Long John Silver’s Grilled Tilapia Platter, and the New “Freshside Grill” Menu
A few weeks ago, Long John Silver’s introduced a new selection of menu items called “Freshside Grill”. It might seem odd using the term “fresh” to describe what we all know is actually frozen, but don’t blame me… I didn’t name them. The menu consists of three entrees: Shrimp Scampi, Grilled Tilapia, and Grilled Pacific Salmon.
All three entrees come standard with a serving of rice and a breadstick, and each is also available as a ‘Full Meal’ with vegetable medley and corn on the cob. I’ve tried all three new seafood options, and chose the full meal platter with each of them.
The Shrimp Scampi was a disappointment, easily the weakest part of this new menu. They’re almost flavorless, except for the garlic butter, and the shrimp’s texture was tough and rubbery. They ‘looked’ appetizing and the pieces were good size, but those looks were deceiving, and their size became irrelevant once I tasted them. It reminded me of the unsatisfying experience I had with their large fried shrimp. [ D ]
The Grilled Tilapia was the standout among the 3 new entrees. It was flaky, tender and had a surprisingly fresh taste. The herbs and spices, along with a hint of Romano cheese, were an appropriate blend for the mild whitefish. They provided a nice background flavor and lite crust, while still letting the character of the fish come thru. For a brief moment, after squeezing some lemon juice on my filet and taking the first couple bites, I almost forgot that I was eating fast-food. Almost. [ A- ]
The Grilled Pacific Salmon tasted decent, coated with garlic, onion and red peppers, but the fish itself was too dry and the flavor a bit weak. It wasn’t bad tasting salmon, it just seemed washed-out. I’m certain that’s at least partly because it’s not fresh. Compared to the relatively long and stable lifespans of frozen beef and chicken, fish and seafood’s clock starts ticking immediately after processing and runs out quickly. The window of opportunity for a satisfying fast-food-from-frozen seafood experience is small. The Tilapia beat the odds, while the Salmon was less successful. [ C ]
The Vegetable Medley consists of steamed green beans, yellow and orange carrots. Long John Silver’s veggies were OK, but not as good as I hoped, and eerily familiar to the type found in many frozen TV dinners. And no matter how much seasoning or butter they apply, it doesn’t change the facts. They’re average at best. [ C- ]
The Corn Cobbette was much better than the other vegetables. It tasted very good, slightly sweet, and was already buttered, leaving me nothing to do but eat and enjoy. Having the wooden stick inserted made eating a little easier, though 2 sticks (one in each end) would have given optimum corn cob handling. Still, good corn. [ B ]
The Seasoned Rice was also quite tasty, and provided a great base for all 3 entrees. It’s long grain white rice flavored with carrots, garlic, onion and butter. It was cooked near perfectly, firm on the outside and tender inside. Each grain of rice remained loose and separate, without sticking or clumping. I could eat a whole bowl of this stuff by itself, although I should say that I’m a big fan of rice to begin with. [ A- ]
The Breadsticks were toasty and crisp outside, warm and chewy inside, with a little garlic butter brushed on for seasoning. They’re just as good as the type served by large pizza chains, and similar to refrigerated dough Pillsbury breadsticks from the supermarket you cook at home. Nothing special, but simple and satisfying. [ B ]
The full meal platter with your choice of the three seafood entrees is $6.99, which is not cheap, but keep in mind you’re getting five different items on the plate. I’ve graded each of the 7 new menu items individually above, and also given an overall score to the Grilled Tilapia full meal platter below, where the normal FFC rating goes.
Long John Silver’s new Freshside Grill is a welcome addition to a fast-food world dominated by deep fried, high calorie items. This is not health food, but it does provide the benefits of fish protein and omega-3 fatty acids without the extra grease, calories and fat of many fried foods. One of the full meals is enough to satisfy an average appetite, but a big hunger will be left wanting more due to fairly small portions. The Grilled Tilapia earns top honors in this class, while the Shrimp Scampi fails to make a passing grade, and the Grilled Pacific Salmon is best described as OK.
Price: $6.99 (Grilled Tilapia Platter) / Website: LongJohnSilvers.com
Fast Food Critic Score: B-
Click here for rating system details.
Nutrition Facts - Long John Silver’s, Grilled Tilapia (Full Meal).
Calories - 750
Calories from Fat - 195
Total Fat - 22.5 grams
Carbs - 95 grams
Saturated Fat - 5.5 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 55 milligrams
Sodium - 1600 milligrams
Protein - 36 gramsNOTE: Nutrition facts are the total for the full meal, including entree, rice, veggies and bread. For individual numbers visit this page on the LJS website.
