Good Fish and Chips in the UK
Apr 18th, 2004, 09:59 AM
#1
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Good Fish and Chips in the UK
For the benefit of our American friends who like to try fish and chips may I offer the the following suggestions?
If you want good fish and chips steer clear from the pub variety. The food is generally frozen and then flash fried before serving, which is why the taste is so bland.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that the nearer the coast you are the fresher the fish will be as it doesn't have so far to travel. (Nowhere in Britain is more than 76 miles from the sea).
Also try and eat where the locals do and that will mean looking for a good fish and chip shop (or 'chippie').
If ever you are in Cornwall, Rick Stein has just opened a fish and chip restaurant in Padstow on the north coast. Fish and chips to take out is £4.75 or £6.50 to eat in and the place is getting rave reviews. Apparently, one of the reasons it is so good is that Grade A dripping is used to fry the food rather than oil or lard.
From my own experience I would recommend the Quay Side fish bar in Wells on the north Norfolk coast between Hunstanton and Blakeney. All the fish there is caught the same day.
And if anybody ever gets to my neck of the woods (Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire), try Friar Tuck's - fish and chips to die for at only £2.95!
Anybody else got any other recommendations? In the meantime, good hunting and good eating.
If you want good fish and chips steer clear from the pub variety. The food is generally frozen and then flash fried before serving, which is why the taste is so bland.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that the nearer the coast you are the fresher the fish will be as it doesn't have so far to travel. (Nowhere in Britain is more than 76 miles from the sea).
Also try and eat where the locals do and that will mean looking for a good fish and chip shop (or 'chippie').
If ever you are in Cornwall, Rick Stein has just opened a fish and chip restaurant in Padstow on the north coast. Fish and chips to take out is £4.75 or £6.50 to eat in and the place is getting rave reviews. Apparently, one of the reasons it is so good is that Grade A dripping is used to fry the food rather than oil or lard.
From my own experience I would recommend the Quay Side fish bar in Wells on the north Norfolk coast between Hunstanton and Blakeney. All the fish there is caught the same day.
And if anybody ever gets to my neck of the woods (Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire), try Friar Tuck's - fish and chips to die for at only £2.95!
Anybody else got any other recommendations? In the meantime, good hunting and good eating.
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:13 AM
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Norrie's in Oban, Scotland has wonderful fish and chips. I can only comment on the taste and not the source or the cooking method. It's been seven years since my last feed and I'm looking forward to going back this summer. I can only hope it's just as good. Also a wonderful shop in Stornaway, Western Isles (Lewis) in Scotland. They wrap it in up the old fashioned way in newsprint!! Couldn't tell you what it's called but I'll check it out again this year.
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:41 AM
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Can't recommend a chip shop in London as I don't live there but for a three-day visit you really are spoilt for choice for places to see.
If you are on a tight budget most of the museums are free - the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum will enthrall the children.
For a hands-on experience try the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
The British Airways London Eye next to Westminster Bridge is a must. On a bright day you can see from a 25-mile radius - breathtaking.
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard is well worth it. For peace and quiet take a stroll in Hyde Park.
If the scenery appeals to you, take the top deck of a London red bus - much cheaper than the tour guide buses but obviously not as quick as the Tube.
For good shopping try Kensington High Street instead of Oxford Street, which can get very busy and sometimes has a problem with touts and pick-pockets.
Whatever London does, it won't disappoint you.
If you are on a tight budget most of the museums are free - the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum will enthrall the children.
For a hands-on experience try the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
The British Airways London Eye next to Westminster Bridge is a must. On a bright day you can see from a 25-mile radius - breathtaking.
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard is well worth it. For peace and quiet take a stroll in Hyde Park.
If the scenery appeals to you, take the top deck of a London red bus - much cheaper than the tour guide buses but obviously not as quick as the Tube.
For good shopping try Kensington High Street instead of Oxford Street, which can get very busy and sometimes has a problem with touts and pick-pockets.
Whatever London does, it won't disappoint you.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:31 AM
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Out of all the Fish and Chips places in London I have visited [and ther have been a few] the one I would strongly recommend is "Seafresh"on Wilton Road near Victoria Station. Of course the quality can vary depending on the catch. I have eaten there several times and was never disappointed.
