To honor my two years living in Morro Bay, I began a quest today to find the best Fish & Chips in town. I often get asked by visitors where they can get the best fish and chips. Now, keep in mind that I am not a fish person, can't stand the taste of most fish. This is difficult to explain to people when living in a fishing town!! My goal is to use fish and chips as a segue to other fish. Once a week I will try fish and chips at a different restaurant, starting at the fishing end of the Embarcadero!!
Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant
I began my quest at the Rock end of the Embarcadero. Tognazzini's has a fish market, so I had high hopes for my Fish and Chips. The Fish was "lightly breaded", not the beer batter style I usually see people getting. They looked beautiful, but unfortunately the fish was rather chewy, rubbery really, it even got stuck in my teeth!! The fish was fresh, though, and didn't taste "fishy". The lemon was hidden under the fries, so I didn't even find it until I was done. They offered a little cup of tartar sauce, which I had never tried before today. They also included a little bowl of cole slaw, which I suspect is traditional. They do offer you the option of ordering a side salad instead of the "chips", but thankfully I didn't do this as the "Chips" were fantastic!! I dipped them in the blue cheese dressing I had left over from my salad. I won't be ordering fish and chips here again, but I will remember to order the french fries next time.
The Harbor Hut
So, my second ever fish and chips was disappointing again. I don't know if the technique of frying the fish makes it chewy at the edges, or if it is the breading, but both tries have been a bit chewy. The inside of the fish was more moist and tender, though. I tried some of their cocktail sauce, but it was a bit too spicy. I also tried the lemon, which helped a bit. Their menu version of this dish has 3 pieces of fish, but the waitress was kind enough to give me two and lower the price. Their "chips" were just passable, a bit too potatoey for me, I was happy they brought some ketchup to the table. Also, they forgot the coleslaw, which was listed on the menu. Perhaps she docked me the coleslaw since I had ordered a side salad? I am curious if the Lil' Hut will have the same fish, I will try them next.
Li'l Hut
I wasn't in the mood for fish today, but I wanted to try their fish. I ordered one piece for $2.00, and they said the "chips" I would have gotten were the same as the ones that came with their chicken strips (see the Li'l Hut review to see a picture of their chips). The big, meaty piece of fish is lightly breaded and is served hot and crispy. Their tartar sauce is also good, and if people like a breaded fish and chips, this is the place to come. They have abundant seating outdoors, are good for families, and you can get food to-go if you want.
The Great American Fish Company
These fish and chips were thick and crispy. Unfortunately, like all the fish I have tried so far they are a bit tough at the edges. These are lightly breaded and were just the right size. I ordered the children's/senior's menu size which was just right. It came with typical tartar sauce, some mildly spicy cocktail sauce, and a lemon wedge. The "chips" are crispy and tasty, just a touch of seasoning on them. I didn't even need to dip them in the blue cheese dressing I save just in case!! The side of red cabbage salad, which I tried because I had never seen it offered anywhere else. I expected it to be a bit vinegary, but it was rather sweet. The view at this restaurant is superb, and I would recommend coming here if you don't want to sit outside at the Li'l Hut.
The Coffee Pot
I have been to this restaurant before and was not impressed by the service, but the food was OK. Since I am trying all the fish and chip options, I had to try theirs. I talked with the owner about getting a smaller portion, perhaps a child's size. It got all confused, and I ended up ordering a half-order (4 ounces) and they took a dollar off the price of a full order. The owner told me that Fish and Chips is sort of a standard item around here, and I told him that I had been to another restaurant which used a tempura-style batter, compared to the others I have tried that use breading. Turns out this restaurant serves a tempura or beer batter style fish here!! It was tasty, crispy on the outside and the fish was not chewy, like it is with the breading style. Although the fish was moist, it was a bit mushy, not flaky. Perhaps it was frozen at some time? The fries, however, were nothing to write home about, and I couldn't even eat them with ketchup. They do not bring the salad separately, so by the time I got to the fish and chips the fries were cold and tasteless. I also found it interesting that they only brought me tartar sauce, no cocktail sauce or malt vinegar (although I didn't ask for it). They didn't even have a lemon wedge on the plate. Another weird thing is that they serve pickles with their salad. Bottom line is that I could eat this fish again, but it is not quite what I am looking for.
Bayside Café
I love eating at the Bayside Café, at the Morro Bay State Park Marina. I try to get a seat by the window so I can have a great view. This restaurant is so popular that people come in from out of town just to dine here. I once waited for over an hour on a Friday night to be seated. They serve some basic dishes, such as chicken strips which are pretty good, but they are known for their twists on the standard. They have an interesting clam chowder, and their beer-battered fish and chips have extra herbs in the batter. They offer two sizes, small (3 pieces) and large (5 pieces), but keep in mind their pieces are quite large. Although I enjoyed the herbed-beer-battered preparation, the smaller pieces were a bit tough and the larger pieces tasted more fishy than I prefer. They are flaky and moist, though, so much that the moisture bleeds through the crispy batter on the bottom of the fish. The fries are nothing to write home about, slightly seasoned and made with the skins on. The tartar sauce was good, but I wished that I had more of it!! Bottom line, these are good if you want a variation on the standard beer-bettered fish, and if you prefer a fishy tasting meal.
