I LOOOOVVVEEEEEEEE everything about this place. I came yesterday for the first time in over 20 years and damn near cried once I tasted everything I ordered. I fell in love all over again. I had flashbacks of my younger years and dinner with my friends at Poor Phil's. The garlic crab claws......OMGGGGGGG AMMMMAZINGGGGG! I HIGHLY recommend this place. Thank you for being consistent and making me fall in love all over again. read more

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I felt compelled to say something, because while two of the bartenders there have been awesome since going there, one dude really irked me recently. This big guy...no need to act so tough and terse, uncompromising. But what really tickled me...this is a first that I can remember: Sure, I normally say thanks for almost every interaction with a bartender, but when my card was run and he placed the billfold in front of, apparently I didn't say anything so he clearly sarcastically says, "you're welcome." Holy sh**!!! Thank you so much for letting me pay!!!! Wow, so sorry for not thanking you!. Honestly, if this wasn't one of the only bars in the area and with TV's, I'd never go here...food is so overpriced for the quality (chicken wings are laughable...add more breading!) and I know outside of the oysters, not sure how much is fresh vs frozen. But just too expensive, maybe family types like the gimmicky menu. Sorry, wouldn't have mentioned anything about the establishment but, sorry said bartender, you brought me to it. read more

My wife and I have been frequent customers over the last few years. I was just thinking last night how great the waitstaff are. I can't think of a time when we weren't greeted with smiles and kindness. Their staff always seem eager to help and recommend items, ask questions when they're not sure, and make sure we're doing okay with drinks and food. I'm sure staffing these days is very challenging for for all restaurants, but they're doing a great job. Great draught beer selection. If you like and Old Fashioned, try their Harvest Maple. read more

Love this place, delicious shrimp poor boy. Great outdoor seating, we even sat outside in a summer rain once because the overhang covered us. Fantastic beer menu, ciders and sours available. The service has always been good. There's usually a wait for a table but nothing too long. read more

Really disappointed to see that poor Phyllis has canceled their happy hour special which included shrimp and oysters for a buck it was a huge consideration for me, family and friends to meet there and always spent a lot on drinks and other food. Since it's no longer available, I can't see returning to patronize this restaurant. I wish them luck and hope they reconsider re-instituting their happy hour! read more

Really good food. Nice staff. Blackened catfish po'boy is really delicious. Soft bun that doesn't fall apart. Nice spice on the fish. Fresh toppings. My husband enjoys their tots. I think their fries are outstanding! Crispy. Flavorful. The fish in the Fish and Chips is plentiful, mild, and perfectly battered. Will be hard to resist as we try to avoid carbs most of the time. read more

Nostalgic spot right here ! I grew up in the neighborhood and would frequent Poor Phil's. I have recently been back a few times .... the shrimp po'boy and catfish po'boy is spectacular!! Try it !! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Shrimp Po'boy - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

The food is great for a bar and grill. They have a variety of burgers and lobster options! My favorite drink here is the French 75 but they have this lavander drink called Twisted Sheets and it is amazing. The draft list is huge and it changes often enough to have something to try! I just had the butter Bundt cake dessert and I am coming back for that. Also, the lobster bisque is a 10/10! read more

I went to this restaurant in Oak Park and to my surprise I was charged $9 for a shot of vodka. There is no ambiance or anything here that would point this establishment to charge this. And the tax was much over the Oak Park tax rates. I will not be returning. read more

My first time here & it was a good experience. I love the outside & the brick street. So I ordered the lobster roll which was really good very filling. Our waitress let us have a sample before we ordered so kudos to her & thank you. Only thing I didn't like was the mac & cheese. It was very bland. I should've ordered fries with my roll. Overall the food & drink was good just minus the mac & cheese. read more

