Golden Union

Venue: Golden Union, Poland Street

Food: Fish & Chips

Cost: £5.95

Rating: 75%

GUEST COLUMNIST - CHARLIE ALMOND @charliealmond 

So I believe this is the first guest review on GALS.  I'd batter make it good... 

It was Friday and the hour hand was slowly creeping up to the magic number of 1; the time we all rejoice and consider which gluttonous feast will light up our lunchtime.  Being a Friday and feeling particularly God fearing, I suggested Fish & Chips.  Actually my girlfriend suggested it to MLB who suggested it to me, but that spoils my rhythm somewhat.

Now usually we would head across to Berwick St Market and queue up for Fish & Chips (it's actually just called Fish & Chips - there's a brand with a strong USP eh?). However, this time we were heading somewhere different, somewhere new.  Golden Union opened last year, but it's tucked away on a part of Poland Street which isn't a natural thoroughfare if you are walking west from Soho Square, so I hadn't actually seen it in the flesh before.  But when I did, I was impressed. 

Golden Union has a very simple, old school look to it - a 50s cafe style with a modern gloss, which works really well.  I'm still slightly haunted by trips to Blackpool as a kid, having to chat with the local people and going to Harry Ramsden's with all its chintzy carnations on the polyester tablecloths...so having a chippy do it so simply was good to see.

With the smell of frying fish luring us in, we queued and scanned the menu.  The regulars were all there (haddock, cod, scampi, saveloy) but also the likes of coley, pollock and rock salmon.  The coley was on special offer - £5.95 for coley & chips - thankfully too, as small cod or haddock are flogged for £5.25, add a pound for a large.  That's without chips.  You don't get that at the Welcome Chinese & Chips in West Kirby...

I digress.

Once ordered, the well oiled machine kicked in and we soon had our golden, crisp coley in our mitts, along with a 'thanks honey' from the affectionate girl behind the counter.  Easily wooed I am. 

The fish was excellent - crisp, smooth batter and even too - quite often you get big lumpy or thin exposed bits of fish.  The chips on first view looked undercooked and without that lovely soggy feeling you only get with ‘chippy’ chips (it might just be me who likes that though) BUT I was to be proved wrong.  They were perfectly cooked and the fine balance between crispy yet soft. 

We also had an AMAZING curry sauce.  Now I'm Northern in roots and enjoy my chips with curry sauce, but I know that this is just plain wrong in many people's eyes.  MLB had never tried it either, but under my firm insistence he tried and enjoyed.  If you get a chance, go curry.  You won't regret it. 

We soon polished off the food and for a minute I felt as though I wanted more.  But alas I also had an afternoon at my desk to look forward to, so I suspect any more would have given me a carbo-coma...upon reflection it was the perfect amount. 

Fish on a Friday - fantastic.

  

Taste 9

Portion size 7

Service 8

Speed 8

Originality 4

Choice 8

Workability 7

Office response 10

Value for money 5

Brand 9

Overall: 75%