Award-winning fish and chip shop The Codfather - with its hilarious name and clean, open front space - is friendly and welcoming, a good fit for the residential area where it's located.
“It doesn't smell like fish and chips,” noted owner Emre Tunc. “We change the oil more than any other fish and chip shop, and the fish and chips are all fried seperately.
"You don't get the smell, and the vegetarian options are guaranteed to be vegetarian.”
That's good news for me, as, rather unfortunately, my meat-eating dinner date has cancelled.
Emre brings me vegetarian spring rolls, nuggets and chips, and they're delicious.
He has a crispy fillet of cod and chips, all sustainably-sourced. The chips are twice-cooked, to retain the crispness, and still keeping the fluffy inside.
For the quality, the food is very reasonably priced, with an entire meal coming in at under £5. The golden chips and flavoursome spring rolls taste very high-quality, and you can notice the difference for having them freshly-made.
Every customer who comes into the shop seems to know the owner, and they don't mind the wait it takes to cook the food – unlike other takeaways, the Codfather don't pre-cook their food, but make it all fresh in store.
“We like it chilled out, like a family,” Emre said.
Emre is optimistic for the future of the store. It was shortlisted for the 'Fish & Chips Oscar' , and won Best Independent takeaway in 2012 and 2013.
He said: “We're looking into a second branch. Perhaps a restaurant this time.”
The Codfather: 81 Oldfield Circus, Northolt, UB5 4RU - 020 8423 9240
