Allan Water Cafe

Was out for the day in Stirlingshire and had to stop here for some lunch as this place is famed for great chips. Since it was a gloriously sunny day, we got food to take away from The Chippy to sit and eat by the river side. As a vegetarian I just opted for a roll and chips, whilst my compadres had the fish and the steak pie. The food went down really well but be prepared for the huge portions! We went back for ice-​cream afterwards — lots of delicious flavours to choose from — and it was also very good. Tasty and well worth a visit!

Best fish shop in stirling, and the ice cream is great too. We will be back on our next trip to Scotland for sure.

Came here twice during a four day stay in Dunblane, once for breakfast and then for dinner. Being a foreigner, I had to go for the English breakfast. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It’s a large portion, you get half a slice of a black pudding sausage, a full sausage (deep fried), large pork slices which I believe was supposed to be bacon, and a fried egg and beans over a slice of bread. The local I was with wasn’t too impressed but as this is my review, I think it was fine.
We also came for dinner– ordered carry out fish and chips. I had high expectations for this place based on local reviews and experiences. I’m not quite sure what went wrong– it may have been the 10 – 15 min ride home that made the batter/​fish soggy but overall I wasn’t too impressed. The batter was bland and it was a bit alarming to watch how much vinegar and salt was added to the dish before it was served. The slab of fish was huge, however and you can easily feed 2 with the medium portion. Maybe the fish would have been better if I ate it right away.
In any case, this place still gets 4 stars, weighted more for the breakfast.

This is one of the best chippies in Scotland.
Seriously, it is. I tend to go here on a friday, usually every month, sometimes more than once a month. I always get a fish supper, although I’ve been tempted by their other fayre, I can’t bear the thought of going and not having a fish supper!
The portions are HUGE. They do pots of mushy peas, which compliment it beautifully. The chips are flavoursome and not greasy. The food is always fresh and tastes it.
The chippy offers pickled onions but not pickled eggs. No one except me likes pickled eggs so I can’t see that putting anyone off! It also does baked potatoes, chicken, smoked sausage, and similar chippy fayre. There’s a great selection of italian ice creams too, and a range of soft drinks.
Monday’s are Gluten Free, where those intolerant to wheat can enjoy batter without fear of consequences. This is a great considerate thing to offer — have not seen it at any other chippy. Kudos for going the extra mile, Allanwater.
The service is friendly and efficient. The ‘broon sauce’ as we ca’ it is classic too, flavoursome and vinegary, without being too watery.
But the battered fish is the star of the show and second to none. And I’m a trad musician, you can bet I’ve eaten chippies ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I like this one best.

It seems that I wound up having fish and chips at the Allan Water four years too late. I wish I’d rocked up here in first year of university for a chippie because I’d have been back here countless times over the years. I wish I’d a time machine!
‘Can I have a small please?’ HOLD ON A SECOND. — There’s been a mistake. This is not small. But yes! Yes, it is. Such is the portion control at the Allanwater café. I couldn’t finish my small fish supper. If you can finish medium, I commend you.
Huge portions, great value and the efficient staff worked through the out-​the-​door queue with great ease!
If you want fish and chips in Stirling, this is the place for it. — Most definitely!

