Thistle - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

A MUST STOP when you are within 100 miles when looking for Scottish food!

Overall, this restaurant is a quaint little eatery that mimics an traditional English place. The Thistle is a staple in Lyndhurst and very well respected. However, the food was okay- the rice was overcooked and the fish, while flavorful, had a strange texture and decent taste. I was hoping that with other fish restaurants closing down I could make The Thistle my go-to, especially since I live in town, but it doesn't meet expectations for the cost. Service is very friendly, attentive, and not over bearing and the resturant is extraordinary clean.

Good fish and chips, but pricey, even in today's economy.

All four of us enjoyed our orders.

Ordered the fish n chips o lunch to go. The fish was so greasy it soaked through the container. The fries were mushy and wilted and were so greasy they were not editable. McDonalds fries are crispy and hot these could not compare. They were drenched in oil, soft and wilted when you picked one up. They were not made fresh. I live 5 minutes from this place and when I got home everything was cold and not editable. Really disgusting. Check out who is doing the cooking and you’ll know why the food is so bad. Never again.

Great dining experience with friends. Wonderful deal for the delicious fish and chips. Exceptional service. Dated decor didn't detract from the experience

Excellent soft shell crab sandwiches when in season. Fantastic soup. Excellent fried seafood.

My family has been going here forever. It's a family run and owned business, and you cant get fish and chips any better than here! Always fantastic always delicious! We drive an hour just to get the best fish and chips around and it's always worth the drive! 5 stars Everytime!

Excellent fish@chips I personally like the combination fish and shrimp

Nice restaurant, delicious food and very lovely help. All toll, definitely worth the 30 minute ride to Lyndhurst

Food was mixed. Wife's fish and chips were good. My fried oysters were terrible. They seemed as if they were store bought pre breaded frozen oysters. They were also extremely small with much more coating than oyster. Disappointing.

Family owned second gen Scots they left their grandpa recipe alone. Traditional chippery.

I grew up in Kearny with the Thistle and the Argyle. My grandmother came through Ellis Island from Paisley Scotland in 1923. We'd get take out fish and chips a few times a year at her house. I had a craving for fish and chips the other night and there's just not many options left in this area. My wife and I stopped in on a quite week night and had a great meal that reminded me of all the meals I'd had at my grandma's house 30 years ago. Thistle isn't in Kearny anymore and things do change but it's still got excellent fish and chips. We also grabbed a clam shell container of empire biscuits on the way out. They were delicious and one of my favorite treats.

I was looking forward to the fish & ship and I was super disappointed. I did take out. The portion is ridiculously small, just one small fish square and the fries were few. The batter is way too tin and tasteless and fries just an handful. Not worth $20 for such a small portion, especially when potatoes don't cost anything. Hard pass! 😒

Excellent Scottish food!! And great service! Highly recommended!!

We love the Thistle! My sister and I have been going there since we are little.

Classic proper fish and chips place. Amazing service, fantastic food, clean and friendly - what more can you ask for??!

I walked in while my partner who made reservations was parking the car! I was immediately told by the young lady at the counter that they were packed and would be a long wait! I then mentioned we had reservations in which she replied we have 2 parties of 12 and not sure what time they’re leaving! She never asked my name or the reservation time however when my partner came in who is white ( I’m black) he was told immediately it would only be a few minutes!

My wife's dish ,fish & chips were amazing .I, on the other hand, was very disappointed. The blackened scallops tasted fishy, and the shrimp was overcooked. When I told the server, she wasn't fazed by it. It's a shame I really want it to like this place.

Fish & Chips was amazing.Fried Shrimp was overcooked, and the Blackened Scallops tasty fishy .😔Apple pie was good.BYO

The food is amazing !! I took my mom and she absolutely loved it. I had the fish and chips and she had the scallops and I tried them and they were delicious. And the apple bread with vanilla sauce was unbelievable !! It was my first time there but definitely won’t be my last. And the people serving the food don’t bother you when you’re eating and let you enjoy your meal not like other restaurants. I gave it 5 stars across the board but I’d give more if it was an option. Highly recommend.

Thistle has been a place that I have family memories at as a child. It used to be on Kearny Avenue in Kearny and moved several years ago to Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The food has always been top choice and still is. It’s a family run business that has been here for years. I came here with some friends are and 2 ordered fish and chips, my other friends ordered softshell crabs, and I ordered fried scallops and shrimp. Everyone was very satisfied with their meal, and as usual the service was great. We also shared fried clam strips as an appetizer. At the end of the day, we all share a dessert, strawberry and rhubarb pie à la mode with vanilla ice cream. That’s my favorite dessert there. The atmosphere is very homey and peaceful. You feel like you’re in your dining room at home. Also, the place is very clean and you can see how they OK really care for their customers. I highly recommend coming to this restaurant is a local gem to experience.

