Forum Topic

Zaga chippie disappears

Anyone know what happened to Putney's Zaga fish+chips shop? Suddenly it's disappeared - replaced by Korean restaurant.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2485d31 Comments

They have clearly had their chips .

Andy Pike ● 2485d

would still like to know what happened to this v good chippie. greatly missed.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2484d

Agreed it was a great fish and chip shop.

John Geoffries ● 2483d

it was a great chippie, however I feel that Deliveroo was their downfall.

Maxine Campbell ● 2483d

So: Deliveroo: that's interesting. I wonder what damage that does to otherwise first-class food outlets. Have never used them - always turned up at Zaga and took the product home. Parking was a smaller problem at Zaga than at Fishers which some say is good but is on a main drag.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2483d

I used 'just eat' to order a curry from Putney Tandoori (before it got refurbished) and when i went to collect it they implored me to ring direct and order instead. They said that using the app cuts 30% from their profits. No idea if true or not obv

Matt Palmer ● 2482d

Whichever platform is used will obviously take some commission from each transaction but 30% seems unrealistic to me. Presumably the businesses increase their turnover from being on these foodie sites so it must be worthwhile or they wouldn't stay on them.

Sue Hammond ● 2482d

But if their current customers realise that they are on them and then become too lazy to go out as a result that surely is a lose lose situation.

Philippa Bond ● 2482d

It's better than doing no business at all.

Sue Hammond ● 2482d

The Korean that’s replaced it  fantastic. Five stars from us. Won’t have to go all the way to New Malden any more.

Freddie Francis ● 2481d

Can you eat in Freddie or is it just takeaway?

Nick Gulliford ● 2480d

Yes, it's not just a takeaway. Quite a few tables. Brightly lit but that's not unusual for Korean restaurants. Just be aware it's cash only. They do have a cashpoint in their own window though which is sort of odd but handy in that respect.

Freddie Francis ● 2480d

Fishers is very good but not handy for a takeaway having to get back over Putney Bridge and through the High Street home :-(

Lucille Grant ● 2480d

Agree about Fishers. Not handy. Now Zaga is no more, there is a real need for a decent chippie this side of the bridge. There is What The Fish on URR on right on way to Sheen, but a bit remote. Anyone tried it?

Alexander MacLeod ● 2479d

Last time I had fish and chips from Fishers they were dreadful, possibly the worst F&Cs I have ever  had. As a result I haven’t  been back.

Paul Clements ● 2479d

What about Putney Pier , Fish and Chips LRR? I'm not a fish man, more meat but does anyone have and good feedback on this? It's been there for a few years.

Nick Gulliford ● 2479d

Putney Pier in my experience - small portions served by surly staff. Not value for money. Chinese called, I think, Fresh on URR northside - much the same. Anyway I would hesitate to patronise any Chinese food outlet just now!

Alexander MacLeod ● 2479d

Surly staff at Putney Pier I would agree with but thei 'small' portion of chips is plenty for two. And the fish, even the small ones are large enough for my appetite. Whether the the prices are good/bad per portion is another thing, I wouldn't know. All fish and chips meals from take aways seem very expensive these days. Avoiding Chinese restaurants is taking paranoia to a bit of an extreme. You're probably more at risk from food poisoning from any takeaway than catching a virus while waiting for your chow mein.

Freddie Francis ● 2479d

Hope you are right, but BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY - Confucius, he say.....

Alexander MacLeod ● 2479d

We used to drive down there to collect. When deliveroo had them on their books delivery was erratic, sometimes orders would just get cancelled. I don't think they could balance deliveroo orders and people ordering at the shop. In a way everyone lost. Shame as they were the best around.

Maxine Campbell ● 2476d

Yamiro, the new Korean restaurant on this spot, is great. Went there for lunch. There is no lunch blackboard out on the pavement, but if you look closely at the huge menu in the window many items are reduced at lunchtime (marked LS).Terrific value, nice decor, smiley service. Can't wait to go back.

Bill Christie ● 2470d

The chippie is missed, though. Korean food is a minority taste, arguably inferior to Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2470d

I agree with you there. It'd be interesting to know what has caused the demise of the chippy. Not even Brady's could make a go of it. Perhaps it is because the core food of a chippy is essentially wild. I don't think that you can farm haddock or cod.So supply is dwindling and prices rising. Salmon, sea-bass etc., that used to be expensive occasional treats, are now cheaper, and commonplace, because they are farmed. Maybe the fish & chip industry should be promoting sea-bass & chips?

Bill Christie ● 2470d

I'd 'argue' fish and chips is absolutely 'inferior' compared to pretty much all international cuisines. It certainly can't be compared to any Asian menu let alone an excellent Korean, which I would simply say is different in the same way Italian is to German. As an aside I would say that the very best chips I've had in the last twenty years have been from Chinese takeaways. They double fry and them so are crisp and fresh. None of those bland pallid pale types you get from the British chippy, and all the local ones, these days. The only exception I will make is the fish and chips from Rick Stein's takeaway in Falmouth. Puts the rest to shame.

Freddie Francis ● 2470d

"The only exception I will make is the fish and chips from Rick Stein's takeaway in Falmouth. Puts the rest to shame."Won't they be a bit cold by the time the chap arrives in Putney?

David Ainsworth ● 2470d

The suggestion has been made on the Forum that Deliveroo were somehow mixed up in Zaga's  demise. Maybe Deliveroo charged too much or made a pig's ear of what they were supposed to do. All round, a pity.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2470d

Freddie: Shame on you!  F&c is a NATIONAL DISH! How can it be anything but incomparable?

Alexander MacLeod ● 2470d

@Alexander. Maybe Paul Game was right. I have obviously no moral compass. Didn’t realise he meant when it came to fried potatoes.

Freddie Francis ● 2470d

I'm sure I read somewhere that the British national dish was chicken tikka masala ... but that was possibly fake new spread by a tabloid?

Michael Ixer ● 2470d

Freddie: I assumed his chip was on his shoulder...….

Alexander MacLeod ● 2470d

Quite possibly. He was always a very 'chippy' character, that's for sure.

Freddie Francis ● 2470d