Strolling down Edinburgh’s most photogenic street and wondering if Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips lives up to the hype? I had the same question. After spotting how packed this Victoria Street institution was on multiple walk-bys, my hubby and I finally caved and went in. Twice, actually. And let me tell you—what a tale of two visits it turned out to be.
Why Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips Is on Everyone’s Edinburgh List
Victoria Street is hands-down one of the most iconic, vibrant streets in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Curved, colourful, and lined with quirky shops, it’s the kind of place that makes your camera roll explode. And right in the thick of it sits Bertie’s, frequently named one of the top fish and chip spots in both Edinburgh and the UK.
We rocked up at 2.10pm on a weekday after exploring Edinburgh Castle, expecting the lunch rush to be over. Nope. The place was packed to the brim. Good sign, right?
First Visit to Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips: A Cracking Start
Drinks: Scotland’s Liquid Identity Crisis
You can’t go to Scotland without trying Irn-Bru (£2.95)—their other national drink besides Scotch Whisky. Verdict? Tasted like cough syrup to me. Honestly, I couldn’t even describe the flavour if I tried. Confusing stuff.
I had to chase it down with a pint of Fizzy Orange (£3.50)—basically orange juice with soda water. Refreshing, normal, and exactly what my tastebuds needed after the Irn-Bru experiment.
Black Pudding Scotch Egg (£7.95)
My first ever black pudding Scotch egg, and a solid introduction. Locally produced black pudding mixed with pork sausage meat, wrapped around a soft-boiled egg, breadcrumbed and deep fried. Served with their own beetroot ketchup.
- Savoury like a good sausage
- Runny yolk in the middle adds lovely creaminess
- The beetroot ketchup brings it all together
Cajun Spiced Halloumi Tacos (£7.95)
Two soft tortillas filled with crisp veg, tomato salsa, guacamole, and a choice of Cajun Spiced Halloumi or Fish. We went with halloumi. Loved the clean, crunchy ingredients and that classic squeaky, salty halloumi bite. But there was a strange bitter aftertaste I couldn’t pin down. Without it, this would’ve been a perfect refreshing taco.
The Star: Battered Haddock (£17.45)
Served with twice-cooked chips and tartare sauce. This is what we came for, and this is what made us return.
- Tasty batter—though greasy enough to leave a slick on the plate
- Chips are the real MVP: fresh cut (not frozen!), nicely seasoned, soft and moist inside
- Haddock wasn’t fishy at all, with a firm, meaty texture
Genuinely, really darn good fish and chips. We loved it so much, we booked in a return visit for our last day in Edinburgh.
Second Visit: When Things Went Sideways
We came back excited. We left annoyed. But first, the food.
Salt and Pepper Squid (£7.95)
Lightly battered, not oily, served with garlic mayo and lemon. Tender pieces, but it tasted like those frozen squid rings from a packet rather than fresh squid. Could’ve done with more salt and pepper too. Not bad, but not memorable.
Breaded Haddock (£17.95)
Same gorgeous haddock—firm, flaky flesh—but with a crunchy breadcrumb coating instead of batter. Crispy outside, moist inside, and feels noticeably less heavy and greasy than the battered version.
But would I pick it over the battered one? Honestly, no. The battered haddock still wins, oily plate and all.
The Menu Beyond Fish and Chips
Bertie’s specialises in fish and chips, but they’ve got plenty more:
- Battered pork sausage, deep fried haggis, white pudding, scampi, breaded chicken escalope
- Non-fried options: steak burger, chicken BLT burger
- Sides: mushy peas, coleslaw, pickled onions
Full menu lives on their website.
Service at Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips: A Total Coin Flip
Here’s where Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips really stumbles. First visit? Brilliant. Our server was attentive, warm, and friendly. Food arrived quickly despite the crowd. When she asked about the discretionary 10% service charge, we happily said yes.
Second visit? A complete disaster.
- Order taken by someone who seemed new
- Calamari came, then we sat with empty plates for ages
- Flagged a staff member—she just asked if we were ready for mains (we’d already ordered them)
- Tables that arrived after us got their mains first
- Had to flag another staff member. Same question. Same wait.
- Mains finally arrived with no apology
- We lost our appetites by then
- Asked for the bill—server said she’d clear the table first, then forgot us entirely and disappeared
- Spotted staff chit-chatting among themselves the whole time
When the same server cheekily asked if we’d like to add the 10% discretionary service charge, we firmly said no. The bill came with the charge included anyway. We couldn’t be bothered to fight it—we just wanted out.
Final Verdict: Is Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips Worth It?
The Battered Haddock at Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips is genuinely some of the best fish and chips I’ve had. If service had been consistent, I’d be shouting about this place from the rooftops.
But now? I’m sitting firmly on the fence. The food’s brilliant. The service is a lottery. Good luck if you choose to dine here—hope you get a good server, because that makes all the difference between a memorable Edinburgh meal and a memorably bad one.