The Fish Bank in Sherburn in Elmet was named one of the 50 Best Takeaways, while the famous Magpie Cafe in Whitby was one of the 10 Best Restaurants announced at the much-anticipated Fry Awards, now in its 13th year.
The results follow months of judging in which takeaways, restaurants and mobile units were secretly assessed by mystery diners on a range of aspects such as food quality, premises cleanliness, staff expertise, value for money, ease of ordering and social media presence, states the Fry Magazine.
The website added: “Only the operators with the highest scores earn an award. The pass mark this year for both the takeaway and restaurant categories was 96% and above, although several were successful in gaining the full 100%.”
What have customers said about The Fish Bank and Magpie Cafe?
On Tripadvisor, The Fish Bank has a 3.5/5 rating from 90 reviews – a recent customer shared: “Myself and my children have just had the best lunch experience here. The service was excellent and very personable and the food was delicious.
“The lunch time special of small fish, small sausage, chips and peas was the perfect size for me and very reasonably priced at £6. My kids ate all theirs and loved every bit of it.
“The whole place is very clean and well organised and there is a nice enclosed garden at the back to sit and enjoy your food. Definitely coming back and recommend 100%.”
Meanwhile, the Magpie Cafe (with a rating of 4.5/5 from just under 10,000 reviews) has also received plenty of praise on Tripadvisor.
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Someone said: “Fantastic meal with the family; wasn’t overly busy and didn’t wait too long for the order. Everything freshly cooked, crisp batter and haddock was delicious! Chips on point and would definitely go back! Waitress was lovely too :).”
Reece Head, competition organiser at the Fry Awards 2025, commented: “Congratulations to this year’s award winners!
“Another year has passed and, once again, these shops have shown resilience, adapting to today’s challenges with remarkable dedication.
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“At a time when inflationary pressures are being felt, these businesses continue to stay positive and prioritise their customers, maintain exceptional standards, and find innovative ways to keep fish and chips affordable.
“Starting the year as award winners is a fantastic way for fish and chip shops to kick off 2025, setting the tone for a successful year ahead.
“Whether served in a restaurant, a takeaway, or from a mobile unit, the Fry Awards prove that quality fish and chips can be enjoyed anywhere.”
