The Thatch Bar in Ballyshannon

07/12/2025: There is parking outside but it’s a bit hit and miss if a spot is free; there is a big car park at Slevins so you could park there and walk back up. There is a step up through a manual door. On entering I was greeted by a very friendly and polite lady who took my order. I was told I’d have to wait about 15 minutes which is about the norm. There were three people waiting for orders and several people came in to collect orders and the phone didn’t stop ringing with people who had the sense to ring ahead. It was nearer 25 minutes before I was called for my order but judging by how busy they were you could understand why; I had my kindle so I was happy. They put a piece of cello tape to keep the box lid closed/ secured and wrapped and secured the bag around the boxes; nothing was going to slip or spill out whilst I was driving home. I opened the box to see a good portion of chips but also a HUGE piece of battered fish. Also Inside the bag was plastic cutlery, sachets of vinegar/ ketchup/ salt and serviettes. I really enjoyed my fish and chips, can’t fault it. Definitely worth the wait but I’ll probably call ahead next time.

05/10/2025: Sometimes, it’s the simplest of dishes that are hard to get right… Take that age old takeaway favourite, Fish & Chips, for instance… intentions are usually good but invariably gets served as some insipid tasteless piece of is-it-or-isn’t-it-cod with a mediocre batter on top of a congealed mush of soggy chips. Sound familiar?? Enter AJ’s in Ballyshannon. The chips (…and they were PROPER chips) were plentiful and that lovely combination of fluffy centred and crispy outside, and perched on top of this potato perfection was a slab of the finest flakiest fishiest feed, swaddled lovingly in a blanket of the tastiest crispiest batter this side of Batterstown! I can’t begin to describe the joy that deep fried fish can bring, all that it was missing was being wrapped in a sheet of yesterday’s news. AJ’s are definitely doing fish the way fish should be done, light and lovely… I’m not codding! Treat yourself to a day off cooking with a takeaway the way takeaways are meant to be taken away. 15/10 for crispy coddiness!!