Crail Restaurant Guide

“Not many people visit Anstruther, or Ainster as the locals call it, without visiting this famous institution” – a veteran chippie (est. 2003) run by the Smiths, who were born into the local fishing industry and also run the Argofish processing business. “Be prepared to wait during high season, but it will be worth it, as their fish renderings are second to none (no wonder they win lots of awards)”.

2023 Review: “A lovely local restaurant with a high level of cookery” – Craig Millar’s bright coastal dining room provides “a good choice, especially fish at reasonable prices, plus beautiful sea views”. He follows a tasting menu format, offering 5-course and 6-course options.

2023 Review: “A wonderful selection of dishes, perfect for vegans and omnivores alike” wins a thumbs-up for this long-established curry house (est. 1998). “Knowledgeable staff talk about the food and recommend combinations for you.”

2023 Review: Part of the Balcaskie Estate – which provides much of the produce for the menu – this seventeenth-century pub is run by chef James Ferguson and front-of-house Alethea Palmer, and continues to be highly rated for its short-but-impactful menu that would look just as at home in Shoreditch as it is in the middle of Fife.

“Tucked away near the golf courses in St Andrews” (by the 18th hole of the Old course) – Dean Banks moved this ambitious venue here (to the former ‘Golf Inn’) from another location in town two years ago. Ratings slipped a tad this year as views were split on its virtues: to a majority of reporters his multi-course tasting menu provides “fantastically flavoured fish and seafood with innovative textures and at sensible price too”; and “a wonderful experience at the chef’s table”. Others, though, found it “overpriced” for food that was “just OK”, not helped by a couple of incidents of “poor” or “unwelcoming” service.

The “magnificent setting” in a glass box perched on the shore, just along from the A&R clubhouse, is the USP of this “excellent fish restaurant” with an Italian accent, run by Stefano Pieraccini of the family-owned Rocca group. “Book a window seat for the sea view” – although, in fact, the 360-degree views are pretty spectacular from every table.

2022 Review: “Fresh-as-you-like seafood, cooked perfectly with stunning views over Elie Bay – what more could you want?” – that’s the deal at this terrific shack “right on the harbour with a view of the glorious beach” run by Amy Elles of Great British Menu fame. Closed in winter.

In prime golfing territory a short drive from St Andrews, Geoffrey and Katherine Smeddle’s well-known and highly acclaimed restaurant-with-rooms “never disappoints”. It again won praise this year for its “quiet excellence” – both its service and its modern Scottish cooking which can be accompanied by a vintage from their very extensive (and in places expensive!) cellar. “Good news, lunch is back on Fridays and Saturdays”.

2022 Review: Overlooking the Firth of Forth, this clifftop coffeehouse overlooking Canty Bay recently took on a new head chef, Lewis Lane, ‘to take the venue in a smarter direction’. In June 2021, Gaby Soutar in The Scotsman, hailed some “impossibly gorgeous-looking” dishes here and a good selection all-round.

2022 Review: This new luxury hotel opened its doors in October 2021, months after our survey closed (hence no rating). It looks to have much of interest to diners though – especially ones who like golf – as it sits in a prime location overlooking the Old Course! There are three eateries (run in conjunction with White Rabbit): Eighteen – on a rooftop with panoramic views, where Derek Johnstone, inaugural BBC MasterChef: The Professionals winner, presides over the open-fire cooking of a surf ’n’ turf menu; The Bridge – a posh-looking brasserie, also with views; and a cosy pub, One Under Bar.

2022 Review: Just shy of its centenary, and hard at work sprucing up its gardens (designed by the creator of Balmoral’s gardens no less) – an “elegant” country house hotel whose “airy restaurant” combines “super, fresh, beautifully cooked and presented food with professional and friendly service”. The kitchen garden is at the heart of the operation, and there are further dining spaces outdoors.

“It’s just a shack on the port but the lobster or fish ’n’ chips are spectacular” at this venue perched on North Berwick Harbour, which is open seasonally from April to October. Their suppliers are accredited by Marine Scotland, and if you fancy a change from the national dish opt for crab tacos or chowder.

This “great local Italian” has been a popular success over the past 17 years, and owner “Angelo Cocchia is brilliant as front of house, supported by his team”. “Shortage of staff means some services have now stopped, and two sittings for dinner has been normal in recent times”.