Monday was our anniversary, and I took the wife to the Cheesecake Factory. I have a very good burger I get there normally and decided to be different. As I looked over the menu, a sudden impulse hit me: FISH AND CHIPS! Since it was before 5pm I had a choice between lunch or dinner portions. I chose dinner sized after the waiter explained the differences.

When my meal came, the fish didn't look anything like a typical Fish and Chips. The 5 filets were covered in a panko crust, their size was about like my index finger and the spices reminded me of mom buying Mrs. Paul's fish sticks when I was a kid! The fish itself was just plane wrong. Not Cod! In the mid-west we often get Walleye, it wasn't that. I wasn't Whiteing or any other fish I recognized. The texture was mushy in spots and crystalized in spots.

I understood there would be standard French Fries. It came with Tartar sauce, but Malt Vinegar wasn't even available!

Two thing I now know: First, Cheesecake Factory doesn't know what Fish and Chips are! Second, Sunday after Church, we are going to "Bag of Nails" for some descent Fish and Chips!

Have you ever expected to be served any standard meal and they gave a very poor substitute?

Ivan

That’s why I always order the parmesan crusted chicken. To quote Patrick Henry: “Give me beer batter fish & chips or give me death!”

Edit:
Yesterday’s lunch at the Vegas airport. No too bad

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213th FBINA

I research restaurants for fun before going, and find it minimizes my surprises - but I've certainly gotten a few unpleasant meals, nevertheless. So sorry to hear that happened on your anniversary: here's hoping it becomes an amusing memory and that it's never repeated.

FWIW, I probably wouldn't order anything ethnic at Cheesecake Factory, either.

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Now go make God proud...

Not always, but I try to stick with the specialties of the restaurant. Like, I don't order pork chops at Red Lobster. Getting out of their comfort zone usually doesn't go well.

A local place, been here over a 100 years specializes in southern homestyle meals, & while the portions aren't really up to snuff, the food is pretty good. I ordered a Rueben there once. Big mistake, way out of their field & the worst Rueben I've ever had.

Fish restaurants may not be doing so well. At least locally, many of the Long John Silver's places have closed. I think their prices just got too high. And Red Lobster has just announced they are closing 99 restaurants and is considering bankruptcy before Memorial Day.

A while back down in Mexico,
I watched Shrimp being moved with a feed scoop from a Row Boat into the bed of a Pickup.
Yessiree! I see Shrimp Specials at Red Lobster!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I refuse to eat seafood unless I am in sight of the water it comes from.

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What, me worry?

The OP's first mistake was going to the Cheesecake Factory. So-so food at inflated prices served on tables too close together, at least that's my experience here in Vegas.

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Release the Kraken

well, Happy Belated Anniversary anyway... something to giggle about in the years to come...
"Hey honey, I made reservations at Cheesecake Factory, aren't you ready to go?"

I am still trying to overcome the trauma of ordering crab cakes in Tidewater, Virginia, of all places, in the early 1990s and being served fake crab. Ever since, whenever I order crab cakes I grill the wait staff thoroughly as to their content prior to ordering. More often than not, I pass.

Ivan, "fish & Chips" are made from Cod. Join me at the Pub and I will be willing to treat you to the Real deal, Just ask pawngal, if this is the real deal.

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Always Stay Strong!

I love Captain D's style fish and chips. Their fries, and hush puppy's are most tasty too.

My dad fished Lake Marion in Polk County FL everyday during the winter that weather permitted. Only thing that kept him home was fog and high winds. He had a motorcycle rain suit to keep him dry in the rain. Plus he had a private dock for his boat. We ate a lot of fish.

My mom found a fish batter mix that was dead on to the flavor of Captain D's. She'd buy it 20 pounds at a time.

Yes!! The best Fish & Chips. The only somewhat acceptable substitute for Cod is Alaskan Pollock. If a place is passing off tilapia or swai as fish & chips, Run, don't walk, you don't want that.

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Super Snooper

A restaurant near me has a choice of fish if you order the fish and chips. Cod or halibut. Good food, if it is a 45 minute drive away, if traffic is light. And yes, they have the malt vinegar.

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The best I can with what I got

Thanks to Uncle Sam, I used to spend a lot of time in Southern UK (10th SFG always deployed from various RAF dispersal bases there). I just loved the Fish and Chips! Never had the courage to try any of the common options other than cod. I have yet to build up the courage to risk ordering it Stateside, having heard about so many bad experiences.

