Went here for lunch and it was VERY expensive! Over 25$ for fish and chips and about the same for clam strips. The staff wasn’t very engaged or engaging, staring at their electronic devices, specifically watching golf and texting. Also when leaving and asking for a togo bag was nonverbally communicated as a hassle. Oh and if you want any extra tarter after paying +50$, expect to pay more. Unless you want to support a small business don’t bother and go to many of the other options close by.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips, Clam Strips Chips
KAT
Just really good fish and chips!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Madeleine Lucas
love the cod and chips! also great softserve w sprinkles :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seasonal Sweeties (BY DARCEY MARTINEZ)
Tried and tried to like this overpriced fake fish stick stuff. 3rd time trying to like it and my 15 yr old won't even eat it...he eats everything. Trying to like it love your customer service, employees and atmosphere. You're
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Gary Syck
There is a lot of hurry up and wait on a trip back from the San Juan Islands. I have heard horror stories about people getting stuck in Friday harbor because the ferries are having problems. Even with a reservation, you might not get a spot headed to the mainland. We decided that getting there early was good insurance against possible difficulties. We got our place in line with a couple of hours to kill until we might get on a boat. It was lunch time, so we thought a trip to The Bait Shop was in order.My son and I discovered this place last year during the Friday Harbor Film festival. It is an easy to miss spot on Spring Street next to the movie theater. There is a big space inside that is mostly empty. In the summer the space is filled with a line of eager fish and chips fans. Since this was November, we had the place to ourselves. We claimed almost all of the stools at a counter by the window while My cousin and I put in our orders. The menu is pretty straight forward - there are a few fried seafood choices served with fries and coleslaw. I was intrigued by something called crab tots, but at $18 I was not going to take a chance. I got the two piece cod. For bigger appetites, there is a three piece option and if you don’t like cod, you can get halibut. There is a cooler of canned and bottled drinks to choose from, but I prefer fountain drinks with fish and chips.I would not have been surprised if our group of 7 had overwhelmed the tiny kitchen. I should have had more faith. In the summer these guys manage to feed a line that fills the shop and overflows out into the street. 7 orders is nothing to these pros. Our food came out in a couple of minutes. We barely had time to gather ketchup, salt, mayo, other condiments and fill our cups. Everything was fried to perfection. The fish was crispy and cooked though, but not dry. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. All the cooked items were good and hot. It was served with plenty of tartar sauce.I like to start with the coleslaw. This version was fresh and crunchy. There was just the right amount of dressing on it to give it flavor without making it soggy. There was an unusual herb in there that I did not like, but that is a matter of taste and not a lack of skill on the part of whoever made it.Except for the coleslaw, we ate with our hands and made full use of the paper towel napkins that were provided. I was good and full by the time I was down to scooping the french fry salt from the bottom of the cardboard boat that everything was served in. There was plenty of time left and even though it was November, our thoughts turned to ice cream. The Bait Shop offers soft serve chocolate, vanilla or swirled. It is probably fine, but we skipped it in favor of the place at Cannery Landing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Rob Wingard
Fast, casual, delicious.Great chowder, not too thick with big tender chunks of clam and veggies.Great fries well seasoned, stand up to malt vinegar. Generous portion.The fish was fantastic. Great batter, tender, meaty halibut. I'm a big guy and the 2piece was perfect for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips, Clam Chowder, Fries
Ryan Alverdes
While not the very best fish & chips I've ever had, it was definitely good. I would certainly return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Matthew Gravelyn
Great place downtown for a quick and easy meal. The halibut was flaky and tender. The fries were salty and crisp. Everything was hot and fresh. We are at the counter which the kids really enjoyed. Not a ton of space for strollers or large groups, but we sat our family of four pretty comfortably in the corner of the outward facing bar. Highly recommend for a delicious taste of seafood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Harrison Camp
Great food, but they often close early or are not open when google suggests that they are within operating hours.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Cod
Linda Bentley (The Packed Bag)
FABULOUS FRIES!Looking all over Friday Harbor for somewhere open to eat on a Wednesday evening and found this place. I ordered a cup of PNW chowder and a basket of fries to take back to my room. The service was quick and friendly. The chowder was good, the fries were excellent!
The best fish and chips in the region in my opinion. Amazingly fresh, tender, flaky cod, light breading, yummy fries. Reasonably priced for Friday Harbor and less than you would pay in a restaurant for lower quality. I miss the oregano in the slaw though!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish
ThePackedBag
Looking all over Friday Harbor for somewhere open to eat on a Wednesday evening and found this place. I ordered a cup of PNW chowder and a basket of fries to take back to my room. The service was quick and friendly. The chowder was good, the fries were excellent!
Josh
Best fish and chips ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips
Mason Hwu (Real Estate Advisor)
I’m a fish and chips lover and have to try it wherever I go. This place hit the spot for me and I enjoyed my meal. We got the halibut, cod, clam chowder, and chicken. It was all golden crispy goodness. The chicken strips seemed fresh and my son loved them. I prefer fresh cut fries, but these were still good. I’d definitely recommend this place! ? fyi, I took my pictures towards the end of our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips
Debbie T
Every time we go to Friday Harbor we stop here. I love the location and how the windows open and you can eat looking outside. My favorite part. For the price... and the size of the fish - it's way overpriced. I guess that comes with a tourist spot like this. However, the fish was good. We got Halibut. The fries were good also. We got the clam chowder and I wouldn't waste my money on that again. Not very tasty. There is no "service" because you never hear from them again once you take your food. They weren't very nice but that's ok.... it just kills me to tip and not even get a thank you. BUT! We still love this place and the location! AND the ferry ride over.
