Review of the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant

For the Best Food and Service in Pinellas County - or Maybe Even the World!

We found this restaurant a few years ago (OK, more than a few years ago) while we were waiting for the StarDancer to leave port. While the StarDancer is no longer there (it was a gambling boat), The Friendly Fisherman is. We were feeling lucky that day, and decided to see if we were lucky enough to find another great place to eat. As I said, we were lucky.

The Food

The food at the Friendly Fisherman is top notch. While they do not have many non-fish items, they do have a few for the landlubbers out there. The fish is always served fresh - and you can tell from the taste. For half the price of what two people would pay at a large, well-known seafood chain, you get twice the food. We haven't been to the Friendly Fisherman in quite a while, as we moved about 45 miles away. We had a hankering for some really fresh fish, so we made the trip - it was well worth it. We started out with onion rings. They are fried to a perfect crisp and served with a tangy white dressing that had just enough bite to stimulate the appetite. My husband also ordered clam chowder - I am not a huge clam chowder fan, so that did not pass my palate, but he could not stop raving over their chowder - and he is very fussy about his chowders.

I ordered fish and chips. I know you are thinking, "How boring." Not on your life are they boring. The Friendly Fisherman's fish and chips are made with strips of fresh fish. I'm not sure what type of fish it was, probably grouper. All I know is that their fish and chips are the best you can get anywhere. Both the fish and the fries are fried to perfection. A perfect tan on the outside with just the perfect amount of "crunch," and the food was wonderfully tender and warm on the inside. The fish and chips, as do most things on their menu, come with corn fritters. If you have never had corn fritters in your life, you need to try their corn fritters. There is nothing better - not even my father's corn fritters, and he is the master at corn fritters.