I think I’ve finally accepted that fall has arrived. Denial is no longer working. I’ve pulled out my warm clothes and even worn a hat a few days.
While I’m mourning the end of the glorious summer, I’m celebrating the things that fall brings.
Best of all are long, leisurely meals full of friends and laughter.
We had our first big fall dinner at Tin Fish in Mukilteo recently. We chose a perfect spot for our gathering. Six of us gathered at a big, round table. Our group of friends hadn’t been in one place for a couple of months and it felt good to be together in a cozy restaurant on a rainy October evening.
As we all settled in, our server brought out chips with pico de gallo on the side.
“A little treat for you,” he said.
It was.
The chips were hot, fresh and thick. The corn and flour mixture makes for an excellent start to a meal.
We chewed on those while telling stories and trying to decide what to eat.
I ordered mini crab cakes ($7.50) to start us off. Along with the chips, there was enough for us to share all around.
The crab cakes were a hit with everyone. I enjoyed that the fried outer edge of the cakes held together well. I love crab cakes and I appreciated not having to chase tiny crumbs all over my plate.
For the main course, I settled on the shrimp taco plate ($7.95). The taco was a great value. The taco itself was really large, nearly a burrito rather than a taco.
The taco can be ordered by itself or as a plate with fries and coleslaw. If you’re feeling hungry, you can order a two taco plate. Prices are reasonable, especially for the size of the tacos. The cost ranges from $4.29 for a single cod taco to $14.50 for the double halibut taco plate.
A nice detail that I appreciated is that the fish in the taco can be ordered grilled or deep-fried.
My taco came with a generous serving of delicious fries, which are made at the restaurant. The coleslaw was also good, without the cloying sweet taste that ruins too many coleslaws. I added a little vinegar to mine — I love malt vinegar — and it was even better.
I tried a small bite of the fish and chips, which I enjoyed. The fried fish was lightly crisp without being greasy.
I’d like to pick some up before I catch the ferry the next time I go to Whidbey Island. It would make a lovely ferry meal.
My friend pointed out that a good fish place needs really good sides to go along with the fish.
“You can only do so much with fish,” he said. “Good amenities really make it.”
Tin Fish certainly offers that. The fries are delicious, some thick, some thin, with a lot of real potato flavor. Add malt vinegar for the true fish-and-chips experience.
The crab cake po’boy ($8.95) my friend ordered came with a hearty bread that held up well as he enjoyed the sandwich.
As the meal finally wound down, we went back to talking and laughing in earnest. We admired the paintings on the wall, by local artist Rolf Oversee. As we slowly wandered out into the night, the rain didn’t seem so bad. We were all warm, full and happy to have shared a happy meal together.
Tin Fish
204 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo; 425-353-9549
Specialty: Seafood
Hours: 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thurday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to8 p.m. Sunday.
Price range: Inexpensive to moderate
Accepts credit cards: Yes
Alcohol: Beer, wine, some liquor
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