San Diego Reader

Sigh.

Nothing could compare with the Comic-Con costumed Tin Fish down here at the Gaslamp. The Grimm show’s promoters had dressed this fish and chippery/bar/outdoor café like a forest...

...where you’d find goblins and vampires.

It was magic. Specially because everybody so played along. That first Comic-Con night, anyway. People in ordinary clothes (like me) felt like they were the aliens.

But happy aliens.

Whatever, it made the Tin Fish Gaslamp (170 6th Avenue downtown, at the Gaslamp trolley stop, 619-238-8100) the place of places to be.

So coming back one month later, where suddenly it’s just the ordinary metal chairs, dull blue umbrellas, and foot-weary, camera-toting tourists, is a “Welcome back to Planet Earth” moment.

But it’s still the deal, and the place to people-watch. Even if they’re not as exotic eye-candy any more.

Yes, their fish and chips cost $11. But you get five pieces of fish with that. Or you can get a half order for $6. Or, if you’re really broke, you can get a fried fish taco for $3.75, or just a regular-size plate of their excellent “criss-cut” fries for $2.75.

Add a soft drink for $1.75, or even a beer for $5 and you’ve got a cheap hour of snacking and people-watching.

I got the codfish taco platter with coleslaw and fries for $7.50...

They claim to be $5 cheaper than any other local seafood dining. I can believe it. Specially if you compare it to the nearest fish eatery, uh, Nobu.

More in this week’s Tin Fork.