Victoria Park Village’s favourite fish and chip shop is part takeaway, part restaurant, though there are eat-in tables in both sections. Most locals opt for carry-outs, but if you choose the restaurant – a minimalist space with a huge close-up photo of octopus tentacles covering one wall – you’ll get a more creative menu, where mains of grilled swordfish with a fragrant salsa, or pan-fried hake fillet with chorizo and butter beans, could precede a classic English pud (banana split, bread and butter pudding). But you can’t go wrong with fish from the white-tiled takeaway section; choose from cod, scampi, haddock, rock, plaice or skate, generously battered and deep-fried.
The freshness of the fish is taken seriously; we even received a mini lesson on the shapes and sizes of the different species from a server. The chips are good, and the mushy peas top-notch. Pickle fans will be pleased by the addition of onions, eggs and gherkins to the menu. Fish cakes and kids’ portions are available too, and little ’uns will also appreciate the ice-cream counter displaying Oddono’s Italian gelati.