Fish & Chips
- Thread starter chromer
- Start date
Hi Dwight,
I am not the see all, end all F&C guru, but I do enjoy some good ones once in a while. Last 2 summers, up on Vancouver Island I did start a bit of a list. I'm sure there are other folks who have had more experience and have more refined tastes than I do, but I will be happy to start a list.
My absolute favorite is in Sidney, BC. Maybe because I grew up there, and part of it seems like home although it has changed a ton, (well more like a 100 tons since I hitch-hiked back and forth to Elk Lake when I was about 9 years old.
Fish on Fifth, just off Beacon Ave, on 5th, in downtown Sidney. Most excellent.
SeaJ's, in Port Townsend, just across from West Marine. A locals joint, and good Milkshakes too.
The little green trailer by the Comox Launch Ramp. Seasonal, and good.
The Red Barn above the marina in Sointula on Malcolm Island was a great stop after the free use bike ride.
I heard the Boardwalk Cafe in Lund was good, but have not been there (yet). Couldn't get past the warfinger at the marina. Probably my bad, but it was crowded, she was VERY busy and already had her hand in my pocket before her office even opened.
on the other hand, I had super service at Fridays Seafood in Friday Harbor. The food was good and the service, though confusing was superb. Seems as they don't do onion rings and french fries in the same fry oil, so the F&C has to be ordered at a separate place from the O-rings.
I have had F&C from Florida to California, and California to Alaska. It varies, place to place and person to person, so obviously your experience will vary.
Please let us know the good ones.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
I am not the see all, end all F&C guru, but I do enjoy some good ones once in a while. Last 2 summers, up on Vancouver Island I did start a bit of a list. I'm sure there are other folks who have had more experience and have more refined tastes than I do, but I will be happy to start a list.
My absolute favorite is in Sidney, BC. Maybe because I grew up there, and part of it seems like home although it has changed a ton, (well more like a 100 tons since I hitch-hiked back and forth to Elk Lake when I was about 9 years old.
Fish on Fifth, just off Beacon Ave, on 5th, in downtown Sidney. Most excellent.
SeaJ's, in Port Townsend, just across from West Marine. A locals joint, and good Milkshakes too.
The little green trailer by the Comox Launch Ramp. Seasonal, and good.
The Red Barn above the marina in Sointula on Malcolm Island was a great stop after the free use bike ride.
I heard the Boardwalk Cafe in Lund was good, but have not been there (yet). Couldn't get past the warfinger at the marina. Probably my bad, but it was crowded, she was VERY busy and already had her hand in my pocket before her office even opened.
on the other hand, I had super service at Fridays Seafood in Friday Harbor. The food was good and the service, though confusing was superb. Seems as they don't do onion rings and french fries in the same fry oil, so the F&C has to be ordered at a separate place from the O-rings.
I have had F&C from Florida to California, and California to Alaska. It varies, place to place and person to person, so obviously your experience will vary.
Please let us know the good ones.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
smckean (Tosca)
New member
Since many of us go thru Anacortes at some time or other, I will mention the excellent fish & chips at The Brown Lantern (near Commercial Ave & 5th Street). Puffy batter not breaded, with fresh fish, deep fried normally just right.
I'm one of those strange Americans who prefers fish & chips to hamburgers.
I'm one of those strange Americans who prefers fish & chips to hamburgers.
Anita Marie
New member
Seabolt's in Oak Harbor one of the best.
starcrafttom
Active member
I just made susan fish and chips for dinner tonight. Ling cod ans salmon. It was the best.
nordicstallion
New member
Chromer, How about a list of the worst fish & chips. At a local restaurant (unnamed) ordered fish & chips. Mostly breading,grease & a little grey plug of something fishey. My commercial fisher friend said it was skate wing plugs the size of a thin scallop. Disgusting !! Last time for that tourist trap!!!
Ok, so I didn't list Ivar's or Anthony's in Seattle. Nothing against them, and I have eaten at both, actually more than once, and there is the rub, as for me, it wasn't consistant.
I like fresh fish, not greasy, and the fries shouldn't be greasy either. I also think that it should be traditional and that includes the slaw, which should be more than just a teaspoon full. My typical order is one half the fries and double the slaw. Most places don't have a problem with that.
Want to top it off right? Good, cold strong ginger beer (non alcoholic) and the place, food and service will be remembered. :thup :thup
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
I like fresh fish, not greasy, and the fries shouldn't be greasy either. I also think that it should be traditional and that includes the slaw, which should be more than just a teaspoon full. My typical order is one half the fries and double the slaw. Most places don't have a problem with that.