Apr 18th, 2004, 02:06 PM
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I still remember the fish and chips I had on Skye and it's been 5 years. They were the best ever!
There's some threads here on fish and chips in London.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34480649
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34491075
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1336349
There's some threads here on fish and chips in London.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34480649
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34491075
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1336349
Apr 20th, 2004, 04:33 PM
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Winner! Winner! Winner! The Anstruther Fish Bar and Restaurant (Anstruther, Fife) was voted "Best in Scotland" for 2001 and 2002 (probably 2003, also).
I understand that Anstruther was rated 2nd in the UK behind an English eaterie, a highly politically-charged selection!
I can vouch for Anstruther. I drove the 15 miles from St. Andrews quite often last summer, mouth watering all the way.
Regards,
Jinx Hoover
I understand that Anstruther was rated 2nd in the UK behind an English eaterie, a highly politically-charged selection!
I can vouch for Anstruther. I drove the 15 miles from St. Andrews quite often last summer, mouth watering all the way.
Regards,
Jinx Hoover
Apr 21st, 2004, 07:33 AM
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How about the WORST f&C in Gt.B.?
The 'chippie' in Dunbar, Scotland looked
promising - the place was jammed with
locals waiting for their portions. Tough
people, those Scots, they like their
mystery fish complete with spines, fins,
HEADS, and for a little 'extra' - a long
black hair neatly deep-fried into the
batter. And I swear the cooking oil
was mutton - or whale.
Haven't had f&c anywhere since that
hair-raising experience.
The 'chippie' in Dunbar, Scotland looked
promising - the place was jammed with
locals waiting for their portions. Tough
people, those Scots, they like their
mystery fish complete with spines, fins,
HEADS, and for a little 'extra' - a long
black hair neatly deep-fried into the
batter. And I swear the cooking oil
was mutton - or whale.
Haven't had f&c anywhere since that
hair-raising experience.
Apr 21st, 2004, 10:36 AM
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JoeG. The following websites may be of help to you:
www.seafish.org
www.plaiceandchips.co.uk
www.eatanddrink.co.uk
www.seafish.org
www.plaiceandchips.co.uk
www.eatanddrink.co.uk
Apr 22nd, 2004, 04:48 AM
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Another great fish & chips place in London: Rock & Sole Plaice (really named that, really spelled that way ...) in Covent Garden. Practically a hole in the wall, but the lightest batter you'll ever find ...
Apr 22nd, 2004, 11:22 PM
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Hi All,
Can someone tell me what kind of fish is usually sold in the fish and chip shops in England now days?
I remember as a kid, in England, that we used to get big slabs of fish rolled up with our chips all served wrapped in newspaper. Is it still the same now? Do they still sell little buckets of jellied eels?
My experiences were around the Bromley and Lewisham areas but that is going back to the 70's.
Cheers
Paul_S
Can someone tell me what kind of fish is usually sold in the fish and chip shops in England now days?
I remember as a kid, in England, that we used to get big slabs of fish rolled up with our chips all served wrapped in newspaper. Is it still the same now? Do they still sell little buckets of jellied eels?
My experiences were around the Bromley and Lewisham areas but that is going back to the 70's.
Cheers
Paul_S
Apr 22nd, 2004, 11:40 PM
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The two most popular fish are cod and haddock, although many shops also serve other varieties such as sole and hake, and there is the ever-present scampi.
I haven't had good fish n chips in years. The fish is generally good, but mostly i find the chips suck - nothing like as good as when I was a kid. Most chips are now cooked in vegetable oil instead of dripping (well, I think that's what they used to use!)...just aint the same.
The best I have had in recent years were in Filey, North Yorkshire.
Dreaming of the day of capturing the childhood flavour of 'Double saveloy and chips' - Mmm, washed down with a can of shandy bass.
I haven't had good fish n chips in years. The fish is generally good, but mostly i find the chips suck - nothing like as good as when I was a kid. Most chips are now cooked in vegetable oil instead of dripping (well, I think that's what they used to use!)...just aint the same.
The best I have had in recent years were in Filey, North Yorkshire.
Dreaming of the day of capturing the childhood flavour of 'Double saveloy and chips' - Mmm, washed down with a can of shandy bass.
