Jonathan W.
Yelp
As long-time Seattleites, my wife and I are fans of Tom Douglas restaurants and had high expectations for Mr. Fish, and while it wasn't as great as we'd hoped, it was enjoyable.
We braved the peak tourist season at Pike Place, and even in the early afternoon on a Tuesday, there were groups surrounding the menus posted on the way into the restaurant. The host and servers were gracious, despite a party rudely ignoring signage and seating themselves. The atmosphere is casual, as I'd expect at a fish and chips joint, yet the seating inside was spacious and comfortable.
They had three beers on tap, and the citrusy IPA from Lucky Envelope ($10) was a great accompaniment to the meal. Water came in a large bottle, and it was just the right temperature: chilled without being ice cold.
We started with the Buttery Garlic Focaccia and "made it crabby" for a total of $25. The crab mixed in with the cheese was well worth the upgrade. While my wife prefers chewier focaccia, I loved the richness and perfect browning.
My wife had the "World's Best Sockeye Salmon Burger" for $25. With a name like that at a Tom Douglas establishment, it better not disappoint. Unfortunately, the salmon was thin and overcooked. (Tip: go to Tipsy Cow if you want a terrific salmon burger.) However, the fries saved the day! Long, thick, skins on, and cooked until slightly crisp, they are among the best around. Ask for them without salt (my wife always does), and you can enjoy the potato flavor as-is or dip in their incredibly thick ketchup.
I had the Mr. Fish Combo fish and chips ($29), which came with two pieces of cod, two large, plump shrimp, and plenty of calamari. The breading was too salty, especially on the calamari. On top of salted fries, it became overwhelming. The plump shrimp was the best part.