Sarah Renee, an American who moved to the UK, frequently shares her thoughts on British foods and various UK brands. In her most recent review, she chose to sample the classic dish of fish and chips.
Fish and chips, an iconic British dish adored by millions, is a staple in school canteens every Friday and countless shops across the nation specialise in this beloved classic. It seems our friends across the pond are also keen to sample this national treasure, including Sarah Renee, an American expat now living in the UK.
Known for her TikTok reviews of British food and popular UK brands like Greggs, SpudBros and Toby Carvery, Sarah recently went on a five-hour journey to Bournemouth to taste the seaside town’s famed fish and chips, comparing it to the fare back home in Orange County, Southern California.
At Harry Ramsden’s, she ordered a large cod with a regular portion of chips, gravy, mushy peas and curry sauce.
Firstly, she took a bite of the fish, describing the flavour as “incredible” before dipping some into the gravy, mistakenly thinking it was meant for the fish and not just the chips.
Finding the combination “unique”, she then sampled the curry sauce with the fish, confessing: “I’ve never heard of curry and fish and chips but I’m gonna try it anyway.”
Deciding she preferred the fish with curry sauce over gravy, she next tried a chip dunked in gravy, declaring: “That’s much better than the one at the Chinese.”
Wrapping up her review, Sarah enthused: “Okay this tastes nothing like California fish and chips so this is fantastic.
“I’m giving Harry Ramsden a ten out of ten. This is phenomenal.” Harry Ramsden’s, a renowned fast food chain in the UK, is famed for its fish and chips.
Its Bournemouth branch, situated on the seafront, boasts seating for up to 420 diners.
While the restaurant’s signature dish is fish and chips, it also offers a variety of other options, including wholetail scampi, a selection of beef, chicken, cod or halloumi burgers and a classic caesar salad.
Sarah’s TikTok video has sparked more than 1,900 comments, with several viewers suggesting she should have avoided Harry Ramsden’s.
A local from Bournemouth commented: “I’m from Bournemouth, this is the worst fish and chips you can get. It’s a chain restaurant, so many better places to go, always go local. Total tourist trap.”
Another viewer agreed: “Harry Ramsden’s is a chain though, it’s even better from an independent chippy.”
A third chimed in: “I hate to tell you this but Harry Ramsden’s is the worst fish and chips going, it’s a chain. Try Lakeside in Poole, if you’re still in the area! It’s the best.”
A fourth remarked: “Harry Ramsden’s is not the best way to try British fish and chips as they’re a chain.”
However, one Harry Ramsden’s fan defended the chain: “I went to the exact same restaurant twice a couple of weeks ago because it was sooo good.”