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Why is fish so expensive [in one place in Howth]?

2

Comments

  • #32
    Sarah**
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 531 ✭✭✭Sarah**


    If this is referring to the place I think it is... It is worth it...

    I have eaten there and whilst the price might be slightly high... the service, atmosphere and the presentation of the food is second to none. They also give you fish and chips and mushy peas and serve it on a board. When you choose to eat in a sit down restaurant rather then get it from the chipper you naturally should take in to consideration all that is involved behind the food. (Staff, ingreidients, electricity etc)

    All places now have their menu and prices on the wall outside their premises so as to avoid people complaining re the price.. If you weren't happy to pay that why did you go in? You could have gone to Beshoffs and had your F&C in a box and sat on the harbour wall eating it..


  • #33
    W.Shakes-Beer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,975 ✭✭✭W.Shakes-Beer


    You were codded OP.


  • #34
    bhamsteve
    Closed Accounts Posts: 451 ✭✭bhamsteve


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    interesting point of view. mackerel tastes nice but cooking fresh mackerel really stinks up he house.

    I nearly got thrown out of a shared house for eating kippers for breakfast :)
    Mackerel is a very healthy food, providing essential fats, and costs virtually nothing so I try to eat it regularly. If you can get it very fresh (1-2 days) it is tasty but older than that it's rank.
    Hake's pretty much on a par with cod though, if you don't over cook it.


  • #35
    Cienciano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,208 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    Sarah** wrote: »
    If this is referring to the place I think it is... It is worth it...

    I have eaten there and whilst the price might be slightly high... the service, atmosphere and the presentation of the food is second to none. They also give you fish and chips and mushy peas and serve it on a board. When you choose to eat in a sit down restaurant rather then get it from the chipper you naturally should take in to consideration all that is involved behind the food. (Staff, ingreidients, electricity etc)

    All places now have their menu and prices on the wall outside their premises so as to avoid people complaining re the price.. If you weren't happy to pay that why did you go in? You could have gone to Beshoffs and had your F&C in a box and sat on the harbour wall eating it..

    Is that the oarhouse? I got fish and chips there and it was great. Definitely above a chipper. But for me, lost points for having the skin on it. It was haddock when I was there. Blue haven had ling, savagely good.


  • #36
    Sarah**
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 531 ✭✭✭Sarah**


    Cienciano wrote: »
    Is that the oarhouse? I got fish and chips there and it was great. Definitely above a chipper. But for me, lost points for having the skin on it. It was haddock when I was there. Blue haven had ling, savagely good.

    I didn't know if I could mention the name of the restaurant but yep... It's far superior to the chipper and worth the cost...


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  • #37
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    murpho999 wrote: »
    Yes, it was pollack, which is a perfectly good fish, storm in a teacup.

    I prefer pollack & hake to cod. Both have more flavour & texture than cod.


  • #38
    Snakeblood
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,461 ✭✭✭Snakeblood


    murpho999 wrote: »
    Yes, it was pollack, which is a perfectly good fish, storm in a teacup.

    Nah. That's kind of important. If someone sells you X then it better be X. Even if Y is better, that's not what you bought.


  • #39
    Cienciano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,208 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    Sarah** wrote: »
    I didn't know if I could mention the name of the restaurant but yep... It's far superior to the chipper and worth the cost...

    Don't think there's a problem with naming it as long as it's not a long rant about a place with your first post.
    I went there cos it was recommended to me by an english guy who is mad into fish and chips. And it was midweek and it was full, so they're doing something right.


  • #40
    RDM_83 again
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,116 ✭✭✭RDM_83 again


    Fish is really overpriced in Ireland, though if I remember rightly Wrights is more expensive than other places in Howth for buying fresh fish in fact I miss Howth for buying cheap fresh fish compared to where I am now.

    A good example of how fish is overpriced in Ireland is how a few years ago you could buy lobster for 12 euro a kilo in Donegal while in Howth it was 20+ a kilo.

    Another example is Eel, its cheaper on the continent even though Lough Neagh is a major producer (and eel is transported live so transport costs should be significant).


  • #41
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,029 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    Snakeblood wrote: »
    Nah. That's kind of important. If someone sells you X then it better be X. Even if Y is better, that's not what you bought.

    True.

    I was buying E's in a night club and the sneakey fecker sold me F's. Close but not as good as E's.