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Poor. Phil. Only, he's not so poor! For one, this bar/restaurant is huge. So the kid obviously has some dough. And, you won't find the typical pub fare here. Sure, there's wings and mozzarella sticks but there's also oysters and clams. Po' boy sandwiches, Etouffée, and Jambalaya. Yep, Phil's Creole. Another reason not to pity Phil-- he's popular! So many friends, that the bar was packed even on a Wednesday night. Great spot for people-watching not only in the bar but also on the patio. And I learned something tonight-- you must order food to drink outside on a patio in Oak Park! If you want to order a little something to nibble on, the sweet potato fries should do the trick (yes, they're dreamy!). I had the white wine mussels which were okay... but the accompanying garlic bread I used to soak up the broth was better! Also, I tried a few bites of the mac 'n cheese and it was a bit rich and uniform in taste for me. But I like mine mixed up a bit-- give me a couple of different cheeses and some texture (bacon, bread crumbs, something!). My favorite thing about Poor Phil's? The beer list. Niiiice. I tried a hooligan, which is a Hoegaarden with a Guinness head. Sounds dirty, huh? Well it's tasty and interesting. Get it. Get Phil. Yes. Oh, and my company? 5 stars! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Me and Phil go way back. My husband and I came here when we were first dating. That's a looooong time ago, boys and girls. Poor Phil's back in that era, IMO, was out of this world. Then aforementioned husband and I got married, bought a house, and 'lo and behold - we were growing up. And realizing that with growing up comes responsibility, sacrifice, and debt. Point is - we didn't go out too much during the early part of our marriage. But I thought of (Poor) Phil often. I missed him. We made a return visit a few years ago, and were bitterly disappointed. Phil had changed. He didn't care anymore. All that love and effort that I had come to depend on - gone. We didn't know why (new owners?), but we sadly agreed we'd probably never come back. In the fall of 2011 we agreed (begrudgingly) to meet some friends here at their suggestion. We all shared oysters. Exceptional! I ordered a crab cake sandwich. Scrumptious! My husband chose the mussel dinner and practically licked the plate clean. What happened? Phil! You're back! We / I have been back several times since. Friendly, good service. Consistently wonderful food. A few weeks ago I was here with a friend and I had a lobster roll, washed down with a huge bloody mary. Not only was the lobster roll orgasmic (Oh God! Oh God!!!!!!!!! [ Yes, it was like that ] ), but they served it the traditional way; on a super-thick piece of buttered and grilled bread. And it is for this reason that I proclaim: Phil, my heart is yours again. Keep up the good work. XOXO read more

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Sometimes a yelper can be a little judgemental. We know how good places run, and we demand the best. I went into this restaurant with my judgey hat on for one reason- the menu grammar. I had looked up the menu beforehand, so that I didn't take forever to order when I got there, and literally, almost every item ended with a (!). Salads! Burgers! Crab legs! Appetizers! Why the need for all the excitement?? What are you trying to compensate for? When I arrived here, I noted the wrap around patio outside. Tons of tables! It was nice out so we wanted to sit there and enjoy the weather. To start, I didn't quite get the awkward stand outside to request a seat. It seemed accidentally placed there, and with no one manning the site, I breezed right past it initially. Once my friend showed me what to do, we were seated shortly after at a nice table. Our waiter was efficient and attentive. We ordered wings as an appetizers, and they were seriously good. Crispy on the outside and slathered in BBQ sauce. Not super sexy food, but I wasn't on a date, so I didn't care! For dinner, I got Da Bomb burger with tater tots on the side. The tots were bland, and a little under done in my opinion, but the burger was really good- thin pickle slices (I swear no one puts pickles on burgers anymore, its just the spear on the side!), mushrooms, cheese, ketchup and bacon on a burger. MMmmmmm.... a little less ketchup and crunch to the bacon would've put this over the top! Drink prices were reasonable, but I was once again faced with my usual problem of them not having the one drink I wanted to try. I ordered the whiskey ginger, which was on special, and it worked with the food, so I was still happy. I would definitely come back again! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Four score and seven years ago... Ok, well maybe not that long, but a decade ago I worked at Poor Phil's and very little has changed since I've left. It's a great little neighborhood spot to grab a few drinks or a reasonably priced bite to eat. Phil's has a very nice drink menu - robust beer list, decent wine selection, and an array of frozen drinks. They have a nice selection of seafood to accompany the traditional bar food fare. I think PP's is supposed to be Cajun, but if you go here looking for authentic Cajun I think you'll be disappointed. However, if you think of it as a no-frills seafood place I think you'll be pleased. I didn't get the chance to eat this visit so I don't know if it has changed, but the tomato-based soups were always my favorite thing to eat on the menu - so yummy. The grilled fish sandwich is also another favorite of mine. I went to PP's last night (Christmas) to meet some old friends for a few drinks. I ordered my usual, a greyhound with a lime, which I wouldn't get again. The juice was not good, about the only thing grapefruity about it was that it was pink. I had to ask for a lime 3 times, which I never got, so my friend ended up giving me hers. Aside from the drink issue, service was friendly and fairly attentive. Bottom line: Nice neighborhood spot with a nice drink selection; good, but basic food menu; and a nice patio to frequent when it's warm. TIP: Oak Park has some goofy rules regarding serving liquor. If you sit outside you have to order food. Get an oyster shooter for a few bucks and you can drink all you want; you have to order food, but you don't have to eat it. Forget asking for free popcorn, it's not allowed outside because of the birds and squirrels. TIP: If you hit this place up for brunch they can't serve liquor before noon - blame silly OP again. TIP: If you're a lady and want to view some fine male specimens take a trip to the ladies room. I didn't visit this time, but I imagine the film festival posters are still there; think male models in wet t-shirts or less ::sigh:: read more

