Fourth and Sea - Fish & Chips, Petaluma

101 4th Street (at C Street), Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 762-6424
Parking: in parking lot and ample street parking

Last Visited: June 11, 2005

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Service: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$

Fourth and Sea, formerly a Foster’s Freeze, has kept the soft serve and added fish and chips making it a fine combination to be enjoyed by all. My aunt and uncle recommended this place and gave it high accolades.

The blue checkered curtains can be seen from outside. Enter Fourth and Sea and you’ll find the orange booths are still reminiscent of its former life as a Foster’s Freeze. There are six booths seating four and four booths that seat two. Nautical decorations fill the dining area - from oars to buoys to numerous lighthouse figurines. The locals have contributed to the atmosphere by bringing in their own ocean finds. The place has a family style feel with all of its knick knacks on display. A bell is attached to the door and sounds as people enter and exit. Jazz from a local radio station plays in the background. One can order from the window outside or the one within. Large bright yellow menus are posted along the wall near the window.

The menu includes cod, chicken tenders, prawns, and oysters available a la carte or as a meal served with fries and cole slaw. Sandwich choices include chili dogs, burgers, Philly cheese steak, and chicken sandwiches. A children’s menu is also available. For the adventurous, there is a SeaBiscuit – a deep fried twinkie served with whipped cream and berry sauce.

Tonight’s fare was something from the classic menu. A lemon wedge, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce are available with all fried seafood items.

- Two Piece Cod Meal – The fish is caught in Iceland and frozen within two hours of the catch. This makes for flaky cod and excellent clean flavor. The oil is fresh and hot giving a crisp outer coating that is fried until golden brown and not greasy. The fish is large with generous sides. The coleslaw was crisp, not soggy. The chips are lightly seasoned potato wedges. Again, you can tell that the oil is fresh because the chips are hot in temperature and also not soggy. Very good. $8.75

- Fish Sandwich – A deep fried piece of cod is placed in a soft roll with lettuce and tartar sauce. If you like soft rolls, you’ll be pleased. Again, the cod is done perfectly. Very good. $4.95

On my second visit, which was for lunch, I tried a few different items.

- Deep Fried Calamari – Calamari rings and tentacles are lightly battered and deep fried. The calamari pieces are then tossed in a mixture containing garlic and parsley. It’s like garlic fries, but it’s calamari. I was a little surprised at the extra flavoring, but found it refreshing and good. Be forewarned that the flavor of garlic will stay with you. $6.95

- One Cod, Two Oyster combo Meal - The fish was deep fried just as nicely as the first time. See above. The oysters are large and also available as a side for $1.75 each. These oysters were lightly battered and deep fried. The batter could be thinner, but I still found the oysters above average in size and quality. They’re so hot that you should use care in eating them. Very good. The fries and cole slaw were just as good as my initial visit. $8.50
- Clam Chowder – The New England style clam chowder is homemade and served with oyster crackers. It’s creamy and rich with lots of clams, diced celery, and diced potatoes. It has excellent consistency and I didn’t find a single lump of flour. Very good. Cup $3.75, Pint $5.95, Quart $8.95

- Shakes – The strawberry shakes are rich and creamy. The ice cream is so thick that it helps to let it sit and melt a little so you can use a straw to drink it. It had a very strawberry flavor, not too sweet, but just right. Excellent prices too. Small 12oz $1.75, Medium 16oz 2.25, Large 20oz $2.75

- Onion rings – The onion rings are thick and served with ranch dressing. The ring itself is fresh and the batter for this visit was on the thick side. See more about the batter below. Available in half order for $3 or regular size for $5.

When I visited in 2005, I noticed the prices had gone up. Also, this last visit wasn’t quite as impressive as previous. Although the batter was still crisp, it was a bit too thick. This doesn’t mean I won’t return, but I will be more cautious about what I order and how much of it. In some cases, the batter was so thick that it just was soft. The ingredients are still very fresh, but not quite to the level that I had expected. If this happens again, I’ll have to remove them from the Best of trAde list, but for now, they’ll remain a little while longer. Also, if it happens again, I’ll have to downgrade their rating.

The staff at Fourth and Sea are friendly and not only does this place have fresh fish, but hearty portions. The quality of food is excellent, and the prices reasonable. From my two visits, I would also say they are quite consistent (this is not true after the third visit – but still open for discussion). I would highly recommend a visit to Fourth and Sea.

