Problem
"What should I eat in London?" my Singaporean friends ask me. "Should I try fish and chips?"
Answer
"Yes, definitely."
Where?
Sea Pebbles
My local, Sea Pebbles, is miles out of town at Hatch End. But they don't seem as good as they used to be, although the same owners are there.
Streatham
Another good one is in Streatham, near the station.
But many must be equally good. Try two or three, and ask local people who live or work in the area. Look for the local free newspaper, at the train or bus station, at the entrance to a supermarket or newsagent or estate agent (in the USA called property agent).
Chips
What will you get in a British fish and chip shop? The first thing is proper chips, large size chips. They should be soft in the middle and crisp on the outside, with a high proportion of potato.
Fish
The fish you are likely to be offered:
Cod (large flakes)
Plaice (thinner, more flavour)
Other fish, such as haddock.
Fish cakes (made from bits of white fish and potato) usually very filling and very good and cheaper, too.
Packets of crisps in supermarkets have little or no potato and lots of oil, not ideal if you are on a diet.
Fish and Chips
You can also get fish and chips in many restaurants including the pub chain Wetherspoons. Wetherspoons have offers on drinks and food according to the time of year, day of the week, time of the day. Look for fish and chips.
Scotch Egg
Scotch egg (egg in a meat ball), is a quick and cheap snack, usually cold, so it's quickly served, no waiting.
Roast Beef
Roast beef and roast potatoes, especially on Sundays, often only on Sundays, or chicken and chips on Sundays, especially Sunday lunch - places run out by the evening.
Carveries
In addition to the chain pubs, look for the carveries which offer great value. Get on their mailing list for regular mailings of offers. They tend to be full of screaming children at busy times and school holidays. This is jollier. However, if you want a quieter time, and no queue and no wait for food and drinks, pick your day or hour accordingly.
B & K
Finally, fish balls. Read my posts on B & K which now has branches in central London. Fried fish balls or the moister fish balls. Chips or latkes. (Latkes and shredded, fried potato, like the Swiss rosti and the American has browns.) It is Jewish style food but it's not kosher and not run by Jews but absolutely the best filling, food. My local branches are Edgware and Hatch End. Nothing grand, just great food.
If you want big tables, alcoves, higher prices, consider the upmarket grill chains.
Useful Websites
visitbritain.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetherspoons
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com
Author
Angela Lansbury
"What should I eat in London?" my Singaporean friends ask me. "Should I try fish and chips?"
Answer
"Yes, definitely."
Where?
Sea Pebbles
My local, Sea Pebbles, is miles out of town at Hatch End. But they don't seem as good as they used to be, although the same owners are there.
Streatham
Another good one is in Streatham, near the station.
But many must be equally good. Try two or three, and ask local people who live or work in the area. Look for the local free newspaper, at the train or bus station, at the entrance to a supermarket or newsagent or estate agent (in the USA called property agent).
Chips
What will you get in a British fish and chip shop? The first thing is proper chips, large size chips. They should be soft in the middle and crisp on the outside, with a high proportion of potato.
Fish
The fish you are likely to be offered:
Cod (large flakes)
Plaice (thinner, more flavour)
Other fish, such as haddock.
Fish cakes (made from bits of white fish and potato) usually very filling and very good and cheaper, too.
Packets of crisps in supermarkets have little or no potato and lots of oil, not ideal if you are on a diet.
Fish and Chips
You can also get fish and chips in many restaurants including the pub chain Wetherspoons. Wetherspoons have offers on drinks and food according to the time of year, day of the week, time of the day. Look for fish and chips.
Outdoor seating and baloons and bunting to celebrate St Patrick's Day in March 2018 at the Moon And Sixpense pub, one of the Wetherspoons pubs in London. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Flowers abound and festivals are celebrated at Wetherspoons pubs. Smoke-free indoors by law. Smokers can sit at the front, or in the back garden of the Moon & Sixpence pub in Hatch End, north west London near Hatch End station. Other pubs are all over the country. The suburban and rural ones are more likely to have gardens. City centre ones in London include one near Madame Tussauds in Baker Street near Baker Street station.
Scotch Egg
Scotch egg (egg in a meat ball), is a quick and cheap snack, usually cold, so it's quickly served, no waiting.
Roast Beef
Roast beef and roast potatoes, especially on Sundays, often only on Sundays, or chicken and chips on Sundays, especially Sunday lunch - places run out by the evening.
Carveries
In addition to the chain pubs, look for the carveries which offer great value. Get on their mailing list for regular mailings of offers. They tend to be full of screaming children at busy times and school holidays. This is jollier. However, if you want a quieter time, and no queue and no wait for food and drinks, pick your day or hour accordingly.
B & K
Finally, fish balls. Read my posts on B & K which now has branches in central London. Fried fish balls or the moister fish balls. Chips or latkes. (Latkes and shredded, fried potato, like the Swiss rosti and the American has browns.) It is Jewish style food but it's not kosher and not run by Jews but absolutely the best filling, food. My local branches are Edgware and Hatch End. Nothing grand, just great food.
If you want big tables, alcoves, higher prices, consider the upmarket grill chains.
Useful Websites
visitbritain.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetherspoons
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com
Author
Angela Lansbury
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