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  • #42
    AnonoBoy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    The fish was probably very reasonably priced. It's the chips that they were ripping you off on.

    Sucker! :pac:


  • #43
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭Fuinseog


    W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »
    You were codded OP.

    and me wallet was battered.


  • #44
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭Fuinseog


    Sarah** wrote: »
    If this is referring to the place I think it is... It is worth it...

    I have eaten there and whilst the price might be slightly high... the service, atmosphere and the presentation of the food is second to none. They also give you fish and chips and mushy peas and serve it on a board. When you choose to eat in a sit down restaurant rather then get it from the chipper you naturally should take in to consideration all that is involved behind the food. (Staff, ingreidients, electricity etc)

    All places now have their menu and prices on the wall outside their premises so as to avoid people complaining re the price.. If you weren't happy to pay that why did you go in? You could have gone to Beshoffs and had your F&C in a box and sat on the harbour wall eating it..


    I understand there will be a different price between chipper and restaurant, but I think 14 euro must more than enough to charge if you are sitting down. the two places are connected to Beshoffs as far as i know.

    I wonder would fish be as expensive if you went to a small Spanish or Italian fishing village?
    Fish is expensive in this country and it would seem many folks here are willing to pay top dollar.


  • #45
    westendgirlie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,125 ✭✭✭westendgirlie


    Why don't ya invest in a fishing rod OP and catch your own?

    I can't remember the last time I paid for fish.


  • #46
    bhamsteve
    Closed Accounts Posts: 451 ✭✭bhamsteve


    westendgirlie wrote: »
    Why don't ya invest in a fishing rod OP and catch your own?

    I can't remember the last time I paid for fish.

    Nice pollack, mackerel and trout if you live near the sea alright. The pike, perch and bream on the Shannon aren't great though :)


  • #47
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭Fuinseog


    RDM_83 again wrote: »
    Fish is really overpriced in Ireland, though if I remember rightly Wrights is more expensive than other places in Howth for buying fresh fish in fact I miss Howth for buying cheap fresh fish compared to where I am now.

    A good example of how fish is overpriced in Ireland is how a few years ago you could buy lobster for 12 euro a kilo in Donegal while in Howth it was 20+ a kilo.

    Another example is Eel, its cheaper on the continent even though Lough Neagh is a major producer (and eel is transported live so transport costs should be significant).

    this is the problem. It could be that Dubliners are not that familiar with seafood, consider it exotic and expect to pay a high price for it.

    Wrights seems to be in a few places but not that cheap and as long as folks are prepared to pay their prices why should they be otherwise.

    Fish is very healthy but healthy doe snot need to cost a fortune.

    the restaurant in question charged 8 euro for a salad in small cereal size bowl. it consisted of rocket leaves, a small bit of goats cheese and beetroot. nothing major in terms of creation.


  • #48
    Feisar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,031 ✭✭✭Feisar


    RDM_83 again wrote: »
    Fish is really overpriced in Ireland, though if I remember rightly Wrights is more expensive than other places in Howth for buying fresh fish in fact I miss Howth for buying cheap fresh fish compared to where I am now.

    A good example of how fish is overpriced in Ireland is how a few years ago you could buy lobster for 12 euro a kilo in Donegal while in Howth it was 20+ a kilo.

    Another example is Eel, its cheaper on the continent even though Lough Neagh is a major producer (and eel is transported live so transport costs should be significant).

    Get them fresh (alive) gut them and put them on a BBQ high of the heat as they will go on fire due to the oil content. Serve with home made chips. Heaven.

    First they came for the socialists...



  • #49
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭Fuinseog


    westendgirlie wrote: »
    Why don't ya invest in a fishing rod OP and catch your own?

    I can't remember the last time I paid for fish.

    not a bad idea. pick up a little colour as well.I do have a lidl rod, which I have never used. maybe I will head down to Galway for the mackerel.

    in terms of Dublin would you eat the fish you catch off Bull Wall? the water can be a strange colour at times.


  • #50
    westendgirlie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,125 ✭✭✭westendgirlie


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    not a bad idea. pick up a little colour as well.I do have a lidl rod, which I have never used. maybe I will head down to Galway for the mackerel.

    in terms of Dublin would you eat the fish you catch off Bull Wall? the water can be a strange colour at times.

    The mackeral are in abundance at the minute. Fishmongers have been saying that there is a shortage of mackeral in the shops due to the fact that they buy off trawlers but the fish are near to shore right now.

