If you're a seafood fan but the restaurant options in your area fail to rise to the occasion,
don't worry! There are a number of chains shucking and cooking under-the-sea eats that are casting a
wide net across the United States. And the good news is, they're on the rise.
It's all about the shellfish at this casual East Coast-style oyster bar. The signature bivalve
deserves your attention and it's available three ways: raw on the half shell, steamed,
or chargrilled and topped with bacon plus your choice of jalapeno cheddar or parmesan garlic.
Clams, mussels, lobster, and crab fans have plenty of options to choose from, but it's the shrimp,
which are exclusively wild-caught from domestic waters, that should definitely be on your sonar.
One of the more inventive items on the menu is a twist on shrimp-n-grits, which showcases
grilled shrimp served atop grit cakes and topped with chorizo and smoked sausage gravy.
Another outside-the-box shrimp dish recently became a viral sensation when
Shuckin' Shack decided to fry them up in a batter prepared with Cinnamon Toast Crunch,
a cheeky nod to the infamous shrimp tails in the cereal box brouhaha.
One more reason to dine here is the chain's focus on the environment via partnerships with
sustainable fisheries. In this effort, the chain uses only farmed aquaculture oysters.
There's also a noticeable absence of straws, bags, and bottles made from Styrofoam or plastic.
As a result, 10 Shuckin' Shack locations have been certified Ocean Friendly Establishments.
Shuckin' Shacks started out scattered throughout the Eastern Seaboard between Maryland and Florida,
but it wasn't long before they hatched plans to start moving west.
Keep an eye out for an opening near you!
Arthur Treacher's is, without a doubt, a fast food legend, frying up fish & chips with hush
puppies and tartar sauce since 1969 — although the recipe dates back to a full century before that.
At its peak, there were more than 800 locations across the US, but with an increase in the price
of cod and decrease in demand for England's most notable food export, times have been tough. In
fact, the chain has dwindled down to one single link with just a single remaining standalone
restaurant at the time of this video’s release, located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Fortunes, however, may begin to shift upstream again.
Hot dog king Nathan's Famous has stepped up to relaunch Arthur Treacher's in an updated way:
First as a ghost kitchen concept, then as old-fashioned brick-and-mortar stores.
While in the past, customers may have been disappointed with the inferior fish being
served at Arthur Treacher's, plans are to upgrade the menu during the revamp,
with proposed items like shrimp and bacon cheese fries.
Certain markets can also expect a return to using quality cod, which is set to appear
in a 4-ounce fried fish sandwich that has the potential to be a standout in a crowded field.
If you are willing to shell out a few extra clams for a special occasion meal,
head to Truluck's, where pristine seafood is served in fancy digs
which will absolutely make you feel like you're living the good life.
The specialty of the house is crab, particularly of the stone variety. That's not surprising, since
Truluck's employs its very own fleet of boats in Florida that haul in the giant-clawed crustaceans.
But if you want a taste of that sweet meat, be sure to make a reservation during stone
crab season, between October 1 and May 15, because you won't find any frozen claws here.
Year-round, you can get your non-stone crab fix with a cool Crab Louie
and meaty crab cake for appetizers, then go big with a prime king crab leg.
And if someone in your party isn't in a seafood mood,
not to worry. Prime steaks and even a couple of plant-based mains are also on the menu.
Diners currently might have to head to one of their Texas, Florida, Illinois,
California, or Washington D.C. locations, so don't be surprised to see them expanding even more.
America's recent obsession with seafood boils just won't quit, and recent addition Crab Du
Jour is doing its part to keep the trend bubbling. The main event here starts with
choosing your favorite crustacean, available by the half pound. Next, select your sauce:
original Cajun, lemon pepper, garlic butter or dry, if you want to keep things simple.
*Chewing noises*
Pro tip? Go with the Du Jour Special, which brings together all four options to create
liquid gold. Finally, choose your spice level,
then await the arrival of your extremely messy, finger-licking delicious package of seafood.
And if seafood boils simply aren't your bag, not to worry. There are plenty of sandwich options
and baskets of fried seafood. Just be sure to go Cajun for your side of fries. Wash it all down
with a frosty beer or a hand-crafted cocktail, particularly one of the signature martinis.
Sound delicious? There's a good chance they're coming to an area near you, if they're not
there already. Crab Du Jour opened over 100 outposts between their 2019 launch in Raleigh,
North Carolina, and 2021. The plan was to have 200 locations by 2022, with 500 more to come by 2025.
Captain D's is among our favorite seafood chains,
and with over 50 years in the biz that's to be expected. The menu at this Southern-tinged
fast food old-timer is expansive, and even features lobster and crab.
While there are multiple grilled options on the menu, including blackened tilapia and
shrimp skewers, fried is the favored preparation here. We're particularly big fans of the Giant
Fish Sandwich which, as advertised, contains a double dose of batter-dipped filets and tartar
sauce — not to mention a whole lot of sodium (nearly 2000 mg per serving to be exact).
While plenty of folks across the country are well-acquainted with this seafood stalwart,
it is currently open in only 23 states. That's going to be on the rise, though:
Captain D's will be introduced to Utah in 2021.
Like its numerous competitors, Island Fin Poke offers a number of build-your-bowl options.
Raw fish — including sustainably sourced ahi tuna, spicy tuna,
and salmon — is the go-to protein pick, but you can also opt for cooked octopus and shrimp.
Landlubbers, you're covered here too — there's chicken, tofu, and even Spam.
