Famished faithful feast on Fish & Chips for Lent
Camelot Fish & Chips serves up its famous seafood meal.
March 25, 2022
Camelot
Review and photo by Nathan Loeffler Malatesta ’23
Camelot Fish & Chips, a beachside restaurant on 70 W. Manor Drive in Pacifica, has been in business for more than 50 years, established in 1969.
This traditional English- style restaurant features its signature Fish & Chips but also other seafood items like shrimp, scallops, clams, and oysters, along with various beverages.
I chose to get their most famous dish, the Fish & Chips. The fish was excellent as the skin was perfectly crispy, and the fish was delectable and juicy, which paired delightfully with acidic vinegar that I put on top. On the other hand, their fries were horrible; they were extremely floppy and had no salt. It was practically like eating a raw potato, which partly ruined the experience.
Excluding the experience with the food, Camelot’s interior is outstanding. As the restaurant is advertised, it is a very typical English pub. The ebony furniture and the warm lighting made it a great experience.
There were also multiple paintings of the old Kings of England, and some of the architectural landmarks of the United Kingdom.
Additionally, the service was excellent; the servers were all friendly, considerate people.
Another significant aspect of this restaurant is that the food only took 15 minutes from my order to the table, which was surprising, as they were quite busy that day.
One topic I have to point out about their restaurant is their schedule. Their schedule has them closed nearly half the week, Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday. This was quite frustrating as it put a significant inconvenience on my schedule.
Overall, Camelot Fish & Chips has its ups and downs. The upside: the fish and environment of the restaurant. The downside: the fries and the inconvenience of going there.
All this being said, my final verdict of this restaurant is 3 out of 5 stars. Camelot’s Fish & Chips cost $16.50.
The Codmother
Review and photo by Grayson Salomon ’22
Located towards the end of Fisherman’s Wharf on Beach Street, is a secluded food truck called The Codmother Fish & Chips. They serve, well you guessed it, fish and chips and a couple of other seafood dishes,
and an assortment of loaded fries. They provide some benches and tables to enjoy your food onsite, or order online for pickup to take your meal somewhere else.
I ordered their signature dish, the fish and chips, which includes two large pieces of fried fish on a bed of fries paired with tartar sauce, malt vinegar, and ketchup. I also asked for a side of cocktail sauce. When picking up, I received a large brown paper bag, filled with my order in a takeout box, with blue and white checkeredpaperpeekingoutfrom the box.
All this for $15.99. When opening my meal, the first thing I noticed was the fact that they were definitely not lying when they said “two large pieces of fried fish.” These things were huge, and had to be about 7-8 inches in length. Underneath, was the bed of fries, which looked very promising.
Without any further hesitation, I dug right into the fish. This fried fish had the crispiest batter I’ve had in any of my fried food endeavors. The crispy batter, paired with the soft flaky fish beneath it, really exceeded myexpectations! However, the fish did not have much flavor, so I
dunked the fish into both the tartar and cocktail sauce and let me tell you . . . phenomenal. I’m not a fan of tartar sauce but, this one made me a fan! It was creamy and added the little kick of flavor the fish was lacking.
Next, were the fries, which I honestly couldn’t see them messing up after the great fish. And they didn’t. The fries were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. A bit on the saltier side, but who doesn’t mind an increase in their sodium intake for the day for some fries? They were thicker than the usual shoestring fry, however not thick enough to be deemed steak fries. These, not lying, were probably one of the best fries I’ve had in a while.
All in all, The Codmother Fish & Chips has to have one of the best fish and chips plates in the city and is definitely a meal you can’t refuse. Out of 5 stars, I’d give them a 5 and I’ll definitely be returning for several Fridays during Lent.
The Swingin’ Door
Review and photo by Noah David ’22
Located in San Mateo is an intimate pub called The Swingin’ Door, known for its menu versatility and great atmosphere, as it offers bold, hardy eats and seating suitable for all demographics.
Arriving around an hour after opening on a quaint Saturday afternoon, I entered a calm environment with a vintage aesthetic atmosphere, featuring walls covered with sports logos or road signs. After taking in the ambiance, I ordered their award- winning 2-piece Fish & Chips priced at $14.99. I then took a seat in their back patio and patiently waited for the dish to be reeled in.
I received my piping-hot, beer-battered cod fillets and thick steak fries with tartar and cocktail sauce in a fair amount of time. Having no true understanding of fish and chips, I dove in right away, eager to see what I’ve been missing.
I was very pleased with my overall experience. The generous amount of steak fries were ordinary, however, the sweetness and tiny spice that came with the cocktail sauce truly tied it all together.
For the fish, its golden crispiness and faint taste of beer was a great complement to the rich cod that was flavorful and melted in my mouth as if it were ice. The tartar sauce also enhanced the fish, with its creaminess and slight tang.
Despite the great taste, the fish was a little greasy, which left me feeling sluggish and a little tired after the meal. Furthermore, this small issue left me feeling that the food was slowly and slowly getting repetitive with every bite. Nonetheless, it’s not a total deal breaker, as a simple patdown with a paper towel should fix the issue with no problem.
All in all, being that this is the first time I’ve had fish and chips, I am very pleased with my overall experience. Looking past the greasiness, the subtle crispiness paired with the flavorful cod is a wonderful combination, I would undoubtedly eat once again. The Swingin’ Door’s Fish & Chips deserves all the praise it gets.
Altogether, The Swingin’ Door gets 4.4/5 stars.
