Fish House Cafe — Restaurant in Tacoma

I live 3 minutes away from here so when i searched "fish snd chips" on yelp today this came right up. I went to get lunch for my husband and I. When I got there it was SUPER busy. The lady at the counter quickly took my order and let me know what my wait time would be. I ordered two orders of fish and chips and banana pudding ( because of the good reviews I had read about it ). The fish and chips were good, but not " I can't wait to come here again" - just decent. For my husbands taste they were overly salty. I love salt, so I was fine, my issue was the inconsistency of the fish "strips" ( that's the best word to describe them). Each basket came with 2. One of mine was good, there was enough fish that the batter ( cornmeal batter i believe) was not overpowering and you could actually bite into the fish, or tear it in half and see it flake. Unfortunately the other strip was so thin and flat it was basically just hard inedible batter. In all fairness, i was able to get about two bites total out of the middle, after breaking the hard crust off of all the sides and the end. The second basket was the same :( which was unfortunate- if both strips/ baskets were like the first strip I had - I would have been super happy. The banana pudding was good, but it's definitely more of a mouse than pudding! That didn't bug me, but if you were looking for a traditional banana pudding you may have been surprised. The "chips" were the usual crinkle fries that you get at small burger establishments and were really good- cooked perfect, unfortunately they may have been the best part. I do want to say that they were super busy, and with inflation i can only imagine how hard it is to get quality fish and keep your prices at a level people will still pay, also i'm sure they were just cranking the food out to keep the wait time down. I don't want to be harsh with my review, just honest. I do love that this is a small family...

For the price I paid the food was not that great. I was told that "our food is made with 'love' ". How is that when most of it isn't fresh, isn't made from scratch and tastes like it came straight out of a box? I ordered a catfish dinner, and the catfish was way too salty. I also chose mac and cheese with a side of potato salad. The mac and cheese is definitely straight out of a box, and the potato salad tastes like it was purchased from a local grocery store. I also purchased banana pudding, and it was not at all palatable. It definitely isn't homemade, and the pudding has a whipped consistency instead of pudding, and it just tastes prepackaged.

I am a southerner. When we say our food is "made with love" we mean homemade. . .from scratch. . .authentic. We go the extra mile to make sure that we not only feed you but fill you up with goodness from every bite. This was a sad attempt to offer a down home, southern experience while serving food that tastes just as bland, unoriginal and not worth the hype like most food establishments in Tacoma.

When I want that southern vibe and taste Uncle Thurm's is about as close as I can get to it.

Update: Don't go to Uncle Thurm's either. Thurm and his employees have horrible customer service, and the prices don't match the quality of food. Everything is oversaturated with salt, and all of their sides are from cans, but they lie and say that it's homemade. If you want AUTHENTIC soul food...just go down south to any southern Black Granny's kitchen because you definitely won't find it anywhere in Tacoma. Probably nowhere...

I been going to the Fish House for a few years. Food is hit or miss. Sometimes it is to salty. Sometimes it has no flavor and sometimes it is delicious. The fried chicken I don't like at all though. It is super salty.

Depending who is in front. Sometimes the staff is sweet as can be. Other times rude.

Prime example, I am a paying customer. I go to Fish House every few weeks. Today I decided to buy the homeless guy food. I see him in the neighborhood all the time. Doesn't even mess with anyone. I told the cashier I need two separate orders because I needed to go but he could come pick up his food. Her response well nope he can't come in here. I don't even want to make the food if you are giving it to him etc... No need to drag out the negatives of her responses in writing. I say ma'am I am a paying customer and can spend my money how I like it.

So you want me to support your business but you lack compassion for others that are not like you. Very sad. They completely lost my business today. I will NEVER go back. The food is wishy washy any way. Sometimes it is delicious sometimes it sucks.

Lessons they need to learn. A paying customer can buy food for whom they choose. You should never voice your dislike for others to customers. You should always be pleasant and kind when customers are paying and are pleasant and kind. Never doubt your customer ability or cognitive ability about there choices of how they want to spend there money. Never share your opinion about how a customer spends there money. It is my money. If I wanted to buy for the whole block...