Tasty Fish And Chips

Heritage Fish & Chips

2012-01-19T11:06:00.002-04:00

Where: Heritage Fish & Chips, 840 Main St E, Milton, ON

When: First week of January, 2012

What: Haddock and chips lunch special and fried clams (forgot the price)

After moving to Lees Summit, Missouri, my parents moved back to Canada and settled in Milton, Ontario which is sort of next to Mississauga, where I grew up. I once talked about Heritage Fish & Chips with my friend Denise who said, "I hear they have tea cozies on their teapots."

I have eaten at Heritage Fish & Chips before. It's true that they have tea cozies on their teapots when you order tea. I didn't order tea this time though.

Fredrik and I each had the haddock and chips lunch special and shared an order of fried clams.

The fried clams were pretty good. I don't think I've had enough fried clams to really pass a proper judgement on what is good fried clams. I just know that they're like batter covered elastic bands when they're bad.

It's been a while since I had haddock and chips. It was a pretty good portion for a lunch special. I actually didn't end up finishing it. I've learned that haddock is a bit fishier than halibut. That'll teach me to stray from the usual.

The fish is beer battered but with not too much batter, which I like. The chips are crispy.

The only "downside" is the tartar sauce.

I don't know about you but I have a tartar sauce preference. In fact, I have had conversations about the best tartar sauce. My friends and I find ourselves going back to the ketchup packet packaged tartar sauce (pictured on the right). It doesn't taste like "real" mayo. It's got the right amount of sweetness and tartness. It's just much better than any "homemade" tartar sauce. Heritage Fish & Chips does not have PC Condiments tartar sauce. Most fish and chips places I've eaten at has PC Condiments tartar sauce.

Useless info:

After some research, I found out that my favourite tartar sauce is made by a company that started out making Chinese noodles. The company that makes it is the same company that makes Wing's fortune cookies.

I give the lunch special at Heritage Fish & Chips 3 wee fishies out of 5.

Queen's Fish & Chips

2012-01-19T10:31:00.005-04:00

Where: Queen's Fish & Chips, 131 Queen St S, Mississauga (Streetsville), ON
When: Wednesday, December 28, 2011
What: Halibut and chips, $12 +tax

When I was in high school, I would go for fish & chips once a week with 2 of my friends. Queen's Fish & Chips was the local fish and chips place and they had a $5 special, choice of haddock or cod. My first fish and chips were eaten at Queen's Fish and Chips. After we finished our lunch, I often doodled with the ketchup 'cause they came in squeeze bottles.

Since my high school days, more than 10 years ago, Queen's Fish & chips have changed owners on more than one occasion. At one point, Caz's Great Fish took over and changed the name but now it's back to Queen's Fish & Chips.

On our recent Canadian visit, I met up with my 2 previous partners-in-crime for fish and chips. The interior is the same as I remember it. In fact, the chairs are the same chairs from when we were in high school. They still write their specials and deals on brightly coloured bristol board.
Fredrik and I each got halibut and chips with a pop. They still have lunch specials but I forgot how much those are. They weren't so far off from the old $5 price tag.

The fish was beer battered and crispy as always. The chips were a bit lacking but I usually focus on the fish. The ketchup was still in squeeze bottles. I didn't doodle with them as I once did.

It wasn't the best fish and chips experience but it certainly wasn't the worst either. Perhaps it's the nostalgia but I'm going to give Queen's Fish & Chips 4 wee fishies out of 5.

Andrew's Fish & Chips

2011-05-10T14:46:00.001-03:00

Where: Andrew's Fish & Chips, in front of Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax, NS
When: Sunday, May 8, 2011
What: One piece fish and chips, $6.

I was wandering around downtown Halifax on Sunday and decided to get some fish and chips after my trip to the library. During the warmer months there is usually a chip truck in front of the Spring Garden Road Library. The highly coveted spot in front of the library is very popular among chip truck owners. I hadn't had truck fries in years and decided to treat myself.

Andrew's Fish & Chips sells more than just fries. They sell 1 and 2 piece fish and chips, poutines, and hotdogs, as well as cold drinks. There was no line up on this day, but since it was an overcast Sunday in May, that was not surprising. The truck was staffed by 2 people and my order came quickly. In front of the order window is a shelf with lots of condiments for your fries or hotdogs, including ketchup, mustard, relish, white vinegar and red wine vinegar, tartar sauce, salt and pepper, and sauerkraut.

I took my plate of fish and chips and sat on a bench in front of the library. There were a lot of pigeons around which was kind of gross, but that is not the chip truck's fault. People need to stop feeding the pigeons! *ahem*

You maybe can't tell from the above photo, but there were a lot of fries. Way too many. I would rather have had 2 pieces of fish and less fries. Well except for the fact that the fish wasn't that great either. The batter was crispy but didn't have much taste to it, and it was really wet on the inside. The fish was also very mushy. I wonder if they pre-cooked the fish or just fried it too long. Hard to know for sure really. The fries were a bit tough, also like they were fried for too long. I wasn't overly impressed, but it was a chip truck after all, and only $6.

Maybe I should make it my goal to try all the chip trucks I can find in the city?

I give Andrew's Fish & Chips 2 little fishies out of 5.

Willman's Seafood on Good Friday

2011-05-07T18:16:00.001-03:00

Where: William's Seafood Restaurant, Smythe Street, Fredericton, NB
When: Friday, April 22nd, 2011 (Good Friday)
What: Small Fish & Chips and small poutine

I had my annual fish and chips on Good Friday at William's Seafood in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This year I wanted to get a fish and chips with poutine so that's what I ordered. William's does not have a fish, chips and poutine special on the menu, so you have to order two separate items. I got a small fish and a small poutine.

As you can see from the photo above, the gravy on the poutine does not look very appetizing. The fries were good as per usual, and so were the curds. It's good that they actually do use real curds and not shredded mozzarella like some places. The gravy was a gelatinous glob with very little flavour. It was almost pudding like, which is not a desirable quality in a gravy. I will definitely pass on the poutine next time I am at William's.

I don't really want to mark this meal too low as the fish was great as usual, but the poutine was disappointing.

This time, I give William's Seafood 3 little fishies out of 5.

The Battered Fish

2011-03-19T00:24:00.000-03:00

Where: The Battered Fish, Scotia Square Food Court, 1999 Market Street, Halifax, NS
When: Friday, March 11, 2011
What: Two piece fish and chips, $8.49+tax

This review sort of has a long story behind it. Last September I bought two vouchers from the coupon website Steal The Deal to use at The Battered Fish, Bedford Highway location. The deal was for $10 worth of food for only $5, so kind of like a two for one. I bought two vouchers thinking I could use one for myself and give one to a friend. I didn't get to use them right away, but unfortunately by the time I did plan to use them the Bedford Highway location had shut down for the season.

I didn't know what to do and was annoyed with myself for waiting too long. I left a message on The Battered Fish Facebook group but figured I was probably out the $10 and didn't think I'd get to use my vouchers. Well apparently they did respond to my Facebook message but I didn't get any notification. In February I got a message from the owner who said he'd be happy to take my vouchers at their new location in Scotia Square. Super awesome!

This past Friday my friend Tina picked me up and we went to the Scotia Square food court to get our fish and chips. This new location opened in February and it wasn't busy when we arrived late afternoon. There was a bit of confusion at first when I handed over my vouchers, but they had no problem honouring them. We could each get $10 worth of any food we wanted, but we both ordered a two piece fish and chips.

While waiting I took a look at the various condiments they had on the counter. There were two mustard and ketchup dispensers which is great because I love getting my ketchup in those little paper cups. On the counter were four different types of vinegar, salt and pepper, plus sea salt. When our food was ready we were offered tartar sauce and another type of secret sauce. You could also get a variety of beverages from fountain pop to drinks in glass bottles, including Propeller soda.

Our fish and chips came in a box with red and white checked wax paper. At first I did like the presentation and it seemed like the boxes would be great for a meal on the go. I dug into my fries before trying out the fish. I had sprinkled sea salt on them but the salt didn't really stick like ordinary salt would. Maybe it would be better if they provided a smaller grind of sea salt (I know smaller sea salt exists because I've bought it). The fries were really good though; clearly hand cut in a shoe string style which I do like. They were hot, crispy and plenty of them.

