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Fresco's Fish & Chips
Category: Restaurants Fish & Chips Fish & Chips [Edit]
213 Augusta AveToronto, ON M5T 2L6
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 546-4557
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Fresco's Fish & Chips
Review Highlights
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"...try include the crab cakes and chips and sweet potato fries." In 4 reviews -
"plus it's a bonus how they play beatles music all the time." In 3 reviews -
"I'll be back to try the poutine and crab cakes." In 4 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Shiona R.
4/24/2012
I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to fish and chips. As I grew up in Scotland I have eaten fish and chips from award winning paces, including a place in a small town called Stonehaven, the shop has won an award for the best fish and chips in the UK.
So when I first moved to T.O and saw places advertising fish and chips...I expected something similar, unfortunately I got fish and fries...fries being the slimmer sister to the mighty chunky chip! (This is a bad state when you are craving that chunky chip and a decent dollop of mayo for dipping).
However, while frequenting one of my favorite neighbourhood's, I stumbled across this gem. I can safely say it is the best fish and chips I have had in this beautiful city. I tried the halibut and my husband went for the haddock. The fish was not over cooked, not dry on the inside and had not been sitting under the heat lamp. It was fresh, crispy, light and not to greasy. The chips were tasty too, crispy but not too much. Not too soggy and not too over done...just perfect. I loved the dips on the side too.
Once the weather is a bit nicer; I cannot wait to return and sit outside enjoying this fishy fare! Although I am thinking I will be stuck with chips due to the Gluten issue these days! -
Review from Yvonne T.
***1/2 stars
William T. and I trekked down to Kensington Market to try out the famed Fish & Chips at Fresco's. The space itself is quite small, with 3 small tables and a few more tables out front on the patio. Owner, Michael Fresco holds up shop with hired help and his love for the Beatles serves as the décor theme.
A sign which reads Fry on ZTF (zero trans fat) with the subtext that the food here is made with premium frying oil with zero trans fat and low saturated fat, coupled with the fact that the fish served here is Ocean Wise certified are what set Fresco's apart.
I opted for a bottle of orange soda from Pop Shoppe - the labeling and packaging satisfied my nostalgia.
The menu is neatly written on a chalkboard - I've never seen such uniformity and perfectionism in font before. It made me wonder if my eyes were deceiving me. We opted for the Halibut & Chips ($13.95) with a mixed batter: regular and extra crispy made possible by the use of Miss Vickie's chips. The resulting product was a nice golden-brown batter and the option of extra crispy was so worth it!
Next we tried the Crab Cake Sandwich ($4.95) which came with fresh slaw on the side. This was just okay for me and didn't have the "wow" factor that I had hoped for. There was more bun than crab cake in each bite, which left one wanting.
William T. wanted to try the Quebec-Style Poutine ($3.98 for a small) which was quite good. The cheese curds stood up to the gravy and the gravy was not overly salty like most I've tried around town.
V E R D I C T
Fresco's differentiates itself by sourcing sustainable fish, and cooking with fresh oil (not like some joints that re-use their oil to the point that your fish batter is a tint of brown that raises eyebrows). The only downer is the wait time - about 20 minutes per order. But that's the price you pay for quality.
With the limited seating, I highly recommend you call ahead and get your order to go.
The owner is a jolly good fella, though I wish he would've let me order the Lobster Bites sans the chips but alas that was not an option. I guess that just means I will have to come back to try it another time! -
Review from Robbie G.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
I decided to try fresco's after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp, and I'm glad I did!
Decided to go with the Haddock & Chips, and was curious about the "Miss Vickies extra crisp batter" so I decided to have 1 of 2 pieces of fish covered in the special batter. One regular, one Miss Vickies. The texture of the special batter make it worth the extra dollar. It was damn tasty (granted, so was the piece with regular batter)! Also helped that the fish itself was perfectly cooked, moist, and well proportioned.
The chips that accompanied the meal were also very good. Nothing frozen here, and the portion of fries was quite large!!
If you're eating here with a friend, I'd recommend getting a single order of fish 'n' chips, then simply adding fish for the second person. You'll save a lot of money if you split the fries...of which there are more than enough for two! -
Review from Anna W.
