There’s coeliac and then there’s coeliac. There are those that are following a gluten free diet as a lifestyle choice and then there are those that are genuinely allergic to gluten and anything containing wheat flour.

My mum is a true 100% verified coeliac; if she eats anything with gluten in it, she is sick for days. So as a family we are always on the look out for places ‘to take mum’. Mum is also a war child, so doesn’t eat anything that’s complicated, anything with sauces and likes things nice ‘n plain. This means no curries, no Chinese, no new age gluten free cooking, no pasta, no rice, no bread. It’s a tough ask sometimes… but she does LOVE fish.

We rejoiced though when we found out that St Andrews Fish n Chips in Portobello does a whole Gluten Free Fish n Chips either to go or to sit in! Hallelujah!

ST ANDREWS RESTAURANT PORTOBELLO

Most Saturday afternoons you can find me or my brother hovering around St Andrews Chippie buying gluten free chips or the whole supper; just depending on what mum wants.

On this occasion we decided to sit in. It was a Friday early evening and the place was heaving. Luckily we booked. This place had just won Chippie of the Year which had no doubt increased their footfall not that they needed it. The queues for the takeaway were out the door and within 10 minutes the restaurant was full.

The restaurant is very family orientated and much like Tony Macaroni appeals to families with young children and our OAP’s; so the early eating slots are very much booked up quickly. I’m sure that come 730pm/8pm the place quietens down.

This is a fabulous restaurant for Gluten Freebies and its nice to see a restaurant ‘shout’ about the fact that they offer a gluten free menu.

Not only do they offer gluten free fish n chips, but you’ll also find pastas and pizzas as well as most of the condiments are gluten free too including their vinegar.

What an absolute treat for my mum to not have to worry if anything on her plate is gluten free!

The Gluten Free Haddock and Chips is £12.90 and you get a whopper of fish. It comes served with side salad and peas (garden or mushy). Everything is fried in vegetable oil and it’s not at all greasy. They also do a High Tea which is Fish n Chips and a pot of tea for £8.90 available week days until 8pm and weekends until 5pm.

The chips are hand cut and soft and comforting as most chippie chips are but it is truly the haddock that shines. The fish is fresh, and when pulled apart reveals those succulent soft white flakes. The batter is crispy and just downright delicious. As a non gluten freebie, I’d happily tuck into the gluten free version - no major difference in taste. Just remember this is a chippie at heart and no fine dining here.

I can confirm that their pizzas are lovely too, thin base with a decent full topping and their Carbonara pasta screams with garlic and rich cream which is utterly divine.

They serve up a range of other seafood dishes such as Handcut Panko coated Squid Rings £4.10; the Cozze Marinare of fresh mussels in a tomato sauce £5.20 and main dishes such as grilled Seabass or Salmon. The Kids menu is Kids fish n chips, macaroni cheese and pizza with 2 toppings etc.

This is a firm favourite stop for our family. The restaurant is great but we do prefer the takeaway option (which is the same) - and who wouldn’t, when you can grab scrummy fish n chips and head down to the beach.

St Andrews Restaurant and Takeaway, 280 Portobello High Street, Portobello, EH15 2AT. Tel : 0131 6692850 www.standrewsrestaurant.co.uk/

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10