The fish was another story. It looked good, but once I cut into it I saw otherwise. The batter was light and crispy in some parts, but it was very oily. This may have been because the box and wax paper didn't allow for absorption of the extra oil, so the fish was sitting in the oil. That is just my guess though. According to their website, the take out boxes are biodegradable. The inside of the fish was alright, without any of the doughy or gooey inside you sometimes get when there is too much batter. It was flaky and had a nice freshness to it, but overall I felt like the fish was just soggy. My friend agreed with me that she found the fish soggy too.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else had the same problem with their fish being soggy. I had high hopes for The Battered Fish but was left with some disappointment. I would go back to try some of the other fried delights on the menu, but it will probably be a while before I try the fish and chips again.

If you would like to try The Battered Fish, keep an eye out this summer for their locations on the Halifax Waterfront (beside Beavertails), and at 766 Bedford Highway.

I give The Battered Fish 3 little fishies out of 5.

Islamorada Fish Company

2011-03-15T14:42:00.005-03:00

Where: The Islamorada Fish Company, Islamorada, Florida
When: Monday, January 31st, 2011
What: Fried grouper basket ($17.95+taxes) and fried grouper sandwich (12.95+taxes)

My husband and I went on vacation in Florida for a week at the end of January/beginning of February. While the fried grouper we had was not the traditional beer battered fish and chips, I definitely thought it was worth the mention.

The Islamorada Fish Company is apparently a chain establishment but I don't think fried grouper something every location has. We went the location at Islamorada in the Florida Keys. I also doubt the grouper would be as fresh and delicious anywhere else. It was the best fish I've ever had.

I ordered the smaller portioned fried grouper sandwich but got this giant portion. Perhaps the chef was in a good mood. The fish was moist and sweet. The fish was so good, I really don't remember much else.

You don't go to the Florida Keys and not try some key lime pies. This one has a pecan crust and a super rich and smooth key lime filling. It was a fantastic way to finish a great lunch.

I give The Islamorada Fish Company 5 fishies out of 5. :)

Fredie's Fantastic Fish House

2011-03-12T00:17:00.000-04:00

Where: Fredie's Fantastic Fish House, 8 Oland Crescent, Halifax, NS
When: Monday, September 6, 2010
What: Two piece fish and chips, $8.65+tax

On Labour Day, just shortly after Hurricane Earl rolled through, I got together with my friend Tina for a trip out to Bayers Lake to eat some fish and chips at Fredie's Fantastic Fish House. This is another place people have recommended to me, and we were thankful it was open on the Labour Day holiday.

I think maybe we were the only customers in there so it was not a long wait to order. I can imagine during the weekday it's a busy spot with the lunch crowd. The staff were really relaxed and friendly. Since it was a really nice day out, we sat outside and our server would bring out order out. The view in Bayers Lake Industrial Park is not pretty, but at least we got to enjoy the fresh air, sun, and the quiet of a holiday. We each ordered a two piece fish and chips, and my friend got her fries as a poutine.

While waiting for our food outside, we could smell the earthy scent of fresh potatoes. Is that not the best sign that the fries were going to be awesome or what? At our table we had a caddy with malt and white vinegar, plus ketchup. We were also given packets of Kraft tartar sauce (which I'm not really a fan of).

Holy cow was this ever good! I loved the thick, hand cut fries. The batter on the fish was perfect. Light and crisp without any of that gooey inside you sometimes get, plus the fillets were fresh and flaky. I didn't try any of my friend's poutine but she says that Fredie's is her favourite fish and chips place in the city now.

For service, friendliness, good food and price, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal than Fredie's Fantastic Fish House. If you work or shop in Bayers Lake or just want some good fish and chips, it's definitely worth the trip out.

I give Fredie's Fantastic Fish House 5 little fishies out of 5.

A special thanks to my friend Tina for the great photos.

True North Diner

2011-03-11T21:33:00.005-04:00

Where: True North Diner, 1658 Bedford Highway, Bedford, NS
When: Saturday, August 14, 2010
What: Fish and Chips 1 or 2 pc, $7.95 / $9.95

Last summer I went to True North Diner in Bedford with a couple of friends. I had heard a few things about the restaurant and seen the commercials on tv. One person on Twitter said it wasn't worth the trip, but we decided to go anyway to make up our own minds.

True North Diner markets itself as a 1950's style diner offering home-style meals, including fresh baked pies and cakes! Their main menu (including all day breakfast), as well as brunch and catering menus can be viewed on their website.

Inside True North Diner

Where the diner is now used to be a Ponderosa, which is before my time in Halifax I do believe. The decor does have that 1950's feel with the red and white vinyl seating. The restaurant was fairly busy on this Saturday evening. My friends and I ordered our meals and drinks.

Chocolate milk shake and creamsicle float.

Service was fast and friendly so we didn't wait long for our food. My fish and chips came on a platter with a big pile of hand cut fries and a cup of coleslaw on the side. I wasn't terribly impressed with the fish at this restaurant. The batter was pretty bland but still crispy. In fact the fish itself didn't taste like fish. I know haddock has a more mild taste than some other fish, but I still expect it to taste like something, you know? The shredded vegetables in the coleslaw did not seem very fresh to me either. Perhaps they get their coleslaw mix from a bag instead of shredding up their own vegetables. I rarely ever eat the coleslaw that comes with my fish and chips because most places do not make it very well.

Aside from the tartar sauce and ketchup, there was no vinegar on the table and I was not offered any either. I often forget to ask for vinegar because I'm not someone who needs it for my fries, but I know for some vinegar is a must.

My friends seemed to like their meals, and I loved my root beer float. If I found myself at this place again I wouldn't bother with the fish and chips. The menu has many other items to try, with prices that are affordable. If I hadn't been so full I would have had a piece of pie, but maybe next time! One more thing to add, we all ordered waters that never came. Our waitress even remembered once that she forgot them but still didn't show up at our table with the waters. Since we didn't order dessert we didn't bother to mention the waters again, just paid and left.

I give True North Diner 2 little fishies out of 5.

A special thanks to my friend Shelley for lending me her camera to take photos for this post.

Fish & Chips @ my place again

2010-10-17T18:44:00.004-03:00

Where: my apartment, Stockholm, Swe

When: Saturday March 13, 2010

What: pollock fish & chips

This is a bit of a make up review. Shortly after the event, we moved from our apartment into our current house and then summer came and then school started. Basically loads happened and I forgot to write a review.

This time I used Jamie Oliver's recipe for the batter and it came out beautifully. I wasn't surprised that he knew his fish batter.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/seafood-recipes/fish-chips-and-mushy-peas

I give this recipe a 5 out of 5.

A friend of mine has lent me her deep fryer so hopefully I'll be able to try out more fish and chips recipes, including a packet of batter I got from work.

Henley House Pub & Restaurant

2010-08-06T04:50:00.004-03:00

Where: Henley House Pub & Restaurant, 22478 Hwy #7, Sheet Harbour, NS
When: Thursday, July 1st, 2010
What: Two piece beer battered fish & chips, $9.95+tax or $7.95 for 1 pc (lunch menu)

I spent Canada Day driving through the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia with my friend Lori (she had the car). It was a beautiful day and a great way to enjoy Canada Day. We made plans ahead of time to have fish and chips at Henley House Pub & Restaurant (.pdf menu) in Sheet Harbour.

Thankfully the restaurant was open, since it was a holiday after all. We were given a choice of sitting in the bar or the dining room, and chose the dining room. It felt very formal but the atmosphere still felt relaxed on that day due to the casual holiday feel perhaps. It wasn't very busy in the restaurant with there being only 2 or 3 other groups there, plus a couple sitting outside on the deck. The deck had a gorgeous view, but as there wasn't much shade we opted to sit inside.

Since the place wasn't busy we didn't have to wait long to be seated, and the service was very friendly. My friend ordered a bowl of cream of broccoli soup, but wanted to save room for my fish so I only had an iced tea. I did get a biscuit though, and it was really good. Warm, soft on the inside, with that little bit of sweetness, just like my mom might make.

Check out the Nova Scotia tartan on the table!

The fish came on a large platter with french fries, and ramekins of tartar sauce and coleslaw. I found the batter to be nicely golden and crisp. The fish was perfectly cooked, with a fresh taste and none of the mushiness I occasionally find inside a piece of fried fish. Personally I love the large wedge like fries that they served, but I know some people prefer hand cut only. I like biting into a big fry with all the warm, soft potato inside.

There wasn't anything remarkable about the tartar sauce and the coleslaw was just ok. We did have ketchup at the table, as well as malt vinegar which our waitress supplied for us.

The view behind the restaurant of the harbour.

They were serving fresh strawberry shortcake for desert but we were way too full to indulge, though I'm sure it would have been delicious. Can't think of a more perfect Canada Day treat than strawberry shortcake ;)

I really enjoyed my time at Henley House Pub & Restaurant and will stop by next time I'm in the area. It's a great place for tourists to stop and I highly recommend it.