So we eat at Poor Phils about once a month, seriously, sometimes more. It's a GO-TO restaurant for us! Love the food, love the outdoor seating, even the indoor seating is good. We avoid the bar area since it tends to be full of loud sports-minded folks guzzling beer and throwing popcorn and that's just not our thing... But they always seem to be having a blast so no harm, no foul, LOL. The bar has Sprecher root beer on tap, how can this place NOT be awesome :) They also have a great beer and liquor section, the frozen drinks are pretty tasty, and they even have my Hendricks gin, so that gives them an extra few brownie points too. I've had slow service now and then on crazy busy nights, but nothing that I've ever been all that upset about. It's partly a sports bar, it has ample outdoor seating and really good food, I expect once in a while to have to wait. Like you do at ANY good place. Now some folks have complained about their food, I admit I am a creature of habit and so maybe I just tend towards the best things on their menu but here are my favorites, each of which I've probably had no fewer than 4 or 5 each: Shrimp po'boy, catfish po'boy, clam chowder, sweet potato fries, cobb salad, fish n chips and the veggie burger. I know it's a long list but we go there a LOT. I'm a chubby girl, my husband is chubby, we're foodies, nuff said. None of the items I have listed have EVER been less than delicious and fresh. And I swear I physically CRAVE those awesome po' boys ocasionally. I can't speak for anything else but that's still a darn good cross-section of their menu. The only things I have ever had there that were just OK are the mac n cheese side, and the chili. In both cases well, I have a southern family and those 2 things are family recipes that NOONE can beat :) I have lots of friends who love both of those things but when it comes to country style homemade foods my bar is pretty high. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Catfish po' boy and mac n cheese - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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This is a terrific spot for lunch in Oak Park. Great fish and chips, friendly staff, and fantastic location. There's also lots of parking. Socially distanced outdoor seating and staff in masks. read more

I did not love this place no matter how much I tried. My waiter was basically a robot. I mean I seriously told him that he didn't seem real and he had no response because he is dead inside. I realize that it is his duty to serve my food but that's about all he did and it wasn't the best experience because of it. I asked for suggestions as starters and he continually referenced customer favorites. When I asked if he liked the item or questioned how it was prepared he gave a round about response which quickly indicated to me that he doesn't actually eat at Poor Phil's. It was weird. My waiter hadn't tried the clam chowder or the Shrimp Po' Boy. Anyway... We got free popcorn to start with and you really can't go wrong with popcorn (1 star for that). The food here may actually be amazing but I need help deciding what I will eat to match my current flavor desires. Being that he could not assist me I probably bought the wrong items and when I asked questions or commented that I prefer something prepared a particular way he offered no alternative suggestions. (I wanted my po boy to have a sweet cole slaw or tarter sauce component, he hadn't eaten it so he didn't know and when it came it did not have either. Actually it had onions and lettuce. I poured ketchup on it to add a sweeter flavor). The clam chowder was decent. The coffee was terrible and so we didn't try any dessert. He said he'd make a fresh pot but it tasted old. I won't be back again. read more