    I have no idea where the Bull Wall is. On New Years Day (and a bit after), you can only catch salmon on the Drowes or Liffey. I think I would be iffy about eating the Liffey one.


  • #51
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,029 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    Fresh grilled Mackerel fillets with potatoes and butter.

    Simple and delicious.


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  • #52
    tricky D
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,698 ✭✭✭tricky D


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    I understand there will be a different price between chipper and restaurant, but I think 14 euro must more than enough to charge if you are sitting down. the two places are connected to Beshoffs as far as i know.

    I wonder would fish be as expensive if you went to a small Spanish or Italian fishing village?
    Fish is expensive in this country and it would seem many folks here are willing to pay top dollar.

    The 2 Beshoffs are not connected. Ivans on the pier is run by Alan Beshoff, the chipper chain using the Beshoffs name was sold by the family many moons ago.

    As for expensive restaurant fish and chips, you should shop around more. There's great value non-chipper fish and chips available for less than €12, sometimes €10 in Howth. Cod and chips is in high demand with not so good a supply, so prices tend to be higher than expected.

    There's is one famous and long-established restaurant however, which charges a fortune for its dishes, often around twice or more, the going rate.

    As for Cod mis-labelling, that's nothing unique to Howth. If you want good fresh Cod, you can get the stuff from the Irish Sea but only in certain seasons and they'll be small portions. The larger and all-year-round Cod comes from northern waters. In both cases, you'll pay for it. While the mis-labelling is bad practice which I don't condone, they can get away with it as most people really don't know the small and subtle differences between Cod, Coalie and Pollack.

    Ironically, fish like Hake is quite expensive in Howth. It can be up to €10/kg compared to town with prices sometimes as low as €6/kg. Another irony is the availability of many types of fish which we just never eat in Ireland, yet they are much sought after on the Continent. Velvet crabs were one we talked about last night.

    Another reason for the expense is simply that much less fish is landed in Howth compared to 20-30 years ago when there could be well over 50 offshore boats compared to maybe 10 max these days. So supply low, means price high.

    Shop around and experiment more, the good value is there.


  • #53
    Seanchai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭Seanchai


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    true, very true but when you are with Irish people you cannot appear stingy and they did not want to leave. they found it expensive but accept it.

    Ha! Would that the ridiculous number of tight-fisted overpaid leeches I repeatedly encounter in this country would share your conscientiousness on this point.


  • #54
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 53,068 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    I do have a lidl rod

    I'd say you'd need a big one to catch cod.


  • #55
    _feedback_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,274 ✭✭✭_feedback_


    Judging by your OP edit, I see whoever changed the thread title has left you reeling OP




    :pac:


  • #56
    RDM_83 again
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,116 ✭✭✭RDM_83 again


    Feisar wrote: »
    Get them fresh (alive) gut them and put them on a BBQ high of the heat as they will go on fire due to the oil content. Serve with home made chips. Heaven.

    I think if my GF found me killing eels in the the sink she'd have a fit (from what i remember Eels are tough buggers to kill!)


  • #57
    later12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,298 ✭✭✭✭later12


    RDM_83 again wrote: »
    I think if my GF found me killing eels in the the sink she'd have a fit (from what i remember Eels are tough buggers to kill!)
    Have you ever seen them cooking?

    I'll never forget hopping down to our kitchen one evening, seeing what was for supper to see these... snakes, as I believed... writhing and trashing around like angry lizards in a pan. Apparently they were dead, it was just something to do with their nerves firing, but it scared the bejaysus out of me.


  • #58
    Dangerous Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,674 ✭✭✭Dangerous Man


    Has this been fixed yet?


  • #59
    TwoShedsJackson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    Fuinseog wrote: »
    I wonder would fish be as expensive if you went to a small Spanish or Italian fishing village?
    Fish is expensive in this country and it would seem many folks here are willing to pay top dollar.

    What would it cost you to get to a small Spanish or Italian fishing village from Howth? Just in case you think of jetting off in search of some cheap herring.


  • #60
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,864 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    You can buy a kilo of mussels for €3.50 in Molloys. Most excellent value! :-)


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  • #61
    Chinasea
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,568 ✭✭✭Chinasea


    The seas have been totally over fished, the dog on the street knows that. Hunt them down til they too are extinct and moan that they have become too expensive on the race to the bottom.

    Do we have to eat fish? do we really have to? Any chance they could be left alone?


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