Hello my fans! Six weeks of no fish and chips. I completely forgot about fish and chips. What was I eating? Equally cannot remember. Anyway, it is a good day for the reintroduction as today is “National fish and chips day”.
Actually, we went to Round Table just around the corner prior to this pint, hoping for a good cold pint + fish and chips. I ordered Beck Vier, one of the safe options. It was THE WORST pint I ever had, luke warm and completely flat. Obviously as I always would do, asked for a new pint after one sip. It was only slight improvement on temperature. We quietly left, I did not even want to think about food in there.
Here we are at The Bear and Staff, a few minutes walk from Round Table, same again, Becks Vier. Ah, disappointing again, taste very bitter, not like fresh crunch Becks Vier I know. Also it is served on traditional pint glass rather than fancy promotional tall pint glass. Quite frankly we are too tired to find an alternative pub again.
Soooo hungry, here, my first fish and chips in 6 weeks, PREMIUM LINE-CAUGHT COD FILLET 11.95 Sourced using sustainable fishing methods. Hand battered in our own Nicholson’s ale with skin on chips, tartare sauce and your choice of garden or classic mushy peas you can even go large for 2.50 (but I did’t).
1. Fish 5/10. In fact not as bad as some frozen fish and chips, not as watery and sustained some flavor of fish. I have had worse. Batter was a bit greasy, could do with a few more minutes of dripping on the paper before serving.
2. Chips 4/10. Funny texture, not exactly crunchy but not exactly sluggish. I am frustrated with myself that unable to find right words to describe. This is shame as a critic.
3. Mushy peas 2/10. Straight from the tin. I can smell it.
Overall 4/10. I must say sub-average. This is really shame as many tourists visit here because of the location. To be fair, the dining room is nicely decorated and staff were nice. However, if this was my first visit to the famous British pub, I would be very disappointed, then bitching about how bad British foods are.
In fact, I am actually surprised as often chain pubs (good example, wetherspoons) offer good standard, pricing and consistency of qualities.
Anyway, my first fish and chips in 6 weeks did not end in good note. But I won’t give up! Good night!
