Author: Kelly Neukom
A plate of fish and chips isn’t exactly a sought-after commodity in LA. Although battered fish with thickly-cut French fries on the side is the perfect meal for a dark, cold night at an English pub, those of us lucky enough to live in Southern California don’t need the comfort of greasy food to feel good-we just need to step outside. With constant sunshine and infinite places to walk, run, ride bikes or do yoga, fried foods seem to be restricted to donut stores and carnival food stands.
One begins to see the pull of the dish, however, when it starts to rain. Rain always seems to catch LA off guard-those of us used to the continuous warmth are never quite sure what to do with ourselves, myself included.
One of these rainy days made me feel homesick for England (where I studied abroad), which lead me to searching for pubs in the Pasadena area online. I only found two, but they intrigued me because both claimed they had the best fish and chips in Pasadena. One of them had to be wrong! Feeling like Woodward or Bernstein (which one was played by Robert Redford again?), I set off to do some investigative reporting of my own.
My friend and I first went to Brits Restaurant and Pub, which intrigued me because it was farther down Colorado than I had ever traveled before. The neighborhood was disappointing, though-no one was walking around besides a homeless person. Brits itself was also pretty empty. There was a restaurant section, but no one was sitting in it, so we opted to sit at the bar in the pub, where there were at least a few other patrons enjoying meals.
The place looked less like a British pub than a room trying desperately to look like a British pub. It was covered in neon beer signs and posters, including the ubiquitous Guinness paraphernalia. The dark wood bar fit with the theme, but it wasn’t the focus of the room, as it would be in any self-respecting pub (as drinking is the epicenter of the British social scene). When I asked for a pint of cider, they had Blackthorn-a fine choice-but my heart was set on Strongbow, the best brand and the one I searched for ever since I left English shores.
However, all my complaints about the place disappeared when the food arrived. We decided to order a “starter plate” of veggie samosas (Indian food has become part of British food nowadays) and split a plate of fish and chips. The samosas were bite-sized-a lot smaller than they usually are-but this made them easier to dip without the dreaded double-dip conundrum. They were hot and delicious and tasted even better with the mango chutney that came with them.
The fish and chips were even better. Every piece of the light, flaky fish seemed to melt in my mouth and was piping hot. The French fries were perfectly golden, with just the right amount of crispness on the outside. I don’t tend to eat many fries, but I (unashamedly) admit I ate almost the entire plate. (Well, it was half a serving, right?) It also came with rolls and butter and a side salad.
In the middle of our meal, a bagpiper came in and played for us for 10 minutes. It was just the right amount of time for him to play-long enough so that we could enjoy it and short enough so that it didn’t feel grating. The customers got into the spirit, coming in from other rooms to watch and clapping loudly at the end.
Lucky Baldwin’s British Pub and Café , which I ventured to with another friend the next night, was almost exactly the opposite of Brits. The look of the place was truly British-I could have mistaken it for a pub in England. The exposed bricks and high leather stools were right on the mark. The bar had an overwhelming number of choices (63 beers on tap!). They even had obscure beers like Lindemans Kriek, a sweet, cherry-flavored Belgian beer that I hadn’t been able to find outside of the confines of Trader Joe’s. The atmosphere was young and hip, but still had enough older patrons to make the crowd diverse.
The food, though, left something to be desired. The fish lacked flavor, the fries were too soft, and both were completely cold, as if they had sat out too long. The meal also didn’t come with any sides, unlike Brits. I was truly disappointed, especially after having such amazing fish and chips the night before. If this was the pub’s specialty like it claimed on the menu, I shuddered to think how the other dishes tasted. My friend loved her choice, Alan’s Chip Medley (fries topped with baked beans, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions), which made me wonder why they didn’t have their basic dishes down. You have to be able to draw a still life before you can paint the next Guernica.
In the end, I came to this conclusion: if I had just wanted a pint, Lucky Baldwin’s would win hands down. The atmosphere was incredibly authentic, and I liked the rowdy, friendly feel present there that Brits definitely lacked. If I were jonesing for fish and chips, though, I don’t think I could go anywhere but Brits in good conscience-that is, until I book my next flight on British Airways.
Brits Restaurant and Pub is located at 1770 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena
Lucky Baldwin’s British Pub and Cafe is located at 17 South Raymond Ave. in Pasadena
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