Want to top it off right? Good, cold strong ginger beer (non alcoholic) and the place, food and service will be remembered. :thup :thup
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Ordutch1975
New member
My vote is the island cafe on Hayden island in Portland (open during the summer only). Best of all you can tie up your boat right on their dock and sit overlooking your boat and the water. The fish and chips is great and while at it I highly recommend their fish tacos. Cocktails are a bit sweet but carry a serious punch.
http://islandcafepdx.com
If you make it this way sometime I'll gladly take you there.
Harald
PS while waiting for your table you can wander a nice marina, chat with the boat owners (lots of sail boats) and enjoy a fantastic lunchtime relaxed atmosphere.
Second place on my list is boathouse19 in the Tacoma narrows, great view good food and good cocktails http://boathouse19restaurant.com
Anthonys in Seattle has the benefit that it has a protected marina right under it (Bell Harbor Marina), you can get a spot in six hour increments and wander the Seattle pier. Their food is underwhelming but after a half day trip by boat on Memorial Day to get there it was convenient and easy to get a seat.
http://islandcafepdx.com
If you make it this way sometime I'll gladly take you there.
Harald
PS while waiting for your table you can wander a nice marina, chat with the boat owners (lots of sail boats) and enjoy a fantastic lunchtime relaxed atmosphere.
Second place on my list is boathouse19 in the Tacoma narrows, great view good food and good cocktails http://boathouse19restaurant.com
Anthonys in Seattle has the benefit that it has a protected marina right under it (Bell Harbor Marina), you can get a spot in six hour increments and wander the Seattle pier. Their food is underwhelming but after a half day trip by boat on Memorial Day to get there it was convenient and easy to get a seat.
Too much of a good thing...
Fried fish (vs baked, broiled, sautéed) is associated with stroke and heart disease
where it is consumed more than it should be (the South).
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy ... fried-fish
If the fried fish doesn't get 'ya, the fried taters certainly will.
Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Put something healthy in your pie hole occasionally."
Fried fish (vs baked, broiled, sautéed) is associated with stroke and heart disease
where it is consumed more than it should be (the South).
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy ... fried-fish
If the fried fish doesn't get 'ya, the fried taters certainly will.
Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Put something healthy in your pie hole occasionally."
Marco Flamingo
Active member
Foggy":23jo19gl said:
Agreed. All things in moderation. For me, it's once a year.
I don't know if my recent fish and chip experience qualifies as a "worst" because I'm not sufficiently experienced to make that call. It was definitely underwhelming. I had "Ling cod" and chips at the Back Eddy in Egmont. Previously frozen, both the fish and the "chips" (which were the basic McDonald's french fries).
My take on the experience is that I spent $18 for a fishy meal instead of spending 10 minutes for a fresh fish from right under my boat. I would have to clean the fish that I catch but, for the difference, I'm willing to do that. Fresh kelp greenling or rockfish is 20 times better than frozen Ling cod. As a bonus, I get to skip the layer of deep fried pancake batter.
I'm sure that there are better examples of fish and chips. Unfortunately, I think that my experience may be the norm. It was kind of like going ashore to order deep fried "clam strips" (i.e., tiny fragments of frozen Asian clams coated in a seafood flavored batter) instead of going ashore to dig clams.
Mark
flrockytop
New member
Marc at Wefings in Apalachicola Fla. Not only is he the best about boats. He is even a better chef....
roger
roger
Foggy":32s99bwo said:
Actually, eating fish is generally better for improved health than some of our four
legged favorites. It's the "frying" that is the worst; way too much fat.
Sure, it tastes good - that's why kids eat way too much sugar - and ice cream (the
worst: fat + sugar).
Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Don't raise good kids. Raise good adults."
OK, so now it is time for an update, and an "upset"
Just came back from a trip up to Princess Louisa and had some excellent F&C experiences.
First off, (Yes you have to wait until the end :lol: It is an anticipation thing :roll:
Mark, You are right about the Back Eddy, and apparently it is consistent. We were at the Government dock at the next cove, Secret Bay, tied up after fueling there. Asking about the local eateries, we were told the same thing by a couple of locals, and crew from a 40+ foot sailboat. One of them sent the plate back for "just a salad'. On the dock at ChatterBox falls I heard them talking with another vessel crew who were quite disappointed with the same choice. So, I would highly recommend the gov't dock for a less active (read bouncy night), but just get an ice cream bar at the store instead. (Foggy, you can pass on the ICB, they also had celery:wink:
Oh, then, there is a new (actually only new owner in an established place) in Garden Bay, just above the fuel dock at John Henry marina and RV resort. The name is Burgers and Greens, and a very nice young man is taking over the Burger Grill there. Ask him for the Smoked Salmon Apple salad special. Excelent, and his F&C was good too, but he had the best Ginger Beer I have ever had. Ginger strong, and cleansing. The thought still makes me quiver.
