Sea Witch Fish and Chips

I won’t be visiting again, was very disappointed. The fish was mostly batter and over cooked and hard, u don’t get enough tartar sauce for order and if you want more you have to pay for it, the only good thing about this place is the fresh cut fries. I will make the drive to golden crisp on weston rd anytime I feel for fish n chips.

The batter was like half a cm thick so I couldn’t taste anything other than oil. Everything was just saturated in fryer oil. Waste of a good fish in my opinion. Service was amazing so 3 stars for that.

Went on Sunday for lunch and found this place to be just Meh. The place wasn’t even busy, was able to walk in and sit anywhere. The lightening in this place is kinda dim. The menu variety was great offering different types of fish along with the pricing. However, my favourite, Halibut was marked with «MP» which means monthly pricing i think. Halibut Fish & Chip was $ 17! kinda pricey if you ask me but i was optimistic about it. The Halibut Two & One which consisted of 2 fish and chip was $ 30! (which is what i ordered lol).
I found the chips to be just mediocre and some of it salty. I guess they didn’t toss it around properly or long enough to get the salt evenly. The fish portion was quite small and had lot of batter on it. It was nice and hot but not dripping with oil which sometimes happen.
My friend got fish and onion rings for his meal. The presentation of onion rings was neat as they stack the onion rings on top of each other. However, the onion rings were covered in a lot batter and the onion itself was a small very thing ring. Clearly the batter overpowered the onion.
Verdict: The food was just meh with small portions and kinda pricey for me. I won’t be coming back here again.

Sea Witch is the first chippy I’ve found in the GTA that does authentic chips. The chips are cut properly and fried perfectly ¹⁰⁄₁₀. The fish is equally as impressive. My partner and I ordered the halibut and haddock. Both were generously cut, battered and fried just right. The halibut was very fresh and meaty and the batter was nicely seasoned. We wanted to try the onion rings but were told they are off the menu during busy times on the weekend. Portion sizes are huge… one order of chips can easily be split between two diners.

Overall a decent fish and chips place. This could have easily received 4 stars if their quality was more consistent.
I was a bit under-​impressed the first two times I ate here. It is not that the food was bad, but there was nothing special about them. I always had haddock chips and fries, and the portion was very good for the price. The chips had quite a lot of fish, but that was pretty much place. Nothing really special.
I guess the third time’s the charm. Same price and portion, but the quality was very good. The haddock chips I got again were very crisp without being too oily. Also, the quality of the fish was very good.
Their service has always been very good though. Friendly and casual, which suits well with their restaurant.

Ordered:
2 haddocks and chips;
onion rings.
Damage: $ 26.
Verdict:
Reasonable in price; generous in fries.
Fish were substantial even with its thick batter.
Onion rings were more batter (oil) than onions (not worth the $ 5 price tag since I like to eat more onions than batter).
The batter itself was thick/​crispy-​tasty/​greasy.
Fries were chunky and homemade.
Next time, I will skip the onion rings.
Other fish and chips places may display cheaper ($ 6 – 7) prices for white fish ($ 9-​$ 12) for cod/​haddock/​halibut BUT cut the fish in slender slices.
This place gives thicker cuts of fish.
TIP: Eat your order with a cup of tea (rather than with a softdrink), it will help with digestion after ingesting the oil from the batter.

Huge, truly huge portions. The best coleslaw I’ve ever had. Perfect fries and fish that come straight from the fryer to your table. And the staff are friendly and truly courteous (which is harder to find these days). A nice range of customers: older folk, hipsters and families with little ones. Highly recommended!

To start let me simply say. You NEED to go here. Their menu is very small offering only several different types of fish cooked in the classic fish & chips style but they know what they are doing and do it spot on. They do a HUGE take-​out business (sadly i am too far away to be able to do takeout since you really need to eat fish and chips as soon as they come out of the fryer to get the optimal experience) and dining area is very small so depending on when you arrive there can be a bit of a wait for your food. They cook each order individually ensuring that the fryer is not over crowded so that your fish and chips instantly sear a nice crispy crust ensuring none of the food is ever greasy. The portions are large both for your fish and your chips so you definitely won’t leave hungry.

