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The Ship on the Shore

The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore
Edinburgh, EH6 6QN
Phone: 0131 555 0409
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  • Food served: Mon–Sun noon–10pm.
  • Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sun 5–6.45pm
  • Bar open: Mon–Sat noon–11pm; Sun 12.30–11pm.
  • Number of wines sold by the glass: 10
  • Also offers: Gluten-free options, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
  • Music on stereo: Mixed pop/rock/jazz
  • Capacity: 45
  • Largest group: 50
  • Open since: 1988
View larger map of EH6 6QN
  • Average price 2 courses:
     £16 (lunch)
     £21.50 (evening meal)
  • Pre-theatre price: £12
  • House wine: £12.95 per bottle
Nominate this restaurant for
The List Reader Award 2010
Eating & Drinking Guide 2009

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

Not to be confused with the vessel floating in the water almost directly opposite, as the name suggests, this Ship is on the Shore. Peering through the olde-worlde panelled windows into the dimly lit bar, you’d be forgiven for thinking this a drinking den for salty old sea dogs. Once upon a time it may well have been, but these days it is a popular family venture – the bar is actually full of the chatter of regulars having a leisurely tipple or waiting to be waved through to one of the neatly dressed tables in the adjoining dining room. Listed on the hand-scribed menus is a plentiful selection of unpretentious dishes that the kitchen executes with aplomb. Light, fluffy and delicious inside, the Ship’s fish-cakes come with a satisfying crunch to their outer crumb, while rope-reared Loch Torridon mussels need no more embellishment than the puddle of garlicky sweetness in which they arrive. Safely navigating the potential for the combination to be overly salty, collops of monkfish with Kalamata olives and chorizo make for a main dish with a big impact. Although somewhat frenetic as the waiters weave between the tightly packed tables on busier evenings, service is polite and always with a smile, making this ship a very pleasurable craft to be aboard.

  • High point: Simple but splendid fresh fish dishes in characterful surroundings
  • Low point: Acoustics can escalate rapidly on busier evenings

Comments for The Ship on the Shore (24–26 The Shore, Edinburgh)

1. Alun Thomas, Leatherhead, Surrey – 15 April 2009, 12:17pmReport

I cannot agree with the comments that I have read. My experience on Easter Sunday was poor. The position of the table that my wife and I shared was dark and gloomy. The service at first seemed OK but we noticed that the waitress seemed to spending a lot of time chatting to a couple on the neighbouring table. At the end of our meal we waited a good ten minutes to be given the bill and when I asked if I could have the bill I was unceremoniously told, "Wait a minute!" .

When we complined to the manager he did not seem to take our complaint too seriously.

Definitely not a restaurant to visit again. The chippy on the sea front a Queensferry had more in the way of ambiance!

2. DebsandMark, Manchester – 18 April 2009, 7:30pmReport

Can't agree less with the previous poster. My other half and I visited twice last year (Nov 08) and the service couldn't have been better.

Add that to the quality of food and we broke our basic rule of never visiting anywhere twice on holiday.

The seafood chowder was the best I have ever tasted (bearing in mind we are complete foodies and have tried Gordon Ramsey's chowder).

We are heading up to Edinburgh again later this month and booked The Ship on the Shore as soon as we could.

5 out of 5!

3. Stuart Ainley, Derby – 11 August 2009, 7:04pmReport

interesting reveiws, the place was recommened to me, and before we cxould go four friends went, and passed rave reveiws which fuekledour desire to go. We went, thefour of us foodies, and were we diosaapointed NO WE WEREN'T, to the point as the other reveiwer says they don't visit the same place twice on holiday, we failed in our normal stance as we booked for the following night, the first time ever in our foodie trips. The place gave a welcome, the sunny nights may have helped the ambience, the staff certianly contributed to the evenings enjoyment. However the main contributor was well you have guessed the chef what more can you say. By the way we are going agin!!

4. Clare Fraser, Leith – 13 November 2009, 10:35amReport

I have enjoyed many meals in The Ship On The Shore, but there have been far too many dissapointments! It finally took the biscuit when I ordered mussels and half of them hadn't opened and they had a revolting "burnt" taste to them. I explained to the waitress and she immediately jumped to the defence and patronisingly started rambling on about how you cook mussels, "that's the thing with mussels not all of them open"
You should not serve them if they don't open!!! She was extremely rude and insulted my intelligence.
I then proceeded to have "lobster" for my main course, well all I can say is I have seen larger prawns. Really wasn't happy at all. Ha, can you tell?
Overall I get the impression that the staff are arrogant, rude and insulting. Definately won't be going back, even if you paid me.

5. Dines out every day., Leith – 7 January 2010, 12:33amReport

I am fortunate to have dined out every day for the last four years.
From restaurants that have been hard working enough to gain a Michelin star.Then in some more rustic,down to earth cuisine.Well I don't want to fine dine every day.I eat good food.I have ate at the Ship on the Shore.
I "know" that the food is completely dependent on the Chef that has been employed that day.I've had rissotto with the texture of wallpaper paste with queenie scallops placed on top that had the texture of leather as they continued to be cooked by the bloody steaming hot rissotto.
Mind you I did inform the manager that it was a sticky gluetenous mess that had retained so much heat that it would & was continuing to cook.So It was taken of my bill.
Not his fault.Youonly employee a waitress to serve up this sad excuse.

6. lesley860, Leith – 19 January 2010, 11:03pm(2s)Report

Been a few times as its local- hit or miss. Lobster disappointing.

7. Kiki Dee – 10 March 2010, 6:33pmReport

Ate there today. Nice food but terrible service from arrogant French waiter who couldn't be bothered to even give us a menu in decent time nor bring the bill when asked. And then looked perplexed when we gave no tip. There are plenty of nice seafood restaurants in leith that deserve your business more.

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