Old Smithy

Just had a portion of chips with curry sauce after a few pints. Nicely cooked & open on sunday eve till 10.30, perfect.

To be fair, I am a tourist from the US, and so my opinion on fish and chips carries a bit less legitimacy than a true Brit’s. That said, Old Smithy’s just served up a plate of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had in my life.
The fish tasted very fresh, offering a vibrant flavor that was severely lacking from some of the battered fish I’ve had in London. The batter was simple, but fried perfectly. The chips were freshly cut and — just as the batter was — fried just right. Hell, even the mayonnaise and tartar sauce (served in packets) were delicious; I could actually taste the egg in the mayonnaise. I often forget that mayonnaise, before becoming the bastardized mayo that pervades US markets, was originally a French sauce. As silly as it sounds, the mayonnaise packets here jogged my memory.
I wholly believe that the quality of the fish and chips is a reflection of the local mindset here in Ambleside, where very little seems to be outsourced. Other than freshness, there was nothing else really noteworthy about the food, and yet it’s that beautiful simplicity that made it so delicious. And at £6 for a large plate? It was almost unbelievable.