Take A BITE Out Of Sheepshead: Five Spots For Seafood That Are Worth The Trip
On Thursday, May 28, our sister site Sheepshead Bites and our publisher, Corner Media Group, are hosting The BITE 2015: Sheepshead, where more than 20 restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and markets will be serving up 50-plus dishes that showcase the wide variety of cuisines available in the area. Curious about what the neighborhood on the water has to offer? Well, for one thing, seafood! Here are a few of the places – all BITE participants – where you can find some good fish dishes.
Il Fornetto 2902 Emmons Avenue, (718) 332-8494 Looking for a romantic meal right on the waterfront? This is the spot for you, with windows that open onto the bay. They’ve got a wide seafood selection, from options at dinner that include salmon (which we’ve enjoyed past preparations of), wood-oven baked whole branzino, and Delizie del Mar, which is half a fresh lobster, shrimp, clams, and mussels in a tomato sauce over linguine. Or stop in for brunch, when you can enjoy raw bar items alongside that Bloody Mary.
Coney Island Taste 2580 Coney Island Avenue, (718) 339-8371 Order the ceviche mixto at this spot and you’ll receive an authentic Peruvian version, a mountain of fish, shrimp, squid, and octopus, tossed with thinly sliced onions in a lime marinade, heaped next to a boiled potato, a sweet potato, and some boiled Peruvian choclo – a fat kerneled starchy corn with a mild taste. Order it spicy – don’t worry, it’s not much more than a kick – and enjoy the texture of each little critter, diving into the sweet potato or choclo to clear the acid off your palate and begin again.
Anatolian Gyro 2623 East 16th Street, (718) 769-4754 After a location change due to the terrible flooding of Superstorm Sandy, Anatolian owner Metin Turan brought on some talent from and his other area business, the Amberjack dinner-cruise ship, and with them, some new dishes. The Turkish cafe is a good bet for its namesake gyro, but don’t miss the octopus salad, which has an entire char-grilled, perfectly cooked octopus sliced and spread over the top. The tiniest of tentacles provide all the crunchiness in this dish — croutons need not apply.
Liman Restaurant 2710 Emmons Avenue, (718) 769-3322 Another Turkish spot, Liman also has a mean octopus salad, as well as a number of other seafood items in a setting that’s got a nod to the nautical. The menu has an extensive list of fish dishes, from char-grilled whole branzino, to shrimp shish kabob, to grilled salmon over a smoked eggplant puree. Plus, in the warmer weather, you can enjoy all that grilled fish in their outdoor area.
Yiasou Restaurant 2003 Emmons Avenue, (718) 332-6064 Take your taste buds across the Aegean sea to this Greek restaurant, named one of the city’s 10 best seafood joints by the Village Voice. “Don’t miss soft but ropey charred octopus tentacles dotted with capers in a red-wine vinaigrette,” they write. “Sold by the pound, your charcoal-grilled selections run to branzino, royal dorado, sea bass, and red snapper, while an excellent whole fried flounder holds down the bottom end of the fish menu, pricewise.” Enjoy the sidewalk seating when there’s a cool breeze.
Clemente’s Maryland Crab House 3939 Emmons Ave, 718) 646-7373 It’s all about the crabs at this waterfront joint. Located just off the Belt Parkway, Clemente’s serves up tender cakes, chowders and, on Mondays and Tuesdays, crab legs on all-you-can-eat platters. If you are feeling fancy, you can also order a 1.4 pound lobster, served with corn on the cob and a choice of rice or potatoes. There is also a nice raw bar, with a choice of little necks and blue point oysters, sold by the dozen. Staying true to its name, Clemente’s imports most of its shellfish from Maryland, and occasionally from the Carolinas, notes this New York Times review. Finally, there is the view. Clemente’s offers ample outdoor seating overlooking the Plumb Beach Channel and offering a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline. Eat indoors and then take your beer onto the misty deck for a refreshing, off-the-grid dining experience.