MSP: Fish & Chips

[EarlOfSandwich]

Seafood Market & Deli
628 Central Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-6387

While driving down Central Avenue last week I caught sight of something perfectly designed to lure me; a rather hand-made looking sign with the magical words "FISH & CHIPS." This was at a building that looks rather like an old house, or perhaps a building that housed a grocery store a century ago. Its located at 7th and Central across the street from the U Otter Stop Inn bar. I had noticed with mild interest for several months that this building had a "Seafood Market" sign, but the Fish'n'Chips thing was new.

So, I obsessed over it for a few days until the Sandwich family's weekly NordEast restaurant outing, and I insisted that we drive somewhat further south than our usual Central & Lowry locus and check this place out. I actually had to stop the car and run in to make sure this was a place where we could sit down instead of just take-away. Yes, there were tables and the little menu stiing on the counter included French Onion Soup and Chicken Soup, so there would be something for the Countess, who does not like seafood. There was also fish & chips, mahi-mahi skewers, or shrimp, all offered for $6.99.

I liked the look of the place, a rather spacious high ceilinged shop with low-budget hole-in-the-wall decor, a half-dozen tiny two-top tables, each with ketchup, Frank's Hot Sauce, Sriracha, and malt vinegar. There is a case of seafood for sale, a few shelves of gourmet food items, and a case of bottled and canned beverages. I should have checked out the seafood case, but I don't know much about such things since I am too lazy to cook and order my seafood ready-to-eat in restaurants. It seemed kind of small, as in "how can a business survive selling only this?" I will leave a review of these offereings to someone more knowledgable.

By the time we parked and went inside, a woman was waiting for service at the counter. I could hear them puttering around in back, so after about 10 minutes I asked the waiting woman if they had even taken her order; she answered that they had. Eventually the woman's woman's take-away order was brought up.

The place is run by an older immigrant couple that I guessed came from Eastern Europe. The man came up front and it appeared that he may not speak any English--I said "hi, can I get a couple orders of F&C and a soup?" and he sort of glowered and went back into the back area. Then the lady came out to take our order.

The lady said that they were out of soup--both kinds. I asked if they had anything that was not fish, and the reply was no. So my good-sport Countess (who patiently comes along to sushi places with me and eats edamame, gyoza, and tempura veggies) said an order of chips would do.

We figured we were in for a long wait (and nothin' but fries for the Countess' supper) but were not famished and were feeling inclined to see it through. So, we puttered about, read the Strib that was sitting on a table, and tried to keep the two-year old chowpup occupied, until finally, 45 minutes after we entered (with only one order ahead of us), the landlady brought out our fish'n'chips. The extra order of chips came along 5-10 minutes later! The lady said 'this is no charge," which was nice.

It was, to be sure, a pretty good basket of F&C. Two very large filets of tasty fish and good crispy batter. I was disappointed to see crinkle-cut fries since there was a big basket of potatoes sitting on a table there. I figured that they must have been frozen rather than made-on-premises. However, they were pretty good. Each F&C basket also included a couple of good pickle spears and a couple of spicy hot pepperoncinis, something I had never seen with F&C. The only tartar sauce was in packets at a condiments and plastic cutlery table.

I chatted with the lady and found out that they were from Georgia (the former SSR, not the Peachtree State). The store has been open for a year, and they started the F&C aspect two months ago. The fish she used for the F&C was tilapia. She does make indeed make the chips from potatoes right there. I didn't get into the service/prep time issues, so I don't know if that was the everyday situation there.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has been here, either to buy seafood retail or for prepared food.

My take: The F&C are good, probably at least as good as Mac's, so the generically named "Seafood Market" was a chowish experience, but they'd have to get their act together enough to be able to bring out an F&C order in 5-10 minutes before I would go there again. It may may make sense to phone in an order ahead of time. Anyway, I have Binh Minh at 60th & Portland within walking distance of home, and I like their F&C as much as Mac's, so i guess that I am lucky.

My dream, though, is that SOMEDAY someone will open up a UK style chip shop in the Twin Cities.

Cheers,
Earl of Sandwich

[The Dairy Queen]

Great chowhounding, thank you for your detailed report.

I missed it in your post if you mentioned, but what do they offer in the way of beer?

~TDQ

[EarlOfSandwich]

Sorry to say there is no beer. It is a much more bare-bones operation than that. Just canned soda-pop, bottled water, bottled juice.
EoS

[Foureyes137]

Thank you so much for this report! We live a block from here, and I always want to stop in, it looks so homey and mom and pop from the outside looking in, I just rarely have a need for fresh fish, and when I do need it, I just get it at Lunds. The space is next to where the old Rosalux Gallery use to be (torn-down).

I never knew this place served ready to eat food, great tip!

We will stop in this coming week for sure!

Question, Cash only or do they take cards?

[EarlOfSandwich]

They DO accept credit cards, Foureyes. I used my Visa there.

"Mom and pop" is just the term for it, too.

Try the shrimp, mahi mahi, and soup and let us all know about it.

[djohnson22]

Ahh.. thanks for jogging my memory on this place - I remember noticing it while driving past several months ago (on my way somewhere and pressed for time so couldn't stop and check it out)... had been trying to remember where it was ever since. I will have to make sure to make some time the next time I find myself driving down Central.

[EarlOfSandwich]

I hope you get a chance to go in there and check out the seafood case offerings, D. You know your stuff when it come to fish.

[yttri]

If anyone's interested in an update: they've changed ownership and an Egyptian family owns it now. Not sure when it occurred, since the last I went was in 2009.

Fish and Chips: Still tilapia. You still get two fillets, which are smaller than when I went two years ago, but fresh and cooked just right. The chips are much better, more akin to the British style. No pickle anymore, but I'm ok with that.

Chummy Yummy: Salmon pan-fried and topped with some creamy green sauce and served on pilaf. Salmon was done just right and the sauce was really good; very strong notes of dill, garlic, and a little spicy. This was $7.99

Falafel and some other Mideastern foods are also available now, but I went for the fish.

The decor is still pretty non-existent, but they've posted hours now instead of making you guess. They close at 7 most evenings.

The new people who own it are pretty nice. The chef came out and delivered the food and also checked on us. He also came out later to let everyone try some kebab he was thinking of adding to the menu.

I posted some photos on Yelp too: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/n9wzDC...

[ibew292]

Went for lunch today. The Fish and Chips($6.99) were good to great. It was Tilapia and the breading was right on. A hole in the wall but wonderful people. The owner said he hopes to have Haddock available for the Fish and Chips but was having a hard time sourcing it right now. Parking is hard but there are 3 spots right behind the store. Give it a try. They are on Facebook and have a website.