Midtown Lunch

If you assumed as I did that there was no cheapskate place downtown focusing on creatures of the deep, you probably haven’t been to Terrace Fish & Chip (on Fulton St., between Nassau and Dutch). It’s like they’ve mathematically figured out every possible combination of fried or grilled fish, shrimp, scallops, crab cakes and clams. Then they throw in some seafood rice, French fries and/or salad, and you have lunch.

The space resembles a Chinese take out place that only serves fish and fried foods. If you don’t want to smell like oil for the rest of the day, I wouldn’t recommend eating in.

In the interest of trying more than one thing, I went with one of the many “specials” the place has taped up and written on poster board. The combo was fried fish and grilled shrimp that came with seafood rice and salad for $7.99. Entirely fried combos are totally available, but I did not want to feel like death for the rest of the afternoon.

I chose whiting for my fish, and it was a wise decision. It had a panko breading that was actually crispy despite being in a sealed styrofoam container while I walked back to my office. There were only four grilled shrimp, but they were larger than expected and coated in some sort of oil or butter and seasoning. It was like shrimp scampi but with less grease.  

Heartier appetites may want more food, as it filled up my dainty stomach, but may not for some. You can get two pieces of bread for 50 cents, and could conceivably make a sandwich with the fish filet, making it like a bonus lunch. The seafood rice contained two tiny shrimp and a bunch of carrots and peas and bits of egg.  The salad was only there to make you feel better about the fried food you just put in your body.

And this awesome poster was hanging next to the signboard touting fried shrimp and fish. I’m pretty sure that the prescription for “Eat fish 2x a week” was not intended for this use.

There’s another location on Pearl St. and I will definitely be back at one of them to go for the gold with those all-fried combos.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• I like my seafood fried to erase any lingering health benefits
• They give me salad to make me feel better about myself.
• The fish is freshly fried and crispy.
• They offer grilled options…delicious buttery grilled options.

THE — (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• I don’t want to smell like a fry cook after eating.
• Trying to read all of the signs for their “specials” blows my mind.
• It’s not enough food for the money.

Terrace Fish & Chip, 124 Fulton St. (between Nassau and Dutch ), (212) 227-5857; 77 Pearl St. (at Coenties Alley), (212) 809-4604; 178 Church St. (btw. Duane & Reade), (212) 233-0795