For a memorable fish and chips experience check out…. For Cod’s Hake

BY PALOMA LACY

Good fish and chips are a thing of beauty, but sadly our national dish so often falls short of the mark.

Examples in London continually disappoint, with the best usually to be found in seaside locations.

There are two options close to where I live in South London, one isn’t brilliant and the other wasn’t half bad but the quality of the fish hitting the fryer of late seems to have dipped.

With this in mind, I’ve been on the hunt for a local replacement and thought the perfect place to house it would be Boxpark Croydon.

Just about every other cuisine is represented there, but no fish and chips until late December, when For Cod’s Hake made it its London second home.

In terms of memorable fish and chips experiences, Australia has it nailed, with a favourite experience in Perth, Western Australia some years ago, so I was pleased to learn of the Antipodean influence at For Cod’s Hake.

Paul and his team have combined the traditional British offering with Aussie menu items and a sprinkle of east Asian flavour.

Traditionalists will be happy to see cod and chips taking centre stage.

Should £12.50 appear a little steep, coley and chips will set you back less than a tenner.

For me, it’s cod every time, because nothing quite compares.

To some, it might seem that £12.50 on cod and chips may be more than one would wish to spend on lunch, but I disagree.

It’s all about quality, quantity and sustainability, which is important when it comes to fish.

Sustainable fish, sourced as locally as possible, doesn’t come cheaply, added to which food has become more expensive in the past few years.

I shared a rather sizeable portion with my daughter, and it was more than enough for lunch.

Consumption of a whole portion, while possible, wasn’t necessary – cutting the per-head spend.

For Cod’s Hake has taken the usual Boxpark street food offering up a few notches, with more of a restaurant feel about the dish.

Shimmering golden batter enveloping flaky white fish was crispy, light and not greasy in the slightest.

That staple of the British chip shop, battered sausage, is available, in whole or nugget form, but for me there were so many more interesting options.

The fish boxes, which are common place in Australia, including crab croquettes, king prawn, monkfish scampi and Korean Fried Calamari – all hovering around the £5 to £7 mark. With chips at £3.50, a meal for £10 is perfectly possible.

A first for Boxpark and probably Central Croydon, Lobster Roll and Crab Roll take the diner on a trip across the Pond.

As does the chip menu – yes, you read that correctly. Here, it’s chips five ways, including the popular Canadian dish poutine – chips smothered in gravy.

The ever-popular chips with katsu curry sauce – incidentally, a personal favourite of mine – also makes an appearance.

A new one on me, chips with raclette cheese.

The British and Aussie love affair with pies is cemented by range that will both please and surprise.

They include fish pie, beef and cheese, chicken and ham and cauliflower balti pie.

The restaurant’s arrival has been well and truly celebrated and much appreciated, with a growing number of repeat customers.

When diners were asked what was missing from the Boxpark food line-up, the answer was clear – fish and chips. The prayers of many have been answered.

For Cod’s Hake, Unit 17, Boxpark, 99 George St, Croydon CR0 1LD.

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Camberwell has welcomed Irene, a new local bakery that’s the envy of so many South London suburbs crying out for an independent baker.

Specialising in sourdough, sandwiches and pasties, alongside delicious wine, and Friday and Saturday nights sees a shift of gear when it turns into a wine bar.

Wine is available by the glass and bottle, accompanied by charcuterie platters.

Irene Bakery, 33a Denmark Hill, London SE5 8RS.