Following the success of its original outpost in Asbury Park, the restaurant wranglers behind Fish Ridgewood have cast their net once again, opening a second location, this one in Bergen County. But can Fish’s creative menu full of seafood favorites and seasonal, sustainable, and locally grown foods reel in the Ridgewood masses? I decided to take the bait to find out.
First, let’s dive into the look of the place, which is to die for. Set in a historic bank building, complete with a private room in the old vault, and featuring beautiful chandeliers descending from mile-high ceilings, Fish will have you thinking you’ve walked into a hip NYC dining spot.
Then there’s the beautiful bar area decked out with high-top tables, perfect for reeling in the after-work crowd, who will love Fish’s fun happy hour menu ($7 cocktails/wine/appetizers and $3 beers). Once you digest the scenery, you realize you’re smack dab in the middle of a shucking bar, with ocean-fresh clams and oysters ready to be served up. Its’ a fun way to start the seafood experience that awaits!
We started with an order of Little Neck Clams ($7), followed by Crispy Calamari ($12), which was served with shishito peppers and a scallion ginger aioli, and—the standout—Grilled Octopus ($16), which boasts a citrus marinade, shaved fennel, fried capers, arugula and a basil emulsion.
Okay, entrée time! (Note: Fish doesn’t scale back on portions, so make sure you go hungry.) We sampled several dishes, starting with the Lobster Truffle Tagliatelle ($24), which was served with shiitake mushrooms, fresh herbs, and a truffle emulsion. Not usually something I would order, but it was to DIE for!
Next up was the Porcini-Crusted Wolfish ($32), which didn’t disappoint, thanks to its tomato basil broth and sides of pancetta, caramelized onions, and asparagus.
Unable to resist anything called Lobster Pot Pie ($26), we enjoyed it’s flaky crust and creamy lobster, potato, and veggie filling. Finally, we said “yes, please” to the Molasses Glazed Monkfish ($32), which was accompanied by a lobster hash, bell peppers, onions and a basil oil.
Long story short, I’ll definitely be coming back. Congrats, Fish, you’ve caught me hook, line, and sinker.
Carla Sullivan is the dining editor for Bergen Mama and the founder of nyc dining resource MiniMunchers.com, she resides in Ridgewood with her husband and 3 kids.
Fish Ridgewood
54 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ
Website: http://www.citybytheseahospitalitygroup.com
Dinner Served Daily from 4pm
Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 4pm - 7pm; Weekends, Noon - 7pm
Lunch: Saturday & Sunday, Noon to 4pm
