Coming from Bromyard, where decent fish and chips can sometimes be in short supply (though I can happily recommend the pizzas from Ramos or the Cantonese-style sweet and sour chicken from Shun Fat), discovering Malt and Salt in Withington felt like a bit of a win.
Despite appearances, takeaways are actually a fairly rare treat for me.
You're much more likely to find me in the kitchen rustling up a homemade sweet and sour chicken, a cottage pie or some chicken with roasted vegetables.
So when I do decide to order a takeaway, I want it to be worth it.
Thankfully, Malt and Salt didn't disappoint.
Ordering couldn't have been easier. I placed my order online from the office before setting off home from the office, meaning it was ready to collect as I passed through Withington.
It's a small touch, but one that makes life much easier when you're trying to avoid standing around waiting after a long day.
I opted for the small cod and chips, which came to £13. Now, "small" might be what it's called on the menu, but there was certainly nothing small about the portion that arrived.
The cod was generously sized and the chips were piled high enough that I never felt short-changed.
Everything is cooked to order and that showed. The batter was crisp, golden and not overly greasy, while the fish inside was flaky and moist.
Even by the time I got it home 20 minutes later, the batter had held quite well.
The chips were exactly what you'd hope for from a good traditional chippy: crispy around the edges, fluffy in the middle and plentiful.
Combined with the fish, it made for a meal that was satisfyingly filling without feeling excessive.
At £13, plus another £3 for curry sauce (a must have for a chippy tea, if you ask me), it's not the cheapest fish and chips you'll find, but with portion sizes like these and freshly cooked food, it felt like fair value for money.
Most importantly, it passed the simplest test of all: it left me full, happy and already thinking about when I might treat myself again.
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