Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips plants its flag in New York

In 2019, Gordon Ramsay signed a deal with Lion Capital, a London-based private-equity firm, that promised a $100 million investment over five years, with a stated goal to open 100 restaurants across the United States by 2024. The pandemic didn’t help that lofty goal, but the company has been expanding and now has 17 restaurants across the country in markets including Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.

New York City is now on the list, too, with the recent addition of Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, which opened December 11 in Times Square and marks the concept’s fourth location. It debuted in Las Vegas in 2016 and also has outposts in Orlando and Washington, D.C.

“New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, the energy is unmatched, and I’m thrilled to be bringing Fish & Chips here,” Ramsay said in a statement. “Fish & Chips is a taste of home to me, and we’ve found a way to elevate that classic dish, dress it up and really modernize the experience for diners.”

The restaurant’s interior reimagines the classic “chippy,” or fish and chips shop. The 35-seat dining space is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, giving diners easy access to Times Square views, and it features Union Jack flags in a nod to its lineage.

The menu merges British pub fare with playful interpretations of classic recipes. It’s anchored by crispy cod, shrimp and chicken, plus chips (which is what fries are called in the United Kingdom) and a variety of savory sauces, like tartar, curry and mango, Dijon mayonnaise, Sriracha aïoli, Southwest ranch, and cocktail sauce. The proteins are available as combination plates paired with chips and two sauces, as sandwiches, or solo.

The fishwich features battered cod wrapped in warm naan bread and topped with avocado, shredded cabbage, and tangy tomato relish. The chickenwich sees a crispy chicken tender in warm naan with cabbage slaw, Roma tomatoes, house-made pickles and a drizzle of Old Bay dressing.

Standard chips are sprinkled with sea salt, but they can also be served “dirty” — dressed up with set toppings such as jalapeño peppers, chorizo, cotija cheese, and red onion; truffle, Parmesan cheese, and chives; or bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, and sour cream. The menu also features milkshakes, including a sticky toffee shake and a Biscoff cookie shake that’s topped with crumbled Biscoff cookies and whipped cream.

Combos are $15-$19. Chips are $7 and Dirty Chips are $8.

The group declined to provide specifics on further expansion plans, but the company said it is scaling dining concepts, including offering outdoor dining and takeout, as it taps into several of Ramsay’s U.S. and international brands. These include Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, Gordon Ramsay Steak, and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen.

In addition to the group’s North America concepts, there are 43 international restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants portfolio.