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| - I really wanted to like this place. In fact, for the first half of my visit I did very much. I love raw bars and have eaten at them all over the world, from the finest dining locations to a shack next to a wharf. The thought of a so far highly acclaimed raw bar being just down the street from my house was exciting. We had tried to get in during the dinner rush before to no avail, so I came in during the slower mid-afternoon lunch hour.
I had a selection of oysters and shrimp, which were all fresh, firm, and delicious. There's an extensive wine and cocktail list. The server was knowledgeable and attentive. I ordered a stone crab claw and that's when things went south. The stone crab claw meat was slimy and separated from the shell, with a gelatinous sheen on it. It smelled strongly of ammonia and the taste was impossible to stomach. After attempting two bites I discreetly let the server know I thought the claw wasn't fresh, quietly described the texture, flavor and smell issues, and sent it back. No big deal so far. At this point the server silently took the crab claw back into the kitchen. He came out minutes later to inform me that the chef had examined and tried the claw and felt it was fresh. He explained they do freshness checks every morning. He suggested that perhaps the flavor of this crab was too just intense for me. Basically, despite the slimy, smelly crab in front of us, I must be mistaken or not have good enough taste.
He did take the uneaten claw off my bill but the whole experience soured me on this place. First, the crab had clearly turned as evidenced by the texture and strong ammonia smell. The flavor was unbearable. If the chef feels that that is fresh, then there are bigger problems in the kitchen of this seafood restaurant. Second, there was no need to try and lecture me about when crab is good, or when it's bad. I'm the customer, it wasn't to my liking, and that's what matters. And I'll tell you, from my experience eating shellfish all over the world: this was bad. Finally, about ten hours later at home in my bathroom I had what I think is confirmation it was no good. I won't get into details but it was not a pleasant night. While I guess I can't definitively pinpoint the culprit the crab is definitely a "person of interest." I wonder if the chef who "tried" the crab had a similar night, and if so, whether he or she would like to revise their conclusion.
Again, I went in excited for excellent seafood close to home, and had a great time up until this episode. Now I can say I'm never going back. There are other places around town--many more than there were a few years ago--that offer the raw bar experience. and they won't be obstinate if something is off. You can decide on your own but we're choosing to go elsewhere.
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