I give Henley House Pub & Restaurant 4 little fishies out of 5.

10000!

2010-07-26T08:34:00.001-03:00

Tasty Fish & Chips has surpassed 10000 visitors! I think that's pretty exciting. It's nice to know that people all over love fish and chips as much as we do. The 10000th visitor came to this site on Friday, July 24th via Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

I hope everyone who has visited in the past keeps visiting!

Heritage Fish & Chips, Milton, ON

2010-07-04T19:45:00.007-03:00

Where: 840 Main Street, Milton, Ontario

When: 2 occasions during my vacation

What: halibut & chips (1st time) ½ halibut & chips (2nd time)

I was back in Canada for most of June and in that time I of course took the opportunity to indulge in some proper fish and chips.

Heritage Fish & Chips is a place by my parents' place. Apparently they're a franchise of sorts with 3 locations in Brampton and 1 in Milton. The thing that made me decide on going to this place was the fact that I heard their teapots come with tea cozies.

Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera and the camera on my cellphone is super crappy. Not to mention the fact that I don't have a way to get the pictures off my phone.

My first time, I went with friends of mine. Old fish & chips buddies. We used to go to the local fish & chips for lunch once a week when we were in high school.

I ordered a halibut & chips dinner. Dinner came with a side, I ordered mushy peas (did NOT appeal to me), and a drink. The halibut was a square piece, something I have never encountered before but it was DELICIOUS.

I went with my brother on the second occasion. I opted for the ½ halibut & chips. No side. But just as delicious as the first time.

Maybe it's the fact that I haven't had proper fish & chips for so long but this place as seriously good fish & chips. Not to mention the fact that when you order tea, they serve it in a proper tea pot that's in a cozy.

I'm giving this place 5 fishies out of 5.

John's Lunch

2010-06-27T22:50:00.004-03:00

Where: John's Lunch, 352 Pleasant Street, Dartmouth, NS.
When: Friday, April 16, 2010.
What: Two piece fish and chips, $7.25+tax; strawberry milkshake $2.75+tax

Back in April I finally had the chance to visit John's Lunch in Dartmouth. It is probably the one place that people recommend to me all the time. Even my sister's boss in New Brunswick said I should check it out.

John's Lunch is just a quick trip across the harbour in the ferry, or easily accessible by car or bus. When we stopped by on Friday afternoon it was packed! There's not a lot of waiting room inside, but we didn't have to wait too long for a booth. We each got the 2 piece fish and chips, and I got a strawberry milkshake. I don't know what possessed me to want a milkshake with my deep fried food, but a shake is something I enjoy at diners.

My strawberry milkshake, almost too thick to suck up the straw.

Interesting wall with bank notes from around the world.

Despite the busy pace of the packed restaurant, a waitress took our order quickly. We also did not have to wait long for our food. Those fryers were going non-stop.

I really liked the meal for the most part. You could tell the fish was fresh, but I found the batter was a tiny bit soggy on the inside. You could see the food being fried behind the counter and I think the fish was partially cooked, set aside, and then dropped back into the fryer as orders came up. This seemed like a good way to keep up with the orders, but maybe results in a not-so-crisp batter. It's a minor complaint though as I definitely think the fish and chips met my expectations. We got Kraft tartar sauce with our food, along with ketchup.

I hear John's Lunch is known for their fried clams, which isn't something I normally go for. I would like to try their poutine and the chicken fingers though. I will for sure go back to this place.

I give John's Lunch 4 little fishies out of 5.

Favourite local breakfast spot closes

2010-04-10T23:16:00.000-03:00

Spartan Restaurant on Quinpool Road, will close it's doors on Monday, April 13th after over 40 years.

Here's a few news articles:

Spartan Closes, Louly’s opens (The Coast)

Spartan changes hands (The Chronicle Herald)

Submit your links!

2010-04-10T23:06:00.000-03:00

Do you have a favourite food review blog you think should be list on Tasty Fish & Chips? Leave a comment and I will add it to the side bar (I've added a few new links already).

I'm also thinking of adding a separate section on the side bar for cooking blogs. You can send along recommendations for you favourite cooking blogs too!

Good Friday 2010

2010-04-02T23:45:00.002-03:00

Every year my family goes to William's Seafood in Fredericton. Good Friday is probably the busiest day of the year. I usually just get a medium fish and chips because it is a lot of food. It's so good!

Take Out Fish & Chips

2010-04-02T23:43:00.003-03:00

I got some fish and chips delivered from Freeman's Little New York back in December. They're pretty good for delivery. I have reviewed them before here. I really like the fries and the tartar sauce.

Ardmore Tea Room

2010-03-26T13:58:00.003-03:00

Where: Ardmore Tea Room, 6499 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS.
When: Monday, October 19, 2009.
What: Fish and chips, $8.49+tax.

The Ardmore Tea Room is another one of those local favourites, popular with the young and old. Ardmore serves all day breakfast, and good, homemade style comfort food. Plus it's cheap! The Ardmore has also won many awards in The Coast's Best Of Food, including Best Fish Cakes in 2009.

My friend ordered a veggie burger platter and I got the fish and chips (you can read her veggie burger review here).

As you can see from the picture below, the portions are huge! It comes with handcut fries, two pieces of haddock in a dark, crispy batter, and a side of cole slaw. Our food came quickly and was nice and hot. I was a little bit shocked at the dark colour of the bater on the fish. It looks like they either cooked it too long or maybe the oil hadn't been changed in a while. The fish was good though, with lots of flavour. I liked the cole slaw too. Of course the fries, as always were great!

It was a lot of food though and I didn't eat all the fries. Next time I will just get a half order.

I give Adrmore Tea Room 3.8 little fishies out of 5.

LOL from I Can Has Cheezburger

2010-03-16T11:15:00.002-03:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Save Fish, Eat Chips

2010-03-04T00:36:00.009-04:00

I came across this really cool t-shirt tonight. Check it out! (Click on the image below, then navigate to Objects and then Save Fish / Eat chips.)

(via Apartment Therapy Kitchn)

Fish & chips of my own

2010-02-01T17:47:00.004-04:00

Where: my apartment, Stockholm, Swe

When: Saturday January 30, 2010

What: halibut & chips + shrimps

Ahhh.... the halibut and chips combination. How delicious it is. Unfortunately it's not something I can get here in Stockholm. I usually try to get my fix when I'm visiting in Canada but the last time I was there, I ran out of time and didn't get any fish'n'chips. My plan is to have it TWICE in the upcoming visit.

I used Good Eat's Alton Brown's recipe for beer batter fish and chips. As you can see, the batter is a bit brown. I used Murphy's Irish Stout instead of Guinness.

The fish was not as crispy as what you get at the shops but still delicious. I wish I could say that I will do this more often but halibut here is not cheap. But I can say that this will not be my last attempt at fish and chips.

I give myself 4 out of 5 fishies. ;-D

--Wendy (http://messmor.wordpress.com)

Kungs grillen, Stockholm, Swe

2010-01-25T05:44:00.006-04:00

Where: Holländargatan, Stockholm (beside The Dubliner Pub)

When: January 25, 2010

What: Fish & chips, 67 kr (including taxes)

Here's a better example of fish'n'chips in Stockholm. Despite it not being in proper beer batter, the fish is thick cut and the chips are nice and thick.

The "dollop" of sauce would be remoulade. It just makes me think of my friend Denise who does NOT eat any cream sauces or mayo. This would be lunch in her nightmares. I, on the other hand, was ok with it up till the end when I couldn't quite make out which bits in my mouth were fish and which bits were remoulade.

I give this place a 3.5 out of 5 fishies.

--Wendy (http://messmor.wordpress.com)

Half Way Inn, Stockholm, Swe

2010-01-24T16:06:00.007-04:00

Where: Swedenborgsgatan 6, Stockholm, Sweden

When: January 11, 2010

What: fish & chips, 125 kr (including taxes)

I had wanted to get fish and chips at Southside Pub at Zinkensdamm but they weren't open till 4 and Fredrik and I were really hungry. The Half Way Inn is the first pub we found after circling the streets trying to avoid Hornsgatan.

The fish is... I really have no idea what kind but it was good. It's not the proper fish'n'chips batter but the Swedish fish'n'chips bread crumb coating. The yellow mush is curry flavoured tartar? sauce. I ate my fish with ketchup. Didn't get into the curry flavoured mystery mush.

I'm not saying that the fish was bad or anything but it just doesn't satisfy that need for proper fish'n'chips. The fish was actually quite good and would've been great if I was craving for a piece of fried fish. But alas, I wanted proper fish'n'chips.

