Cod Almighty Chippery

For the record, I loathe puns.

New Jersey had been seriously lacking a high quality fish shack since the closing of the beloved Chippery Fish and Chips in Fanwood a few years ago. Other than trips to NYC (see Atlantic Chip Shop 7/28/10), there are really no fried fish joints in this area. Sure you might find a seafood restaurant, but a chippery is hard to find.


Storefront

This week marks the return of one such a dining experience to Union County, NJ. Cod Almighty Chippery opened this week in Westfield, New Jersey right next door to the renowned Bagel Chateau. Despite the bar set up and small, but reasonable dining area, we opted for take-out.


Menu

We ordered the Family Special (8 pieces of fish and two sides - $30), Captain Fantastic (3 piece with fries - $10), side of corn ($2) and battered hot dog with cheese ($7).

When we arrived home we were immediately impressed with the absolutely massive portions of fish. We were equally as thrilled that the food stayed crispy for the 10 minute drive home. Typically, fried food will quickly become soggy as the steam escapes in the packaging.


Fish & Chips

The fry batter worked well with the cod and provided the precise flaky-to-crispy consistency you crave with fish and chips. The fish was well seasoned and the batter was light and crunchy. Dipping the fish in their delicious malt vinegar transformed it for me. Rich, evocative flavors made it even more appealing.

Many people enjoy, freshly-cut French Fries with the skin on. While I am not personally a fan, they were extremely well received by my wife and other dinner guests. The potatoes were crispy, warm and appropriately seasoned. I was surprised I ate as many as I did; certainly a testament to preparation.


Battered Hot Dog

The battered (i.e. deep fried) hot dog was my only disappointment in the meal. While it was probably a foot-long, it was missing the trademark "snap" you find higher quality dogs. This is the type of hotdog that is the reason I dislike franks; mediocre and not necessarily all beef. The cheese was probably cheese wiz, which would have been ok had the burger been better. In this instance, it seemed as if it were there to overcompensate for the lesser quality hotdog.


Side dishes

Accompaniments can often decide the meal's noteworthiness. We ordered baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and corn. I liked the baked beans. They were different and had the essence of barbecue flavor but it wasn't overpowering. The macaroni and cheese went over very well. It was creamy and cheesy. It may not have been as good as the Atlantic Chip Shop's, but it was better than average. While it did not have that carmelized rich flavor you often get from it being baked in an oven, it had its own character that made it unique. The corn was our least favorite. It was not fresh and tasted as if it were out of a can. This may have been a letdown, but it didn't take away from overall positive impression of the restaurant.

A few thoughts came to me while we were eating. I was curious to how it would perform next to the wildly popular Bagel Chateau. However, my wife was quick to point our that Cod Almighty will probably do tremendous business during the Easter season. I would not only agree but add that since this is one of the only chippery in the area, it will likely do well.

I am also interested to see if Cod Almighty will continue to give such massive portions as business improves. Often times, a restaurant will subtetly cut back on portion size to meet increasing food costs. If they manage to keep it this way, I am confident their business will thrive.


Chippery Fish & Chips Sign

Much like Dilbert would never be a replacement for Calvin and Hobbes, Cod Almighty will never restore the reputation of Chippery Fish and Chips. That location was legendary. However, the quality of fresh ingredients and good service have a good chance of making it suitable replacement. I also like the fact that Cod Almighty has hung the sign of Chippery Fish & Chips in their interior wall as kind of a respectful homage.

For 7 people, and a total price of $49, this was more than reasonable and a return trip is nearly guaranteed.

Rating: Recommended.