Charlotte Smith-Jarvis has some of the best fish and chips in Suffolk at Fish Dish in Felixstowe

East Anglian Daily Times: Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. The crispy, savoury batter on the fish was excellent and the chips not greasy at all.Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. The crispy, savoury batter on the fish was excellent and the chips not greasy at all. (Image: Archant)

Food

I can never quite manage hot food when the weather’s sticky, but somehow fish and chips don’t count do they? So on a visit to the beach in Felixstowe recently, this spot was our first port of call.

The menu is probably one of the most extensive I’ve seen in a fish and chip eatery. Lots and lots of different options, from homemade fish pie and lasagne, to chargrilled and poached fish – great if you’re on a diet.

The chips and battered fish are cooked in pure beef dripping which won’t please vegetarians, but seriously this is the only way to get the potatoes and batter properly crispy.

East Anglian Daily Times: Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. Our reviewer said the locally sourced chargrilled lamb was very tasty - especially when dipped in the minty sauce.Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. Our reviewer said the locally sourced chargrilled lamb was very tasty - especially when dipped in the minty sauce. (Image: Archant)

I like the fact the fish is fresh that day and by the sounds of it, very sustainable. And we were told all the meat’s from a local butcher, and the potatoes the restaurant and takeaway uses are some of the best you can get. So they seemed pretty committed to quality which was impressive.

We skipped starters and dove straight into main courses.

The regular cod and chips was an average size and came with free bread and butter (a nice touch for a glutton like me) and homemade tartare sauce. The cod was a juicy cut that flaked apart under my fork nicely, with that almost meaty flavour. And I highly commend the batter. Savoury, full of flavour, and not coated in grease (thanks to the dripping). Plus the chips were exceptional. Again, not a spot of grease, fluffy in the centre and golden and crisp outside. I admit, I had to get a pot of curry sauce to go with them – my guilty pleasure.

Also tried was the homemade steak and ale pie, made with pure topside of beef. The meat collapsed into buttery mouthfuls and was coated in a thick, rich gravy. Served with peas and more of those delicious chips and a pot of gravy it knocked the socks off your usual tin foil chip shop pie.

East Anglian Daily Times: Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. Local topside of beef was slow cooked inside this steak and ale pie.Review: Fish Dish Felixstowe. Local topside of beef was slow cooked inside this steak and ale pie. (Image: Archant)

From the chargrill we sampled lamb, which really hit the spot and was served with a minty dip, chips and a carefully-prepared salad topped with pomegranate seeds and a sweet dressing.

I couldn’t fault a single mouthful.

Ambiance

This place is pretty huge. Downstairs is a takeaway area to the right and I guess some kind of overflow space on the left. The décor is like a smart diner, with nods to the sea, and the frontage looks right out over the pier, which is currently undergoing regeneration. The place was absolutely packed with families and had a nice feel about it.

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Drinks

Fish Dish is licensed but we stuck to soft drinks. I liked the fact they served those Ben Shaw classics, including shandy!

Service

Staff couldn’t have done more. There were a couple of courtesy checks during our meal to make sure everything was alright, but they weren’t obtrusive.

Loos

A decent size and clean - with snazzy hand dryers. But one of the loos seats was hanging off in the ladies’, and I think it could probably do with a little touch up here and there.

Location

Right on the seafront. Couldn’t be bettered.

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Price

Some will gawp at having to pay £10 for fish and chips but for the quality and taste I think it was more than worth it.

Summary

Friendly staff, tasty food, and loads of choice make this place a no-brainer if you want a decent family dinner.

Highlight

For me, it’s that savoury batter on the fish. Too many times I’ve landed myself soggy fish and chips, but this was outstanding both in flavour and texture. Not sure it did my diet any favours but…

Read more about fish dish here.

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