Parkdale, Toronto, ON
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
The vibe: It's a Beatles themed fish n' chips shop with a patio in Kensington Market. What more could you want?
The food: Delicious fried goodness.
My go-to meal: The poutine. It's Quebec style, approved by my French Canadian friend. Sometimes, I just get cravings for that poutine and have to pop in. Other times, I'll splurge and get fish n' poutine. No shame.
Secret: Ask for your fish extra crispy. ;)Listed in: Lunch in Kensington Market
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Review from Mark G.
5/12/2012
After (and because of) all of the 5-star ratings, I made a point of visiting Fresco's on my next Toronto trip, which was yesterday. Maybe it was because I expected festivities in my mouth, but I was underwhelmed.
I had the cod and chips, one regular and one extra crispy, at the staff's suggestion. The fish was good, and so were the chips, but I don't get all the hype.
3 1/2 stars for the food, plus 1/2 star bonus for the excellent service and staff and owner friendliness. Thanks, Fresco's.
I'll be back sometime to try something else because the experience was positive. Next time I'm in the area, I'll stop by again, I just won't rearrange my trip to get there. -
Review from R.J. G.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2012
We were devoted chippy's to the fish place (Somethin's Fishy) that occupied the space taken over by Fresco's so we were anxious about a new owner. This review is long overdue, as we have been enjoying it for some time now.
Gladly, the food continues to be delicious and the simple fish & chips menu was expanded to include vegan friendly options. The place is a small hole in the wall on Augusta that puts out the best fish & chips in the area. The local competition is of course Harbord Fish & Chips was is consistently heavier and greasier. Of course the star of any fish & chip place is the fish & chips and they are delicious. We have tried many of the options and the batter for the fish is light and airy and never too greasy and the fries are always consistently yummy. The attention to detail by the staff always makes for a great meal. Included with every meal is a lemon a must for any fish dish and tartar sauce. Although they have limited indoor seating it makes for great take away or a lunch/dinner outside on their patio. -
Review from Randy S.
4/17/2012
Absolutely fantastic! The owner was helpful and friendly and the food was hot, fresh, and delicious! I had the salmon and chips (w/ the Vickies batter) and my buddy got the lobster bites and chips. We also got some crab cakes and mozzarella sticks. Everything was amazing. Next time I'm in Toronto I'll have to go back for sure. If you like seafood, especially fish & chips, you owe it to yourself to check out Fresco's.
To Fresco's: Goodbye, and thanks for all the fish! -
Review from En L.
I been dying to try this place after reading all the awesome reviews.
I had the lobster bites and chips, and, my husband had the halibut and sweet potatoes combo. Love it. Great fries. Great fish. Great bites.
The owner seems like the nicest guy and passionate. He was talking to a patron about the type of oil he uses and how often he changes the oil to keep the taste clean. You gotta love that! -
Review from Asuka N.
4/8/2012
It's pretty safe to say that these are the best fish and chips I've had, and they beat the pants off of the few iterations I had when I was in England last summer (isn't that the home of this dish?). A few of us dropped by this small joint for a somewhat late dinner (around 9 PM). I don't know much about Toronto, but even though the neighborhood seemed somewhat shady at this time of night, the people who work here are absolutely delightful to chat with, even after a day where we were told that there were lines out the door the entire day! Prices are pretty reasonable (you can get a standard fish and chips for around $10-12, depending on what you hanker for), and the food gets prepped pretty quickly. That said, there are all of 3 tables inside, so unless you come late (like we did) or (I reckon) when it opens, it may be tough to get indoor seating.
As for the food itself - divine. I've had all manner of fish sticks and their variants, but the kind here is really fresh and tender. The cod I had was done in batter that was made 'extra crispy' (basically they just crush a bag of sea salt Miss Vickie's chips and add it to the batter) that added a nice kick, but the fish was still very soft and buttery. My girlfriend got the lobster bites, which are basically the same thing as popcorn chicken, but with lobster meat instead. Tasty stuff - and you have to eat this (and any of the other fishes, IMO) with the chipotle sauce. It's not super-spicy, but it really adds a depth of flavor that regular tartar sauce just doesn't have. The fries are pretty standard; if anything, my only complaint is that they give you a ton of fries when I'd rather trade half (or more) in to get another breaded filet of fish.
