A queue at the chippy is always a good sign. And there's not much more of an endorsement than seeing a line of people snaking outside of one the day before its busiest day of the year.
Rather than risk having to camp in a queue for my Good Friday bait, I opted to visit Waterfront the night before.
Located in North Shields' lush Fish Quay, competition for customers is rife, so the fact this was so busy at this time of the year filled me with joy. As did the staff.
They ticked every box you could want when placing your order; Want anything put in the fryer? Asked. Do you want batter? Asked. Salt and vinegar? Sorted.
And they really are a friendly bunch. Plenty of craic while you wait with the customers, and considering how unrelenting the pace they were working at was, that service with a smile was that bit much more impressive. But what about the bait?
Having eyed up the dozen or so orders before me, we opted for a regular haddock and chips with a generous portion of refreshing mushy peas to split. I also can't resist a large pot of gravy to dip my chips into.
Firstly the fish. I wouldn't expect much less from a haddock served up at the Fish Quay, but you can't help but be blown away by the freshness of it.
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Even in the evening, it tasted like it had just been plucked from the North Sea. And while it wasn't the longest catch, boy was it meaty. And I mean really meaty. You get a lot of fish for your £4.20. I almost dread to think how filling the large haddock is.
The second thing you notice is how light the batter is. My Waterfront-branded packaging was almost grease-free by the time I'd munched through my fish.
While I do usually prefer my batter to have just a bit more of a crunch to it, that's nothing more than a personal preference, and I'm sure my arteries prefer it.
The mushy peas were pretty decent and the gravy - considering some of the slop you can get at a chippy - was actually first rate and my partner got a free splodge of ketchup for hers.
As a pop superfan, I found the selection of soda available was second to none - as you would expect from any first-rate chippy. We had a Vimto and Tizer, although if you are like me, you may still baulk at paying a quid-a-can.
The only thing that didn't set my world alight was the chips. Again, a personal preference, but I prefer a more golden colour and they were a few shades too pale for my liking. Around number two on the colour chart.
They were fluffy enough, but the taste that I'd hoped for wasn't quite there although for a regular portion, at £1.40 you get plenty of spud for your money.
And I think it was a mix of the decent portion size, as well as the slightly sub-par chips, which proved the main factors in that rare phenomenon of me not clearing my plate - or should that be, box.
If you did somehow have space for more, there's plenty of menu choices. The fish menu alone boasts everything from lemon sole (£6.50) to skate (£3.90) if you don't fancy a cod or haddock.
If you just aren't a fish fan, there is haggis (£2), smokey (£1.50) and even a jacket potato (£2.40) on offer alongside your staples like fish cakes and sauages.
While it is pretty traditional (no deep-fried Mars Bars here folks), you can get a pineapple fritter for 80p if you fancy something a bit sweeter, and rest assured, there's plenty for kids, such as fish fingers and pizza, and it won't break the bank.
But it isn't just the food which makes this worth a trek out to the coast - there are plenty of benches to grab a view of the Fish Quay although - while there is parking - space can often be at a premium. There's a restaurant option too - but that fish alone is cause enough to get out there and give the Union Quay spot a try.
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