Chippy Tea

[air_raid]

11 hours ago, Thefatduck said:

not really sure where I stand on onion rings with a chippy. did it add anything to the overall experience or was it more beige fried stuff?

genuine question.

From chippies the onion rings vary. I’ve had some which are the exact same you’d get from a supermarket in a bag, and glorious homemade ones. I have had them from Barnacles before and even though it just says “onion rings” on the menu they’re clearly the beer battered ones you get in pub meals - you know the ones, where you get both the big rings from the middle of the onion and fatter flat ones from the ends, and always nicely crunched up. Sunday especially they were great, the beer flavour really coming through in the batter.

Never really considered if they were “proper” with a chippy. I just like them.

 

 

 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

I often go down the chippy and get onion rings with my kebab. 

[Carbomb]

Er...

I hope it didn't get broken.

 

 

Did I do it right?

[air_raid]

On 6/1/2025 at 11:02 AM, air_raid said:

The Third Annual Old Age In-laws Chippy Tour

Part 2

Went to St Ives on Sunday, turns out it was prompted by father-in-law asking to because he wanted fish and chips the same as last year, which meant By The Sea. We were there bang on opening.

 

Haddock and chips twice (regular for in-laws, large for wife and me), 2 pots of tartare sauce for Mrs and the in-laws. After last times underwhelming curry I skipped it because I remembered they did a dynamite aioli so I had that - £31 exactly.

Fuck my face, this was good. Yes, it’s pricy, yes it’s more like getting takeaway from a “fish restaurant” than going to the chippy. Yes, the chips are the slimmest I’ll entertain before calling them “fries” but holy shit, the crunch was unreal, best since Rhyl, and both batter and flavour on the haddock were top drawer. Superb lunch.

 

[Callum1993]

Tonight’s offering. Sensational as always

 

 

[Tim Healys Chutney Spoon]

Battered rampant rabbit....nice!

[air_raid]

On 6/1/2025 at 11:02 AM, air_raid said:

Spoiler

The Third Annual Old Age In-laws Chippy Tour

Part 3

On Wednesday on the way back from Lands End, timing was perfect to place a click n collect order from Sanders and it be ready as we arrived back in Hayle. Plaice & chips twice, large curry, £29.50.

I’m not keen on plaice but let Mrs raid order it because she likes it. Batter and chips spot on as ever. Might be going again today.

[RedTwoster]

Some of my favourite chippies from around Scotland, which I probably should have posted earlier in the summer…

Deli-ca-sea (Ullapool)

The best chippy I’ve ever been to, I think. If you’re unfamiliar with Ullapool, it’s a very small seaside town on the northwest coast which is the gateway to the Western Isles - or the largest one, Lewis, anyway. And there are two chippies there - one that still has a sign up boasting of winning BBC Radio 4’s best chippy in 2006 (it’s shit) and another one called Deli-ca-sea, which is insanely good. Super fresh fish; thick, moreish chips and a really good selection of other dishes which I’ve never tried because their haddock is so good. If you’re ever in that area, go there. 10/10.

Tailend (St Andrews) 

As you might expect, St Andrews is full of nice places to eat, but don’t discount this chippy as it’s outstanding. You can sit in to eat too, which is always nice. They serve a nice selection of fish, both battered and not, and the chips are lovely too. There’s another, more famous chippy there but this one is the better of the two by my estimation.

The Fish Works (Largs)

Regularly wins awards and is named the best in Scotland, but I disagree with that assessment. It’s still really good though, and they frequently have unusual and tasty specials like crabmeat coated chips with a side of lemon mayo. The fish is solid, but you’re really going there for those specials. Or at least I am.

Allan’s (Paisley)

Paolo Nutini’s folks run a chippy in Paisley, and he occasionally works there still…and it’s not this one. Or as good as this one. At Allan’s, you can get a lunch fish and chips for just £7. The fish is flaky and delicious, the chips are addictive as fuck - best value chippy in Scotland for sure. The downside is that it’s in Paisley, and at the moment there’s really no reason to visit the place.

McLeod’s (Inverness)

If you’re visiting the Highlands, you’re probably visiting Inverness at some point and this is the chippy you should go to. It’s always rammed out the door, but that’s because it’s excellent. It’s won multiple awards, and for good reason. The only downside is that you can’t eat in, and it’s located somewhere that makes that a bit of an inconvenience. It’s still tremendous, though.

The Redshank (Inverness)

An Inverness double-whammy! I do live in the Highlands, to be fair. This is in the Victorian Market and I’d honestly recommend anything in their food court, the standard of grub is that high. If you eat here, the haddock wrap and fish finger sandwiches are the way to go - they’re made to order and are absolutely incredible. They do a standard chippy too, but it’s not as good as those other dishes. 

The Bay (Stonehaven)

Stonehaven is where the deep fried mars bar was invented - though not at this chippy. This is probably one of Scotland’s most famous chippies and as a result it’s always very, very busy. It’s nice though, and it’s located by a beach meaning you can sit by or near the sea while enjoying your food. 

