Bethel Shop Owner Puts A Crispy Twist On A Fish Tale

By John Voket

Saquib Zafar thinks if folks have a choice, they might bypass a cold $5 grinder or a couple of gooey pizza slices for a serving of his zesty fish and chips, or any of a number of other trans-fat-free dishes he fries up seven days a week at Royal Fish & Chips in Stony Hill.

One of his customers, Umair Ellahi, was quick to testify to the authentic taste offered up by Mr Zafar.

“I was in the UK last summer and I ate a lot of fish and chips,” he told The Newtown Bee during a recent lunch hour. “There is literally no difference between what I was eating in the UK and what I can get here.”

A few minutes earlier, Pete Johnson, who works in Bethel, breezed in for Royal’s popular $4.49 one-piece special that comes with crispy chips, tartar sauce, and tangy malt vinegar.

“I’ve been here several times, and the food is great,” he asked after being greeted by the bubbly young owner.

Mr Zafar’s family is from Pakistan, but he and his parents have lived in the greater Danbury area since the young man was born. In 2002, he began working at a fish and chips takeout shop in Meriden, and two years later when the owner announced he was putting the place up for sale, Mr Zafar took the plunge and bought the business.

Then one day last summer, as he was heading home to Danbury, a traffic jam on Interstate 84 forced him to take an alternate up Route 6 from Hawleyville, and he stumbled upon the defunct Simply Seafood, which had just gone up for lease.

“I thought there was a lot of traffic, and I don’t think there’s been a fish and chips place in Bethel for a long time, if ever,” he said while going through the paces of breading, battering, and frying up a few of his tasty side dishes.

Royal Fish & Chips boasts zero cholesterol / zero trans-fat Icelandic cod and haddock as the anchors to the various entrees and combinations available. Everything is cooked to order, Mr Zafar said, so nothing is sitting around.

“All my food is best served hot, right out of the fryer,” he said. “So when people come in and get orders to go, I try and convince them to have it right here.”

While Royal Fish & Chips only has a few small tables, the atmosphere is bright and clean. Hungry patrons can enjoy a serving of cod or haddock and chips, or step up to a multipiece order that combines the two, or adds a piece of deep fried chicken breast fillet.

He can serve up a fresh fish sandwich with fries and a beverage for $5.99, or the entire gang can feast on his family specials, which start at $26.49 for nine pieces of chicken, or the family dinner with nine pieces of haddock or cod — mixed or matched — for $30.99.

Can’t decide? Sample the seafood platter with fish, scallops, clam strips, and shrimp with chips and slaw for $11.99, or go for any of the combo as a meal. He also has whole-belly clams in season, and fried calamari ala cart or as a dinner.

Take the edge off a cold day or evening with a bowl of chowder, or munch on fried broccoli and cheddar, zucchini, jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, breaded okra or mushrooms, sweet potato or eggplant fries. None of the Royal appetizers cost more than $3.89 to go or eat-in.

There are also a variety of ice cold soft drinks, bottled water, or hot tea and coffee available as well.

Royal is frying up a feast Monday–Thursday between 11 am and 9 pm; Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm; and Sundays from 11 am to 8 pm. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

To order, stop in or call 203-297-6065.