A Fish and Chips Quest

Michael loves fish and chips. It is a fact. Indisputable. When we were in England, he was in heaven. In Texas, he is always searching. In Galveston, he knows he will find them. 

Recently, an individual in a Galveston-centric Facebook group asked, “Where are the best fish and chips in Galveston—I’m craving them.” One answer was, “Fish and chips in Kemah.”

But where in Kemah I wondered, and what is the name of the restaurant? Google informed me the name of the restaurant is Fish and Chips! Fish and Chips Houston (in Kemah?), to be exact. To quote the restaurant –

“Welcome to our family-owned and run British Fish and Chips restaurant/pub. All our recipes are traditional family secrets that can’t be found anywhere else. We use sustainably caught North Atlantic Cod and Haddock for our amazing Fish, and the chips are hand-cut every day from fresh potatoes. We also serve traditional handmade British Pies, sausage rolls, bangers, and much more. And we have a full bar to keep your spirits up. Customer service is our number one priority, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you.”

Kemah, Texas

It is my week to cook or choose the restaurants where we dine, and I ask myself, Do I have a choice given this information? So, on the second day of the first week of the first month of 2024, we brave the traffic on busy I45 and race north toward Kemah and the promise of the BEST fish and chips in the area – and lunch.

Driving into and around Kemah, what this town has become blows my mind. Hotels and restaurants, glitz and glitter are everywhere. What happened to the quaint town we stumbled on too many years ago to count, when it was only Jimmy Walker’s window-walled seafood restaurant facing the channel leading from Clear Lake into Galveston Bay? That day was much like today – gray and cold.

Because it’s a Tuesday and because the weather is less than desirable (in my book, not Michael’s; he loves it), once we see the sign that touts British Fish and Chips, we are able to park right in front. We ignore the call of Toucan Alley and other colorful attractions, making our way to today’s event – lunch.

British Fish and Chips

Opening the door of Fish and Chips, I realize that this is not the pub of our British experience six years ago. The warmth of dark, burnished wood and a crackling fire are nowhere in sight. The décor is all gray and white and black with metal seating at the tables and around the bar in the center of the room. But British Flags fly in abundance, and there is an English sports game on the big screen telly hanging overhead. I called it soccer. Michael said, “It is English – in England, it is football.”

The few individuals who are here for a late lunch – because it is nearing 2 pm there are very few – are seated around the bar. We choose a table across from one of the tellys and begin looking at the menu. Which is silly; we know we want fish and chips. But there are two types of fish: haddock and cod. We chose what we did in England: haddock for me and cod for Michael. Before handing the menu back to our server, I noticed that sticky toffee pudding is also served here. I try not to eat all of my chips when our lunch order arrives.

Haddock or Cod

The fish fillet before me looks much like those we ordered in Wales – big! But not quite as big as the fillets we were served in Wales; however, this is a half-order. Thank goodness. 

Michael takes a bite of his cod. There is the required crunch when he bites into it. He says this is the best fish and chips he has had during his Texas Gulf Coast quest. My haddock is equally as good, but the chips don’t measure up to English chips – hardly any chips we have tried down here do. I’m not sure what the British do, but they do know how to fry!

The sticky toffee pudding – when it arrives – tastes of my memories. Moist, rich, sweet, dark, and delicious.

Exploring Kemah

Before turning our noses toward home, once in the car, we tour a tiny portion of what is now Kemah, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Kemah has become a happening place, especially in spring, summer, and fall. There is a boardwalk with oodles of restaurants, games, and rides, including a massive wooden roller coaster, most of it compliments of billionaire Tillman Fertitta, a local boy turned entertainment-restaurant magnate who breathed life and jobs into this once tiny backwater place.

A massive wooden roller coaster wraps around an older home facing the bay.

However, everyone says things grow, or they die, so in the end, I’m glad Kemah chose growth, even though I do miss what once was. 

If our kids – even grandkids – were still little, they would love it.