The Hot Spot

Back in December, I mentioned Ballyhackamore’s The Hot Spot chippie in a post about the possible sale of a row of Upper Newtownards Road shop units to developers.

I’d mentioned the shop’s recent makeover, and John Self followed up with a question about the height of the counter.

> “the chippie that’s just invested in a new counter”

And a wonderfully idiosyncratic piece of signage above the name - the leaping fish with the words Cod Almighty below it - and, most entertainingly for my money, the tiny words “Ohh yess” coming out of its mouth. And does the counter need to be seven feet high??

Well, Sharon from The Hot Spot emailed AiB recently.

Turns out that she and her husband (who I think may even have run as an independent candidate in East Belfast in the 2003 Assembly elections) took over the chip shop in July, have given it a quick makeover and got rid of the grill that used to cook/heat the burgers. She challenged me to go back.

And on Saturday night I did.

Lovely Hawaiian Burger. Good chips. Fast. Tasted better than the normal fare from Arnolds up the road. Using grated cheese rather than a plastic slice was a nice touch.

And Sharon was right. The high counter does protect customers from splattered with hot oil. Guess it looks higher than some other chippies since there’s no see-through section at the top to watch the onion rings and battered sausages.

“So instead of comments about the counter why don’t you come in and try the food, as the counter does not effect the taste ...”

I did, and I’d recommend it. Sits nicely alongside the excellent Orient Chinese takeaway up the street.