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McCowan Fish & Chips only serves Halibut on Good Friday. No dine in, only takeaway or delivery orders. They close at 8:30 PM on Good Friday. The customary steady lineup of patrons coming in for Fish dinners.
This used to be our fave fish and chips place and have been patronizing them for more than 20 years but it seems the quality of their food has gone downhill and not sure why. I also didn't see the usual staff when we came here so not sure if there's a change of ownership which explains the lack of quality. Located in a strip mall and a few minutes walk from Scarborough General Hospital & Bendale Public Library, this quaint, hole-in-the-wall restaurant is where locals normally get their fix of crispy fried fish, hand cut fries and mushy peas. Cooked to order white fish, we normally settle for Haddock vs Halibut as the former is more flavourful, meaty and is a perfect compliment to the deep fried richness of the batter. However it seems that the fried haddock has more batter and tasted completely different from before. Whereas previously it was perfectly crunchy, tender flaked and airy, it's now the opposite. The chips didn't taste fresh and portion size was smaller. Dunking the fries in the gravy didn't help elevate the flavour of the fries either. Even the side coleslaw tasted different. I wouldn't say this is one of the best fish and chips in the city but we might just come back and give it another try just to give them the benefit of the doubt.
It's fine. Standard. Not sure what the hype is all about. Fish a bit oily. Fries ok. Large portion. If you're a fish and chips connoisseur then make the trek to Chip n Malt in Newmarket. Best I've had period ! Check out my review.
Ordered their Cod and Chips, portions were huge... fries were overly fried... I think they were an old batch and refried?... The meal felt rather heavier and greasier compared to other places I've tried.. overall an ok meal but I wouldn't go here again. Prices were reasonable so that's a win. This meal was $10.95 before tax and service is super friendly too
Clean and cozy family-run fish and chips restaurant in a small strip mall just a bit south of Lawrence Ave on McCowan Rd. This place is best for groups of twos as their tables are rather narrow and the place is not too big. There was plenty of business as soon as the restaurant was open at 11 am and it was a third full by noon. This place has a cute charm to it. They have lamented print of why you should eat fish as it is a rich source of Omega-3 and other vitamins. I enjoyed my order of halibut and chips. The fries were long, sizeable and slightly crispy outside and super soft inside. They were neither skinny, burnt nor oily, too. The halibut had a thin batter and I could still taste the freshness of the actual fish. Portions were rather generous. All orders come with a small side of either coleslaw or beets, which was surprising to me, since most of not all of the other (fish and chips) places that I have been to do not offer it alone as a side. My friend did not know that the sizes would be as big and he was feeling rather hungry, so he made the mistake of ordering chicken nuggets and chips with another order of poutine. By the time, all of our food came, I asked him "Are you sure you can eat all this? That is a lot of fries." to which he responds "Wow! I thought the poutine would just be snack size! Please definitely help me finish it." Well, I am not the biggest fan of gravy and I cannot handle cheese well, so I helped with ones that were not drenched in either or both. In the end, my friend had to ask for a takeout box and the owner lady was nice enough to give us a paper box and paper bag. The utensils here were also actual silver. Nice! No plastic here! No wonder this place won a few awards and mentions from newspapers and even Yelp! Totally would recommend for a simple date or catching up with a friend, one on one. You can probably have a group of four or more if you put the table together. We were both so full and neither of us spent that much even though I order their most expensive item and he order two items. Totally affordable and kid-friendly place, too. The owner lady was very polite. She immediately welcomed us with a bright smile and continuously pour us water and checked in on us without being asked. I usually do not go for fried food, but there are days when I have my cravings. Quality comfy food and service deserves a good review, but since I prefer meals with more people and usually at fancier places, I would give this place 4 stars max.
Hidden gem in Scarborough with a friendly staff. High quality fish, not over cooked with tasty served fries! Has a cute hipster setting with authentic wallpaper and decor. The value you received is exceptional for the price you pay! Would definitely come again
How come I felt so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips? Maybe I now finally to used to sketchy Scarborough strip plaza? For a split second I almost thought I was in one of the Northern Chinese restaurants that I frequent and want to practice my Mandarin on my waiter! You cannot blame me as all through my lunch I was listening to the two waiters chatting in Mandarin. Cod Fish only ($5.50) is sizable. The batter is crispy and crunchy. The oil can be a little fresher but it is A-OK. As usual, I tried one of the scallops and shrimps from my dinner mate's Seafood Platter (he offered, really he did! I didn't force him!) Both are not bad... but when I start eating deep fried heavy battered food, they kind of all tasted the same. The service here is efficient and indifference... and of course remind me of the Chinese Joints I frequent! See, now I know why I feel so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips!!