Half Way Inn gets a 3 out of 5 fishes.

--Wendy (http://messmor.wordpress.com)

Crown Fish & Chips, London, UK

2009-11-03T11:15:00.008-04:00

Where: 1-3 Pratt St, London, UK

When: November 01, 2009

What: Small haddock & chips, £5.95 (including taxes)

I found this place googling for fish and chips in the Camden area. (F was playing a show at the Koko.) The reviews I read for it was pretty good and I figured that it might be better than just getting fish and chips from any old place that I'd end up wandering into. The decision to eat there was also made because we passed by it in my search for food.

I definitely cannot say that this was the best fish and chips I've ever had. It was, however, and some what surprisingly, not the worst fish and chips I've ever had. The chips were sad and pale but the fish was really fresh.

The thing that I was really surprised by was the skin. Yes. The fish had skin on it. I'm used to my fish and chips being skinless.

The batter wasn't that great. It was the kind that they use to make chicken balls. I ended up just eating the fish and leaving the skin and batter. But as I mentioned earlier, the fish was really fresh.

Side note: Pictures were taken with a cellphone camera. I forgot my camera back at the venue since I wasn't expecting to eat fish and chips when we headed out in search of food.

I'm gonna have to give this place a 1.5 out of 5.

--Wendy (http://messmor.wordpress.com)

Tagging on Tasty Fish & Chips

2009-11-03T10:46:00.001-04:00

Hiya! I've decided to stop tagging posts by restaurant name. It seems like the tag list will get really long after a while. So, from now on all restaurant review posts will be tagged with "city name", "province/state" and "reviews". I hope that makes it easier for folks.

Baked Fish and Chips

2009-10-16T11:29:00.004-03:00

Came across this post at Slashfood. Table for One - Baked Fish and Chips. Those potatoes look delicious!

Shared via AddThis

Trendz Cafe and Wine Bar

2009-06-26T13:18:00.004-03:00

Where: Trendz Cafe & Wine Bar, 15 Spectacle Lake Drive, Dartmouth, NS.

When: Friday, June 26th, 2009.
What: 1 piece fish and chips, $14+tax.

Trendz Cafe & Wine Bar is the restaurant inside the Best Western hotel in Burnside that opened late in 2008. I work in Burnside and have been to Trendz a few times for work lunches. It's a great restaurant and I've always had good experiences when there.

On this occasion the whole office went out to a goodbye lunch for a co-worker who was leaving for a new job. I hadn't planned on getting fish and chips but figured it would be worth a try.

I got one huge piece of haddock with oven roasted potato wedges, with two types of sauce. The white sauce was fresh tartar sauce, and I think the orange sauce was a spicy mayo. Both were delicious. The oven roasted potato wedges were fastastic, with some kind of spice mix sprinkled on top. Yummy!

The fish was great too. It was very fresh, and not cooked for too long. The batter was light and crisp, without any of that mushy dough you sometimes get.

I thoroughly enjoyed my fish and chips at Trendz. It's a bit on the pricy side for lunch, but they have plenty of great items on the menu, including daily lunch specials. They also have a 10% off brunch special on weekends, which I haven't had, but it might be a good way to start out before some shopping at Dartmouth Crossing.

I give Trendz 4 little fishies out of 5.

Willman's Fish and Chips

2009-06-15T11:19:00.002-03:00

Where: Willman's Seafood, 5644 Kane Street, Halifax, NS.
When: Monday, June 15th, 2009.
What: Willman's Fish & Poutine Special, $8.95+tax

I had the day off and my friend Erica wanted to go out to eat. I had promissed her one day we'd go have fish and chips someplace in town, so we stopped by Willman's Seafood in the Hydrostone area of Halifax's north end.

The fish and chips are just as great as they were last time I ate at Willman's. The staff there are so very friendly.

We admired their new sign while we ate!

And stuffed our faces with fish, chips, and poutine! It was delicious. Handcut fries, lightly battered fresh haddock, and read cheese curds. We did have a choice between mozeralla and curds, and we made the right choice.

It's a lot of food, so if you are not super hungry you might want to share with a friend. I will definitely have this again next time I go to Willman's.

I give Willman's 5 little fishies out of 5.

Johnny's Snack Bar

2009-05-22T10:35:00.001-03:00

Where: Johnny's Snack Bar, 6204 Almon St, Halifax.

When: Friday, May 22nd, 2009.
What: Two piece fish and chips, I totally don't remember how much, but it was cheap.

Another local favourite in Halifax is Johnny's Snack Bar, located across the Forum on Almon Street. I've been there a few times before but hadn't had a chance to try the fish and chips. It's a cosy little spot near the post office, in an old house. You can enjoy your meal at a booth, or sit at the counter.

There is one menu per table, with the day's specials on a handwritten note attached to the menu. I was meeting a friend for lunch, and ordered a milkshake while I waited (it was really hot out that day). The milkshake was delicious!

I ordered a two piece fish and chips, and unfortunately I can't remember how much it was. It was cheap though. Probably around $6.

The fries appear to be of the frozen variety. Maybe it's just me, but I often find frozen fries dry and flavourless (I guess that's what ketchup is for). The fish as bland as well. Too thick batter and kind of soggy. We weren't given any ketchup or vinegar on the table, just a handful of ketchup packets.

I give Johnny's Snack Bar 2 little fishies out of 5.

Good Friday Tradition

2009-04-10T12:38:00.003-03:00

Where: William's Seafood Restaurant, Smythe Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick
When: Friday, April 10th, 2009 (Good Friday)
What: Medium Fish & Chips, $7.50 + tax

Spartan Restaurant

2009-04-04T12:58:00.001-03:00

Where: Spartan Restaurant, 6403 Quinpool Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When: Saturday, April 4th, 2009.
What: Three piece fish and chips, $6.95+tax.

Spartan Restaurant is a family owned diner located on Quinpool Road. It's a favourite spot for weekend breakfasts for the hungover crowd and hungry a like.

I went to the Spartan with my friend Leah one drizzly day back in April. The restaurant is not very big, but for seating it does feature booths and tables, or you can seat yourself at the counter.

For $6.95 you get a generous helping of fries and three pieces of fish. The fries are your standard frozen ones, and I found them really dry. The fish did have a nice flavour, but I also found it try, and the batter a bit too doughy in parts.

The Spartan is a quaint place to eat though. The staff are very friendly, and the food is cheap. I would suggest something else off the menu instead of the fish and chips though (I had a pan fried fish dish there once that was delicious).

I give Spartan Restaurant 2 little fishies out of 5.

Extra Notes:

Cash only.

McKelvie's

2009-02-27T10:09:00.003-04:00

Where: McKelvie's, 1680 Lower Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
When: Friday, February 27, 2009.
What: Tall Ships Fish 'n Chips, $13.95+tax.

Myself and a couple of friends wanted to try out some new fish and chips one Friday night. The first place we chose was too packed to move, so we went across the street to McKelvie's, a seafood restaurant in downtown Halifax. The restaurant opened in 1980, but was originally the home of the Halifax Fire Department. Their focus is on fresh Atlantic seafood, but the menu also includes pasta, meat and chicken dishes.

We arrived during the prime Friday after work time, and were seated right away. The restaurant was not packed like the pub across the street, which we didn't mind at all. Our server was very friendly, explained the daily specials, and started us off with drinks. We also received a basket of fresh raisin bread and nice, creamy butter. That was unexpected and a nice change from what you get at most restaurants.

Garrison Tall Ships

Raisin bread with butter

I was the only one at our table to order the fish and chips. The four, not three, pieces of fish arrived with fresh cut fries, homemade coleslaw on a bed of lettuce, a slice of lemon, fresh tartar sauce, and ketchup.

Tall Ships Fish n' Chips.

I liked the light batter on the fish, and also enjoyed having four small pieces instead of three as described in the menu. Sometimes when you only get one or two large pieces, the fish gets a little overcooked. I did like the fish, nice fresh flavour and the batter was not doughy. The fries were hand cut, but not very plentiful, nor were they shoestring as the menu said. For the price I would normally expect more fries. The tartar sauce could have used more dill, and the coleslaw was almost tasteless, but I did like the presentation of the dish.

I decided to have a coffee for dessert. One of my favourite treats after a nice meal.

Overall I think this was a great experience. McKelvie's is a nice, family style restaurant, but with a local feel. A lot quieter than a crowded pub for sure, with fast and friendly service. It may be a little pricey as your favourite seafood restaurant, but a nice place to take out-of-towners you might want to impress! I did find the decor a little odd. Lots of brightly painted wooden decorations with a Canadian or ocean theme, with classy and comfortable table settings.

