If the British are known for one dish it has to be fish and chips. There's barely a week goes by when I'm not tempted to at least grab a bag of chips to avoid the hassle of cooking dinner.
Sometimes however one can be left disappointed but when I took a trip to Anglesey seaside town of Beaumaris, I decided to give one of the newer chippies.
The Dockshack with its unique décor is set up to look like the inside of an old fishmonger shed, along with a sign at the door offering freshly caught hake.
The restaurant is at the end of the high street in a rather striking red and blue painted building. Inside the walls are decorated with corrugated iron and ropes. The elegantly groomed staff seem more suited to an upmarket bistro than a chippie.
Immaculately turned out but very welcoming, they were setting up when I arrived and debating what songs to put on. This was the very definition of a hipsster chippie.
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After a slight debacle with the card machine, I was eventually able to get my order in. Sadly it wasn't for the aforementioned hake, which was not in fact available yet, contrary to the sign outside. Instead I opted for a classic cod and chips, with a can of dandelion and burdock to wash it down, setting me back £11.60.
Rather than having the chips whisked into my hand as I was quickly ushered out of the shop, I instead was left with time to kill, picking a table by the window to await my food, which arrived a few minutes later. The platter was served in one of the take out boxes, regardless of whether you choose to stay in or not.
What is your favourite fish and chips shop to visit? Let us know in the comments.
Fortunately, I didn't mind that, I wouldn't visit a fish and chips and expect table service and proper cutlery, it would feel wrong somehow. The boxes are also emblazoned with a fitting warning "watch out for the gulls", which is simultaneously amusing and probably the best advice I've ever had from a chippie.
My initial impression of the portion was that the cod was a little smaller than what I'd usually expect, however it balanced this out by being a really good, fresh piece of fish and one of the nicest bits of cod I've ever had actually. It was well battered, not too greasy and retained a good flavour throughout.
These positive impression, however, didn't carry right over to the chips, which were a bit more of mixed bag. The meal comes without salt and vinegar which allows me to dump as much as I like on.
For the top layer of chips this worked quite well, as they were nicely cooked, with just enough of crisp edge to them. But, as I got down to the lower, larger chips the problems began to show - they simply weren't cooked well enough.
I expect to find a rogue chip that is still a little solid inside, but when it becomes every other one it is a little off putting. I could put this down to being the first customer of the day, but it is something to consider.
In the end I didn't finish the full tray, so I guess the portion was of a decent size overall, though I didn't waste any of my fish and just plenty of my chips. This unusual chippie shows potential, if it can refine its chips a little more, it could do pretty well for itself.
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