Video: Rosa’s Wins Best Fish Sandwich Contest
[Updated with video] Rosa’s was named the winner of the Best Fish Sandwich Competition this evening [Aug 19], with the Bermuda Tourism Authority making the announcement during Harbour Nights following the final round of judging.
The contest gave locals the ability to cast their vote online or by calling 525-FISH, and the eateries that received the most votes from the public advanced to a second round, where a panel of judges made the final decision on the winner.
Some 40 restaurants entered, and the top 5 vote-getters who advanced to this evening’s final round were Rosa’s, Mama Angie’s, Seaside Grill, Tribe Road Kitchen and Woody’s.
The participating restaurants were:
“Visitors to any destination want to eat where locals eat,” the BTA Chief Product & Experiences Development Officer Pat Phillip-Fairn previously said.
“With this competition we will challenge our restaurateurs to win the endorsement of locals on the often debated topic of great Bermuda fish sandwiches.
Update 10.27pm: The judges were Teneika Eve from the Bermuda College, Dale Butler from MEF Group and Tina Stevenson from The Bermudian.
Glenn Jones, Director of Public & Stakeholder Relations, said: “We congratulate Rosa’s for besting 39 tough competitors to come out on top and we look forward to telling visitors that Rosa’s won the endorsement of locals for the best fish sandwich.
“However, rest assured, we will have no hesitation recommending any of the four remaining finalists. Each of them is an excellent example of the vibrant food culture awaiting visitors who travel to Bermuda.”
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But the peoples xhoio award goes to Art Mel’s!
*choice
quantity over quality and imported, cheap fish, not even close to the best
you forgot to consider price point. Art Mel wins hands down on product taste, presentation, LOCATION, and price point so shuttup
Spotty says you a fool! If dey wuz enuff fresh local fish to go round then problem solved. Thing is there sing always enuff fresh local anything to go round. So we’s gots to import. Lots of things yo
Smh this competition was a joke! Next up “House of India for the best hamburgers” #bermudatourismbelike
Crazy results
Yea, i would have liked for the sammys to be judged via a blind tasting – meaning none of the judges knew which sandwich they were tasting.
Well done Team Rosa’s.
Great job, Lindsay!
TPB and I rated it an 8. It was actually pretty good. We’ll done Rosas! And thanks to the stellar customer service Dion!
Still team Woody’s. How a Mexican restaurant wins best Bermuda fish sandwich? Lol but I’m still going to try it and see what the deal is
They don’t sell fish sandwiches. They made it for the competition. but maybe they’ll include it on the menu now.
They do make fish sandwiches. It’s called fish pon bun and it doesn’t hold a candle to any fish sandwich on this island. Ice queens is better.
I went to front street to watch the results at harbour nights.This competition was a complete waste of time. There should have been a top 3 not 5. There should have been runners a way better result system. The only one there the I approve to judge food especially bermuda food is Dale Butler. Roses should have not been winners they don’t even have fish sandwiches on their menu until this competition started. The local take out boys were robbed. But everyone came out winners in my eyes…
They do have one on their take out menu…I just looked it up whether they have one on their restaurant menu I don’t know. Is it the same sandwich, I have no clue, you’ll have to call and ask.
http://www.rosas.bm/menu
Hmm Dale Butler of MEF and Roses of Bda restaurant Group. Sounds like favoritsm there. This competition is definitely FISHY
Bermudians can’t let a good conspiracy go to waste, can they?
Congrats to Rosa’s! A well-earned win.
Dale Butler has no affiliation to Rosa’s. Different restaurant group.
Obviously it’s different restaurant group but it’s who you know in this small island. Ppl and ova are different parties but I bet you some of their members kick it together behind closed doors. Get it rite
PLP & OBA
So you are saying Dale Butler judged unfairly, even though he is tied to a competitor of the ultimate winner?
Seaside Grill I rate you guys. Awesome sandwich I will always support you guys
Totally agree with you. Seaside is the best.
Need to try that one. How is it prepared? Seaside is on north shore right?
