The
Fish and Chips Place
I told by a coworker that if I visit Tobermory, I must-try The Fish and
Chips Place because they are really good. I visited this restaurant over the
Thanksgiving long weekend with pretty high expectations, since I am not a
seafood person and I do not particularly like any kind of smelly food, this was
a challenge for me, that I wanted to take.
The Fish and Chips Place is a
restaurant located in Tobermory, Ontario, a fun, bright and marine community
with art galleries, mouthwatering treats, nautical antiques, 1000-year-old
pines, pristine turquoise waters, astonishing landscapes, and restaurants with
a variety of local seafood. Definitely, a place to visit if you want to
escape from a busy city.
· About the food:
My husband and I tried the traditional
fish and chips, the fish taco and the calamari (please do not mention the
calamari to our Jewish Rabbi though).
If you lean towards a “healthy fish”,
this is the place to go. Fish was fried in a lighter than expected batter, so
we can actually taste it. The classic fish and chips were deliciously soft, but
not to the point that loses the texture; nice crispy battered crust but not
sturdy, and the flavor wasn’t typical, it was more like the kind that you
put together different ingredients in the simplest way.
The two pieces’ fish may not be enough
to share if you eat only that. My husband agreed, it really is meant for one
person, so we had to order two.
The taco was what they said they were
known for, but it was really more a burrito style, and for us was overall okay.
Why? It had too much cabbage and sauce that overpowered the fish, plus the fish
inside still had bones, which to our personal preference can even be dangerous
to digest.
We'd put them on the map for their
calamari, instead of the tacos, it was probably the best item on the menu and
you definitely have to try it. Good decent size rings just right on the
chewiness, good smelling, and pleasant breading on the outside.
The flavor was tangy and not too
chewy, hard or rubbery that breaks the structure, quite the opposite, the
calamari was perfectly crispy outside followed by the perfect and balance soft
inside. Good consistency and we liked the taste with the sauce. We are Jewish
and we are not supposed to eat calamari, so, if we are telling you, this is
worth to try, is the first thing you have to ask for.
Everything was served in little
baskets with a colorful presentation and tons of fries that were a little too
salty.
· Service:
We saw how the wait can be rather long
if you go in big groups, but if you are a pair like us, you can get in quite
quickly. Service is not the fastest like most small towns, but it's friendly
and the food was noticeably fresh.
They were pet-friendly and dogs were
allowed on the patio, and they even had dog water bowls, something to consider
if you are a pet lover, or cannot leave home without your little ones.
The staff was attentive
and ready to help, even though, we were there at a busy time (long weekend
around lunch hour).
The music, something that we always
pay attention to our restaurant visits, was completely irrelevant with the
place though.
· Verdict:
First of all, let’s say that its
location with outside tables overlooking the water, at a spectacular place like
Tobermory, it's just a four of five. The open style seating is relaxing and fun.
Second, we are from Colombia, and as a
Colombians, good portion size in a restaurant can be determinant to our
verdict. So, another good point.
Overall, the food was fresh, enjoyable
and hot (I personally hate cold food), all natural Georgian whitefish and
seafood from one of the cleanest lakes on our planet. We just wish they made
their own tartar sauce.
Hence, we had a good experience at The
Fish and Chips Place. What more do you want? It can get a bit crazy at times, but
such is the life of a port town, that can get slammed with tourist/ferry
passengers.
· Basic Info:
Prices: No more than CAN$ 50.00
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Website: http://www.thefishandchipplace.com
