I was off yesterday and in the area of where one of my best friends works and I had asked her if she was available to have lunch with myself and the wife. She was and she selected The Olde Yorke Fish & Chips as the spot as it was very close to work and we were able to get in before noon (busy time). I'm hardly ever in this part of town (Leaside) so I'm not very familiar with it at all.
This area is rather hard up for parking but I was able to find a spot near the front that allowed for free half hour parking.
The first thing I couldn't help but notice was that there was a thick dark drape that you kind of had to brush to the side to get inside the place. Then you notice the pub style type furnishing that sort of hits you at once with a larger dining area to the side. The place feels very pubsy, British even in the decor. It doesn't seem to be as casual as other fish and chip places I know of and frequent more often.
Everything you'd expect to see on the table was already there such as ketchup, malt, salt and pepper. You know if malt's on the table the place is aiming to be legit.
All three of us ordered the exact same thing as far as meals went which was the halibut and chips. We were offered bread and butter as well. The platters were a nice generous serving with a side of cole slaw while tarter sauce was in individual plastic capped side mini cups. The serving for 17 bucks is a good size. Normally I'm used to seeing halibut portions either rectangular or square in shape as opposed to a long strip which is how I usually see cod served. The fish is however very tasty and filling, I mean it's halibut right? Another thing I'm not used to seeing is the batter "bubbled". The batter appears to have an uneven coating for however they cook it but it seems that here it is the norm as well as all the other photos I've ever seen of fish being served here. I suppose it has to do with how they prepare it. That visual doesn't really affect taste however, it's just superficial really.
The fish and chips served here at the Olde (with an E) Yorke (also with an E) are good. I can however say that I know of 2 places that make it better. Fish is fish however whether it's the chips or the batter the other two I'm thinking of just for my personal preference taste better overall. This is not to say Olde Yorke is not good, it is however just not as good.
Still I found the service here to be very good and friendly not to mention fast and precise. Our server genuinely seemed very happy to serve us and the environment and service are quite nicely done. The fish and chips however like I said, I've had better here. I suppose all the high ratings had me expecting something in the 5 star echelon but for me it was just a good meal, not great.