RestaurantsEast LothianDunbarEH42

Harden's says

This old fisherman's inn on the historic harbourside has been taken over by Jack Findlay (from Logan Thorburn, who ran it for 16 years). The cooking, from a sister-and-brother kitchen team, won a rave review in The Times in May 2024.

survey result

Summary

£49
   ££
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

A short train-ride from Edinburgh, this cosy harbour-side bistro has been run by chef/patron Logan Thorburn since 2006 and serves a traditional-ish menu which focuses on fish and seafood, but not to the exclusion of all else. Struggles with staffing issues and Covid-19 kept the restaurant closed in September and October 2021, but reopening subject to finding the necessary staff is heralded on their facebook page from November 2021.

Summary

£45
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Always a treat” – a tiny, informal seafood bistro, in a “lovely location” near the harbour, whose creative cooking – from a limited menu – is a real find in these parts and where they send out interesting little shots (a Virgin Mary or rhubarb smoothie, say) to refresh the palate between courses.

For 33 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 The Creel?

25 Lamer Street, Dunbar, EH42 1HJ

Restaurant details

No dress code

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Sunday Times

Chitra Ramaswamy had “a whale of a time” in an old fisherman’s inn on the
working harbour front at Dunbar, a 17th-century herring and whaling port.
Proprietor Jack Findlay provided a rare and perfect combination of warmth and formality, ably abetted by “a sister and brother team in the kitchen: head chef Miss A Ramsay, and sous chef Mr M Ramsay”. 

“It’s true that the Creel is on the pricey side for dinner but how about £23.50 for a two-course lunch? Apologies, luncheon. Plus the portions are generous, but not to the point of belly-clutching, and the food is wonderful.”

Chitra Ramaswamy - 2024-05-12

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£8.70 £17.40 £0.00 £0.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £30.00
Filter Coffee £3.00
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 10.00%
25 Lamer Street, Dunbar, EH42 1HJ
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
TuesdayCLOSED
Wednesday12 pm‑2 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm
Friday12 pm‑2 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm
Sunday12 pm‑2 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm

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