This really is a fantastic little shop, and I'd come back here anytime (if I was in town often). Incredibly tasty fish, lots of different types of fish (they also do haddock and salmon, to name a couple others), and a really awesome group of people who work there as well. -
Review from Ed S.
4/7/2012
This place good. Fish good. Fire bad.
1. Crushed potato chips in the batter for extra crispy and extra flavor = good.
2. Light, crispy and not greasy.
3. Bigger pieces of fish than The One That Got Away, the place I went to last week.
4. Friendly people working the register and cooking the food.
5. No deep fried Mars bars. One star off. -
Review from jackie l.
Thornhill, ON
5/19/2012
Love. Love. Love this place! It was quite random of us to head over here..I read reviews about this place and wanted to bring my boyfriend here as he enjoys some good fish and chips..Its this small place in Kensington Market with a bright blue sign.
We walked in and were greeted by two friendly staff members and one of them was the owner..He asked if this was the first time we have ever been here and we stated yes. He recommended some options including trying his famous miss vickies battered fish..so we had one regular battered and the other miss vickyfied..We also ordered a lobster poy-boy..
Its a small place probably able to sit about 10-12 people but when the weather is nice, the patio is opened as well..
The owner brought us our food and we unwrapped the box of goodies..and omg, it was the best fish and chips I had ever had..I really enjoyed the miss vickies as it gave the fish a bit more crunch..mm..the fries, absolutely delicious-or the chips i might say..authentic, chunky fries which were not too crispy but had the right texture! My boyfriend loved the poy-boy..it was yummy and it had a delicious chipotle mayo to add to it..He said that their fries were the best he ever had!
Afterwards, we spoke to the owner and he wanted to know our opinions of the fish..i thought that was a really nice touch and he seems to remember previous customers names and orders..I really liked that.
Definitely come here-prices are reasonable and the food is just simply amazing!
Staff are very warm and friendly and they just make you feel at home.
We will definitely be back when we are craving some good ol fashion fish and chips.
YUM! -
Review from Nicole B.
Toronto, ON
5/17/2012
Just moved into the market and had a friend take me there one night. I couldn't decide my first time so my friend ordered a fish sandwhich for me ith fries and pop.
Just hearing 'fish sandwhich' didn't really get me excited but in the meantime I enjoyed the owner and woman in the back; They are super cool and friendly and have been great every time I've been back.
If you have not tried the fish sandwhich, DO IT NOW! I'm not sure whether I've been having cod or haddock because I'm indecisive and always have them surprise me hahaha.
I love taking the meal home and watching a movie with it. The consruction of the sandwhich is surprising, I'm more of an exoctic eater but love it. The chipotlle mayo knocks it out of the park. It's just so good. And I've been meaning to order fish because of their neat Miss Vikies batter.
The fries, by the way, are SO good. Like they should be, fresh fresh fresh, thick, full, a bit of skin in there, and cooked the perfect amount of time.
I was actually googling the hours over there, because I'm just about to grab a fish sammich combo :D
So im getting hungry, gotta run, but I give it two thumbs wayyyy up!! -
Review from kevin s.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2012
Absolutely amazing. Seriously the best fish and chips I've ever had. Got the Halibut and a Poutine. You will at first think it's pricey, but for the quantity and quality of the food, I was glad to pay it.
Oh yeh, and their Miss Vickie batter (they have two batters to choose from) is AMAZING. -
Review from Al M.
Toronto, ON
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best places for Fish and Chips. The Miss Vickie's batter is worth it.
makes sense, from the slaw to the tarter sauce. Nice and simple the way it should be. Keep it up. -
Review from Bijan V.
*Slow clap* Well done Michael, well done.
Here is an owner that knows how to put together a small shop and serve up some amazing food. Grade A service (Michael et al are super friendly, remember their customers and know how to provide customer service).
I've tried a good number of the things they have on the menu and I can for sure say you need to try their Miss Vickie's batter (don't worry you can get two pieces and try a different batter on each to compare) and their sauces are to die for! Portions are large (I don't think I've been able to finish all the fries yet), and prices are very reasonable.
