Dublin Square Pub - Bordentown, NJ

If there is one thing that I crave during Lent, it is fish and chips on a Friday night when we aren't supposed to be eating the meat. That said, tonight we to Dublin Square Pub in Bordentown, NJ, to have a few pints of Guiness, and to enjoy some fish and chips. We met our friends Charnel and Abbie at Dublin Square tonight, and I enjoyed a few black and tans, while Zelda enjoyed her Tanqueray and tonics. Dublin Square was packed tonight, so we hung out at the bar for a while. As we walked in, there were masses of people waiting for tables, so a few beers were definitely in order while we waited for a table. Owner Mike got us a table right next to the bar, and we ordered, and I'd have to guess not even 10 minutes went by before a nice helping of fish and chips came out. Two big pieces of cod, in their signature black and tan beer breading, served over a heaping helping of french fries, and served with homemade tarter sauce. The fish was nice and crispy as always, and was not greasy in the least. It was fried through perfectly, and the mat vinegar complimented it nicely. Unfortunately, the fries left a little to be desired, were a bit saggy, and not exactly hot, but I only eat a few anyway, so it wasn't worth sending them back. Had they been hot, and fresh out of the oil, I am sure they would have been tasty. Regardless, for $13.95, this is still a good deal, and a nice sized portion. So Jersey, if you're looking for fish and chips, stop by Dublin Square and give them a try. Sure, Irish pubs aren't known for their fare and cuisine, but this is not your typical Irish Pub. Also check them out on Wednesday night for trivia night, and on the weekends for their live bands, which usually have some sort of Irish influence. Cheers! -F. Scott

The Inn at the Hawke - Lambertville, NJ

Last week we had talked to our good pal and former neighbor Arounkone about getting together up in Lambertville on Friday night for dinner. It's been a while since we have gone to the Inn at the Hawke, so what better night than a Friday during lent to head up for some fish and chips. We got to Arounkone's shop, Pure Energy Cycling and Java House just after 7:30. We met one of his friends hanging out there, Jonathan, and then the 4 of us headed over to the Inn at the Hawke for dinner. The place was packed, and we were told that it would be about a 20 minute wait for a table, but it turned out to only take about 5 minutes to get a table. Woo hoo! We sat down and ordered cocktails, and gave our order shortly after. For an appetizer, Jonathan ordered the "Polenta Fries," and these came out looking like a game of Jenga, neatly stacked and drizzled with a very nice sauce. These were wonderful, and had a nice crispy skin on them, followed by a very soft polenta inside. The flavor and presentation on these was great, and I would order them again in the future. For dinner, both Zelda and I opted for the fish and chips, and I have really been craving good fish and chips since Lent began. I had these here years ago and they were wonderful, but they seemed to go downhill when I had them again a few years later. Even though I was skeptical, these came out perfectly, along with some nice chips. When I didn't care for these a few years ago, they came out mushy and greasy, but they have since corrected the problem, and they came out nice and hot, with no signs of grease. The fish was fried up perfectly, with a side of tarter and vinegar, and it was a true treat. Zelda's were fried to a perfect golden brown as well, and I couldn't have had a happier belly, and my craving has been satisfied. Arounkone opted for the Sheppard's Pie, and this was a nice portion, smothered in whipped potatoes, that were piped on top and baked. I would love to order this in the future. Jonathan had a grilled salmon sandwich which also looked very nice, garnished with a nice piece of lettuce. All in all, this was a great meal at the Inn at the Hawk, and it was nice to go back there as it has been years. With so many good restaurants in Lambertville, it's hard to visit them all throughout the year, as we only make it into town once or twice a month. Regardless, with the season of Lent upon us, I look forward to heading back there again soon for some fish and chips. A great meal with friends, both old and new. Dude! Cheers 74 S Union Street Lambertville, NJ 08530 Phone: (609) 397-9555‎

Finding fish & chips in Central Jersey for Lent...

So with the Catholic season of Lent upon us, it always inspires me to look for a place that has good fish and chips in the area. Unfortunately, I have have found little success in doing so, so my question to you is, where do you go in New Jersey for fish and chips? There is currently a thread on Chowhound, however, none of those places seem to be in the Trenton Metro.

There is also the Dublin Square Pub coming soon, but not being here yet, it really doesn't do a lot of good. We've had the fish & chips at Triumph in Princeton, as well as The Inn at the Hawk in Lambertville, and they are OK, but there has to be better in the immediate area.

So my question to you Foodies and Chowhounds is this: Where in central Jersey do you go for fish and chips? Cheers, and a happy Lent season to all of you! What did you give up for Lent?

Yardley Inn - Yardley, PA

It was a rainy day by the time I got home, and a perfect day to sit at the bar at the lovely Yardley Inn, overlooking the Delaware River. For those of you not familiar with Yardley, it's just across the river from Trenton, and about a 15 minutes drive from where we are located.

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The bar was dead when we got there, however we did get there at an odd time, just a few minutes before 3PM. That being said, we had access to the "In Between Menu," which happened to be perfect for us.

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At the bar, we enjoyed a nice glass of New Harbor sauvignon blanc. This wine seems to be a staple in restaurant these days, and is a joy to drink, like many of the other Marlborough New Zealand sauv blancs that are out there. At $9 a glass however, I thought it was a little expensive, but once I saw the monster pour in the big fishbowl white glass, I was pleasantly surprised. No complain whatsoever paying $9 for the glass that we both received.

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On to lunch, Zelda ordered the beer battered tilapia & chips with caper remoulade...your classic fish and chips? Not exactly as it is made with tilapia, but what a pleasant treat it was. I never would have thought of this, but I would definitely order for myself next time we go back for lunch or dinner. Everything was perfect. The fish was fresh, and the batter was light, airy and crispy! Yum! Even the caper remoulade was outstanding!

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I opted for the sausage & pepper hoagie, and it too was delicious. It was served on a fresh Italian roll, with a double row of great sausage, smothered with onions and red peppers, then topped with melted provolone cheese. The portion was huge, and I ended up taking 1/2 of the sandwich home for lunch tomorrow. Fresh butterfly chips accompanied my sandwich, and they too were outstanding.

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All in all, yet another great meal at the Yardley Inn, with a nice view of the river, great food, and great service. Kudos!