Betty's Fish & Chips - Santa Rosa

4046 Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa CA 95409
(707) 539-0899
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: June 17, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Enter Betty’s and you’ll see that it’s a cozy family place. There are blue and white colors all around the room along with sea faring decorations. Booths are available as well as regular tables. If you sit at a booth, you’ll receive a placemat with a scene of the sea on it. If you are at a table, the placemat can be seen through the glass on top. The usual items arrive once you order fish – ketchup and tartar sauce. Since they make their own tartar sauce, you might think it’s ranch, but it’s just a non-chunky tartar sauce. Our waitress was extremely efficient with drinks, checking back after our order had come, giving us the check and just keeping an eye on all her tables. She had her system down pat.

- New England Clam Chowder Cup – The clam chowder has great flavor with lots of clams – I think almost every bite had some clams in it. It’s creamy, but not starchy, and it’s accompanied by a package of oyster crackers. Although it’s not the very best clam chowder I’ve ever had, it is good stuff, and would be welcome on a cold day. Cup $3.75, Bowl $4.95

- Icelandic Cod and Chips – The pieces of cod are very lightly breaded and deep fried until dark brown. I was a bit surprised by the color since the chips came out a more golden brown. The chips are fantastic – crunchy on the outside, a little soft and tender on the inside – these fries are very yummy. The fish is fresh and has a mild flavor, but the darker color is a little unusual, and it would be better if the fish were lighter in color (but it’s easy to get past this after you taste it). Good portions and a jumbo could fill up two people. Small (1 piece) $7.25, Medium (2 pieces) $9.95, Large (3 pieces) $12.95, Jumbo (4 pieces) $15.50

- Homemade Coleslaw – The slaw has a natural sweetness about it, given to it by pineapple. Perhaps I just like pineapple, but it made me want to eat more and more. It wasn’t too salty or too sour, but more on the sweet side, and yet, not too sweet. A nice combination of cabbage and the like. Good. Medium $1.25, Large $1.75

Other offerings include Seafood sandwiches, both cold or from the grill, fried seafood, and don’t forget Betty’s Lemon Cloud pie.

The only thing I would improve besides the coloring of the fish is the tartar sauce. The woman at the table next to us brought her own and seemed happy. If you’re accustomed to chunky tartar sauce, you may find this one too smooth for your taste. So perhaps you should bring your own too. It all depends on your preference.

I was most impressed by the gal who handled our section. Despite all the hustle and bustle, she saw us leave and yelled out a thanks and good night. Although some may find yelling inappropriate, this is a casual place and her greeting was most welcome. It shows that Betty’s has that special something. It shows that they’re on top of things. I would definitely go back to Betty’s to try out more of their seafood delights.

Mel's Fish & Chips - Santa Rosa

Best: Fish & Chips Sonoma County

1016 Hopper Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95403
(707) 578-1954
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-8:30pm, Sat 11:30am-8:30pm

Last Visited: May 14, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

I had tried to go to Mel's a few times, usually on a Sunday lunch hour and failed to find them open, but I do think they have one of the best fish & chips in Sonoma County. After trying Betty's, Fourth and Sea, and other places offering fish & chips, Mel's provides a great product (not as good as what you find in England, but pretty darn good).

This husband and wife team have owned the restaurant for more than a decade and the restaurant has been around since the 1980s.  The place is located in a strip mall, and there really isn't much room to eat in the joint. I call it a joint because it's not really a restaurant - it's a take-out counter with some seating against the window and outside when the weather is nice, but it's best if you live nearby or don't mind eating in your car. I've eaten both inside the place and in my car - I know - sometimes it's the sacrifice that you need to make in order to get good fish & chips.

While they offer fried prawns, scallops, clam strips, chicken strips, vegetables, a number of combos, I still prefer to go for a three piece fish & chips and split that. The fries are okay (and sometimes, they're even great depending on whom is doing the frying), but my heart belongs to the fried fish.  Each of the fried items are hand-battered, put in the big deep fryer, and browned in the small deep fryer.

