THERE are many good reasons why Uncle Albert’s Traditional English fish and chips at Straits Quay in Tanjung Tokong, Penang, has been drawing in the crowds since it opened in September last year.
It is prepared following an Irish family’s secret recipe that has been passed down through generations. The oomph lies in the delicate and crispy batter.
Air flown to Penang daily from Europe, the fish choices include cod, salmon, halibut, haddock, red snapper, grouper and sea trout that can be grilled, baked and herb crusted, or coated with batter and deep fried to perfection.
The signature dish is the battered cod served with chips, mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce. The fish is well-seasoned and delicious with every flaky bite while the batter clings on like a second skin, leaving a crisp golden goodness.
Other gourmet choices are pan-fried sea trout with garlic and lemon, grilled fillet of fresh salmon in a white wine cream sauce, lemon-grilled halibut, grilled English cod seasoned with savoury Cajun spices and baked herb-crusted haddock.
Besides fish, there are also seafood kebab served on a bed of egg fried rice with special herb dressing, fisherman’s pie, creamy salmon pasta, spicy prawns, beef lasagne, sweet and sour chicken and beef burger topped with pesto.
The 100% Australian beef patty for the burger is grounded fresh daily while the homemade pesto sauce is a delightful combination of fresh herbs, basil leaves, pine nuts and olive oil.
Another best seller is the roast chicken that is available in portions of quarter (leg or breast) and half. This is a very traditional dish with the chicken slowly turning and cooking evenly in its own juices in the rotisserie.
And the result is simply scrumptious; the chicken is tender and moist with a tasty crispy skin, and nicely complemented by homemade stuffing and gravy.
The roast chicken and battered fish and chips are available for takeaway too.
All the dishes at Uncle Albert, which are mainly wholesome English comfort food without the use of preservatives, come with a selection of appetising sides and dips.
Diners are asked to wait for at least 20 minutes for the main courses since they are freshly prepared. For its opening promotion, all mains are served with complimentary soup of the day and Irish brown bread from 11am to 8pm daily.
Alternatively, there is the Lunch Special set priced at RM25 nett and Dinner Special from RM29 nett to RM45 nett besides a selection of starters, snacks, vegetarian interpretations and dessert.
Sharing the same owner as the popular Healy Mac’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, Uncle Albert also appeals with its charming and relaxing ambience overlooking the Straits Quay marina.
The walls are plastered with newspaper blowouts of historical events that took place around the world to commemorate the
tradition of fish and chips wrapped in newspaper.
The pork-free restaurant is open from 11am (although it starts serving only at noon) to 11pm daily.
For details, call 04-8903407.