Went here for lunch and it was VERY expensive! Over 25$ for fish and chips and about the same for clam strips. The staff wasn’t very engaged or engaging, staring at their electronic devices, specifically watching golf and texting. Also when leaving and asking for a togo bag was nonverbally communicated as a hassle. Oh and if you want any extra tarter after paying +50$, expect to pay more. Unless you want to support a small business don’t bother and go to many of the other options close by.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips, Clam Strips Chips
Just really good fish and chips!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
love the cod and chips! also great softserve w sprinkles :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tried and tried to like this overpriced fake fish stick stuff. 3rd time trying to like it and my 15 yr old won't even eat it...he eats everything. Trying to like it love your customer service, employees and atmosphere. You're
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
There is a lot of hurry up and wait on a trip back from the San Juan Islands. I have heard horror stories about people getting stuck in Friday harbor because the ferries are having problems. Even with a reservation, you might not get a spot headed to the mainland. We decided that getting there early was good insurance against possible difficulties. We got our place in line with a couple of hours to kill until we might get on a boat. It was lunch time, so we thought a trip to The Bait Shop was in order.My son and I discovered this place last year during the Friday Harbor Film festival. It is an easy to miss spot on Spring Street next to the movie theater. There is a big space inside that is mostly empty. In the summer the space is filled with a line of eager fish and chips fans. Since this was November, we had the place to ourselves. We claimed almost all of the stools at a counter by the window while My cousin and I put in our orders. The menu is pretty straight forward - there are a few fried seafood choices served with fries and coleslaw. I was intrigued by something called crab tots, but at $18 I was not going to take a chance. I got the two piece cod. For bigger appetites, there is a three piece option and if you don’t like cod, you can get halibut. There is a cooler of canned and bottled drinks to choose from, but I prefer fountain drinks with fish and chips.I would not have been surprised if our group of 7 had overwhelmed the tiny kitchen. I should have had more faith. In the summer these guys manage to feed a line that fills the shop and overflows out into the street. 7 orders is nothing to these pros. Our food came out in a couple of minutes. We barely had time to gather ketchup, salt, mayo, other condiments and fill our cups. Everything was fried to perfection. The fish was crispy and cooked though, but not dry. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. All the cooked items were good and hot. It was served with plenty of tartar sauce.I like to start with the coleslaw. This version was fresh and crunchy. There was just the right amount of dressing on it to give it flavor without making it soggy. There was an unusual herb in there that I did not like, but that is a matter of taste and not a lack of skill on the part of whoever made it.Except for the coleslaw, we ate with our hands and made full use of the paper towel napkins that were provided. I was good and full by the time I was down to scooping the french fry salt from the bottom of the cardboard boat that everything was served in. There was plenty of time left and even though it was November, our thoughts turned to ice cream. The Bait Shop offers soft serve chocolate, vanilla or swirled. It is probably fine, but we skipped it in favor of the place at Cannery Landing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Fast, casual, delicious.Great chowder, not too thick with big tender chunks of clam and veggies.Great fries well seasoned, stand up to malt vinegar. Generous portion.The fish was fantastic. Great batter, tender, meaty halibut. I'm a big guy and the 2piece was perfect for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips, Clam Chowder, Fries
While not the very best fish & chips I've ever had, it was definitely good. I would certainly return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great place downtown for a quick and easy meal. The halibut was flaky and tender. The fries were salty and crisp. Everything was hot and fresh. We are at the counter which the kids really enjoyed. Not a ton of space for strollers or large groups, but we sat our family of four pretty comfortably in the corner of the outward facing bar. Highly recommend for a delicious taste of seafood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, but they often close early or are not open when google suggests that they are within operating hours.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Cod
FABULOUS FRIES!Looking all over Friday Harbor for somewhere open to eat on a Wednesday evening and found this place. I ordered a cup of PNW chowder and a basket of fries to take back to my room. The service was quick and friendly. The chowder was good, the fries were excellent!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder
Restaurantji Recommends
The best fish and chips in the region in my opinion. Amazingly fresh, tender, flaky cod, light breading, yummy fries. Reasonably priced for Friday Harbor and less than you would pay in a restaurant for lower quality. I miss the oregano in the slaw though!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish
Looking all over Friday Harbor for somewhere open to eat on a Wednesday evening and found this place. I ordered a cup of PNW chowder and a basket of fries to take back to my room. The service was quick and friendly. The chowder was good, the fries were excellent!
Best fish and chips ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips
I’m a fish and chips lover and have to try it wherever I go. This place hit the spot for me and I enjoyed my meal. We got the halibut, cod, clam chowder, and chicken. It was all golden crispy goodness. The chicken strips seemed fresh and my son loved them. I prefer fresh cut fries, but these were still good. I’d definitely recommend this place! ? fyi, I took my pictures towards the end of our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut Fish and Chips
Every time we go to Friday Harbor we stop here. I love the location and how the windows open and you can eat looking outside. My favorite part. For the price... and the size of the fish - it's way overpriced. I guess that comes with a tourist spot like this. However, the fish was good. We got Halibut. The fries were good also. We got the clam chowder and I wouldn't waste my money on that again. Not very tasty. There is no "service" because you never hear from them again once you take your food. They weren't very nice but that's ok.... it just kills me to tip and not even get a thank you. BUT! We still love this place and the location! AND the ferry ride over.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3