"Poppies fish and chips are fun, a guilty pleasure and an old fashioned Great British classic. For mouth tingling, lip smacking, ketchup pouring, gravy drowning indulgence we are the experts at all things fish and chips," according to their website.



I had to try some traditional fish & chips while in London. Traditional British fish and chips consist of battered and deep-fried white fish, usually cod or haddock, served with thick-cut chips. The dish is commonly seasoned with salt and malt vinegar and often accompanied by sides like mushy peas, tartar sauce, or pickled onions. In some regions, curry sauce or gravy is also popular. Fish and chips are typically purchased from a takeaway shop, known as a “chippy,” and served wrapped in paper.



Poppies takes its name from born and bred East-ender Pat ‘Pops’ Newland who captained the ship and steered it on its way. Pops career began in the fish and chip business aged 11, when he got a job on the Roman Road cutting up The Daily Mirror newspaper to wrap fish and chips in for takeaway. Half a century on, Pops realized his lifelong dream and founded his own place in Spitalfields using his passion for fish and chips, decades of experience and love of British popular culture to create an award-winning restaurant filled with warmth, charm and retro memorabilia collected throughout his life.



The fish was indeed white and flaky, though not batter-crisp like I hoped. Similarly, the chips were thick and flavorful with the malt vinegar, but no crisp to speak of. Flavors on point, texture could use some work -- at least for me.



Despite being absolutely stuffed from noshing all day, I splurged for dessert, too: CARAMEL STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING WITH 1 SCOOP OF ICE CREAM.



Wow. Talk about rich, sweet, heavy and oh so satisfying.



Grade: B