'I visited the London fish and chip shop that might be named the best in the UK'

Who doesn't love fish and chips? The nation's favourite meal, a Briton's birth right and a comforting sight where they may appear on the high street. Some are better than others of course, but done right, and a chippie can easily outflank a Michelin star restaurant for pure tasty satisfaction and earn legions of loyal customers who come back time and again, sometimes over generations.

Just one London fish and chip restaurant has been shortlisted in the top ten of this year's National Fish and Chip Awards. Toff's of Muswell Hill was established in 1968 and is still going strong, winning awards and filling tables with its classic menu of traditional fish fayre, and of course, an alcohol licence, with a plentiful selection of wines.

Not one to miss an opportunity to sample put away some chips, I had to go along to Toff's and try it for myself. Here's what I found...

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It's easy to spot Toff's on Muswell Hill Broadway, with its gold lettered shopfront in the centre of town. Inside, it's got a slightly olde worlde appeal. Walking past the counter where people stand to order takeaways, it leads to pleasant, very cosy dining area. The expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to apply here. It's a small restaurant, more on a par with a café, but it's elegantly furnished, the walls are wood-panelled, and I get the feeling it hasn't changed much over the decades.

The menu is rather magnificent. Two things to consider here - firstly, it's more expensive than takeaway prices but it equates roughly to what you'd pay in any restaurant. A main course of cod or haddock and chips will cost you £19, and a whole plaice and chips is £23, not including alcohol or any other extras you might order.

But that leads us to my second point - there's so much more variety on offer than you usually would expect. Among main courses, there's skate (£21), salmon (£19), Dover sole (£39.50), lemon sole (£29.50), halibut (£29.50), sea bass (£21.50), calamari (£17.50) and scampi (£17.50), all served with chips and tartare sauce. I should add, Toff's has a takeaway menu that is less pricey, with cod and haddock from £10.50 and chips from £3.95.

If you have haven't tried some of these tasty fish before, Toff's is the place to explore. But I'm old-fashioned, so I order haddock and chips. I will say the fish looks mightily impressive, it's long and its ends jut out over the sides of the plate. It tastes flawless, the fish inside is tender, meaty and succulent encased in orange, crispy batter with a nice crunch. I'm pleased with the generous portion of salad and the tartare sauce is delicious, creamy, and has a bit of zing.

The chips are also tasty, thick and well-cooked without being over-fried. At first, they look a bit pale to me but then again, I'm used to bright yellow fries with no flavour or texture beyond crispy ends from being left too long in a fryer. I ate the lot, although I'd say the haddock was the highlight of my meal. For dessert, there are several options, spotted dick (£6.50), treacle pudding (£6.50), sticky toffee pudding (£6.50), Toff's home-made dessert (£7.95) and ice cream (£5.50).

I go away feeling suitably stuffed and well satisfied. If combining fish and chips with dining out is your idea of a perfect meal out with friends, partners or family, then Toff's is definitely worth a visit.

Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the National Fish and Chip Awards provide an opportunity for fish and chip outlets across the UK to gain recognition for standards of excellence. Toff's is the only London chippie to make it into the top ten restaurant category.

A panel of fish and chip experts have had the tough task of judging the takeaways and restaurants that have entered the competition. The next round will see them cut the shortlist in half once more, before the National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony takes place on February 26 next year at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

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