Fish & Co: More Than Just Fish and Chips

Although I'm a sucker for anything seafood, I rarely eat out on seafood restaurants since my mom can get a hold of the freshest catches from the sea and cook them in the comforts of our own home. However one weekday afternoon last December, when we were in Trinoma, the beau and I spotted Fish & Co. and decided to give it a shot.

This trip isn't my first at Fish & Co. though since I've already been here with my sister and dad. And in this same branch in Trinoma, mind you. However, that was about four years ago already and I can barely remember what we had except for the fish and chips, so this visit was really in order. And while I can't exactly recall my previous Fish & Co. experience, there was a familiar vibe when the beau and I entered the restaurant.

It was bright, engaging and underwater-themed with wooden furniture and fixtures -- just like how I can remember it back on our first visit. Every table also has fish-shaped wooden boards which I found so quirky. But of course, we weren't at Fish & Co. just to glomp about the ambiance and interesting touches. So let the food review begin!

First on our table was The Best Fish & Chips in Town (P435) which is a signature dish at Fish & Co.. These traditional English-style battered then fried fish fillets were topped with a lemon butter sauce and served with chips on the side. While I'm not the type who goes gaga for fish and chips, I can't deny that I gorged down forkfuls after forkfuls of this English treat. The beau who's not really a fan of the dish also seemed to be very pleased.

We also had the Italian Sausage Pizza (P395) which is the restaurant's take on an Italian favorite. This rendition has generous amounts of Italian sausage pieces and mozzarella cheese on top of puff pastry. It was my first time to have this type of pizza, and I loved it! It was light on the bite and the palate yet exploding with smoky flavors. The beau sadly didn't dig the filo puff pastry crust as he still prefers the usual pizza dough.

For more carbs, we had the Al Funghi Spaghetti (P375) -- a plate of pasta tossed in shiitake mushrooms and pesto sauce then topped with roasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. And while this dish seemed to have a lot of potential, it was a total let down. Only the shiitake mushrooms and Parmesan gave the spaghetti some flavor. The pesto sauce was hardly there in terms of taste even though the dish seemed to have a lot of chopped basil. If only the pesto was tastier, this would've been a win for both the beau and me.

Now, these next three dishes are from another trip to Fish & Co.. But this time, with my college friends instead of the beau. This was still from the Trinoma branch, by the way.

My friend Conie had the Just For Me - Baked Salmon (P385) which is a solo plate of citrus-crusted baked salmon with mushroom sauce and seafood rice on the side. When this was served on our table, I seriously can't help but ogle at my friend's order. It looked so good, and tasted even better! Baked to 80% doneness, the salmon was so moist and so succulent with an herby yet savory crust. I will seriously order this next time!

Fel on the other hand, had the Just For Me - Seafood Curry (P350) which is a solo serving of mixed seafood braised in spicy red coconut curry sauce then topped on hot steaming long grain rice. Since I'm not really a big curry fan, I found her dish just okay. My friend seemed to like her order at first, but got tired of the spicy ensemble after a while.

As for me, I had the Just For Me - BBQ Pork Ribs (P495) -- the solo version of the fire-grilled and glazed fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs served with a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce and your choice of a side. For the price, I was quite disappointed with the serving size. Just a little under P200 at T.G.I. Friday's and you can already get half rack of baby back ribs. (I guess this is what I get for ordering pork in a seafood resto.) However, taste-wise I have to say that these are better than Friday's. Even if I only got to enjoy a few forkfuls of meat, they were surely one of the best pork ribs I've ever had.

For drinks, I got to try the Granny & The Greenstalk (P110). It's a refreshing concoction made from green apples, cucumber and celery -- something the healthy eater-slash-drinker or adventurous soul like me would love. On another trip, I got the Sharkie Freeze (Glass P105; Liter Mug P275) which is a signature blend of passion fruit. It's sharp, crisp and icy, perfect for a scorching day. Fish & Co. also has something for the predictable beau, a cup of Premium Italian Coffee (P90).

THE VERDICT

After my trips to Fish & Co., I'd say this Singaporean chain under The Bistro Group wing has more than just fish and chips to offer. While their fish and chips are already great, there are more interesting items on their menu I'd be going back for again and again. Oh, and I learned a lesson from my visit with friends. If you have a big appetite (like I do) and have some cash to spare, skip the Just For Me servings and go straight for the regular serving portions, lest you want to end up craving for more.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 3.5/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 3.5/5

Fish & Co., Trinoma
L/4 Trinoma Garden, North Ave. cor Mindanao Ave.,
Sto. Cristo, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 916-2028
Official Website
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