Harden's survey result
Summary
“You just can’t beat a plate of ‘natives’ while sitting at a bench on the seafront in the sun” – and this is the place to do it, just a few feet from the sea where the oysters were bred. “The fish is also fresh, and cooked to perfection” – “just don’t come expecting anything experimental, they just let the quality produce speak for itself”. It’s equally “fantastic” in the winter, eating inside while “overlooking windswept Whitstable beach – it’s warm, it’s yummy; you leave happy and ready to brave the cold again”.
Summary
“A Whitstable jewel!” – “You can taste the sea in every dish of oysters, mussels, sole or plaice” which are the hallmarks of this landmark operation in a “fantastic location on the beach”. “The ambience is open, friendly and serious about food”, although “service can be a bit hit and miss” when it’s busy – which it very often is. Top Menu Tip – “even the desserts are good”.
Summary
“An unrivalled seashore location” right “on the beach at Whitstable” and “with plain wooden tables” sets the scene at this “very popular” destination. “It’s not fancy cooking, but the quality of the fish is very good” and “simply and ably prepared, although prices are not cheap”. “Best to go when there is an ’r’ in the month, when natives are available as they are fantastic”.
Summary
“Fresh seafood as it should be” (most notably “marvellous native oysters”) served in a “fantastic location on the beach at Whitstable” make this “lively and atmospheric” venue “worth the slightly higher prices”. “It’s not inventive cooking”, but it doesn’t need to be.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Whitstable Oyster Fishery Co.?
Royal Native Oyster Stores, Horsebridge, Whitstable, CT5 1BU
Restaurant details
Whitstable Oyster Fishery Co. Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Very well cooked simple fish dishes. Fantastic location on the beach at Whitstable. Service greatly improved"
"Fantastic, fresh fish cookery overlooking a windswept Whitstable beach. It was warm, it was yummy. We left happy and ready to brave the cold again."
"A late Monday lunch. Nice room, all good."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £31.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Royal Native Oyster Stores, Horsebridge, Whitstable, CT5 1BU
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑7:30 pm |
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