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Reliable Fish & Chips
Category: Restaurants Fish & Chips Fish & Chips [Edit]
954 Queen St EToronto, ON M4M 1J7
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
(416) 465-4111
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11 am - 7:30 pm
Wed-Thu 11 am - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
15 reviews for Reliable Fish & Chips
15 reviews in English
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Review from Jeremiah L.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2012
One of our few regular stops when we're on the east end of town. Reliable Fish and & Chips offers some of the best in the city.
There are usually four fish (halibut, cod, salmon and haddock), and a few other 'specials' on the menu. Our standard order is two pieces of fish and fries. The fish comes in a pretty light batter, which is great, because you get mostly fish (whereas many fnc places try to use more batter than fish). It's quite tasty. Fries look like they're hand cut, and they're usually of a thicker variety. They could give the patron's a few more fries, considering they're mostly filler on the plate, but the quality is good.
Eating in has improved dramatically since the makeover, and it's a pleasant, clean atmosphere. The owner and cook is friendly and really does seem to enjoy his work. Easily accessible via the 501 streetcar, they do close a bit early for my taste and are not open on Sundays.
Overall, one of our favorite spots in the city. It boggles my mind how people prefer Chippy's soggy, tasteless batter and absurdly greasy fries to a place like this. They've really made great strides in the last few years in making the place inviting, but the fish, as always, has been great. -
Review from Aaron M.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
Some people really take their reviews of fish and chip joints pretty darn seriously. I don't know, when I go into a fish and chip joint, I only care that it tastes good. People here are measuring grease, amount of batter, etc... really? This matters to people?
Anyway, Reliable Fish & Chips' appeal to me is when I eat there, I feel at home. The people are nice, the food smells and tastes great. They play my kind of music, they have neat sodas in the fridge and when all is said and done, we head down the block to Ed's for a scoop of some wicked ice cream.
If you like Fish and Chips, go there. Is it the best in the city? How can anyone tell that? It's good, it's yummy, it's fish and chips.
I prefer the halibut (I'm bad, I know) and I upgrade the fries to poutine which they do well. I also take a coleslaw and their old fashioned cream soda. It's pricey, over $20 but hey, that'll learn me for ordering halibut. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Was strolling through Riverdale to pick up some baguette and I ended up at Reliable Fish & Chips with a case of the munchies.
I quite enjoyed the cute decor of the joint. It almost felt very East-Coast-y as if you were inside a fishing boat of some sort with all the wooded walls, and sea-related decor.
I got an order of halibut and chips to share with my DC. The girl behind the counter told us to have a seat while she prepared our order. When it was ready, she brought it over to our table with proper cutlery (better for the environment too not to be using disposable!) and hooked us up with some ketchup.
I haven't had a lot of Fish 'n Chips experiences in Toronto other than the High Liner stuff out of a box in the frozen foods aisle, a fish 'n chips shop in Georgian Bay, and the chain restaurants such as Jack Astor's. I will say however, that their batter is one of the best I've experienced thus far. It was a thin coat, which was not too heavy and didn't overpower the natural flavour of the halibut. The halibut was solid without being overly dry. The house tartar sauce was tasty, but how could mayonnaise ever taste bad?
Th fries were okay, but lacked any hint of potato flavour and could've used some more salt.
All in all, a great place to stop by for some good ol' Fish 'n Chips.Listed in: Cheap Date, Titanous eats!
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Review from Vivek S.
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I don't know if there's anything better on a rainy day than fish and chips in Leslieville. Oh, I know: fish and chips courtesy Sarah L because I didn't have cash on me. Although the restaurant is tiny (barely room for ten) our trio (Hi Denise!) managed to grab a four-top. Our orders were unanimous --Halibut and Chips-- and all three were served in mere minutes. The fish was flaky and delicious and the thin batter was perfectly crisp. The fries were thick and soft (which is how I like 'em) and I got to mist them silly with a spray bottle of malt vinegar. Clever idea! Washed down everything with a Boylan's root beer. What a marvellous afternoon.
Obligatory Title Pun: You know who's RELIABLE? Sarah L.