On the plus side is their crab cakes (probably one of the better ones I've had in the city!) and to outdo themselves, Michael continually tries to come up with something better to please his customers. In the summer he was serving real cream soft-serve (not of that air-y fake milk stuff). It's too bad he had to get rid of it, but now he's made up for it with some incredible poutines!
Anyways, it's without question I send everyone to Fresco's when they ask me for Fish and Chips, and rightly so no one has ever disliked my recommendation! -
Review from Jo M.
Toronto, ON
Amazing!! My bf got the cod, one in Miss Vicky's batter and other normal. I tasted both and Miss Vicky's batter took the cake. It was crispy but not burned, fish was tender and flakey. I decided to try the shrimp po-boy, it wasn't the same as the "authentic" version, this one had chesse, coleslaw and was on toasted ciabatta, but it was great nonetheless. Shrimp was big and juicy, not those lame tiny ones. We noticed they were making the food as it was ordered (the chef even opened a brand new bag of Ms Vicky's for the order), I think this helps with everything tasting amazing.
We also had to order the poutine since there's been so much talk about it. Fries were perfectly cooked. Gravy was done right; not too heavy, not too light, not too salty. It would have been nice to get more gravy & cheese though. By the time you got close to the bottom of the box, there were just plain fries.
Other notes:
- Barely any seating inside.
- Owner was incredibly nice.
Note to Owner: If you decide you want to change your po-boy bread to something a little more "authentic", Silverstein's makes a "weiner bun" that's pretty close to NOLA Style French Bread. -
Review from Jenn G.
Scarborough, ON
UPDATE: DROOLworthy SHRIMP/LOBSTER POBOY! THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT TO THE MENU!! my hubby loved it so much he ordered two SHRIMP POBOY combos.
*must try it with the chipotle sauce*
Will come back in 2 weeks for some more yumminess
plus it's a bonus how they play beatles music all the time =) =) =)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/21/2011
The fish and chips were pretty amazing. Me and my hubby went to fresco's last night and ordered the… Read more »
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Review from Tas H.
Toronto, ON
10/11/2011
Been here twice and loved the 'Miss Vickys' battered fish. I believe I tried haddock both times and I rarely eat fish. The fish is freshly fried so its not greasy and the fries are very yum. The order comes with coleslaw which is decent but I'm always too full to finish it.
Only downside is that its quite pricey for 'fish and chips' ($11.25 including the $1 extra from 'Miss Vickey's batter').
But the upside is that its big enough to share with a friend. Maybe add an order of fish.
Second upside is that all the containers are biodegradable! -
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
7/21/2011
Peeps know what I have to say about ONT fish&chips. The fish batter in this neck of the woods isn't "wrong" per se. But man alive, if you ever get out Nova Scotia way, your world will be altered. For the batter! yuk yuk yuk.
This place, much like so many fish and chips joints in the city is a totally passable place to grab a bite. The fish is well done and the batter isn't going to make you throw a hissy fit or anything. It's perfectly respectable deep fried haddock. What does set Fresco's apart from other places are the fries which are well salted with a hint of green. They are truly delicious, well fried, skins on, bold french fries that are worth the trek alone.
It's a hole in the wall obviously, and you'll want to sit out on the curb in the sun to eat out of the newspaper wrapping, but if you're in Kensington you're a real goon if you're expecting anything else.
All in all, it is the epitome of "A-OK". Not great but not too bad. Totally middle of the road.Listed in: Best Fish & Chips
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Review from Simika K.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
In the mood for some fish and chips for lunch one day, my friend suggested this place and we went to get our fix. The shop did not disappoint: the place has a very old neighbourhood shop feel, if you know what I mean. Like, the owners have been around for a while, probably know a lot customers by name, that sort of thing. It's a small establishment, with a few tables outside where you can sit and watch the colourful characters walk by :) I loved seeing the hippies and hipsters, both look like they belong here.
We ordered the Haddock and chips. It was really good. For $12 bucks or so, there were two big pieces of crispy battered fish, a whole lot of fries and a pop. Decent price for all the food you get. I was barely able to eat my fries, I was so full ! I'll know for next time to go without having breakfast :) They also serve cod, if memory serves me right - that's what I want to try the next time I go!
