Bainbridge Island Is About to Get an Incredible Fish and Chips Spot

Seattle’s fried fish fans should book a ferry trip soon. On May 7, Proper Fish — a new restaurant from the original founders of the hugely popular Nosh food truck — will officially open on Bainbridge Island, right across the street from neighborhood mainstay Hitchcock. The biggest draw will likely be the fish and chips, which were once named the best in the city by the Seattle Times and drew raves from Zagat, but had taken a hiatus since last November as details on a permanent outpost were hashed out. Proper Fish co-owner Harvey Wolff — a native of London — tells Eater Seattle that the original recipe from the truck will still be used: Alaskan line-caught cod from the Bering Sea, dipped in local beer batter, served on a newspaper with house-made tartar sauce and a side of mushy peas.

But that won’t be the only reason to make the trek. The restaurant’s menu will include plenty of other warm-weather-friendly seafood items, such as Maine lobster rolls on square-sided brioche packed with meat, fried octopus, whitebait drenched in buttermilk and served with dill aoli, and a Gulf prawn and crab cocktail dish. There will also be beer from Machine House Brewing — which specializes in English cask ales and appeared on Eater Seattle’s Best Breweries List — and a decent selection of wine available. A retail selection will allow customers to take home the popular tartar sauce, as well as other specialties.

The spot itself is a big upgrade over the food truck’s humble beginnings parked around the city, with seating for 60 inside, an outdoor patio, and a giant golden octopus mural adorning one of the walls. For now, Proper Fish will open for dinner hours on the island (4pm - 10pm, Tuesday through Sunday), with brunch coming soon, as well as online ordering. If all goes well, Wolff says he’ll consider expanding to other locations, perhaps in Kitsap county next.

• Seattle’s Fantastic Fish and Chips Truck Has Closed, At Least Temporarily
• Nosh [Official]
• Nosh [Facebook]
• Seattle’s Very Best Fish and Chips — and a Shout-Out to Burien [Seattle Times]
• Here Are the Winners of Our Best Restaurants Readers’ Choice Poll [Seattle Mag]
• The Best Fish ‘n’ Chips in Seattle [Zagat Seattle]