Solway Fish & Chips sits at 205 High Street in Solway, Masterton, and carries a 4.4 rating on Google.
The measure of any fish and chip shop is what comes out of the fryer: fish battered to order so the coating stays crisp, and chips cooked in clean, hot oil until golden outside and fluffy within. A short wait while the order cooks is normal, and a Friday-evening queue is usually a good sign rather than a bad one. Regulars ask which fish is freshest that day — in New Zealand that often means tarakihi, gurnard or hoki — rather than settling for whatever has sat in the heated cabinet. Then eat it soon; even good chips go leathery in the paper, so find a bench and tuck in while it's hot.
Solway Fish & Chips brings that ritual to Masterton's High Street, an easy stop for locals and anyone passing through the Wairarapa.