Bryans of Headingley

Without doubt some of the worst fish and chips I have had the misfortune to buy. The haddock was not skinned, was encased in a tasteless batter and had an rubbery texture. The chips were greasy and had been not been properly peeled. I noted that the restaurant served by the chippy is displaying an Egon Ronay award dated 1997. I cannot believe that any awrd would be given for such poor quality food served by indifferent staff in a business that clearly is in need of a a major refurb.

I’ve eaten here many many times over more than 40 years. I don’t know where ‘the duck’ (Nov 1998) gets his information from. This was owned by the Bryan Family I know because I went to Abbey Grange School with John Bryan in the early ‘60s. I know it’s changed hands at least twice since then and I recall a TV documentary about the woman owner.
The restaurant is tired and very dated 1960’s décor. The bench seats around the edge are difficult to get into particularly with regard to the older clientele. Service is mediochre sometimes bright and friendly and quick, other times very slow and miserable. The fish is superbly white, just opaque and flaky. The chips are very variable, I once complained that they were limp and saturated with fat and I was told it was because the potatoes weren’t in season!!! It was really because someone in the shop couldn’t fry properly because they were replaced with delicious ones crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. The prices are outrageous for what the place is — £4.99 for soup come on get real. I refuse to pay £1.50 for a portion of mushy peas when a huge tin RETAILS for a fraction of this. The place HAS to make a profit, that’s only good business sense and they’ve been there a very long time but they would have far more customers if they were more sensibly priced. Maybe they like it empty and quiet :-) My Aunt loves the place so I take her quite often but if it wasn’t for her I’d never go again. The place is always empty when we go although I’ve seen a dozen in on a Friday lunchtime, all elderly people who probably can’t travel further afield. I certainly wouldn’t bother with Harry Ramsden’s either, just a place living on it’s ancient reputation when a fish restaurant (with chandeliers) was unheard of. Bretts in Headingley serve beautiful fish and chips, better I think than Bryans but they too are grossly overpriced and the female proprietor is downright miserable. Nor would I go to Murgatroyds after waiting for 20 minutes in an empty restaurant for someone to take my order and I walked out. The same lack of service applies to Marlowes on Street Lane, I don’t know what it is with Fish Restaurants (in Leeds) service seems not to matter. I think a holiday in Thailand would give ALL restaurateurs an idea of just what REAL service is!

We have just been to Bryans of Headingley for our Sunday tea and they are the worst fish and chips I have ever tasted in 50+ years.
The chips tasted like frozen chips that had been stood for an hour and the haddock was grey and old. They tasted like the cooking oil or fat had not been changed for a while.
For £48.00 for four people we did not even get a slice of lemon on our plate
I can see now why the restuarant was empty it was due to poor quality and not a hot sunny day.

Not eaten in the restaurant but got fish and chips from the takeaway and thought it was spot on. I didn’t know it was there until someone took me there. People were queuing out the door so had to a little but don’t mind if the results are good.
A top quality chippy, wish there were more places like this in Leeds. Worth a visit.

These are the best fish and chips in Leeds. I’ve eaten in the restaurant a couple of times and the service is lovely, family friendly and nice and relaxed. The menu is more extensive than fish and chips but I’ve never tried anything else as we always go for the fish and chip option!
The take out food is just as good as the restaurant and the portions are decent, really good value for money.
Yorkshire post quite often have a voucher for a 241 meal in the restaurant which is even better value.

Fish and chips and the seaside right? Wrong. Fish and Chips with West Yorkshireright! With Harry Ramsden’s original shop down the main road, some geezer called Mr Bryan set up this place yonks ago because he knew how to cook the West Yorks staple of fish and chips to a superb quality. This is one of those places people USED to travel from miles around for take out or book weeks in advance for a family meal which everyone enjoys. The food here is of great quality and you USED to get what you pay for. Don’t expect what you would get in any other takeaway, because you will be asking why it is 50% more than the regular. The answer is thisbetter indergeants and people are willing to pay because it is so good. So follow the advice of the other review and expect to queue or call in advance to book a table as eating in here is a bit café like but comes without the hassle of the queuing.

Quality fish and chips here both takeaway and sit down. The restaurant is alwasy busy but staff are still very sweet. I alwasy go with my kids and everyone has a lovely time. There’s normally some sort of colouring-​in competition so my lots always spend half the time making the most colourful picture they can which is then put up on the wall when we leave.
It’s not just fish and chips — plenty of other fodd here so you aren’t tied to batter and spuds! NB It’s worth booking here as it is ofetn quite croded. But get a table booked and everything goes sweetly.