Restaurant Review: Go Fish

GO FISH OCEAN EMPORIUM

1505 West 1st Avenue Instagram: @gofishvancouver Co-Diners: Tim Golem & Carrie Schill

I don't know about you, but when I'm in a coastal town all that I want to find is a seafood shack by the sea to eat at. And that is exactly what Go Fish is: A hidden gem located at False Creek Fishermen's Wharf. With a view of Granville Island, fishing boats, the city skyline, and the glittering sea, this spot is everything that you want it to be. Right down to the shack. You can find them in enRoute magazine's Dining Guide 2016, The Georgia Straight named them as #1 Best Fish and Chips 2017, and actor Seth Rogen recommends their tacos. We visited on a Saturday evening, unsure of what to expect. However, the moment that we pulled into the parking lot, I knew that this place was everything that it needed to be. It's a small blue shack with a lovely patio deck built next to it and the whole operation is very casual. You place your order at the window and grab a table wherever available. It's usually a little busy because it's not such a well kept secret. Go Fish operates in support of local fishermen. All of the Pacific fish and shellfish that they serve are responsibly caught during their season. This brings the freshest and most sustainably harvested product to the customer. The bottom line is that everything is ultra local and fresh. They even do their shopping at the Granville Island Public Market! We approached the window, checked out the specials on the chalkboard, and perused the menu. For a small shack, they actually have quite a few different things on offer; from sandwiches to char-grilled fish. My first order of business were the Tacones ($10.00 for two). Taco + cones = tacones!

Our take on fish tacos. Grilled salmon, cilantro-spiked salsa, chipotle crema and our 'slaw, rolled into a white-flour tortilla cone.

I had to try these especially since Seth said to. Different than your typical taco, these were fresh and flavorful. I found the salmon perplexing because it was quite white in colour and didn't seem like salmon at all. Was this salmon? Was this something else?? Either way, it was cooked nicely and tasted very good. I really enjoyed the bright notes from the salsa, the smoky creaminess from the crema, and the crunch from the slaw. The most pleasant surprise was the delicious tortilla itself. I was expecting something unnotable, but this one was perfectly light and had just a bit of chew. These tacones would make the perfect seaside snack anytime. We couldn't miss the Fish & Chips. You can choose from cod, salmon or halibut. We went with the Cod X 2 & Chips ($13.50), made with homemade Granville Island beer batter.

Served with Pacific Rim coleslaw, classic pomme frites and condiments.

I can see why they're famous for this. I loved their use of steaming baskets as a way to plate the dish. Fish & chips is a simple dish but there are quite a few important components. The condiments alone are extremely key factors. But first, the fish. Cod makes the most delicious fish & chips in my opinion. The texture is just right and it holds up to the frying really well. The cod in this case was cooked very nicely, still moist and tender beneath the batter. The batter itself was generally good, however not entirely consistent. I found that some parts of it were perfectly crisp and light while other areas were a bit too dense and heavy-handed. Overall, liberally juiced in fresh-squeezed lemon and dunked in their tasty and zippy-garlicky tartar sauce, this was a solid version of fried fish. I absolutely adored the chips, surely some of the best fries in Vancouver. Freshly cut and fried to a golden perfection, I salted 'em, drowned them in malt vinegar, and dipped them in ketchup once in a while. This is what fry dreams are made of. I also really enjoyed their crunchy slaw, which helped to balance out the heaviness of the meal. Go Fish is not to be missed. I'm relieved to see that a place like this still exists in Vancouver, a city that seems to become more and more of a metropolis each day. This seafood shack will help to slow things down for you. You'll love the food and it will remind you of why you came to Vancouver in the first place.