by Teresa Gubbins

Restaurant has broken the spell that hung over the once-doomed location.

PLANO — Fish Shack, a fast-casual Gulf seafood place with gumbo, fried catfish, and alcohol, has opened to great success on 15th Street in East Plano.

The Shack is located a few blocks east of the prime downtown strip, in a space once occupied by Long John Silvers. In the past few years, it's gone through a series of dismal openings and closings -- mostly nondescript Mexican places including Los Potrillos and My Estrella Tex Mex Restaurant.

But Fish Shack has broken the jinx. Since opening a few weeks ago, it's welcomed a steady stream of customers and serious crowds on weekend nights. It's easy to see why: Nothing on the menu is over $10.95, from fried "baskets" with shrimp, catfish, and choice of rice or French fries, to crab legs, to boiled shrimp, to crawfish boil with potatoes and corn. There is also beer and wine, and a newly-built covered patio with capacity to seat nearly 50.

Its proximity to the Plano police station guarantees that nearly any time you drop by, there'll be a couple of Plano cops eating there.