Long John Silver’s Super Sampler
Seafood from a fast food place? Just the thought of it makes some people cringe, and turn up their noses in disgust. After all, the best way to enjoy seafood is when it’s fresh, which is just not possible in this market. But the situation is not completely hopeless, and that’s why Long John Silver’s has survived for almost 40 years.
Today I’m going to talk about the $6.59 Super Sampler Platter. It’s a big meal, and guaranteed to fill you up, even though each item is not really satisfying on it’s own. What’s included in this mini feast? 1 large fish filet, 3 large shrimp, 10-12 smaller sized popcorn shrimp, 1 large chicken plank, 2 hush puppies and a large pile of french fries. And of course, everything is battered or breaded, and deep fried.
The fish is a nice filet of Alaskan Pollack, battered in wheat flour and mild spices. It’s crunchy outside, tender and flaky inside. This is what LJS is best known for, and it’s a good tasting piece of fish considering it’s not a fresh catch. No complaints. [ A ]
The shrimp is a hit and miss situation. The small popcorn shrimp are quite tasty, but the large shrimp leave me totally unsatisfied, and lack any real shrimp flavor. It’s odd, because you’d think it would be the opposite. I’m not sure what’s going on. The coating is different on the two, with the popcorn shrimp getting a more crumbly breading, while the large variety shares the same batter as the fish, but this is not the problem. The large shrimp are simply too bland. Popcorn [ A ] Large [ D ]
The chicken “plank” (as they call it) is a tenderloin with a batter similar to the fish, only lighter and thinner. It’s OK, but doesn’t come close to the natural chicken flavor of the current batch of breast strips from the fast food competition. It’s juicy enough, and a nice big hunk of meat, however the taste is definitely leaning toward the bland side. Granted, it’s a fish / seafood joint doing chicken so that’s not a shocker. [ C ]
The hush puppies are delicious. I could eat an entire box of these wonderful little balls of deep fried corn meal goodness. They’re great on their own, and they’re even better when dipped in ketchup or Long John’s cocktail sauce. Dark golden brown and crispy outside, soft and fluffy inside… this is good stuff. I love them. Period. [ A+ ]
The french fries are crisp and cut thin, with a solid potato flavor, lightly salted and satisfying overall. They’re nothing special, but still above average, better than many burger joints. If McDonald’s fries had a little brother, this would be it. [ B ]
The Super Sampler Platter from Long John Silver’s is a mixed bag indeed. The fish, popcorn shrimp and hush puppies are great. The fries are good. The large shrimp and chicken are disappointing. I suppose it’s too much to ask for one restaurant to do everything, but overall it’s still a good choice for those who enjoy variety.
Price: $6.59 / Website: LongJohnSilvers.com
Fast Food Critic Score: B-
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Nutrition Facts - Long John Silver’s Super Sampler Platter.
Calories - 1850
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 102 grams
Carbs - 180 grams
Saturated Fat - 25 grams
Trans Fat - 29 grams
Cholesterol - 310 milligrams
Sodium - 4470 milligrams
Protein - 58 gramsEditor’s Note: Wow, these are some monster numbers! The highest of any review I’ve done yet. Keep in mind, it’s a very big meal, and everything is deep fried. Those who are watching their weight should stay away. For that matter, the high trans-fat content is concerning in this day and age. Eat at your own risk.