Is there a great chippy in Manchester? I'm yet to be convinced. But Didsbury Fish Bar is solid and that isn't to be sniffed at.
As I've said in the past, fish and chips has a lot of potential to go wrong. If the quality isn't there you get a heavy and stodgy meal that you'll regret eating soon after. Didsbury Fish Bar is safely above that level. But it still isn't good enough to make me really look forward to having it.
To do into detail, the chips are fine and not overly greasy. The fish is good, but the batter doesn't really do it for me. Quite a light batter which works well for avoiding post-chippy regret but doesn't really taste of much. The food is better than merely inoffensive, but not by a mile.
One bonus is the mini-meal available around lunchtimes. £2.50 gets you a (very) small piece of fish and some chips. Not bad value at all, but the portion is the modest side of medium so not great value either. I used to live near a chippy in London which did a sizeable and delicious lunch deal for £3.50, the lack of that kind of value in Manchester does bemuse me somewhat.
To summarise, Didsbury Fish Bar is worth a visit but it isn't going to be a regular trip for me. Still, given many chippies would have me actively avoid them if friends were going it remains one of the best around. read more