Terry's Fish and Chips - Seward, Alaska

Terry's Fish & Chips
1401 4th Ave # B, Seward, AK 99664
(907) 224-8807 ‎
July2008

Seward is at the end of the road, figuratively and literally. That means supply trucks deadhead back to Anchorage some 3 hours and 125 miles away. Add to that that Seward is a summer tourist destination that is pretty much closed down in the winter. Restaurants in Seward have to cope with expensive supplies and the need to make a year’s revenue in a short summer season. That is much of the reason that dining out in Seward carries “sticker shock!”

My neighbor Dale had his sail boat, the Cirrus, for a couple of seasons but I had never had the chance to see it. Dale was going down to Seward from Chugiak to do some work on his boat and asked if I would to go for the ride. I am more a land-lubber than a sea dog but I hoped that I could be of some use once we were there. Either way, it sounded like it would be a fun day.
We worked up an appetite on the drive to Seward. Our first order of business was to get a bite to eat. Right across the street from the city dock and the rows of terminals for fishermen and glacier tours are a couple of places to get a bite to eat. One of these is Terry’s Fish and Chips. The gray brick corner building has a Spartan look. That would also describe the interior; sets of tables and chairs, set well apart, seem diminutive in the high ceilinged room. Lots of hard surfaces and harsh sounds, the sound of sliding chairs echoed throughout the dining area.
It was a slow day and few tables were occupied. We were seated quickly, given water and a menu. I must have started when I read the menu because Dale, in his uniquely terse style said, “Yep! They’re kinda expensive.” Boat owners often frequent Terry’s and other local restaurants and his experience let him anticipate my gasp of first-time sticker shock.

The menu included burgers and chicken sandwiches, fish and chips and chowder, a selection of beer and wine and strangely enough, here in the wilds of Alaska, a selection of Southwestern favorites including tacos, burritos, chimichangas and enchiladas.

I ordered a Number 9, the 2-piece fish basket (All baskets served with French fries, lemon and out homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce $14.00). For a beverage I ordered the 16-ounce glass of Coca Cola ($2.50).The food did not take very long to prepare. The basket was served with piping hot food. There was a good helping of French fries, all hot and crispy golden brown, lining the bottom of the basket. On top were two very large breaded and fried fish filets. Wedged in the corner were serving cups of coleslaw and tartar sauce.

The coleslaw was a bit tart, a bit sweet and a bit spicy; all attributes of a good coleslaw. For a mass serving, side dish salad, it was quite good. It is surely ironic that good fish and chips fish doesn’t taste like fish. The delicate flavors of the white fish mix with and are soon lost in the batter and frying oil. A bit of tartar sauce adds some zest back to the fish and helps to elevate the natural flavors. Terry’s tartar sauce does a good job of accompanying the fish. The large, Alaska portions of fish were coated with a thin batter and fried. The result was a crispy coating over a flaky and tender filet of fish. There were no gobs of thick, gooey batter. Even though it was the smallest of the offered dishes, the 2-piece fish basket, it was of adequate proportions that I was full and satisfied after the meal.

The question is, “Would I go back to Terry’s Fish and Chip again?” If I were in Seward again at meal time, was hungry, I would check my wallet for enough cash and then I would probably try the fish and chips again.