I love seafood. Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper I've been eating things from the ocean that would make other children gag on sight. I began eating raw oysters at the age of 5 and had crab legs for dinner tonight. I know seafood.

Long John Silver's is one of those places that we don't go to often, and I don't know why. Possibly it's because of my general dislike of all foods fast, but more likely because the closest one to me is 15 miles away. I did eat there once and it was mediocre. But, hey, that's fast food, right?

First let me tell you what the Long John Silver's in Gastonia, NC serves: Fried Fish, Chicken Planks, Shrimp and Clam Strips. They also have Lemon Crumb fish served atop a bed of rice, Popcorn shrimp and Crab Cakes. Eat any of these with a side of fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, corn on the cob, rice, cheese sticks, garden salad, clam chowder or broccoli cheese soup (I know, I wouldn't eat that from a fast food seafood place, either). You can also opt for a fish or chicken sandwich or an Ocean chef salad or a Grilled Chicken Salad. On the table they have ketchup and malt vinegar to eat with the seafood. They even have dessert if you'd like it: Chocolate, lemon, strawberry, pecan, apple and banana split pie!

I generally get the fish sandwiches, which are pretty good as far as fast food fish sandwiches go. Certainly they beat out BK's big fish sandwich. The portions are generally big as heck and you don't leave hungry. If you don't mind a grease overdose, then by all means give it a try. If you are thinking of getting dessert, just be aware that they look like they were retrieved from the freezer section of the local Harris Teeter.

The staff at the restaurant I visited was very disinterested in me and slow as molasses. You almost forget you are in a fast food establishment. Maybe it's because they "fry it up fresh" for you? At any rate, I requested tartar sauce for my fish and they gave it to me in a little plastic cup. Well, it came with a nice transparent crust over the top, so I decided to skip that. We chose a table and sat down and suffice it to say that cleanliness is not top priority. I wanted a healthy dose of penicillin once we left here.

The one good thing I can say is that they served Coke products here instead of Pepsi, and the Coke was good. You know what I mean, it burns when it goes down. Yum!

If you have never tried Long John Silver's before, but love seafood, maybe you should find a Captain D's and see what you think.

Recommended: No