Dan Turner has many reasons to love Cockney Kings Fish & Chips in North Burnaby. As the owner for the past five years, Turner earns part of his living there. More importantly, it was at that very restaurant where he met his wife Kristi.
"I grew up here," Turner said of the Kensington Plaza restaurant. "I started in 1985 and worked here for 14 years before I left in 1999 when I bought the New Westminster (Cockney Kings) location. Kristi and I were both working here, . and now we've been married more than nine years and have three girls."
Four years ago, the Burnaby location came up for sale, so it wasn't a tough decision for Turner to return to his old stomping grounds. Turner has an energy and drive you don't see in many under40-year-old entrepreneurs: All you have to do is show up at 7: 30 a.m. and see him knee deep in fish.
"Halibut is pretty expensive right now, so I want to make sure I'm on top of it," said Turner, who estimates his team prepares about 100 pounds of halibut and cod each day.
That's particularly important on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, when the restaurant has its wildly popular fish and chips all-you-can-eat $9.50 deal.
"I've had a guy ask if we could do halibut allyou-can-eat, but that's not possible with how much halibut costs," said Turner.
If customers decide to try out the regular menu, Kristi has successfully lobbied Dan to put on some new items, such as the fish tacos, calamari and Louisiana shrimp.
"Fish and chips are still the biggest draw, probably 80 per cent of what we sell, but the calamari has been very popular and people will try new things," said Turner.
Having tried Cockney Kings many times in the past - both at its North Burnaby location at 6574 E. Hastings St. in the Kensington Plaza and at 66 10th St. in the Columbia Square plaza in New Westminster - I can attest that the halibut and chips is amongst the best in the Lower Mainland.
Lightly breaded, the batter doesn't overwhelm the fish, and it's hard to miss how fresh the fish is.
"We've been dealing with the same supplier for years," said Turner. "That means we always get our fish fresh, and even if we could save a bit of money by going with a bigger supplier, I know I'm getting the best product from my current supplier."
The British-style eatery was founded in 1965 by Len Evans, and Turner learned a lot working there, not only about the business, but about being part of the community.
While Kristi helps out where she can, the next generation of Turner's is already dipping their toes into the business.
"My oldest daughter just started bussing tables, and she loves talking to the customers," said Turner. "I think I started 26 years ago, so it's in my blood."
Cockney Kings seats about 80 people inside its Burnaby location. Between the two locations, Turner employs more than 70 people, many of them younger students like he once was when he started out in the business. For more information, call 604291-1323 for the Burnaby location or 604-522-6099 for the New Westminster location.
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