Fish City in Belfast city centre has always been one of those spots I always told myself I must try every time I walk passed on a sunny day when people are dining out in their terrace space.
So when I saw that it has recently won 'Best Fish and Chip Restaurant' in the UK at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2023, I knew I had to bite the bullet.
Wanting to treat ourselves to a nice working lunch on a day in the office, myself and a colleague headed down on a Wednesday afternoon to rate Fish City for ourselves.
Read more: 'Instagrammable' cafe No. 8 Court Street is a sweet treat haven in Ards
Fish City is not your usual chippy you'll find yourself stumbling into after a night on the pints, it is a gorgeous restaurant that prides itself on elevating the usual expectations of fish and chips to give a proper dining experience.
First and foremost, the staff could not have been nicer or more accommodating - we were served by Shea and Emmanuel who ensured we were well catered for the entire time of our visit. Fish City is in a prime location in the city centre and has a beautifully decorated, clean aesthetic which is complimented by the terrace space (it was still too cold outside for us to sit there just yet.)
The lunch menu was varied and had a taste of something for everyone. Even if you absolutely hated fish there was plenty to choose from, which made trying to decide what we wanted even more difficult.
Despite the salt and garlic prawn tacos calling my name, I decided to see what the order the award-winning fish and chips which came with freshly battered cod, mushy peas and house tartare sauce (which I skipped out on as I knew it would go to waste).
Orlaith ordered the chicken goujons and home-cut chips and swapped out her chilli dip for their Chinese curry that came highly recommended by others in the office. We both got a Coke Zero to drink - as much as we would have loved to be sipping on one of their temping cocktails.
The service was fantastic, we were waiting no time before our food arrived piping hot and ready to be devoured.
I am not normally the kind of person to order fish and a chippy would not be in my top three takeaways if I wanted to treat myself but this meal at Fish City has me converted. The cod was delicious - the batter was light and crispy and didn't overpower the fish which is usually the reason I wouldn't get it from a chippy.
You could tell the fish was proper quality and the flakey sea salt sprinkled over the top just complimented the entire thing. Chips were exactly what you would want from a chippy and it was just the perfect portion size to leave us satisfied but not giving us that sluggish feeling you often get with a takeaway.
Orlaith rated her goujons 10/10 saying they were "fresh and crispy" and were far removed from the greasiness you expect when ordering a fish and chip.
It was safe to say that both plates were sitting empty by the time we got up to pay - despite a nosey at the dessert menu and the sticky toffee pudding sounding amazing, it would have been just too much for us to handle at lunch.
For our meal and a soft drink, it came to just over £20 per person which is definitely more money than I would usually spend on my lunch but for a spontaneous treat out, I was happy to pay. The food was hard to beat and I could 100% see myself coming back to try some of the other menu options one evening and enjoying a cocktail alongside.
Is it pricier than getting a fish supper from a takeaway - yes.
Is it worth the quality, experience and service you get while sitting in - absolutely!
READ NEXT:
Review: We tried the brunch spot that everyone in Belfast is talking about
Review: Newcomer Orto Pizzabar is up there with the best in Belfast
Review: The Cheeky Cherub is worth a trip to Glengormley for their cake alone
Review: Hidden gem really lives up to its name with delicious food and drink
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter here
