Seafood restaurants in North America
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A
Joe Jack’s Fish Shack
Seafood aficionados flock to this joint for fish and chips, garlic shrimp, whole red snapper and great slabs of mahi mahi. Large groups are graciously accommodated on the pleasant rooftop terrace. The service is jovial and quick, and the music classic rock.
reviewed
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B
Barking Crab
Big buckets of crabs (Jonah, blue, snow, Alaskan or whatever is in season), steamers dripping in lemon and butter, paper plates piled high with all things fried… The food is plentiful and cheap, and you eat it at communal picnic tables overlooking the water. Beer flows freely. Service is slack but the atmosphere is jovial. Be prepared to wait for a table if the weather is warm.
reviewed
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C
Go Fish
A two-minute walk west along the seawall from the Granville Island entrance, this wildly popular seafood shack is one of the city’s best fish-and-chip joints, offering a choice of halibut, salmon or cod encased in crispy golden batter. The smashing (and lighter) fish tacos are also highly recommended, while the ever-changing daily specials – brought in by the nearby fishing boats – often include praiseworthy scallop burgers or ahi tuna sandwiches. There’s not much of a seating area, so pack your grub and continue along the seawall to Vanier Park for a picnic with the ever-watchful seagulls.
reviewed
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D
Fish House in Stanley Park
The park’s fanciest dine-out, the double-patioed Fish House serves some of the city’s best seafood. The menu changes based on seasonal availability but typical favorites include chili sablefish and cedar-planked char, while the fresh oyster bar is ever-popular with visiting shuckers. Weekend brunch is a highlight – salmon bagel Benedict is recommended – and if you haven’t eaten enough already the desserts are also surprisingly creative: save room for chocolate lava cake, then run around the park four times to work it off.
reviewed
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E
Swan Oyster Depot
Superior flavor without the superior attitude of most seafood restaurants. The downside is an inevitable wait for the few counter seats, but the upside of the high turnover is unbelievably fresh seafood. On sunny days, place an order to go, browse Polk St boutiques, then breeze past the line to pick up your crab salad with Louie dressing and the obligatory top-grade oysters with mignonette (wine/shallot) sauce. Hike or take a bus up to Sterling Park for superlative seafood with ocean views.
reviewed
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F
Spud Fish & Chips
The competition is fierce over which Alki institution has the best fish and chips, here or Sunfish. (Why not try both?) Spud gets the tourist vote, with its crisp, beachy interior, friendly staff and large portions of fried fish, clam strips and oysters.
reviewed
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G
Henry's Great Alaskan
On the mall in front of the small-boat harbor; burgers, lots of deep-fried seafood, beer on tap and sports on TVs large and small scattered throughout the restaurant.
reviewed
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H
Momma O's Seafood
Momma O's Seafood is the place for a halibut fix - have it fried or, better, Cajun style - but don't discount the excellent onion rings or udon noodles.
reviewed
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I
La Mar Cebicheriá
Business lunches here could lead to some very untoward office behavior: the key ingredient in these collaged plates of Peruvian cebiche is leche de tigre, the ‘milk of the tiger, ’ a marinade of lime, chili and brine that ‘cooks’ the fish without a fire, and is said to have aphrodisiac properties. Sunny days are prime for seats by the bay and a plate of pristine, spicy cebiche classico of California halibut, habañero, Peruvian corn and yam – or go with the Pacific Rim flair of cebiche chifa, with peanuts, daikon, ginger and mango.
reviewed
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J
Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Don’t be blinded by the dazzling blue marble bar and bustling open kitchen at this swanky new joint; it’s the menu that should catch your eye. Fusing West Coast seafood with gentle Asian nudges – delivering treats such as roast halibut with pea leaf and coconut pineapple sauce – this place is worth a night out if you’re looking for an exciting alternative to the regular Pacific Northwest salmon dinner.
reviewed
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K
Ivar’s Acres of Clams
Ivar Haglund was a beloved local character famous for silly promotional slogans (‘Keep clam!’), but he sure knew how to fry up fish and chips. Ivar’s is a Seattle institution that started in 1938. Forgo the dining room for the outdoor lunch counter; the chaotic ordering system involves a lot of yelling, but it seems to work, and then you can enjoy your clam strips or fish and chips outdoors on the pier.