Somewhere down the line someone suggested the Bowling ally in Anacortes for good F&C. So after getting off the boat last week and needing a diversion I got on the bike and did a road trip up to "Sling City", found the bowling ally and tried their version. They have been voted the top F&C in Anacortes for the last 8 years. OK, so honestly I don't remember who recommended them, so sorry if I disagree a bit, but, although they were good, and better than the average at many places, they have a way to go to come up to Fish on Fifth, for sure, and those have been superseded now by Trollers. My still available, easy access, local place on Port Townsend is still SeaJ's, and if the F&C isn't good enough for you the milkshakes will do you in for sure.
And then there was "Trollers", a summer only place on the water under the red umbrellas and next (south), of the government dock, just south of the fuel dock in Nanaimo. Now that was GREAT fish and Chips, (the cod). OH SO GOOD. the fish was perfect. NO wonder they have gotten the "Best F&C" award in Nanaimo for the last 20 years, consecutively. I think Martin and George have been holding out on me. The fish was perfect, every time. the owner says she is a stickler for consistency, and it works. B U T the plate only gets 4.5 stars Although the fish easily qualified for a full 5, there was no Ginger beer available, and you had to pay an extra 50 cents for ice in your drink. Now that is quibbling a bit, but for the price of that Excellent F&C, the ice should have been allowed to come along when asked for. AS for me, If there is fish and chips on the menu, it should be a given that there would be Ginger Beer there too. (For those who are not of the F&C society, the Ginger Beer (non alcoholic) is the perfect cap to the meal.
So, from Not a Cook, to all the Brats, enjoy, stay healthy, and keep tabs on the best F&C places you run across. Some times I need a destination :lol:
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Just came back from a trip up to Princess Louisa and had some excellent F&C experiences.
First off, (Yes you have to wait until the end :lol: It is an anticipation thing :roll:
Mark, You are right about the Back Eddy, and apparently it is consistent. We were at the Government dock at the next cove, Secret Bay, tied up after fueling there. Asking about the local eateries, we were told the same thing by a couple of locals, and crew from a 40+ foot sailboat. One of them sent the plate back for "just a salad'. On the dock at ChatterBox falls I heard them talking with another vessel crew who were quite disappointed with the same choice. So, I would highly recommend the gov't dock for a less active (read bouncy night), but just get an ice cream bar at the store instead. (Foggy, you can pass on the ICB, they also had celery:wink:
Oh, then, there is a new (actually only new owner in an established place) in Garden Bay, just above the fuel dock at John Henry marina and RV resort. The name is Burgers and Greens, and a very nice young man is taking over the Burger Grill there. Ask him for the Smoked Salmon Apple salad special. Excelent, and his F&C was good too, but he had the best Ginger Beer I have ever had. Ginger strong, and cleansing. The thought still makes me quiver.
Somewhere down the line someone suggested the Bowling ally in Anacortes for good F&C. So after getting off the boat last week and needing a diversion I got on the bike and did a road trip up to "Sling City", found the bowling ally and tried their version. They have been voted the top F&C in Anacortes for the last 8 years. OK, so honestly I don't remember who recommended them, so sorry if I disagree a bit, but, although they were good, and better than the average at many places, they have a way to go to come up to Fish on Fifth, for sure, and those have been superseded now by Trollers. My still available, easy access, local place on Port Townsend is still SeaJ's, and if the F&C isn't good enough for you the milkshakes will do you in for sure.
And then there was "Trollers", a summer only place on the water under the red umbrellas and next (south), of the government dock, just south of the fuel dock in Nanaimo. Now that was GREAT fish and Chips, (the cod). OH SO GOOD. the fish was perfect. NO wonder they have gotten the "Best F&C" award in Nanaimo for the last 20 years, consecutively. I think Martin and George have been holding out on me. The fish was perfect, every time. the owner says she is a stickler for consistency, and it works. B U T the plate only gets 4.5 stars Although the fish easily qualified for a full 5, there was no Ginger beer available, and you had to pay an extra 50 cents for ice in your drink. Now that is quibbling a bit, but for the price of that Excellent F&C, the ice should have been allowed to come along when asked for. AS for me, If there is fish and chips on the menu, it should be a given that there would be Ginger Beer there too. (For those who are not of the F&C society, the Ginger Beer (non alcoholic) is the perfect cap to the meal.
So, from Not a Cook, to all the Brats, enjoy, stay healthy, and keep tabs on the best F&C places you run across. Some times I need a destination :lol:
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Hi Harvey,
You remember the F&C at Comox marina, the little green trailer. Well the same people have moved up to a bigger trailer, a black one. The F&C are better than ever and much more on your plate. Two piece cod and chips $16 Cad. They would give Fish & Fifth a run for their money.
Martin.
You remember the F&C at Comox marina, the little green trailer. Well the same people have moved up to a bigger trailer, a black one. The F&C are better than ever and much more on your plate. Two piece cod and chips $16 Cad. They would give Fish & Fifth a run for their money.
Martin.