Everything is great especially love the fried pickles and shrimp poor boys. The drinks are great and the variety of beers are fabulous. My favorite Moscow Mule is at Poor Phil's. Service is always great and Jordan is the BEST! Great breakfasts too and the outdoor space is relaxing but comfortable. No rushing by the staff to turn the tables over either. Poor Phil's is a great place. Can't ever go wrong coming here. read more

I have been here about four times and always get the chicken quesadilla! The service is friendly and fast and the food is consistent. Their options are not unending and that is my only complaint. I wish they had more lighter options...then again it is a bar. read more

I was staying at the Carleton next door and had a busy day ahead planned, so decided to drop in to fuel up with breakfast. Although this place is famous for it's oysters, I had just spent a very long time in the Canadian Maritimes, so eating them in Chicago just didn't seem right, considering I was so used to eating them fresh out of the ocean. Their breakfast menu looked delicious, so I ordered some scrambled eggs with spinach and tomato. It was pretty standard breakfast fare, nothing out of the ordinary. I may have ordered the wrong thing though, because as I looked around I saw some fellow restaurants goers had omelettes that looked out of this world. Oh well, maybe next time. I can say, though, that the service was excellent. The waitresses were very perky and energetic and the food came out fast. They also have wifi which is nice if you need to attend to some electronic correspondence. I'd definitely return here to try some of their non-breakfast dishes, maybe even the oysters to see what the fuss is all about.. I LOVE the decor inside.. It's so eclectic and and unique. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Colorful bar! - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I have consistently enjoyed the freshest of seafood, the excellence of professionally poured martinis, the warmth of polished friendly service. As far as seafood bars go.....POOR PHIL'S is in a class by itself. Everytime I go, I leave , and I plan my next visit. read more

Utter service failure. MAX- that's the server's name. Let this be a warning to anyone eating here. Avoid him at all costs. This isn't Applebee's- so why do you hire servers and not train them? Took 20 minutes after ordering just to get water! Appetizer/soup that we ordered and specifically asked for BEFORE entrees never arrived. Drink glasses never refilled- possibly because our actual server never came back to our table between the time we ordered and asked for the check. Not kidding. Oh- and the check we had to ask for never came, either. Finally went inside to find out what the heck was going on (restaurant more than half empty) and paid our bill. Brought all of this to the attention of unapologetic manager- who only took the soup (which was never delivered) off the bill. Will never, ever set foot here again. Overpriced, mediocre food and again WORST SERVICE AVAILABLE. And the best part? Server came by after we complained to manager and blamed the soup not arriving on someone else. "Oh- I didn't know they didn't bring that to you". Really? My response, "well, I guess someone has to know what's going on at a table! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - This is what an empty glass looks like. For the entire meal. - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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This might only be a three star review if it weren't for the FANTASTIC chowder this place dishes out. I think it's in my top three chowders of all time... and I eat my fair share of chowder. I followed the chowder with a couple martinis and a shrimp po' boy. It was not the best po' boy I've ever had but then again I was still dreaming about the chowder. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Our drinks were never empty for long and when we needed something, she was right there. I do recall it being LOUD in the restaurant. VERY loud. But that's what happens when you get a lot of people in one room and serve them drinks. Oak Park isn't nearly as far from Chicago as I thought it was (I am suburb ignorant) and I would definitely be down to check this place out again soon. read more

I have not been here in several years, and after going I remember why. This place is not bad if you are there for the specials. It looks like they have 1.00 oysters some time which if they are the same oysters I paid 3.00 each for that may not be a bad deal. Another positive is that they do have an extensive beer selection. The fact that yelp is showing this as $$ is laughable. For their regular priced food, there is no value to be had here. 11.00 crab cake which is maybe 2" in diameter on a good day. The lobster bisque had a whole 2 pieces of lobster in it. The blacken tilapia was the smallest cut of this fish that I have seen. read more