This restaurant is a family business It is Scottish and has the best seafood . Fish and chips is great and anything you order . I love the rhubarb and strawberry pie with vanilla ice cream . I ordered scallops and fried shrimps and it was very scrumptious. I also shared fried clams which I love to eat with some lemon and cocktail sauce . The vegetables string beans and carrots were cooked perfectly. Everyone enjoyed their meal. They use to be located in Kearney NJ on Kearney Avenue but moved several years ago to Lyndhurst.The place is very comfortable and homey feeling you get eating here.I always enjoyed eating here.I have lots of memories here been coming here since I was a child . So its been in business for many many years .

The soft shell crabs are my favorite, but everything is good here.

What a neighborhood gem! It's super cute and authentic. Susan our waitress was wonderful. The fried oysters were fresh and delicious as were the soft shell crabs (call ahead and they will save you an order). I eat pretty healthy and while the fish and chips looked amazing I went with the broiled cod which was perfectly cooked and very tasty. The seared salmon was also yummy. I was excited that they had all the British candy bars for sale. What a treat!

Authentic Scottish fish & chips. Delicious.

Best authentic Scottish Fish and Chips in the tri-state area! A real taste of the old country! Excellent!

The fish and chips are phenomenal!!

Best fish and chips! Great Senior meals. Tasty meat pies. Been dining here since they were in Kearny. Once a month, my family would go on Friday night. Soup sooo good.

The Fish & Chips are the best here that I have ever had this side of the Atlantic!

Last night Kit and I were invited to attend a Fund Raiser for the Knights of Columbus that was a Fish Fry for $20 a person. Not knowing what type of meal it would be, we arrived around 16:00 as the gathering began and the crowd's arrived. As we sat waiting for the food with our friends, Francine and Bob Yamello, we enjoyed our relaxed conversations with them and other's from the surrounding communities... The food was catered by The Thistle Fish & Chip Restaurant from Northern New Jersey... When our food was brought to us, my eyes glazed over with joy as the presentation was reminiscent of what I consider to be the best Fish & Chips... It brought back memories of Argyle's, Stewart's and Thompson's Fish & Chips Restaurants in Kearny, NJ. The food is Old Country Style, large piece of cod deep fried to perfection with the families secret batter, french fries aka chips with a side of coleslaw and the always present malt vinegar that pleases the taste buds. Now in addition to my wanderings of New Jersey's premier Pizza offerings, I have another mission!!! To see if and where there might be other hidden Gems here throughout our state that we can find to reach the bar set by Thistle... The fish was delicious, moist with a hard crunchy, not oily outer crust, matched with tasty fries and a coleslaw that brought back memories... Those memories of my Grandfather's New England style coleslaw recipe that he brought back from Nana & Pop Pop's Summer Vacations in Vermont. The pictures are of the second meal that I brought home for Lunch on Friday... They have Food Trucks and a Trailer that they come to your location for gathering's and Social Functions throughout New Jersey. It would be great if there was a schedule of public events they were going to be at.

The outstanding food, service and cozy atmosphere at The Thistle makes it one of my favorite spots for lunch with friends.

Lovely place. Good food and service. Dinner portions are big! Fried fish was crispy but I took vegetables so the fish eventually became soggy at the bottom. Scalloped were slightly overdone but seasoning was nice.

Good local restaurant, well known for its fish & chips, good specials, reasonably priced. Service is by an owner and always good. Only very limited street parking.

I grew up in Kearny NJ, home of MANY fish and chip places. In fact I owned and operated one for some years so you can say I know a little about them. I have to say that the Thistle (actually also originally located in Kearny) is the best I've experienced. The fish is fresh and done in true batter style, not breaded. The dining room is small but laid out nicely so it can seat around 40. It is a real fish and chip experience.

Still the Best Fish & Chips around.We've been here a few times. The problem is you can't eat fish and chips everyday, sadly I have to watch my weight. Here is one of the Best Fish & Chips in the area. We haven't ordered anything that we weren't very happy with. I tried the Fried Clams Special, but normally I always get the F & C. Service is always prompt and polite...

Stopped in the Thistle restaurant after piping supplies at The Pipers Cove in Kearny. Great, friendly service,started with onion soup on cold day which was creamy and delicious, excellent flavor fish n chips and great tasting meat pies with no gristle ! Well worth the visit - let’s keep this place goin!

This Scottish fish and chip restaurant has been around for many years; has a very cozy at-home atmosphere, is quaint and the food is delicious -- a little pricey but delicious! My family and I have been going there for many years even when it was in Kearny. If you're in the mood for a good fish and chip supper this is the place to go😋

The fish and chips were amazing! You get a pretty good size portion of fish with homemade coleslaw and traditional chips. The staff is friendly and the restaurant itself is very cozy.

