Michael’s Toronto Beatles Chippy Still Thriving

Ticket to Fried!

Michael’s Toronto Beatles Chippy Still Thriving

It all started when Michael Fresco was 14 years old. Working at a fast-food joint in Montreal, he turned fresh-cut potatoes into delicious French fries and found he was hooked on cooking. Over the years, that passion only grew. “When I met my future wife, I invited her over for my veal scaloppini,” he says. “She was shocked to realize hey, this guy’s an amazing cook!”

In 2010, Michael put his culinary talents to work. A friend was selling her fish and chips shop in Kensington Market, and Michael made an offer. With only eight seats inside, the place felt like a sweaty shoebox, but the fish and chips were so popular that Michael opened a second location on St. Clair West. Then, in 2016, when a 2,400 square foot space opened down the street on Augusta Avenue, Michael grabbed it. “We closed the deal and the very next day, Fresco’s was open for business again,” Michael recalls. He opened his doors to Kensington Market with his own unique Beatles themed twist to quality English style fish and chips and delicious Quebec style Poutine

Fried with Love

Now, you can eat your fish and chips – and all the other goodies made in the open-air kitchen – in style. There’s air conditioning, long wooden tables, a big patio for people watching, and a cool ’60s/’70s vibe right down to the music playing and the art on the walls. Along with three other cooks, Michael is behind the counter frying to his heart’s content.

All the food at Fresco’s is made with love, and it tastes like it. The fish comes in two different batters: a traditional light tempura and one that Michael invented. His secret? “My Miss Vickie’s Batter is made by crushing up the salt malt vinegar chips to give the fish a better crunch that lasts a lot longer for takeout.” Fresco’s serves everything from haddock, cod and

halibut to more unique varieties such as shrimp, crab cakes, calamari, salmon and house-made lobster bites.

Va-va Variety

Because there’s so much to love at Fresco’s, you’re sure to come back. “After so many years selling fish and chips, I wanted to introduce my customers to another protein,” Michael says. He now offers various foods, all fried in separate fryers to keep it tasting authentic. Also on the menu: chili, chicken wings and sandwiches, as well as tons of vegetarian options such veggie chilli, deep-fried pickles, onion rings, poutine and kale salad. To make sure the food never tastes greasy, Fresco’s uses non-hydrogenated oil that is religiously filtered on a daily basis.

Michael finds his joy at Fresco’s. “I love feeding my family and I love feeding strangers,” he says. “In so many industries, people come to you with a problem – whether that’s a toothache or a dent in their car – and they’re miserable that they have to pay lots of money to get it fixed. Here, people come in hungry and excited for food, and I have a whole kitchen. It’s so easy to make them happy.”

Since opening, Fresco’s Fish & Chips has used the highest quality oil available. Low in saturated fat, FRY-ON…ZTF is a unique blend of healthy canola and corn oils that are non-hydrogenated. Containing 0 grams of trans fat per serving, it allows you to enjoy flavourful fried food in a much healthier way.

We love our fish, so we use a light batter which compliments the fish without overpowering it. Our traditional batter is done the old-fashioned way using a wheat flour and yellow corn flour.

We love our customers, so we make our coleslaw by hand with fresh Ontario grown veggies and a delicious creamy dressing.

We love our planet, so we use all biodegradable takeout cutlery and packaging. We recycle in the restaurant and encourage the same at home.

For our Vegan friends and customers, we offer Daiya, a delicious dairy, lactose, casein, gluten and soy free alternative to traditional cheese, as well as a fresh Ontario grown Vegan Mushroom Gravy for the best Vegan Poutine or you have ever had. Michael’s savoury Vegan Chilli is a great addition for a hungry herbivore.

From our deep-fried pickles to our extra crispy Miss Vicky’s style batter, we are always adding interesting options, and are always on the lookout for healthy and stimulating new flavours and ideas!