The only real Fish 'n Chips I ever had was when stationed at the submarine refit base in Holy Loch, Scotland. North Atlantic cod, flakey and white with a crispy coating, wrapped in yesterdays newspaper to soak up the extra oil, and farm fresh hand cut taters sliced into thumb sized chips.

Anytime I go to the coast or beach the first thing I eat is some seafood. The last time I was Destin, Florida I was talking to a guy who had been a manager of several nice restaurants there for many years and I was commenting on how the seafood was so fresh and delicious! He said "I'll tell you a little secret...nearly all the restaurants around here get their seafood frozen from somewhere else".

The secret to F&C is day old newspaper and a vinegar bath.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Not a real big seafood fan but always liked the fish and chips at Bobs Big Boy. So the first time I ever went to Red Lobster I ordered the fish and chips. The chips were so so but the fish was so mushy that you could not even pick it up without the fish falling apart. Have no idea what kind of fish it was. Last time ever at a Red Lobster.

IN RI Stadium Fish and Chips, wrapped in newspaper.

I have surprises everywhere I go in GA. No good Italian or seafood, and I am a mile from the ocean. The best I have found so far is a 90 YO pub for sandwiches and burgers and Texas Roadhouse( which I had never been to ).

I am going to RI in 2 weeks. Matunuck Oyster House, here I come.

Ivan, I told you the last time you went somewere for mystery food. Go to Waldo

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

We had a long hot day and wound up in a motel in Ft. Stockton, TX.
So I told my Bride, let’s go out front.
Look left, right, across the street. Then I’ll point and grunt.
When I did that, she says, you have got to be kidding!
Chinese!
So we take a seat and a Non-Oriental Waitress comes over.
I ask her, who owns this place? She replies, Mr. Xxx, Chinese Name.
He’s in the kitchen cooking right now. And he’s from San Francisco. He had some trouble there , and had to leave town!
Wow! Let that be a lesson to ya!
If you get sideways with folks, you could be exiled to Ft. Stockton, TX!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I miss Long John Silver's. Not for the fish, since I always ate the chicken planks. What I really miss there is the hush puppies.

Mrs, son, and I are taking grandson to England next week. Couple days in London, Pirate festival in Gloucester, and three day tall ship sail out of Brixham. We will report back on the fish and chips.

We order them regularly here in the US, but generally not at chains.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Ain't that the truth. It was always a good day when Dad brought home fish and chips when we were living in London in the 60's.

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Only a cold warrior

At this very minute, I'm trying to decide where to have supper here in LV tonight!

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Now go make God proud...

The local non-chain places here are pretty good with fish and chips using cod, or the haddock which I prefer. A couple of decent wholesale fish distributors deliver most of the fresh fish to restaurants here. As said, the closer to the ocean usually means good seafood, but there are always exception, right Mr. Onomea?

We used to eat at LJS about once a month until their prices increased so much we stopped going there. I also thought their hush puppies were the best. In fact, I usually got an extra side order of them. That LJS place was near us and closed nearly two years ago, then was demolished. Nothing has yet been built on the site since. That is surprising as it is a prime location for fast food as it has lots of vehicle traffic.

Anyone else remember Alfie's and Arthur Treacher's fish and chips shops? They were big around 40-50 years ago.

We have both LJS and Captain D's near enough to us to satisfy cravings.

Both are doable. No complaints.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I'll bet some entrepreneur could make money from fish & chips lovers by selling bottles of vinegar containing genuine newsprint seasoning.

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What, me worry?

Depends where in town you are staying. I can recommend the Bahama Breeze on the corner of Paradise and Flamingo. They killed our favorite steak place at the Suncoast last year. To be honest, we need to see if a bunch of places are still around, post COVID. If all else fails, find a Tacos El Gordo.

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Release the Kraken

Touching on what Arlo said as to crab cakes... The most delicious ones we have found around these parts are from a Chinese restaurant called "Blue Gibbon".

Go figure!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Now in the UK, Haddock will substitute well for Cod. Pollock obviously an US substitute!! Dave_n

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Quite a few very good places to eat in Savannah, Pirates Table on E. Bay is one. Live about hour and a half S. and used to go there every month.

The real reason British F&C taste so bloody good.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Oh Lord: I love El Gordo, but I'm not sure one box of Imodium AD would be enough to get me home tomorrow! Thanks for the rec: we might wind up back at Esther's again this time, tho.

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Now go make God proud...

