The Harbour Seafood Restaurant & Takeaway — Restaurant in Plymouth

We did not book until a couple of hours before we wanted to eat but using their booking service it was quick and easy to do. The food, as always, was lovely - freshly cooked and beautifully flavoured. The only reason that I did not give the full five stars is due to the waiting staff. After being seated and having waited for at least fifteen minutes, my husband had to track down someone to take our order. It was a similar situation after our main course, with having to go looking for someone to take our dessert order. A young lad came over and took the order but left our empty plates on the table. He then came back with my husband's coffee and once again left the plates on the table. When he returned with the desserts, he was just about to walk away again when I asked to take the empty plates. He seemed really surprised that we didn't want them left in front of us. I think the final straw came when another member of staff started to out the chairs on the tables around us (and another couple) while we were still finishing our drinks. I appreciate that many hospitality venues are struggling to get staff but it would seem that, in this case, a little on-the-job training would be quite beneficial. Also, if you are going to advertise that you are open until 11pm, then it would be good not to make your customers feel that you are trying to get rid of them from 22.40. Although it would seem that I have been highly unsatisfied with my visit to The Harbour, this is not the case. As I said, the food is amazing, location perfect and atmosphere welcoming. However, just a few tweaks to address the issues raised above, would make the difference between four...

Greeted by the male ( later found out he was a manager named Nuno) felt rushed to the table. Quick explanation about the menu felt forced. After quite some time while walking past our table he pointed finger at us and shouted to the waitress across the restaurant letting her know that we need to be served. Waitress in a black dress was nice and polite while taking our order. Drinks, starter and food arrived in good time, unfortunately no one ever checked on us how we were doing. The starter calamari meant to be fresh but either was not that fresh or way overcooked. Fish and chips were lovely ( I had hake and my partner had cod), one of the best ones we had. Once finished eating we were waiting for the plates to be cleared but that never happened. While the manager Nuno was sanitising every single table around us, we felt completely ignored. Finally my partner managed to get his attention and manager brought the bill. Removed my partners plate and put on the table next to ours. Still no questions if everything was ok, if the food was good, if the evening went well, no interest in us as customers whatsoever. When the payment transaction was confirmed the plates were left where they were. It was only cleared after I put my plate on the same table as my partners. Just before leaving I went to ask managers name, he replied to that and also asked why am I asking. When I tried to explain what went wrong he didn’t try to listen and just asked rudely “So what do you want? What’s your problem, madam?” Apology would of been enough but I didn’t feel that he cared that much so just walked out. Why would we come back the the place where we don’t...

Update 04/09/2024: Downgraded from 5 to 4 stars.

My wife and I visited the restaurant mid week having previously used the takeaway overlooking the quay. It was mid afternoon and the restaurant was very quiet, almost empty. We both chose the Harbour Finest large cod with chips, peas with tartar sauce at £19. The meal includes a small glass of house wine and a half pint of beer or cider.

The service was excellent.

The cod was delicious, clearly fresh and perfectly cooked but neither portion could be considered large. The fish was filleted quite thin so as to appear much larger than it was. I would class this as a standard portion of fish with a small portion of chips. The peas were a choice of mushy or garden and the tartar sauce was excellent.

Incidentally, we called in Wetherspoons immediately afterwards and happened to sit next to someone who had ordered their large fish and chips which was priced at £12.95 and included a pint of beer/lager/cider. It was huge although I cannot comment on the quality.

Previous Review of the Takeaway. 19/07/24.

We do love our fish and chips and the haddock and chips served at this restaurant are close to the best we have had. I slipped up and ordered take away as we passed by without realising that this is a good sized restaurant with lots of inside seating and a much wider selection of food. But, if their haddock and chips are anything to go by, then I cannot rate them highly enough. Excellent and now our goto fish and chips place in Plymouth. Excellent service...