It is prepared to your liking. There is a choice of raisin, whole wheat or white bread with many toppings to choose from.
They are located next to the old Clay House Inn on North Shore (Green building)
I did not like the fish sandwich I ate from Seaside Grill. I am from the east end but love me some Woody’s fish and I bet they make the best fish sandwich!
Yaya if you didn’t like their sandwich then you shouldn’t be eating fish sandwiches. They do the same fish as woods so speak ya trash somewhere else
Ya’ll mad (and I get why) Rosas….really??? But did you vote…they got in the top 5 because people voted for them.
I voted…twice. Woodys and Seaside got my vote…(both made the top 5 so I did my part) and at the end of the day Woody’s is still my winner.
Didn’t vote. Don’t get mad.
As for Artmel’s…the biggest fish sandwich maybe but not the best IMHO. I’ll pass on the Vietnamese Catfish aka Swai (no matter how it’s seasoned)
Wesley at Angelines in St G is the only one to do BERMUDA FISH… If there is rough weather there is no fish PERIOD! Go figure
Thats not true. I had local Wahoo and Seaside Grill, Bermuda Rockfish at Victoria Grill, and Local fish at Tribe Road.
I had all the top 5 sandwiches and by FAR Tribe road was my favorite. So elegant and the fish was cooked to absolute perfection. Rosas fish was slightly overcooked.
Not true…Woodys is fresh fish…..her husband is a fisherman and supplies the fish!
Overall it was a serious tough competition because it was some really good presenters, and hat’s off to the winner’s and congratulation to a job well done, I wonder if that bye pushed a few favors for his fish cakes, cause he is fish cake king, (Joke). Well Done
Not sure why a Mexican restaurant was even involved, they didn’t even have a fish sandwich on their menu before the contest. Props to the other bermudian finalists who all did a great job , they were the ones putting out solid Bermuda fish sandwiches for years and they are the winners.
they did and do so I guess you are wrong. Is the competition sandwich the same, call and ask.
Also props to Art Mel for inspiring everyone.
No wayy. Def not winners in my eyes
I guess they’ve sold out everything else that is “Bermudian” so why not the fish sandwich? It’s no accident.
So glad this is over. Now, hopefully, BTA staff can get on with earning that bonus money.
Misty’s should have entered the contest!
go figure, I’m a Woodys Fan, and Mel’s, but we better go see what all the fuss is about at Rosa’a.
Lofl Bermuda has got to be laughing stock of the world. First with our sports shananigans. Now the best BERMUDA fish sandwich goes to a Spanish Cuisine Restaurant. BTA is a bunch of wofless jokers.
I feel ya, but Mexican and Spanish cuisine are two different things.
Most locals are likely to still prefer going to the places they’re familiar with, so in the end it’s not a big deal either way which fish sandwich got the ‘title’.
Congrats, mama Angie your fish sandwich is still the best , keep up the good work
This contest was a complete joke. The contest was supposed to be about the Bermuda Experience and the winner is a Mexican Restaurant whose winning fish sandwich is not the sandwich described on their online menu. Art Mel’s sandwich seems to be the people’s favorite and it has been described as “The Best in the World” by an online food blogger and “Perfection” by Marcus Samuelson and this is not promoted. Instead a Front Street Mexican Restaurant wins. I read Trip Advisor and didn’t see any mention of their fish sandwich and the overall comments about the restaurant were not great. Good Job BTA you really earned the bonuses and truly justified getting rid to the Department of Tourism. Go OBA! …………………….no really, GO!
Joke of the day….that is all I’m saying.
Sorry one more thing Seaside Grill alllll the way!
You serious! Big Joke.
Hey, I didn’t even know Rosa’s sold fish sandwiches. They must not be that good but as has been stated I will have to try it. I’ve been Rosa’s many times and have never even heard of them selling a fish sandwich. I had to look at their menu online to be sure that they even sold out national sandwich.
Ya’ll mad (and I get why) Rosas….really??? But did you vote…they got in the top 5 because people voted for them.
