Wednesday 28 January 2009

The Joli Fryer

The Joli Fryer styles itself thusly: "Tasty Fish & Chix"



Located in a little cluster of shops on Rewa street, this out-of-the-way chippie focuses on the basics. You can pick what fraction of a chicken you want with your chips, or how many pieces of fish to include with your meal, but not much more. If you're after a more gourmet 'pick your fish' experience then this is not the place for you.



The serves are well priced, fairly generous (particularly the chicken) and generally live up to the claim on the box of being tasty. All frying is done to order, so freshness is not a problem.



The shop is clean, with a few homely touches. It is however, quite small. Eating in is not recommended.

Kania Tiko sums up his impression of this place as follows: "It's fish and chips ... what else can you say?"

My own feelings are somewhat stronger. The last time I went there neither of the 2 ladies behind the counter wanted to take my order. They skulked around the back of the shop filling a backlog of orders and ignoring the shop front. After 20 minutes of standing at the counter I left in disgust, without placing an order. I have not been back since.



This (hopefully isolated) experience earns The Joli Fryer a thumbs-down until the weight of public opinion proves otherwise.

In Summary

The Joli Fryer
Rewa Street, Flagstaff
Opening Hours:
?
Spend:
$5 - $9 per person
Verdict:
Thumbs-down

9 comments:

Dean said...

an important part of any fish and chips is the chips.

Are the chips soggy as if they just fell into a vat of oil or crisp and almost as if they're made from fresh potatoes?

sj said...

The best place I've had fish n chips was where the bottom half of Nando's currently is behind Macca's. Used to be a number of small takeaway shops that came and went, presumably coz of the out-of-sight location. One of them was this fish n chip one where you could get fresh fish and crispy chips (with a few hot chillies, a must) for just 5 bucks. At times they had to struggle to close the plastic container (the regular sized one, not the small container), that was how much they packed in! Normally I'd get 2-3 large pieces of fish too.

What I miss here in Oz is the Fiji-style curry and roti parcels. How come no Fiji-born Indian hasn't opened up a Fiji curry shop here?!? Imo they'd make a killing.

Unknown said...

I'm actually pretty impressed with the food at the joli fryer, especially the chips. Like you said, they cook their stuff right in front of you most of the time, so it's usually straight out of...the jolly frier thing.

I will admit that it's very small though, but one of the better fish n chip places, hampered only by its slightly out of the way location.

Anonymous said...

I think the important part of any Fish and Chips serve, is the fish itself and fair amount of chips.

I have eaten at the Joli Fryer, once. Sorry but, I would prefer not to go there again.

True the meal is cooked right beside the front counter,.. but I had to wait half an hour to be served (standing in-front like a fool trying to get the lady's attention).

And when I was served, I have wait for another half an hour for the food to be cooked. That's already one hour, and your lunch is over.

On top of that, chips were soggy and not crispy and the fish was oily.

I had a worst experience ever. But who knows they might have improved there standard.

Kania Tiko said...

My experience of the Joli Fryer wasn't that bad, I got served in a reasonable amount of time, but then I've never actually placed an order myself, my colleague did. I was actually wandering around the corner looking for a place to piss at the time(I found one such place around the corner behind Rabi Kava). Having said that I can see why others would complain about service, the two ladies there do seem to lack enthusiasm.

The fish and ships themselves? Most similar Dan's in Laucala, probably slightly better than Dan's. One thing is that we got real plates and metal cutlery with our food, which I thought was a nice touch.

So to sum up:
1. Food probably better than Dan's
2. Ladies at the counter could benefit from regular intake of certain mood altering drugs
3. you get real plates and cutlery (or at least you did a couple of months ago)
4. great open air lavvy just 30 seconds walk away

Anonymous said...

I reckon they're not too bad. I'd compare the Joli Fryer with Dans, Hooks and Cakaudrove and would recommend them to anyone wanting a great serve of tasty fish and chips. True the shop is small and out of the way but then after all its a fish and chips takeaway shop isnt it. Theyre not too grand about lavishing their shop with expensive furniture and interior furnishings like Hooks but theyre okay. Chips I'd rate are great, who said soggy} The girls are!

Its great to be able to get smoothies, milkshakes and iced mocchas from them around this isolated area.

I see alot of expats hanging around the shop waiting for their serves which is not a bad sign.

Keep it up Joli! Get rid of the girls if they sulk or seem to be having a bad day everyday!

Anonymous said...

Jeepers! Talk about clean shop- its good to walk into one. A high-perched seat, my fresh fish and chippy with vinegar slap-dash and chillies n lemon. But for one thing, cant they expand the shop a bit and have more seatings?

Simi Durukalevu said...

Heck, fish and chips is blinkn fish and chips. Wat ya al hollern bout mate? Whether it be soggy or crispy it daint matter at all.

Just serve me a blinkn box of em fish and chips pls. Add dem vinegar as dat will kil them grease in me system mate.

I culdnt care less whetha it be at the fryer joli or dan or hooks or down da bus-station man!

Push Tailevu said...

Going going gone!!! The best tasting fish and chips in town!!

I think they've stolen customers from the other outlets too.

Value for money

Try it out peoples.