Updating my review again: I hate inconsistency. And it bugs me that one time this place is GREAT — OUTSTANDING — and the next time the service and food is — meh.
The second last time I was there I was just blown away. The onion rings were BY FAR the best I’ve ever had — anywhere. They were AMAZING. And the fish was great too. Great batter. Excellent. About the best you can get — but, then, the last time I was there — things were not nearly as good. My last visit found the batter (on rings AND fish) to be very thin — and disappointing. (I asked the cook about this on my way out the door — and got a lame response: «maybe the humidity in the air …»)
And the SERVICE! I just have to vent a little. I gave my order to the woman who seats people, and didn’t see the waitress nearly enough for her to notice that I probably would have liked a refill on my water glass — that didn’t come until I was finished my meal.
I know I’m whining — like Trump whines like a ‘whiny little #$%^’ but don’t you just hate it when the food is spectacular one time — and you go back and it’s NOT the next time?
Previous review:
I’ve been back a couple of times, and waited longer than I thought necessary for food again on one of those visits.
The first time I had the onion rings I was amazed. They were the best I’ve every had — anywhere. They were crispy on the outside and hot and moist on the inside. Absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately — the second time I had rings they were not as good. But they deliver them to your table on a unique stack piled like the tower of Pisa with a stainless steel rack that piles them high — but I immediately dump them into a smaller pile to TRY to keep them bunched together so they stay warm long enough to eat a few of them. (Because — like most food — when they are no longer hot — they are no longer ANYWHERE CLOSE to being as good.)
I tried the trout. Didn’t like it — but if you like trout it just might be good — I can’t really say.
Their fish is among the best I’ve had compared to other places.
And the food is fairly expensive.
Update: I went back again — and the waitress was helpful about the onion rings getting cold VERY quickly — and the Halibut was nice — but I STILL don’t understand why it takes so long for them to prepare the food. It seems to take them 15 to 20 minutes to drop a little fish in the fryer. I just don’t understand. Still — great food.

I generally HATE fried fish but my boyfriend was dying for some and they don’t have much else so I went for the least fishy one (cod) and fries. I was blown away! The fish tasted GREAT and the fries were awesome. It didn’t taste too fishy and wasn’t to greasy I felt bad afterward. The only reason I gave them only 4 stars is because we ordered out and they didn’t give us any ketchup, which would have made it all even better. I’ll definitely come back here next time I’m in Toronto.

Toronto has no lack of good fish and chip shops. The ones that use beef fat to fry are very far and few between. Penrose is gone. Malt and Salt is very far east. But, the Sea Witch; bravo! You know how to fry things.
We had halibut, cod, fries, and onion rings. The onion rings were OMFG perfect. I LOVE LOVE LOVE onion rings and very few places make a good one AND give you enough of them. The batter was great. I wished the fish pieces were bigger for the price. Also, I have had much better quality cod at the Abbott. The fries were tasty. (I have a preference for thicker chips). The tartar was made in house and quite good. No nasty wing’s packets here. I like the decoration of the place, and the various mags and books to read. The staff are all cool, hip, and friendly. I will definitely be back again for those onion rings, even though I don’t live in the hood.

Pickerel is one the best fish in town. Haddock is not so bad. Their big serving of french fries are the best!!! The place is incredibly clean! Servers are friendly. One thing that is a rip off is that they charge you a dollar for a mayonnaise. are you kidding me!!!

This place is HANDS DOWN the BEST CHIPPY IN THE CITY (despite not having mushy peas) — The staff have always been friendly to me (I live 2 streets away) since day one, their Chips are DYNAMITE delicious, their onion rings are heavenly… The cod & halibut are off the charts… Homemade gravy & coleslaw are always a good extra! Just come here and enjoy. You won’t regret it.

This is one of those hipster places that gives an air of pretension to something that should be anything but (this is why I’m knocking off a star.) The fish was good — crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Interestingly, the fries are the real piece de resistance here. Unexpectedly delicious, thick cut with just the right amount of crispness and greasiness. I’d be interested in trying a poutine here which is one of the few non-​fish offerings on the menu. Pro tip: you only need one side of fries between two people. Trust me. Overall: it’s good. I’d go back.

As you settle yourself into Sea Witch Fish & Chips, you’ll be able to smell the rich aromas of the food they are cooking openly.
I ordered the Haddock Fish & Chips. It only took around 10 minutes for them to serve me my order and they were kinda busy. My whole plate looked gorgeous and it tasted delicious. The fries are thick and the haddock was fried to perfection. The haddock given was a big enough size for me. Eat in moderation, you’ll be able to savor each bite more. It’s a good thing I didn’t order the Witch’s Brew (Chowder) because it filled me up and I didn’t eat anything the whole day.
I believe I made the correct choice choosing Haddock over Halibut because I was certainly pleased with the Haddock, it was wonderful.
The service staff were very friendly and checked up on me regularly. They noticed I drank all of my water before I did and filled it up after.
Btw washrooms are located downstairs.
Overall, Sea Witch Fish & Chips is my favorite Fish & Chips joint.

I have gone back twice since my first 5 star review and I unfortunately have to downgrade this place. First time I had it, it was great. Crispy fries and chips. Both times since, it is still OK, but… just OK. For some reason, the fries now taste more dry and stale. Less crispy. The fish is still decent, but not as good as before. Not sure what happened to this place. I used to make it a point to come here when I was in the neighborhood, but now, I am not sure if I will go back. It has become just another fish and chip place. Nothing special.

