fish, honestly hardly enough food, we sent back the salad which was bitter and rancid. Cold and drafty. Save your money, go elsewhere.
maxsil22
Dear Mr Hix, We love your kitchen a lot, your restaurant's location is a dream and we are so happy to have discovered your restaurant among the rest of Lyme Regis lamentable dining establishments; However, with the best of intentions, we would make some comments and offer some suggestions to make the Hix experience memorable. We have visited your place e few times and on all occasions we have been disappointed to find "STIKY" tables and floor surfaces which, becouse of the wooden finish are very difficult to keep in perfect conditions; you already provide large immaculate white table cloth seviettes which is great! What about if you would add equally immaculate white table cloths to elevate the appearance and the tone of place to match the quality and presentation of your splendid menu?? This would eliminate the stikiness at a stroke and raise the standard by several notches. Perhaps you are happy to mantain the existing arrangement to keep it rustic and informal but, trust me, your patrons will appreciate and value this small improvement when they do not have experience the stikiness!! Looking forward to our next visit. Max
Russdlowe
We had a fantastic meal on Friday night. It was an anniversary meal and they allocated us a lovely window seat. Having selected our choices from a tasty looking menu, it was explained the prawns came whole. Not a problem for a man who regularly has to peel prawns for his wife. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and pace of the meal, along with the relaxed ambience of the restaurant. The restaurant team were great also and in particular our waitress was excellent all night (short with short blonde hair and a cap, in case Mr Hix reads this!). Nothing was a bother for her and she made the meal feel comfortable, with her chat and service. She also had 2 very difficult tables to deal with at the same time and managed them well and still managed to provide a smile. A nice little anniversary gift was also presented to us, which was a lovely end to the night. Thank you to the whole team for a fabulous night.
Charles Bellington
A fantastic meal.The seafood was extremely fresh and everything was made with great care and attention to detail. It’s the first time we’ve had cockles popcorn and it was delicious - especially with vinegar drizzled on top. The mussels were divine and the prawn burger was very filling and packed with prawn. The scrumpy (fried oyster) was very well made - considering how wet oysters can get, it was impressive that they came out so crispy.The team was attentive and the place has a lovely view. Very glad we found this place during our visit and managed to book a table.
Visit for my birthday. What a fantastic restaurant. Food was amazing and staff so friendly. Sadly 1 set of very loud and obnoxious patrons but this was not the staffs fault.
We hgd an excellent lunch with an amazing view. I was a bit concerned having read some of the reviews, but I'm glad I decided to see and taste for myself. First of all, the restaurant is in a brilliant location, perched above the harbour with views of the bay, Golden Cap and Portland in the distance. It is furnished in the casual style of most of the seafood restaurants I have enjoyed in the South West and I couldn't give a fig if the tables are from Ikea (as commented upon in other reviews), as long as the food is sublime; wouldn't you rather pay for excellent food rather than extra for high end decor? The staff were super friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. We had excellent oysters to start - a mix of cold and hot. We couldn't resist the idea of smoked anchovies with the Wiltshire beets for the second course and they didn't disappoint. A masterful balance of potentially big flavours: earthy slivers of beetroot, smoky anchovies (not vinegary, which they can often be), and a delicate dressing with horseradish shavings. We chose the fish platter for two, enticed by slip sole, bass and gurnard. Sadly the last piece of gurnard had just been served to our dining neighbours, but this was replaced with perfectly cooked cod. The slip sole was the highlight and we found that the excellent sauce verte complimented it really well, while enjoying the hollandaise with the more meaty fish. The fries were perfect and the accompanying salad of watercress and macerated red onion was dressed beautifully. We also enjoyed the wilted greens on the fish platter - sea beets, perhaps? The fish dish was served on a metal platter in a simple format which showed off the fillets of fish, which were of course the main attraction. Again, my observation is that this is pretty standard in most seafood restaurants, so no complaints here. The fish knives did their job of sliding the meat of the bony sole perfectly; if you don't know how to do this, I am sure the waiting staff would show you. The chips came in a hot tin, which was great, but sadly our plates weren't warm, which is literally the only criticism of the entire experience. As the preceding courses had been of an expertly judged size, we had room for pudding! I love treacle tart but nearly always find that it is heavy, too sweet and often too citrussy; however, having had excellent courses so far, I was sure that a Hix treacle tart would be good and I was again rewarded. The pastry was fine and crisp, the treacle filling was very light and not cloyingly sweet - the best treacle tart that I have had in a restaurant. To accompany pudding, as the driver, I chose to have a cup of Tregnothnan tea, which I always drink black and whose malty, lightly tannic flavours cut through the sweetness of the pudding. To drink, my partner enjoyed a flinty Albarino, while I was delighted with my non-alcoholic cocktail; I later chose a glass of a nicely rounded Viognier We appreciated the short, well chosen wine list which champions English wine. After lunch, we took a bracing walk round the harbour which was really busy with others enjoying an afternoon by the sea. We were surprised to find how lively Lyme Regis was on the first Sunday of January - the shops were open and the place was buzzing. Bring appropriate footwear if you are planning a hoof round the town - the hills are steep! The car park was only a short walk up the hill above the restaurant, so you could always dress up for lunch and then go back to the car to change into more comfortable shoes. Unusually, we were so busy enjoying ourselves that we didn't take any pictures of the food; it didn't really feel appropriate. So I hope my description has helped you visualise our culinary experience. This was our first visit to The Oyster and Fish House and we will definitely be back!