This is the best place in the state/nation for fish and chips, I have been going here since my youth, when they had the establishment in Kearny, LET ME TELL YOU!!!! no other fish n chips I ever tasted in my travels or in my life was as good as THISTLE… The Haddock is cooked perfectly with the most delicious batter I’ve tasted… The ambience of the restaurant is reminiscent to the cobblestone restaurant you would see in Ireland/ Scotland . The staff have been there for years so you know it’s good… THIS IS A MUST TRY!!!!

I have always enjoyed eating there. In Kearney and in Lyndhurst I need more stars

Excellent fish and chips. Great service.

Excellent Fish and Chips Cod was very fresh Nice to have a taste of Scotland so close by

For $14 you'd expect them to at least not skimp on the fries. It really is fairly small portions and not done very well.

Great fish & chips & seafood place. Relaxed atmosphere. They were playing country music. I thought they were Scottish 😆

What really great food and wonderful service staff. Can't think of when I enjoyed a meal more.

Best fish and chips I've had in the area. The batter is amazing and the homemade tartar sauce pairs well with it.

Place always clean. This is isn’t the first time here and fish was always good in the past. Somehow this time fish had too much batter and fries weren’t as crispy as usual. Not sure if something changed. I always prefer fish and chips from here than a restaurant chain. We’ll come back here for sure but hopefully it will be back to normal.

Absolutely delicious, as always! Service was wonderful, the ambience is cozy, and everything we ordered was cooked to perfection! Will be back soon for sure!

Food is done to perfection. Fresher than fresh. Portions are more than fair. All food is homemade. From soups to French fries, no frozen or reheated here. Staff is family friendly. We recently moved to the area & Thistle is now on our regular eating out list. Looking forward to entertaining here. My only problem is I feel they close way to early.

I was craving fish and chips….. so I search the closet place near me also keep in mind I’m not from NJ however I saw this place and the reviews looks good I said let me try it OMG this food is disgusting definitely not worth $20 I’m from NY and I’ve paid $16 and get AMAZING fish and chips…. Now I don’t care so much for the price you can set your price the way you want HOWEVER this food is disgusting the fish tasted like it was spoiled or reheated just look at the pictures this is ridiculous I’m not even going to bother with getting a refund because I honestly have pity that you have the audacity to be charging $20 and making food like this……. Please stop. Ty :) My dog ate some of it so that’s why I gave it one star :)

Always good, always consistent. Highly recommended.

Fish and chips were delicious, nice big piece of cod, hot and crispy! Great flavor in the batter. Their homemade apple pie was out of this world good. We will be back to enjoy this local and friendly restaurant.

Fish &Chips just the way I remembered it as a kid from its days in Kearny. Lunch portion was perfect and the cod was thick and tasty...definitely worth it. The empire biscuits were $$$ but they are alot of work to make and delicious.

Like Butch always says there's only one Thistle

I parked on the street, walked in and enjoyed a plate of fish and chips. Perfect portion, battered and fluffy, and friendly staff

Came to thistle on St. Patrick’s day for fish and chips with my mom. It’s BYOB and the service is so welcoming. Their fish was so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The coleslaw was good too!

Still a incredible place to get fish and chips. Alba gu bràth!!!

Fish n chips batter was not good. Should be able to cut with a fork, needed a hand saw

Quaint setting, fish and chips were amazing! They get a rare 5 star from me. Limited menu, but what they had was mouth watering!

Wonderful fish and chips- just as I remembered from when I was a child and the shop was in Kearney. I am in a power wheelchair and was able to get around ok in the restaurant. There is about a two inch step to get in, but I have a portable ramp which I was able to use to get in. I was so happy I was able to get in- the food was excellent !

We were on a trip back visiting family and made the Thistle our first stop. Authentic fish and chips. Make the trip you'll love it.

Totally enjoyed our lunch there today. Had their Fish and Chips Senior lunch and it was absolutely delicious. Can't wait to go back.

Went to Thistle for their fish and chips as I been going to the store since they were in Kearny. It was still the same quality as always. I would recommend them for a quick delicious meal anytime you are desiring a good fish dinner. Always crispy and a large serving of fish.

Very nice place. Food was good. Scotch Meat Pie!!! Yummy

Knew this restaurant when it was on Kearny. Just as good in Lyndhurst. Fish and chips are the best.

Cozy dining area, friendly wait staff, great food, no park unless you park in the shopping center and a short walk back.

Got the fish and chips lunch special. For their special it was a small portion. With an iced tea it was 16.00 and I left hungry.

HUGE piece of fish. Wasn't as crispy as I had hoped except for the edges. A little pricey and the fish itself was way over salted. Very thin layer of fries on the bottom. Coleslaw included was pretty good. Not a fan of the scottish pie because it was under seasoned and tasted like boiled meat. Lady at the front desk didn't really ask for my choice of options like roasted potatoes or rice etc.

