My friend who lives in Bellevue (a large suburb of Seattle) wanted to conclude our mini-tour of Seattle with a jaunt through Alki, a picturesque area of West Seattle where some of the original European settlers established a development in 1851. We skimmed the coast of Puget Sound past Alki Beach and would eventually drive up a bit for some nice views, but first we had lunch.
Spud is a local institution famous for its fish and chips, and it has been serving them here since 1935, when it was a summertime sidewalk shack. The original owners sold two pieces of battered cod with fries for a dime in those days, but nowadays, you will need a few more dimes. A few other Spuds opened up, and locals had various opinions on which one was the best. This Spud in Alki was recently sold by the original family to Ivar’s, a famous local chain of seafood restaurants.
There is a free parking lot behind the building, which looks like a mod house with a bunch of add-ons, but is still more civilized than a wooden shack. Line up and place your order at the counter. The menu features seafood delicacies (and one chicken dish). Seating is on the second floor, so do not trip on the stairs while you are carrying your tray of food up. The dining area has intimately cramped seating, but there are some pleasant views overlooking the beach and the water. The walls display vintage old photos of Seattle and Spud.
With the order of fish (or chicken) and chips, you get three, average-sized, but crispy, pieces plopped atop a tray of golden fries. The chicken strips were good and not too greasy, and you have sauces ranging from ketchup, hot sauce, and some funky bottle with vinegar and almonds, creating a tangy and bitter taste that is not bad on the fries. The prawns and chips follow the same concept. It is all basically fast food that the kids will dig, but it is reasonably good here. Old-timers may contend that the prices have climbed over the years while the quality and the size of the pieces have declined, but that is a matter for debate. The fountain drinks come in sizes that seem to be large and extra-large. There are some dessert items like milk shakes and pies.
After a fried and battered meal here, walk it off along the 2.5 miles of the Alki Beach. Look for the miniature Statue of Liberty, a 1952 figure of copper-plated plaster that is about 9 feet tall, not including its pedestal (the real Statue of Liberty stands over 150 feet high). Then drive up past the rolling hills and posh homes of West Seattle to the elevated lookout for some glamorous views of the Seattle skyline. There is also a totem pole stationed here as if to guard the precious landscape.