The White Swan — Restaurant in Great Yarmouth

This is my second review for The White Swan Having used this restaurant every weekend for the first part of 2022, it closed suddenly in May 2022 due to staffing issues, when it was announced that it was open back up in 2023 we was delighted. Having a holiday home in the area this had become our favourite haunt, the White Swan reopened and we booked our return, how I wished we hadn’t. On arrival we was squeezed into a table in the corner that was troublesome to get in and out of, we ordered our drinks and the 3 fizzy drinks arrived flat and warm, there was 2 waitresses one younger girl and a middle aged lady, we had the pleasure of the middle aged lady who needs to learn some customer service skills and to let her face know to smile. She came over to take our orders, my mother in law asked for lobster and to have chips with it, my father in law asked for cod and chips, my partner asked for mussels as a main but with garlic sauce rather than the chilli and lemon one advertised. I asked what the salt and pepper squid came with as a main and was told that I can choose what I’d like, I opted for chips and salad. The lady was the most miserable woman I’ve came across in life, no smiles, no banter and extremely serious. We waited over an hour for the food to arrive, my squid arrived with a pile of rice, I said I asked for chips and she said you will get chips The chips arrived and the only way I could describe them is the scrapings from the bottom of the fryer, the rice was hard and cold, the squid was way over cooked and very chewy. The lobster arrived with boiled potatoes when chips was asked for, my mother in law said she had requested chips and she said there coming, the arrived just like mine, she also asked for a bowl or plate to put her unwanted boiled potatoes on, that never arrived. My father in laws came no issues apart from the same appalling chips, my partners mussels arrived with the chilli and lemon sauc3 but garlic was asked for, we called over the waitress and she was standing there arguing about the sauce, 3 of us all agreed it was most definitely chilli and lemon. Overall very poor, the service, the food and the attitude of that waitress was the worst I’ve ever received. We was very loyal regular customers who will most definitely won’t...

Hi all. I visited The White Swan recently with family. It is a fish restaurant located right next to the river, not far from the rail station. The restaurant seemed warm and welcoming upon entry. The waitress was very attentive to our needs throughout the whole dining experience and we did not have to wait very long for our food. There was not so much choice on the menu but it did not take us long to make our orders known. We ordered the traditional fish and chips and the prawn and crayfish tagliatelle. The battered cod was a good size and it came with plenty of thickly-cut golden-looking chips, mushy peas and a small ramekin of tasty tartare sauce. The tagliatelle was creamy, flavoursome and delicious. When I asked for some Parmesan cheese the waitress promptly brought me a small dish with plenty of the freshly grated cheese, enough for us all to use. The meal was a nice size; it was not too small, but also I did not feel full up at the end. In fact I had enough room for a slice of their lovely strawberry cheesecake, which came with either ice-cream or a small jug of pouring cream and was quite filling for its size. I feel that the prices were not the cheapest around, but both myself and my family left the restaurant feeling pleasantly full.

The only downside to the experience was that while we waited for our food there were the infrequent whiffs of 'recreational drug' floating about. It was difficult to say where it was coming from but personally, it is not an odour that my sense of smell appreciates, especially when waiting to enjoy a meal.

Other than that, this little restaurant by the river in Great Yarmouth was, to me, a little gem. The food is great and the restaurant has it's own decent-sized free car park. I would definitely consider going back....(hoping that 'the smell that didn't belong' was just...

Had been meaning to try The White Swan for a while, having regularly visited for fresh fish.

Staff were attentive and smartly dressed, as well as friendly and polite.

Starters, we all had crab claws. Whilst these were flavoursome, for a tenner, I expected more than 3. I know it's just a starter but 3 little claws isn't value for money. Had to ask for crab forks and even then got given 2 (there were 3 of us).

Mains. One of us had garlic lobster, which whilst a fair size was low on the garlic. Two of us had monkfish wrapped in prosciutto. I envisaged for £24.50 a large piece of monkfish wrapped and sliced. Instead it was 3 pieces of fish wrapped in bacon. Nowhere near value for money, although very tasty.

Drinks, we had a bottle of house wine for £21 which I find to be very good value for money and a bottle of pink prosecco at £25, again very fairly priced.

The low point is dessert. Frankly, this is very poor. Chocolate brownie, 3 tiny pieces (together making up probably the size of a half a credit card). Jam blondie, dry as sand. Cheesecake, tasteless. None of these were accompanied by even a ball of ice cream which for £7.50 a pop is tight.

Overall £175 bill for 3 x 3 course and 2 bottles of wine. Not extreme prices but far from good value. Glad we went and can say we've been but won't be rushing back. Shame as GY has very few decent seafood places now.

Suggestion is simply to increase portion size overall and add better desserts, even if they are bought in. Drinks menu is very fairly priced and...