We had been recommended this place by folks in Woodstock Vermont USA, where we run an award winning…read morehospitality business. We used to live in Dorset and the fact that a recommendation travelled 4000 miles is impressive...but could the place deliver on a damp grey November Thursday? 13.00 struck on the town clock and in we walk to the quiet cafe bar area, to be met by some delightful staff and seated quickly, after a drink in the rather fetching contemporary bar area. Now this place is not just another seaside cafe...oh no...it's a cut above that. The art on the wall has whimsey, and the large arm chairs would be more often seen in an urban Starbucks setting. The restaurant windows all over look the bay and even on a grey November day there was atmosphere, simple jazz influenced music playing at just the the right level to create ambiance and not kill it. The location on the sea front, is a short sea shell throw away from the new beach, you do indeed have lots of sand in Lyme these days! The sea front had a make over in 2012 and now even has a very smart National Trust shop and was a real surprise. We had taken two local friends and we all ordered, fish chips with mushy peas for some, fresh mussels in a wonderful cream sauce for others and tempura battered vegetables. To drink we had Fentimans ginger beer, Guinness and water. All got 10/10. The bill 80 quid for six was very good value, and we left with a wonderful glow, to go to the gallery in the town and buy a small piece of Garry Jones art . He has an art piece on the restaurant wall....a car door...yes an actual car door with a fantastic ceramic dog leaning out of it! Priceless humour that cannot fail to make one smile. This place is a real find and a cut above the average seaside eatery.

This was the discovery of our holiday. We had avoided all week because it looks from the ouside…read morelike it's going to be a bit down market situated as it is amongst the chip shops and amusement arcade. It looks very modern and loud. It was shear luck that we ended up here as we could not get a table at our first choice restaurant. It was really good. Lovely food and excellent entertainment with a very accomlished jazz duo. The atmoshere was brilliant even though it was not full that night. Highly recommended.

Tried this Fish and Chip shop for the first time recently and found it to be the best I've ever…read moretasted. The chips were freshly cooked and wonderfully crispy and the steak and kidney pie I also had was perfection. If you ever visit Wareham, get some fish and chips and enjoy them on the quayside!

we called here about a week ago ! there's only one thing wrong with this fish & shop and that is…read moreit's to far from me home in Seaton Devon to call as often as I would like . this is by far the best Fish & chips we have had in a very long time we will be back ASAP A little on the pricey side BUT for Great Fish & Chips well worth paying that bit extra .. the staff are friendly and the shop clean & tidy

We visited Blue Ocean to put in an order for 20 of our family members. I called ahead and while…read moreEnglish wasn't their first language they clearly took our order, and correctly cooked up all our food. They were even helpful enough to give us a whole thing of vinegar since it was complicated to know who wanted salt and vinegar, just salt, just vinegar and so on! While we don't visit Taunton very often, there's a reason this place has a line out of the door on Tuesday lunchtimes! Very friendly, attentive, and many of our family having the fish especially said it was the best fish, they've ever had from a fish and chip shop! Very impressive report from some highly critical members who know their fish and chip shops well. Definitely recommended if you are in the area!

I run a small business All Rubbish & Chard House Clearance and was employed by the owner of…read moreCharmouth Fish Bar, Sue Harvey, to clear some redundant equipment and waste from a recent refurbishment to the kitchen and restaurant. Sue treated me like a guest, not worker and plied me lots of cups of tea and charm throughout the morning as I worked. When I finished my clearance and presented Sue with the bill, not only did she present me with a handsome tip, also insisted that I went away with a portion of cod and chips. I reluctantly agreed, being a picky eater, good fish & chips these days are a distant memory. Well, I am converted.!!! The centre of the universe for fantastic fish & chips, for me, is definitely, smack bang in the middle of Charmouth Fish Bar..!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, to the charming Sue Harvey and her most attentive staff for making my day. Bogdan Tobiasiewicz All Rubbish & Chard House Clearance

Fish, Chips, Curry or Pizza anyone? - Choose between eating in or take away, from the traditional…read moreF&C, Indian or Italian menus, no license but bring a bottle welcomed. All food cooked to order so is fresh, but there can be a wait at busy times. Not to worry tickets are issued with your order and an indication of how long before your food is ready. We took the opportunity to visit the George across the road for a quick pint before returning, While you're there, you might want to use the cash machine as the Fish Bar only take cash. Alternatively, visit the local store for an ATM just beyond the pedestrian crossing. All food was of good quality and served with a smile.

What can I say other than for something as basic as fish and chips, Smithy's is probably as good as…read moreit gets. By far the best chip shop in the area. See you soon, Smithy's!

Great batter, quality fish and the chips are so good, the small portion isn't that small.read more

Proper fish and chips at last !!!! Nice food the fish was really nice just fell apart on your fork…read moredef worth a visit

Very fresh!! Chips were perfectly crisp on the outside, and very hot! The lunch deal is very worth…read moreit. I saw a few people get the cod -- wish I'd tried that instead, even though the haddock was so good!! I really liked the mushy peas here; very rich! I couldn't finish the plate, it was so good and portions were huge! The unfortunate side of solo travel is you can't eat everything

Highly highly recommend One of the best meals we had on our…read more3+ week Europe trip Recommend reservations Friendly staff, fantastic food and wine

I was sorely disappointed with the quality of the fish & Chips I bought here yesterday so much that…read moreI threw them away. The battered fish appeared overcooked, the batter was quite dark, I think the the oil or fat that was used to cook them in was set too high or it needed changing. The fish was fairly dry inside too. Whilst I appreciate that the three guy's working in a relativity confined space & in the heatwave it was that day, the wait & disorganisation was dreadful. On the small black board it advertised fresh haddock, now I didn't order this, but Cod instead, when I eventually got my order I was pretty surprised to find that I had got Haddock! (I used to work in my own family's fish & chips many years ago, so I do know the difference ! ) I observed that the public continued to order this to be repeatedly told "we've sold out" the staff could have rubbed the chalk entry out saving both repeated delays by joe public & the stressed out staff. I observed that whilst the orders were being taken & written down on restaurant tickets, if these were numbered the why at the same time could the number be given to joe public, then when the order was ready simply call out the number ! Instead of having to wait & shout out across the crowd for those who may or not have heard their order was ready. Whilst also waiting for my order at one stage they were not taking anymore orders due to running out of chips. This in my mind is dreadful foresight, whilst working in the catering trade, it is & can be unpredictable. However better planning & organisation would have ensured that sufficient stock be in place to cope with the demand experienced that day. I also had concerns that two members of staff were handling cigarettes ( one who went on an official break just across the way the other obviously was getting ready to light up the cigarette but didn't get that far) I do hope that they washed their hands prior to handling the food again. It should have been a lovely end to what was my perfect day, but instead left me with an awful memory & bad taste. Unless these guys obviously highly rated by the Times newspaper's pull this organisation together, then I would avoid, & go to the one next door to it...... at least they served with a smile despite the queue there too.

I have eaten here twice and both times mega busy but the food was great, The batter is dark but…read moreit's more a tempura type and much nicer than the often chewy floppy batter you get at 'normal' fish and chip shops. The organisation does seem a little chaotic and you do have to wait but the food is fresh and cooked to order. I kind of like the chaos to it. I had haddock but not really bothered if it was cod or haddock. My wife had Whitebait and was also impressed. From the other review you would think the guys working here had murdered someone. Each to their own. I like it and maybe you will also.