Aurther Treacher's was actually from here in Columbus, Ohio. They bought that really old store in London England. The last two AT's were owned by a brother and sister. They are still open for business, one (Marino's) is in an Old AT's on west 5th Ave. The other has moved around Pickerington a few times, called Rusty's Warf.

In the late 60's, I remember when they opened the first AT's on Morse Road. The lines would be 800 to 1000 feet long down the service road! I believe 2-pieces of fish and a bed of chips was 89 cents! and 3-piece fish and chips was $1.09. Those were the days!

Ivan

What, no pictures?

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"I also cook."

Every time someone mentions ‘Pollock’ I think of my old Buddy
Roger Pollock from Chicago.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Sadly, after thirty years the local importer/wholesaler of all things seafood retired and that business is closed. Flew in stock from both coasts packed in dry ice. They had a 5 star restaurant on a huge houseboat on the river. I ordered scallops, and the waiter asked "how many"? I asked "how big are they"? He made a ring with thumb and forefinger, so I said "three". I got three scallops, so big they would have stacked up to a full coffee cup, perfectly cooked, and, I've never had better since. But I am still amazed that I ate all three, and the steak fries they came with.

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Heavily armed old man.

That reminds me there is,or used to be, a pretty good fish and chips takeaway a few miles from here. Even offered a few different types of fish. I need to go there again

Little pub in St. Augustine called Scarlett O'Hara's had the best fish and chip in town. Me and my ex went every Sunday. They served Pollock. Sadly they lost their lease a few years ago.

I bet that not more than one person in a thousand today has any idea of who Arthur Treacher was. I remember an AT that had one of those double decker London busses parked in front of it. A real one, it was even drivable.

If I hadn't swore I'd never drive I-4 farther than the Sanford Airport after my dad died in 21, and my mom got a winter place in Ormond Beach. I'd drive to Orland to check out Gordan Ramsey's Fish and Chips.

Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips | Orlando | Restaurants

Some years ago a guy in the food distribution business said
the best way to go with fish is frozen shortly after gutting,
deboning. As he said fish doesn't have a very long "fresh"
shelf life and the way to keep it from smelling like "fish" is to
freeze it. Then the fish can be held or shipped all around
the country without any ill effects.


I've found Publix has a large variety of Publix brand frozen fish and never had a bad experience with any whether baked or
pan fried with my own seasonings to taste.

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Ubi Est Mea

A while back - my Bride and I were in this really busy Hong Kong lunch place.
For some reason she ordered Fish.
They were apparently out of that fish so they sent a runner to resupply.
He returned with a live fish in a plastic bag, held it up for us to see.
Then her cooked fish was served so fast I couldn’t believe it!
They either had a Blast Furnace back there or served her another fish!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I HATE the Cheesecake Factory . They try to have too many dishes and they don't do any of them well . They'd be better off having fewer dishes and doing them well .

The cheesecake is another story . I don't like cheesecake , but my wife introduced me to one of theirs . It's a Key Lime / Mango with a great crust . That's my go to birthday cake now , not cheap but the taste is out of this world . Just my 2 cents ......

I can't believe that LVSteve hasn't mentioned the famous Las Vegas version of this delicacy. Here's a photo of the classic LV method of preparing them:



Of course, in Las Vegas they're called fission chips.

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What, me worry?

Miss and always will miss A.T. fish and chips. Back in late 60s we used to eat there several times a week.
Years ago late wife and I used to eat at “ The Salty Pelican” on Amelia Island. Several times when we were on the upper deck saw pick up trucks pull up and park across the street. Guy got out opened large coolers and had to use both arms to carry large bags of FRESH shrimp into kitchen side entrance, same with fish.
Also “ Corkey Bells” in Fleming Island and Platka have some of the Best seafood. Both are on Rt. 17 and easy to find.
“Benito’s” on 220 in “ The Silos” strip mall in Fleming Island is the best Italian place we found. Very small place, seats around 20 and has a daily lunch buffet. Gun club buddy turned me on to it and we eat there when bumming around.

I'm going to drop some tilapia fillets into a pot of hot oil later along with some shrimp and hushpuppies. They'll be just fine.
When MsNative heard of my plans she moaned and groaned about eating bottom feeders. Not strictly true but I told her "Sweetie they're farm raised plus you love for catfish (definite bottom feeder) and shrimp (scavenger)".

50 years ago there was an Alfie's fish and chips in Amarillo, TX. My wife and I used to eat there quite often. I haven't had decent fish and chips since they closed.