No 1 Cromer
Cromer, Norfolk
Galton Blackiston (of Morston Hall fame) picked a peach of a location when he took over a traditional chippie in 2013 and turned it into a high-class fish and chips restaurant. Big picture windows on both floors give superb views of the often tempestuous North Sea and Cromer pier. Summertime crowds stretch down the street, with holidaymakers eager to grab a takeaway. Small wonder, as the fish and chips here are a rare delight. There are tables for walk-ins downstairs, while the (bookable) upstairs dining room is a tad classier, with wooden flooring, sea-blue walls and a grey-blue wooden bar. Here, a couple of specials also soar above the chip-shop norm: a thick, succulent square of salmon (poached at 40°C) was expertly presented in a miso broth and topped with an appetisingly viscous cured egg yolk and a spear of crisp teriyaki ‘jerky’ – a marvellous starter, though perhaps wasabi might have better substituted for the dabs of coriander and avocado purée. To follow, battered skate was cooked with pinpoint accuracy (not easy with skate) and accompanied by satisfyingly thick chips and a miniature saucepan of mushy peas topped with a big spoonful of mint sauce. Don’t forget to order a generous pot of creamy homemade tartare sauce (served gratis). There’s ice cream for pudding, but the special of lemon-sherbet Eton mess comes highly recommended: an indulgent blend of tartness, sweetness and creamy, crunchy chewiness. A brief wine list (from £22) is supplemented by local cider and Galton’s own-label bottled bitter (from a Norfolk brewery), which makes an ideal companion to deep-fried food. Staff are bright and breezy, as was the Cromer weather in late April when we visited – thankfully, though, they’re a great deal warmer.
Dining Information:
Wheelchair access, Family friendly
1 New Street, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 9HP
01263 515983