I give McKelvie's 4 little fishies out of 5.

Extra Notes:
Pay by cash, debit, or credit.
Gift certificates available.
Wheelchair accessible.
Wifi zone.
Open seven days a week.

Deluxe Fish and Chips

2009-02-17T10:20:00.004-04:00

Where: Deluxe Fish & Chips, 964 Prospect Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
When: Friday, December 26th, 2008.
What: Two piece fish & Chips.

I spent the holidays with my family in New Brunswick, as I do every year. On Boxing Day I drove into town to visit my sister and her two boys. I was starving and proposed we go out to eat and I really wanted fish and chips.

Unlike in other places, Boxing Day in New Brunswick is actually a holiday. Very little is open, not even most fast food restaurants. Knowing this, we did check out William's at the exhibition grounds, but of course it was closed.

So, we did the unthinkable; we drove uptown to Deluxe Fish and Chips. It was open, when pretty much everything else on Prospect Street was closed. There seemed to be only two staff working that day, so service was quite slow.

Once we got our food we went back to my sister's place to eat supper and watch a movie.

I really was not impressed with the food at all. I will say that this was the worst fish and chips I've ever had. I'm not surprised really since I remember them being terrible as a child also. The fish was overcooked, mushy, and totally flavourless. I might as well have been eating glue. The fries just look like discards, short, little stubby things. I like real fries, long ones, fresh ones! These were rubbery, tasteless things.

Honestly I'm surprised why this place still exists. Their food has never been good in my opinion, but maybe they have some nice things on their menu. Maybe people just don't know any better. I really don't know. I guess I just had to eat their once again to remind myself that decent fish and chips does exist out there.

I give Deluxe Fish & Chips 1 litle fishy out of five.

Jack Astor's Bar & Grill

2009-02-17T10:00:00.005-04:00

Where: Jack Astors Bar & Grill, 184 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax.
When: Tuesday, September 9, 2008.
What: Two piece fish and chips, $12.77 + tax.

I normally would not go to a place like Jack Astor's for fish and chips, but my friend invited me out to a movie one Tuesday night, and I needed to eat supper (we saw the Dark Knight on Imax).

I actually enjoy Jack Astor's, for the food anyway. It's not bad for a big box restaurant. Plus the staff is usually friendly, and you get to draw on the table.

What's not to like?

I apologize for the cellphone picture, but it wasn't a planned visit and so I didn't have my camera with me. You get an idea of the portion size anyway. The fries were ok, a bit too salty. I found pieces of fish small and overcooked. The batter was doughy and they fish lacking in flavour.

I wouldn't get the fish and chips there again, though I do like some other items on the menu.

I give Jack Astor's 2 little fishies out of 5.

Maxwell's Plum

2009-02-17T09:27:00.005-04:00

Where: The Maxwell's Plum, 1600 Grafton Street, Halifax.
When: Saturday, August 16th, 2008.
What: Two piece fish & chips, $12.95 + tax.

My friend Jill was in town for a visit and we went looking for a place to have lunch one rainy Saturday afternoon. We settled on Maxwell's Plum to try their fish and chips.

I ordered their plum ale to drink while waiting for our food to arrive. It was very tasty, nice and light.

I liked the presentation of the fish and chips. Two large pieces on a basket of fries. There was no homemade tartar sauce, unfortunately.

I didn't really like the fries. I thougth they were a bit soft and not hot enough. The fish was ok too. A little bit doughy. I would probably go again, just to give them another chance.

I give Maxwell's Plum 3 little fishies out of 5.

Mug & Anchor Pub

2009-02-11T09:44:00.005-04:00

Where: Mug & Anchor Pub, 643 Main St., Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
When: Saturday, July 19th, 2008.
What: Two piece fish & chips.

On a Saturday road trip to the south shore of Nova Scotia, my friend Remi and I stopped at The Mug & Anchor Pub in Mahone Bay for some lunch.

We sat on the balcony during an overcast but very hot day, with a great view of the bay and the famous three churches.

Our service was prompt and friendly. We had pints of Clancy's while we waited for our fish and chips.

There weren't a lot of fries but they made up by giving huge portions of fish. I found they were nicely battered, not too much and it was well cooked not doughy. It was a bit pricey though, but maybe that is to be expected in a small town at the height of tourist season.

I give Mug & Anchor Pub 3 little fishies out of five.

Long time no post

2009-02-11T09:39:00.002-04:00

Hello faithful readers. I haven't posted in a while and I do apologize for that. I have a few reviews from this summer that I'm about to post. Hopefully I will post more regularly this year, though I haven't had any fish and chips yet in 2009. I decided to give up meat again, just for a while, to that leaves fish out. However I have said I will only allow myself to eat fish and chips once and a while, and no other types of meat, fish, or animal flesh.

Thanks for reading!

Black's Grocery & Cafe Restaurant

2008-07-03T11:39:00.001-03:00

Where: Black's Grocery & Cafe Restaurant, RR3 Harvey Station, New Brunswick
When: Thursday, July 3rd, 2008.
What: Two piece fish & chips

I stopped by this place on my way back from visiting the Briggs & Little Woolen Mill on my vacation. My sister and I were hungry and needed liquor. Black's Grocery and Cafe is a small community convenience store attached to a restaurant. They are an NB Liquor agent store so we figured it was a great place to stop.

The service was friendly enough, but not very fast. It was lunch time but there were not a lot of people in the place. It took a long time to get our food. My niece was with us and you know it can be tough entertaining little kids.

The food was nothing to write home about. The fries were just ordinary freezer fries, and the fish was flavourless. It did arrive hot, but I really don't know why it took so long in the first place to arrive considering it wasn't very busy in there.

I give Black's Grocery & Cafe 2 little fishies out of five.

Split Crow

2008-06-16T11:16:00.006-03:00

Where: Split Crow, 1855 Granville Street, Halifax, NS
When: Friday, June 13th, 2008
What: Two piece fish and chips, $9.49 + tax

On Friday the 13th (spooky!) I headed downtown to the Split Crow for my friend Simon's birthday. I ordered right away the two piece fish and chips. I remembered having this some years ago and was anticipating it to be as good as it was back then.

To go with my meal, I ordered John Shippey's Amber Red (they didn't have Clancy's). It was alright, but not something I'd order again.

John Shippey's Amber Red

The fish and chips came next. They looked good enough, but didn't live up to my memory. Everything was nice and hot, but dripping with grease. Since I wasn't given cutlery or a napkin, I had to "borrow" one from a friend. I really liked the fries. They were hand cut and crispy. I really liked the tartar sauce as well. The fish though, the fish really was not great. Mushy, soggy, and really not very tasty.

It was also cold as heck out on the balcony, so we finished our second beers and left for a warmer hangout spot.

I give the Split Crow 2 little fishies out of 5.

Havfruens Hemmelighet

2008-05-26T10:44:00.005-03:00

Where: Havfruenes Hemmeligheter, Nygårdsgaten 53, Bergen, Norway

When: Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

What: Two piece fish & chips, 119 nok ($23.73 cnd)

Despite the fact that everyone told me you can't get fish and chips in Norway like you can in the UK (or Canada) I couldn't go all the way over there and not at least try some! Now, to be fair, I did eat lots of other fish.

The chosen place was recommended to me by someone on the internet somewhere. I forget who now. Anyway, me and the friend I went to visit in Norway where in Bergen on the west coast of Norway. We did see some fish and chip trucks at the fish market, but they were over priced and the quality was questionable. In Bryggen, an area of Bergen with really old wooden buildings from the Hanseatic period, there are a lot of restaurants, but the fish and chips were also over priced. So we decided to visit the place that had been recommended to me. Luckily my friend knew how to get there.

Havfruenes Hemmeligheter is, according to their website, one of the most famous fish restaurants in Bergen! It's a combination of restaurant, fish shop, and smoke house, all under the same roof. When you first walk in, the fish counter is on the left and then you order your food. It was interesting to sit down to eat and be able to look at fresh fish at the same time. On the wall there was a poster with the names and pictures of different types of fish you can eat in Norway.

The dining area at Havfruenes (or Mermaids) was more dressed up than I expected for a place serving fish and chips (probably just what I am used to in Canada). However, the atmosphere was still very casual. There were only two other people there aside from us, but people kept coming in for take-out or to order from the fish shop.

My friend and I each ordered the fish and chips. Ok, well my friend ordered for me in Norwegian. Our food arrived promptly and looked delicious!

