Restaurant: Mic Mac Bar & Grill
Address: 217 Waverly Road, Dartmouth
Date: July 16, 2010
Fish: Haddock
Cost: $8.49

It was a hoppin’ spot; the parking lot was full of cars, and we felt that Minnie had probably picked a winner. It’s always a good sign when the place you’re going to eat at is not only full, but you see very happy people exiting and rubbing their bellies.

None of the F&C review crew had eaten here before… but expectations were high due to many of you, our dear readers.

Upon entering we realized this place was much larger than we thought. And not only large, but wall-to-wall tables, chairs and bodies. When we commented on the crowd, our server informed us this was actually an unusually slow night. So a fair warning to you who might consider dining at the Mic Mac for a quiet romantic evening – perhaps not the best idea.

However, we were here for romance. That is, our ongoing love affair with fish and chips.

With a score that flirts with getting a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, we think all our readers will enjoy Mic Mac Bar & Grill’s fish and chips. Actually, that’s not true… some people seemed only to be satisfied with their regular haunts… but that’s their problem.

Fish and Chips Score: 78

FCP Review Crew

Rachel’s Thoughts

Wow. The place was packed. I’ve never been there before, but it seemed extremely popular by the amount of people there. The portion was very generous and everything was very tasty, but I did think the fish was quite greasy.

Many people would enjoy this meal, and I did, but overall it didn’t quite make the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED grade for me.

Apparently steak is to die for here; maybe we’ll find out another time.

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Rachel’s Final Score: 76

Poochie’s Thoughts

First thought… greasy. First taste… wow! This had a great flavour. The fish was obviously fresh, and nicely seasoned. It had a thin beer batter, which you couldn’t really call crispy… but it was delicious.

The fries were home-cut, and cooked perfectly… but I found them a bit fresh. Slap a bit of salt on them and – BOOM! – they were awesome.

You can also ask for spicy fries – at no extra cost – but I would tend to call them sorta spicy fries, because whatever spice they’re adding to it was so subtle as to be negligible.

The whole meal was quite greasy, but if it’s any consolation, it was a clean grease! And according to the menu, trans-fat free.

The meal came with Kraft tartar sauce, and a homemade coleslaw, which was tasty, but very runny.

Wendy, our server, was genuinely excited to discover we were Mic Mac ‘virgins’. This spoke volumes about their confidence in the quality of our impending meal. For me, the question was, “Does Mic Mac Bar & Grill deserve a highly recommended rating?” (which means a score of 80 or above). And I feel it does – if barely. You won’t be blown away by this meal, but I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this place to anyone.

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Poochie’s Final Score: 80

Minnie’s Thoughts
Home cut fries were very good.

The fish was nice, white and very light tasting. The place was crazy busy and more than a bit loud… but personally I would rather have a loud busy place that serves great food as opposed to a quiet place which nobody goes to because the food sucks. The batter was quite greasy… but I liked it.

Very traditional fish and chips… greasy and good. I will be back.

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Minnie’s Final Score: 81

Skippy’s Thoughts

Friday night, the place was packed, and our server tells us it’s not exactly a busy night. A good sign, indeed.

First, the not-so-good: Waaaaayyy too much grease. And my fries were just slightly overcooked, which is unfortunate, because other than that they were home-cut, and tasty.

But great tasting fish and batter, and combined… even better. All this and a decent portion for a decent price (I recently did the math and at the time the average price for all the places we taste-tested was $10.16).

Also quite tasty here (but absolutely nothing to do with F&C) are their burgers. Yummy.

In summary, your arteries will take one look and say, “Don’t! Stop!” But after just one bite, your tongue will be saying, “Don’t stop!”

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Skippy’s Final Score: 76

Restaurant: Palladium
Address: 942 Cole Harbour Road, Dartmouth
Date: July 4, 2010
Fish: Haddock
Cost: $8.89

It was a bit of a strange night for us intrepid fish and chips reviewers. As you may already know, we take turns choosing where we’ll review next. It was Skippy’s turn to choose, but the first couple suggestions he made were nixed by Rachel.

Finally Skippy picked a restaurant which Rachel could agree with somewhere in the Dartmouth area. We drove over… went in… sat down… looked at the menu… saw that fish & chips were $17.99… and got up and left.

Unless we are going to some seriously swanky spot, there is NO WAY we’re paying 18 bucks for fish and chips! No way! We’re just average folks out there reviewing fish and chips so other average folks can enjoy a great deal on great fish and chips.

So… not that we’re going to say which restaurant it was *cough-cough* [The Vines] *cough-cough*, but your pricing for fish and chips is shocking! We’ve eaten there numerous times before and quite enjoyed everything else, so maybe we’ll come back to give the F&C a try… once we’re rich and famous.

So there we were, driving out of the parking lot trying to figure out a plan B (actually for Skippy it was like Plan D), which is why we ended up settling for Palladium.

And settling for is probably an accurate term for tonight’s fish and chips experience. While there was nothing wrong with our meal… there was nothing excitingly right with it either. It was just there.

