Fish and chips. A classic British and Irish dish that unites people on both islands, but divides opinion among overseas visitors to each faster than you can say ‘and a side of mushy peas, please’.
Here in Abu Dhabi, it’s the battered cod that’s foreign, but that hasn’t stopped The Chippy earning itself a reputation as the premier place for a fried fish supper in the city.
While you’ll find many iterations of the traditionally cheap, basic dish in the UAE capital, it seems none can activate the homing receptors of western European brains quite like The Chippy.
From entrepreneurs Alan O’Donnell and Robert Bradley, The Chippy has two locations in Abu Dhabi, but it’s the second branch, found at the insta-tastic The Walk at Al Seef Village (it’s well worth a stroll around before your supper), that wins out with an aesthetic that holds its own against the haddock.
Inside you’ll find a space every inch the classic fish and chip shop, with tiled floors and simple seating, a metallic counter with soft drinks’ fridges behind and screens showing off an array of blissfully beige food choices. The only thing that’s missing is a front row view of your chips being plunged into spitting-hot oil.
But what to choose? Cod and chips, scampi and chips, pie and chips, chicken burger and chips – yes, they’re big on the spuds, though there’s the option to skip them if you’ve completely taken leave of your senses.
If you’re rolling with the crew, you might want to go for the fish platter, piled with fish goujons, battered shrimp, chips and a battered cheese and onion pie for good (!) measure. But if you’re hauling in solo it has to be cod and chips with tub of curry sauce, all crisp, light batter and brilliantly flaky fish.
Everything about the restaurant feels like a proper chippy, with even dine-in meals served in boxes.
And the experience doesn’t end there, with an assortment of familiar-to-some snacks including Rocky bars, Breakaway bars, Skips and Club Lemon available too.
Fast, efficient and wholly transporting, The Chippy is a place that will resonate with every British and Irish expat in the city.
And while it might not be the first choice for those with an aversion to the great beige plates of two not-exactly-culinarily-celebrated nations, when it comes to fish and chips in the capital, it really doesn’t get much better than this.
We’re hooked.
Sun-Wed noon-11pm, Thu noon-midnight, Fri noon-10pm, Sat noon-10.30pm. Unlicensed. The Walk at Al Seef Village, Khalifa Park Area (02 443 3010); Mangrove Place, Al Reem Island (02 444 7066).
