ARTHUR TREACHER'S Fish and "Chips", Nah, they are really fries.
Written: Apr 01 '04 (Updated Apr 10 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: The food is served consistently the same way.
Cons: Be careful if you have a pen in hand, you may get tossed out.
The Bottom Line: This is a good a change from the usual burgers and pizza take out.
|
|
|
| popsrocks's Full Review: Arthur Treacher's |
Arthur Treachers has been around since 1969. It has had its ups and downs but in the last few years it's out there, once again, making its mark in the fast food industry on the US east coast.
DIVERSE MENUS
Arthur Treacher's (AT), has made a name selling fried fish product. It is a change from the usual burger outlets. It also teamed up with Pudgies Famous Chicken and many are under the same roof. A small place in Baldwin nearby me is a perfect example of this union of two fast food places trying to find their niche in the industry. With both selections under one roof both companies make out better. Diversity in menu helps bring people in.
DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS
Arthur Treacher's can also be found teamed up with other fast food places. We have them in Nathan's restaurants here on Long Island. They supposedly can be found with Kenny Rogers and Miami Subs in other east coast locations too.
Having said this, you can expect Arthur Treachers to be in a variety of store types. Our Baldwin store is a very small store front that is still being renovated. (Under new Management) It has a few chairs as in a waiting area. There are no tables or booths or anyplace comfortable to eat. Now in two other locations I am familiar with on Long Island they are in with Nathan's restaurants. These are large sit down areas with booths that are mica covered and are well lighted. They give fast counter service, have rest rooms, and also happen to have vending games for kids to play at.
I have been to the one in Levittown a couple of times recently due to some business I have been conducting on a regular basis in the area. One day I was writing down prices from the menu. They were to be used for this review. I wasn't writing them all down just a few notes of popular items I have had. I was approached by a counter person telling me I couldn't write down prices. I was a bit surprised. I told her a little story simply saying I was taking prices so that I could share the menu with my family. This way when I ordered out I could tell them what was available and the prices. This woman shouted out at me, "You can't do that" Huh, I couldn't believe she was getting so upset. It's not that I went into the kitchen trying to steal their secret recipe. I then asked if she had any printed material I could take home, She adamantly said "No" and said I would have to leave the restaurant. I couldn't believe it! This woman was going to throw me out for writing down some prices. I had already paid for my item. I put away my pen and asked for my prepaid money back.
Oh would I rip this place apart for serving bad food but the problem was I ate here a couple of times already and found that.......
.......the product is virtually the same in all locations. It was good as usual each time I did eat there. When I visited the Baldwin store near my home a couple of days later they actually had a printed brochure with the menu and prices. I just don't get it?! One place you can't write down the prices and the other gives a brochure with the full menu with prices. Anyways, I don't really need to go to the Levittown Nathan's/Arthur Treacher's again and after that encounter, I have no desire to. I suppose this woman was just having a bad day at my expense. Fortunately I have enough padding on my body so I didn't pass out for lack of food.
ORIGINAL FISH and CHIPS
The biggest seller is the Original Fish and Chips.This consists of two chunks of triangular wedges of white, meaty, yet flaky moist fish in a batter and fried up for you. This is served with a healthy,(portion wise) serving of chips. Now if you go to a Blimpy's or Subway's they will give you chips too, but we are not talking about good ol' American bagged potato chips. In the case of Arthur Treacher's we are talking about English Chips. The English call our fries, chips and we call their chips, fries. I don't think they will start calling them fries over in England soon and I certainly doubt they would ever call them French fries.
The batter is fried to a crisp shell with very moist fish inside. You won't find any signs of fish bones here. The taste happens to be excellent, though the product is a bit greasy to the hand. Napkins are a must for this finger food. These are served very hot. You must be careful before biting into them. The fish is thick and with the batter on the outside, that helps insulate the inside, it takes time to cool. Break them open before serving them to kids.
With the fish come the chips. They use a heavy potato that is cut into pieces about three inches long and almost 1/2 x 3/8 inch. They have ridges in them lengthwise. The fries have a fair crispiness to them on the outside and are hot and meaty inside. They are very good, but I happen to be partial to Nathan's fries. These are however better than Burger King or McDonald's type thin fries.
The order also comes with 2 hush puppies. I don't particularly care for these but they are very crispy and some people love them. My wife likes them. This all sells for $4.99 on Long Island. I will say it is a good hearty serving. It is certainly more than enough for this big guy.
With the fish comes packages of tarter sauce. In the bigger restaurants you will find a condiments counter where you can serve yourself. I'm just realizing, I did not look for vinegar the last few times I was there. Years ago that was the big sell with this product. Both the fish and fries could get a dose of the stuff.
MORE ON THE MENU
They also serve the Large Fish Dinner. This simply has three pieces of the fish rather than just the two the Original comes with for an extra .69
One day I had the Combo Shrimp Platter at 6.99. This was actually too much to eat. It came with two pcs. of battered shrimp. These are big and the shrimp are very tasty. It also comes with 6 pcs of breaded shrimp. These were OK. Last on the shrimp portion was a helping of popcorn shrimp. With these I really only tasted the batter.
The menu offers these shrimp in their own platters or sold ala carte. Clams are also on the menu. Most of the dinners are in the $4.50-$6.00 price range. Typically given with the meals and platters are the chips and two hush puppies. Drinks are separate. They have Pepsi products. An individual cole slaw can be purchased at .99 as an add-on to any meal or platter.
For the family you can get the Fish Boat that gives 6 pieces of the battered Fish with a triple serving of chips at $9.99. Mmm, maybe I should say batter dipped. I wouldn't want any "save the whales" people thinking there was any cruelty to these animals. They are not beaten or battered, they are only killed, cooked and served to eat.
A FAMILY SAMPLER @ $14.99 gives you
4 pieces of Batter dipped fish
12 lobster bites
12 breaded shrimp
triple chips
and a large portion of cole slaw.
I believe this is enough for a dinner for a family four and a pretty good value. It's not enough if you have "growing" teenager boys.
I didn't mention the lobster bites before. A six piece portion can be purchased as an add-on to any dinner for .99 or purchased ala carte for $1.89. I liked them. Again this is another deep fried item. You can taste the small chunks of lobster.
FINISHING UP
Arthur Treacher's is all fried foods. I have never had any heavy feelings after eating but at the same time I do know this isn't the healthiest of choices. Being that many of the ATs are in with other fast food companies, you will have a bit of choice if going in with different expectations of what a good meal will be.
Deserts at our Baldwin branch consists of Rice pudding @ .99 and Apple Crescents for the same price.
I find Arthur Treacher's a place to go to once in a while for a change in our fast food diet. Their food, though fried, is consistently good tasting.
This is the first review of this product. There are no reviews of its sister restaurant Pudgies, yet it is in the Epinions Database. Why not contribute a review if you are familiar with one or both of them?
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's
OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster
The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips /
Friendly's / Cold Stone Creamery / Dunkin' Donuts / Krispy Kreme / Ralph's Famous Ices
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.