This was our second visit for American Fish. While we were wowed by our first, our second experience showed signs that the restaurant may be slipping a bit.

Again, forgive my poor photos, as I mentioned in other posts my camera is ancient and struggles in low light (the lighting of choice for most restaurants!). I really need to buy a new camera and it shows!

I will give American Fish credit for their fine quality of seafood cooked perfectly, even though you’re in the middle of the desert you’d think you were on the New England coast. Short of prying the shellfish from the ocean yourself, you won’t find better. While the appetizer came with 3 condiments, they were unnecessary since the shellfish was fresh.

While the fries at American Fish rival McDonalds (yes, it is possible!), our side orders were the first signal that the quality may be slipping. The fries were just as amazing as we remember, served with tartar sauce instead of ketchup (Woo!!!) which we really loved. However, the truffled mac and cheese lacked of any flavor of truffles although it had a few token chunks of mushrooms in it (and they were obviously not truffles). This was disappointing, for the price point I would expect a side dish that exceeds what I can make for myself at home, so we left most of it untouched. I’ve made better mac and cheese than this, and I’m a far cry from a professional chef.

I ordered the same dish I had on my first visit: the Tasmanian Ocean Trout! This was just as divine as I remember it. It was cooked perfectly, and the skin was crisp like a fine crackling (which I really enjoy eating and I wish more seafood restaurants would leave the skin on!). If you’re worried that it may be overpoweringly salty, don’t be, its just perfect.

Behold, the crowing disappointment! Hubs also ordered the same dish as our first visit because it was one of the more memorable meals he’s had. Unfortunately, the second time was not nearly as good as the first. There was an overpowering charred taste to the seafood, as if the grill it was cooked on hadn’t been cleaned in months. You know, like that taste you get on your barbeque at home if you don’t clean your greasy grill before heating it up and slapping on a few burgers – and then your burgers are infused with that nasty tasted of dirty soot. What made this even more disappointing was that the quality of the seafood was immaculate, and it was cooked perfectly- and it was all ruined by a grill that was somehow off. Again, for the price point of American Fish, this shouldn’t be happening. The waitress and manager apologized profusely and removed it from our bill, but stressed that the grill was clean and that it was perhaps the type of wood being burned that day that may have been to blame. We’re not sure if the wood type was to blame or if the kitchen slacking off with keeping the grill spotless, nevertheless seafood shouldn’t have the aftertaste of a burnt tire and we’re a little suspicious that this would go unnoticed if the chefs are tasting the food from time to time.

On the bright side most of the dishes were still very good or great, and the service here is wonderful. Sadly we won’t be returning due to the wealth of other restaurants at this price point that have remained more consistent, but if you LOVE seafood this is a good place to try.