Date visited : Tues 04/10/2018 Service : 3/5 Friendly enough service. We visited during around early dinner 18:00 EST. Only 1 other couple was in the dining area. Food : 3/5 My wife opted for the the Halibut and Chips and Haddock and Chips for myself. A bit more pricey than our go to spot at Painted Post Fish and Chips. We received our orders in about 10-15 minutes, as for the dishes themselves, the fries were done extra crispy just the way we like without us requesting to be cooked as such. As for the "fish" both the haddock and the halibut were tender and fresh not mushy or soggy. Each of us received 1 decently sized piece of fish for our orders. Batter wise I'd have to say it was light and crispy, less greasy than we have tried at other fish n chip spots. I'd rate the oiliness at 3/5** (view rating list below). For the price paid, would have been nice to have a bit more fries included with the order (we love our fries when they aren't frozen!) Condiments : Ketchup in a squeeze bottle, not sure on the brand or quality. They have something that resembles tartar sauce, but it had a pink/orange tinge to it, which was also in squeeze bottle. However, something in the tartar sauce was making my tongue tingle to almost a numbing sensation, I had consumed more of their tartar sauce than my wife, so she didn't notice a similar sensation on her tongue. Since I have no idea what was/is the cause of that odd tingly/numbing sensation, I would caution other foodies with sensitive tongues to go easy on the custom tartar sauce that is provided to customers. Take out packs of tartar sauce are available (not as flavorful, but likely without that tingly/numbing aspect), along with malt vinegar packets are available. Beverages : We are kinda picky on our Water, not fond of tap water at all due to varying mineral content and sodium content, we usually bring our own from Home, since we buy 15L Ice River water and fill up reusable bottles. Alternatively we opt to share a can of soda or Iced Tea. Not many places offer filtered water as an option. Also, not all bottled water is good quality. At this venue they charge $1.00 + HST for a small glass of ice water with a 2 slices of lemon. Other : Parking is rather limited in the little strip. However, there is additional parking in the adjacent plaza within walking distance. Debit/cash accepted. Hard to enter the parking lot if you are heading Southbound on McCowan, other drivers will likely not give way for you to turn in. I had other drivers blasting their horns at me as I was waiting for a gap in the traffic flow. Repeat visit ? Possibly yes, a fellow friend on Yelp, had reviewed made in house fresh onion rings. So may return to try the fresh onion rings. Oiliness rating** : 1/5 very light and no oily after effect on tongue 2/5 still relatively light, Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges not yet needed except by choice 3/5 medium level of oiliness; light effect on the tongue ; Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges may be used to cut grease 4/5 starting to lean towards being heavy; greasiness now needing Malt Vinegar/Lemon Wedges to cut grease 5/5 very heavy and noticeable on the tongue, difficult to consume batter without Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges
Crispy halibut and chips, not greasy, big portions. Definitely a place worthy for a visit.
Deep friend goodness! We got the large seafood platter with halibut, 4 shrimps, 4 scallops and chips; and the calamari A good fish a chips to me is the right batter to seafood meat ratio and this place had that! The batter was flaky and delicious and the seafood meat portions were great. They could make the coleslaw servings larger but you can always ask for more. I love how they give you the squeeze bottles for all the condiments including their tartar sauce so you can refill your heart's desire and not have to fight with a packet of some sort!
