Let’s head out of the city, not far though, just a few miles to the gorgeous seaside town of South Queensferry. This is a popular destination with tourists and locals alike throughout the week and at weekends. The High Street through South Queensferry is steeped in history with cobbled streets and a Tolbooth dating back to the 1630s on one side and the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridge on the other. Wherever you look, you’ll find views that feed the eyes and soul.

Located near the start of the one way cobbled High Street is Orocco Pier - restaurants and hotel. Orocco Pier boasts two restaurants - Samphire Bar, Seafood & Grill and Antico Cafe Bar. I headed to Samphire to try out their latest menu and hopefully some fresh seafood.

FOOD REVIEW OF SAMPHIRE OROCCO PIER, SOUTH QUEENSFERRY

With it being a Sunday, it was bustling with large tables in for Sunday Roast. The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully and on entering you’re greeted by a long elegant bar and very eye catching wallpaper.

We were sat in the prime spot in the round table with the best view out over the water. What a backdrop for lunch!

The menu is a mix of seafood dishes and other meat and vegetarian dishes with a definite Asian theme. It’s quite a large menu and I am sure most people will find something they love on it. Initially I was ordering the Salt, Pepper and Chilli Squid (£9.95) with aioli and lime but after enquiring, I was told that the squid is frozen which from experience tends to make the squid chewy so I switched to the Japanese Fried Chicken (£.8.95) with sesame dressing, cabbage and edamame slaw, and a honey and sriracha mayonnaise. I was going to choose the scallops but as I was having seafood for my mains, I thought it best to balance the meal out.

The two chicken pieces where well coated in batter which was crispy albeit a little dark, however the chicken was well seasoned and juicy. Slaw was crunchy and tangy.

Scottish Mussels (£19.95) in white wine, cream garlic and parsley served with homemade focaccia. These also come in a Thai Red Curry and in 1/2 kilo or 1 kilo. Fresh mussels, well cleaned in a creamy garlic sauce - what’s not to love. Only gripe here was that there was huge discrepancies in the size of the mussels. Some were tiny and some up to 3 times the size. Although all tasty, it meant that during cooking the smaller mussels became overcooked whilst the larger ones where cooked to perfection.

I also spotted the The Baked Camembert (£17.50) to share with candied chillies, savoury granola and garlic ciabatta. Sounded the ideal lighter way to start lunch.

SHELLS

Unfortunately there were no oysters available and there was only one half lobster left, which I managed to order!

Note - go early if you want the best of the seafood. We had a 1pm reservation so it may be wise to book for 12noon or maybe a Saturday if you want the best seafood! Samphire is only open Friday, Saturday and Sundays.

Grilled west coast lobster (£31.95 and whole £59.95) with garlic, lemon and parsley butter, hand cut chips and house salad. Loved the presentation of this with the lemon wedged into the claw! Was kinda gutted that I got the smaller claw (hehe - when it comes to lobster who doesn’t want more??). Lobster was drenched in garlic butter, just how I like it.

Roast Seafood platter (£62.95) - half lobster, Cumbrae oysters, fish of the day, whole clams, Orkney scallops, prawns, mussels. This platter sounded superb too but with many of the items not available, there would be no point in ordering.

FROM THE CHARGRILL

For this mains it was all about the surf and turf.

28 day aged 225g fillet steak (£38.95) served with hand cut chips, rocket, cherry tomato and parmesan salad, peppercorn sauce (£3.75) and grilled prawns and scallops (£14.95)

Steak was tender although it came medium when we had asked for it medium rare. Well seasoned and a nice piece of fillet. Sauce and chips were spot on and the 2 prawns and 2 scallops added the surf!

Asian inspired dishes include the Chargrilled Malaysian Chicken (£16.55) and the Chargrilled Tuna Loin with Udon noodles (£22.95)

As I mentioned previously, they have a Sunday Roast with all the trimmings too.

Vanilla Creme Brulee with poppy seed shortbread (£8.25). Superb crack on the hard sugar shell but I did miss the genuine vanilla flavour and seeds running through the creme brulee.

IJ Mellis artisan cheese (£11.55) - seasonal cheeses (cheddar, brie and a blue) with oatcakes, grapes and chutney. Good selection of cheeses and a generous platter unfortunately most of the grapes were a little worse for wear.

The staff are fabulous here. Very attentive, friendly, good knowledge of the menu and provide several checkbacks.

The view is superb inside and outside on the balcony and I know why this is a very very popular destination restaurant.

I liked it here. I reckon if you manage to hit the perfect sweet spot of when they have all their produce available - perhaps a Friday night - you’ll be blown away by what they have to offer.

Orocco Pier, 17 High St, South Queensferry EH30 9PP www.oroccopier.co.uk

My Spoon Award : Silver 8/10

I was invited by Orocco Pier to try their menu. Food and drinks were complimentary but the views are very much my own