- Artichoke Hearts - A basket of these are pretty reasonable, but you also might consider an appetizer combo so you can try zucchini or mushrooms too. Good. $3.75

- Calamari Rings - A basket of calamari rings is served in a basket.  Cooked until tender, they're good, but the batter tends to separate and become become a little soggy as it cools.  Eat this one quickly.  $3.75

- Fish & Chips - A basket of fresh cod is battered and cooked to order. The fries are the size of typical steak fries. While the fries are just okay, the fish is really good. Coleslaw comes with complete orders and it's the kind that is a touch sweet. Great! This photo shows half of a three piece order.  One Piece $5.49, Two Piece $7.49, Three Piece $9.75

- Sprecher's sodas - Ginger Ale, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Orange Dream - very satisfying with a yummy fried dish - I found the price for a bottled soda very reasonable. $1.49

During visits in 2009 and this most recent visit, I found that the prices have remained the same, something I can appreciate a lot considering how Mel's prefers to keep local clientele coming back rather than raising prices and seeing less people come into the place. 

Service has ranged from very good to not that great. I'm giving them a three star rating because when you get Wafa, one of the owners, serving you, she is so incredibly personable and friendly, that you think you could spend your whole afternoon there and that you've just made a friend.  However, the hired help can be a bit unfriendly and make you want to head to the car and eat your food there.  While the food has been consistently good during all of my visits, and their tartar sauce is also just chunky enough, I found service to vary enough to only give it a three star rating. While there are no substitutions in their combos, check out Mel's for some delicious cod.

Rock and Sole Plaice - Fish and Chips, London, UK

Best: Fish & Chips

45 Endell Street
Covent Garden, London, WC2H9AJ, United Kingdom
020 7836 3785
Parking: limited street parking; Nearest Tube: Covent Garden

Last Visited: July 6, 2010

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

History points to fish and chips starting in London around 1861. Rock & Sole Plaice opened in 1871 and is known for being London's third 'chippie' ever. Their menu even tells the story of how the facility was used as a meeting place for the Fish Fryer's Federation to discuss supplies during World War II, specifically which areas devastated by bombings would need their morale boosted as those left homeless would need hot food distribution. So you feel a bit like you're getting more than just fish and chips when you come to Rock & Sole.

When we arrived about 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon, the place was packed. All of the tables outside were full with both a combination of tourists and locals. I say tourists because there were many people there whom didn't seem to speak English as their first language or were carrying a tour book. Rock & Sole takes street seating beyond the usual - here you are, right next to the cars going by and hoping that nobody hits you. Unfortunately, the smell of gasoline mingles with that of cigarette smoke, but it is London after all - just one of those unavoidable things in public.

Rock & Sole came recommended by Lawrence, a buddy from college whom is staying in London. We were fortunate to arrive within a few minutes of a group that was about to vacate their table, and we sat down to peruse the menu which offered regular sized and large for all of their fish with the except of halibut which just comes in one size. All of the fish here comes served with chips; the fish availble include cod, skate, haddock, rock, plaice, halibut and lemon sole. If your friends love fish and chips, but it's not your favorite, never fear. They also offer pies like steak and kidney pie, chicken and onion pie, and other savory dishes like cornish pastie and beef sausage. They also have crispy coated cheese - who can refuse friend cheese?

Service was just so-so today as all of the tables were full and the staff seemed to be running a bit ragged. I saw one member dash across the street to the convenience store for a quart of milk. Tartar sauce and ketchup are put in stainless steel containers on each table, but we were low on tartar sauce and had to ask for more.

- Fried Calamari - Six pieces of calamari are lightly battered and served with a wedge of lemon. Some of the calamari was exposed when it was served because the breading hadn't stayed with it and I was at first hesitant because it looked dry. Fortunately for me, I was wrong and the pieces were meaty and juicy. Very good. The picture shows that the pieces are fairly large too - an extra bonus. 4 pounds

- Fried Cod & Chips - The cod was very good and it was served with chips that were good. The fish is battered just right with enough coating that despite sitting for a few minutes on the plate - none of the batter gets soggy, and it stayed crunchy throughout my meal. The cod was excellent - it was so fresh and flaky; the texture was not the slightest bit dense or mushy. The chips were crispy on the outside and good on the inside. I like my fries to be just a touch crispier, but these were still quite good. There are so many fries, you are bound to be full if you eat them all. Regular 11.50 pounds, Large 13 pounds

