The Haddock’s End — Restaurant in Perranzabuloe

I visited Haddock’s End in Perranporth to pick up two family meals after seeing some strong reviews online and on Google, so my expectations were reasonably high. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to what I’d hoped for.

When I arrived, it was kind of busy, three or four people waiting ahead of me, max!, which is perfectly normal for a seaside chip shop getting ready for peak time. I leaned over to the person cooking and politely asked if they could pop a vegetarian burger on for me, as I know from my own experience of owning and running three fish and chip shops for over a decade that a little heads-up helps to keep things running smoothly.

Instead of an acknowledgment or even a friendly “No problem,” I was met with a scowl and a blunt, “Yeah, we’ll do it in a minute mate when I get a chance.” Not exactly the warmest welcome and certainly not the kind of attitude that makes you feel valued as a customer.

The wait itself wasn’t long, and the food was ready quickly enough. Prices were the typical high seaside rates you come to expect, fair enough if the quality and portions justify it, but in this case, they didn’t come close.

When I got to the beach and unpacked the vegetarian burger, it was just that: a burger in a dry bun. No salad, no sauce, no offer of anything extra when it was handed over. Just a dry bread roll and patty. Pretty underwhelming and bland, especially given the price (see attached photos). I had to doctor it with some chips and curry sauce just to make it palatable.

On a slightly positive side .. just, ...the chips themselves were good, fresh, well-cooked, and not overly greasy , and I’m told the fish was good too, although again eye watering costs.

Overall though, it felt like a fairly average experience all round: disappointing service, underwhelming food quality for the price, and a vegetarian option that clearly hadn’t been given much thought at all. Would I recommend it? Honestly, probably not, especially given the other strong choices in town.

It’s the sort of place that could easily be great with a bit more care and customer service, but sadly it didn’t quite hit the mark for...

Let’s talk about truth in advertising. The menu at The Haddock’s End suggests a classic, no-nonsense fish and chips experience. What you actually get is a masterclass in à la carte deconstruction that would make a Parisian minimalist blush.

The first clue that things were afoot was ordering. You don't order "fish and chips." You order the fish, and then, in a separate transaction that carries the emotional weight of buying a car warranty, you order the chips. This clever unbundling transforms a £9 small cod into a £13 meal before you've even glanced at the mushy peas. For Perranporth, that's less a price point and more a dare.

Now, the main event. Our two cods presented a fascinating culinary paradox. One, presumably fresh from the fryer, had surrendered its crispness to the oil, arriving with a soggy, greasy coating that felt… personal. The other, having taken a contemplative journey in the hot box, had achieved a texture so dry it could have been used to blot ink. It was a tragic tale of two fishes, both meeting their end at Haddock's End.

The chips, for their premium, separate-entry fee, were the very definition of mediocre. Perfectly acceptable if they were a side thought, but as a headline act you pay extra for, they lacked the courage to be either notably crisp or fluffily substantial.

The staff were efficient, which is the professional way of saying they ensured the correct fish made it to the correct box without unnecessary frills like smiles.

In summary, The Haddock’s End is aptly named. After this experience, I can confirm it’s certainly the end of the line for the haddock, and frankly, felt like a bit of a bum end for my wallet. I’ve had more satisfying encounters with a freezer aisle packet and my own air fryer. A profound...

Had the displeasure of ordering here twice now. The first time was a couple of weeks ago and I was served by the young blonde lad pretty late in the afternoon. He seemed absent of any emotions and a little stand offish. My girlfriend also picked up on the same sour energy. We thought he might of had a bad day and was disinterested and just wanted to get home. Unfortunately the curry sauce was decent so the missus suggested we go back again today hoping for better customer service... Again was served by the young lad with all the charisma of a breadstick. An unsalted unseasoned sesame free basic value breadstick... No please. No thankyou. No polite small talk. Not even a smile. Asked for my food in a carrier bag and even that seemed like too much trouble as he handed me the bag to fill myself with half my food still on the opposite side of the counter. He just seems completely rude and miserable and it ruins your day. I work hard all week to enjoy a weekend treat and spend my hard earned cash in establishments like this and I shouldn't be leaving feeling dismissed. He needs a new career or a training course in customer service. I get it I was a young lad once working in food retail at McDonald's and I didn't particularly want to be there but I always engaged with customers in a friendly manner and just tried to make the most of it. This guy has a job in a stunning location in a great part of the world he should be grateful to be so privileged. I won't be making the mistake of coming a 3rd time I'd rather put money in the pockets of businesses that don't make me feel like a burden.

Customer service and atmosphere is terrible and the food is...