Review on The Catch at Fins

Up at the end of a moorland road between Dalry and Fairlie, Fencebay is a remarkable enterprise involving a smokehouse, farm shop and monthly farmers’ market, as well as the splendid Catch at Fins restaurant. Over the last 20 years, Bernard and Jill Thain have kept faith with the catch from their own boat ‘Pegasus’ and have built up their business to incorporate on-site seawater tanks for crabs and lobsters.

The restaurant comprises a square, stone-walled dining room and a light conservatory extension, which makes a pleasing setting for all manner of piscine delights cooked without fuss or show. Freshness is the key, and the regular menu is bolstered by blackboard specials reflecting the day’s haul. Marinated herrings, gravlax or Cumbrae oysters in various guises open the show, before pepper-crusted salmon with whisky sauce, fillet of halibut with squat lobsters, langoustines and Chardonnay sauce or sea bass with warm Mediterranean dressing. Shellfish platters (hot or cold) are a hit, and there are steaks for those who can’t be tempted by seafood.

The Catch at Fins also puts on an excellent value fixed-priced menu, which attracts midweek punters out of season (November-March). Fish-friendly whites steal the limelight on the short, well-chosen wine list.

The Catch at Fins is also featured in: Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide

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Cuisine

Seafood

Chef

Richard Finlay

Restaurant Opening Times

Lunch: 12.00 – 3.00pm Thu-Sun
Dinner: 6 .00 - 9.00pm Thu-Sat

Accepted credit cards

Visa, Master Card

Online Booking Availability for The Catch at Fins

Facilities at The Catch at Fins

  • Childrens menu
  • Alfresco dining
  • Disabled access
  • Private parties
  • Vegetarian menu
  • Family Friendly

Address

The Catch at Fins
Fencefoot Farm
Fairlie
Ayrshire
KA29 0EG

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The Catch at Fins Sample Menu

SAMPLE À LA CARTE

STARTERS
SOUP OF THE DAY £3.95
Our soup of the day served with home baked bread.
CULLEN SKINK £5.95
Traditional Scottish soup with Fencebay’s own smoked haddock, potatoes and cream. Served with home-made bread and butter.
MUSSELS £6.95
Mussels marinière, with bacon & blue cheese or chili with lime and coconut. Served with skinny chips.
TRIO OF SALMON £6.95
Hot & Cold Smoked Salmon and Gravadlax
TEMPURA OF LANGOUSTINE £7.95
Lightly battered with sweet chilli dip or lemon mayonnaise.
TEMPURA OF CHICKEN £6.95
Lightly battered with sweet chilli dip or lemon mayonnaise.
TEMPURA OF VEGETABLES £5.95
Lightly battered with sweet chilli dip or lemon mayonnaise.
PAN FRIED HALLOUMI £5.95
Red pepper and tomato sauce with balsamic reduction.

MAINS - SEAFOOD
FISH & CHIPS £10.95
Served with mushy peas, home-made tartar sauce and hand-cut chips.
TRIO OF FISH WITH LANGOUSTINE & GARLIC BUTTER £12.95
Served with seasonal vegeatbles and potatoes.
SEAFOOD GRATIN £10.95
A medley of seafood in a creamy sauce topped with breadcrumbs, potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
SALMON MACALLAN £12.95
With a whisky cream sauce served with vegetables and potatoes
SMOKED HADDOCK WITH SPINACH AND SCOTTISH CHEDDAR £13.95
An old favourite, grilled and served with mash.
SEAFOOD LINGUINE £12.95
Tossed in a light creamy sauce with mussels, squat lobster tails and scallops.
FISHCAKES £8.95
Choose from Salmon, Thai or Halibut. Served with crisp house salad.
OYSTERS ON ICE £4.50
Three fresh oysters served on ice.
OYSTERS WITH GARLIC BUTTER £4.95
Three fresh oysters, baked with garlic butter.
OYSTERS KILPATRICK £5.45
Three fresh oysters, cooked in worcester sauce, bacon and cream.
HOT SHELLFISH PLATTER £22.95
A platter of fresh mussels, oyster, lagoustines, scallop and squat lobsters. Add a half lobster for an additional £9.95.
COLD SEAFOOD PLATTER£18.95
Hot & cold smoked salmon, gravadlax, squat lobster, langoustine, crab and mussels. Add a half lobster for an additional £9.95.
FENCEBAY TAPAS £11.95
A selection of products from our own Smokehouse; smoked salmon, hot smoked salmon, marinated herring, pate, smoked duck, chicken, mussels and more. For two people to share.

MAINS - NON SEAFOOD
BEEF STROGANOFF £11.50
Served with rice.
CHICKEN STROGANOFF £10.50
Served with rice.
VEGETABLE STROGANOFF £9.50
Served with rice.
SIRLOIN STEAK £18.95
With mushrooms, tomato, onion rings and hand-cut chips. Extras include peppercorn, garlic butter or creamy mushroom and bacon sauces [+£1.50], or Surf 'n' Turf with Langoustine or Scallops [+£3.50].
FILLET STEAK £20.95
With mushrooms, tomato, onion rings and hand-cut chips. Extras include peppercorn, garlic butter or creamy mushroom and bacon sauces [+£1.50], or Surf 'n' Turf with Langoustine or Scallops [+£3.50].

SIDE ORDERS
HOUSE SALAD £2.50
OLIVES £2.50
ONION RINGS £2.50
GARLIC BREAD£ 1.95
HAND CUT CHIPS £2.50
SKINNY CHIPS £1.95

DESSERTS
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING £4.95
With cream or ice-cream.
CHOCOLATE & RUM TRUFFLE £4.95
With ice-cream
CRÈME BRÛLÉE £4.95
With shortbread.
FRUIT CRUMBLE £4.95
With cream or ice-cream.
ICE CREAM £3.95
SELECTION OF SCOTTISH CHEESES £6.95
Served with oatcakes.

Restaurant menus often vary from day to day, so the above should be treated as examples of what to expect in terms of cuisine and price.

The Catch at Fins Christmas Menu

Restaurant menus often vary from day to day, so the above should be treated as examples of what to expect in terms of cuisine and price.

Images of The Catch at Fins

Virtual Tour of The Catch at Fins