Unfortunately our New Year’s Eve experience turned out to be a disappointing ordeal. However good the food is, our starters and desserts were exceptional, it doesn’t compensate for poor restaurant management. We arrived a little early for our 5pm fixed price menu NY dinner but turned away as the restaurant was still full of lunchtime diners. Fair enough. But pouring with rain and when we returned at 5pm we were made to queue with several other people in the entranceway. Still we finally got seated and waited patiently while drinks were served, for our food. Over an hour before anything arrived. Not even a simple bread basket. Then another hour before the main course. We decided to just pay the bill and leave before our last course but that appeared 50 minutes later. I don’t think we were the only guests exasperated by the slow dinner service. Something needs to change.
Booked by some friends as they had heard good things about this place. Very disappointing experience. We were seated at our table which was still dirty from the previous occupants, salt and pepper all over the place. Knives missing from 2 place settings. Not a good start. The food was mediocre but sooooo pricey £28.00 for a prawn burger and fries, okay there was a fair number of prawns in it, but really £28.00. One of our party opted for the Bacon Chop a whopping £27.00, you then had to order veg and or fries on top of that. The veg consisted of 2 green leaves, undercooked pieces of parsnip and 2 very thin slices of what looked like swede, all swimming in butter. Will not be in any hurry to return, paying for a name, although I must admit I had not heard of this chef before. If you value your wallet – Avoid. On the positive - The view was exceptional, but could have got that eating fish and chips from the local chippy.
Having holidayed in Lyme Regis for many years, we returned for our Christmas break. We’ve always visited Hix on our trips, something of a little treat to ourselves, so made sure we booked way in advance to enjoy a visit. Unfortunately, we didn’t visit this time around after all. Walking our dog through the garden on Christmas Day we had a good look through the window and in the broad daylight we could see just how unclean the place looked. The table edges and legs looked ingrained with years of filth, the same old IKEA glasses being used from years ago that had seen too many dishwasher cycles. Basically, no monies reinvested in the restaurant in years, just a really run down looking cafe, not a high end restaurant charging the prices they do. Then I saw the owner throwing back cocktails elsewhere in Lyme. First thought was “less bloody Mary’s mate, and a bit more bleach spray”……even the sign on the road is covered in green mould, 5 mins once a month with some anti bacterial wipes would sort that out. It’s been a few years since our last visit, granted, but just don’t understand why this place has gone so badly downhill, it used to be such a treat, now it very much isnt. So glad we cancelled, I’d have been furious to spend that amount of money to sit in somewhere that now resembles a bus station cafe.
Such relaxed vibes, delicious food and brilliant views. Thanks so much, we loved it and can’t wait to come back x
Very disappointed! We decided on the shared fish platter, £60. What arrived was literally a large baking tray with a grilled plaice, all intact. An 8-10 cm piece of Sea bass and a smallish gurnard with some garnishing on top and a little bowl of parsley sauce. Sides consisted of a small little container of fries and a bowl of finely sliced butternut and kale. Not being butter fans we opted out of the butter sauce for the winter vegetables which were hardly seasoned.The whole lot was completely underwhelming. Well cooked fish but because of my lack of experience of filleting the fish we ended up with loads of bones. We loved that it was dog friendly and the staff were friendly too. Definitely not worth the money paid. Wine was good too.
Had a lovely birthday lunch here and from the moment we walked in we were thoroughly looked after. I had a couple of glasses of wine and the Hix Smokehouse Trout to start which was excellent, then a lobster salad with fries which was fantastic. The staff were really friendly and attentive. Would absolutely recommend. Thank you
Sunday afternoon meal for two. The fish, vegetables and desserts were lovely. OK prices. Disappointing that there were no proper chips as the French fries were disappointing, especially when having to pay £5 for a small portion. I’ve docked three stars for the following reasons. Firstly, the table top was sticky. Probably from cleaning products interacting with the varnish but it makes it feel unclean. Secondly, the toilet by the front door was not clean and felt grungy. It was wet all around the floor area to the front and side of the bowl, and the door in particular was dirty with a lock that looked like an afterthought bodge job. Not pleasant to use. Finally, the restaurant was not busy but there was no attention from the staff apart from when serving. We had to go to the bar to ask for more water for the table and as they had taken the side plates away, use the small dish the vegetables were served in for waste shells, bones, etc. The staff were very pleasant but not as attentive as I expect from a higher end local restaurant.
