10 North Shields Fish Quay Restaurants To Visit
The North Shields Fish Quay has benefited in recent years from a bit of a refresh, with new restaurants opening along the busy port, attracting visitors from the local areas and giving an alternative to Tynemouth or Whitley Bay. The fishing port provides fresh seafood to the local businesses and beyond, but it is the North Shields Fish Quay restaurants that are the main attraction. Here’s 10 of them worth visiting.
The fish quay has a long history, and many of the restaurants and bars that now overlook the river are in some of the oldest buildings. There is plenty of parking, including a free car park right by the beach, and pay and display or pay by phone parking along the port itself. These North Shields fish quay restaurants are within steps of wherever you park, making it a popular place to visit a few at once for an afternoon or evening out.
Lobo Rojo
Lobo Rojo is on the corner of the fish quay, in the old iconic Irvins building. They serve authentic Mexican food including tacos, burritos and fajitas, as well as a selection of drinks and their famous margarita cocktails. The food is exceptional here, much better than some of the Mexican chain restaurants in the city centre, and it’s always busy.
They’ve had so much success they’ve opened Little Lobo’s in Sandyford and Tynemouth too. The bar side of the restaurant is dog friendly, and they have huge windows from which to watch the fish quay world go by.
I’ve previously shared a full review of Lobo Rojo here, have a read. Book your table and see the menu here.
Allards on the Quay
Another hugely popular restaurant right on the fish quay is Allards, the sister restaurant of the original on Tynemouth Front Street. Their tapas are famous in the North East for being delicious, big portions and excellent value. They also serve a brunch menu, an extensive drinks and cocktail menu if you just want to visit for the bar, and some main meals too.
There is outside seating with heaters which is nice on a sunny warmer day, and a more sheltered terrace upstairs with a canopy cover and heaters. It’s a bit more sheltered from the river front than the tables outside.
If you want to make sure you have a table it’s definitely worth booking here, as it’s often very busy and walk ins aren’t guaranteed a table.
The Ships Cat
A relatively new addition to the fish quay, The Ships Cat used to an old warehouse that has now been converted into a bar with a big outside terrace and a restaurant. They are dog friendly, and are open daily.
The menu is big and varied with everything from pizzas and burgers, to kebabs, loaded fries, sharing platters, steak and chips, and of course fish and chips and other seafood.
Take a look at the menu here, but this one is also worth visiting just for a drink if you can get a table. It does get quite lively on a sunny afternoon or a weekend evening.
Dodgins Yard
Dodgins Yard is on the main stretch of the fish quay, and is a laid back bar and grill style restaurant with a good atmosphere. They use local ingredients to make their meat boards and seafood platters, but they’re also a good spot for breakfast too. Due to their sharer boards which can cater for more than 4 people, they’re a good one for groups. The loaded lobster fries are pretty epic too.
Book a table and find out more about Dodgins Yard here.
The Salty Sea Dog
The Salty Sea Dog is on the main stretch of restaurants, and they serve a tapas menu and a wide selection of cocktails. They do a good deal Sunday – Thursday of four tapas and either a glass of wine or a beer for £22.95. It can get pretty busy and loud in here at peak times, but the food is good and you can reserve tables. They also do sandwiches if you wanted instead of mains or tapas.
Book for The Salty Sea Dog and view the menu on their website here.
Porky’s North Shields Fish Quay
Porky’s is one for meat lovers, and is an American style grill serving burgers, steaks and ribs, in lots of different ways. They also do pizzas, chicken wings, and a selection of loaded fries and sides. They’re pretty popular for meat fans, and they do a Pig Out Takeaway menu too.
Read the main Porky’s menu here.
Saltwater Tavern
The Saltwater Tavern is what used to be the Staithe House, that didn’t ever reopen after lockdown. They are dog friendly, with plenty of dog treats on offer. For people they serve real ales and cocktails. It’s been fully refurbed, and has a decent size beer garden to sit outside when the weathers good, and they dont mind you getting fish n chips to eat outside either. At the moment they aren’t serving food but that may change in future – so this ones just a pub.
Follow them on Facebook to see their latest deals and cocktails.
Low Lights Tavern
The Low Lights Tavern is the oldest pub on the North Shields Fish Quay, at over 400 years old. You might know it better as Sam Fender’s local, as its where his Brit Awards are on the bar. They serve typical pub food like pies, and a selection of beers and ales. They’re very dog friendly too.
Sambucas
The cheap and cheerful Sambucas chain originated on the Fish Quay, and they now have two venues along from each other. They may be cheap and no frills, but you can’t beat their pasta and pizza deals.
Fish & Chip Restaurants on the Fish Quay
I can’t mention restaurants on the North Shields fish quay without including some fish and chip options, considering you couldn’t get them any fresher. Three restaurants that you can both dine in and get takeaway are The Waterfront, Seaview Fish & Grill and The Plaice.
Whether you’re visiting for an afternoon out, or have walked along the coast and ended up here, these North Shields fish quay restaurants are all worth planning a visit to. It can get pretty busy so if you have any preference it’s definitely worth booking.
Other posts you might like:
Where to go for breakfast in Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth
A guide to the best pubs in Whitley Bay
Cowrie Cottage fishermans cottage in Cullercoats