Thursday, April 7, 2011

Best Fish Sandwiches in Utah

BEST FISH SANDWICHES IN UTAH
Revised 7 Aug 2021  

Check out our OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com 

Especially see "Best Seafood in Utah" at: http://tastetestersclub.blogspot.com/2014/06/best-seafood-in-utah.html

and "Best Seafood in Utah"

Note: Often, battered fish is fantastic, but only if the batter and quality of fish are good. However, in sandwiches, grilled fish is usually better. 

The top 5 are all A's and A-s:

    1. Sammy's Bistro, Park City. Mahi sandwich. Pricey, but worth it. $18 as of Oct 2014 A+

OUT OF BUSINESS: Madison Gastropub, Provo. Salmon sandwich, not over-cooked like most people do salmon, and with a great cajun rub. A

3. NO LONGER SERVED HERE: The Harvest, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi. Salmon sandwich. They loweed price to $11.75 and dropped their silly service charge for take out- so it's worth getting it for take-out now. A

    4. NO LONGER SERVED HEREStation 22, Provo. catfish sandwich with red raw cabbage (not slaw, per the menu listing), sriracha aioli, pickles, real-buttered ciabatta hoagie, and floured catfish (not cornbread coating, per the menu listing) A-/A

 5. OUT OF BUSINESS: Gloria's Little Italy, Provo. Salmon with sage and other herbs in a top-notch sub bun. A -

 NO LONGER SERVED:  Carl's Jr.CHARGRILLED fish sandwich, chargrilled (in 2014, not in 2016, as it is now fried and only fair. Unfortunately. It was the best fast food fish sandwich we ever tested, but no longer available. A-

Good (B'S):

  6. Outback.  2014: fish sandwich "fillet focacia" (herbed focacia bread with provolone cheese and several chunks of fish fillet; might be higher grade of A- if the bread were not herbed) B+  

7. NO LONGER SERVED: Quisno's, 2014: national chain. IF STILL SERVED: Lobster Sandwich. B+. Not bad. Comes in March for a few weeks - Lent through Easter, but this year, in 2013, they may re- release it for a few weeks in late July 2013. Not even the employees know about it at some locations.
     
     8. O'Shucks, Gordozia Pines Road in Park City, this location only. Tilapia with beer batter. Fish alone is a B. Sandwich: B/B+

    9. OUT OF BUSINESS: Different sandwich than above: Madison Gastropub, Provo. Tuna sandwich. High quality ahi tuna done right. We're just not fans of heavy-firm fish. B/B+ 

    10. O'Shucks, Gordozia Pines Road in Park City, this location only. Sesame-coated tuna with beer batter. Fish alone is a B (we're not "dense meat" fish lovers). Sandwich: B/B+

11. Somerhays, 4870 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake. Salmon sandwich. B/B+ overall.

    The grilled salmon here gets a B-, the upscale bun higher, and the creamy-mayo dressing adds the needed moisture to the fish, making it: B/B+

12 McDonald's Fillet o' Fish sandwich. national chain. B

13. Culvers, in American Fork (out of Wisconsin). Nice thick piece of cod works well with the super- soft bun they use. B

14. NO LONGER IN UTAH, BUT STILL IN BUSINESS NATIONALLY: Jason's Deli salmon sandwich. B  
    Normally comes in a wrap - we requested it on whole wheat. Nice having it with guac and decent leaf lettuce. But overcooked, frozen salmon doesn't cut it. Still, it's good.

15.  Virg's fish sandwiches - get it with cod, but haddock ok. B

16. Carl Jr's (the 2021 version - it changes each time they reintroduce it)
     
     17. JCW's. Factory beer battered fish but better than most that are. B

    
   
FAIR (C):
17. Red Robbin
18. Carl Jr's fried fish sandwich
19. Burger King
20. Arby's
21. DQ

POOR (D)
22. Arctic Circle
23. Wendy's

FAST FOOD CHAIN FISH SANDWICHES (from list above that includes sit-down restaurants): 
    McDonald's B
Culvers B
JCW Halibut B
     Carl Jr.
Burger King C
Arby's C
Dairy Queen C-/C
Arctic Circle D
Wendy's D

Notes about others: 

     1. Red Robbin gets a C for their sandwich, though their cod alone rates a B. Why? One of the reasons is too much slaw - in fact, any slaw, in our opinion, kills a fish sandwich, drowning out the flavor, since fish is mild anyway. Slaw should stick with pulled pork sandwiches.

     2. the Fillet o’ Sole Sandwich at McDonalds in the 70’s and early 80’s pulled an A-. Now it's the "Fillet o' Fish and it's a C. The nice soft bun and tartar sauce is what semi-saves this sandwich. They ruined them by turning them thin AND switching from sole to a cheap fish -- pollack (the fast food world's first "bait and switch," apologies for the pun).

   3. Arctic Circle and many others have overcooked fish, even when halibut. Kids seem to like it but it's not in the league of those at the top of the list above.

    Historical footnote:  The Champ fast food place in Provo, in the mid 70’s, across from Stan’s Drive in on 9th East. The Champ had surprisingly good, big halibut pieces in large buns and were battered right, but alas, that was a different century. It died fairly fast, taking its great sandwich with it.


Check out our other posts - especially The Best Fish and Chips in Utah (as well as Best Fish and Chips in Las Vegas, and Best Fish and Chips in Los Angeles).

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