Fish, fish and more fish

By Bob Tuomi

The citizens of our fair village must eat a lot of fish and chips. At least twelve James Bay restaurants, the majority, list fish and chips on their menus, and, it's not just the tourists eating them. In researching this article I found that everyone has an opinion on what they like: some prefer cod; others, halibut; tempura batter or beer batter; coleslaw or side salad; potato fries, or yam fries; regular vinegar or malt. To simply list the restaurants alphabetically or by price simply would not do service to the readers varying preferences so I've organized the list by type of meal offered.

The Pacific Restaurant and Pacific Lounge
463 Belleville,
250-386-0450
Serving fish and chips featuring cod only

Lingcod served with classic English chips, slaw and and tartar sauce: $19.00 Yam frites or Caesar salad available for an additional $3.00

Harbour Towers Hotel
Vic's Steakhouse and Bar
250-480-6585

Pacific lingcod in tempura batter served with house-made slaw and tartar sauce: 1 piece $12.00, 2 pieces $16.00. Upgrade to sweet potato fries or Caesar salad for $2.00 extra

Gatsby's309 Belleville
250-388-9191

Crisply battered cod served with tartar sauce and either French Fries, house salad or cup of daily soup: 1 piece $12.00, 2pieces $15.00. Substitute Caesar salad or clam chowder for an additional $2.50

Swiftsure Restaurant and Lounge
427 Belleville
250-413-2707 (Restaurant)
250-389-0839 (Lounge)

Beer battered pacific cod, chips, coleslaw and house made tartar sauce: 2 ps $14.50 1 pc $11.50 Substitute sweet potato planks, cup of chowder or Caesar salad for $1.50, Lunch menu only to 5:30.

Blue Crab Bar and Grill
146 Kingston
250-480-1999

Aura Restaurant
Laurel Point Inn
250-414-6739
Serving fish and chips featuring Halibut only

Local beer-battered halibut, yuzu & wasabi tartar sauce, kimchi cucumber salad, pomme frite: $13.00 for 1 piece, $22.00 for 2pieces. Children's menu fish and 1 piece halibut: $8.00. Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 9:00 pm.

The James Bay Inn Restaurant and Pub
270 Government
250-384-7151

Local halibut dipped in 'Blackfish Café' batter and served with fries, coleslaw, and 'Blackfish' tartar: 1 piece $14.00, 2 pieces $18.00. Yam fries can be substituted.

The Beacon Drive Inn
126 Douglas
250-385-7521

Two pieces of halibut are served with chips, coleslaw, and tarter sauce, $8.95.

Serving fish and chips with a variety of fish choices:

The Fish Store at Fisherman's Wharf
250-383-6462

Cod and halibut is prepared fresh, when available, and fried in a light crisp batter. Pacific cod and chips 1 piece $12.00, 2 pieces $17.00 Halibut and chips 1 piece $16.00 2 pieces $22.00

The meals are served with freshly cut, twice fried chips, homemade tartar sauce and coleslaw. Substitute a green salad for $2.00

Barb's Place
Fisherman's Wharf
250-384-6515

Barb's cod and chip dinner: 1 piece $9.95, 2 pieces $14.95

Pacific Halibut dinner: 1 piece $13.95, 2 pieces $19.95

Meals include fries or salad, coleslaw, tartar sauce and lemon slice. Seafood menu items can be deep-fried, steamed or grilled.

Finest-at-Sea
27 Erie (opposite Fisherman's Wharf Park)
250-383-7760

Great selection of unprepared, sustainably caught seafood as well as, new this year, a food cart serving fish and chips. Nicely prepared, tempura battered, halibut or salmon: 1 piece with fries $11.99; 2 pieces $16.99.

James Bay Fish and Chips
211 Menzies
250-383-5333

A full order of halibut and chips $12.50; a 1 piece order $8.95. An extra piece of fish $8.95. A two piece cod meal $10.95. An half order $8.50. Additional cod $5.50 a piece. Combos of 1 piece each of cod and halibut or 1 piece each of halibut and salmon $11.95.

All meals served with fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce. Substitute fries for Caesar salad or onion rings $1.00.

Hints and tips to restaurants: 1) keep your websites up to date as to prices and availability. 2) ensure front line staff are aware of which species of fish is being served.