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Big Fat Fish Co.

(3 stars from 1 rating)
Big Fat Fish Co. 0:3

Address

http://www.bigfatfishco.com/
1304 12th St
Bellingham , WA 98225
(360) 733-2284

Hours

Tues, Wed, Sun 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Fri 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thurs 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Sat 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Review

There is a certain kind of higher-end restaurant that has become perfected in this area over the years, which I define as being "quintessentially Pacific Northwest". At this sort of restaurant you will find that the menu offers fresh seafood, prepared with Pacific Rim flair, the wine list offers Northwest wines, the clam chowder is rich and creamy and the atmosphere is stylish and sophisticated, but never pretentious or stuffy. Being born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, I have always been fond of these sorts of restaurants, but I’ve usually had to head to the more urban areas in and around Seattle and Portland to dine at them. I was surprised to discover a perfect model of the "quintessentially Pacific Northwest" restaurant in my own back yard, in the form of The Big Fat Fish Company, in Fairhaven.

The Big Fat Fish Company is a beautiful place, with two dining areas bisected by an intimate, u-shaped bar area. The front dining room is bright and spacious, with both skylights and glass walls (these open up on warm days) to let in plenty of daylight. The dining area in the back of the restaurant is darker, but also warmer, quieter and more intimate in terms of atmosphere. Tall, polished wood panels line the main wall of the entryway, while deep reds and warm yellows cover the other walls. The friendly, relaxed service helps complete the overall feeling of "stylish but not stuffy".

As their name unequivocally implies, what you will find on the menu is fish, and plenty of it, with a few dishes like the "Portobello Torta" and the "Big Fat Kobe Burger" thrown in to accommodate all tastes. But the fish is really what it’s all about, from Hamachi Nigiri (yes, they even have a sushi menu) to oysters on the half shell, to a plate of King Crab legs -- it’s fresh, never over cooked, and changes seasonally. The wine list isn’t very long, but the selections are thoughtfully chosen, and include bottles from local wineries at Chuckanut Ridge and over on San Juan Island. The Big Fat Fish Company also has a full bar, so you could have a dry martini or a kiwi kamakazi with your seared tuna roll, instead of wine. None of these choices will be inexpensive -- remember, this is higher-end dining -- but the quality of the fish, the overall experience and the fact that you only had to drive as far as Fairhaven for it, makes it worth it.
Written By: Lisa Holt
On: 12/16/2008

Directions

On the main drag in Fairhaven, TBFFC is just across the street from the shoe store and Mambo Italiano.

Features

Beer and Wine | Catering | Dinner | Full Bar | Lunch | Smoke-free | Takes Reservations | Wheelchair Accessible

Map

User Reviews

Izzy
Izzy 
20rating
(1)
(1)
2/9/2009
First To Review
Don't order the beef! Our $30 steaks were tougher than leather. Server was great, but the hostess/manager was incredibly defensive and rude (Pam).
(0)
(0)
lkm
lkm 
BELLINGHAM, WA
15rating
(1)
(0)
1/5/2010
We went on New Year's eve. There were two BIG signs stating they had a great special until 7pm.
One in the window and one at the hostess desk. We went just before 7pm and asked for it. We were told that they weren't doing it because it was NYEve. But "we'll make it happen we'll work something out." The food was great the service o.k. but not friendly or cheerful. It was cold each time the door opened. I would go back for the food but wouldn't expect anything in service.
(0)
(0)
Kukuvaya
BELLINGHAM, WA
10rating
(1)
(0)
7/20/2009
Dear Izzy,
Sorry to hear about your terrible meal at The Big Fat Fish Co. It must be said though, that using the name of an employee to get your point across is incredibly tactless and rude. I certainly hope that you have a job where you are not exposed to the general public, as perhaps someday, possibly when you are having a bad day, someone will splash the name of the company you work for, your title and your name across a public website.
(0)
(0)
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