I also loved all the Beatles posters and pictures on the wall :) Any place that displays their love for John, Paul, George and Ringo AND serves good food, is a win in my book! :)Listed in: Toronto Awesomeness
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Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
8/5/2011
If you like super crispy batter I'd recommend you go with the Ms. Vickie's batter, it's original batter + crushed Ms. Vickie's Salt and Vinegar chips :D. The original batter was alright, but kinda thin and wasn't what I'm used to. The fries are meh, mine were not crispy at all. The quality of the fish was excellent as it was moist and flakey! The coleslaw was very refreshing and probably more authentically homemade than those that are drowned in mayo. Unfortunately, I didn't find my lemon wedge until the very end :(
The girl who took my order was a little off putting but the owner (?) was super nice.
I think a nice bonus of this place is the fact that they use biodegradable take out boxes and cutlery and are diligent in disposing of them properly. Even if it's just to appeal to the neighbourhood, I think it's a great initiative.
I'll definitely be back, probably just for the fish though. I wonder if they do that...yum. Went back, they definitely do serve just the fish :) got the Ms. Vickie's jalapeno batter this time ;)Listed in: Lunch Time Escapades
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Review from elise s.
Toronto, ON
7/15/2011
Wow Yum This food is the bomb. What a shame Diana or whoever she is wrote the only bad review of this place (a pretty badly written review as well). I don't know how anyone could get soggy food from this place because Miss Vicki's crispy batter is as crisp as it gets.
I'm from Australia people. I've lived in the states, Canada and traveled all over the world. These are the best fish and chups, no seriously, these are the best. Australia is one of those countries who has perfected the art of fish and chips and like McDonalds, there is literally one on every corner. That's been a hard thing for me to SWALLOW since coming to live in North America is the lack of fish and chup shops.
For some reason Yelp filtered out the top seven great reviews of this place and I didn't discover that until I went back to write this review.
I had 2xHaddock, with sweet pattootie fries, chipotle, some sauce that was a magnificent cross between tar tare and mayo, and a coke zero. For the two of us it came to 25 bucks.
Turns out it's not that hard to be nice to the customers, the portions are very filling and the atmosphere is great. Woot!!! Fish and Chups!! -
Review from Sarah H.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Felt like getting fish and chips one night and I had read a lot of positive reviews about this place so decided to give it a try.
The owner was the only one there working and he was super friendly. The food itself wasn't the best fish & chips I've ever had (i got the halibut and chips), but was pretty good, and I would go back purely based on the great service. -
Review from Joe C.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
this place is hidden in Kennsington market and is super small. if you want the wall seats you will need to do a dinner table hurdle over another table. Aside from that this fish n' chip place has some pretty crispy (in a good way) batter. loved it. fries were pretty mediocre i did like the indian chill powder on them though. I always get the Cod and chips. i usually come at lunch so not that busy but i can see this place filling up real fast.
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Review from Danny W.
Toronto, ON
4/16/2011 1 photo
I feel I'm just going to be another positive review here but and experience this good deserves to be told. Fresco's has become my chippy of choice with its combination of friendly service, great food and great location. Located in one of my favourite parts of the city Fresco's serves good old fashioned fish & chips and does it very well.
Portions are filling and come with two pieces of fish (haddock in my case), fries, cole slaw and of course tar tar. Fish is perfectly cooked, moist but still flaky with a batter that's just the right thickness with a good crisp to them. There's a choice of batter and my recommendation is to get one fish in the classic and the other with the Miss Vicki's which gives it a nice extra crunch nice change of flavour.
Fries are great and are of the proper hand cut, skin on type and the cole slaw has just the right amount of mayo so it's still a nice and refreshing complement to its deep fried friends.
I've been there twice and the service is very friendly, the second time it was the owner and he's an all around good guy to talk to and it's obvious he really does care a lot about creating a quality product.
Sitting outdoors on the patio enjoying the fish and chips while watching the goings on in the Kensington area, can't get anymore perfect. Extra bonus that the boxes and even the utensils are biodegradable so you can feel kinda good about indulging in fried foods :) -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
Update. Don't worry: I still think Fresco's serves up the best F&C in town, but I've recently discovered something surprising:
Fresco's has one of THE BEST poutines in the city, with curds so freaking squeaky I want to punch the air in joy.