Fantastic food in a stunning location with a superb atmosphere, all served by the wonderful Lauren, who really made our evening! You have to try the cockle popcorn!
Restaurantji Recommends
We've dined at The Oyster & Fish House ever since Mark Hix opened it. We stayed loyal when the empire collapsed and he bought back this place. We supported him through lockdown when things were tough. We've dined in his kitchen in Charmouth. We supported his campaign to retain the decking. We've enjoyed the various food festivals he's been behind. And over all these years/experiences we've enjoyed great food, great wine, great service, and great ambience, all driven by the great man himself. But I think we may have dined for the last time at Hix, based upon our most recent experience. I hope that Mark and his team read this and make changes - but judging by the lack of response to other reviews I fear they might not. I have not desire to see the restaurant fail. It is an asset to the fantastic food scene in Lyme. However that itself presents a problem, in that diners now have other options when looking for somewhere good to eat. On our most recent visit :- The greeting was lack lustre and we were kept waiting in the doorway whilst the managers had a chat. We ended up being looked after by one of the managers (Nick?) who possibly thought he was being charming to the women in our group, but just came across as smarmy and obsequious, smelling really strongly of the various cigarettes he smoked throughout service. The menu was rather limited - of which I do not have an issue - but the prices have escalated. I appreciate that fish has become more expensive, but the prices being sought were excessive. As were the side dishes. They were only surpassed by the prices of the wines. Notwithstanding the normal restaurant mark up, these were excessive The tables, chairs and floor were strangely sticky. The whole place felt like it needed a good clean, and maybe a lick of paint The food was well cooked, but failed to excite. Please Mark find some time - amongst your many other interests with The Telegraph, The Groucho etc - and have a close look at the Oyster & Fish House and bring it back to the fantastic venue it used to be. Yours hopefully. A loyal diner
Save your money, go elsewhere. Terrible service. We waited over an hour to be served after ordering. Staff were loud and scruffy. Terribly expencive. Over £200.00 for a bit of overcooked bony fish, honestly hardly enough food, we sent back the salad which was bitter and rancid. Cold and drafty. Save your money, go elsewhere.
Dear Mr Hix, We love your kitchen a lot, your restaurant's location is a dream and we are so happy to have discovered your restaurant among the rest of Lyme Regis lamentable dining establishments; However, with the best of intentions, we would make some comments and offer some suggestions to make the Hix experience memorable. We have visited your place e few times and on all occasions we have been disappointed to find "STIKY" tables and floor surfaces which, becouse of the wooden finish are very difficult to keep in perfect conditions; you already provide large immaculate white table cloth seviettes which is great! What about if you would add equally immaculate white table cloths to elevate the appearance and the tone of place to match the quality and presentation of your splendid menu?? This would eliminate the stikiness at a stroke and raise the standard by several notches. Perhaps you are happy to mantain the existing arrangement to keep it rustic and informal but, trust me, your patrons will appreciate and value this small improvement when they do not have experience the stikiness!! Looking forward to our next visit. Max
We had a fantastic meal on Friday night. It was an anniversary meal and they allocated us a lovely window seat. Having selected our choices from a tasty looking menu, it was explained the prawns came whole. Not a problem for a man who regularly has to peel prawns for his wife. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and pace of the meal, along with the relaxed ambience of the restaurant. The restaurant team were great also and in particular our waitress was excellent all night (short with short blonde hair and a cap, in case Mr Hix reads this!). Nothing was a bother for her and she made the meal feel comfortable, with her chat and service. She also had 2 very difficult tables to deal with at the same time and managed them well and still managed to provide a smile. A nice little anniversary gift was also presented to us, which was a lovely end to the night. Thank you to the whole team for a fabulous night.
A fantastic meal.The seafood was extremely fresh and everything was made with great care and attention to detail. It’s the first time we’ve had cockles popcorn and it was delicious - especially with vinegar drizzled on top. The mussels were divine and the prawn burger was very filling and packed with prawn. The scrumpy (fried oyster) was very well made - considering how wet oysters can get, it was impressive that they came out so crispy.The team was attentive and the place has a lovely view. Very glad we found this place during our visit and managed to book a table.