The Palladium is a family style restaurant with a Greek emphasis… a perfect place to take your Granny when she’s in town. In fact while all us reviewers are nearing middle age… we felt like spring chickens at the Palladium among the row upon row of blue-tinged silver haired folks enjoying their food.

Our best suggestion for eating fish and chips at the Palladium? Get back in your car and drive one kilometer down the road to Jamieson’s… one of the top places we’ve reviewed so far.

Fish and Chips Score: 68

FCP Review Crew

Rachel’s Thoughts

The fish was dry and the batter tasted just so-so. I found it quite greasy.

The fries were not home-cut  and were also quite greasy.

This restaurant’s menu is mainly Greek, which I hear is good, but the fish & chips are not their specialty.

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Rachel’s Final Score: 63

Poochie’s Thoughts
The fish  was decent… not wow… just decent. The batter was a bit pasty on the inside but the flavour was nice. The fries were not home-cut and were average… some were quite tasty and others were limp and dull.

The coleslaw was tasty and they used Kraft tartar sauce.

When I review a restaurant’s fish & chips, it is so much more fun if there is something amazingly great to write about… or if it’s so horrible you just have to share some venom in the review. But with the Palladium there was absolutely nothing remarkable to write about.

The epitome of average… and that’s not a ringing endorsement.

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Poochie’s Final Score: 69

Minnie’s Thoughts
The fish was not bad. The batter on it was a little doughy on the inside, but it was about average for grease.

The others were quite confident that the fries weren’t home-cut, but I wasn’t so sure. But regardless, they weren’t anything special.

Their coleslaw tasted a bit like KFC’s.

The whole experience was just average. Other than that  I don’t know what else to write.

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Minnie’s Final Score: 70

Skippy’s Thoughts

In a word… average.

And now my clothes smell like grammie’s place.

Although it doesn’t factor into the score, the service here is excellent, and the staff are very friendly, accommodating, and great at what they do.

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Skippy’s Final Score: 70

Restaurant: Brewdebaker’s
Address: 612 Windmill Road, Dartmouth
Date: June 6, 2010
Fish: Haddock
Cost: $11.99

It was Rachel’s turn to pick and she chose a spot we’ve eaten at before… Brewdebaker’s in Burnside.

Easy to find, lots of parking, and decent food… I can’t say we’ve ever had a bad experience eating here. But what are their fish and chips like?

It was a nice evening out… good company… very relaxing, while the meal itself was good. Not wow… not blah… just good. Slightly above average for us.

Fish and Chips Score: 78.5

FCP Review Crew

Rachel’s Thoughts

It was a good meal, but nothing was outstanding. The batter had a light flavoring, but I expected a bit more flavor from it.

The fries were good, but the same as many places we’ve eaten at. The tarter sauce was good… I don’t think it was homemade. The same could be said about the coleslaw – good but not outstanding.

You won’t be disappointed, but you won’t be overwhelmed either. If I had relatives coming to visit from out of town, I probably would take them elsewhere for fish and chips.

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Rachel’s Final Score: 75

Poochie’s Thoughts
I would say eating the fish and chips at Brewdebaker’s is slightly above average… nothing to get excited about, but you won’t mind it either.

I found the fish a touch blah, but the batter had a nice flavor and wasn’t too greasy.

The fries were not homecut, but good nonetheless. They had perfect seasoning for me. I’m pretty sure the tartar sauce was Kraft, and the coleslaw tasted suspiciously just like SuperStore’s coleslaw.

All in all I found them good, but they certainly don’t measure up to the best on our overall list. Good, but nothing distinctive, special or unique to draw me back just for the F&C.

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Poochie’s Final Score: 78

Minnie’s Thoughts
I was disappointed when we weren’t served up rolls and garlic butter like the other times I had eaten here. It seems they have discontinued that service… BOO!

I liked the taste of the fish – it had a little hint of beer in the batter. I found the flavor quite nice… a bit greasy, but nothing you wouldn’t expect.

I’m not sure if the fries were home-cut or not, but regardless… I thought they were just average.

The tartar sauce was Kraft, and the coleslaw was good. It tasted like the stuff you get at the SuperStore deli department.

Brewdebaker’s has changed the menu since I last visited (which, admittedly was a while ago), and of course the prices have gone up. For the price, $11.99, it certainly isn’t the best value we’ve encountered so far.

Plus, you don’t get those lovely rolls and garlic butter anymore! (Can you tell I’m slightly bitter about that?)

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Minnie’s Final Score: 77

Skippy’s Thoughts

The F&C here was a pleasant surprise for me. A little on the pricey side, but very tasty.

The batter had a mild creamy taste (just as advertised), and a near perfect amount of crispness. A typical amount of grease, and the fish was great, in my books.

Even the fries scored high for me. Thick, fluffy (?) and potato-y. Not bad even when cold (the true test of good fries).

Just typing up this review of what I dined on is making me crave another plate. Yum.

I know my cohorts disagreed with me here, but I felt this one belonged in the highly recommended category. Give it a try and see what you think.

PS. Try the Sesame Voodoo Sticks. Mmm… I’m drooling right now.