This is a cute place with outside dining. They have 100 beers to choose from. My wife opted for the $5 Monday margarita special and it was perfect. We had their Monday white fish special and a shrimp po'boy. Both were great. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Outside dining - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Not sure what is going on here. I have always been a big fan. 1. Father's Day- We arrived at 9 am for brunch with another family. The outside seating was 90 percent empty, but they refused to seat our group outside as they would have to move some tables around. 2. Last week after the Beer Fest in OP....We waited for our food for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It never arrived. The server was very sweet and constantly apologizing. The place was packed and clearly not prepared (not sure why not) for the big crowd. Very little food was served to anyone as we waited. The manager only arrived when my husband was paying the bill (my friend and I were already walking to Lake St. for burgers and fries). That time spent waiting for our food cost me 20 dollars in babysitting fees and walking to another spot for food cost me even more money. I think it would have been a nice touch to offer a coupon for some percentage off of the next visit. Some attempt to make up for ruining our dinner. Not sure what is going on here at all..... read more

If you're looking for and upscale seafood restaurant with artfully folded napkins and mystery sauces dotting the plate... look somewhere else. Poor Phil's has all the charm of a back alley Maryland crab shack without the newspaper and bibs. Beer? Check! A decent beer list that the waiters can speak to. Continually rotating local brews + the boring regulars. They also have a full bar if beer isn't your thing. The food is good - nothing spectacular - but sometimes you just want shrimp cocktail or fish and chips without that unnecessary sprig of parsley. It's clean, fresh seafood (priced appropriately but not too high) with all the free popcorn your little heart desires. I WISH they tried a little harder with more interesting batters, fry sauces, local band night, or even some sort of Oyster eating contest. You know, keeping in line with their style, but upping the anty a bit. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Apple pie with Peterson's ice cream. - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Decent neighborhood bar. It was completely packed on a Sunday night, mostly guys watching the football game. I'd give it more of a 3.5 but just can't give the full extra star because our guy disappeared after we ordered our drinks. Free popcorn was plentiful, and the beer list, both bottled and draught, is great. We only came here because it's around the corner of my friend's place. Filled with Chicago sports memorabilia, including the weekly scores of Bears games. read more

Some friends of mine from grad school wanted to have a reunion brunch in Oak Park, because none of us had been to Oak Park and it was a good central location since we're spread out all over the city and suburbs. We came here because it seemed to have a good variety, decent prices, and it came recommended. I ordered some pancakes ($6.99), while my friends ordered things ranging from poached egg skillets to club sandwiches and crab cakes. They definitely have an impressive variety of options. I thought the pancakes were fine, but slightly overcooked and expensive for what they were. (I've had better for less at other places in both suburban locations and city proper). I would come back here again if I lived in the area, but if I'm going to make a special trip to Oak Park I think I'd like to try someplace else nice time. Also, their bathrooms have very interesting art selections. (Mostly photos of naked men, and some women, from the 1980s). read more

