Betty's English Fish'n'chips
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
16 reviews
Petaluma, CA
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11 Reviews for Betty's English Fish'n'chips
Betty's...Oh, I do so crave the fish n chips from Betty's! Nice thick pieces of yummy cod, battered and not too greasy. Their fries are satisfying too. I like them dipped in tartar sauce and they have two kinds- housemade and chunky. I order them both! They serve real lemonade which goes great with fish and chips. They have cobbler as well, that very often gets brought home. A very satisfying, easy meal.
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I would give this place 5 stars for the scallops, OH BABY but I am a bit put off when all you get on your plate is fried potatoes and fried fish. I have a need for something green to cut the grease. I know they have been around a very long time, zagat rated, new management, VERY friendly, Great service... The place needs a facelift BADLY! it looks like it is catering to the blue hair brigade! C'mon- I 'm old too, but you don't have to look like a granny! and please , FIBER! it cuts the grease!
the fried fish was awesome. they use icelandic fish, not pollock like many in this biz. the fries weren't noteworthy, however. a nice dark brew sealed the deal!
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Someone told me that they've changed management since I went here as a kid. I'm 36 now. It's totally possible.
It's a little unusual to pick a fish-n-chips place to eat at on Valentines' Day, but I really wanted fish-n-chips, and I'm the girl so I get to pick.
It wasn't good. I just got the small portion of fish-n-chips. Chips - not good. Fish - really not good.
I still held out hope and tried dessert. If I could just end on a high note, I would still be in a decent mood. My husband hopes I am in a decent mood as it's Valentines' Day ifyouknowwhatimean.
I get this Lemon Cloud shit and let me tell you, I didn't walk out of there on a high note. It was sour, but not in the sweet/tart lemon dessert way. It was weird and gross.
So we paid WAY TOO MUCH for our food (oh! The beer was good) and then went to Safeway and bought some wine and treats.
High note!
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I don't know what these negative review are all about, but I always want to get my fix at Betty's when I am in the area visiting my parents. The establishment has been around for an extremely long time. I remember eating there when I was a little kid and enjoying the food. Fish and chips... what isn't there to like.
I normally order the combo plate with the butterfly shrimp and fish and chips. Their batter is just right. I just can't stand some of these places where they coat their fish in grease and flour batter masking the taste and texture of the fish. Only place that comes kinda close to the same level of fish would be BJs down here in SJ. If the food was so terrible, then why is the place constantly packed and I ALWAYS miss out on the homemade desserts. Yeesh.... my parents constantly talked about how good their desserts were, and every time I treat them out to the place its already gone. Guess we would have to go earlier, but I wouldn't have the appetite to eat.
The fish (Icelandic cod) and shrimp in that signature Betty's batter always makes my mouth water. My wife who isn't really into deep fried foods loves the place because the batter gives that great crunchy texture without absorbing all the oils. The chips aren't the greatest but I am willing to forgive since everything else is great. It is a small restaurant and they aren't opened on Sunday's so be prepared to have to wait around for a table on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Good fish and chips. Have you noticed how few chain restaurants Santa Rosa has? No Long John Silvers here. I love that about Santa Rosa. I would much rather come here to Betty's, have some fish and chips, an English beer, and a piece of peach pie for dessert. Good quality, local appeal. If you want a big plate of Long John's for super cheap, drive to Sacramento and visit one of the many crappy chain restaurants. Worth a visit.
I'm am disgusted at the two one star reviews, what a bunch of snobs you two. seriously. Betty's has been in business for quite a long time, with a recent owner change, which put the restaurant's management in the hands of a young local family. The secret recipes were passed on to the new owners and those recipes remain top-secret to this day I'm told. I eat at Betty's regularly and have yet to find a rival fish and chip place, although I continue searching.
Now about that fish...I was told the best fish n chips on the peninsula was Barbara's Fish Trap. I've been there twice now and compared to Betty's, put plainly, its gross. I'm comparing cod fish and chips only. Barbara's has thick clumpy batter which turns into mush if you put any malt or lemon on it. No thanks. Betty's batter is different. Their batter is a thin batter, which comes out a dark auburn color which holds up amazingly to any amount of lemon, malt or tartar. I also like that I'm not eating a truckload of flour and grease unlike most other fish and chip incarnations around the bay. Betty's chips (french fries) are better than Barbara's as well.