As you can see the fries are not hand cut, however they were hot and crispy. The cod was fresh and tasty in a bread crumb batter (I actually didn't know it was cod until my friend asked our server). I really liked it. The slaw was nice and fresh. Though due to the shape of the plate, there was some liquid from the slaw that collected right under the fires. It was a constant battle to keep the fries out of the liquid, so I ate those up pretty fast.

Overall it was a good experience. Better than I expected based on the comments I received from people who basically told me not to bother with fish and chips (don't worry, I tried fish cakes too!)

I give Havfruenes Hemmeligheter 4 little fishies out of 5.

Willman's Fish and Chips

2008-04-21T18:17:00.007-03:00

Where: Willman's Fish and Chips, 5644 Kane Street, Halifax, NS

When: Sunday, April 20, 2008.

What: Two piece fish & chips.

Willman's Fish and Chips (also known as Willman's Fried Food) is a very popular restaurant in the Hydrostone area of North End Halifax. I say it's popular, but is also unknown by almost everyone I know, probably due to it's tucked away location. In my mind it is a place for everyone who loves fish and chips to check out.

The staff are very friendly. You could almost say flirty! There is a small dining area in the restaurant, where another woman was sitting. She said it was her first time too. We each ordered the two piece fish and chips, though there are plenty of other items on the menu.

Arriving back at my apartment and I cracked open a couple of Corona's for myself and my friend. We ate our food while watching "Everything's Gone Green".

I really enjoyed the fish. The batter was flavourful and the fish was moist and fresh tasting. The fries were handcut, as you can see in the below picture. Of course by the time we got home the fries weren't hot so they didn't maintain their crispiness, but I can only assume they would be crispy if you ate in the restaurant. Neither the fish or fries were greasy or mushy anyway.

I can't wait to go back on a sunny day this summer and try the poutine, which I hear is huge but delicious.

I give Willman's Fish & Chips 4.5 little fishies out of 5.

William's Seafood: Photo Only Post

2008-03-27T10:24:00.008-03:00

Where: William's Seafood Restaurant, Smythe Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick
When: Friday, March 21st, 2007 (Good Friday)
What: Medium Fish & Chips, $7.50

Despite some nasty weather, I made it out to the annual trip to William's Seafood on Good Friday. I'm not going to review it again, but thought I'd share a few pictures taken of the food, which I forgot last time. Happy Spring and Enjoy!

Medium fish & chips. Where's the fish?

My dad's seafood platter. Nom nom nom.

Celtic Corner: Saint Patrick's Day Edition

2008-03-19T10:04:00.009-03:00

Where: Celtic Corner, 69 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth
When: Monday, March 17, 2008.
What: Two piece fish and chips, $8.95+tax

This Saint Patrick's Day edition of Tasty Fish & Chips is brought to you by Celtic Corner in Dartmouth, an annual favourite spot for anyone who wants to be Irish just for one day.

I arrived shortly after 5pm, and the place was already packed. A voluntary donation to the Autism Society of Nova Scotia was the only cover. I met my friends who hadn't found a table yet, but we hovered and took in the atmosphere for a while (maybe an hour). It was entertaining seeing all the different people there; the young and old alike were partying it up on this day. Eventually we found a small square table in a corner in a room separated from the main area. We piled out coats and bags on the floor under the table, and made friends with another couple who just wanted a place a place to stand and and put their drinks down. Unfortunately this table was in front of a bathroom, and we had to move frequently to let people in to empty their bladders.

We flagged down a waiter who took our orders, which were brought promptly. The set up was a bit confusing, as their was a waitress serving this room who told us she was supposed to be working the bar, and apparently we weren't supposed to even have food in that room. Thankfully they made an exception for us and the others in that room, and were very apologetic about it.

My friends Ann and Derrick ordered vegetarian nachos ($8.95) and fries with curry sauce ($4.95). I've never even seen curry and fries before, but I did try some of the sauce and it was a tasty, yellow, and spicy concoction.

I was very happy to be eating and got my friend to take a picture of me holding my fish and chips. Starving at this point, I didn't care that I had to stand up, or if the food wasn't perfect, I was just glad to be eating something.

The platter was advertised as being a two piece fish and chips, but mine came with three pieces the size of large chicken fingers. I was glad for this because I didn't feel like using cutlery at this point (does that make me a pig? oh well!)

Three pieces of delicious fish and chips.

The batter had a nice golden colour to it, and the fish was moist and tasty. It wasn't very hot though and was a little mushy on the underside. The fries were not very crispy at all and had possibly been sitting a while. The coleslaw was ok, a bit watery, and I found the tartar sauce a bit too something, tangy maybe? Also, I was not offered ketchup or vinegar. All in all it wasn't bad. I know food should be good all the time, not matter what celebration is going on, but I would like to go back on a normal day and try it again.

The crowd.

Overall we had a really good time, but it will be a long while before I go out to a crowded bar on a celebratory day to eat and have some drinks.

I give Celtic Corner 3.5 little fishies out of 5.

Freeman's Little New York

2008-03-12T00:58:00.004-03:00

Where: Freeman's Little New York, 6092 Quinpool Road, Halifax
When: Friday, January 11th, 2008
What: Two piece fish & chips, $8.99+tax

I have to apologize for the delay in getting this up. Also, I'm sorry I haven't had many reviews these past few months. I guess I'm just not eating out as much anymore.

Unfortunately I lost my notes from this meal, so this will be short. I've never had the fish and chips at Freeman's in the restaurant before, but I have gotten them delivered about three times now. I like the seasoning on the fries. The fish is flavourful and crispy.

I'm sure it would be better to have it in the restaurant, but for delivery it's really not bad. You can always crisp it up in the oven or toaster oven if you like. The fries also make a good breakfast the next day.

I give Freeman's Little New York 3.5 little fishies out of 4.

Fries & Co.

2007-11-08T09:47:00.004-04:00

Where: Fries & Co., 2603 Connolly Street, Halifax
When: Friday, September 28th 2007
What: Two piece fish & chips (medium), $8.10+tax

Fries & Co. in west end Halifax is known to be one of the best, if not the best, fish and chips place in town. They have won The Coasts Best of Food category for best fish and chips six years in a row. The fries have also been runner up in many years. Fries & Co. has been in business for 28 years and the most often recommended place when people tell me what to check out next. After living in Halifax for 6 years, I finally had the opportunity as Fries & Co. is conveniently located just around the corner from my new apartment.

All wrapped up.

I have to say, I wan't overly impressed with the fish or the chips. The pieces of fish were small and mooshy on the bottom. I also prefer my fries in long pieces, not all cut up in small bits.

For the price you pay and the amount of food you get, it's not really that great. I'm sure they have a lot of great items on their menu and it might be a better experience to eat in, but I'm not sure I'd get their fish and chips for take out again unless I was really hungry, lazy, and specifically wanted fish and chips.

Fish and chips inspector.

Eat in or take out.

The service was fast and friendly though, and I probably will return since it's in the neighbourhood. I guess I have certain things I look for in a good fish and chips place, and Fries & Co. just doesn't have it.

I give Fries &6 Co. 3.5 little fishies out of 5.

The Old Port Grill & Pub

2007-09-07T11:39:00.003-03:00

Where: The Old Port Grill & Pub, 90 Windmill Road, Dartmouth
When: Thursday, August 23rd 2007
What: Two piece fish and chips, $9.49+tax

The special occasion on this day was our summer student's last day. So we closed down for lunch and went to The Old Port Grill & Pub on Windmill Road. The last time I visited this pub I skipped the fish and chips but this time I couldn't pass them by.

It was a beautiful day and we sat on the balcony. I ordered a Stella for the first time, but I didn't really like it.

I loved the glass, but not the beer.

Two piece fish and chips.

Myself and a co-worker both ordered the fish and chips. It was your pretty basic dish. A lemon wedge and homemade tartar sauce on the side. There was no vinegar provided or coleslaw, but we did get a basket of ketchup packets. I really would have appreciated it if the ketchup was in a bottle. The fries were hand cut and quite tasty. I found the beer batter had a nice flavour, but it was a bit gummy and greasy. The fish tasted fresh though and wasn't overcooked.

The service was fast and friendly, but I don't really feel like the fish and chips was outstanding. They weren't terrible either. If I were to go again I'd probably order something else off the menu, like the haddock almondine I had there previously. Overall a fun outing with co-workers and a nice way to spend a summer afternoon.

I give The Old Port Grill & Pub 3.5 little fishies out of 5.

