Fish and chips remains one of the most popular dishes in the UK, a favourite for people strolling along the beach in the summer sun, or relaxing at home after a long day. For some, it might conjure up images of greasy chips wrapped up in a paper bag, bits of paper sticking to the batter and a heavy dose of salt and vinegar.
For others, sitting down somewhere and enjoying a more gourmet version of the national dish is the way to go. There's often nothing better than finding somewhere to sit in the sun, with a pint in hand and a plate of fresh fish and perfectly cooked chips placed in front of you.
This is where The Lilly Restaurant steps in. Tucked away on Llandudno's West Shore, it is nicely away from the hustle and bustle of the town. With views across the sea towards Conwy and Anglesey, it is the ideal spot to sit back, relax and take it all in, so how could I resist trying it out?
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The fish and chips offered at the Lilly have garnered a bit of reputation for themselves. Often referred to as 'the whale and chips', I assumed due to size of what was on offer. Naturally, wandering in after a quick stretch along the beach, I already knew what I had to order, the only question was where to sit.
The eating and bar space is split into three areas, the Mad Hatter's Brasserie, which comprises the indoor fine dining area, a relaxed low table indoor area besides the bar and an extensive outdoor area. Given it was hitting 20C outside, it seemed foolish not to make the most of it.
Looking back on the decision now I realise I fell into the classic trap. I had chosen to sit outside, with seafood, next to the sea - I may as well have painted a target on my back. I was greeted with a giant and tasty looking portion, but apparently the seagulls agreed and from that point on they wouldn't leave me alone.
Though I considered - sensibly - moving myself back inside, I instead - foolishly - continued outside, brandishing my knife at one particularly bold seagull who attempted to swoop down and gobble up my plate.
Have you faced the seagulls at the Lilly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Despite being plagued from the skies, the battle for my meal was well worth it, as it may well be the best fish and chips I've had in a long while - maybe even the best in North Wales. The fish itself was clearly fresh and of good quality, the batter strewn upon it crispy and thick, with none of that chip shop greasiness. The same could be said for the chips. Strangely enough though it was the tartare sauce and the mushy peas which were really the stars of the show.
The tartare was fresh, zesty and full of flavour. Paired with the fish the whole plate came to life and, fortunately, there was plenty of it. Much the same can be said for the mushy peas, which I think I'm safe in saying many of us rightly ignore. These were fresh and packed with flavour, as I happily cleared them all away.
The plate as a whole came together really well, with only a couple of chips surviving the joint assault between myself and the seagulls, so it safe to say the dish lived up to its name as I was so stuffed I felt I had eaten a whale. Being able to wash it all down with a nice shandy on a hot day really solidified the experience for me, so if you fancy checking a trip down to Llandudno's West Shore, I thoroughly recommend visiting the Lilly.
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