Batterfish

{{Short description|Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.}}

{{Infobox restaurant

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| name = Batterfish

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| logo = Batterfish logo.png

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| image = Portland, Oregon (July 26, 2022) - 071.jpg

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| image_caption = Exterior of the restaurant in Portland, Oregon, 2022

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| current-owner = Jason Killalee

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| food-type = Seafood

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| street-address = 3336 Southeast Belmont Street

| city = Portland

| county = Multnomah

| state = Oregon

| zip = 97214

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{Coord|45.5163|-122.6301|display=it}}

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| mapframe-zoom = 13

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| website = {{URL|batterfish.com}}

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Batterfish was a fish and chip shop in Portland, Oregon. Previously, the business operated in Encino, Los Angeles, as a food truck in Santa Monica, California, and as a food cart in Happy Valley, Oregon. Batterfish specialized in fish and chips and was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The restaurant closed by 2023.

Description

Batterfish was described as a fish and chip shop on Belmont Street in southeast Portland.{{Cite web |last=Yentch |first=Katrina |date=2023-02-27 |title=Where to Eat and Drink on Portland’s Restaurant-Packed Belmont Street |url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-belmont-street-portland |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408145854/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-belmont-street-portland |url-status=live }} The business served catfish, cod, salmon, and tilapia, with chili, curry, garlic ginger, lemon basil, and traditional batter options.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Lucas |date=2015-02-17 |title=LA's Best Fish & Chips Are Frying Up in Encino |url=https://la.eater.com/2015/2/17/8054235/batterfish-las-best-fish-and-chips-san-fernando-valley-review-feature |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Eater LA |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727225556/https://la.eater.com/2015/2/17/8054235/batterfish-las-best-fish-and-chips-san-fernando-valley-review-feature |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-05-20 |title=Happy Fry-Day: Experience Fish & Chip Bliss at Encino's Batterfish |url=https://www.laweekly.com/happy-fry-day-experience-fish-chip-bliss-at-encinos-batterfish/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=LA Weekly |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125095942/https://www.laweekly.com/happy-fry-day-experience-fish-chip-bliss-at-encinos-batterfish/ |url-status=live }} Sides included fries, onion rings, and peas.{{Cite web |title=BatterFish |url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/restaurants/batterfish |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Time Out Los Angeles |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728212013/https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/restaurants/batterfish |url-status=live }} Over time, the menu expanded to include burgers, burritos, and sandwiches. Batterfish also served fish tacos and burritos to commemorate a restaurant which had previously operated in the Portland space, as well as vegan options.

History

The restaurant opened in Encino, Los Angeles, in 2014,{{Cite web |title=Best Inexpensive Lunch Spots in The Valley |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/best-inexpensive-lunch-spots-in-the-valley/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728135128/https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/best-inexpensive-lunch-spots-in-the-valley/ |url-status=live }} and operated there until June 2016, when owner Jason Killalee announced plans to operate Batterfish as a food truck in Santa Monica, California, starting on July 15.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |last5= |last6= |last7= |last8= |first8= |last9= |date=2014-08-06 |title=Scouting Report: At BatterFish, customizable fish 'n' chips is the way to go |url=https://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-scouting-report-batterfish-20140805-story.html |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2016-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809014716/http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-scouting-report-batterfish-20140805-story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Farley |date=2016-06-29 |title=The Valley's best fish & chips spot to close |url=https://la.eater.com/2016/6/29/12061356/batterfish-encino-closing-july-fish-chips |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Eater LA |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727225647/https://la.eater.com/2016/6/29/12061356/batterfish-encino-closing-july-fish-chips |url-status=live }} In 2017, Batterfish was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (season 27, episode 3).{{Cite web |title=Barbecue, Batter and Beer Can Chicken |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/episodes/barbecue-batter-and-beer-can-chicken |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Food Network |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727225556/https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/episodes/barbecue-batter-and-beer-can-chicken |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Batterfish began operating from a food cart at the Happy Valley Station pod in Happy Valley, Oregon.{{Cite web |last=Jackson-Glidden |first=Brooke |date=2020-09-28 |title=A Fish & Chips Shop Once Called 'LA's Best' Has Found a New Home in a Happy Valley Food Cart |url=https://pdx.eater.com/2020/9/28/21492464/batterfish-fish-and-chips-happy-valley-station |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727225558/https://pdx.eater.com/2020/9/28/21492464/batterfish-fish-and-chips-happy-valley-station |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Jamie |date=2021-05-17 |title=The 12 best fish and chip spots in Portland |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/05/the-12-best-fish-and-chip-spots-in-portland.html |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=The Oregonian |language=en |archive-date=2021-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212432/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/05/the-12-best-fish-and-chip-spots-in-portland.html |url-status=live }} The business relocated and became a brick and mortar restaurant in southeast Portland's Sunnyside neighborhood in 2022, operating in a space which previously housed Char Latin Grill.{{Cite web |last=Frane |first=Alex |date=2022-03-17 |title=Batterfish Brings Fried Fish Burritos and Spicy Catfish Sandwiches to Sunnyside |url=https://pdx.eater.com/2022/3/17/22983219/batterfish-opening-belmont-fish-chips-burritos |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627040745/https://pdx.eater.com/2022/3/17/22983219/batterfish-opening-belmont-fish-chips-burritos |url-status=live }} The restaurant closed by 2023, and the restaurant Annam VL moved into the space.{{Cite web |last=Jackson-Glidden |first=Brooke |date=2023-10-17 |title=The Rose VL Family Will Open a New Restaurant on Belmont |url=https://pdx.eater.com/2023/10/17/23921361/annam-vl-rose-vl-new-restaurant-vietnamese |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017213036/https://pdx.eater.com/2023/10/17/23921361/annam-vl-rose-vl-new-restaurant-vietnamese |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Janey |date=2021-01-20 |title=Portland’s Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures |url=https://pdx.eater.com/22240842/portland-restaurant-bar-cafe-closings |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331154908/https://pdx.eater.com/22240842/portland-restaurant-bar-cafe-closings |url-status=live }}

Reception

In 2015, Lucas Peterson of Eater Los Angeles said Batterfish served the best fish and chips in Los Angeles. Guy Fieri said of the restaurant, "If you can a make a living off a fish and chips truck in a town like Los Angeles, you must be doing it right."{{Cite web |title=BatterFish |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/ca/santa-monica/Batterfish-food-truck |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124000921/https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/ca/santa-monica/Batterfish-food-truck |archive-date=2021-01-24 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Food Network |language=en}} Thrillist described Batterfish as an "Encino wonderland" and a "British pub-inspired spot with unique fish and chip options". The site recommended the curry cod with sweet potato fries.{{Cite web |title=BatterFish |url=https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/los-angeles/restaurants/batterfish |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Thrillist |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728212014/https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/los-angeles/restaurants/batterfish |url-status=live }} Jamie Hale included Batterfish in The Oregonian{{'s}} 2021 list of Portland's 12 best fish and chip eateries.