Edinburgh restaurant named in top five seafood restaurants in UK

Ondine Restaurant on Edinburgh's George IV Bridge has made it to the top five of the 2016 Seafood Restaurant of the Year Competition.

Ondine restaurant. Picture: Ondine website

The national award, presented by Seafish and The Caterer, recognises the best restaurants in the UK serving fish and shellfish among their menu offer.

Launched in 2015, Seafood Restaurant of the Year aims to find the best restaurants cooking and serving fish and shellfish, whilst also demonstrating excellent seafood knowledge amongst its staff both front and back of house.

Following a recent mystery dining visit and a further in-depth group judging session, Ondine were praised by the judges for their ambiance, well informed, courteous and very responsive staff as well as their attention to detail, providing details of the catch location for each species of fish and shellfish on the menu. They will now head to the final on Wednesday 7 September in London alongside four other restaurants in the UK.

The winner of the competition will receive a bespoke trophy for their restaurant and an individually designed seafood masterclass at Billingsgate Seafood Training School. In addition, three members of the team from the winning restaurant will receive an all-expense paid study trip to either Brixham in Devon, or Peterhead in North East Scotland, to further hone their knowledge regarding the catching, processing and supply of seafood.

Andy Gray, trade marketing manager at Seafish, said: “Making it to the top 5 of Seafood Restaurant of the Year is a great achievement for all of the finalists. It is recognition that they exhibit exceptionally high standards, excelling in providing customers with top quality fish and shellfish dining experiences.”

Roy Brett, Executive Chef at Ondine, said: “We are thrilled to have made it in to the top 5 of Seafood Restaurant of the Year. It is fantastic to know that the hard work and professionalism that every member of the team displays at Ondine has been recognised. We look forward to the final in London.”

Ondine was the only Scottish restaurant listed in the top five with the rest located in England.