Sea Witch is wicked! (See what I did there?) I live in the area and went for 6pm Friday night. Incredibly clean inside and decorated to make you feel as if you’re dining with the crew under the decks of a fishing boat. Seat yourself.
Service: fantastic. She (I wish I knew her name) was pleasant and greeted our table immediately with waters and menus and offered to «go over the fish tastes» of the menu. My kind of lady!
Options: also fantastic. Classic halibut, pickerel, haddock, cod, catch of the day… it goes on. You can get fish & chips, fish a la carte, «2&1» fish and chips. Can you tell I love this place?! Strictly based on the way it was described, the «more buttery» Pickerel lured me in. And chips. My boyfriend ordered 2&1 haddock and chips. Mine was, you guessed it, fantastic, and my boyfriend’s even more so (expected, since haddock is a more classic fish fry!) Next time I will go with traditional halibut, but I was not in the least disappointed with my catch.
Pro tip: 1 order of chips is plenty to share, if you want to save your heart health and a few $!
Soft drink options also lovely & they’re working on getting their LLBO. Then they’ll be unstoppable!
Enough talking about it, go ‘sea’ for yourself! (I did it again ;))

If you are in the mood for the delicate fried arts, seafood and spuds (aka. Fish and Chips) this is the place for it.
Sea Witch focuses on the old fashioned ways of frying, with full flavor, quality ingredients and special preparation. Adding a hint of modern creativity, the results are noticeably different and very delicious.
Halibut is the name of the game here, as it should when you batter any fish. However, the option is yours, you can go with haddock, cod, arctic char, pickerel, if your heart’s desire. In a sandwich, a la carte or with chips, that’s your call too. The fish is Ocean Wise certified and everything here is fried in Beef tallow for full flavor goodness.
On my tasting menu:
The Witch’s Brew, Fish Chowder with Pickerel. Very filling, creamy with chunks of veg and fish.
Onion Rings were almost donut-​like. Giant rings, lots of flavor and very crispy. Almost meal worthy!
The Classic Halibut Fish and Chips is a model version of what FnC should be. The batter is crispy, light, flavorful and not overwhelming or greasy. The halibut is fresh, tender and moist. The combination is perfect, the chips add to the experience. The tallow really does work on the spuds, making them beyond addictive. Overeating will occur.
Overall, Sea Witch brings the FnC game. Everything was great, fried well, prepared well and served with a smile. A great place to stop in and share a meal.

I got invited to a media tasting at Sea Witch (@seawitchfc) on St. Claire West and frankly I pass by so many times but never notice this place before. The small neighborhood restaurant has a very simple menu with 5 fish of fish & chips or sandwiches to choose from (Halibut, Pickerel, Haddock, Cod and Arctic Char). Nothing fancy, just a few sides to choose from.
Chef & Owner Kevin Kowalczyk spent many years at Penrose Fish & Chips, so he knows a thing or two about fried fish. All the fish are fried and fries are fried in beef tallow here, the secret to the golden crisp batter.
Although the entire place look like reclaimed wood /​furniture, love the contrast of the red tiles at the front which make a perfect backdrop for the fish & chips.
The Witch’s Brew (House Chowder) $ 6
~ This was definitely the star of the night which was filled with big chucks of fish and not too thick not too thin. Haven’t had a chowder I like that much for a while, everything was just right.
Onion Rings $ 5
~ Nice big tower of thickly battered onion rings
Halibut Cakes
~ The fish cake was crispy on the outside and flaky soft on the inside and served with a side of pickled onion or you can switch it to the house made tartar sauce instead.
Halibut Fish & Chips $ 15
~ Halibut will always be the classic choice for fish & chips. The batter on mine was rather soggy and the fish a little bit overcooked but when I asked others, theirs was perfectly crispy so I guess it was just my luck.
~ Fried old school style with beef tallow for extra flavor.
~ Apart from halibut, you can also choose from Pickerel, Haddock, Cod and Arctic Char. Although they try to be Ocean Wise as much as possible, it is just not possible for the complete menu keeping the price in mind.
Home made cookies at $ 5 per pack.
The Great Jamaican Old Tyme Ginger Beer definitely had a kick to it. They are also working on a alcohol license since who doesn’t crave for a beer with all the deep fried goodies.
Verdict:
~ I would gladly come back for eh chowder and halibut cakes
~ Great location and love the relax décor which make it equally great for take out or sit ins.
~ Can;t wait until they get their liquor licence, nothing better than a beer with that fish and chips

Having read raves I decided to eat at Sea Witch on a quiet Lunch hour.
There was only one other diner and about five staff.
No big deal being served, right?
Not that there was much effort to break off conversation and speak to me as I waited for a welcome. Finally ordered and having confirmed with the pleasant cashier that yes I would like tartar sauce, I was then asked by two different servers if I happened to want tartar sauce.
It seems that the staff don’t pay much attention.
I told the last one that I had been asked twice already and received no reply, though in the end the sauce was supplied.
Pacific haddock was tasty but more batter than fish and the chips were lukewarm, far from piping hot as they need to be for taste and texture.
Slackness kills reputations, the décor and concept are good but the execution left much to be desired.