A Good Friday for fish ’n’ chips joints
Good Friday may be a relaxing day for many people, but for fish ’n’ chips restaurants in St. John’s, it’s their busiest day of the year.
“We go through roughly 5,000 pounds of fish today, and about 20,000 pounds of potatoes,” said Jennifer Barbour, who owns Ches’s Fish and Chips on Freshwater Road.
Barbour is the granddaughter of the original owner, Ches Barbour, who opened the first location in 1951. He would catch fish outside The Narrows in the morning and have it prepped in time for the lunch rush.
Barbour said despite the fact that Good Friday is their busiest day of the year, it’s also the most organized and fun day of the year.
“It’s such a well-oiled machine now. We’ve got 66 years under our belt, so we kind of knows what we’re at now,” she said with a chuckle.
“Everyone counts up to Good Friday and we just love it. You can see the staff, they all enjoy it, and it’s go time,” said Barbour, motioning toward her hard-working employees behind the counter, who were indeed all smiling.
Waiting at the counter for 15 orders of fish ’n’ chips is Krista Bennett.
Bennett works at Lawton’s on Campbell Avenue, where everyone working on Friday was looking forward to a meal of fish.
“We’ve been waiting all week for this,” Bennett said, hoisting a box-load of brown-bagged combos from the counter.
Bennett explained that she eats fish on Good Friday simply because “it’s what everybody does,” not for any religious reasons. She said she grew up with the tradition, noting that her parents prepare a meal of salt fish every Good Friday.
“But this will count,” she said, referring to her takeout lunch.
Just up the road a couple of steps is Leo’s Restaurant, where patrons lined up just as at Ches’s, waiting for their Good Friday fish.
One family frequents Leo’s Restaurant every year on Good Friday, and when asked why, they answered in unison, “It’s the best!”
They’ve been coming to Leo’s every Good Friday for “at least” 30 years, said Neil Hudson.
His wife, Barb Hudson, said she has probably been coming even longer than that.
“We weren’t allowed to eat meat on Good Friday because of religious aspects,” she said when asked why they’ve always come to Leo’s.
The Telegram stopped by The Big R on Blackmarsh Road, where server Dylan Hewitt said they’re “flat out,” especially with takeout and phone-in orders.
“We can almost use more phone lines just for today,” he said with a laugh.
Across town at Scampers on O’leary Avenue, one of the managers, Bernice Fowler, said Good Friday is the busiest day of the year for them. The parking lot blocked with vehicles was a good indication.
“The boss is here all Thursday night preparing,” Fowler said. “He came in last night and he gets everything on the go and running, and when we come in, his job is done then.”
Heather Carton stood by the counter waiting for a two-piece fish ’n’ chips combo for her father, who lives at a retirement home.
“Scampers is his favourite,” she said. “I came out from Mount Pearl just so I could come here and get his fish ’n’ chips to bring down to the home.”
Carton agrees with her father: “The batter is better here than anywhere else,” she said. “And the fish is fresh.”
However, the jury appears to be out on which restaurant has the best fish ’n’ chips in town — patrons of the four spots visited by The Telegram on Good Friday all claimed the one they were in was the best.
As for those working on Good Friday to feed the masses, many staff members said they would have fish when they got home, despite serving it all day.
Barbour said her family would get together at the end of the day for their own Good Friday meal of fish.
“No matter where we’re all to, cousins and everything, everyone always comes together for Good Friday.”