Now about the tartar sauce. I've got a bone to pick with the person who knocked the tartar sauce. First off he couldn't even taste that it was tartar sauce, which lends me to believe he had a accident with a blowtorch and his tongue when he was a child. Furthermore he would be better served eating tartar sauce at Barbara's where they take a tub of mayonaise and mix in tartar sauce herbs. mmmm mayonaise! Well, I don't know about you, but I extremely dislike mayo in tartar sauce, and at Betty's you won't get any. They offer a lightly herbed tartar sauce that is creamed, if its not your bag, then oh well. For me its a slice of tartar paradise that I like enough to dip every fry in as well.
For me, when I've got my monthly fish and chip craving, you'll find me, family and friends at Betty's. If you prefer your fish and chips prepared a different way then fine. If you are going to crap out one-star reviews, then you better at least post a place you think is better.
Everybody needs a fish and chips fix once in a while. This is not
something I'd eat every day or even every week. But when you want
this stuff you gotta have it. In Santa Rosa Betty's is the place you go
for real British style fish. It's a very friendly atmosphere and
it's a little piece of OId Santa Rosa. Highly recommended.
great fish and chips. best in town. service is excellent. fast lunch service.
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I'm a huge fish 'n chips fan, so my co-worker tells me about the best fish 'n chips joint in Santa Rosa. This is supposed to be a 'Rosa legend. So we go there today for lunch. We walk in. First impression is that this place has fantastic old school charm. That, combined with the accolades it had received from colleague meant that it started out at five stars and could only work its way down from there. But how could it? The menu looks so good. Lots of choices. Lots of different ways to batter and deep fry fish, although it's a bit on the pricey side. Colleague goes for the tuna melt. I opt for the Sailor's Platter, consisting of 2 chunks of cod, 3 U15 jumbo shrimp and a pile of chips. I asked the server dude what U15 meant, hoping for some romanticized answer about how these shrimp are a special breed of fightin' shrimp or something, and you can only catch them with U15 explosives or in a U15-class submarine. Turns out that's the size of the bag they come in. At least you gotta give credit to a place that names its dishes after the packaging they come in. Anyhow, I also want some cole slaw, which typically comes with a plate of fish 'n chips, but here it doesn't, so I order that on the side cuz the guy says its got pineapple and some other shit in it.
I go out back to wash my hands, as is my custom before eating a meal (germophobe hypochondriac). As I'm waiting in the kitchen next to the one-man bathroom for like 5 minutes, I notice that the back store room has a sink with a soap dispenser and everything. Thinking I only need to wash, I ask the cook, nicely, if I could use the back room sink since I just need to wash. "NO" accompanied with a mean glare, "use that bathroom." I understand about health codes and everything, but you could at least be nicer about it. They lose a star for the attitude.
Anyhow, we are served our grub, which arrived fairly quickly. The food is hot and fresh, but certainly not $16.50 worth, not including pineapple friggin' cole slaw ($17.75 total). Its really just a plate of 2 fish sticks, 3 little shrimps and some french fries. Big deal. I can go to Outback and get a 9 oz. filet for the same money. Second star scratched. So we begin to eat our grub. The platter is accompanied by a little cup of what tastes like ranch dressing. No tartar sauce. I ask for tartar. The server says that the ranch *is* the tartar, but they have another special one that I guess they only bring out for the superstars and heavy hitters. He brings a cup of that one. Its basically tartar-like, but it has capers and dill in it. What the fuck are capers and dill doing in my tartar sauce? This is not San Francisco. So basically, you get no tartar sauce here. bye bye third star. The grub itself is just ok. Fish was a little overcooked and fishy. (Cape Cod in Cotati is far superior.)
Anyhow, meal ends. We both want to pay our portions with our cards. The server comes back and has a puzzled look on his face over this. They can't split it on two cards because "it costs them money every time they swipe a card." Ummm, so? 65 cents. big woop. Wouldn't you pay that to keep a new customer happy? Its an investment. A small one. So I put it all on my card. Fourth star vanishes.
They may have started out with five, but that last mishap brings them down to one meager little star. End of review.
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