Seamore's: A Faux Coastal Sanctuary for Seafood Devotees
Hi Everyone! I'm pretty pumped to talk about this one. It's called Seamore's and they serve fresh maritime treats that will take you straight to the waterfront. Seamore's is owned by Michael Chernow, the mastermind behind the Meatball Shop. They have a really nice beachy vibe going on that drowns out the chaos of this metropolis.
I really liked the high ceiling and the huge windows that let in a lot of natural light. The bar and open kitchen were nice and lively. On the back side of the restaurant, they have this huge black wall with a ton of different pictures of fish, presumably the types of fish they serve, with flavor descriptions for each one. Each day, there are bright orange long handle spoons placed next to the fresh fish of the day.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Write some comments below if you were able to try it out :)
During our visit, we started with the Poké, a traditional Hawaiian appetizer that is made with raw fish. Poké is popularly made with ahi, or Yellowfin Tuna. With the growing popularity of raw fish like sashimi, sushi, and ceviche, poké is now experiencing the same trend. Poké is kind of like ceviche. But, there is a distinct difference between the two. Ceviche will always be bright and acidic in flavor. While they are both raw fish dishes, poké is often more savory and bold.
Anyway, Seamore's poké was delightful. It's made with Ponzu, Avocado, and Peanuts. Ponzu is a soy sauce seasoned with citrus flavors. We cleaned that little bowl dry. It's as if the fish never came out in the first place. The chips were definitely the perfect complement. Again, we were merciless; none of those chips survived.
For our main dishes, we shared the Blackened Catfish Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and the "Reel Deal". The catfish was superb. It was just an awesome, saucy mess. The bread was nicely buttered and toasted. Although the whole thing was falling apart from all the sauce and ingredients, it was still enjoyable. The fish was so soft that it was like biting into a fluffy cloud of joy. The sandwich was also ridiculously creamy and rich given that it came with crushed avocado and a citrus aioli. I've always been a fan of the Peppercorn Catfish Sandwich at Num Pang so I really enjoyed Seamore's version.
For the "Reel Deal", your options depend on the "Daily Landing", or the catch of the day. These choices are the same fishes that have bright orange long handle spoons next to them on the wall. During our visit, we were offered either Mackerel, Porgy, or Longfin Squid. We chose the porgy. When it came, it had an unappetizing looking char as if it were overcooked. To our surprise, it was neither overcooked nor dry.
The fish had a nice, smoky taste and aroma that we were basically rendered emotionally overwhelmed, as if we just watched the Titanic. Porgy, also known as Sea Bream (probably because it has a more marketable name), is a funny-looking shallow-water fish. It's delicate in texture and mild in flavor, kind of like Snapper. We got it with a Harissa Cashew sauce.
Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili pepper paste. It was divine. I poured that sauce over everything and mixed it all together. I put it in my Catfish Sandwich. I even dipped the Sweet Potato Fries in it.
The Reel Deal also comes with several sides that include a Green, a Grain, and a Vegetable. Not so sure how they distinguish between a green and a vegetable because they sound like the same thing. But, on the day of our visit, the fish came with Sauteed Spinach with Garlic, Roasted & Pickled Beets, and Farro with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes. There isn't too much I want to say about the sides. But, I will mention that it tasted super healthy, fresh, and was deceivingly filling.