M&S is a really nice joint with locations all over the US. The oysters we had were very good, right up there with Pearla's. I was really impressed because I thought it would be just another steak and seafood joint. Well, that was only half accurate. I am sure that it is easy to find a similar formula in every metro area in the US: fresh fish and several types of steaks, all with fancy sides at a dear price. While there were much better sounding entrees, I decided to pull the trigger on the Fish & Chips. Everyone else I was dinning with sounded professional, and high class, but me? "I will do the fish and chips" A solid choice, sir.
Solid? Well, I guess that didn't bode too well.
The fish is beer battered in ZiegenBock Amber, a beer that I am not overly fond of, though the beer used in the batter usually doesn't influence the fish in the least. When the platter came, it was piled high with fries, with 4 fillets of cod resting on top. There was ketchup and tartar sauce, in addition to the standard coleslaw. Why, oh why, do places still serve coleslaw. Can you remember the last slaw that you had and actually ate all of it? I have never had good coleslaw anywhere. I would have asked not to have my fish and chips with slaw only if I saw that it was included. It was just bland, fatty and flavorless. Thankfully the french fries were crisp and very well seasoned. Hand-cut fries are fantastic, and these had nice dashes of Old Bay (or the equivalent) seasoning, and were terrific. The only reason why I stopped eating them was the fish was so greasy, it made the french fries limp. Yes, the fish was pretty greasy, and I think that is what brought this platter of fish and chips down a rung. The fish fillets were remarkably small and battered fairly well. The problem was the amount of grease that was retained from the frying. A bit of lemon juice, and a bit of the tasty tartar sauce go a long way, mostly because the fish was quite bland. Perhaps that is the reason why it was so greasy.
Now, this was a solid platter of fish and chips, and I would recommend it, if only it was not $14.95. For that amount, you are paying for for ambiance and service over quality of the food. McCormick and Schmick's is a very cool place, but for fish and chips there are better options in Austin. Plus, c'mon, if you are going to a high-falutin' joint like that, you need to order a nice piece of fish or a great steak, not some deep fried cod.
Oh, as to the best fish and chips? Well,
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