To Be Fresh-It Must Be Naked!
Written: Mar 11 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Incredibly fresh fish, upbeat atmosphere, good prices.
Cons: Can be noisy.
|
|
|
| vickie's Full Review: Naked Fish |
This is the motto of "Naked Fish" a new series of fish restaurants in the Greater Boston area which feature wood fired grilled fish, vegetables and other "goodies." This motto is strikingly similar to the "Legal Seafood" (another local chain of premium seafood restaurants in Greater Boston) and I think that this newbie, "Naked Fish" is poised to give "Legals" competition like it has never seen yet!.
"Naked Fish" is based on a Cuban theme. Each restaurant has a very open layout-kind of a "contemporary loft" look and feel with a lot of brushed metal, wood, exposed and painted ducting and just enough neon to make the place look the "hoppin' spot" that it is. There is always upbeat, Cuban-style music playing. Downside to this-it's pretty noisy! While this is a great place to go just about anytime-it's too noisy for a feeling of intimacy "with that special person" or a confidential business meal.
The menu at "Naked Fish" is so healthy that you can feel positively noble about going out to eat at a restaurant! Don't get me wrong, there are some "sinful" items to choose from but you can eat smart and lean with little effort or attention! The lunch menu is very similar to dinner, with smaller portions, smaller prices and a slightly more limited selection of entrees.
What this restaurant is known for is the "Naked Fish" section of the menu: fish that is brushed with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon and then grilled over an open wood fire. Dinner choices include: Yellow Fin Tuna, Swordfish, Mahi Mahi, Arctic Char, Salmon Fillet, Tilapia, Farm Raised Trout, Red Snapper and Maine Lobster. I have tried the Yellow Fin, Swordfish, Mahi Mahi and Salmon-and never had any better, anywhere! The "Naked Fish" dinner entrees range from $13.95 to $19.95 (lunch prices for the same range from $8.95 to $11.25).
I am a sucker for fresh fish and must admit that I have never sampled from the "Wood Fired Meats" section of the dinner menu. However, I have watched many carried past my table by waiters and they looked (and smelled) so good that I almost got out of my seat to get a better look! The "Wood Fired Meats" is a selection of steaks, chops, chicken and ribs which are grilled over an open wood fire (there are GREAT looking crusts on the steaks!). Prices range from $13.95 to $15.95.
There is also a selection of meat and fish dishes which are prepared on the stove (as opposed to the grill). The Seafood Paella (lobster, shrimp and mussels over coconut saffron rice) and the Grilled Sugar Cane Skewered Shrimp are two of the House favorites. However, you guessed it, I've never ordered a dinner meal other than the wood grilled fish-it's just too good! This section of the menu is called the "Not-So-Naked" and dinner prices range from $13.95 to $19.95.
Every entrée comes with the choice of 2 (1 at lunch) accompaniments. My favorites are the wood grilled vegetables: broccolini, asparagus, butternut squash and string beans. Other choices include sauteed mushrooms, mashed banana sweet potatoes, black beans & rice, coconut steamed rice and more!
There are soups and salads (which I rarely have room for). Their mesclun is really a wonderful selection of baby greens-never anything less than the freshest and most tender ingredients I've had! The appetizers selection is also plentiful and fresh. I have to mention the Fried Oysters ($6.95) because I have NEVER had better-not in Boston, not in New Orleans, not in Houston, not in Paris-nowhere! They are unbelievably fresh, dipped in feathery light corn meal fried and served with lemon as well as a dynamite scallion and leek tartar sauce.
The lunch menu has an additional "Sandwiches" section that features some tasty specials with Cuban themes. My personal recommendation is their Cuban sandwich: pork, ham and Swiss on a Cuban roll; pressed and grilled.
The bar area of "Naked Fish" in my area is really busy, full of young professionals. They have a huge menu of 14 different drinks with Cuban themes-way to many to include here. Prices for the Cuban specialties range from $4.95 (for the Cuban Lady) to $6.75 (the Jazzman). The Cuban Lady is Cruzan pineapple rum, Medou and pineapple juice. The Jazzman is Malacca Gin (Tanqueray), Cointreau, Blue Curacao and freshly squeezed OJ and lime juice. Personally, I stick with simple things like wine. The wine list is adequate-nothing super special.
It's fun to go to "Naked Fish". If you get a chance, you should give it a try. Watch out Legals-this is your competition for the new decade!
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
vickie
|
|
Location: Waltham, MA
Reviews written: 75
Trusted by: 113 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.