Hammerhead's Seafood Kitchen & Market — Restaurant in Hamilton

So here is my review:

I sampled the halibut, haddock, and chips with a side of coleslaw.

Let me preface by saying that I wanted to order one of each of the 3 fish tacos they prominently advertise (not because I particularly like fish tacos but I was looking for the items that would make them work the hardest and use the most dishes) and was rudely told I couldn't have them from this Seinfeld looking henchman. This brought to mind the episode with the 'soup Nazi', and this left me with a sour taste in my mouth. But being a gourmand, I know that sour pairs well with fish so I didn't immediately leave. The bitter taste lingered however...

I've had fish at many places. I find the experience usually stays with you, and even repeats on you. The leaden feeling in my stomach has been an indication that I'd eaten fried fish long after I actually had. I don't know how to feel about what has just happened...

First of all, the place was packed. I actually had to act as a doorman as I stood and waited. This kindness was unnoticed by the proprietor and his staff. I didn't mind really, what else are you going to do when you have to wait for soooo long? They made no effort to entertain me, no witty banter, in fact they were quite aloof pretending to be very busy. As you'd expect from any transplanted Toronto restaurateur. The 'I'm better than you' attitude was palpable. Not that anyone at Connaught or Hutch's has ever paid attention to me, but I was expecting better.

Back to the food.

There's sorcery at work here. Fish is supposed to be heavy and greasy. Chips, the same. And coleslaw is supposed to be smothered in sauce that adds weight and helps it rest nicely at the bottom of your stomach with the fish and fries...

This fish was light, but fresh and firm. Obviously they don't source locally for Hamilton Bay carp, and RBG koi.

I don't know how I feel about perfectly browned and crisped fish that doesn't linger like a rock in my stomach...

And fries (pretentiously called 'chips' - chips come in a foil bag gentrifiers) that I witnessed cooked in oil, didn't taste greasy. I'm kinda torn about this and wonder if the proprietor cuts corners by using some unknown cooking emollient that I'm unaware of. It's unsettling, like my stomach usually is after deep-fried fish...

Coleslaw is supposed to be heavy. It is supposed to be drenched in a cream sauce that gives it substance. This slaw was lighter, airier, and you could actually taste the fresh ingredients. I assume they scrimp on sauce to cut corners. I'm used to having heavy, over-sauced slaw, and I don't know how to feel about it. I assume it's a Toronto trick used to force health on us Hamiltonians.

Doesn't tartar sauce come in a condiment package? They gave me a substantial container of what seemed to be fresh, homemade flavourful tartar sauce. Again, I assume they can't afford to buy condiment tartar sauce like other restaurants.

This experience is so different from what I'm used to that I'm not sure how to rate my meal. Something is definitely amiss, because I have never been in a busier restaurant. I'm betting they add some form of hallucinogenic that addicts people - I didn't order anything with mushrooms for this very reason...

I'm not known for giving positive reviews, and given the incredible wait - 9 minutes, 27 seconds - and the aloof attitude of the staff, I'm a loath to give my highest rating. But I must.

I give Hammerheads an:

'I'm not dead' and an 'I'd go again'

But they're lucky to get such high praise. We want our food fast and heavy in the Hammer fish monger! And next time, if someone orders fish tacos, MAKE...

Has always MAGNIFICENT!!No better Fish and Chips in town! We line up for our orders and no one minds because it's worth it! Until.... May 27th WHAT HAPPENED?? I have consistently given Hammerheads 5 Stars but not today! I called @ 5:50 for a pick up order, as always. Notice on their Google menu indicated there is a Birthday offer I mention it and I'm told there is no such thing. I told them I still want the order and will show them when I go in. Staff asks when I'd like to pick up, I ask "what works for you", I'm told 6:45. At 6:30 I arrive there are 3 customers waiting, I pay ask for white and 1 malt vinegar. I mention the Google menu, show the young lady at the counter who takes my phone to the Manager, who responds abasively "that's old, it doesn't count". I said, I wasn't demanding anything just showing you it is still on your website. I'm given a pager and step outside. Another custmer enters as I leave followed by 2 more as I sit out front. The customers a head of me get their orders, the customer that entered after me gets his order. At 7:05 I stand and look at the clerk who comes to the door and says they're a bit behind. I remind her I was told 6:45 as a 2nd customer who came after me leaves with their order, the last customer leaves with their order and the clerk comes out to say 5 more minutes and offers me a beverage, it is now 7:15 thirty minutes past my prescribed pick up time. No customers waiting but the 1 who called nearly 90 minutes before, oh yea that's me! Finally a young man brings out my order, does apologise. It is 7:25, 1 hour 35 minutes post order. I'm not sure what happened but I've had shorter waits on Good Friday! Then... Typically when we get a single fish and chips a container of Tarter sauce is included we had 2 times 2 pieces of Haddock and chips but there was 1 container of Tarter. My order included a large container of Cole slaw, the container was less then 2/3 full. And the fries were dry alot of ends, and overcooked - typically their fries are golden moist and delicious so I always order additional at $5 for small or $8 for large. This order was over $60! I cannot possibly provide more than a 2 star rating and describe how utterly disappointing this...

This was my first time having fish and chips since being diagnosed with celiac over 3 years ago and all I can say is that it was absolutely worth the wait to have it here.

The fried chicken and seafood chowder were tasty, but the real star was the battered haddock. I swear I died and went to heaven after that first bite!

The fish was cooked to perfection; flaky and falling apart. It was some of the freshest fish I've ever tasted from an Ontario chip shop, where frozen boxed grocery store fish has always seemed to be the norm. The batter was tender and just the right thickness in relation to how much fish there was. It was greasy, but in the perfect "this is worth clogging a few arteries for" kind of way, instead of the "it went for a swim in oil and drowned" kind of way.

I also noticed they use eco friendly products for all of their packaging. While a small thing, I always appreciate businesses who make the extra effort to operate sustainably.

I've had fish and chips in Cornwall, UK, so the shops in Canada just never really compared, even when I wasn't gluten free. On top of that, gluten free places often batter with just rice flour which always ends up hard and while still good, it really just isn't the same. Add in my sensitivity to cross-contamination and I had essentially resigned myself to never having a proper fish and chips again.

Thank you so much Hammerhead's for letting me enjoy this dish again.

The owner was a joy to chat with, and as someone with a love of food who used to work as a chef pre-diagnosis, it was comforting in a way to hear from someone else whose celiac diagnosis threw a bit of a wrench in their career. I'm glad you've continued sharing your love of food with the city of Hamilton. It definitely shows in the quality and I hope to...