Fish and Chips delicious.. Great service , cozy atmosphere.

This place is amazing. We had the fish an chips and couldn't have been happier. So good!

Still the same after all these years! Even better to see the same family!! Great!

Soft shell crab was tasty...but a bit too much seasoning for my taste. Flounder was good but a little overdone. Roasted potatoes would have been nicer if a little crispy outside. Cole slaw was excellent. Nice touch for it to be chopped. Best warm strawberry rhubarb pie! Delicious crust.. flaky and thin, filling not too sweet. Excellent vanilla ice cream too. Friendly attentive staff. Easy on street parking. Scottish candy by entrance for purchase. Didn't get to check handicapped accessibility, parking or restroom this visit. Next time!

The food was delicious and everyone polite

Best Fish & Chips This Side of The Pond!

Incredible delicious the best clean professional friendly very enjoyable just awesome recommend highly definitely a go back often

This place is the HQ. for “Fish n Chips” by far!!.. I live in Neptune NJ. And once a year the “Thistle “ (Fish n Chip) company/group Gather all of their equipment together and head out to Ocean Grove NJ. To cook out the best “fish n chips” in the state. I kid you not!! Being from the UK. Myself I only look for top standards when it comes to food. And these guys really put it together. The fish is so fresh, and the batter is outstanding!! Chrispy /crunchy with such a delicious flavor, the combination is a mouthwatering delight!! Even the Chips are perfection! The restaurant has inside/outside dinning. I can’t wait to go again!!

Best Fish and Chips I ever had.

Excellent fish! Especially the salmon!

I am not what you would call a "fish and chips" guy. But, I love great seafood and I am SOO glad I found this place!!Their stuffed flounder is to die for!!! My mouth is watering just writing this. I was never a stuffed flounder guy either, but this dish was amazing!! So fresh, tasty, served hot and for a great price is as well. The only thing better than their food is their service! Im going back to get that stuffed flounder, their perfect crab cakes alone with the broiled seafood platter and split it with the family. too many great dishes, so ill pick at three of them!!

Literally the best fish and chips you could get around town if your from kearny north Arlington or just visiting lyndhurst definitely recommend trying there fish and chips 😋

Always consistent. Been eating here since I was a kid. Best fish and chips going.

If you love fish and chips this is the place. Plus for dessert a crunchie candy bar🤗

Authentic fish and chips. Family owned for years so you know this is what they do. I'll go again when I'm in the area.

The best fish, shrimp and chips around

Always delicious. Quality fresh food.

Authentic Scottish fish and chips from a family with a long tradition of providing great food. The flaky fish under a mantle of crisp batter is unsurpassed even compared to fish and chips I've eaten in the UK. Chowders and daily seafood specials complete their fresh seafood menu. Worht the drive!

Great Scotish Fish and Chips my go to spot in Kearny.

Great fish & chips. Done properly. The “dinner” size portion will be plenty for most, but consider going for the slightly smaller “lunch” portion so that you can add a side, or like I did, a Scottish meat pie. Yummy.

The fish & chips are very good, the decor is charming. Service is great. Love that it's family owned for generations. Highly recommend!

Great celebration of Scottish culture, always quality food.

As always the best fish and chips around

This was our first time there. The fish and chips were great, the seafood soup was delicious and I even got a glass of chocolate milk. The service was great too! Definitely will be going back!!!!

We went tonight and it was amazing !!! Service was great everyone was friendly food was so good . We had fish and chips. Restaurant & bathroom was very clean .. can’t wait to go back again !!!

First time going to Thistle it was ok. I got the combination of fish shrimp and scallops was good but not worth the price. Get 2 shrimp 3 scallops and 1 cod fish with fries for 24 dollars. Batter was thick on the cod fish and took away the taste of the fish. The rest was good. Will go again and try it broiled. Menu is small with price range from $14 to $24. They have two store fronts one for take out and one for dining.

only two customers were there on a Thursday night portion of fish are getting smaller lots of chips I can get them at mcdonalds disappointed will not b back

High quality seafood and reasonable prices, the best fish and chips I have ever had. Also nice place and service. BYOB is nice to keep the price down.

Colleagues from work recommended the fish & chips here. We weren't disappointed ! The cod was thick and fresh and delicious. The ambience is pleasant. The service was pleasant, too. Would definitely return for the same dish !

I enjoyed the fish and chips with tartar sauce. The cocktail sauce was thin and watery. My wife enjoyed the flounder with stuffed crab meat. I ordered the New England clam chowder and was disappointed. If you want fish and chips this is the place to go.

This place was soooo amazing, so cozy, fresh and delicious food I would definitely return even though it means crossing state lines their food is completely worth it. It was delicious!