Pete's Fish & Chips — Restaurant in Mesa

OK, I am not a local, lived here only 4 years, and have only had Pete's once before, and was not impressed, but today I got the notion to give it another try. I came from the wrong direction apparently, because the entrance to the temporary drive thru sign only faces north. So, after I pulled into the parking lot and had to turn around, I was a little frustrated, but took it in stride. I had been warned that it was cash only and I had cash in my wallet, so I was good to go. I pulled up, placed my order for fish and chips with a corn dog...almost $15...not cheap, but I thought OK, this place has an amazing reputation, go all in...as I pulled up to the window I saw a tiny little sign that said, "NO $100 Bills." I had cash, but the WRONG kind of cash apparently....I was told they don't accept $100's or even $50's...but I was told I could pull around into the parking lot, AGAIN, get out, go in and use their ATM machine, and could THEN have the right kind of cash and could get my food. I declined. I drove away absolutely certain that I would never go back. Seriously, why? They can't make change for a $100 bill? I will NEVER go back...I don't know what I was thinking in the first place...the food is EXTREMELY mediocre at best...I will go to the frozen food section of my local market and get better fish anyway, and save a bunch of money...it is my own fault, not being a regular customer, I failed to read their mind and know how inconvenient they want to make it to do business with them...next time I will be a lot smarter...A LOT smarter...and not go. The one star is not by accident, and would have given zero if I could and still post this review. It's a good thing ALL of Pete's customers are local repeaters and none from out of town...you know, being in downtown Mesa, AZ and close to the Temple and all...but for the rest of you and for all you...

Hadn't been here in a while and won't be back for a while. Honestly, this place is a staple in Mesa, but the food leaves something to be desired. Actually, it left a lot to be desired. The fish was done better by Gordon's fisherman out of a freezer box, and the shrimp was deliciously crispy but also something I could have gotten from the frozen section at the grocery store. It's too pricy for what you are getting. There is no size on fries. It's whatever size handful will fit in the box after they add your food and sauce. And they do not pack the fries in, I'll say that, so you are paying for whatever they decide to give you, which is crap. If you're gonna have 1 size, then have a size! Put them in a separate bag or something like mexican places do when you order chips and salsa. Speaking of sauces... they have 1. ONE. UNO. And it's not cocktail sauce or tarter sauce or ketchup, which are all things I would normally have accompanying my fish, shrimp, and fries. Nope! It's house sauce. What it is, I don't know. Is it delicious, yes! But it doesn't satisfy my sauciness craving for ALL of the items in my box of food and I really needed something more to not be so bummed about how much $$$ I had just spent on what tasted like a kids school cafeteria lunch. But, it is what it is. I check in every few years, and it doesn't change, and I'm sure that's what people love about it and why they have been around so long. Or they are just trying to get rid of the cash in their wallets because Pete only takes cash! Be prepared or whomever is behind you better be in a good mood because people get grumpy when you don't know the rules. Like, duh, lol. Try it because we love to support or local businesses, however, be prepared that the hubbub about this joint is not for its renowned...

I wasn't going to write a review, mainly because the staff was so nice, polite, and professional. I would only recommend coming here because of the service. It pains me to write that Pete's did not live up to the hype. I kept hearing about the best fish and chips in Arizona. It really makes me wonder if people here have actually had great much less decent fish and chips. I ordered the #1 which is one piece of fish, and four shrimps with fries. When the order came out as you can see in one of the pictures attached the fish was well over cooked as was the shrimp. No malted vinegar, just their specialty sauce. I wasn't even offered tartar sauce. I gave it a bite and both the shrimp and fish were dry and tasted like cardboard. I could have bought some grocery store frozen fish sticks and it would have been better. I took the food back and they happily offered to remake the food. The second picture shows that the food on the remake was not overcooked, could possibly taste better. I was offered tartar sauce this time because their specialty sauce honestly was not at all something I would put on any food. It was disappointing. I tried the second plate of food and again the frozen fish they use tasted like the grocery store frozen food fish sticks. The same for the shrimp. I returned the food, and was again offered something else from the menu like a burger. My appetite was gone, and I didn't even ask for my money back. I'm hoping this was just a bad off day for them, but you can't have frozen processed fish and call it good fish and chips. In case some of you want to know what I'm calling good fish and chips I have also included an example of a fresh beer battered fish for...