- Fried Haddock & Chips - They had run out of the regular sized fish, so I went for the large. You can see, large is pretty big. See cod description above. The haddock was equally flaky and fresh. Regular 11.50 pounds, Large 13
pounds

- Fried Onion Rings (8) - While the rings look a bit small, and maybe even a little dry, looks can be deceiving. These rings are sweet with just the right amount of breading. Good stuff. 1.70 pounds

I wanted to leave room for dessert, but there was no way that was going to happen. I was completely stuffed. The check took a while to come, and it seemed to be the result of just having a full house with only two people waiting tables. I would highly recommend Rock & Sole. While the prices are slightly on the high side, there is no better way to really feel like you're experiencing London than to have a really good meal of fish and chips. Another bonus - Scoop is just around the corner and so much gelato awaits - if you have room that is.

Golden Hind - Fish and Chips, London, UK

73 Marylebone Lane
London, W1U 2PN, United Kingdom
Tel: 020 7486 3644
Parking: street parking; nearest tube: Bond Street

Last Visited: June 23, 2010

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

No matter where we go, if I know that I need to find a meal nearby, I'll take the time to research a place online so that I won't be frantically seeking food when I get there. Despite it being an ocean away, I knew we would be looking for dinner upon arriving in London, and the Golden Hind popped up as one of the places that seemed to get great ratings and was within walking distance of our bed and breakfast.

Having nearly century's history (open in 1914), the Golden Hind, first run by Italians and now shifted to Greek owners, I figured that it had to at least be good to survive the scrutiny of locals - how else could you stay open for this long of a time?

While London is notorious for bad service, the Golden Hind staff was super friendly and the owner even came by to chat with us near the end of our meal. They were most happy to let us sit while we awaited the arrival of our dining companions. The menu offers a variety of fish - cod, haddock, skate, salmon, plaice and more. They also offer a variety of fried starters - scampi, calamari strips, fishcakes, and plenty of sides - mushy peas, chips, and gherkins.

There were only a few tables filled upon our arrival, but by the end of our meal, the place was packed, and it was only a Wednesday. It seemed to have a combination of locals and visitors. Having just gotten off the plane, we were pretty starving and ready for a good meal. We started the evening with a refreshing Jamaican ginger beer - delicious with just enough kick to get your tummy awakened for some deep fried goodness.

- Mixed Salad - A fresh green salad of romaine lettuce with tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers arrived. It's large enough for two people to share as a starter or to heartily enjoy on your own.
3.50 pounds

- Fried Calamari Strips - The calamari strips are showed in the picture to the right. As you can see, they are lightly battered and served with a wedge of lemon. If you like calamari steak, you'll enjoy this, but if you prefer real calamari, then you'll just appreciate the light batter. The tartar sauce is homemade, so it tended to be more on the creamy side with more mayo than relish. Good. 3.60 pounds

- Cod (boneless fillet) - The cod was very fresh and according to the literature I had read prior to my visit, none of the fish is frozen because it's brought in fresh everyday. The batter is super light - almost reminds me of the lightness of a tempura or panko crumb crust, although the texture isn't the same. Since chips are served on the side when you order them for a large group, the presentation is a bit bare, but it's still very good. It's so light that if you leave it on the plate too long, it might steam on the bottom and become soggy, but just eat fast. The oil is fresh and there is just a little oil on the plate from the fish. The portions are also more than sufficient. Very good. 7.40 pounds

- Haddock (boneless fillet) - See the description under cod. Very good and the haddock flaked beautifully when broken apart. 7.70 pounds

- Chips - Sadly, although the picture shows the chips as nice and golden brown, the texture doesn't match. The outside was not crispy and although the raw product seems to be fresh, something about these just weren't that great. They're meaty for sure, but no crunch and for me, that is what makes a good chip. At least we didn't have to get a side of chips for each person - the beauty of being able to order them separately. 1.70 pounds

The prices listed on the menu include the VAT tax.

In the end, a visit to the Golden Hind is definitely worthwhile for the fish. Perhaps the best suggestion I have would be to order only one side of chips to see how they taste that day before ordering more and wasting your stomach and money on them. However, there is no doubt that the light batter and the freshness of fish make Golden Hind worth a stop. And don't forget the ginger beer!