Toppings include seaweed salad, wasabi peas, and pineapple & mango salsa, and the wide
variety of house-made, gluten-free sauces come in two waves: "marinating" then "finishing."
If choosing your own poke adventure seems overwhelming,
you can opt for one of the pre-selected bowl options. Make sure to save room for dessert,
and Disney fans especially will be delighted to find soft-serve pineapple Dole Whip on the menu.
Island Fin Poke franchises are scattered across the country, from coast to coast,
with plans to extend its reach across 13 states with a multiple-location push in West Florida.
This "Shark Tank" sensation owes some of its success to the Barbara Corcoran boost.
Since the prolific entrepreneur invested in Cousins on the show in 2012,
the company has grown from a single successful truck into a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Yes, it's actually owned by a pair of cousins, and the secret to their success — beyond
appearing on a wildly successful network reality series — is the ability to source
real deal, high-quality Maine lobster. Start with a bowl of lobster bisque,
then snack on crispy tater tots which are served alongside a 5-ounce lobster tail. Then, it's on to
the lobster roll with plenty of meat stuffed into a toasted, buttery bun. There are two options and
both are stellar. The classic Maine roll features lobster served chilled and dressed in mayo. If you
prefer your lobster cooked and dunked in drawn butter, the Connecticut Roll is more your taste.
There are taco and grilled cheese options too, but the rolls should be your focus.
Cousins has dozens of truck and brick & mortar franchises throughout the country,
and the enterprise continues to grow. It's not an exaggeration to say that a
meal here will open you up to a whole new world. It turns out that a food truck is
exactly where you want to go for the best, freshest lobster rolls around.
"Excuse me?"
"The lobster special."
"Did you just order lobster in a diner?"
Eddie V's is the place to go for upscale seafood served with plenty of Lone Star
swagger. That Texas two-step is front and center in the must-order Maine Lobster Tacos,
which are prepared with house made tortillas and a grilled sweet corn pico de gallo.
The Texas Redfish and the Jumbo Gulf Shrimp fit the bill too.
The restaurant’s pan-Asian influence is found in apps such as the yellowtail sashimi
and spicy, crispy Kung Pao Calamari, with wok-fried vegetables and cashews.
You also see it in impressive mains like Hong Kong-style steamed Chilean sea bass.
If it sounds like you can't go wrong, that's because you can't.
With nearly 30 locations from sea to shining sea,
Eddie V's appears destined to become the definitive name in fine seafood dining.
Launched in California, this self-proclaimed "modern seafood shack" keeps spreading its fins
across the country. Slapfish is one of the largest and fastest growing seafood chains in America,
and thanks to a partnership with franchise development company Fransmart — which has
worked with big names like Five Guys — there's a good chance you'll find a
location in your neck of the woods sometime soon.
Standards on the menu include New England clam chowder,
fish tacos, and shrimp cocktail. They do the trick, but keep an eye out for
the more creative fare like Chowder Fries and the Clobster grilled cheese.
The chain even introduced a limited edition surf & turf sandwich collaboration with Nathan's Famous,
which includes half a pound of ribeye steak with caramelized onions, American cheese,
and a quarter pound of butter-poached lobster in a bun. Sounds delicious? Absolutely.
The aim of Maryland-based Hook & Reel is "crustacean domination"
and with 60 locations and counting, it's a goal that isn't that far-fetched.
The chain is expanding fast, with fans that are hungry for Cajun-inspired eats.
The seafood boil anchors the menu and you know the drill: Pick your shellfish — which
you can mix and match — select the sauce and spice level, add some extras like potatoes,
corn-on-the-cob, or sausage. Then: open the bag, dig in, and make sure to use plenty of wet naps.
Beyond the boil, you'll also find baskets of fried seafood, calamari, oysters on the half shell,
seafood spaghetti marinara, and a selection of po' boys, the classic Louisiana sandwich.
Prices are reasonable and the vibe is festive so it's no surprise Hook & Reel is such a sensation.
The simplicity of the lobster roll means that the filling has to truly shine.
In other words, there's no hiding inferior meat. With Mason's Famous, you know you're getting
your money's worth since the budding lobster roll specialist exclusively sources lobster from Maine.
The main attraction on the limited menu are the mayo-y Classic and buttery Connecticut
lobster rolls. They're joined by a lobster BLT roll, a lobster salad roll,
plus a less expensive shrimp roll. When a place does just a few things really, really well,
there's just no reason for a massive menu.
Mason's has gradually been making its way down the East Coast,
and don't worry, if you're not on the eastern seaboard, there's still a good
chance you'll see one within driving distance — even if you're west of the Mississippi.
Ghost kitchens are scaring up plenty of business and C3 is getting in on the action.
While the company is behind multiple concepts, Krispy Rice may be the most promising venture.
Inspired by popular Los Angeles-based sushi chain Katsuya, the menu features
modern Japanese bites that can be ordered a la carte, or as part of a combination box.
The chain's namesake is prepared four ways but the original spicy tuna version can't be topped.
There is also a selection of standard nigiri sushi prepared with sustainable fish,
cut maki rolls, and soy paper-wrapped hand rolls, along with a shocking selection of items that
seem like they would be perfectly at home on the most high-class of sit-down sushi joints.
"What's that?"
"Sushi."
"Sushi?"
Krispy Rice is testing the waters in select major cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, New York,
Miami, and San Francisco, and it's available to order via the familiar big time delivery apps.
From there? Hopefully, it'll be onward to the rest of the country.
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