Review of 'Kerbisher & Malt'

I have long wanted to try Kerbisher & Malt which is reported to have the best fish & chips in…London? Well, yes, it is extremely good.

You would be forgiven for passing by without even noticing it was there - A small shop in a row of shops along the busy Shepherds Bush Road between Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush. The large glass windows look into a tile-lined interior with a large cafeteria-style communal table on the left and a few smaller individual tables on the right with the kitchen and counter at the back. The tables and furnishings are in keeping with the slightly cool interior - Metal and wood.

The menu is what you might expect with no bones about what you eat here - Fish and chips, really. Ok, they have calamari on the menu too but you want the fish and chips, trust me. But save up for it. The fish (Haddock, Cod, Plaice, Pollock and Coley) is available deep-fried, baked or in matzo meal (?). Chips are separate. On the sides they have the traditional chippie options - Mushy peas, pickled eggs, etc.

We decided on, of course, fish and chips. I had the cod (£6.90), deep fried, and chips (£2). The fish was wonderfully fresh served perched on top of the pile of chips - So fresh it was horizontal (less fresh would droop, don't you know). Delicious batter on the fish kept the fish moist and amazing. The chips were interesting crispy on the outside but not as mushy as you would think on the inside making them a much firmer chip. Really good and I scoffed the lot. I had some mayo on the side (£0.50 and home-made) for dipping the chips into but I really did not need it with the traditional malted vinegar and salt already on the table. My companion had the haddock (£6.80) which it was reported to be “very nice”. We shared an order of mushy peas (£1.60) that were delicious and not overwhelmingly pea-flavoured, if that makes any sense - No resorting to heavy handed seasoning by mint or salt, just simple and very fresh peas. Delicious.

The bill came to £23.75 (including two soft drinks) which is slightly more than you would pay at a bog-standard chippie but here is quality - You have to wait as each things are cooked to order ensuring it is fresh when it arrives at the table.

We will be back. Who knows, perhaps we will try something other than the fish and chips? But then again…

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2015-02-14


Cuisine: American/British

Address: 164 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7PB

Public Transport: TUBE Hammersmith

Location: London (England) - Shepherd's Bush

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Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3556 0228

URL: http://www.kerbisher.co.uk/