I have found over the years that when it comes to a fish and chips takeaway it can either be hit or miss. There’s not really an in between – and a lot of times it comes down to personal taste.
When I lived in Bournemouth for a couple of years in my 20s there was quite a posh fish and chips takeaway round the corner from my flat which I was initially very excited about – coastal town fish and chips, what could possibly go wrong? Everything, it turns out.
A chippy tea is not made to be posh or fancy – it just needs to do the basics and do them well. A strategy that Marios Fish Bar in Kingswood has clearly taken to heart.
The takeaway in Pool Road was recently named as Bristol’s best chippy in a Bristol Live readers poll – and with it being one of my locals I had to see if it lived up to the hype. And thankfully it did.
Of course it’s hard for me to say it’s the best in the city (as I haven’t been to them all) but it’s one of the most impressive chippy teas I’ve ever had. Firstly it’s just a treat to get fish and chips I find – especially on a wet Wednesday night when I thought I would have to find something in the fridge to cook.
In fact I would argue a mid-week takeaway may even be better than on the weekend. Firstly it took about five minutes from paying for our order to it being placed in my hand. No awkward milling around in front of the counter telling people I wasn’t in the queue.
It was also not that pricey – especially when it came to size of the fish and amount of chips. Me and my husband always order the same – large fish for him, fish cake for me – chips to share, a pot of curry sauce and a pot of mushy peas.
Now I know that in recent years the cost of fish and chips has risen quite a bit – in some places I’ve paid more than £20 for that order. At Marios it cost me £16.60 – with the large cod coming in as the most expensive menu item at £8.80.
There are definitely cheaper options that would make your meal less expensive – but it was worth the money once you saw the size of the fish – which was larger than the dinner plate he tried to eat it off.
But of course size isn’t everything, and while impressive to look at it’s really all about the taste – which in this case was delicious. The batter was cooked perfectly and had a good crispy texture to it and the fish was mouth-wateringly flaky in the middle.
My pet peeve when it comes to battered fish is that when not done well it can sometimes be a bit wet between the batter and the fish – but Marios managed to avoid this issue completely.
The chips (medium size £3) were what I would call proper fish and chip shop chips – thick, soft with crispy edges and absolutely delicious. I love lots of vinegar on my chips – but if you don’t make that clear when ordering as you could definitely taste the vinegar. Also the medium was more than enough for the two of us and there were some left over.
My fish cake (£1.80) was cooked well – and was the perfect size for someone who can’t even manage the small cod – let alone the large one.
All the sides – like mushy peas and curry sauce come in two sizes – we got small sizes which were £1.50 each and were more than enough for the two of us sharing.
We picked our regular order on this occasion, but what’s great about Marios is that it clearly does the basics well. It also deserves praise for its vast menu offering which also includes gluten free and veggie. There’s burgers, battered sausages, faggots, rotisserie chickens, jacket potatoes and a good kids meal option. I’m sure there is something for everyone.