[POW]1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2010
This Kensington fish n' chip shop makes me do cartwheels.
It's been under new ownership for about a… Read more »
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Review from Don C.
Toronto, ON
8/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Fantastic Fish and Chips. Great staff... call ahead and they'll have it waiting.
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Review from Jane M.
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favourite thing about Fresco's is the staff. The girl working there last night (who we later learned was the manager) was beyond nice. Seriously. There's nice and there's so nice, you're sure she must have some kind of ulterior motive. Alas, such is the confusion that befalls you when you run into someone who doesn't hate their job (at least not outwardly).
We originally went in to redeem a Groupon-type deal my boyfriend had gotten only to be informed that we can't actually use it til tomorrow. Still, we decided since we'd walked all the way down there, we'd get some food to share, anyway. It was then that the girl working the counter offered to 'big up' our order because "it was the least she could do" after disappointing us. This was only the beginning -- she was insanely nice.
As for the food, the chips are the good, skin-on kind, similar to Harbord. In my opinion, they're not quite as good as Harbord's chips, but Fresco's fish is INFINITELY better, so it's 50/50 between the two. Which brings me quite nicely to the batter...
I wasn't really a huge fan of the Vickies batter or the original, but (put the pitchforks down!!) there is a reasonable explanation. Back in the old country (Ireland), we have a little chain called Leo Burdock's. It's only a handful of shops, three I think, but they have a special ingredient that makes their fish and chips 6,799 times better than anything else anywhere on the planet: Everything is deep-fried in animal fat. And let me tell you, it tastes oh, so good. Nothing like grease with a bit of substance!
So, you see, nothing can ever hold a candle to Leo's batter (or chips!). Anything less than animal fat just tastes like oily ... oil. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose between the two types of batter, I'd have to go with the original over Vickies. As weird as it sounds for someone basically o-facing over animal fat, the lighter taste was more palatable than the heavy, thick batter.
Also, cod over haddock! -
Review from Brian G.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 12/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place always fills you up with the freshest fish! My favorite Fish and Chips in Toronto. Was there on a cold fall day, people were stilled lined up and I understand why. Food was great, staff is friendly.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/14/2011
Try the Miss Vicky's batter, it was a nice treat.
Fish was fresh, batter was light, oild was clean… Read more »
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Review from Paul F.
Toronto, ON
11/1/2011
After hearing about their fish and chips battered with a Miss Vickie's crunchy chip batter, I just had to check it out. I am glad to say it didn't disappoint me. The fish was good quality and the chip batter is worth it. If you like fish and chips, then check this place out.
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Review from Emily C.
12/1/2011
going to keep this review simple: BEST fish and chips i've ever had... and i've had one of the best fish and chips from London, England.
we ordered a regular poutine and a cod fish and chips. the thin layer of light crispy batter was the perfect texture. the fish tasted great, the fries were great. the poutine was good too (though rather ordinary. on par with or slightly better than a typical poutine with gravy and cheese curds)
bottom line. get the fish and chips. if youre looking for the best, look no further. -
Review from neesa r.
9/29/2011
came here on a pedesterian sunday night and we managed to find a sport on a tiny patio. yay!
the food is great! and I'm talking from the vegetarian standpoint!
of course I couldn't try fish&chips but they have veg poutine! and not only one kind they have poutine with veg chili or with mushroom gravy! with cheese curds or soy for vegans.
I tried poutine with chili and it was yummy! regular portions are about right size for a hungry person. and the staff is super friendly!
they do tend to forget about the orders so reminding them is a good idea.
there is not enough seating inside (super tiny space) but you can always take to go and in the summer the patio would probably fit around 14 ppl -
Review from shyni y.
2/23/2011
I have to say this is the bomb....I will always have a soft spot for Chippy's for making me love F& C again.... but this place is quite the place.
The dancing/singing chef was friendly - and he did the half & half batter - half original and half Ms. Vickie's and boy oh boy it was delicious.
Chippy's got their batter and sauce down to a pat but, Fresco's got the portion, service and poutine down to a pat.
Just perfect portion that I can truely enjoy the before, during and after eating experience.
