London/Fish & Chips
Mar 10th, 2002, 08:53 PM
#2
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Real fish and chips come from a place that has a large deep fat fryer, usually on display to the public. These places are seldom in the West End, but are widespread across the suburbs. Bogus fish and chips come from a place that takes pre-frozen and pre-battered cod and heats it in a microwave. They are often in the West End, and are clearly signed by boards on the pavement (sidewalk) that say "Traditional fish and chips". Such boards are lying through their teeth: what they sell is dry, chewey, and low in taste.<BR><BR>I eat my fish and chips in an obscure suburb (where I live), so I am afraid I cannot help you find them in the West End. There is one near Victoria Station, but it is five years since I tried it.<BR><BR>Welcome to London<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR><BR>
Mar 11th, 2002, 03:28 AM
#6
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At the restaurant level I can recommend the North Sea Fish Restaurant. Food is good -- and it feels like a neighborhood bistro. We had London friends with us and they liked it a lot.<BR><BR>Here is a link to a review: http://home.worldonline.be/~frdejong/index.htm
Mar 11th, 2002, 05:54 AM
#7
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Randy's recommendation is a good one, but not very convenient to central London and not near a the station either. I think the nearest tube is probably central finchley and then you'd have to take a bus, randy might know the route better?<BR>If you are going anywhere outside of central London ask a local for a good fish and chip shop in the area. As Ben comments, central London/ West End isnt a good place for good fish and chips.
Mar 11th, 2002, 11:57 AM
#11
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Just last month we popped into the Duke of York just next door to the Victoria Palace Theatre (across from Victoria Station) and had delicious fish and chips. It's really more like a tavern restaurant than a pub but very reasonably priced. It seemed freshly made as the fish even had skin on one side.<BR><BR>Ben - also had afternoon tea at the Thistle Hotel-Charing Cross. Thanks for the tip!
Mar 11th, 2002, 01:08 PM
#12
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Here are the directions to that F&C shop near Victoria Coach station; directions are Ben Haines' from that earlier thread (titled "Help - Directions for Victoria Coach"):<BR><BR> "In Victoria Station find the platform with the highest number: it's near the Grosvenor Hotel. Walk out through a small passage to Buckingham Palace Road, turn left, walk past Victoria Place shopping Centre, past the corner for Eccleston Bridge, and at Elizabeth Bridge corner look right. There's the coach station, a monument of Art Deco. (Also, just beyond it, a good fish and chip shop, with a real deep fat frier, not the stuff they call traditional" in West End pubs.) <BR><BR> Or, arrive at Victoria underground station. Ask the officers for the small stairs up to the bus stand (not the bus station). At that stand find the bus stop for busses 11 and 211. Pay the driver 70 pence, ask him to call out for Victoria Coach Sation, and go two stops."
Jul 11th, 2002, 04:36 PM
#16
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We had fish & chips & I asked. It is usually cod. They also had plaice but it is not served fried. The place we wanted to try near Victoria was Shakespeare's but it was closed for renovation. I think it was to reopen in July. The sign suggested going to the Duke of York.
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:13 PM
#19
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<BR><BR>In 30 years of travelling to/thru London, have never missed a visit to Geals at Notting Hill Gate, unless I was there on a Monday . . then I went to Sea Shell at Lisson Grove.<BR><BR>I order the Haddock, to me has more flavor and retains less of the cooking grease.<BR><BR>Rich
