Mouthful - Fish and chips
An English specialty in College Park, Inman Park and SoNo
No trip to the U.K. is complete without feasting on the quintessential takeaway specialty of fish and chips. Trips to Europe are expensive these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to go wanting. While you won’t be eating them out of a newspaper wrapper — most governments have banned that practice due to health reasons, anyway — these local spots serve up solid versions minus the hassle of airport security.
The Manchester Arms: In College Park sits a quaint little building that’s as close as you can get to an authentic British pub in Atlanta – probably because one of the owners hails from England. The cod is dipped in a batter made with Boddingtons Pub Ale and served with a side of crispy “English cut chips” and a tangy tartar sauce made with sweet relish. 1705 Virginia Ave. 404-763-9980. www.themanchesterarms.com.
Shaun’s Social Club & Restaurant: On a recent trip to England, chef Shaun Doty was inspired to add a “pub style fish and chips” to the approachable menu at his Inman Park restaurant. The rustic chunks of fresh halibut, coated in a batter with a touch of yeast for added lightness and crispness, are served with watermelon pickles, a zesty homemade tartar sauce and his famous french fries cooked in duck fat. 1029 Edgewood Ave. 404-577-4358. www.shaunsrestaurant.com.
O’Terrill’s Pub and Restaurant: The home of the “Bum Bot” (the owner’s vagrant-deterring robot recently featured on “The Colbert Report”), O’Terrill’s serves up a massive 11-ounce filet of beer-battered haddock fried in soybean oil. Although it uses frozen fish, you’d never realize it because the flesh is amazingly fresh-tasting and tender. The potato chips can range from soggy to crisp, but they’re hand-cut every day and always fried in fresh oil. 510 Piedmont Ave. 404-815-0079. www.oterrills.com.