Welcome Stranger
Quick info
About Welcome Stranger
On Truro Rd in Bodmin, Welcome Stranger serves fish and chips with both fried and steamed cod and haddock on the menu, giving an alternative to the standard batter. Regular and small portions are available for cod, and the kitchen also does a chicken burger and cheeseburger with chips, alongside desserts. The room is clean and bright, with table service for those eating in or ordering to take away. Parking sits outside, and dogs are welcome in the space. The setup covers both a sit-down meal and a straightforward takeaway order from the same counter.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Kids' menu · Family-friendly
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention battered haddock, cod and chips, undercooked batter and cold hard chips.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention battered haddock, cod and chips, undercooked batter and cold hard chips.
Customer Review Summary
Reviews split sharply on this chippy's battered haddock and cod. Several diners call it the best fish and chips they've had in years, praising fresh, hot, non-greasy batter and generous desserts, with friendly, quick service and a clean, bright dining room. Others report the opposite experience: one describes being served undercooked fish with tough, plastic-like skin that had to be sent back, another calls a regular cod portion mostly batter with little fish inside, and a third found the chips hard and cold. A recurring theme among the negative reviews is decline over time, with a few noting the staff and atmosphere that once made the place stand out have changed, and one reviewer says the frying oil and technique aren't what they used to be. One diner also found chicken burger and chips dry and the chips seemingly reheated. Where problems occurred, at least one reviewer had the dish refried and the charge removed from the bill.
Customer Review Summary
Reviews split sharply on this chippy's battered haddock and cod. Several diners call it the best fish and chips they've had in years, praising fresh, hot, non-greasy batter and generous desserts, with friendly, quick service and a clean, bright dining room. Others report the opposite experience: one describes being served undercooked fish with tough, plastic-like skin that had to be sent back, another calls a regular cod portion mostly batter with little fish inside, and a third found the chips hard and cold. A recurring theme among the negative reviews is decline over time, with a few noting the staff and atmosphere that once made the place stand out have changed, and one reviewer says the frying oil and technique aren't what they used to be. One diner also found chicken burger and chips dry and the chips seemingly reheated. Where problems occurred, at least one reviewer had the dish refried and the charge removed from the bill.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Great food and great service, always friendly and quick with your order. It's our regular chip shop and they quite often do offers or special items on the menu”
- Google user
“This USED to be one of the best chippies in Cornwall.. well not anymore. The amazing staff that used to work there have all left, so the atmosphere is awful, and the food is now fried in oil where it used to be dripping and tastes bland and uninspiring.”
- Google user
“I don't normally write reviews but was Very disappointed! I ordered a regular cod & small chips £13.50. The batter was under cooked on the inside and I felt that there was more batter than the actual cod portion itself - Not a problem if I had ordered Batter & Chips!”
- Google user
“All 3 of us totally loved our food, it was fresh, very hot, not greasey(as a lot of places don't know how to cook battered haddock!!!!) Clean bright restaurant with very good friendly staff. Parking outside. Would definitely recommend and will definitely return next time we are in the area. Very well done guys.😀”
- Google user
“Extremely poor. Had not had fish and chips from this place for a number of years, but as passing and having remembered how good it was previously, thought we would try it again. The size of the cod was extremely small despite being a regular (the largest size they do), and there was very little difference between the two sizes. The fish was dry, the batter soggy and anaemic, and the chips were minimal and tasteless! Unfortunately it was a complete waste of £45 and I would urge others to go elsewhere if they don’t want to be disappointed!”
Highlights
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
- Small plates
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed inside
- Takeout
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Family-friendly
- Vegan options
- Alcohol
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Offerings· 5
- Beer
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 5
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Family-friendly· 2
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Location
Restaurants near Welcome Stranger
- Stepping Stone4.93145.9 mi away£30–60Vegan optionsVegetarian optionsGood for kids
lamb, scallops starter, hard to get reservation
- Woody's Pizza4.61306 mi away
thin crispy pizza base, vegan pepperoni pizza, garlic bread with cheese
- Biscovey Fish Bar4.41676.7 mi away
fish and chips, monster burger, curry sauce
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome StrangerOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.3685 | — | £10–20 | battered haddock, cod and chips, undercooked batter |
| Stepping StoneVegan options · Vegetarian options · Good for kids | 4.9314 | 5.9 mi away | £30–60 | lamb, scallops starter, hard to get reservation |
| Woody's Pizza | 4.6130 | 6 mi away | — | thin crispy pizza base, vegan pepperoni pizza, garlic bread with cheese |
| Biscovey Fish Bar | 4.4167 | 6.7 mi away | — | fish and chips, monster burger, curry sauce |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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