The height of good taste

Everyone knows that iconic shot in King Kong when the eponymous great ape clutches on to the top of the Empire State Building.

Is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to say the rise of Preston eatery King Kod in some way mirrors that?

First the fish and chip shop won the Evening Post’s Chippy of the Year 2014 and now it is continuing to rise to new heights, expanding its empire on to Blackpool Road in Ashton.

Maybe that’s pushing it, but it shows they’re on roll - or should that be frying high?

So what is the food like?

In two words, very good.

We ordered two fish and chips and a sausage and chips with a few extra bits.

Firstly the batter itself was both crispy and tasty. The white fish inside was also delicious, moist and firm.

Without wishing to sound greedy, I would have preferred a larger piece of fish.

It can be hard to get decent chips but the ones at King Kod seem to be about right with enough of that unique traditional taste to lift them about most of the competition. I like a mix of big and small, soft and crispy and there a pleasing variety of chips here - on a much higher level than the pale fries served up at fast food chains.

Particularly memorable were the mushy peas. They were well seasoned and some of the tastiest I’ve ever had. They were delicious as an accompaniment.

The sausage also went down well with few complaints. I felt it lacked the flavour of the sausages on offer at the newly-opened and excellent Queen Vic in Moor Lane.

With an extra sausage and four cans of pop the bill came to a palatable £15.40.

Can’t wait till the Ashton shop opens nearer to my house and I’m sure King Kod will continue to climb new heights.

James Reader

Star rating: 8.5/10