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Ford's Fish Shack

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by Villager, Sep 26, 2010.

  1. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    Do I dare ask......does anyone know if they have any gluten-free menu items? It doesn't need to be fancy, but something basic for my 3 year-old? I was really craving a lobster roll tonight for dinner.
     
  2. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    A lot of new places like a "soft" opening. They want to work out the kinks before they hit the advertising trail.
     
  3. FRSTRAX

    FRSTRAX New Member

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    Dined there (3) times, great food and service.

    Calamari ***
    Wedge salad & oysters = perfecto!
    Rainbow Trout = better than Clyde’s....

    Comments:

    - They will need more tables.....not so much room when it's prime time dining (Fri. / Sat. eves).
    - Music was loud on two occasions (heavy metal playing?!?)
    - It would really be cool if they expand the menu to offer “raw bar” type seafood fare (fancy oysters, etc.).
     
  4. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    i would call and ask that question rather than trust any speculation on the board. :)
     
  5. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    We tried it and it was good... good service, food was good, setting was nice....

    with that being said I do think it is a few dollars overpriced...... example Clydes has a lobster roll for lunch at $12 vs $18 at Fords
     
  6. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    We went ysterday and I will say it was teh best fish-n-chips I've had in a while. The fish was very light with a crunchy batter. We had a long chat with the GM and he said there will be some changes coming up. The only two items NOT made fresh in-house are the fries & the ice cream. They will be adding home cut fries soon and offering the shoe string fries as an alternative.

    Comparing Ford's to a chain on price is unfair. You have the buying power of one store, vs. teh buying power of a regional chain. Of course the prices will be lower at Clydes. The real comparison should be the amount and quality of the product/
     
  7. Ken

    Ken Member

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    Wait, wut? We had the same long chat with the same GM about the same subject. I actually think it was us who asked the question, "Everything seems to be homemade... what don't you make here?"

    That's funny!
     
  8. Liss

    Liss New Member

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    We've been there three or four times now, and have been happy every time. I'm allergic to shellfish in every form, and I'm happy go to back for the fish and chips, the trout, the salads...

    They've definitely been working out the "kinks", but have dealt with every issue promptly and well. We're definitely fans.

    Here's their Facebook page:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashburn-VA/Fords-Fish-Shack/126021737448116
     
  9. Brit

    Brit New Member

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    Thanks for the FB link.
     
  10. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    To add our 2 cents...

    We went there last weekend. My wife grew up on the Maine coast and we go up there every summer so we had some expectations on the overall dining experience (interesting to see many of the pictures were from the same area).

    We had the mussels, fish & chips, and crab cakes. Mussels were very good, but I can't compare them to anything because it was my first time eating mussels! Same excellent reviews on the fish & chips. Crab cakes were very good -- on par with the better ones you can get in the immediate area. Service was great, sure there were some bumps along the way but the waitress was friendly, apologized for the bumps, and everything moved along.

    The only disappointing item was the blueberry pie. Even though the waitress said the berries came from up north, they were definitely not Maine wild blueberries which are different from the low bush berries sold around here. In all fairness, I'm kinda Maine blueberry pie junkie so the pie was good, just not what I was expecting.

    Hope this place keeps up the level of quality and service for the long haul, we'll definitely be back.
     
  11. StevieD

    StevieD New Member

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    OK, had our first try tonight. We started with the Calamari (good, but didn't care for sauce) and deviled eggs (great app; wish bacon were a bit more crispy). I had fish and chips; daughter had clams; we split a side of mac and cheese. Mac and cheese looked great (baked in a ramekin) - but taste was a bit strange - not good. Biggest complaint was WAY TOO MUCH SALT!! Yipes, I must have downed 4 glasses of iced tea. I love the concept; the clams and fish were fried very nicely; nice pieces of fish, and love the whole belly clams - however the salt content (and this coming from a guy who's favourite chips are salt and vinegar) was over the top - kitchen needs to tone that down. If they can work that out, we'll be back (I agree with others on the prices - very high for the type of food you are getting). I wish they had a fisherman's platter as well.
     
