During Lent, many people practice skipping meat and fowl on Fridays. That can be a pretty difficult posture to practice, especially right now when Houston is beating the “Texas cuisine” schtick with a wet noodle at the rodeo. Images of pulled pork and barbecue, chicken-fried steak and a menagerie of meats-on-a-stick can make it hard to be a diligent Lenten observer.
Late last week, while we noshed on fried oysters and cod fritters at Pesca, we thought we might compile a list of great seafood dishes here in Houston. If you don’t do meatless Fridays but you’re a fan of fish, maybe there is something on this list that you haven’t yet tried. We hope it inspires you — and we’d love to know what we missed. Tell us on Facebook, or tweet us your favorite.
The Food Writers
Food writer, Mai Pham: Whole crispy garlic fish at Tony Thai (Click here to read the entire Whole Fish list compiled by Mai for the February-March issue of My Table.)
Houston Small Plates & Sips author, Erin Hicks: Charles Clark’s Indian chutney-glazed seabass at Ibiza, or herb-crusted tuna at Masraff’s.
Houston Chronicle contributor, Sarah Rufca: “My favorite fish dish of all time is the escolar walu walu at Uchi, but I recently learned what escolar does to your body — it isn’t pretty. So to be safe, I’ll say redfish meuniere at Brennan’s or Eddie V’s.”
EaterHouston editor, Eric Sandler: “I like seafood, but I don’t eat it that often. My picks are pretty conventional: the Freddie’s Special with nova lox and baked salmon at Kenny & Ziggy’s. Linguini with clams at Lasagna House and the fried shrimp at Barbecue Inn.”
Food writer, Amber Ambrose: “Pretty much anything and everything from Uchi. And fried fish at Captain Benny’s for the other extreme.”
The Industry Professionals
GM of Wine Down Bistro, Chris Colin: Shrimp Gilhooley’s (grilled oysters) at Gilhooley’s in San Leon, and the shrimp and grits at Wine Down Bistro.
Eatsie Boys chef Matt Marcus: Oysters (in general) at Danton’s.
Just Dinner chef Daniel Toro: Hot crawfish at Crawfish and Noodles and crab lollipops at Reef.
Damian’s GM Johnny B. Mandola: “Capellini-crusted flounder. It’s one of my favorite off-the-menu items I order from chef Napoleon at Damian’s Cucina Italiana.”
Restaurateur Joe Schneider: Michiru‘s tuna dumplings.
The Enthusiastic Public
Drew Kennard: “Truluck’s stone crab is pretty high on my list. Also, the tasting menu at Uchi and fried calamari at the original Carrabba’s.”
Jade Brooker: Lemon pepper catfish at Pappas Burger.
Lauren Gallagher: Campechana at Goode Co. Seafood.
Lindsay McMackin Sturm: Fried oysters at Liberty Kitchen.
Holly McCarthy Chervnsik: Serafin’s fish tacos at Fish City Grill.
Michael Fulmer: Whole snapper at Tampico on Airline.
Brittany Larsen: The red snapper at The Bird and The Bear. Or, shrimp and goat cheese grits at Brennan’s.