Lunch at Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth down by the beach is a must do foodie excursion if you are in the area. To be honest it is worth the trip all by itself and if you are lucky enough to be here on a sunny day when the beach is quiet you have won the day already

We chanced our luck riding the Metro out from Newcastle along the shore to Tynemouth then walked over to the abbey to find the shack located down at the foot of the cliff alongside the beach.

It is a steep walk down, and there was the slight fear that if there wasn’t a free table it was going to be a long steep walk back up filled with disappointment. It was all OK though, today out of season there were places to sit up on the benches. Perched up on our stools we perused the menu, blessed our fortune and took in the sunny view across the beach

TODAYS MENU

The menu is written up on boards alongside the open kitchen and to avoid clambering up and down from the stools I took a photo (as one does these days) so we could check it out more easily.

I understand that they just cook whatever fish is available on the day here at Riley’s Fish Shack and that once its gone, it is gone. This is great to hear as you know it is all going to be really fresh

If you love seafood this was the place to be as the menu has a great selection of fish and a wide variety of dishes to choose from.

Smoked Cod, Smoked Catfish, Crab featured heavily in the starter section of the board, while the big hitters of Monkfish, Turbot and Dover Sole were stand-outs on the Mains section along with Skate Wing, Mackerel and Hake. There really was so much choice

BANG BANG MONKFISH KEBAB

I ordered the BANG BANG MONKFISH KEBAB which was served on a freshly made flat bread with Pav Baji, Raita, Onion Salad, and Mix Leaf for £29

I enjoyed the meaty chunks of fish that had been seared to create a crisp char on top of the juicy white flesh. There was a very good sized portion which was quite pleasing, they were not skimping on the good stuff!

I liked having the fresh leaf mixed salad and the raita which I mixed together with bits of bread I tore off the naan with a chunk of fish to make little bites of kebab sandwich

The drizzle of tamarind sauce added a nice hit of sweetness and tang which made my tastebuds sing as they got a hit.

The sliced chilli added a bit of heat and the sprinkle of crispy bits on top added crunch.

Everything complimented each other and I was really pleased with my choice on this day!

DOVER SOLE

The DOVER SOLE with wild mushrooms and seaweed butter for £32 was a triumph. OK so you had to be brave as you fillet it yourself pulling the delicate flesh off the bone with care. It was well worth the effort as the slices of fish mixed with the butter were so delicious

Whole cloves of garlic cooked in the sauce until soft and tender along with the wilted leaves were almost just enough to complete the dish.

I don’t think I would have had the patience to deal with this dish myself but I was more than happy to be fed tasty morsels when offered

We did share a side of the Hot Plate Potatoes, mixed with Confit Garlic, Thyme, and Aioli for £6.50 and that side certainly rounded out both plates of food to make a very good feast

One total bonus of coming here on the train was that I was able to enjoy a crisp cold beer with my meal. Today’s choice was a pint of Two by Two pale ale, a most refreshing choice that weighed in at a reasonable 4.5% and came with a view of the beach and a blue September sky . Days as good as this don’t often come around

After we dined we took the longer route back, our server advised us that the path was not as steep as it wound its way around the cliff back up to the top. It might have taken more time but it was worth it for the view back across to the shack and for the weary legs it was a great help

Riley’s Fish Shack is located at the foot of the Cliff overlooking King Edwards bay in Tynemouth, NE30 4BY. It is a fairly small location but deceptively was able to host quite a decent amount of diners inside the shack. Down on the beach are more tables and deckchairs for the overflow.

I can imagine that in peak times and weekends it could be hard to find a seat, but midweek in September it didn’t seem to be much of a problem for a couple of hungry diners

You can check Riley’s out on their Website and also on their Instagram Feed and Facebook Page