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Linlithgow
Ship 2 Shore 24

Co-owned by Jim Boyd and his partner Jim Cook, a fisherman from Eyemouth, Ship 2 Shore 24 is a seafood restaurant with a difference. Diners and visitors are invited, not only to dine on some of the freshest seafood imaginable, but also to browse the restaurant’s wet-fish counter – perhaps picking something to take home for their tea. Produce is landed and sold on the same day, as well as being included on the menu. Staff will happily tell you the name of the skipper who brought the seafood to your plate, meaning that the motto ‘from ship to shore in 24 hours’ is no idle promise.

Australian chef Douglas’ (chef profile page 55) seared scallops with pork belly and chickpea and parsley purée were outstanding, while a bowl of traditional Scottish soup, Cullen Skink, was packed with chunky pieces of smoked haddock, echoing the restaurant’s focus on freshness and quality of produce. I was feeling decadent, and picked lobster for the main course, while my partner chose a cleverly composed dish consisting of locally sourced pan-fried haunch of venison accompanied by butterbean cassoulet and red onion tarte tatin. The speciality here is the seafood platter – well priced, considering its varied and considerable contents – and I made a mental note to try it next time I visit. Absolutely everything at Ship 2 Shore 24 is homemade – right down to the ice cream, bread, tablet and petit fours – guaranteeing unrivalled flavour and quality.

Within the first six months of trading, Ship to Shore 24 received an AA rosette, which it has retained through 2009 to 2010. It was also awarded the title of ‘Best New Business in Scotland’ for 2008 by the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards, and was a 2009 finalist in the ‘Best New Restaurant’ category at the CIS Restaurant Awards – I, for one, am not in the least surprised.

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