Your Seafood Dinner

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I live on the Coast and not much into fancy but I like lower price comfortable. I have one lady who will deliver a Seafood boil for 2 people for $25.
Or I can order at lunch in a area restaurant shrimp & grits $17 to $22
Or when we take a day drive on the Harley we eat Captain Nance's waterfront Calabash NC and get my Calabash fried shrimp right off the boat before 4 pm under $20.

 

[4wd]

Red Lobster. Always disappointing.

Yeah, this thread got me thinking it’s been a long - long time.

Went last night - wasted $74. Back to my mom and pop …

 

[PMT133]

The biscuits used to be alright... that may have been one of my first culinary excursions though. Figured out how to make them from scratch, much better, and haven't been back in probably 15 years. Never really liked it. The only thing I actually thought was decent at olive garden they pulled from the menu too several years ago. Turns out I really don't eat anything at the chains. Wing Stop is... passable, but my local bar does them much better. Could also be the booze.

 

[4wd]

The biscuits used to be alright... that may have been one of my first culinary excursions though. Figured out how to make them from scratch, much better, and haven't been back in probably 15 years. Never really liked it. The only thing I actually thought was decent at olive garden they pulled from the menu too several years ago. Turns out I really don't eat anything at the chains. Wing Stop is... passable, but my local bar does them much better. Could also be the booze.

There was a decent Sunday crowd - but considering there are very few left - It’s time for Fast Eddie to buy them

 

[Legs4Arms]

I live on the Coast and not much into fancy but I like lower price comfortable. I have one lady who will deliver a Seafood boil for 2 people for $25.
Or I can order at lunch in a area restaurant shrimp & grits $17 to $22
Or when we take a day drive on the Harley we eat Captain Nance's waterfront Calabash NC and get my Calabash fried shrimp right off the boat before 4 pm under $20.

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The shrimp and grits pic made me mouth water

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

The shrimp and grits pic made me mouth water

I must give credit, I took that pic at the Rustic Table Restaurant, Pawleys Island SC, Its the BEST Shrimp and Grits I have had, I go back a few times per year as it lives in my head and calls my name! Good Stuff!

 

[Kira]

Much of it here is funneled through NYC... that says it all.

Given the proximity of NYC to where you live (Maryland/Virginia?), it seems reasonable.
So was that just a cheap shot or a thoughtful comment on distribution? just askin'.

For a "parallel reference", the demand for fruits and vegetables from the Northeast is a main driver of the entire produce industry.
Certain things follow others.

 

[Zee09]

Given the proximity of NYC to where you live (Maryland/Virginia?), it seems reasonable.
So was that just a cheap shot or a thoughtful comment on distribution? just askin'.

For a "parallel reference", the demand for fruits and vegetables from the Northeast is a main driver of the entire produce industry.
Certain things follow others.

A thoughtful comment on distribution...I'm a customer

 

[GON]

About 25 years ago I was working at Hurlburt Field in the panhandle of Florida.

My late Dad was very exact about seafood being fresh and wild raised. So, I can’t get that out of the decision making process.

When I would ask the many restaurants on this oceanfront environment the story was all the same. Nothing was local fisherman caught, everything served was frozen and from some other place.

That is why I almost never order seafood in a restaurant. Very rarely, with a few exceptions, is the patron getting local caught, fresh wild seafood.

 

[4wd]

About 25 years ago I was working at Hurlburt Field in the panhandle of Florida.

My late Dad was very exact about seafood being fresh and wild raised. So, I can’t get that out of the decision making process.

When I would ask the may restaurants on this oceanfront environment the story was all the same. Nothing was local fisherman caught, everything served was frozen and from some other place.

That is why I almost never order seafood in a restaurant. Very rarely, with a few exceptions, is the patron getting local caught, fresh wild seafood.

Hmmm … just left a place with their own boats …

 

[GON]

Hmmm … just left a place with their own boats …

Running drugs and R22 Freon into the U.S., and using the fishing rigs as a cover? Did they get the fish with the fentanyl as part of the guise transfer from the Chinese fishing fleets?

Fresh red snapper, that is about it of what I will
Buy from a restaurant. Anything else, I will charter a boat to catch it.

 

[4wd]

Running drugs and R22 Freon into the U.S., and using the fishing rigs as a cover? Did they get the fish with the fentanyl as part of the guise transfer from the Chinese fishing fleets?

Fresh red snapper, that is about it of what I will
Buy from a restaurant. Anything else, I will charter a boat to catch it.

Instead of focusing on dad jokes - be nice and I can PM a place … (Not posting - no waiting lines now) …

 

[GON]

Instead of focusing on dad jokes - be nice and I can PM a place … (Not posting - no waiting lines now) …

Please do pm.