6 years ago
Unassuming on the outside and inside--but you don't come here for the ambiance. You come for the food. I had the haddock and chips with tartar sauce, and it really hit the spot. The fish was crispy and flaky, the chips were hot, and the tartar sauce was excellent to pair. 2 fish and stacked fries! Service was quick and efficient, and the space is simple and no-frills, which fits the place well. Overall, solid fish and chips done right. I'd definitely come back when the craving hits. read more
This used to be our fave fish and chips place and have been patronizing them for more than 20 years but it seems the quality of their food has gone downhill and not sure why. I also didn't see the usual staff when we came here so not sure if there's a change of ownership which explains the lack of quality. Located in a strip mall and a few minutes walk from Scarborough General Hospital & Bendale Public Library, this quaint, hole-in-the-wall restaurant is where locals normally get their fix of crispy fried fish, hand cut fries and mushy peas. Cooked to order white fish, we normally settle for Haddock vs Halibut as the former is more flavourful, meaty and is a perfect compliment to the deep fried richness of the batter. However it seems that the fried haddock has more batter and tasted completely different from before. Whereas previously it was perfectly crunchy, tender flaked and airy, it's now the opposite. The chips didn't taste fresh and portion size was smaller. Dunking the fries in the gravy didn't help elevate the flavour of the fries either. Even the side coleslaw tasted different. I wouldn't say this is one of the best fish and chips in the city but we might just come back and give it another try just to give them the benefit of the doubt. read more
5 years ago
It's fine. Standard. Not sure what the hype is all about. Fish a bit oily. Fries ok. Large portion. If you're a fish and chips connoisseur then make the trek to Chip n Malt in Newmarket. Best I've had period ! Check out my review. read more
Ordered their Cod and Chips, portions were huge... fries were overly fried... I think they were an old batch and refried?... The meal felt rather heavier and greasier compared to other places I've tried.. overall an ok meal but I wouldn't go here again. Prices were reasonable so that's a win. This meal was $10.95 before tax and service is super friendly too read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Clean and cozy family-run fish and chips restaurant in a small strip mall just a bit south of Lawrence Ave on McCowan Rd. This place is best for groups of twos as their tables are rather narrow and the place is not too big. There was plenty of business as soon as the restaurant was open at 11 am and it was a third full by noon. This place has a cute charm to it. They have lamented print of why you should eat fish as it is a rich source of Omega-3 and other vitamins. I enjoyed my order of halibut and chips. The fries were long, sizeable and slightly crispy outside and super soft inside. They were neither skinny, burnt nor oily, too. The halibut had a thin batter and I could still taste the freshness of the actual fish. Portions were rather generous. All orders come with a small side of either coleslaw or beets, which was surprising to me, since most of not all of the other (fish and chips) places that I have been to do not offer it alone as a side. My friend did not know that the sizes would be as big and he was feeling rather hungry, so he made the mistake of ordering chicken nuggets and chips with another order of poutine. By the time, all of our food came, I asked him "Are you sure you can eat all this? That is a lot of fries." to which he responds "Wow! I thought the poutine would just be snack size! Please definitely help me finish it." Well, I am not the biggest fan of gravy and I cannot handle cheese well, so I helped with ones that were not drenched in either or both. In the end, my friend had to ask for a takeout box and the owner lady was nice enough to give us a paper box and paper bag. The utensils here were also actual silver. Nice! No plastic here! No wonder this place won a few awards and mentions from newspapers and even Yelp! Totally would recommend for a simple date or catching up with a friend, one on one. You can probably have a group of four or more if you put the table together. We were both so full and neither of us spent that much even though I order their most expensive item and he order two items. Totally affordable and kid-friendly place, too. The owner lady was very polite. She immediately welcomed us with a bright smile and continuously pour us water and checked in on us without being asked. I usually do not go for fried food, but there are days when I have my cravings. Quality comfy food and service deserves a good review, but since I prefer meals with more people and usually at fancier places, I would give this place 4 stars max. read more
9 years ago
Hidden gem in Scarborough with a friendly staff. High quality fish, not over cooked with tasty served fries! Has a cute hipster setting with authentic wallpaper and decor. The value you received is exceptional for the price you pay! Would definitely come again read more
15 years ago
How come I felt so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips? Maybe I now finally to used to sketchy Scarborough strip plaza? For a split second I almost thought I was in one of the Northern Chinese restaurants that I frequent and want to practice my Mandarin on my waiter! You cannot blame me as all through my lunch I was listening to the two waiters chatting in Mandarin. Cod Fish only ($5.50) is sizable. The batter is crispy and crunchy. The oil can be a little fresher but it is A-OK. As usual, I tried one of the scallops and shrimps from my dinner mate's Seafood Platter (he offered, really he did! I didn't force him!) Both are not bad... but when I start eating deep fried heavy battered food, they kind of all tasted the same. The service here is efficient and indifference... and of course remind me of the Chinese Joints I frequent! See, now I know why I feel so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips!! read more