Flying Dutchman
I know I said I would start at the rock-end of the Embarcadero, but I ended up trying the Flying Dutchman next. They offer a large (5-piece), small (3-piece), and a child's size (2-piece). Since I wasn't very hungry I ordered the child's size, which the waitress said included the same items as the adult sizes. The fish is Alaskan cod and is beer-battered. The batter was crispy, the fish was fresh, moist, and flaky. In fact, the flakes seemed larger than some of the others I have tried. The pieces are smaller than other restaurants, but it was just the right amount. They serve the fish in a basket with some shredded cabbage as a base, a lemon slice, and a cup of tartar sauce. The chips are lightly seasoned and crispy, no need for ketchup unless you let them get cool. Bottom line is that if someone wanted beer-battered fish and chips on the Embarcadero I would send them here, but I am still searching for my preferred fish & chips.
Giovanni's Fish Market & Galley
Since discovering that I prefer the beer-batter style of fish and chips I checked before I ordered these. I was happy that they had a "fish by the piece" option, and I ordered one. They do offer a children's plate with 2 pieces of fish, their regular fish and chips has 5 pieces. The "chips" are from my chicken strips that I ordered for my dinner, just in case I didn't like the fish and chips. I am sure that they give you more french fries than is pictured here. Also, they will substitute coleslaw for the fries if you wish. Their tartar sauce was good, and the fish was crispy, thick, and flaky, only a bit tough and chewy at the edge. These were acceptable, I am still searching. Fries were better when they were hot, and since I got these to-go they were not as hot by the time I got to them.
Hofbrau
This restaurant is known for its roast beef sandwiches, dipped in "au jus" sauce, and I usually get chicken strips here. Today, though, I tried their fish and chips. It was a good thing they were beer-batter style because I forgot to ask before I ordered!! I ordered the child's size meal, which included 1 piece of fish, fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce, a lemon wedge, and a full-sized soda. They also sell fish by the piece, but this option worked out better for my meal. I am so impressed by this fish that I will put it on my "short list" for the best fish and chips in town. The fish was crispy, moist, thick and flaky. No fishy flavor, and it wasn't too greasy. The piece was small enough not to fall apart when dipping in the sauce, which sometimes happens when the size of the fish is a bit too large. The fries are excellent, also, hot and crispy without a need for ketchup!!
Otter Rock Café
I asked about how these are breaded before I ordered. I almost didn't order them because he said they were just floured, no beer batter. However, they weren't breaded with bread crumbs so I decided to order them anyway. They were lightly breaded, pretty thick, moist, and flaky inside. They did lost most of their structure as I attempted to dip them using my hands in the tartar sauce, though. And, while they are the least tough at the edges of the non-beer battered options, they were a bit chewy at the edges. They offered a 3-piece option on the regular menu, and a 1-piece option on the kids menu (which is what I ordered). The tartar sauce was nice, the fish came with a lemon wedge, and they brought some malt vinegar to the table. The chips are slightly seasoned and thick. Unfortunately they were not crispy and I used the ranch dressing from my chicken strips and ketchup with them, not even finishing them. Bottom line is that this style of frying is probably healthier and lighter than the other breaded options in town, but I still prefer the beer-batter style.
The Galley
Sorry about the dark photo, but I dined at The Galley for dinner tonight. I decided to give their fish and chips a try when I heard they were lightly breaded with panko crumbs. They offer a child's size as well as an adult portion. You can order the fish with fries or a salad, but I remembered that they had amazing fries so I ordered my salad on the side. Their fish portions are generous and, although they weren't as tough around the edges as other restaurants, I still find I prefer the "beer batter" option. There was barely enough tartar sauce for the fish, which was moist, flaky, and thick. The pieces held together pretty well, although I did use my fork for some that fell apart. The fries were not as amazing as I remembered, and I didn't like the little flakes of parsley that kept sticking to my lips!! Bottom line, these are darn good fish if you prefer your fish breaded. The service was great and the view was wonderful as the sun set.
I had found 2 great Fish & Chips places but, unfortunately, both restaurants closed down. I am still after a good battered fish and chips, perhaps the new place Rocca's will have my new favorite. They purport to be English Style. I will try them out soon and let you know.
These chicken strips are the best in town, meaty with not too much batter, and served hot and crispy. There are 5 strips, and they don't offer a half-order like they do for their fish and chips. The french fries are crispy and lightly seasoned, but I wish they would disclose that they are seasoned somewhere on their menu. You could easily split this dish with someone else, the strips are quite filling and I usually can't finish my fries. I need to ask if I can order them without fries next time!! I wish they had a non-coleslaw option for salad, but I would rather have good chicken strips and no salad than bad chicken strips with a salad!!