Menu Readability: White sans-serif letters pressed into a grooved black letter board?? (Faint.)
Need to mention: They don't take credit or debit. Bring Sarah L.
What this place teaches me about myself: I need to visit an ATM.Listed in: Queen Street Address
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Review from Jennifer L.
Markham, ON
10/10/2011
The batter is quite flaky and more batter than fish meat. It tasted great, but I wish there was more fish. This place manages to acquire their clientele from their specials and deals which makes their quality somewhat unnoticeable.
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Review from sarah l.
I haven't really eaten fish or other sea food as an adult. I've shared the occasional bite of someone's entree when they rave over melt in your mouth fresh tuna, and have occasionally (like once a year) ordered a salmon steak but as a general rule, I will take the chicken or steak.
Enter Reliable Fish and Chips.
The best:
- They have malt vinegar in spray bottles for an even misting of malty-acidic heaven
The good:
- The guy who works here came over to our table and said 'Girls, have you ever seen a potato THIS BIG??' then showed us the biggest potato I have ever seen
- I love these fish and chips - I had the single piece of whatever they recommended
- The fries are stellar; hand peeled and cut
- The fish was lightly battered; it was airy, crispy and light in taste and texture
- I've only had fish and chips 3 times and this was the best, by a hige margin
The bad:
- limited seating
Would I go here again:
I will go here again, probably this week. And I'm eagerly looking forward to it! -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
2/5/2010 2 photos
2.5 Stars
Reliable? I think not. After reading the reviews of the previous Yelpers I had some degree of expectation for some decent fish and chips at this city landmark fish & chip corner. Alas, t'was not to be. Me and my meat-loving sista, Shari M. decided to go the pescatarian route last night and afterwards I think underneath we were thinking damn, we shoulda gone BQM!
Gotta give Reliable a big thumbs up for their cheerful and friendly service. This tiny little hub is manned by staff that are very pleasant. I saw one of them put on a coat and run up the street to a fellow retailer to deliver an order. Our waiter let us know that they had potato salad in the house which of course being the spud carbo freaks we are we immediately ordered a side of that. We went with the Halibut & Chips with some cole slaw.
The fish, while fresh and very meaty wasn't right. The batter was flat and somewhat soggy. The fries, while plentifully piled and obviously made from fresh potatoes, were also soggy, oily and somewhat limp.
Shari nailed it on the head when she said to me "these are tasteless". Thank goodness for spray bottles of vinegar. Be mindful of their salt shakers ....whoa....they spew like Niagara Falls....a river of white stuff. As for the sides, don't bother with the potato salad. Ugh. Tasteless. Really hard little chunks of potatoes. One of the worst potato salads I've had in ages. Cole slaw was basically shredded cabbage with your bottled cole slaw dressing.
Maybe it was an off day at Reliable. Maybe the oil wasn't hot enough. Maybe the oil was in need of changing. Whatever it was Reliable wasn't reliable.
Saving grace of the night....when I suggested to Shari we go east and visit Tim at the Pie Shack for our night cap of coffee and pie. Her eyes lit up like a pinball machine. Amazing how Brumbleberry Pie can lift your spirits! Coincidentally we bumped into our sister Yelper, the oh so delightful Farheen at the Shack!Listed in: So many fish in the Sea!
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Review from Original E.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2010
Methinks not is right, just plain crap!
Was convinced by all the hype from other reviews, and am sorry to say that apart from the Bangkok airport, Reliable serves the worse fish and chips I ever experienced.
I ordered the halibut and chips, sadly I was served the tail part which was under portioned. The piece was waffer thin and had a strange after taste, really I'm not kidding!
The fries were another issue, dry, shameful :( Tartar sauce was basically a mayo, a mayo!
Truth is the family of three were eating this lovely Asian soup right by their kitchen with lotus root, man that looked far better than what they served me.
It's ok though, sometimes you have to learn on your own, what to do right? So for now I give Parkside the title for best fish and chip spot in the east end. Yeah, maybe no chairs, but who gives a crap, at least their fish has crisp batter and moist juicy flesh, and the chips are meaty and crispy as well.
