The Ship on the Shore
- Telephone 0131 555 0409
- Opening times Mon–Thu noon–11pm; Fri/Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 12.30pm–11pm
- Bar open Mon–Sat noon–1am; Sun 12.30–1am.
- Food served Mon–Sun 9am–10pm.
- Average price £18 (lunch); £28 (evening meal)
- Website www.theshipontheshore.co.uk
Jump to articles or comments (12)
The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.
For a Ship that's firmly anchored to the Shore, albeit just a clam shell's lob from the Water of Leith, this is a properly nautical experience. Admiralty charts serve as wallpaper, oars hang from the ceiling and blackboards at every turn list the wonderful pickings from Scottish seas and ports. Shellfish takes the lead, from mussel pakora all the way to a blow-out fruits de mer royale platter at £90. Champagne and oysters are prominent in the offer, but the real Leith decadence is a cosy, comfortable venue with its old wood and stained glass where you'll find slick service and assured cooking whether it's roasted shellfish, monkfish on the bone, breakfast of a black pudding, rosti and poached egg, or simple puds such as fruit crumble with custard. A member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, care is taken with sourcing not just for the seafood – eggs are organic, as is the chicken served – while local merchants l'Art du Vin are behind the impressive wine list.
- High point: Puts great Scottish seafood centre stage
- Low point: Puts champagne centre stage a bit too much
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 26
- Provides: Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables
- Music on stereo: A mix of pop standards and jazz
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 20
- Open since: 1988
- House wine: £15 per bottle
Reviews & features
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Comments & ratings
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12.
RecipeGirl – 22 Apr 2013, 9:48am
The Ship on the Shore
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Ship on the Shore turned out to be pretty nice. However, service was kind of slow and the waiters were unfriendly. Food was good, though.
Anyway, I'm actually a chef in our local community, and our restaurant just recently branched out. Problem is, I'm having a hard time managing inventories and recipes! Can you guys give me an advice on this? Thank you in advance!
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11.
JB247 – 1 Oct 2011, 1:40pm
The Ship on the Shore
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A rather mixed experience, after being shown to table 7 (There is a reason for mentioining this!) the service was at first great, likewise our starters which were excellent, however the main course was a bit hit or miss, my partners Lemon sole with mushroom and potato she was delighted with, my Halibut and risotto, although tasty was more akin to a starter as the piece of fish was quite small, not something you expect for a £19 main course!, pretty poor value, I can only assume that the halibut was over- subscrobed on the night we visited. Pudding was poor my partner had Malteser, Rum and orange heesecake which was absolutely bland and tasteless, my Creme Brulee was ok at first but as the you worked your way into it it became cold and rather heavy consistency probably due to the depth of the container it came in.
Service was also rahter hit and miss having to remind the waitress that we had ordered water was compounded by us being left to refill our own wine glasses.
The most bizarre issue was the table, it felt like it was placed on a bouncy castle every time anyobne walked past, the floor was really shaking, and worryingly this got worse as more people sat in the tables near by. Needless to say afetr complaining about the dessert the cost was still on the final bill which after the inatentive service a tip was withheld, however perhaps one for them on reflection is to get a structural engineer to look at the flooring, as although its called the ship, mild motion sickness is not an appealing aspect to our visit.Overall impression is that we would not eat there again
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10.
I heart food – 3 Sep 2010, 4:41pm
The Ship on the Shore
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My partner and I went to the Ship on the Shore just the other day for a lazy lunch in the sun, we swiftly got one of the lovely booth-like tables out the front, which had lovely wine bottle vases with white roses. The ambience was delightful. The French waiter was swift to bring a menu to us and take drink orders. As a wine lover, I was impressed by the wine list. We ordered a lovely crisp white, which came correctly served in a wine cooler and in nice glassware. A basket of grainy bread, butter and water complete with cucumber quickly followed. Top service with a smile!
I ordered the smokehouse platter (a relative bargain at 16.95), it was massive! Could share between two. I've eaten smoked fish in some of the most famous smoke houses in the world and this rivaled them for the money.
My boyfriend had the haddock and chips and delighted in the batter, which wasn't too greasy.
All in all an awesome experience and I'd return in a heartbeat.
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9.
drzoom – 28 Aug 2010, 6:24pm
The Ship on the Shore
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Great food, and decor...but sadly appauling staff who really look as if they couldn't care less. Particular mention must go to the Bob Hoskins look-a-like barman who, rather than welcome his customers, greets them as a bouncer would on a troublesome Saturday night. Really dissapointing as with a few decent people this would be a place I'd go back to.
- 8. apothecaryfox – 28 May 2010, 1:10am Report
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The Ship on the Shore is easily one of the best dining experiences I have ever had, each time I have been. The food let's the ingredients do the talking and the fresh fish and seafood range is better than anywhere else in Edinburgh IMHO. I have had so many memorable meals here it would be hard to single one out. The service is friendly, although not faultless and despite being in the industry that has never been a down side. The food has always been first class. I love the ambience and decor, and although this place is not cheap it does deliver quality. I have eaten here more than any other restaurant in Edinburgh and highly recommend it.
- 7. Kiki Dee – 10 Mar 2010, 6:33pm Report
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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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6.
lesley860 – 19 Jan 2010, 11:03pm
The Ship on the Shore
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Been a few times as its local- hit or miss. Lobster disappointing.
- 5. Dines out every day. – 7 Jan 2010, 12:33am Report
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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.
- 4. Clare Fraser – 13 Nov 2009, 10:35am Report
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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.
- 3. Stuart Ainley – 11 Aug 2009, 7:04pm Report
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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!!
- 2. DebsandMark – 18 Apr 2009, 7:30pm Report
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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!
- 1. Alun Thomas – 15 Apr 2009, 12:17pm Report
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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!
Average rating /5 from 5 reviews of The Ship on the Shore.
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