One fish, half a poutine at Red Fish, Blue Fish
2 Comments
Bruce Nguyen
July 10, 2009
I first came across Red Fish, Blue Fish in Victoria’s Inner Harbour while waiting for my flight home to Vancouver. While it’s literally steps away from the float plane terminal, even after years of weekly commutes through the Inner Harbour, coming across Red Fish, Blue Fish was a complete surprise.
Unless you’ve been here before, it’s easy to walk right on by. From Wharf Street, one has to walk down a long driveway before even catching a glimpse of it. But if it’s a bright sunny day, you’ll likely be tipped off by the long lineup that springs up from nowhere.
If you’re looking for a proper sit-down meal, this is not the place for you. With the kitchen enclosed in a converted shipping container, Red Fish, Blue Fish makes use of a unique restaurant design, inspired by Go Fish on Vancouver’s False Creek. Funny enough, I’ve never been to Go Fish either, despite years of living a 5-minute Aquabus away.
This is one of my favourite dining spots when the weather is nice, and a favourite take-out spot when it’s not. Situated off one of the busiest harbours in Canada, there’s always something to catch your eye – whether it’s the Olympic mountain range on the far side of the water or the parade of float planes, cruise ships, and recreational boats. Despite the activity, it never gets too loud. Even as float planes are taking off, I’ve never had to raise my voice or break a conversation.
Red Fish, Blue Fish also prides itself on being environmentally conscious. You see it in their Ocean Wise selections and their compostable plates and cutlery. The particular bamboo used here is actually a little rough to the touch and, as silly as it sounds, the wooden texture of the fork inside your mouth takes slightly away from the sensory experience as you’re eating. By the end of my meal, however, I barely noticed it at all.
As with most restaurants, setting and green practices can only take you so far. I’m glad to say that Red Fish, Blue Fish backs it up with great seafood.
Recent visits involved the spicy BBQ salmon tacone (cone shaped soft taco, $5 for one, $9 for two) and the spicy pacific fish poutine ($6 for a half order, $10 for a full order).
The soft taco shell was lightly grilled and salmon was prepared with just the right amount of natural juices oozing out. I find that most food is generally over-sauced; here, the chili adobo on the tacone danced on the cusp of ‘too much’. Taken along with the pea shoots and lemon-pickled onions, it ended up complementing the natural taste of the salmon without overpowering it.
The tacones come with a side of Kennebec fries and a small helping of coleslaw. And while these sides are decent, it’s abundantly clear that it’s the seafood that keeps the lines long and the people happy.
One menu item I’ve been meaning to try is the BBQ Fanny Bay oyster sandwich, but I’ve never been able to leave work early enough to grab one before they sell out. Maybe next time, Red Fish, Blue Fish!
Because today is gone. Today was fun.
And tomorrow is another one.
And maybe early from work, I’ll ditch
To ingest an oyster sandwich!
Red Fish, Blue Fish
1006 Wharf Street | Victoria
(250) 298-6877
redfish-bluefish.com
Categories: Food, Restaurants, Vancouver Island, Victoria
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