Cuisine Scene: Seafood

Walking into Big Catch feels a bit like arriving at a Bayou family reunion. Its warm, cozy interior lends to the feeling, as do the picnic tables–some for groups of four, some to accommodate much larger or multiple parties. And then there’s the food, including Cajun Boils that allow diners to get elbow deep into their meals, whether it’s shrimp, crab, crawfish or mussels. There’s a whole lot more, including lobster rolls, gumbo, fried and charbroiled fish, and a Happy Hour that extends until 7 p.m. every night.

For a place well-known for its innovative, chef-driven, seasonal cuisine, Roe does a remarkable job of offering a lot of options for just about any taste. It prides itself not only on its creative coastal cuisine, but giving old favorites new looks and flavors, whether it be clam chowder topped with clams on the shell or the porcini-dusted scallops. On the weekends, Roe has one of the most popular brunches in the city. Located at the crux of the Belmont Shore shopping and dining district and equally popular Bayshore beach, Roe’s open concept dining room and patio offers some of the best people-watching in the city.

If ever a place filled the bill of “Not fast food, but good food fast,” Pier 76 is it. Employing an artisanal approach, dishes made of locally sourced ingredients are prepared in-house to order. Look no further than its popular Shrimp Hipster Bowl, with its charred white shrimp, red quinoa, brown rice, hemp seed hummus, beet, arugula and lemon tahini as a delicious example. There are numerous grilled fish options, gumbo, a great clam chowder and a charred brussel sprout and broccoli dish that even people who hate brussel sprouts and broccoli love. And, word to the wise, when they are offering their heavenly mussels over french fries … Go!

They serve the food on paper plates here. Yep, Berth 55 is that place. Located in a corrugated metal bungalow that occupies a space next to working fishing boats, you’ll smell the freshness of the fish as you approach Berth 55 and you’ll see the freshness in the display case colored with gorgeous cuts of fish and shellfish. You’ll find that day’s specials scrawled on a piece of butcher’s paper stuck to the shop wall near the entrance. Shrimp is always a favorite choice, whether grilled, fried, placed in a taco or in a combo with lobster. Seabass, salmon and halibut are popular grilled choices as are lobster and the clam chowder. You can take the food to go or eat it at the picnic tables available outside, but be on guard for the ever-present birds; locals aren’t the only ones who love this place.