For years my friends, family, and I have eaten at Al's and bought fish there. Always a 5 ... or at least a 4 ....experience. Today, my lunch was a marginal 3. The fish and chips were good, though I am not used to having my fish come in chunks. The English fish and chip shops of my childhood never wrapped such things in their heavy waxed paper and newspaper. The fish chunks were good, as were the "chips." We ordered onion rings which we had enjoyed the week before. Onion chunks arrived at the table. ( it was a chunky meal.) We returned the chunks for the rings we were ordered. The onion rings were dark and heavy with grease....old grease. Ugh.

What was markedly poor was the service. I waitressed during high school and college. I gave and I expect good service. I also tip well. Our food came promptly. Our diet coke and beer did not. Drinks were asked for twice. Then glasses. My glass never came. I drank beer from cans in college, but do not decades later. Ice for the coke finally arrived. I ended up putting my can of beer in my purse as I have glasses at home.

The flies were also really pesky as we ate our meal at an inside booth. We steadily swatted.

I expect this was an off day at Al's as I have not had such an experience there before. The owners should train waitresses and have enough on hand for outside and inside customers. The lunch crowd was not overwhelming. Screens must be closed at ordering windows when payments are not being handled. And old grease is unacceptable. If I have another similar experience at Al's, I will not be eager to return.

Including my $5.00 dollar donation to the window tip jar, i paid over $33.00 for an average-sized fish and chip plate, an order of heavily greased, over-fried onion rings, and a can of beer without a glass. Not particularly good value