reviewed
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L
La Lona Verde
This humble and friendly establishment does some very tasty seafood dishes. Start off with fried shrimp quesadillas or mixiote de mariscos (a flavorful shellfish broth), then have a fish fillet al ajillo (laced with a garlic and chili sauce). Being an Oaxacan-run establishment, they also make tlayudas, those great big crispy tortillas with a variety of toppings.
reviewed
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M
Boatyard
Slips are available to pull up in your own boat at this classy place that's gained a loyal following with locals. There's good live music, very fine martinis and talented chefs turning out Keys and Gulf classics like guava-glazed baby back ribs and crisped-to-perfection hand-battered fried shrimp.
reviewed
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N
CJ’s Crab Shack
This casual spot seems a cut above the rest of its Ocean Dr resto-siblings. As the name promises, there are lots of crustaceans served by a sassy waitstaff with complimentary dry attitude (it’s endearing). Happy hour is a happy steal: $5 for a half-dozen oysters, $6 for two stone-crab claws.
reviewed
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O
Lapointe
This fish market has been serving the community since 1867, and is the undisputed top vendor of fresh fish in Ottawa. The market restaurant is Lapointe’s newest avatar, offering virtually every kind of fish from sashimi to breaded fish and chips.
reviewed
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P
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
[ourpick] Santa Barbara Shellfish Company 'From sea to skillet to plate' best describes this end-of-the-wharf crab shack that's more of a counter joint. Great lobster bisque, ocean views and the same owners for 25 years.
reviewed
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Lilly's Bistro
Chef Kathy Cary creates 'Kentucky tapas' (think catfish spring rolls, chorizo spoonbread) at this eclectic upscale eatery, a longtime Bardstown Rd favorite. The three-course lunch menu ($15) is a steal.
reviewed
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Q
Saskatoon Station Place
All aboard on this train-themed eatery, where dining cars and big thick train seats form the booths. Not nearly as cheesy as it sounds, you'll find good nosh such as lobster and steak combos. Chew-chew!
reviewed
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R
Poogan's Porch
Dine on sherried crab soup and toast points in the dim, floral- patterned environs of this supposedly haunted Victorian mansion, tucked away on a downtown side street.
reviewed
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S
Brophy Brothers
The raw-bar seafood at this raucous harbor hangout is so fresh that you half expect it to leap straight up out of the Pacific. Social upstairs deck for sunset drinks.
reviewed
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T
Mama's Fish House
This is Maui's most celebrated seafood restaurant, which pairs beachside romance with impeccably prepared fish. Reservations are essential.
reviewed
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Ray's Waterfront
Hands down, this is Seward's culinary high point, with attentive service, picture-postcard views and the finest seafood above water.
reviewed
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Blacksalt
There are many who claim BlackSalt serves both the best seafood and operates the best fish market in the city. We won’t lay those laurels down yet, but we’re also acknowledging that we hate having to drive or bus out here. As fish markets go, this one is very Georgetown-oriented, which is to say fresh, artesian, organic – and expensive. As restaurants go…well, we give it to chef Danny Wells: the man loves fish. He loves cooking fish, finding new flavors, delving into whatever culinary pleasure one can ratchet out of a sole, or skate or soft-shell crab. We’d say he’s spot-on with his shifting, innovative menu about 80% of the time, which is a fine ratio by our math.…
reviewed
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U
Kinkead’s
Robert Kinkead’s restaurant is one of the most revered of DC’s old-line establishments; where others have let quality slip and slide as their name has grown, or vanished altogether, this place endures and improves. Long before being a foodie or localvore was popular – in fact, back when a sign of status was having your Japanese tuna flown in from across the ocean – this seafood powerhouse was concentrating on artfully teasing the best flavors it could find from nearby fisheries and farms. For this commitment to the region and good food in general, we give our enthusiastic endorsement. Try the flounder with tasso ham and thank us later.
reviewed
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V
Treasure Ship
A landmark since the ’70s, this trip of a place houses three separate restaurants over three levels of a full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake’s 17th-century Golden Hind galleon. Hook’s Grille & Grog, at dock level, serves Caribbean cuisine (mains $11 to $24), and is open for lunch and dinner. On the 2nd level, the Main Dining Room is open at dinner, and serves steaks, seafood and huge salads (mains $16 to $30). Opening onto an open-air deck, the 3rd level contains Captain Crabby’s, with all-you-can-eat dinners of crab legs, shrimp and ribs (buffet $20 to $30), and cocktails served at the Deck Bar overlooking Grand Lagoon.
reviewed