I voted…twice. Woodys and Seaside got my vote…(both made the top 5 so I did my part) and at the end of the day Woody’s is still my winner.
Didn’t vote. Don’t get mad.
As for Artmel’s…the biggest fish sandwich maybe but not the best IMHO.
Good point, obviously they must have had something going for it to make the cut.
going check rosas and get one today
Lmao Rosas for real?? Something sounds a lil “fishy” to me!!!
haha Some of these comments kill me. I get the initial shock or whatever you want to call it that it is a Mexican restaurant. But what the heck does this really have to do with the end result? You think they’re gonna make a Mexican fish sandwich? Were there rules stipulating what restaurants can and can not enter? There are obviously Bermudians working there or maybe even the chef. What is the problem with them producing a great end result and winning.
Support what you love and stop wasting time bashing what you hate. OPINIONS ARE NOT FACTS!
Just saying. One Love. Go Rosas lol. I’m across the pond wanting all them sandwiches lol
We Bermudians are so self centered, arrogant, and possibly afraid there are those BETTER than us. Just because ROSA’S is a different culture menu others can do, and be better than us. We are not the best in the world other than being opinionated. Well done Rosa’s. PS I think there should be 2 distinct categories 1 for FOREIGN fish ( includes imported rock fish, grouper etc ) and the other for LOCALLY caught fish. This of course will require integrity and open honesty by the competitors.
@Lionfish Sandwich
I think you raise a valid point, the competition was about LOCAL sandwiches. A distinction between local and foreign fish could have been made. However, with the competition being based on taste of the final product, the question is and will remain a point of debate, who presented the BEST product at the time of judging?
Since non of us commenting were judges, should we just not defer judgement to the people who actually tasted the sandwiches presented?
People, please remember that this was a competition. The final results may not reflect the majority opinion locally, but they do reflect the opinion of the folk who actually judged the competition.
With that in mind, I would urge that in future competitions more locals cast their votes in hopes of a more favorable result to local competitors who may or may not have entered the actual competition.
All that said, Seaside, I would put you at least on par with Butchie’s (Art Mel’s for those who don’t know),on your worst days and on your best days, above and beyond. I love and rate you guys highly, especially for the choice fish.
BTA Judges be like…Best Beach in Bermuda goes to the Dump.
Congrats on the win Rosas .. But Seaside Grill is my new favourite spot!!!!
So we going to encourage tourists to eat at the Mexican when in Bermuda??
There’s a BETTER Mexican on every corner in the US. Where’s the Bermy experience. The people behind this contest need to be fired…it should have been open only to places that meet seafood restaurant criteria.
I don’t get Tourism …but then…maybe that’s why tourism is in the toilet.
Why is everyone so hung up on that its a Mexican restaurant. It was a competition for any restaurant in Bermuda that can create the best fish sandwich. The person that created the fish sandwich for Rosa’s is born and lived in Bermuda for over 30 years. So why all the bashing just congratulate and next time it will probably be another restaurant.
Congratulation to the winner and thanks to all that entered contest. Looking for a gluten free fish sandwich .
Tribe Road Kitchen sells GF fish sandwiches. Get them there all the time…AMAZING! They had my vote to the fullest!
I just had their fish sandwich and I know why they won. That sandwich was amazing. When I picked it up I met the young lady Lindsay that made it. She did was born and raised in Bermuda. She created it!!! Hat off to her and Rosa’s. It does not matter that it is a Tex Mex Restaurant. It was judged blindly and they won fair and square. I give them prop. The other place should be on notice that they did not win. Their fish was local unlike the imported fish from Art Mel’s. He knew he might not win that why he did not enter.
So did the judges have to eat 5 fish sandwiches? If so, they must feel bloated and need to do some exercise!
Since Rosa’s and Chopsticks are the same company, maybe Rosas can use the prize money from the BTA fish sandwich competition to off set the 5 thousand dollar employer fine from July 15 for not following the proper work permit policy. There was no fane fare and picture taking for that company news. Just saying.