Question for non-UK DISers

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Do you have a fish 'n' chip takeaway anywhere near where you live? Over here they're a staple. Of course, in inner London, fried chicken joints are taking hold, but elsewhere the classic chippy still rules supreme.

 

[fla4fun]

Do you have a fish 'n' chip takeaway anywhere near where you live? Over here they're a staple. Of course, in inner London, fried chickin joints are taking hold, but elsewhere the classic chippy still rules supreme.

No. While you might find fish and chips on the menu at a seafood restaurant (more likely along the coast than inland) we don’t have much in the way of fast food/takeaway fish places. There is a chain called Long John Silvers that used to be very widespread, but there are only 11 left in Florida (some in other states as well), with only one location in all of Orlando. I would have to drive a long way if I wanted a fish and chips meal (but I don’t like fish, so that isn’t a problem for me).

Here it’s more likely to be burgers, Chinese, or Mexican places, and of course, the ubiquitous pizza.

 

[tvguy]

Not as common as hamburger and taco places, but common. Two within a mile of my house. The best is Tugboat Fish and Chips. A family run chain with four locations in our city.

 

[CdnCarrie]

There is one fish and chip chain in our city. More of a sit down than a takeaway place

 

[kanerf]

Live in Western PA and fried fish is popular here, but not like your typical chippie. We do have a Long John Silver's in town which is kind of like a chippie, but does other things like fried shrimp as well.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Well there's Long John Silvers... on paper I think it's fish n chips, but I am not sure what they serve qualifies as food.

 

[dizneegirl]

Here are more answers for you on the same subject... Fish and chips

 

[Praying Colonel]

No chippies where we live. Where we used to live there were 2 chain restaurants that did fish & chips you could get for carry-out or eat-in: Captain D's Fish & Chips and Long John Silver's Fish & Chips.

It's more common for places around here to have more of a seafood shack-themed restaurant that's more Gulf-style: oysters, shrimp, po boy sandwiches, gumbo, etc. One of them does a fish fry once/week but that's also more of a southern thing than the traditional UK fish and chips.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, actually. There are a number of them in this city and one about a mile from me. It's called The British Chippy and run by a family of ex-pats. They claim to be serving "authentic" British fish and chips and of course the ubiquitous mushy peas. The food is OK but the menu is very limited and it's hella expensive - about $20CAD for one piece of cod and chips with one side (mushy peas or coleslaw). Malt vinegar is no extra charge but you pay for fresh lemons.

Also, tons and tons of British and Irish style pubs that all have fish and chips on their menus.

 

[BrianL]

Around here, Captain D's is common - they just built a new one near my house. I'm not going to lie - I was in London a couple of years ago, and was unimpressed with he fish and chips. I remember saying, "Captain D's is better!" What's with the unsalted fries? Captain D's is fast food though (and they have other seafood too), but it's decent enough. You can find actually good fish and chips on a lot of menus around here, though fried catfish is more prolific.

 

[easyas123]

I think there are a few down by the shore. No places w/ scotch eggs other than my kitchen though.

 

[SnowBeast]

Around here, Captain D's is common - they just built a new one near my house. I'm not going to lie - I was in London a couple of years ago, and was unimpressed with he fish and chips. I remember saying, "Captain D's is better!" What's with the unsalted fries? Captain D's is fast food though (and they have other seafood too), but it's decent enough. You can find actually good fish and chips on a lot of menus around here, though fried catfish is more prolific.

Fries? If the chippy you went in was serving fries (the skinny McDonalds things) then that wasn’t a proper chippy. I can’t say much about the chippies in London (it’s just a big tourist hell hole to me), but in proper chippies up north you get a huge portion of roasting hot, golden, thick chips straight from the fryer and then you normally drench them in enough salt and vinegar to kill a man, that’s the thing that makes it for me. All the chips are unseasoned, and either the person portioning them out will ask if you want salt and vinegar, or it’s just a given that you drench them yourself. If you’ve had chips without salt then I feel your pain

 

[BrianL]

Fries? If the chippy you went in was serving fries (the skinny McDonalds things) then that wasn’t a proper chippy. I can’t say much about the chippies in London (it’s just a big tourist hell hole to me), but in proper chippies up north you get a huge portion of roasting hot, golden, thick chips straight from the fryer and then you normally drench them in enough salt and vinegar to kill a man, that’s the thing that makes it for me. All the chips are unseasoned, and either the person portioning them out will ask if you want salt and vinegar, or it’s just a given that you drench them yourself. If you’ve had chips without salt then I feel your pain

They were proper "chips" - the thick kind. In the US they are all "fries" - we might call those "steak fries." Regardless, sprinkling salt on after they are served is pointless. They should be salted during the frying process so that it sticks. Simply dunking potatoes in oil does not make for good fries.

I am now considering popping down the street to Captain D's for lunch.

 

[SnowBeast]

They were proper "chips" - the thick kind. In the US they are all "fries" - we might call those "steak fries." Regardless, sprinkling salt on after they are served is pointless. They should be salted during the frying process so that it sticks. Simply dunking potatoes in oil does not make for good fries.

I am now considering popping down the street to Captain D's for lunch.

That’s where the vinegar comes in, it coats the chip then the salt sticks to the outside. If you put salt on first you won’t get the fluffy inside and crispy outside.