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...

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

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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.

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But happy aliens.

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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.

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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...

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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.