Date visited : Tues 04/10/2018 Service : 3/5 Friendly enough service. We visited during around early dinner 18:00 EST. Only 1 other couple was in the dining area. Food : 3/5 My wife opted for the the Halibut and Chips and Haddock and Chips for myself. A bit more pricey than our go to spot at Painted Post Fish and Chips. We received our orders in about 10-15 minutes, as for the dishes themselves, the fries were done extra crispy just the way we like without us requesting to be cooked as such. As for the "fish" both the haddock and the halibut were tender and fresh not mushy or soggy. Each of us received 1 decently sized piece of fish for our orders. Batter wise I'd have to say it was light and crispy, less greasy than we have tried at other fish n chip spots. I'd rate the oiliness at 3/5** (view rating list below). For the price paid, would have been nice to have a bit more fries included with the order (we love our fries when they aren't frozen!) Condiments : Ketchup in a squeeze bottle, not sure on the brand or quality. They have something that resembles tartar sauce, but it had a pink/orange tinge to it, which was also in squeeze bottle. However, something in the tartar sauce was making my tongue tingle to almost a numbing sensation, I had consumed more of their tartar sauce than my wife, so she didn't notice a similar sensation on her tongue. Since I have no idea what was/is the cause of that odd tingly/numbing sensation, I would caution other foodies with sensitive tongues to go easy on the custom tartar sauce that is provided to customers. Take out packs of tartar sauce are available (not as flavorful, but likely without that tingly/numbing aspect), along with malt vinegar packets are available. Beverages : We are kinda picky on our Water, not fond of tap water at all due to varying mineral content and sodium content, we usually bring our own from Home, since we buy 15L Ice River water and fill up reusable bottles. Alternatively we opt to share a can of soda or Iced Tea. Not many places offer filtered water as an option. Also, not all bottled water is good quality. At this venue they charge $1.00 + HST for a small glass of ice water with a 2 slices of lemon. Other : Parking is rather limited in the little strip. However, there is additional parking in the adjacent plaza within walking distance. Debit/cash accepted. Hard to enter the parking lot if you are heading Southbound on McCowan, other drivers will likely not give way for you to turn in. I had other drivers blasting their horns at me as I was waiting for a gap in the traffic flow. Repeat visit ? Possibly yes, a fellow friend on Yelp, had reviewed made in house fresh onion rings. So may return to try the fresh onion rings. Oiliness rating** : 1/5 very light and no oily after effect on tongue 2/5 still relatively light, Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges not yet needed except by choice 3/5 medium level of oiliness; light effect on the tongue ; Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges may be used to cut grease 4/5 starting to lean towards being heavy; greasiness now needing Malt Vinegar/Lemon Wedges to cut grease 5/5 very heavy and noticeable on the tongue, difficult to consume batter without Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
Crispy halibut and chips, not greasy, big portions. Definitely a place worthy for a visit. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
11 years ago
Deep friend goodness! We got the large seafood platter with halibut, 4 shrimps, 4 scallops and chips; and the calamari A good fish a chips to me is the right batter to seafood meat ratio and this place had that! The batter was flaky and delicious and the seafood meat portions were great. They could make the coleslaw servings larger but you can always ask for more. I love how they give you the squeeze bottles for all the condiments including their tartar sauce so you can refill your heart's desire and not have to fight with a packet of some sort! read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
10 years ago
So, I came back after a long while because I was craving some fish and chips. The thing is, I didn't remember the fish and chips to be so...Greasy/oily. It was delicious, but it made me feel full right away because the amount of oil. It is crispy, but I don't know.. they missed the mark this time or maybe it was this greasy/oily the first time and I just didn't notice ? However, with that being said,the service is really nice and friendly here. Not a long wait for food and they are pretty attentive. The portions are still very generous! I'd give it a try if you've never been here, just be warned that it's a little on the greasier side. I had the haddock and chips...Last time I had halibut so maybe that could've been a factor ? Not sure. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
11 years ago
This is a small little restaurant on McCowan. Staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. We ordered the family size platter and a haddock on the size. The portions for decent size. The fries were delicious especially with their gravy. The fish was good but I would not say it is the best. The batter was not as great as expected. I had to ask for lemons on the side and they were brought to be extremely late. The other down fall was that we were done eating but had to wait 45 minutes for the bill! read more
5 years ago
10 years ago
It was my first time here and definitely not the last. Ordered the Halibut & Chips which tasted amazing. It was not drenched in oil like some other places that I have been to. I would recommend it to anyone looking for quality Fish & Chips in the East end. read more
9 years ago
11 years ago
Delicious and reasonably priced thick fillet of halibut paired with crisp home cut chips. Batter was thin, crisp, but just a little too greasy. BF had their black pudding platter with home made onion rings and commented that it was as good as the better known St. Andrew's Fish and Chips but at half the price and with better service. I like St Andrew's too, but the prices here are very reasonable. Service was quick and very friendly, and if you are looking for fresh and fast (and cheap) fish and chips, McCowan is a great spot. Brisk take-out business, but very attentive table service too. read more
12 years ago
Very oily & greasy. Fish has a nice thin batter around it, but could maybe use a little more flavour. Fries were super tasty, reminds me of B&B. Portions is decent too, the box looks small but I was getting pretty full by the end. Cost was under $10 without a drink. Decor looks kinda old school, it has its own character. The attendant (owners?) were friendly. Definitely a repeat visit. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
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