Shellfish

There’s something deeply satisfying about eating shellfish. It connects us to the sea in a way that few other foods can - it’s elemental, briny, tactile and, above all, joyful. At Rockfish, shellfish sits at the heart of what we do. Whether it’s a steaming bowl of mussels, a platter of crab, or a plate of scallops still sizzling in butter, shellfish represents everything we love about seafood: freshness, seasonality, and the simple pleasure of eating something caught close to home.

Eating shellfish is about the experience as much as the taste. There’s the sound of shells knocking together, the salt on your fingers, the smell of the sea rising with the steam. It’s the kind of food that slows you down and brings people together - the centrepiece of long lunches by the coast or shared meals around the kitchen table. When shellfish is at its best, it feels like a celebration of the sea itself.

At Rockfish, we’re lucky to be right on the Brixham quayside, one of England’s busiest fishing ports. Every day we see shellfish landed just metres from our doors - crab, lobster, mussels, scallops and prawns caught by fishermen who know these waters better than anyone. Our team hand-selects the best of each day’s catch, ensuring that what reaches your plate or your doorstep is the very best the South West has to offer.

Freshness makes all the difference. Shellfish doesn’t travel well when it’s passed through layers of middlemen, so we’ve cut out the distance. From the boats to our kitchens and to your home, we handle everything with care. In our restaurants, the crab you crack open may have been landed that morning. In our Online Seafood Market, it’s packed in temperature-controlled boxes and sent nationwide the very next day. It’s the closest you can get to eating shellfish straight off the boat without standing on the quay yourself.

But the joy of shellfish isn’t just about indulgence - it’s about connection and responsibility. Many of the species we sell, from rope-grown mussels to pot-caught crab and lobster, are among the most sustainable seafood choices you can make. They come from clean, well-managed fisheries that respect the rhythm of the sea. Buying and eating shellfish from Rockfish means supporting local fishermen and small coastal communities, helping to protect the future of our seas while enjoying the best they have to offer.

We love how versatile shellfish can be. Mussels steamed in white wine and garlic, prawns grilled over charcoal, scallops seared golden with butter and sage - each one tells its own story of the coast. Even something as simple as fresh crab with a slice of sourdough and a spoonful of mayo can be a perfect meal.

That’s the joy of shellfish. It’s not fussy or complicated. It’s food that speaks of place, of skill, of salt air and tide. At Rockfish, we’re proud to share that joy every day - from our quayside restaurants to homes across the country - bringing a taste of the coast to your table, just as nature intended.