2013 Guide to Good Eats: Best Seafood

These seafood restaurants are the best that Dallas has to offer. Photo Courtesy: Tahir Hashmi
These seafood restaurants are the best that Dallas has to offer. Photo Courtesy: Tahir Hashmi

By Steven Doyle

20 Feet Seafood Joint is a simple neighborhood spot for great seafood created by two award-winning chefs taking life a little easier at their East Dallas restaurant. Look for crazy good fish and chips, fried clams and the creamiest chowder you can find in Dallas. For the non-seafood fan, look for the house-made ramen with rich and flavorful pork belly, 1146 Peavy Rd., Dallas.

Spoon is the new restaurant opened by Top Chef John Tesar who has worked across the country including at the Mansion on Turtle Creek. We are excited to see this new addition to Dallas. Look for extremely refined seafood dishes flown in fresh daily. First-timers will want to take part in the chef’s tasting menu, 8220 Westchester, Park Cities.

Driftwood shares its parking lot with Bolsa Mercado in Oak Cliff and serves refined seafood dishes such as an amuse-sized lobster roll, and delicious fish and chips (here called frites for their certain classiness), and the most ethereal grilled octopus you can find this side of Davy’s Locker, 642 W Davis, Dallas.

TJ’s Seafood Market and Grill is an extension of the old seafood market located on Forest Lane at Preston. That location sells only seafood to go, and will do limited preparations, such as steaming your lobsters. The new location has seats and invites you to order from the menu or choose your seafood from the case and suggest your own cooking style. Look for the very freshest seafood in Dallas to fly through these doors, 4212 Oak Lawn, Dallas.

Oceanaire is located in the Dallas Galleria and has a strong presence as one of the top rated seafood restaurants in Dallas. Look for the best crab cake delivered in the area along with strong entrees and an incredible oyster selection not found on any menu in North Texas, 13340 Dallas Parkway, Dallas.

Hook, Line and Sinker is old-school Dallas seafood offering quality preparations such as fish and chips, oysters and  crawfish. The restaurant attracts a crowd of hungry regulars looking for cold beer and hot seafood, 3103 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.

The Boiling Crab is one of our city’s hidden gems and we are not helping the place by mentioning them here. Look for a long wait that is well worth it at this mostly steamed seafood joint. The prize is the crawfish that are served large and in charge. This is where you bring your Cajun friends who brag about their crawfish, 10560 Walnut, Dallas.

Seabreeze Seafood Market is Plano’s answer to all things seafood. What it doesn’t have, it can get. All the seafood is flown in fresh daily and can be taken home to cook, or served at one of their ample tables. Look for hard-to-find fish. The lobster roll is on the ‘must try’ list, 4017 Preston, Plano.