Sam's Seafood & Grill

2007-08-25T13:54:00.003-03:00

Where: Sam's Seafood & Grill, 10 Gordon Avenue, Dartmouth
When: Friday, August 10th 2007
What: One piece fish & chips, $4.95+tax (two piece $6.95+tax)

I was a little iffy about visiting a seafood and grill joint only 7 hours after being sick with a random stomach virus, but being the fish and chips lover I am, I decided to live dangerously! Two friends (Tina and Simon) and I went to Sam's Seafood & Grill in Dartmouth before heading out on a mini road trip to Peggy's Cove. It was a nice, sunny Friday afternoon, and felt like a good idea. Sam's Seafood & Grill is a family restaurant featuring a large dining room, a lounge, and a private room you can rent that fits 30 people.

The colourful menu at Sam's Seafood & Grill.

While waiting for out food I looked around the dining room. With plastic table cloths and maritime decorations, the dinning room is a bit cheesy, but at least it's not as offensive as trying to eat a family dinner at a sports bar, (or any other chain restaurant in town that thinks it's appropriate to have TVs hanging from the ceiling with various sporting events and loud music blasting from the stereo). It was bright and roomy, though we weren't really there for the atmosphere anyway.

Tina has been to Sam's a lot and the fish and chips came with a big recommendation. She ordered a two piece, and I decided to play it safe with a one piece. Simon ordered the Sam's Ultimate Combo-Plate which is mozza sticks, onion rings, breaded mushrooms and zucchini fingers all served with sour cream ($10.95) and a substantial chicken caesar wrap ($4.95).

Sam's dining room.

We didn't wait long for the food to arrive. Simon shared his combo platter with us. I didn't try the breaded mushroom, but the zucchini fingers were interested (also fried), and the mozza sticks and onion rings tasty. Mmm...grease. Once we worked our way through the remaining of our orders arrived.

Sam's menu boasts having the biggest pieces of fish in the city and that it is cut fresh daily. Tina said that normally the pieces of fish were huge, but the size and shape can vary depending on when you go. Personally I wasn't impressed with the size of the fish, but I was glad to be eating it anyway. I have to admit though, I wasn't impressed much with the meal once I dug in. I found the fish dry and overcooked with a doughy batter. The fries looked handcut, but had that "from the bag" taste. Soggy and runny cole slaw, pre-packaged tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge were the sides and garnish. I did like the presentation (something about fish and chips on paper that is charming), but other than that I wasn't impressed.

I would go back to try some of their other menu items, but I don't imagine I'll order the fish and chips again. The service is fast and friendly, and I'm sure it's a favourite for Dartmouthians.

I give Sam's Seafood & Grill 3 little fishies out of 5.

Rogue's Roost

2007-08-01T12:59:00.003-03:00

Where: Rogue's Roost, 5435 Spring Garden Road, Halifax
When: Saturday, July 28th 2007
What: Two piece fish and chips, $8.50+tax

On a hot and steamy Saturday afternoon, a friend and I sought out beer and food before heading off to the midway (which was over by the time we arrived). We found ourselves at Rogue's Roost, a popular local bar and restaurant on Spring Garden Road. We sat ourselves at a table near the big windows over looking the street to enjoy our meal and some people watching.

We started off by trying to order a drink. We both got a bit confused at what was available on tap, but in the end choose bottled beer (Red Stripe for me, Sleemans Honey Brown for my friend). We each ordered the two piece fish and chips and settled in to people watch, except the street was almost dead. Where did every body go?

Red ale batter fish and chips.

The fish and chips arrived promptly, nicely arranged on a big plate. One thing I like about Rogue's Roost is the big plates. I also like that the fish is not piled on top of the fries. I don't know why this bugs me, but it does. I think I'm worried the grease from the fish will make the chips soggy.

I like the fries here, even though they are not hand cut. I guess I just have a thing for big fries, plus they sprinkle special seasoning on them which is a nice touch. The tartar sauce was sub par, probably not fresh. I didn't really like it at all but if you're used to bottled tartar sause, you might like it. The garnish provided, which I guess is an alternative to cole slaw, was a little salad. I wish there had been a bit more of it since I actually like vegetables now. Missing was vinegar and I didn't think to ask for some, but it's a standard at most pubs that have fish and chips.

The fish was good, but I found one of my pieces a little overcooked. The batter was tough and chewy in a few spots. Overall though it was nice. The fish was tender and moist and filled with flavour. I liked the redish colour of the batter.

At $8.25+tax, Rogue's Roost has a great fish and chips platter at a decent price. Their staff is fast and friendly. Multiple servers checked on us throughout the meal. They have an extensive imported and domestic beer list, plus you can get a variety of their own microbrews when available. It's a stylish bar with a cozy feel where you can sit and watch the (normally) busy Spring Garden road below. I will definitely be returning to Rogue's Roost for fish and chips or to try something else on the menu. As my friend Tina exclaimed "Those fries were wicked!" I agree!

I give Rogue's Roost 4 little fishies out of 5.

D'arcy McGee's

2007-07-20T14:15:00.003-03:00

Where: D'arcy McGee's, 44 Sparks Street, Ottawa
When: Tuesday, July 3rd 2007
What: Two piece fish & chips, $12+tax

For my birthday meal (the 4th of July), Rémi and I went to Darcy McGee's on Sparks Street in Ottawa. This pub was recommended by an old school friend who lives there. Named after the Canadian journalist and father of confederation who was assassinated in 1868, D'arcy McGee's pub features an extensive food and drink menu. From the "Irish Favourites" menu we both ordered Finnegan's Fry, which is described as "two pieces of lightly battered haddock, served with vegetable slaw, Dungloe sauce and fries seasoned with sea salt" (Rémi substituted his fries for poutine, of course).

After our first fish and chips experience in Ottawa, I was worried the second place would be a bust too. I was pleasantly surprised at the fish and chips here though. In fact, we both felt the fish here was excellent. A nice light and crispy batter that was not greasy at all. The fries were very crisp as well, and hand cut. The portions were definitely a good size. I'm not sure if Dungloe sauce is the same as tartar sauce, but it was delicious either way. Also delicious was the vegetable slaw, a nice alternative to coleslaw, which I find usually mushy and bland.

Vintage whiskey advertisements.

Finnegan's Fry.

Chocolate volcano - my birthday dessert.

For dessert we "shared" a chocolate volcano. The waiter brought it to our table and I said "Uh...I didn't order dessert!" but it was my birthday surprise! I turned the big two-eight on July 4th and this was Rémi's gift to me. I managed to have room enough to eat most of this all on my own and it was delicious. Warm chocolate cake with chocolate sauce on the inside, and served with vanilla ice cream. Best birthday dessert ever!

Personally I felt the service was good, but Rémi did remark that we waited a long time between our drink order and food order. The waiter also took a long time to bring the dessert. From where we sat I couldn't tell how busy it was, but considering it was Ottawa a few days after Canada Day, it was probably fairly busy. I didn't think the guy was friendly enough either, but honestly, I was so tired and hungry from a full day, I don't think I cared much!

Overall I thought this was a great place to eat. Their whole menu looked interesting and appetizing, so if fish and chips is not your thing, I'm sure you can find something you'd like! I recommend it to anyone visiting or living in Ottawa. Great fish & chips, lots of beer to chose from, awesome dessert, and an interesting story to learn about D'arcy McGee.

I give D'arcy McGee's 4.5 little fishies out of 5.

***

Other news: I had all four wisdom teeth out a week ago, and had my first solid type food today (french fries). I can't stop thinking about fish and chips! Hopefully soon I'll feel well enough to go out and review some more local fish & chips.

The Aulde Dubliner

2007-07-09T13:54:00.002-03:00

Where: The Aulde Dubliner, 62 William Street, Ottawa
When: Sunday, July 1st 2007 (Canada Day!)
What: One piece fish & chips, $14+tax

On a recent trip to our nation's capital for Canada day, I visited some local pubs to try out the fish and chips on the mainland. My first stop was The Aulde Dubliner on William Street. My friend Rémi and I got a table for two overlooking the streets below, full of people enjoying the festivities.

The pub had a special Canada Day menu and you could only order off this menu. There were a variety of domestic and imported beers to chose from as well. We each got the fish and chips and a beer (Stella for him, Smithwick's for me, which I forgot I don't like). There was a band playing covers of Canadian tunes, and the service was fairly fast. However, the service was not friendly. Our server was very quick with us and didn't take the time to explain the limited menu first. She also didn't seem to be concerned that Rémi wasn't given any tartar sauce. Rémi was turned off by the limited menu (he likes to substitute poutine for fries when he can). I was turned off by the price for only one piece of fish and wondered if they jacked up the price for Canada Day (their regular menu shows 2 pieces for $13, so looks like I was right).