Gotta love a man who loves the Beetles...!!!Listed in: Food on the Walk.
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Review from Tamar K.
Toronto, ON
5/30/2011
I decided to try this place based on the reviews from Yelp, and was really happy I did! It was amazing, some of the best fish n chips I've had. We got the haddock & chips and shrimp & chips, and changed one of the regular fries to sweet potato fries. The haddock was perfectly battered and crispy, and the shrimps were large and tasted really fresh. Both the regular fries and sweet potato fries were amazing, exactly how I like them (cut thick, I'm not a fan of thin fries). Also, nothing tasted greasy, everything tasted perfectly crispy and fresh! The owner is also really friendly! (and thoughtful - while we were eating my bf got a business call, and the owner noticed and immediately lowered the volume of the radio!) I'll be back to try the poutine and crab cakes!
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Review from Bartek C.
York, ON
8/27/2010
Going to continue the trend of 5'ing this place.
It's small and simple but Fresco's had easily the best fish and chips I had in awhile, and I let the owner know that.
We ordered Cod & Chips as well as the Shrimp & Chips. Both were served in well sized containers with sides of coleslaw, tartar sauce and chipotle sauce (you may have to ask for it, though.)
First off, there was very little grease in this meal. The battery was flaky but felt light and not heart-attack inducing. The fish was excellent and the shrimp were superb -- It's rare you can actually taste _the shrimp!_ while eating battered shrimp. I tried the Sweet Potato fries (no extra cost) and they were delightful, but the regular fries were great too. The total cost of the two meals plus an indie root beer came just over $20.
There is only seating for about 5 people in the entire place with some chairs outside but as others have recommended, go to the park for a great picnic.
Will gladly return to this joint. -
Review from Amie T.
Toronto, ON
6/1/2010
Take your fish and chips over to Bellevue Square for a lovely picnic.
Then take your garbage back for the lovely man who works there to recycle.
We lucked out with SUPER huge portions, but he warned us this was because he got the wrong order this week. It was still really really good, but I don't know about the best I've ever had. It wins because of where it is, and because they're environmentally sustainable, and because the food is still really, really, really good. -
Review from Angela L.
5/28/2010
While I love fish and chips, good shrimp and chips are sadly much more difficult to come by. Finally though, Fresco's has got it right. Jumbo, juicy shrimp are enrobed in a light, crispy batter and sided with fresh, thick cut fries and house made coleslaw. My friend's haddock and chips was a long moist filet and reported to be excellente as well. Other tantalizing menu items I will definitely be back to try include the crab cakes and chips and sweet potato fries.
The small store is a sparsely decorated Beatles shrine, playing only Beatles music. The jolly owner is a proud environmentalist who uses nothing but cornstarch based cutlery and biodegradable boxes. Condiments can be pumped from a bulk container if eating immediately, but those who are taking their food away also have the packaged ketchup and vinegar (both white and malt) option too. There are even different garbage cans to sort your biodegradables and waste into.
There are only a few tables (and even a cute but awkwardly low wicker two-seater) out front to sit at, but as long as the weather is nice, Bellevue park is but a step across the street away to have your Fresco's al fresco. -
Review from Leah I.
7/18/2011
Fresco's was recommended to me by some locals when I told them I wanted to try poutine. It was top notch!!!!! The owner was extra nice. He came out and talked to me while I waited for my food, and then came out of the kitchen again when I was done to see what I thought! I'm only sorry I didn't have more time to go back and try the fish and chips!
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Review from Jason Y.
6/15/2011
So delicious when you're craving fish n chips...definitely satisfied our craving! Ordered the halibut and the haddock - actually preferred the haddock with their Miss Vickie's extra cirpsy batter. Loved the poutine - first bite was absolute heaven. Service was fantastic and friendly. Enjoyed sitting in the small patio outdoors on a nice spring day with all the eclectic mix of Kensington Market surrounding you.
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Review from Diana K.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2011
Awful batter. The soggiest fish I've had in the city. I went with half regular and half Vickies extra crispy. It was all pathetic. The fries were just as bad. I really hope it's an anomaly, but I won't be back for a second try. I'll be at Harbord Fish and Chips where it's consistently crispy.