  12. serendipity

    serendipity New Member

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    Our family went tonight. Solidly liked it, didn't "love" it. Started with the calamari appetizer and Maine chips. Loved the Maine chips--very different from your ordinary appetizer and it was a huge portion, we didn't finish it as we worried we wouldn't be able to eat our entrees. The calamari was good, we found the batter a little on the heavy side. The ginger-butter sauce on the calamari was good, and we like something other than marinara on our calamari. Had the fish special (rock fish) and it was pretty good--but WAY too salty. If they tone down the salt it would be very good. Husband had the lobster roll and while he is definitely not a "New Englander" he judged it to be only ok--he found it a little plain. But maybe that's how folks like it...? One kid had the burger and the other had the "Shoredog" which were fine/good. We didn't really have room but ordered dessert anyway just to check it out. We had a split decision on the blueberry pie, husband said it was just "ok" but daughter really liked it. Husband likes less crust and more fruit and daughter liked it that way. The whoopie pie was disappointing--the cookie (more like cake) part was very good but the frosting in the middle is cream cheese based and I just don't prefer that--would rather have a more buttercream filling to go with the chocolate. Overall, we really liked the atmosphere, the service was very friendly and worked really hard to please (reminded us of Blue Ridge service, just newer) and the food was good--but not great. If they tone down the salt and keep up the friendly service we will definitely be back. It's nice to have another seafood option and we liked that it was casual. We were anxious to try everything so we had two appetizers, 4 dinner entrees, sodas for kids and 2 drinks each for the adults, plus two desserts to share and the total was $117.00--didn't think that was too bad for three full courses (including cocktails) for a party of 4. Really hope that they do well---it sure was busy! It was hopping when we got there around 5:30 p.m. (although we were seated immediately) but by the time we left there were a number of folks waiting to be seated. Definitely worth another visit....
     
  13. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Hmmmm....may have to rethink if I want to go here....already on high blood pressure medication!
     
  14. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Since they make everything fresh, I bet if you say "easy on the salt" they will be. That's a perk of fresh cooking that's not out of a can!

    I know no one expects perfection and mngmnt here is vry involved in providing a great product. I love their style so far and can't wait to try more menu items.
     
  15. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Attached is the menu.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Brit

    Brit New Member

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    Made our second visit last night. For a Tuesday this place was busy! Great to see. Service still a little clunky, but minor stuff that is quickly acknowledged and resolved.

    Fish and Chips once more - better this time too. Quite possibly the only place you can get F&C and not feel like bloated or full. Even after one of those delicious little corn breads.

    Keep it up Ford's - you got the secret sauce!
     
  17. joerig

    joerig New Member

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    My wife and I went over the weekend...food was good, but $75 bucks for 2 was a little pricey, for an app, 2 entrees and 4 beers, in my opinion...I'd rather make the trek to Dogfish in Fairfax...was disappointed in the lobster roll, I was wanting one since seeing the Man vs Food episode...wife had fish and chips, but she said she likes Bonefish's better...calamari was good, but the sauce was ok...I liked the corn muffins...inside was nice...service was great, just not sure I'd go back for that price...
     
  18. James_B

    James_B Member

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    The wife and I went last night, she had shrimp and I had a fish sandwich; both were really good. The fries were tasty and the cornbread rolls with maple butter were fantastic. Loved the coleslaw which I understand is the base for the rolls, so next time I am getting the lobster roll; I want to see how it compares to the one I had at the Lobster Roll in Montauk/east Hamptons a few years ago when I went shark fishing.
     
  19. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    Do they have a lunch menu?
     
  20. Charlotte

    Charlotte New Member

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    I had lunch there a couple days ago. As I recollect, the lunch and dinner menus are the same, but the entrees are priced a little cheaper for lunch. I don't know if the portion sizes are the same, but my fish and chips was $13. On the dinner menu, it's $15.

    It was excellently breaded, very fresh cod, fried perfectly in oil that had no "fishy" taste, like it had been used a number of times. I'm not a french fry person, so I thought those were only OK. As others mentioned, the corn muffins with maple butter, as well as the cole slaw, are wonderful. It's interesting, James B., that you mentioned the cole slaw possibly being the base for the corn muffins. I was trying to figure out if the cole slaw contained chopped sweet pickles. I thought the corn muffins perhaps contained chopped green onions, but now that I think of it, that sweet crunch may have come from cole slaw!

    $13 is more than I normally pay for lunch when I go out on a weekday, but I was pleased with the freshness and quality of the food, as well as the attentive service, so I would definitely go back again.
     

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