By Lyn Funnell
On a recent day trip to Rye in Sussex, there was only one place we wanted to eat; Marino’s.
I’d eaten there a couple of times before in the past and always found it perfect. But would it still be as good?
It was quite early and we weren’t very hungry so we asked if we could share a Large Cod, chips and Mushy peas. £14 for the cod & chips and £1.80 for the peas.
That was no bother and Sarah the waitress brought an empty plate.
The cod was obviously fresh and the batter was crispy with no spiky bits, how I like it.
The chips were double cooked, so they were soft inside and crispy on the outside. Perfect.
Our friends came in as we’d agreed to meet them there and they all agreed with our opinion.
Like us, Wendy and Christine shared cod, chips and peas.
Wendy said it was all fresh and she’d recommend it to anyone.
Christine said it was very good and a lovely bit of fish.
Barry said the cod and chips were absolutely delicious and Pauline, who had fishcakes and salad, £9.90, said it was all fresh and crunchy, but they thought the fishcakes were a bit dear.
Cypriot Neon Poyiatzis has owned Marino’s Fish Bar for 15 years.
He’s kept a traditional menu and their speciality is cod and chips.
His father-in-law opened a fish and chip shop in Maidstone in 1970 and now his brother-in-laws, cousins and nephew also run branches of Marino’s Chip Shops in other towns, as well as two Chequers Fish Bars.
All Neon’s staff have worked there at least two years. Alin’s been there for 14 years and Sarah for 13 years.
Most of the cod comes from Billingsgate as Neon and his family buy such a large amount. But other fish like scallops when in season are bought locally.
Potatoes come from a large farm in Sandwich, Kent.
The batter is natural, just made out of flour, water and raising agents. It’s made by Ceres, Pure Food Innovation.
Neon has a Degree in Economics, a Master in Business Finance, and he worked abroad for IBM for 12 years until he decided to join the family business in 2010.
Nowadays I get so cross with fish & chip shops that can’t be bothered to prepare their own food.
I have to check that they peel their own potatoes and don’t just buy tins of commercial batter and sacks of prepared chips. They’re treated to stop them turning brown and they can sometimes upset my stomach.
So it’s such a joy for me to find a traditional Fish & Chip Shop that makes the effort to prepare and cook natural food!
I highly recommend Marino’s. It’s worth spending a day in Rye to eat there.
Marino’s Fish Bar
37 The Mint, Rye TN31 7 England
