Courthouse seafood: report

[Science Chick]

We stopped in on Sat. afternoon for a quick lunch, after hearing my positive reports on the boards.

I had the fish sandwich and my DC had the fish and chips. Both fish were outstanding. Crisp, light batter tightly clung to the fish, without a hint of greasiness. The sandwich was served on a french style roll that was very large and "fluffy", so I opted not to eat it....it would be better on a more traditional bun. Great homemade tartar sauce. The fries and onion rings were meh. The low note was the cole slaw, which was clearly shipped in from somewhere else. It had an odd pungent taste and was HORRIBLE. I returned it, asking if it was made on the premises. My suspicions were confirmed, as I was told it was not. I told the counter girl that it was dreadful and she said "I love it". She asked the owner if I could get a refund and they begrudgingly gave me back my $1. She said that their coleslaw was "an acquired taste". I'm sorry, maybe challenging cheeses or odd musky mushrooms might take time to grow accustomed to, but cole slaw should just be good, no excuses.

Anyway, we'll definitely return for the fish and seafood.......I'll just get a garden salad if I want something green on the side!

[Bob MacAdoo]

Stopped in for the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich today.

With soda, cost was $10.40.

The crab was fresh, sweet, juicy and large the body practically filled the (sturdy) bun. I enjoyed it with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of tabasco.

Get 'em while they are kicking!

[mmocpi]

I agree that the cole slaw is bad but the worst sin of all is the chowder - there are no lumps in it at all - they seem to grind everything together ... it is really quite terrible.

The fried fish, however, is divine. The Wednesday extra large fish and chips is a great buy.

The best thing of all is their fried sole - very hard to find well fried fresh sole, even in Boston.

[Mr. Mack]

i have tried a good portion of their menu, and i learned to stick with the fried/battered stuff. if you do that it is a solid neighborhood place. i never touch their fries at all either. i have tried other things like their clam chowder, crab cakes, stuffed clams, etc. and wasn't impressed.

my favorite thing on the menu is the soft shell sandwich when it is in season. i must have eaten 50 of them last year.

[yumyum]

I like the fish here too, not so much the chips. Pity.

I had no idea they do softshell crab sandwiches. Any chance you can give us the heads-up when the season starts?

Also, do you buy fish from them? I like New Deal further down Cambridge Street myself, but would be curious who you like more.

[itaunas]

Courthouse's sides are pretty forgettable overall, although the rice pilaf is pretty good. The fries have improved over the last year, so I do order them from time to time (I used to skip them for rice). They used to have decent dessert, but cut out some of the options and salad is pretty forgettable. For baked stuff I stick to stuff like Bluefish (they do it cajun or in butter pretty decently). And their lobster roll is sometimes outstanding, sometimes just decent (no filler, toasted not grilled bun). It also pays to check the 12 specials on the board or ask them if you phone in an order because they have some amazing deals on fresh fish in season. Before the restaurant they fried fish in the shop on Wednesdays and Fridays, which is why fried fish (with a slightly heavy portuguese breading) is their specialty.

Something that I keep posting, but no hound has picked up on is you can buy fish at the fish market and pay $1 more per-lb to have it cooked at the restaurant (including the soft shell crabs, but the sandwich is cheap).

There are a couple of us who prefer New Deal to Courthouse for fish shopping, but the New Deal fans are bit louder. I shop both and New Deal is definitely better for Sashimi and some shellfish, plus they occasionally have amazing cheese. However, I just have had better service from Courthouse, including several cases with Carl where he didn't clean the fish the way I asked (his father has been excellent). Courthouse has more selection, plus the great portuguese selection... the olives in the trash cans (lined with food grade bags), the picked hot peppers, the 2lbs of salt cod pieces for $10, etc. I check both all the time, but Courthouse just works better for me. Plus you have never seen parrot fish and other things at New Deal.

[yumyum]

Oh wow. Don't go disparaging my secret crush Carl. I've never had anything less than great service at New Deal, except for those rare occasions (like Christmas eve) when things are OUT OF CONTROL because of the holiday.

But your post reminds me of the last time I went to Courthouse looking for something simple to throw on the grill. The guy there recommended a branzino, gutted and scaled it on the spot and told me exactly how to prepare it. I think the whole fish was about $4.

[itaunas]

Its really not a big deal, but happened on two occasions when they weren't busy so I took it as a sign. I still shop there and Carl's father has fished things out of the freezer when I wanted something different than what was in the case. I used to watch New Deal unload the fish regularly, which is fun. Courthouse is great about the kind of thing you mention "what fish would you use to make a Brazilian moqueca... what would you do for something that will stand up in a soup, etc." I would probably spend less if I shopped only at New Deal (I suspect that Courthouse fixed their credit card machine just for me), but Courthouse is just too tempting. You have to expect a line and it is more ethnic which isn't for everyone (not speaking to YumYum).

[smtucker]

For daily fish shopping, I always prefer the Courthouse. Generally, I go earlier in the day and the customers include older Portuguese men who love to share their recipes with me. The staff remember you within several visits and have always been honest about what is the freshest and in season (and hence, less expensive.)

Absolutely love the pickled hot peppers, and though I have been resisting, I want to try some of their sausages as well.

New Deal is better for sashimi grade tunas, etc... but the prices reflect the grade. I don't find the other customers to be as much fun. A totally different vibe.

[Mr. Mack]

the soft shells come in around may and run throughout the summer. i'll mention it when it starts.

about the seafood market... i'm just getting into cooking recently so i don't have experience with either. i'd be curious to know also though because i'll probably end up at one or the other

[itaunas]

I think they started the soft shell sandwich about 2 weeks after they and New Deal had them in the store. I thought I posted around the time it started last year, but I think it was just a bit afterwards:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/40677...

[yumyum]

IIRC, this happens right around Mothers' Day -- last year chowmom was in town and her welcome meal was ssc that Carl instructed me on how to prepare perfectly. The secret is a buttermilk soak.