May 30, 2008, Newsletter Issue #66: How to Order at a Seafood Restaurant

Tip of the Week

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of both your dining dollars and culinary tastes:

Ask the server where the seafood item you are interested in came from (its origin). Also ask how it was shipped (overnight?). You need to find out how fresh the seafood is before you eat it. If you do not see something you like on the menu, simply ask the server if the chef can prepare it for you. Sometimes the menu size limits the items listed on it.Ask about the daily specials. Your server should automatically tell you about them. If not, just ask. If you are not satisfied with the answer, or knowledge level, of your server ask for someone else. Ask for any special dietary treatment. If you are on a specific meal plan, or are allergic to certain foods, just ask to have them removed from the dish you are interested in. Seafood restaurants, and any good restaurant in general, will accommodate your needs. Ask for substitutions. Sometimes specials specifically state “no substitutions allowed.” Anything else on the menu will probably be able to be substituted. If the seafood restaurant serves baked potatoes, ask when the potatoes were actually cooked. Many times a restaurant will bake them in the morning and keep them under a hot lamp (or warm area) until ready to be served. This may make for an untasty, unfresh baked potato. Ask to have any leftovers put in a carry-out container. Do not be concerned about how it looks to others. This is an easy way to make two meals out of one. If you are uncertain about how to eat a shellfish, ask the server how. Finer restaurants will train their servers to be prepared to help. 

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