It’s been awhile since my last trip to Fish & Co.
It has been at least fifteen years, back when they just had one store in the country, and though I found the specials fine, I never thought of coming back, for one main reason. The Fish & Chips didn’t meet my expectations. As I recall, it tasted quite ordinary, and the batter on the fillet? Well, it wasn’t the crunchy beer batter I was anticipating.
It was good, but not extra special.
I kept that review to myself, until I found a reason to visit again.
A Second Chance at Uptown Mall BGC
The past few years, I had noticed that more and more Fish & Co. stores were opening, I believe they now have at least ten all over the Philippines, and lo and behold, their Fish & Chips, were always heavily promoted, as being the best in the city. As they should be, I thought. After all, Fish & Co. is a franchise from Singapore, where due to the very numerous expat community, simply had the best Fish & Chips in all of Asia. And so, anticipating adventure, I went to the branch in the Uptown Mall in BGC.
Seven Flavors and a Beer-Battered Triumph
First off, the staff and the servers are all first class. This is what I observed in The Bistro Group restaurants over the years, and Fish & Co. is no exception.
I immediately asked for the Best Fish & Chips, and what the fillet was made of, immediately, the server said Cream Dory. And while I would have preferred Halibut or Haddock, I was quite pleased with the fish, and more so, the instant reply.
Fish & Co. now serves seven (!) varieties of Fish & Chips: Swiss, stuffed with Mozzarella-Oregano cheese. Nori, with sheets of Japanese seaweed. Philadelphia, with cream cheese of course! Bombay, coated with an Indian dip. Sambal, with Singapore’s spicy sauce. New York, the fish stuffed with Parmesan Cheese.
And my order, the best, my order, coated with a light and crispy beer batter. I was tempted to order the others, but I was very satisfied with my order, served in a pan, the traditional Fish & Co. manner, an ode to the Mediterranean fishermen who caught seafood fresh from the seas, cooked and ate it straight from the pan. I now consider their Fish & Chips, firmly on my Top Three! And yes, the chips, those french fries, were pretty tasty too!
A Seafood Twist on Sisig and the Fisherman’s Feast
I also taste tested the Fried Calamari, which arrived in a very generous portion. Another rustic favorite, one that needed no improvement, but it was as good then, as it is now. Peppery and really appetizing, the perfect starter to a Fish & Co. meal. And what a beginning, it led to my new favorite meal of the day, the Fish & Squid Sisig!
I’m proudly from Pampanga, but I’m not the stereotypical Sisig Snob who frowns and raises their eyebrows at Sisig served with egg and/or mayonnaise. I love Sisig. In all its forms and proteins and even their lack of proteins. Including their latest: the Squid and Fish Sisig! This grand gesture from Fish & Co. tasted like Pork Sisig, the chunks of squid and fish, over rice, with a fried egg on top, was really the peak of my lunch.
I’m recommending it to all Sisig Lovers, and hoping that it permanently sits on the Fish & Co. menu!
The grand debut of the peak item followed, the Fisherman’s Bucket, literally a big and blue bucket of mud crab, blue crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, corn, and slices of lemon, plus my selection of signature sauces: lemon butter and Singapore chili! I put on the plastic gloves, and devoured the dish. This is the new special offered in many seafood and crab restaurants, and I’m glad to say that Fish & Co. really delivered. Just one wish: provide a bib for messy eaters like myself?
So yes, after missing it on purpose for a decade and a half, Fish & Co. has found a new fan, who will gladly bring his family and friend to immensely enjoy the Squid & Fish Sisig, and yes, I will soon return too for Fish & Co.’s Fish & Chips!
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