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Skippy’s Final Score: 84

Restaurant: John’s Lunch
Address: 352 Pleasant Street, Dartmouth
Date: May 1, 2010
Fish: Haddock
Cost: $7.25

Pretty well everybody who is into fish and chips has heard of John’s Lunch, located beside the Woodside Ferry Terminal parking lot. It has been a fixture on the local dining scene for over 40 years.

However, first timers must be aware that looks can be deceiving when it comes to John’s Lunch. What appears to be an old, slightly run down house with a Pizza sign hanging out front is actually a tiny, well-worn but clean seafood diner (they serve pizzas, but about 99.9% of people who dine here come for the fish and/or clams).

Eating at John’s Lunch feels a bit like being in a tiny restaurant in New York City, where you’re sitting in a small area (5 tiny booths and a handful of seats at a counter) watching food being cooked in front of you while the staff shout out instructions to each in other in a foreign language (in this case, Greek), all the while crowds of people are waiting for take-out orders. But don’t be afraid of seeing a lineup of people outside, as the line moves quickly.

John’s Lunch regularly comes in third place in the Coast’s readers poll for the best fish and chips, but we think that has more to do with geography than it does the quality and quantity being offered.

If you’re looking for an old fashioned dining experience, with a friendly staff, good quality food and great portions… there’s nothing quite like John’s Lunch.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Fish and Chips Score: 79

FCP Review Crew

Rachel’s Thoughts

One of my favorite places to eat. A very old-school, tiny restaurant with vintage decor and friendly staff.

When I come I always get the haddock tips, but we were here for the fish and chips today.

The batter was crispy and tasty but retained quite a bit of grease. The fries were just ok, but I think that’s because no one comes here for the fries.

The fish itself was thick, fresh and yummy. The tartar sauce was Kraft but no coleslaw was included.

This place is always fun, and the fish and chips was a nice treat.

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Rachel’s Final Score: 77

Poochie’s Thoughts
To be totally upfront I have to tell you I eat at John’s Lunch more than any other restaurant in Halifax.  It is my favorite place to dine out. However, in the several years I have been dining there I have NEVER ordered the fish and chips… which seems odd considering I love fish and chips enough to be a part of this review site. For me, the most amazing fish experience in the city is the haddock tips at John’s. Simply. The. Best. Fish Ever.

However, for the first time I found myself ordering a two piece fish and chips while worrying that it might not measure up. But I should have known better than to worry because the fish and chips was above average in quality, and waaaaay above average in value.

The pieces of fish were large, thick and coated in a nice crispy batter. It was a bit greasy (especially since the haddock tips don’t seem to have any grease on them at all), but if you’ve ever been to John’s before or after a rush time you’ve probably seen them changing the oil. I’ve yet to see a restaurant as fanatical about keeping fresh, clean oil in the fryers as they are here.

The fries are certainly not the highlight of eating at John’s. They give you plenty of them, but they are of the frozen variety which isn’t going to earn them extra marks. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised with the batch that came with my fish, and gave them a higher mark than I expected.

The tartar sauce is Kraft, and sadly no coleslaw comes with the meal, which is too bad because John’s has some great, oil/vinegar based coleslaw. I was surprised none comes with the fish and chips because a healthy serving of coleslaw accompanies the haddock tips, clams, hot hamburger sandwich (freakin’ ginormous BTW), and pretty well everything else I’ve ordered here over the years.

All in all, their two piece fish and chips is an excellent value – a pile of excellent food for only $7.25.  I can honestly say their fish and chips is certainly above average, but please, when you go there, DON’T order the fish and chips. Order the haddock tips with no fries instead (they hold the fries and actually give you more fish!!!), and you can thank me later.

Simply the best tasting fish you will eat in this (or any other) city.

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Poochie’s Final Score: 79

Minnie’s Thoughts
John’s Lunch is great value for the price with two large pieces of white fish in batter for only $7.25.

The batter was crispy on the outside but I thought it was a bit greasy and the inside was a little too moist/doughy.

The tartar sauce was those little Kraft packets and, unfortunately, no coleslaw accompanied the meal.

I love John’s Lunch, but I always get the haddock tips, which, if I were scoring, would get a score of 100 based on the quality and quantity of the fish alone.  The fish and chips were above average, which makes this experience very good, especially when you consider the $7.25 price.

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Minnie’s Final Score: 78

Skippy’s Thoughts

I had concerns about reviewing John’s Lunch, only because I’ve eaten here many times and I love, love, LOVE the clams and/or the haddock tips (sans fries), but I’ve never tried the F&C. My overall review? Pleasantly surprised. Here’s why.

The batter. Oh, the batter. I loved it. Crunchy, yet not overcooked. And the fish got high marks because of the amount inside and the great taste.

The fries were better than I expected, which brought them up to slightly above average for me. Their specialty seems to be the seafood, so why waste time getting fancy with the fries?

Everything was just a little greasier than I’d prefer. But your food arrives fast, fresh, and hot; no sitting on the counter, because things move pretty fast at John’s. And you’ll have a hard time getting a bigger serving for the price. A great deal.

Old school diner feel, and even if it’s your first visit, the staff make you feel like you’ve been eating here for years.

Popular opinion seems to be correct – this is a great spot for F&C.

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Skippy’s Final Score: 82