From the Norsemen braving the icy northern waters to Christopher Columbus accidentally stumbling into the Caribbean, the ocean has struck fear and apprehension into the heart of man. A comparable feeling of reluctance often accompanies something else from the sea: fast food fish sandwiches.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish — created for Catholics abstaining from meat during Lent — started the fad in 1962. Since that initial promotion, most fast food chains have jumped on the bandwagon and introduced a Lent-approved fish sandwich. But are they any good? “Fast food fish” doesn’t sound seaworthy on paper. We decided to taste test fish sandwiches from a handful of major chains to find out which fill our sails, and which ones deserve a keelhauling.