Spontaneous Consumption: The Anchor Fish-n-Chips

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Minneapolis has needed a good chipper. You know, those British eateries that specialize in fish-n-chips, pasties, meat pies and bangers. I've been told, traditionally, a chipper is a take-out joint. Lucky for us, the Twin Cities' newest chipper just happens to be a full on restaurant.

The Anchor in Northeast has been in the works for 10 months. Owners Luke Kyle, Kathryn Hayes and Jennifer Crouser literally built the pub by hand. Yup, they had hammers in hand throughout the process, taking five months to build out the former art gallery space into a luscious, dark and seductive space. Dark woods and red walls make The Anchor feel well worn and homey. Just the place to grab a cold beer, a toastie and chat with friends.

We stopped by on their second night open and found the pub to be packed already. The wait was 40 minutes for a table, which would be long if the reward at the end of the wait weren't so good. Already, The Anchor had a frenetic feel, a cool darkness that made nearly everyone in attendance feel welcomed and talk loudly. The room is small and cozy without feeling cramped, and the open kitchen behind the bar adds a casual feel to the wood bedecked decor. Atmosphere is key to any dining experience, and it seems this trio has nailed this part of their operation.

Spontaneity being the crux of this blog, we let our server choose our meals for us after we devoured a plate of crisp and juicy onion rings. Out came the classic (can you say that of a place that's been open two days?) fish & chips and the toasty & chips. The fish was a massive filet of Alaskan cod thickly breaded and fried 'till crisp. The spice in the breading was a bit light for my taste, but with a touch of vinegar I saw the genius of the preparation. Paired with hand cut chips that balanced thickness and crispness with just the right amount of salt, the dish was near-perfect bar food. The $8.50 price tag is reasonable for the size of the platter. Great food cheap. The toasty is a sandwich filled with Irish cheddar cheese, ham, tomato and onions. I'd never experienced this particular take on ham and cheese, and the tomato and onion made the sandwich. Two bites and I fell in love. The tomato added a freshness and juicy that helped balance out the weight of the ham and cheese. The onion gave it great bite. At $6.50, I'd recommend this platter over anything else on the menu. In fact, I can't wait to go back and get another.

The rest of the menu consists of burgers, bangers (battered sausages - another dish I can't wait to try), pasties and meat pies. We scoped out what the other diners were eating and all the dishes looked spectacular.

The Anchor's small beer list starts with Guinness and Summit on tap, as well as some cheaper options like Grain Belt and Old Style. What impressed me the most though, is their wine list. The pub features two wines (a red and a white, both organic and from Chile) that are served in beakers (yup, like in science class) the trio bought from Axman Supplies in St. Paul. A small beaker runs you $8, a large (one liter of wine) will cost you $15.

The Anchor is another great addition to 13th Ave in Northeast, just blocks down from the 331 Club and Modern Cafe. The neighborhood continues to grow, and The Anchor adds more cache and great food to this burgeoning foodie enclave.