Let me start by saying I like fish and chips. I have fond memories of going to a true “chipper” in Toronto and getting an order of fish and chips wrapped in newspaper to take into the Saturday matinee. You got a choice of fish and the movie house actually let you bring in food back then.
That particular “chipper” is long gone; the whole north east corner of Carlton and Yonge long ago lost its small buildings and shops. But I remember that “chipper” with fondness so, I’m always on the lookout for a new fish and chip place here in Kitchener Waterloo.
I ate at Golden Fish and Chip (94 Bridgeport Road East Waterloo, ON N2J 2J9 (519) 888-6660) last Friday. It was a little disappointing. The décor was pleasant, more upscale than your usual fish and chip place. There was a large selection of fish just like at my childhood “chipper” but they were rather expensive - the cheapest was Pollock at $7.50 (two fillets, fries and coleslaw) and you were not given a choice of sides. The sides on the menu included that British favourite mushy peas.
My order was nothing to write home about; most pubs do fish and chips better and the fries were not anywhere as good as the family favourites for fries - Swiss Chalet and New York Fries. Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurants (370 Highland West Kitchener ON N2M 5J9) is much better, less expensive and you can choose your sides from a much more extensive list.
If you are looking for upscale and a good choice of seafood dinners then you could try Baker’s Cove Family Seafood Restaurant (355 Erb St W Waterloo, ON N2L 1W4) or near Golden and less expensive, Granny Bonn’s Fish N Chips (90 Weber St N Waterloo, ON N2J 3G8) Our favourite remains Joey’s or one of the brew pubs.
Baker’s Cove is just around the corner from my house. It is a hidden little gem of a place. It is our Good Friday supper base of operations (along with about every other Catholic in Waterloo).