Royal Guard Fish & Chips

323 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT - (203) 348-4653

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Posted By Donald Thompson on June 8, 2009 2:52 PM

For a seafood lover, Royal Guard Fish & Chips looked to be a gem: a favorable Roadfood.com review, and a location near the Connecticut shore in a quaint little building with a sign proclaiming "Authentic English Fish & Chips."

It turned out to be a letdown. It looks great, but the fish is a disappointment. The freshly fried, crispy batter is good, but it envelops a filet of unknown fish that is so insipid and devoid of texture as to be almost paste-like. The potatoes are not the authentic steak-fry-like slabs that are served as "chips" in England. They are soft, small American-style french fries that no doubt came from the freezer.

Perhaps other items on the menu are better, such as the haddock or shrimp, but the restaurant's signature dish was not worth the trip off of I-95.

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Fish & Chips

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Posted By Jeff Johnson on August 16, 2006 11:04 PM

OK folks, here it is: the best fish and chips in the Northeast. Hidden away in the backstreets of Stamford is a little hole-in-the-wall of a restaurant serving only fried food.

I make it a point to try fried seafood whenever I'm near the coast, which is often. Hands down this place is the best. It's nothin' more than a few inside tables in what resembles a slightly rundown fast-food place. The closest thing they have to ambiance is the four outside plastic tables that look out over the parking lot and street.

The fish is what makes it worthwhile. The batter is layered on and it fries up to a crunchy texture, not the smooth thin coating you typically get. The fish is thick and flakey. Even though it is fried it doesn't seem greasy. Do yourself a favor and try the fantail shrimp as well.

My only complaint - they use Kraft tartar and cocktail sauces, not homemade, so stick to the malt vinegar and lemons.

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