Fish & Chips

Fish and Chips are England’s national meal and the eating establishments are called chippies. On the central Oregon coast it could be argued that the most popular coastal meal in numerous restaurants is fish and chips. Local residents have singled out their favorite place to eat fish and chips. Tourists look for a good place to get their fill of the coastal meal.

The cuisine can be traced to England as far back as the 1800s where fried potatoes from inland farms met sliced fried fish from the sea. The battered, deep fried dish became an affordable, national meal. British sailors on ships bound for the west coast brought the tradition and their appetites for fish and chips with them.

Sampling fish and chips in various restaurants reveals that each place has a distinctive presentation and flavor. There doesn’t seem to be a bad choice but rather some are more distinctive and memorable than others. Fish and chips can be prepared from a variety of fish: rock fish, salmon, cod, albacore tuna and halibut. Informal polls among local residents, who are quite passionate about and know good fish and chips, suggest two restaurants that are first-rate.
Question: When family or friends come to town and want fish and chips where do you send them?

Ocean Bleu @ Gino’s

Ocean Bleu @ Gino’s is the restaurant name that gets the most votes. Here are the reasons given:
Location- Ocean Bleu is located at the western end of Newport’s historic bay front. A working fleet of fishing boats is departing, arriving and moored at the docks. The captains, deckhands and tourists mix freely on the street.
Restaurant Building- It is hard to miss. Fishing and crabbing paraphernalia are hung from the walls and the edge of the roof. Outside, multicolored floats dominate, with thick ropes and various other fishing gear hanging haphazardly. Inside, there is more order but the fishing industry is well represented.
Popular Place– Even during the off season when tourists are not easily found, Ocean Bleu is busy. The place is filled with local residents, especially the workers found on the fishing boats and docks. The next table quite often will have fishermen enjoying the food.

Fresh Fish– The fish that is served comes right off the Newport docks. In fact, the owners own a commercial fishing boat that provides most of the seafood for the restaurant.
Fish & Chips– The platter comes with your choice of fish, round fried potato slices that look like, well, poker chips. Also included are small dishes of coleslaw and tartar sauce.
Ocean Bleu @ Gino’s
541-265-2424
www.oceanbleuseafoods.com

South Beach Fish Market

The South Beach Fish Market offers a wide variety of fish and chips. The dish is served with French fried potatoes. While enjoying the meal, crabs are being plunged into a large boiling kettle of water outside by the front door. All fish choices are caught locally and are very fresh. You really can taste the difference that freshly caught fish provides.

Many of the tables are occupied at meal time by local fishermen and dock hands who know good food, at a reasonable price, is found here. Although situated on Highway 101, some tourists might miss this favorite place to eat. Who would know that a fish market would have such good fish & chips? Located at the south end of the big arched bridge at Newport and on the west side of the highway, the crab kettle, the sign for the South Beach Fish Market and some of the best fish and chips around await your appetite.
South Beach Market
541-867-6800
www.southbeachfishmarket.com