[Rossman]

On 9/2/2025 at 12:29 PM, air_raid said:

Part 2

Went to St Ives on Sunday, turns out it was prompted by father-in-law asking to because he wanted fish and chips the same as last year, which meant By The Sea. We were there bang on opening.

 

Haddock and chips twice (regular for in-laws, large for wife and me), 2 pots of tartare sauce for Mrs and the in-laws. After last times underwhelming curry I skipped it because I remembered they did a dynamite aioli so I had that - £31 exactly.

Fuck my face, this was good. Yes, it’s pricy, yes it’s more like getting takeaway from a “fish restaurant” than going to the chippy. Yes, the chips are the slimmest I’ll entertain before calling them “fries” but holy shit, the crunch was unreal, best since Rhyl, and both batter and flavour on the haddock were top drawer. Superb lunch.

 

Have you ever been the The Beach Restaurant in St. Ives?  It's on the main curved strip which looks out onto the beach. We went there 4 years ago for takeaway cod & chips. The whole area was rammed because it was COVID era, so went to the place with a manageable queue. First and only time, I've seen the fish fried in a panko breadcrumb batter. Giving it a rock hard armoured coating. It was fucking rubbish. Chips weren't much better. Wife didn't even finish hers, even though the portions were basic.

Had a look on Google Reviews & TripAdvisor. A lot of people complaining the chips are frozen and not freshly chipped. Thought that was quite ridiculous, just a tourist trap.

Edited September 9, 2025 by Rossman

[air_raid]

On 6/1/2025 at 11:02 AM, air_raid said:

Third Annual Old Age In-laws Chippy Tour

 

On 9/8/2025 at 7:26 AM, air_raid said:

Might be going again today.

Part 4

Yes, we did. Haddock and large chips twice and forewent either curry or onion rings, to get scampi to share with Mrs raid and father in law (mother in law is allergic) - £35.90 which was 20p more than if, when offered a bag, Mrs raid had asked if it was free or not instead of saying yes - possible oversight because her dad was paying.

Excuse the “on plate” photo of my half the haddock and approx 1/3 portion of scampi, I’m not always fast enough. Bloody tasty. If you recall father in laws delicate mini roll chewing from the Annoyance thread, please note that after I smashed my plate and a generous amount of Mrs raids half of the chips (she’s tiny), he was only half way through his plate.

On 9/9/2025 at 2:00 PM, Rossman said:

Have you ever been the The Beach Restaurant in St. Ives?  It's on the main curved strip which looks out onto the beach.
 

…fucking rubbish.

No, but I know where you mean. Tucked into the corner of the harbour, right before the side street (well, most of the town is side streets) that hosts St Ives Bakery. By the time I realized they did fish n chips (and you’d be forgiven for missing that given the tiny size of the cafe-adjacent fryer counter) we’d become loyal to Harbour, which is the only chippy we used between a bite at Porthmeor beach cafe on our first visit, and discovering By The Sea last year. So, never tempted.

On 9/9/2025 at 2:00 PM, Rossman said:

just a tourist trap.

Welcome to St Ives in a nutshell.

[davertfnewman]

I could've put this in several threads, but this is a brilliant time capsule documentary of a town dependent on the industry for fish. Some great scenes of a guy with his filleting business, including fining a guy for taking time off; a working class club play; and an insight into the political world of the time, with Germany getting moaned about at one point thirty-plus years after the war.

 

Edited September 14, 2025 by davertfnewman

[air_raid]

On 6/1/2025 at 11:02 AM, air_raid said:

The Third Annual Old Age In-laws Chippy Tour

Part 5 - Le Fin

So we didn’t go for a final Cornwall chippy but we had already figured out that after arriving back on Saturday we could show her parents our local, Kingfisher.

 

Cod and large chips twice split between four of us, and one each of their three curry sauces (“English,” “Irish” and “Chinese”) - £23.50 even though it should have been £26.

Fantastic fish, chips that tasted like my childhood. Chinese curry was delicious even if I think it might be out of a Mayflower pack, Irish was markedly different to last time and tasted like Madras except fruitier and was the unanimous favourite. English was rather weak, if that was packet then the water/mix ratio was off. I wonder if last time we asked for Irish but got English (but better) instead? Either way, thoroughly enjoyed it.

ENDUT

HOCH HECH

edit - raids-in-law both weighed themselves at the start of the trip and again today before leaving. Somehow on a diet of chippies, pasties, Rattler cider and ice cream, they both lost about 3kg. Huh.

Edited September 15, 2025 by air_raid

[Callum1993]

Frankly a war crime. 

[King Coconut]

16 hours ago, Callum1993 said:

Frankly a war crime. 

Is that kwesh??

[air_raid]

17 hours ago, Callum1993 said:

Frankly a war crime.

I can’t believe the chips visible look like chippy chips rather than kebab shop fries. Though if you have to order the round cheesy thing because you aren’t getting enough stodge from your sausage, kebab and chips, it’s time to question your life choices. Namely, stop ordering the child’s portion of chips.