We
May be in your neck of the woods over the next year looking at properties, from
Fair hope, AL to the hill country.

It would be awesome to get some real and fresh seafood. I have seen the shrimp farms up close
In SE Asia, and crazy to think people eat shrimp from those so called farms.

 

[Cropduster172]

The aforementioned Lobster House in Cape May, NJ has knocked it out of the park on each of my visits.

I once worked with a woman whose pop was a railroader. They'd take their "busman's holiday" meals at the Lobster House.

We eat there a few times/year. Mostly late fall and winter and early spring. Never summer...way too crowded. Their seafood market is outstanding.
We buy different stuff and cook at home. Their Manhattan chowder is excellent. Plus, we've got the hit and run tactic down...park...in and out fast. They always ask if you want to ice your purchase down and they fill a plastic bag with ice and pack on top of whatever you bought. Earns a $2 tip every time.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

The biscuits used to be alright... that may have been one of my first culinary excursions though. Figured out how to make them from scratch, much better, and haven't been back in probably 15 years. Never really liked it. The only thing I actually thought was decent at olive garden they pulled from the menu too several years ago. Turns out I really don't eat anything at the chains. Wing Stop is... passable, but my local bar does them much better. Could also be the booze.

I now do very little Chain food. However, I may be the only person who still loves Hooters breaded wings and medium hot sauce. That said I will only visit perhaps only 1-2 times a year but I still crave Hooters wings from time to time. The Hooters wings may be great one night bad the next and the staff / dining experience is seldom even passable. TGI Fridays, NOPE, Hate it! Outback, NOPE its not 1990 anymore and my taste buds have grown up.

Not my first choice but I can always find something at Cracker Barrel. When someone in the group says "lets go to Cracker Barrel" as I can always do breakfast or find something passable. The Cracker Barrel food has improved in my area this last year and the service is always good but even so I limit my visits to about 2-3 times a year but its okay food.

I can do a Jersey Mikes or Jimmy John's / Firehouse sub for lunch but thats about it as far as chain restaurants. Five guys burgers, NOPE, expensive for one person and Five Guys always ask for a tip. I don't mind tipping and DO tip well but at least bring me my food!

I bet its been 20+ years I have visited a Olive Garden or Red Lobster as so many better mom and pop options in my area with fresh not frozen seafood and we make those Cheddar bay biscuits at home with my late Mothers made from scratch She-crab soup recipe or my take on ( figured out the recipe ) Dolly Pardon Stampede Soup ( Creamy Vegetable )...

Growing up in the South I DO miss those old school Cafeteria restaurants, J&K, K&W, Morrison's etc...
You could swing in quick for lunch or early dinner when out shopping with kinds in tow and everyone could quickly get something fast, hot and very inexpensive and GOOD!

The last Cafeteria in my area closed 8-10 years ago and we miss it! My now adult kids still miss those wonderful fresh made from scratch breaded chicken tenders, I miss the slightly sweet baked spaghetti as that stuff was true comfort food and was good for the Soul.

I will admit I am hooked on Chick-fil-A...

 

[Vil_Riker]

This was me two weeks ago. 3 course seafood, beer and sparkling water came to 55 Euro. Couldn't finish all of it so the neighborhood cats were happy afterwards. Most of the fish are caught locally (the restaurant was at a fishermen's' marina), except for the octopus and calamari.

 

[Patman]

Instead of focusing on dad jokes - be nice and I can PM a place … (Not posting - no waiting lines now) …

In all seriousness, if you find a good restaurant don’t you want more people to know about it so that it gets more business? I certainly wouldn’t want a restaurant that I love to be empty all the time and risk going out of business. In fact I belong to a Facebook group called Restaurants of Niagara and I constantly post about the great restaurants that I visit every Saturday. I love to see them thrive and word of mouth is their best way to succeed

 

[PMT133]

In all seriousness, if you find a good restaurant don’t you want more people to know about it so that it gets more business? I certainly wouldn’t want a restaurant that I love to be empty all the time and risk going out of business. In fact I belong to a Facebook group called Restaurants of Niagara and I constantly post about the great restaurants that I visit every Saturday. I love to see them thrive and word of mouth is their best way to succeed

I go both ways with this... a couple of the local places I really enjoy are doing more than well enough but it could be better.

But there was one place that blew up really big, opened a few other locations and in the process streamlined the recipes and was never quite the same. It was the idea of what it was but if you had the original before they really blew up you'd be quite disappointed. I don't want that to happen as it's happened a few times now to various spots I really enjoyed. (Not the expansion but cutting corners to keep up with demand)

For the record, if the place is exceptional, I spread the word.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Hmmm … just left a place with their own boats …

My favorite Seafood Place in Calabash NC shrimp boat is parked out back!