My husband and I came here on a Friday night for dinner. I read that its a very busy place but we happened to stumble upon this place and it wasn't busy! I've been wanting to come here, and last Friday we didnt know where we want to go for dinner so we just walked around and came here. Theres plenty of room, so we were happy! We sat inside since there wasnt any wait. Outdoors would've been 10 minutes wait. Instead of bread, they served popcorn for the table. Cute idea! I ordered the lobster roll and a side of tator tots. My lobster roll was yum..along with the tator tots. I would suggest less mayo since it felt like it was a bit overwhelming with mayo but overall tasty! My husband ordered a bowl of their clam chowder soup. I thought the soup was good but he said it was too thick for his liking. For his entree he ordered the shrimp creole. I thought his dish was okay, and he thought it was okay too..he's had better..like at Pappadeaux. The bill came out to be $60ish - pretty expensive for the amount of food we ate, but seafood isn't cheap. Our waitress was nice and checked up on us few times. Overall, I had a good time with good food. Will come back again. The next couple days I was craving the lobster roll!!! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Lobster roll with tator tots - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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I liked it alot...had a date here and I let her choose the place. Although I bet far away from me, was glad I had a chance to check it out. No self park...all street but wasnt too hard to find some. And paying for it ends at 6. Bonus. Waitstaff and Mary the manager were very friendly to us, and helped out on recommendations from the menu. The actually establishment is in 2 parts..the bar part with some table seating, and also across the hall (this and 2 other similar places are all in one building, which was a hotel) where there was more table sitting, with some jazz playing in the back ground. She ordered the garlic mussels, which were quite delectable, and a buff chicky burger, which according to her was devine. I myself had the jumbalaya and it was quite tasty. This came with garlic bread (which I ordered a extra helping) For drinks we ordered negro modelo, which I have never had and thought it was nice dark lauger. Didnt even have room for desert. Was an enjoyable experience. read more

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Consistently serving great food and drinks at this Oak Park staple. We rode our bikes past this place every week, hoping they'd re-open post state mandated closure. So glad they're back! read more

I really enjoyed going here. Definitely a different menu than you usually see which was refreshing. The lobster bisque as one of the best i have had as well as the lobster roll was delicious too. We were able to try oysters for the first time ever, still not sure what we think about them hahaha. read more

This rating is based on several experiences. My husband and I love going there for brunch and dine outdoors. Their crab Benedict is absolutely delicious!! We also went for dinner once and ordered the cat fish and the shrimp Po' boy. The cat fish was really good, the shrimp was just ok. Overall we really like this place and it's definitely worth a visit!! read more

I was at this restaurant today with a friend that was visiting today from Vegas, the worst food I ever had and ov't overcharged. The only good thing about it was the waiter Nick nice and friendly, I still don't know how they date serving this kind of food and charge people this amounts. I was charged 48.50 for something that was not even worth 5 dollars, needless to say that I will not set foot in this restaurant again or will recommend it to any of my friends or anybody. read more

Awesome breakfast got the meat skillet with cheese and potatoes. Great place for brunch until 3pm daily. Close to oak park downtown and under a hotel. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Awesome meat skillet. $9.95$ - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

This place is a family favorite. My Dad loved the soft shell crab sandwiches. The thing is, it is important to get there in time to snag some as they only get about 100 servings per day, and when they're gone, they're gone. Tonight our server said they had them and then they actually didn't. Wasn't his fault but he was incredibly apologetic. Anyway, we ended up with burgers (delicious!) the fish and cheddar sandwich (totally yummy) and appetizers of fried pickles and fresh shrimp with cocktail sauce. The salads are good; the tater tots are incredible. I'm a fan! read more

Lobster salad was great! Came with the condiments that complemented the dish. Friendly staff. I will go back to try the other dishes.

This neighborhood spot in my childhood town is a favorite of mine. It makes me feel like instead of being in Oak Park that you are somewhere in Maine. Everything is very delicious here and the seafood is really fresh. I particularly like this place when it is warm enough to have dinner outside. It is a great spot to sit and watch people out and about in Oak Park and enjoy some delicious food. The evening that I came here, we shared an oyster platter. Poor Phil's has a number of different kind of oysters including a sampler plate where you get two of each variety, which is what we had. I don't know that I learned the difference between types of oysters, but they were all delicious. I also had some fish tacos which were delicious and a lot more filling than I thought they would be. Service is pretty good, but it can take awhile to order when it is busy. The inside of the restaurant is a little small, so if you can manage to sit outside that is always better. read more

Overall I thought Poor Phil's was pretty decent. We split an order of fish and chips and a bowl of gumbo. Service: Excellent Atmosphere: Very good Food quality: Very good - the gumbo was a bit too salty for my taste Size / value: Meh - the fish and chips had two moderate pieces of fish - typically other restaurants will have three pieces for a dinner entree. Overall I think a decent spot, but probably not my most favorite. Reviewed 02Jan2020 - four stars read more