Las Vegas, NV (The Joy of Food) — The LINQ Promenade is not a bad place to be if you’re after 24-hour cotton candy pancakes or bad-decision bars, but you might be surprised to also find the best fish and chips in the U.S.A. basically hiding in plain sight there, nestled in a tiny kitsch storefront decorated with British telephone booth doors and a fire hydrant done up like the Union Jack.
There’s a celebrity chef involved (Gordon Ramsay), and the price is high (when isn’t it in Vegas?), but if you’re looking for great food that comes in a reasonably sized boxed bundle, this is it.
If you are doing it right, there is a fish combo in front of you, buttery pieces of cod fish on a little mountain of pillowy fries. The fish is super flakey, not greasy, and has the flavor of the sea. It is delicious, and might be the lightest version you have ever tasted. And yes, it is strips of cod and not the big slab you would be served in a London gastropub.
The chips, twice fried, are the traditional crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and they’re nicely dotted with sea salt, but they’re not as well-manicured as British-style chips should be — I spotted lots with the peels still left on them. They use 25,000 pounds of potatoes monthly to prepare these expertly textured chips.
Dipping sauces are included, though they are not needed if you want the fish to taste only of itself, fried within an inch of its life like any great cod should be.
This is classic food served in an unfussy place, barely big enough for you to queue through the line, order, and get out. No matter, outdoor dining is plentiful in Vegas and comes with delightful bonuses of its own, like watching tourists take pictures with SpongeBob SquarePants.
Written by Joy
Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.
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I passed by this place when I was in Las Vegas last fall (love the storefront!), and wondered how the food was. There are too many restaurants to try in Vegas, and I didn’t want to take a chance on an unknown. And it’s amazing how many restaurants in Vegas have the Gordon Ramsay name.
Yes totally agree. As easy as it is to eat well in Vegas, it’s just as easy to eat badly, particularly in mid-tier fast-casual places like this one. And everything has a celebrity chef attached to it these days just to get people in the door, but they’re so far removed from the day-to-day cooking that the brand recognition is meaningless. In the end, you really do have to go prepared with a list of options!
Mmm… The fish and chips were delicious. :-). Have you tried the fish and chips at Sally’s? https://www.hungryones.com/2016/08/sallys-seafood-on-the-water/
I have not but I will add Sally’s to my list! The only restaurant I’m familiar with in that area is Roy’s – also seafood but with Hawaiian flavors.