Seafood Soup and Seafood Bisque: Where to Find the Best Ones
I am sure that East Coasters will argue with me that the best chowders, soups and seafood bisque can only be found in New England. I beg to differ and will prove my point beyond a reasonable doubt. California and specifically some of the beach cities down the coast have the greatest seafood chowders, soups and bisques to be found anywhere.
We have to start with perhaps the greatest seafood restaurant in all California and that is The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach. Newport Beach is best known for its wonderful wide sand beaches, volleyball, and bikini clad beauties. This is one of the best surfing areas in the world and has some of the best weather in the country year round. There are posh mansions with yachts moored outside of them in Back Bay harbor.
The Crab Cooker at 2200 Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach has the very best New England style clam chowder this side of Chesapeake Bay. There is usually a long line waiting to get in and you may have to wait a while for a table, but be patient and you will be rewarded. The dcor is strictly nautical with lots of memorabilia and fishing pictures on the walls. All the food is brought to you on paper plates and bowls so dont expect anything fancy. You have to start out with a bowl (cup size) of the red clam chowder. You get a whole plastic container full of breadsticks and little sourdough bread nuggets (delicious and crunchy) that you put into your soup. The menu is not all that extensive but the baked mussels appetizer is great and worth getting. The fresh fish can be ordered on skewers as well as the shrimp and comes accompanied by cheddar cheese mashed potatoes with a crispy bottom crust from where they cook it on the skillet. Yum. Of course they also have crab and lobster. This is one fantastic place. Do yourself a huge favor and get there as soon as you can.
The best seafood bisque I have ever sampled was in La Jolla at The Crab Catcher, 1298 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California. This beautiful restaurant is located right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean in exclusive and beautiful downtown La Jolla. The menu at this landmark restaurant is incredible but also way pricier than the casual Crab Cooker. Start with the crab bisque and you will taste the most incredible seafood bisque you will ever try. Creamy and smoky with hints of lemon and spices, this is truly an unforgettable dish. At $12 on the dinner menu it is a bit pricey for a small dish. The fried calamari is spectacular here and the rest of the fish and crab dishes are excellent. Be ready to spend at least $100 for two if not more.
I worked up a mean appetite just thinking about my favorite restaurants. Time to eat!
I am sure that East Coasters will argue with me that the best chowders, soups and seafood bisque can only be found in New England. I beg to differ and will prove my point beyond a reasonable doubt. California and specifically some of the beach cities down the coast have the greatest seafood chowders, soups and bisques to be found anywhere.
We have to start with perhaps the greatest seafood restaurant in all California and that is The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach. Newport Beach is best known for its wonderful wide sand beaches, volleyball, and bikini clad beauties. This is one of the best surfing areas in the world and has some of the best weather in the country year round. There are posh mansions with yachts moored outside of them in Back Bay harbor.
The Crab Cooker at 2200 Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach has the very best New England style clam chowder this side of Chesapeake Bay. There is usually a long line waiting to get in and you may have to wait a while for a table, but be patient and you will be rewarded. The dcor is strictly nautical with lots of memorabilia and fishing pictures on the walls. All the food is brought to you on paper plates and bowls so dont expect anything fancy. You have to start out with a bowl (cup size) of the red clam chowder. You get a whole plastic container full of breadsticks and little sourdough bread nuggets (delicious and crunchy) that you put into your soup. The menu is not all that extensive but the baked mussels appetizer is great and worth getting. The fresh fish can be ordered on skewers as well as the shrimp and comes accompanied by cheddar cheese mashed potatoes with a crispy bottom crust from where they cook it on the skillet. Yum. Of course they also have crab and lobster. This is one fantastic place. Do yourself a huge favor and get there as soon as you can.
The best seafood bisque I have ever sampled was in La Jolla at The Crab Catcher, 1298 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California. This beautiful restaurant is located right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean in exclusive and beautiful downtown La Jolla. The menu at this landmark restaurant is incredible but also way pricier than the casual Crab Cooker. Start with the crab bisque and you will taste the most incredible seafood bisque you will ever try. Creamy and smoky with hints of lemon and spices, this is truly an unforgettable dish. At $12 on the dinner menu it is a bit pricey for a small dish. The fried calamari is spectacular here and the rest of the fish and crab dishes are excellent. Be ready to spend at least $100 for two if not more.
I worked up a mean appetite just thinking about my favorite restaurants. Time to eat!