When the fish and chips arrived they were practically dripping with grease. You can't tell from the photo, since this was taken just after they arrived, but things got mushy and messy fast. The fish, though quite a large piece, was tough in some places, and the fries were cold and not crispy. The tartar sauce didn't taste fresh or homemade. We were at least provided with two kinds of vinegar, both malt and white, along with ketchup, but other than that, there really wasn't anything special about this place.

We both found our server to be not at all pleasant, the food overpriced and greasey. Plus the server charged me the full total of the meal on my credit card, and not half like she was supposed to (my friend payed for half with his debit card, I didn't discover the error until I got back to Halifax). I'm still trying to get the credit card issue resolved, but regardless, I wasn't planning to give this place a good review anyway.

Rémi and I give The Aulde Dubliner 2 little fishies out of 5 ("Only because they had a band" - Rémi).

Henry House Pub & Restaurant

2007-05-22T23:43:00.002-03:00

Where: Henry House Pub & Restaurant, 1222 Barrington Street, Halifax
When: Thursday, May 3rd 2007
What: Two piece fish & chips, $10+tax

Henry House Pub & Restaurant is located in downtown Halifax on Barrington Street. Henry House was built in 1834 and has three levels, two of which are available for dining, and the other can be booked for private functions. Since I live in the area, Henry House is becoming one of my favourite places to hang out. The staff are always friendly and fast, the menu is interesting, and they have a lot of great brews on tap (I highly recommend the ale sampler).

I have had the fish and chips at Henry House before, but this was my first official review. Sadly I felt like I was eating something out of a box. The beer battered fish had a weird rectangular shape to it which reminded me of something you might see in a school cafeteria. Not that the shape of the fish should matter, but it was just an odd sight to see. I didn't feel like the fish really stood out either. It was bland and not very crispy. The pieces were a good size though, so I will give them that. The handcut fries were not very crispy either, so that was another disappointment. I know from past experience that the Henry House fish and chips can be better, and I certainly don't need an excuse to go back and try it again.

Normally you get more fries, but I asked to get only a half order because I found last time I couldn't finish them all.

I'm not usually a fan of coleslaw or tartar sauce, as you know from reading this blog, but I did try both anyway. The tartar sauce was quite good. I liked the dill flavour even though I don't like dill a whole lot. You could tell it was fresh and homemade. My friend liked the coleslaw but I didn't care much for it. I found it bland and not very crisp. There wasn't much zing to it. Maybe I should start making my own coleslaw to bring whenever I eat out. Haha.

For dessert I had a piece of blueberry cheesecake, which also was not very memorable. The blueberries were a nice touch, but the cake was bland and not very rich.

Overall I was disappointed with my meal that night. I know I will be back again though, so maybe in a few months I'll do another review and see how they compare. It was a good evening with a friend though, and great beer!

I give Henry House 3 little fishies out of 5.

William's Seafood

2007-05-01T12:53:00.003-03:00

Where: William's Seafood Restaurant, Smythe Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick
When: April 7th, 2007 (Good Friday)
What: Medium Fish & Chips, $7.50

On Good Friday I went out for fish & chips with my parents for our 2nd annual visit to William's Seafood. This restaurant is located on the Exhibition Grounds in downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick. It is a staple for fish and chips and the city, and Good Friday is known for being one of the busiest days of the year for the restaurant.

Their menu features a variety of seafood options, mostly fried. If you're not a fan of seafood, you can also get regular fast food items such as poutine, burgers, fries, but most of their menu is made up of fried fish and other seafood. Unlike many seafood restaurants which feature their fish and chips as either one or two pieces, William's has three sizes - small, medium, and large, with varying amounts of fries and fish. The medium came with a generous helping of fries, handcut in the restaurant, and four small pieces of fish.

The fish here is excellent. Light and moist with a nice golden batter. The batter is never doughy and always crispy. The fries could have been cooked a little bit longer according to my mother, but personally I thought they were just fine. You don't really get a lot of extras at this restaurant, not coleslaw or homemade tartar sauce (just the Kraft packaged kind), but I really don't think anyone would complain.

William's Seafood is really a fast food style seafood restaurant. You order at the counter and then find yourself a seat (quickly, they fill up fast). When your order is ready someone will call it out to you, or bring it to your table. The staff is always fast and friendly. Add William's Seafood to your list of places of visit next time you're stopping by Fredericton!

I give William's Seafood 4.5 little fishies out of 5.

Whiskey's Lounge

2007-03-29T10:17:00.003-03:00

Where: Whiskey's Lounge, 27 Portland Street, Dartmouth
When: March 17th (that's right, St. Patrick's Day)
What: 1 piece fish and chips, $5.95+tax

I don't have a whole lot to say about this place. I ended up there with some friends on Saint Patrick's Day and decided to get the 1 piece fish & chips. The fries were not hand cut, pretty dry, and just generally tasteless. The fish was greasy and really hot (I burned my mouth pretty badly).

The wait staff were not very friendly, the music was way too loud, and the cover band (two guys really) didn't play any Irish tunes. The only good thing I can say is that it was cheap and not crowded like every other bar in town early on Saint Patrick's day. It wasn't on my list of places to try, and I don't plan on going back.

I give Whiskey's Lounge 2 little fishies out of 5.

Jamieson's Irish House & Grill

2007-03-29T09:58:00.004-03:00

Where: Jamieson's Irish House & Grill, 5 Cumberland Drive, Cole Harbour
When: Friday, March 9th
What: Two piece fish & chips, $8.95+tax

On March 9th I visited Jamieson's Irish House & Grill in Cole Harbour with my friend Laurena. Of course I had to try the beer battered fish. It's been a few weeks now, so I'll do my best to remember the details (it was a bit dark in there and hard to write notes).

The two piece fish and chips was $8.95 and came with a nice helping of hand cut fries. The pieces of fish were really small though, so I don't feel like I got my money's worth as far as the fish goes. The fries however, were delicious. Hand cut, fresh, hot and crispy. The fish, made with a Smithwicks batter, was pretty tasty, but I don't remember it being outstanding. For garnish I got a lemon wedge and parsley flakes (big fan of parsley flakes). There was also two kinds of vinegar on the table. My dinner companion did like the tartar sauce, and she said it was probably homemade.

I really like the atmosphere in this place. The staff were very friendly, and it had a cosy feel to it. Leather chairs were set up near the entrance, so you could wait there for a table, have a few drinks, or eat your meal in that corner. Our table ended up being on stage, so I felt a little self-conscious trying to take pictures. As most of the light was by candle, my pictures didn't turn out very great (no flash). The picture of the fish and chips was unusable, but I did catch a few good shots of the other treats.

The beer paddle. From left to right: JAMIESON’S IPA - Irish Pale Ale, Garrison Raspberry Wheat Ale, JAMIESON’S Special Dark Ale (I think), Smithwicks (not a fan of the Smithwicks).

Bailey's with frangelico.

I give Jamieson's Irish House & Grill 4.5 little fishies out of 5.

Phil's Seafood

2007-03-09T14:46:00.003-04:00

Where: Phil’s Seafood, 6285 Quinpool Road, Halifax NS
When: Wednesday, March 7th, 2007
What: Two piece fish & chips, $7.95+tax

I stopped by Phil’s Seafood with my good friend Rhia this past Wednesday. It was freezing out, I had a bad headache and was all drugged up on pain killers, so I'm not sure how accurate my recollections of the food are. In any event, here is my first official fish & chips review.

We each ordered the two piece fish and chips which came garnished with coleslaw and a lemon wedge. The fish pieces were generous and the fries handcut. The fish batter was very crispy as they use breadcrumbs which I liked, the fish was fresh and moist. I didn’t find the batter very flavourful though, but the fish was good and hot. Disappointing were the fries. They weren't very crispy and not as plentiful as I've seen elsewhere. On the other hand, there's nothing worse than having so many fries on the plate that you can't eat them all!

Extras on table were ketchup, white vinegar, salt, pepper, and homemade tartar sauce. I don't actually like tartar sauce or coleslaw so I can't comment on those. Overall it was pretty good, but if I go back I'll probably have something else on their menu.

I give Phil's Seafood four little fishies out of five.

Tonight I'm going out to Cole Harbour to stay over at a friend's house. Lets see if I can convince her to go out for fish & chips. I'll let you know how it turns out.

First Post

2007-03-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

I had my first fish & chips last night after deciding to start this blog. Hopefully I'll get the review up some time later today. Over the next few days I'll try to dress up the blog a bit, fix the design and such, so stay tuned!