The view from the corner of Queen and Cameron (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Taking over the old Bon’s Submarine space at Queen just west of Spadina, the Big Fish is the first foray into western waters for George Hung, who also owns Leslieville’s Reliable Fish and Chips. While his other eatery sticks to the classic English dish, The Big Fish offers up a variety of grab ’n’ go foods for the fish lover—with the odd burger thrown in for good measure.
After snapping up the spot, Hung gutted and renovated the place in under three months, leaving the décor side of things to his niece, Melissa Wong. The place is outfitted in a palette of dove grey and white, with vintage-inspired images on the walls. Diners can perch on a counter that wraps around the front window or sit on the small patio out front, where, looking east, they can catch a glimpse of the lineup at nearby Banh Mi Boys. Hung notes that the shoddy railing circling the patio will soon be replaced by something more akin to a picket fence.
The menu focuses on fish, naturally, with choices including basa, tilapia, salmon and haddock. Each fish can be prepared as a sandwich, plated with a salad or fries, or served up as the classic fish ’n’ chips. The fish is sourced from four different fishmongers around the city; Hung says he opts for the better product when available, and selects wild-caught fish when possible, noting that the tilapia is farmed and impossible to catch in the wild. A basic batter is used for the English-style dishes; the grilled fish is coated in both corn flour and cornmeal, giving it more of a crunch. Sandwiches can be topped with sub-style classics (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, banana peppers), and sauces include barbecue, garlic mayo and tartar. The selection of burgers—including a lamb option with rosemary and garlic ($11.95)—will keep pescaphobes happy. Additionally, the place is licensed, offering basic brews like Stella and Keith’s. With servings of fish averaging out at seven ounces, it’s unlikely that anyone will leave hungry. “We are the Big Fish, after all!” laughs Hung.
132726 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Grilled fish sandwich with basa and garlic mayo ($8.75) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish20/ apr12bigfish20 0 0
Grilled fish sandwich with basa and garlic mayo ($8.75)
132724 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Grilled fish with salad ($9.50) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish18/ apr12bigfish18 0 0
Grilled fish with salad ($9.50)
132721 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Fish ’n’ chips with tilapia and tartar sauce ($9.50) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish15/ apr12bigfish15 0 0
Fish ’n’ chips with tilapia and tartar sauce ($9.50)
132718 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The vinegars come in spray bottles here Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish12/ apr12bigfish12 0 0
The vinegars come in spray bottles here
132717 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish11.jpg 400 600 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish11/ apr12bigfish11 0 0
132716 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish10/ apr12bigfish10 0 0
132715 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish9/ apr12bigfish9 0 0
132714 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish8/ apr12bigfish8 0 0
132713 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Hung left the design of the space to his niece, Melissa Wong Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish7/ apr12bigfish7 0 0
Hung left the design of the space to his niece, Melissa Wong
132712 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish6/ apr12bigfish6 0 0
132711 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish5/ apr12bigfish5 0 0
132710 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Big Fish owner George Hung Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish4/ apr12bigfish4 0 0
Big Fish owner George Hung
132709 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish3.jpg 624 410 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish3/ apr12bigfish3 0 0
132708 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Big Fish is right across from The Cameron House Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish2.jpg 624 410 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish2/ apr12bigfish2 0 0
The Big Fish is right across from The Cameron House
132706 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The view from the corner of Queen and Cameron Introducing: The Big Fish https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12BigFish_intro.jpg 656 420 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-big-fish/slide/apr12bigfish_intro/ apr12bigfish_intro 0 0
The view from the corner of Queen and Cameron
The Big Fish, 406 Queen St. W., 416-603-8102
Awesome, now ‘The That Got Away’ has some competition to keep it’s pricing honest.
reliable is very good but not accessible..
Just tried the grilled fish sandwich and it is delish – I could eat it every day!
Having been living in the area for 40 years as I refuse to step foot in this place everyone misses Bons submarine the area ain’t the same anymore :(
as someone who lives and works in the neighbourhood, i miss NOTHING about bon submarine. good riddance, and welcome to the big fish (who by the way, shouldn’t be blamed for bon’s closing. support new local business.)
Eat their at least once a week. Much more than just a fish house! It could have the best barbeque burgers in the city!! Defiantly the cheapest!
Bons last 35 years big fish couldn’t even cut it for 2 years. AHAHAHAHAHHA what a joke WE MISS BONS. Good riddance big fish