Can’t believe I haven’t already reviewed this place.
Ranked as ‘my favourite chip shop in Scotland’, I recently visited this joint for the first time in over a year. I have now been a good 6 – 8 times.
Long gone are the ‘large’ fish that I recall, happily paying over a tenner for as well I might add. What remains are more modest portions with more modest prices and the quality of the fish is consistently high quality. Freshly made, with a crispy batter and flaky white fillets of fish, the fish is always piping hot and well presented; never any grease.
I was let down with the volume of chips on my plate this time, especially given the overall price for the fish and chips. Also, I am 100% that my ‘Irn Bru’ was in fact ‘Iron Brew’. Please note, I can successfully taste the difference between Barr’s Iron Bru from glass, plastic, and can containers so I am an authority here. Served in a glass, I cannot confirm this. Either way, a glass of any juice (ie, less than a can) is not worth £1.40.
The ice cream is the balls. Only restaurant I go to where I always get a dessert. I am usually not fussed. It’s not on the front of their menu for nothing. The service is also great. But then again, folk around this area are all lovely.
So, to review, my favourite chippy is less perfect than I recall. I now feel like I can go somewhere else for my dinner when I am in the area rather than always make this my essential visit — the case for some years. It’s not noticeably changed for the worst, I just don’t rate it as being worth the money overall and have since found a new gaff in Glasgow that rocks my world (Old Salties) and so, with sadness, I think it’s time for me to move forward.

Great fish. If I’m travelling anywhere near I’ll always stop by for a fish supper. Very nice!

Amazing fish and chip shop. My favourite and I come from a seaside town. Grab a fish tea.

Really great menu with reasonable prices. The portions are absolutely massive! I got a veggie burger (which was delish and came with a platter of massive fries), and the the medium-​sized battered fish my friends got were gargantuan.
It’s a really casual place, which I like, and pretty quiet.
The dessert selection is pretty dangerously good: ice cream galore, including ferrero rocher as a flavour. What’s up!!!

Haven’t been here in years and while the food is pretty good as it always was the staff need a good shake. Service was really bad. WHen we went in I had to ask if it was open seating which they said yes and there were 3 of us and all the tables were for 2… We sat and sat not knowing if we had to go up and order. When I eventually went up to the counter I was told with attitude that they would come take our order which they did but again not very pleasant. When I asked for ice they had none !!! and again I was met with attitude. After our fish teas we enquired about our included ice cream which again seemed to be a bother for them. Plus the table was filthy which never yet got cleaned. A wee bit courtesy to your customer would go along way to making your chips that bit better

Great chip shop, the best in the Stirling area. Excellent ice cream also

excellent food. Always freshly cooked and far better than the award winning places I’ve eaten in.
Some of the staff can seem a little miserable, but the food more than makes up for it.
The ice cream is wonderful too!

Quality chippy and great we café for sitin Fish tea. I always go for a mediaum fish supper as the fish piece seems to be of a substancial size.
do agree witht he last poster though that for all the hype this place gets the standard seems to have dropped a little.
i am a regular in here nad it is definatly one of the best chippys i have been to in the stirling clackmannanshire area

Fish and chips here used to be great, but when it was refit with formica, the attitude of the staff became very plastic too.
Whilst I love the food, I haven’t been back in about 3 years as the staff are so rude

Pretty good chippy but for somewhere that is raved about so much it didn’t quite match the hype. The portions could be bigger and if you like actually tasting the vinegar, make sure you ask for them to put more than just their usual splash.

This is my local chippy, and although it’s not the best i’ve ever tasted, they’re sausage suppers definitely win locally.
The chips are a bit of a hit or a miss to be honest, sometimes soggy, sometimes tasteless. But other times, they can be fabby.
just depends.

Although this place has had a good rep in the past. There standards have slipped. It is overpriced, overrated and their chips are soggy and greasy. There is a chip shop in drip road in raploch which is much better.
It is in a nice setting but thats about it. They dont have any real competition in the area and i feel they have become complacent. Staff are not rude, however hardly friedly and welcoming, it is a case of what can i get you then you pay.

I have been to nearly every award winning Fish & Chip shop in the UK. Although the Allanwater Café has not won any major national awards, I would rate the Fish & Chips in the top 5 in the UK. I ate at the café the day after visiting the famous Anstruther Fish bar and found the Allanwater Café better! Now that is some praise. The Café is well known locally for it’s fish and chips and it’s excellent ice cream (with lot’s of flavours).
The staff are very polite and friendly and the café is always clean. Can be busy on weekends — especially in good weather.

best fish and chips around.