Review of Thornham’s Eric’s Fish and Chips: Generous portions and golden batter make it one of the best

If you’re planning to go on a coastal walk this January, why not stop off for a fish and chip lunch with a twist before you hit the beach?

I’m sure plenty of us will head to the coast to blow the Christmas cobwebs away, and while you’re there, visiting Eric’s Fish and Chips in Thornham is definitely a good idea.

Myself and my partner Tom decided to see what all the fuss was about with this award-winning chippy that hit the national headlines last year with its deep-fried jam sandwich endorsed by Delia Smith.

And the food certainly didn’t fail to impress, with a vast menu offering chip shop favourites along with other deep-fried goodies that went down a treat.

We went along on Saturday evening and found ourselves a table in their restaurant area. Eric’s also offers a takeaway service.

A friendly waiter came to take our order after we pondered on what to choose from their impressive menu.

To drink, we both opted for a glass of homemade lemonade (£3) which was refreshing and a good accompaniment for the food to come.

I gravitated towards trying a couple of Eric’s “small plates” and initially ordered some of their vegan crispy lemon ‘prawns’ before being informed they had run out. So opted for the halloumi and spinach arancini (£7.50) along with a small portion of chips (£2.95).

The arancini was amazing and gooey inside and was a good, and different option for any vegetarians visiting Eric’s.

Tom decided to have a small piece of haddock (£7), medium chips (£3.95) and a side of mushy peas (2.50). He described the batter on his fish as “golden and crispy”.

Tom isn’t local to West Norfolk but said that Eric’s has been the best chippy he has been to while visiting here.

At the time of ordering, our eyes were a bit too big for our bellies and we ordered a couple more of the small plates to try and share.

I have never tried a pineapple fritter, so I thought now would be a good time to change that.

Eric’s pineapple fritter (£3.50) was absolutely delicious – a sweet batter coated the warm fruit which made it a good dessert option.

We both also went for some battered gherkins (£2.50) which were delicious as well and a must-try for any pickle fans.

We left Eric’s feeling absolutely stuffed and it is safe to say we over-ordered.

Our total bill came to £35.90, which I think is on the expensive side when it comes to fish and chips. But I think it is important to note the generous portion sizes and the fact we ordered way too much food for the two of us.

But I would say that Eric’s is worth a visit for a special treat.

Ratings out of five:

Food: Delicious food, and plenty of it too. ****

Drink: Good soft drink options and a few alcoholic ones too. ****

Price: All fish and chips have gone up in cost, these are on the pricier side but quality of food reflects that. ***

Staff: Pretty friendly and relaxed. ****

Decor: Bright colours and big tables ideal for families. ***