In Cod We Trust

When you are walking around Greenwich Village and it is a somewhat rainy day, a sudden craving for fish and chips can hit you. The neighborhood and weather strongly influenced my decision to go for a "snack" at the tiny fish and chip shop called "A Salt and Battery."


A Salt and Battery is located on Greenwich Avenue between 12th and 13th Street, right next to their sister business called Tea and Sympathy (the clever names keep coming) - both a British restaurant and shop carrying teas, cookies, movies, and much more. I love to get Yorkshire Gold Tea and McVities Penguin Biscuits when I stop by. I seriously could eat the whole pack of cookies at once!

When you enter the busy A Salt and Battery, be prepared to wait for a seat, there are only about 8 bar stools that line the mirrored wall and window. The turnover is quick though, and this time the weather was nice so I sat outside and ate. The menu is on a no-frills board and is straightforward with a few fried fish selections accompanied by glorious sides such as chips (of course), battered beets, and for dessert a couple of fried British candy bars and fritters. You order at the counter and wait for your food to be called out. It usually only takes 5 to 10 minutes.
I had the regular size haddock and chips. Haddock is one of the most popular fish used in British fish and chips, and it also is found along the North Atlantic ocean. The order comes with one piece of fried fish on top of a basket of chips. You can flavor your fish with malt vinegar or tartar sauce, but don't expect lemon slices. Lemon juice is my favorite way to top fried fish, so I bought a lemon in a bodega before I stopped in. The batter fries up nicely to a dark golden brown and the fish stays firm yet flaky on the inside. The chips are pretty standard - tasty and not too crispy; the lemon juice and malt vinegar softens the chips up.
I go to A Salt and Battery not only for the delicious fried goodies, but because the staff is always nice. Plus, the shop makes it a priority to cook conscientiously. They switched from the traditional Cod fish to Pollock which is a sustainable locally caught fish. Their sides are mostly local too, coming from Long Island.

If you are in the neighborhood and are in the mood for some good eats, stop by A Salt and Battery - you won't be disappointed.

For more information on fish and chips click here.