The Original Halibut's has two doors to two rooms: a comfie tiny bar which is host to live blues music at times, and a walkup counter with some tables. The bar has table service, so if you'd like a beer or a drink with your foot, begin and end there. Anymore, it seems like almost every bar has TV screens everywhere you look; here, they have two, one with sports, and usually, the other with the cable blues music channel on. Whereas, if you're getting take out or with kids, go to the walkup counter side.

There are also some pleasant tables out on the sidewalk.

The menu continues to grow: giant tiger prawns, and halibut are our favorites, but there's also Copper River salmon, true cod, catfish, and chicken tenderloins, ahi, dungeness crab cakes, and get this: lobster tails with sweet potato fries! If this all seems a bit, um, deepfried, they also offer an unfried combo, chowder, corn on the cob, bay shrimp or giant prawn cocktail, and key lime pie.

Vegetarians: sorry, the only things here for you are the seasonal corn on the cob and the pineappley cole slaw (creamy, and pineapply - I love it).

All of the entrees come with skin-on fries, and all come as a half or full order.

I've finally come to the realization that while it seems like a half order should be enough, it's not. Maybe a half works for you, but I find myself cursing myself for being cheap. Though the menu still doesn't give you much of an idea of the size differences between the half and the full.

Half baskets range from $5-$10, while full baskets are $3-$5 more. $6 will get you a very small bowl of very good clam chowder (though, at that price, it ought to be).

We've had the halibut, the prawns, and the true cod. All very good. The fish and shrimp taste fresh and well handled. The beer batter is tasty, and the result isn't greasy, generally. I've noticed that the batter does tend to fall off the shrimp, which is an effect of steam. But overall, it's not soggy. A full basket of halibut has four pieces; a full basket of prawns, 8. This might be the best fish and chips in town.

Or it might not be. There are complaints of inconsistency on the batter. But I go there maybe once every two or three months, and I have yet to complain about anything (but the owner).

Some folks are charmed by the owner. I find him obnoxious. But the last couple times I've been there, he hasn't, and it's been a pleasure.

They have some beer on tap, Anchor Steam, Fish Organic IPA, PBR, and Widmer Hefeweizen as well as a full bar.

entree range: $6-20
median entree price: $10
vegetarian options: corn on the cob ($1.50), coleslaw ($1.50)