Craving a bit of battered fish and a pile of chunky chips? Anyone feeling a Brit-inspired fish supper is in luck, because Abu Dhabi is stacked full of pubs and restaurants serving some pretty authentic takes on the salt-and-vinegar-smothered staple. Here’s where to head to get your fix.
49ers
One of Abu Dhabi’s oldest establishments might be known for dishing out prime cuts but it does a mean fish supper, too. The 49ers’ fish and chips sees golden fried fish strips served with crispy fries, a wee pot of coleslaw and generous helping of tartar sauce. Simple but oh-so-good.
Dhs69. Open daily noon-3.30am. Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, Al Zahiyah, 49ers.ae (02 645 8000).
Belgian Café Yas Island
The Belgians might be better known for their steaming pots of moules, but this cod in crispy Belgian hops batter is certainly a fine catch. North Atlantic cod is coated in hops seasoned batter and spinkled with in malt vinegar. Signature Belgian fries (chunky, fluffy inside) are then added, with the whole thing accompanied by mushy peas and tartar sauce.
Dhs120. Open daily noon-2am. Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island (02 656 2000).
Cooper’s Bar & Restaurant
This lively joint is one of the city’s most popular pubs. With a great happy hour, plenty of screens to watch the football or cricket on and a chilled-out vibe, it is easy to see why. The menu is stacked full of brilliant bar bites too and the classic fish supper is one of the best in our fair capital.
Dhs99. Open Sun-Wed noon-2am, Thu-Sat noon-3am. Cooper’s Bar and Restaurant, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park area (02 657 3325).
Easy Tiger
There are very few venues that come close to this quirky spot in terms of out-there décor, banging tunes and just general all-round fun in the city. It also does one of the best fish and chips dinners in the whole emirate. For Dhs75, diners can chow down on an untraditional tempura-battered fish accompanied by more familiar suspects of mushy peas, tartar sauce and thick chips.
Dhs75. Open daily noon-3.45am. Al Ain Palace Hotel, W Corniche Road (050 593 7977).
Fado
While not considered a seafood place, Irish pub Fado’s menu is packed full of options from the sea including calamari, fish tacos and smoked salmon bites. But that’s all small fry compared to one of the best fish and chips dinners in town. Offered in two portions – lunch at Dhs54 and main course for Dhs85, visitors can get their chops around wild-caught cod with crispy chips, coleslaw and tartar sauce.
Dhs54 (lunch portion), Dhs85 (main course). Open daily noon-9m. Oryx Hotel, Zayed the First Street, Al Khalidiya (02 692 2218).
Hamilton’s Gastropub
Take a voyage to this smart, stylish gastropub to hook yourself one of the best fish and chips dinners around (and not just on Saadiyat). The trendy venue in on the island of culture dishes out a golden-fried fish and chips with
all the trimmings to make this fishing excursion a real success.
Dhs99. Open daily 10am-8.30pm. Saadiyat Rotana Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
Jones the Grocer
Jones rarely lets down the hungry masses of Abu Dhabi and it won’t any time soon with the Gone Fishin’ dinner. Thick-cut chips (the way they should be), minted pea purée and homemade tartar sauce join the star of the plate – a chunky, battered Atlantic cod fillet – to deliver guests a truly triumphant take on the Brit classic.
Dhs71. Various locations including Holiday Inn Downtown, Al Raha and Etihad Airways Centre, jonesthegrocer.com.
McGettigan’s
Irish establishments know their way around a fish supper and this venue nestled at the back of the Dusit Thani Hotel’s first floor is no exception. Two pieces of cod lightly coated in lip-smackingly light, crunchy batter (there’s a hint of lemon) with chips, mushy peas and tartar sauce. It’s brought out on a wooden board (we love our plates at Time Out) but we can overlook that minor setback given it’s one of the best around.
Dhs95. Open daily noon-1pm. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street (02 698 8888).
Punjab Grill, Abu Dhabi
Who said fish and chips need salt and vinegar? At Punjab Grill, Abu Dhabi, the Fried Fish Ambarsari sees Nile perch covered in a crunchy batter infused with subcontinental flavours. Each plate comes with sweet potato fries and Makhani mayo and sweet and sour tamarind chutney. Yes, yes, yes.
Dhs67. Open daily 12.30pm-midnight. Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal (02 449 9839).
Oak Room
The Oak Room in The Abu Dhabi EDITION is one classy, sophisticated joint but that doesn’t mean it will turn its nose up at the humble fish and chips. In fact, the prized supper takes pride of place on the food card in the signature section and we have to say, it really does hit the spot. Battered cod fillet is joined by crushed peas, tartar sauce and mind-meltingly tasty triple-cooked chips for a handsome meal.
Dhs130. Tue-Thu 6pm-midnight, Fri noon-5pm, 6pm-midnight. The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen (02 208 0000).
Shakespeare and Co
In surroundings that would be more in keeping with a spot of high tea with the gals, Shakespeare and Co reels fish and chip-hunters in with a moreish seafood and potato dish. Diners can tuck into a beautiful fish fillet from a plate that is choc-a-block with fries and the obligatory pots of mushy peas and tartar sauce.
Dhs65. Open daily 7am-midnight. Guardian Towers, Al Muroor Road (02 491 7673).
Stars N Bars
What can Americans teach us about a good slap-up fish and chips feast? Well if Stars N Bars’ offering is anything to go by, quite a lot. For Dhs95, diners can get stuck into cod coated in golden, crispy batter and served with chunky chips and mushy peas. And once the plate is polished off, kick back and watch some sport on the various screens around the bar.
Dhs95. Open Mon-Wed 11am-1am, Thu-Sun 11am-2am. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 0101).
Stills Bar & Brasserie
When you have managed to stop gawking at one of the longest bars in the entire city, get your eyes on the menu at this Yas Island stalwart. There are plenty of pub favourites like the cheese Angus burger, chicken wings and nachos but we always plump for the bubbly battered fish with thick chips, mushy peas, tartar sauce and a wedge of lemon.
Dhs109. Open daily noon-1am. Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 3066).
Victors
Victor’s is reliable in Abu Dhabi for many things. You will get a good pint of hops, good atmosphere, good music and you’ll get a cracking fish and chips dinner too. No frills, no fuss, all flavour on this plate. A generously portioned and well balanced plate of fish and chips that’ll have you returning for seconds in a single evening. (And why not?)
Dhs95. Open daily noon-3am. Hilton Capital Grand, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 666 5508).
YES PEAS
The Chippy
Serving up a fish and chips as traditional as they come, wrapped to go and eaten with your hands. It’s the closest thing you will get to an authentic British fish and chip shop in the capital (and entire UAE) and with a wide range of suppers including fish goujons and scampi, the Reem establishment fully merits it’s place on the fish and chips honours board. Little wonder it’s so well thought of around town.
Dhs68 (fish and chips), Dhs59(scampi), Dhs47 (goujons). Open daily noon-9pm. Mangrove Place, Reem Island www.facebook.com/thechippyuae (02 444 7066).
