Best Fish n' Chips in Columbus « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Q&A

Best Fish n' Chips in Columbus

[49 posts] [32 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:

Started 4 years ago by BCOZ
Latest reply from Pixel Doll

Tags:

12 3 Next »

BCOZ

Login to Send PM

There are so many places that claim Fish n' Chips to be their signature items: a coupla british-isle themed chains, a coupla local chains, etc.
What I've found mostly (and in the above-mentioned joints) is underseasoned, watery (obviously frozen) flesh, chewy textures and a variety of breadings/batters that may or may not help the piss-poor fish below.
Due to a conflict o' interest I'll keep my opinion to myself on specific places/products...but as the weather turns cold, I LOVE me some good fried feesh and wonder where y'all are getting your fave fix.
Points scored for the fish, the fries and any other standard side.

Posted 4 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
Login to Send PM

Well, I hate fish n chips...but...isn't there a certain local restaurant who sets up at the various festivals that is like SUPER known for amazing fish and chips???

Posted 4 years ago #
davescarpetti
C'ville
Login to Send PM

Old Bag of Nails is my favorite so far. Don't know how authentic it is, but it sure is good.

Posted 4 years ago #
Manatee
The eternal present
Login to Send PM

Absolutely, hands-down Cuco's. That fish and chips is so good it freaks my mind. And the chips are just okay. The fish is that good.

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
Login to Send PM

Blackcreek Bistro
Tempora Cod and chips

Posted 4 years ago #
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
Login to Send PM

I like Old Bag of Nails although the chips are just "meh" in my opinion. I order it every once in a while at Brazenhead too...mainly because I like that garlic sauce they have for dippin' the chips.
Nice tip on the cuco's fish. I'll have to try that. I love that place. I had a ridiculously good fish burrito there.

Posted 4 years ago #
chaptal
West Side
Login to Send PM

I like the fish and chips from the Old Bag of Nails. I still like location number one in Worthington the best. Huge portion with a flaky breading.
For budget I like Marino's on West Fifth. Decent portion size, crisp breading.
I'm going to Glasgow next month so all bets are off when I return.

Posted 4 years ago #
The Hegemo
Delusions of Grandview
Login to Send PM

I always heard good things about that place on Fifth (Marino's?) but I wasn't that impressed. I think I was spoiled by Mike Mundell's. That was some awesome take-out fish n' chips.

Posted 4 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
Login to Send PM

being a brit and spending all of my summers growing up in northern England I would say that Old Bag of Nails has the most authentic tasting Fish when looking for English style. The chips are not even close (find me a place that fries the chips in lard and not veg oil and you'll get real english chips) but the fish makes up for it. Just remember to load it up with ketchup and vinegar (on both fish&chips).
seriously though, can someone makes some chips in lard and not veg oil? They taste 100% better.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

The Hegemo wrote I always heard good things about that place on Fifth (Marino's?) but I wasn't that impressed.
Anne & I got takeout from there a few weeks ago for the first time ever. I thought it wasn't too bad for being cheap. We saw tablecards in there advertising a happy hour buffet and joked that we need to do a CU happy hour there. :D

Posted 4 years ago #
davescarpetti
C'ville
Login to Send PM

I got smelts from Marino's once. Were quite good.

Posted 4 years ago #
dKilla
Dublin
Login to Send PM

When I lived on that side of town I used to order the fish and chips from The Rusty Bucket in New Albany quite a bit. Not the best I've had in my life but they were pretty good.

Posted 4 years ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
Login to Send PM

Oh, yeah, I love this thread! Fish and chips are amazing. The best fish and chips I ever had were in a small town called Berkeley in the west of England. It was the stereotypical pound of fried fish, plus a pound of chips, all absolutely coated with salt and grease, and wrapped in a thick sheet of paper. Mmm... tasty!
For the best fish and chips in Columbus... I've gotta go with the Elevator. Nice, thick corn batter, great fries. And it pairs nicely with beer.
Although I have been eyeing Marino's for a couple years now. Do they earn the Best Fish and Chips in Columbus award?

Posted 4 years ago #
chaptal
West Side
Login to Send PM

ndekke39 wrote
Although I have been eyeing Marino's for a couple years now. Do they earn the Best Fish and Chips in Columbus award?
No, but they're better than Long John Silver's by a country mile.

Posted 4 years ago #
Paul
Vancouver, BC
Login to Send PM

Cladaugh, Old Bag of Nails, and Wendell's pub are the best I've had in Columbus.
Btw, I'd totally go to a Marino's CU Happy Hour.

Posted 4 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
Login to Send PM

I'm with Paul on Cladaugh and Ol' Bag. Delicious. It's happened a number of times that we've been walking to Kroger to buy groceries for dinner, but are lured in by the smells of deep fried fish that Cladaugh pumps onto the streets. It's almost not fair.
I've had O'Shaughnessy's too, but thought the fish was a little watery or something.

Posted 4 years ago #
columbus native
Columbus the indie art capital of the world
Login to Send PM

Queens Table the guys with the catfish boat sandwiches at ComFest are the top of the line. I think they have a shop on Hudson east of 71 north. I live for the fish sandwiches they make.

Posted 4 years ago #
shroud
Polaris
Login to Send PM

For me, it's a tie between Old Bag O' Nails and Wendell's (pub OR alumni grill - pretty much the same both places).
The chips aren't particularly impressive at either place IMO, but I don't know that I've had "chips" anywhere that I've really dug. Maybe I'm just too used to standard fries, or maybe nowhere in town does decent chips. Fried in lard definitely sounds like it would be tastier... and I'm sure far worse for you.
I'll also give some support to Marino's. It's definitely more fast food, but they make some good food. The only thing I would NOT recommend there is the chicken - as far as I can tell it's a frozen breaded chicken patty RE-BREADED (double-breaded?) in the same batter they use for fish and fried again. Just stick to the fish.

Posted 4 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
Login to Send PM

shroud wrote Fried in lard definitely sounds like it would be tastier... and I'm sure far worse for you.
oh it is so much more tastier, and yes really not good for you! but you only live once.

Posted 4 years ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
Login to Send PM

Just ate at Marinos for the first time. I liked it alot! I have known about this place since I was a kid and I think I even went to grade school with one of the owners children....

Anyway

Got the "Smelt Platter" which comes with chips and cole slaw. The slaw was pretty standard, but the chips were very nice and unlike I've seen before. The old ALIVE! article on the wall called them "ribbed steak fries" but they looked more like Doric columns, fluting and all!
The Fried smelts were plentiful and had a delicate breading and a lot of fish. Nice to see them around only a few Greek places tend to carry smelts. The platter was $7.00 and one of, if not the most expensive item on the menu.

I also got a simple "Fish Sandwich" that is on a plain white bun, tartar sauce and a chunk of flaky fried fish. I ate it at home and it was still flaky and had that wonderful fried texture. Nice snack. $2.80

The prices were very cheap, like White Castle cheap. The menu board itself looked like it hadn't been altered since the Carter administration! The interior was cool with nautical knick-knackitry, and very old school.

Check it out! They actually have a pretty decent website too: http://www.marinosseafood.net/

Posted 1 year ago #