Thumbs down to Reliable, you let me down guys :( -
Review from Andre G.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2009
Reliable Fish and Chips lives up to their name. The place has been around a long time and has recently been renewed thanks to a TV restaurant makeover show. The fish is fresh and the fries are nice and crispy. Portions are ample and cooked to perfection. If you can manage to "eat in" you'll be rewarded with crispy goodness.
My only complaint is that they tend to close a little on the early side. There have been a few times I've had a craving but unable to satisfy it since I was a little too late and they had already closed. -
Review from Randy G.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2009
I stopped here to grab a quick bite on my way to the Toronto Yelp event at Ed's Real Scoop, thinking that the ice cream would be the highlight of my evening. As of this writing... it's a tie (I'm not home yet).
Selection of fish was good - Halibut, Cod, Salmon, even Snapper, plus shrimp and other assorted bits of seafood. I went with the Cod and chips - delicious, and fried up while I waited, so it was still crisp and hot. The portions are very generous too - big fish, lots of chips. Perhaps the best surprise, though, was the price - $9 for the meal with a pop, including tax.
As a guy from the suburbs, I think perhaps the biggest praise I can offer a place - especially in Toronto - is whether or not I'd make a trip in to eat there. Reliable isn't quite at the level where I'd come to the city to eat there... but I'll definitely venture out that way from the downtown core next time I'm in town.
I do, after all, have like 4 other kinds of fish to try. Mmmm... -
Review from Phillip Jessie j.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2010
a good place for fish and chips, I came here before going to a concert at the opera house and I have to say I am impressed. I ordered the haddock and chips with a boyens (fancy independent company) cola and the bill was exactly $10, I have had cheaper but I would say that $10 was the perfect price for this meal.
The fries were nice and warm, not too greasy but not too solid either and the fish was near perfectly battered. Not the best fish and chips I have ever had but I would certainly go back if I am in the neighborhood, which I frequently am. Not much else to say other than if you like fish and chips, this is a good place.
The guy who (I assume owns the place) is pretty funny -
Review from Jay C.
Toronto, ON
10/13/2009
The best fish & chips around this area. Would have 5 stars but they give very small pieces of fish. But the batter is the best i've ever had.
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Review from John G.
East York, ON
7/23/2009
Great English style Fish & Chips cooked to order. Been around since 1930 and now I know why. Eating here brought back very pleasant memories of my youth, living in a Welsh Mining town as an evacuee from war-torn London during WWII. Every Friday night I was sent down to the local fish & chip shop to get three sets of fish and three-penneth of chips wrapped up in the local newspaper to keep the portions wonderfully warm until I arrived home. What a treat.....
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Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/17/2008 12 photos
this is the oldest fish and chip place in the city. its been around since the early thirties i think. (might have to correct this in the future). but its damn old and thats the point. they have pictures in there of the grandfather of the vet that works across the street in that gargantuan beautiful old brown building. the guy who owned reliable, was running this place back then. so i suppose they have damn well earned the moniker RELIABLE. its nice that that history is preserved both within and without that building. within, you see these photos, news clippings and history lining the walls; in fact i believe the wallpaper might be a mock up of old newspaper clippings. without the building is the green and gold sign. the font speaks of a different time. and also from without you always see folks eating fish and chips atop the bar stools that face the street behind the windows. its not hard to picture the same scenario, though in all black and white, with the men capped with bowlers and fish being slid under their thick handlebar moustaches. perhaps it was a business decision to keep the history afloat when owners changed hands (as im pretty sure they did. the owners are asian now and werent originally.), but it sure is awful sweet.
now, as for the classic dish, i quite enjoy it because the fish is lightly battered - im not having some fish with my batter. the fries are nice and crispy. the gravy is tangy and rich. i also had clam strips, which is essentially the same deal as the fish, perhaps with a different batter. think popcorn shrimp and you pretty much have the idea. i did find those a little more greasy than the fish, but it didnt keep my equally greezy paws off of them. -
Review from art f.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2009
maybe not the very best, but always a good meal. reliable is always reliable.
