Food reviewer Gary Hanna visited Rick Stein’s famous fish and chip shop to see what all the fuss was about but he will not be going back for a third time
Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips in Padstow, helmed by the culinary celeb himself, is a mecca for foodies, drawing thousands every year to its doorstep in Cornwall for a taste of the renowned chippy.
Many fans have cheekily dubbed the town ‘Padstein’ thanks to the chef’s growing presence. But despite its popularity, there’s been some local grumbling about Stein’s influence.
And one diner definitely not queuing up for seconds is food critic Gary Hanna. With a track record of reviews on his Gary Eats channel, he unleashed his fury after a recent visit to the premium chippy left him completely underwhelmed.
Previously, Gary had dished out a scorching critique of Stein’s fish and chip joint. He said: “I had his fish and chips and I’ve got to say they were disappointing.
“In fact, actually called it out and said it was a tourist trap.” Keen on fair play, Gary slipped into the eatery unnoticed for another go at the menu, choosing haddock and chips, some scampi, mushy peas, curry sauce, and tartare sauce for good measure.
The bill for this meal came to just shy of £34 – not loose change by any means. Rick Stein has previously defended his steep prices amid criticism, citing soaring fuel costs and pricier ingredients as the culprits, reports Cornwall Live.
Gary had to wait around 20 minutes for his order, which he accepted as standard for food cooked fresh. However, the haddock he received looked “really sorry for itself,” according to Gary, and was overly greasy.
Upon cutting into it, he claimed the fish was dry. “That’s not good,” he commented. “That’s not a good piece of fish at all.”
The chips were also “a bit dry,” in Gary’s opinion, with some appearing undercooked. The scampi didn’t fare any better, with Gary describing it as “mass-produced mush”.
The mushy peas were “rubbish” and the separately charged condiments didn’t meet his expectations either. After some thought, he decided to ask for a refund. He explained: “It’s not right because this is food that’s going to get wasted and thrown away.
“If it was cooked properly in the beginning it would be wasted – I hate wasting food.” However, there was a silver lining, with the restaurant staff’s response.
Gary continued: “I brought it back and I can tell you that it was handled by the manager in there perfectly … she refunded me straight away.” Despite being offered a replacement meal on the house, Gary declined, stating he’d rather not see food go to waste.
He concluded his review with a personal message for the proprietor. He said: “I appreciate that [Rick Stein’s] not here running it himself personally but his family, or whoever’s running his organisation is running it guys sort it out – because you’re ripping people off this is a tourist trap and it’s not acceptable.”
Rick Stein’s organisation has been contacted for a response, but at the time of writing, they had not yet replied.