Cookies Crab Shop | Food

Date Published:: 12/09/2008

Map user, Laney, added Cookies Crab Shop to the Map saying: "The best seafood platter I've ever had." I set sail for Salthouse to find out more

The couple that runs the B&B where I’m staying also recommended Cookies: "We can lend you some wine glasses if you like." Odd I think. Turns out Cookies don't have a license, but you can bring your own booze and they don't charge corkage. The flipside of this is that owners, Pete and Suzanne McKnespiey, would appreciate it if you bought your own glasses. After all, this isn't a formal restaurant. And it isn’t – as the sign on the door says – a teashop. So what is it then? Well Pete and Suzanne were inspired by the street food they saw on their trips to Australia and the Far East and they wanted that informality and rustic nature in their place. It does get very busy in the summer months; sandwiches and soups are takeaway only, and booking is advisable.

Pete would probably be the first to admit he's got a no nonsense attitude. "There's great banter in this place with the regulars. Sometimes I say 'how was that?' when clearing the table and they reply 'bloody awful, see you same time next week'." If you're of a soft-skinned effete nature this probably isn't the place for you. If, on the other hand, you're a lover of spanking fresh, well-cooked tasty fish and seafood then this is very much the place.

Done up like a kipper

Cookies is also home to the famous kipper and tomato soup. Sounds odd, but it works. Pete’s had top chefs try and work out the recipe but he’s remaining tight-lipped. There's smokiness in it though and not just from the kippers – perhaps a bit of smoked paprika? And some heat, which I manage to get him to reveal, is from a splash of Tabasco.

The most popular seafood dishes are the 'royal' salads. The crab one for instance gets you a whole dressed crab, prawns, crayfish, mackerel, salmon and cockles. This is served with lettuce, tomato and cumber, potato salad and coleslaw. All for around £6, which is not much more than a limp prawn sandwich in your favourite sandwich chain. When mine arrives there's a smiley face made from sliced olives and prawns on the crab. It's been a while since I've eating something with a face design on. It’s a large plate of lovely seafood at a bargain price and complete hit of Omega 3 goodness. What's more there's not a hint of 'fishy whiff' about the place, everything so fresh and done each day. Finally there's a choice of familiar favourites for dessert - crumble, pies or ice creams.

I wish there were a few more eateries like this around the country - simple and rustic yet robust and tasty. If you know of one, add it to the Map.