GASTRONOMY REVIEW: Seniors Fish And Chip Bar, Lytham.

The worst fish and chips!

According to their logo and advertising, they are "the best fish and chips". I have no idea who they are quoting with this bold statement, but their establishment will be the very last place I shall go in future visits to the Fylde coast. They also advertise that everything is "served with a smile". Again, a blatant lie. Our waitress failed to manage even a slight curl from the side of her lips the whole time we were there. Sullen would describe it better.

To be honest, there is absolutely nothing to recommend this fish and chip shop. From them not having any hake - the only "speciality" fish on their unextensive and uninspiring menu, to their not being able to supply a carafe (or even jug) of water, to the cheap, "greasy-spoon" styled dining area.

Having been recommended by a friend to try this fish and chip shop, we made a beeline for it on our latest visit to Lytham. However, the interior of this transport-cafe-style dining room was less than inspiring, and the prices were not in keeping with this sadly. One is charged EXTRA for mushy peas with a fish and cheap supper; charged EXTRA for a microscopic portion of tartare sauce to accompany a plate of scampi and chips.. which, came unadorned with absolutely no sprig of parsley or slice of lemon! In fact, when we asked for lemon, they looked at me as if I were talking a foreign language! We were charged EXTRA for a single slice of supermarket bread and a portion of butter. The mind boggles...!

House wine was on the menu, and so, perhaps rather foolhardily, we opted for a glass. However, at £4.75 for a glass of vin-plonk, we shouldn't have bothered!

As for the food itself... well, the scampi was slightly undercooked; the onion rings were overcooked and slightly burned on the outside, whilst the onion itself was still cold and raw inside. The mushy peas were dry, obviously having been left for too long on a hot plate somewhere. The chips were still sporting small amounts of skin, and many still had bruises or "eyes" still in them. A lack of attention when peeling sadly. 

Our waitress sported the title, Team Leader on her uniform. If she is leading the team, then obviously this is why the place had absolutely no atmosphere; she was sullen and jobsworthy at best. There was however a young lad who was, again according to his uniform, "in training", and credit to him, he was the only member of staff who had the correct attitude, and served with a smile.

On paying the bill, we found that they had added a bottle of water extra, rather than not charging for the free glasses of water; and that an extra 50p supplement had been added to the price of the chips, due to the potato shortage!

Harrumph!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall