Five gold stars

Darren promised us great fish and chips and he delivered in spades full.

As part of the refurbishment of the Albergue, the restaurant has been given a rethink. On Sundays they serve a traditional British roast dinner, there are theme nights planned, starting with Italian, basket meal are available in the bar and on Fridays the menu is fish, chips and peas served with bread and butter.

Darren knows there is some good competition for fish and chips in this area. At Quesada they serve cod or haddock with chips etc during the day for 6€. In Catral, you can get a similar deal at the Inn Plaice. Syra's Restaurant had to come with something special to beat those two.

Having been brought up in Yorkshire, I reckon know a thing or two about good fish and chips. After all I'd visited Harry Ramsden's when he had just the one restaurant in Guiseley. In places like Batley, Morley and Heckmondwike, a good fish and chip shop can be a gold mine for the proprietor.

There are a number of factors that add up to a good fish and chip supper. First the chips have to be just right; golden and crisp and not greasy. More important is the fish which has to be white, firm and meaty. It has to be coated in a batter which is light, thin and crisp. The peas have to be properly cooked - mushy does not mean sloppy. Lastly it is always good if you get butter and not margarine with the bread and of course the the portions need to be generous.

Last night's meal ticked all of those boxes especially the one about generous portions. I can't recall ever seeing fish as large as those that were served last night. They were huge, and hung over the sides of the king size dinner plates that the restaurant uses. I can say with certainty that nobody left Syra's restaurant hungry last night!

Darren provided some nice touches, a half lemon to squeeze on the fish and plenty of tartar sauce which of course you didn't get at Harry Ramsden's. The only thing that was missing and I dare say you could have asked for it, was vinegar. Darren, a bottle of good quality malt vinegar on the table would have made the score 5 gold stars plus.