Eleven local restaurants have confirmed their participation in the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s search for the Island’s best fish sandwich next month.

The BTA’s Product and Experiences division is challenging restaurateurs to win the endorsements of local foodies — because, according to a press release, those endorsements have credibility with visitors who want to eat where locals eat.

The deadline for participation is Wednesday this week. The official two-week contest will begin on August 4.

During that time the BTA will ask residents to sample as many fish sandwiches as they can find in search of the best Bermuda has to offer; they can then vote for their favourite online or by telephone at 525-FISH.

Eateries with the highest volume of endorsements from locals will advance to a second round where a panel of judges will crown Bermuda’s best fish sandwich. Judges will be asked to base their decisions on the following criteria: taste, presentation, value and local flair.

Enrolled restaurants to date include: Beau Rivage, Bermuda Bistro at the Beach, Cambridge Beaches, Devil’s Isle, Docksider’s, Keith’s Kitchen, The Flame, Flanagan’s, Mama Angie’s, Mr Chicken, Pickled Onion, Seaside Grill, Tribe Road Kitchen, Red Steakhouse, Rosa’s, Swizzle Inn, Swizzle Inn South Shore and Tempest Bistro.

Chief product and experiences development officer Pat Phillip-Fairn stated: “If you have a favourite place for a Bermuda fish sandwich that hasn’t yet enrolled for the competition, please tell them to do so.

“We want a strong participation list so that we can help drive business for those stakeholders. Ultimately we hope to see as many establishments as possible considered by as many people as possible during the two-week competition.”

Restaurants should enrol via e-mail at experiences@bermudatourism.com or by telephone at 525-FISH.