Golden Hind - Fish and Chips, London, UK

73 Marylebone Lane
London, W1U 2PN, United Kingdom
Tel: 020 7486 3644
Parking: street parking; nearest tube: Bond Street

Last Visited: June 23, 2010

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

No matter where we go, if I know that I need to find a meal nearby, I'll take the time to research a place online so that I won't be frantically seeking food when I get there. Despite it being an ocean away, I knew we would be looking for dinner upon arriving in London, and the Golden Hind popped up as one of the places that seemed to get great ratings and was within walking distance of our bed and breakfast.

Having nearly century's history (open in 1914), the Golden Hind, first run by Italians and now shifted to Greek owners, I figured that it had to at least be good to survive the scrutiny of locals - how else could you stay open for this long of a time?

While London is notorious for bad service, the Golden Hind staff was super friendly and the owner even came by to chat with us near the end of our meal. They were most happy to let us sit while we awaited the arrival of our dining companions. The menu offers a variety of fish - cod, haddock, skate, salmon, plaice and more. They also offer a variety of fried starters - scampi, calamari strips, fishcakes, and plenty of sides - mushy peas, chips, and gherkins.

There were only a few tables filled upon our arrival, but by the end of our meal, the place was packed, and it was only a Wednesday. It seemed to have a combination of locals and visitors. Having just gotten off the plane, we were pretty starving and ready for a good meal. We started the evening with a refreshing Jamaican ginger beer - delicious with just enough kick to get your tummy awakened for some deep fried goodness.

- Mixed Salad - A fresh green salad of romaine lettuce with tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers arrived. It's large enough for two people to share as a starter or to heartily enjoy on your own.
3.50 pounds

- Fried Calamari Strips - The calamari strips are showed in the picture to the right. As you can see, they are lightly battered and served with a wedge of lemon. If you like calamari steak, you'll enjoy this, but if you prefer real calamari, then you'll just appreciate the light batter. The tartar sauce is homemade, so it tended to be more on the creamy side with more mayo than relish. Good. 3.60 pounds

- Cod (boneless fillet) - The cod was very fresh and according to the literature I had read prior to my visit, none of the fish is frozen because it's brought in fresh everyday. The batter is super light - almost reminds me of the lightness of a tempura or panko crumb crust, although the texture isn't the same. Since chips are served on the side when you order them for a large group, the presentation is a bit bare, but it's still very good. It's so light that if you leave it on the plate too long, it might steam on the bottom and become soggy, but just eat fast. The oil is fresh and there is just a little oil on the plate from the fish. The portions are also more than sufficient. Very good. 7.40 pounds

- Haddock (boneless fillet) - See the description under cod. Very good and the haddock flaked beautifully when broken apart. 7.70 pounds

- Chips - Sadly, although the picture shows the chips as nice and golden brown, the texture doesn't match. The outside was not crispy and although the raw product seems to be fresh, something about these just weren't that great. They're meaty for sure, but no crunch and for me, that is what makes a good chip. At least we didn't have to get a side of chips for each person - the beauty of being able to order them separately. 1.70 pounds

The prices listed on the menu include the VAT tax.

In the end, a visit to the Golden Hind is definitely worthwhile for the fish. Perhaps the best suggestion I have would be to order only one side of chips to see how they taste that day before ordering more and wasting your stomach and money on them. However, there is no doubt that the light batter and the freshness of fish make Golden Hind worth a stop. And don't forget the ginger beer!