While Seattle is one of the best seafood cities in the world, I have never been satisfied with our fish and chips. I usually end up with an under seasoned, overly battered mess, masquerading as fish and chips. I often miss the well-seasoned, good old fashioned Southern style fried catfish or whiting that I had on Friday nights in NYC. You can imagine how excited I was to try out the food at Emerald City Fish and Chips when I learned about them via Groupon.

Two things immediately impressed me about Emerald City. The atmosphere of restaurant was fantastic. The service was friendly and the music (a mixture of classic R&B and gospel) was excellent. I instantly felt at home. The other thing was the seasoning of fish, it was well-balanced and reminiscent of my childhood. I had to remind myself to slow down and chew my food, instead of inhaling it. My taste buds were happy.

One minor quibble, while the oysters and catfish were wonderful, the halibut my friend ordered was overcooked. My guess is that because the halibut was sliced thinner than the catfish, it cooked faster than expected. Not a big deal, but I would prefer thicker filets.

Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Emerald City Fish and Chips and if you are in the mood for Southern style fish and chips in Seattle, I would encourage a visit.