The Codfather: A Proper Taste of Britain in Charleston

Since 2016 The Codfather has been a beloved fixture of Charleston’s food scene, bringing authentic British fish and chips to the Lowcountry. Founded by British expat Adam Randall, the restaurant is more than a business—it’s a commitment to tradition and a consistent menu that keeps locals coming back.

Hailing from Macclesfield, a small town in Northwest England, Adam moved to the U.S. at 19, working construction jobs in the Philadelphia area before finding his culinary calling—albeit unexpectedly. While it’s Adam who’s known now for his proper fish and chips, it was first his father who ran a shop—The British Chippy—in Limerick, Pennsylvania. In fact, it wasn’t until Adam was 23 that he stepped into the kitchen, learning along the way from his dad.

In 2004, Adam and his father moved to Charleston, where his dad opened a restaurant on Queen Street before passing away unexpectedly shortly after. Despite some time and location changes in between, eventually Adam found himself back in Charleston where a dream began to take shape. Known as a Jack-of-All-Trades, Adam slowly but surely brought the concept of The Codfather to life, from business plan to logo to the restaurant’s ultimate design and build. Leaning on his many years in construction, Adam built out the restaurant himself.

Modeled loosely after The British Chippy logo, The Codfather’s logo pays homage to his late dad.

Authentic British Flavors

From the beginning—and still nine years later—the Codfather’s menu is intentionally simple and unchanging, focusing on perfecting one thing: authentic British fish and chips. The star of the show is the premium J-Cut of North Atlantic cod, the same type and cut of fish used in England. “Everything in the restaurant is made from scratch,” Adam says, highlighting their commitment to quality. “People appreciate that it’s not a cheap piece of fish—if you went to England, ours is just as good, if not better.”

So what does make a proper fish and chips? The chips, of course.

If you ask Adam, real chips are—thick-cut potatoes—that must be peeled, chipped, blanched, and then fried to order to achieve the ideal balance of a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. “If you’re served French fries, you’re not having fish and chips,” Adam says firmly. “You’re having fish and French fries.”

Loyal Customers and Community Impact

Since its soft opening on New Year’s Day 2016, The Codfather has cultivated a loyal following, with regulars visiting for their favorite meal on the same day week after week.. “They know exactly what they’re going to get, and they love it every time,” Adam says.

Beyond becoming a staple in North Charleston, The Codfather has become a force for good in the community—local and afar. When Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina, Adam—a father of two—was one of the first to spearhead a relief effort that went far beyond his original intention. “I woke up that first morning of Helene and saw the destruction and figured I could do some good with my connections and network; I just wanted to help and thought I’d make one trip and be done. By the time I got back to Charleston, word had caught on and the Charleston community came together to turn it into something truly incredible,” Adam recalls. 

What began as a single trailer of supplies turned into 10 trips over two weeks with a 16-foot trailer delivering 25,000 pounds of food, water, blankets, generators, and other necessities to areas throughout WNC. “We started first going to Hendersonville and the surrounding areas but with each run, we kept going further and further to keep getting supplies to new communities, eventually heading to smaller towns like Burnsville, Plum Tree, Spruce Pine, Little Switzerland, etc.

This swift action by Adam and his team of volunteers made an undeniable difference in the initial weeks of those processing the traumatizing events of Hurricane Helene.

Looking Ahead

9 years after opening, The Codfather continues to thrive on Spruill Avenue. Despite challenges like tighter margins and rising costs, Adam remains proud of what he and his team have accomplished. When you go to the Codfather, sure there’s a limited menu but he knows it’s the real deal and will never, ever disappoint. To him, that’s all they need… and the loyal customer base proves he’s right.

To get yourself a proper fish and chip, you can visit The Codfather in North Charleston at 4254 Spruill Avenue or check them out online at: www.thecodfatherchippy.com.