A quest to find the perfect fish and chips - The Codfather

The Codfather, Sciennes
Price: £6 (Supper)

Prior to a Ryan's birthday night out we decided to visit a fish and chip shop. With the bold statement on the window that this served "Criminally good fish and chips", with the high rating on Google I was expecting great things. Unfortunately, it was not to be.




The inside of the shop is rather tired looking and could certainly do with a revamp.  Smoke kept billowing through from the Curry Kings next door. The staff were courteous but not overly banterful so this was a practical and to the point service. It took 5 minutes to prepare our meal so it was fairly fresh. There was some seating provided but it did not look a comfortable experience. We elected instead to sit and enjoy our meal in the Meadows.

My meal was beautifully stored in the rather nostalgic box.  I am not sure what vinegar they used on the food, but it was different and far nicer than any other vinegar I have tried. The real let down was the chips. They were mediocre and certainly nothing to write home about.  Bland, even with the nicest vinegar I have ever had. The fish was nice but again nothing worth mentioning.

If I could have used the vinegar from this on l'Alba Doros for a little drop of perfection!

On average:
5/10

A quest to find the perfect fish and chips - Eatalia's

Eatalia's, Leith Walk
Price: £7 (Supper)
Well what a vile night to be out and about.  This was the top rated fish and chips by the Evening News and it is easy to see why.  The whole experience was a joy.  Friendly staff, who had a bit of banter and seemed genuinely proud to work there.  A beautifully presented shop with a TV and seats for you to sit in and eat.  They had 3 awards on their wall, although one was a bit cracked.

This was the best presented meal I have had so far.  I had to take a photo of it before I had even tucked in.  The fish was the best fish I had ever had.  I swear there was a man out the back with a fishing rod!  My chips were a delight, some crispy and the rest were done to perfection.

Along with the crispy chips, can of Irn Bru this was a meal not to be forgotten in a hurry.  The staff were so proud of the North Sea fish, which they told me are delivered each day from the fishery in the north, they let me take a photograph.


The only downside was the price.  At £7, it was one of the most expensive chip shop so far but you definitely cannot beat the quality and it is well worth it!  My friends and I agreed that there would have to be a triple lock where all 3 of us gave a place 10/10.

            On average
            9.5/10

In Search of the Perfect Fish and Chips - Eatalia's

EATALIA'S, LEITH WALK

There's an unwritten rule that you should never eat fish and chips on a Monday. Well that theory was well and truly blown out the water tonight with this exceptional meal. A fish so fresh, I genuinely thought it had been caught an hour previously, and chips cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside, soft inside. The staff at Eatalia's were the best I've met so far, extremely friendly and helpful from the moment we walked into the shop. And such a nice shop it is, well furnished and steeped in Italian colours, a television to watch while you wait for your food and a bar at the back to sit inside. Downsides? Feel like I'm being really picky but at 7 pound it was the most expensive fish supper I've had so far on the journey and not quite as good as Port Seton or Dunkeld. But, its still by far the best I've had in Edinburgh and cannot recommend it enough.

9/10

Ryan's Pub Reviews - No.1. High Street

NO.1 HIGH STREET, ROYAL MILE
Pint of Lager - £3.85
After finding the nearby Waverley bar closed, we desperately needed to take shelter from the torrential Monday night rain and decided upon this pub on the corner. It was very busy, with not a seat to be had, including the large area through the back.

We soon realised a quiz night was starting in 20 minutes so this was the reason. In terms of the pub itself, it has a very large selection of ales and wines and is well furnished, its upcoming events and promotions marketed on a large board high on the wall. A television is also present on the opposite side, although completely out of view from one side. Not a particular good place for groups, as the tables were mainly small and seemed to be only adequate for two or three people.

I was disappointed with the staff, they seemed a bit too task orientated and unapproachable and the young barman was particularly glum. And the expensive Tennents wasn't particularly great either. Maybe it was just the wrong time to go in but I can't rate this place any higher than decent.

6/10

Ryan's Pub Reviews - The Worlds End

THE WORLDS END, HIGH STREET, OLD TOWN
Pint of Lager - £3.90

Most of us have heard of the infamous 'Worlds End Murders' that took place in the late 1970's and resulted in the tragic death of two young women. That has no absolutely no bearing on my review whatsoever, although you'd think the owners may have considered changing the name of the pub some time ago.

The place is split into two, with a restaurant area occupying the bottom. The top half is small but warm and cosy, resembling something of an old-fashioned living room, comfortable seating and two televisions, with a fruit machine in the corner. Above the bar is finely decorated with foreign notes from time gone by, easy to imagine in such a tourist dominated place ( I think we were the only Scots inside).

The stone walls are impressive and blend in well with the more modern architecture. I genuinely felt very relaxed and was in no rush to leave. Nearly 4 pounds for a pint is expensive though and the Worlds End t-shirts on sale gives it a bit of a 'cash cow' feel.

Saying that though, it is still very impressive and the 'award winning fish and chips' sign in the restaurant area means I'll be coming back for food one day soon.

8/10