The Further Adventures of Fish and Chip

H. Salt Esq. is a venerable eyesore in what is otherwise a neighborhood of eyesores. Wedged between an alley and a motel that undoubtedly rents by the hour on 16th between E & F, this venerable chip shop dishes out the goods to diverse clientele. Now, I’m not sure if that precise location counts as part of Alkali Flats, but it’s definitely not the Riviera.

On my recent visit to H. Salt Esq. word of the day had to be “diversity.” Picture the scene: a Korean husband and wife serving English style fish ‘n chips to a mostly African American customer base including one guy who was a dead ringer for Flavor Flav wearing a long Jesuit swim team coat with those sunglasses that have a little piece of leather around the rim that kind of lays flush on your face. To top off the scene, picture the walls of the place decorated in a kitschy array of London town memorabilia faded from years of neglect and grease-laden air and the kitchen decorated in Oriental beaded drapes and Buddha statues.

Despite the general weirdness of the scene, though, the food was pretty good. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, and the fries were pretty weak, but the fish was very well done and not too battery. All in all, an interesting experience in both fish ingestion and people watching. Two down, 1500 to go.

H. Salt Esq.
16th st, Sacramento
Food** Ambience*** Service**