Carmen Anthony's Fish House in Woodbury CT

[shoes]

We're headed to Carmen Anthony's Fish House in Woodbury this weekend. I'd appreciate any recommendations of what to get and what to avoid.

Wo do not like Carmen Anthony's Steak House at all - to pricey, pretentious and not that good for the money. We were assured that this place is completely different and much better.

[coldduck]

Just get a piece of fish, simply prepared. It's typically very good and fresh. I agree with you that Carmen Anthony can be expensive, but I don't find it pretentious, unless you are embarrassed by somewhat formalized service. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't mind a capable, veteran waitstaff that's not interested in making friends with me.

[Scargod]

Agreed. Having been there, done that, I can be either a simpleton, like our "Texan" prez or I can be sophisticated and appreciate a staid, expensive, pretentious restaurant, like many steak houses are, or even like Union League Cafe can be. Being an old fart, I don't really want waitstaff to be too chummy or blow smoke up my skirt. I just want good food, service and advice, if I need it. There is no reason to be intimidated with service in one of these places. Just lay back and enjoy it (or take advantage of it). You're paying for it....

[anthonybri]

If you feel that the Steakhouse is pricey but more importantly not particularly good for that money I suppose you'll find that the Fishhouse is much the same(with both places I'm of the "just not particularly good period" opinion). Wouldn't say that the service here is pretentious but I have found that it just simply doesn't make the experience worth becoming anything more than an occasional visitor at best(if you've learned what has a better chance of being "good"). Their "Wine Spectator Award winning" wine list is curious given that most selections are predictable and very "distributor driven" and the kitchen is quite inconsistent at best(How can you screw up a previously good fried lobster tail appetizer? Let me count the ways!). I'm just left wondering, what is the fuss really about? A lack of other true "fish houses" and a healthy Connecticut Magazine advertising budget can't hurt though. Just an un-humble opinion from someone who WANTED to like this restaurant more than I ever really did after finishing a meal in the several times I've tried it.
With that said, the crabcake is quite good and I have truly enjoyed the Sea Bass Calabrese dish....it's definitely worth a try by someone in your party. Otherwise yes, a simply prepared piece of fish is less likely to disappoint. The after dinner drink selection is especially noteworthy as well. Do enjoy & be sure to report back.

[shoes]

Wow - thanks for all the assumptions, fellas! I am neither embarrassed by formal service nor am I some Texas yahoo. I just want the service to match the food and atmosphere, and I find formal service to be pretentious if it does not. At Carmen Anthony's steakhouse, the two times I've been, the service TRIED to be formal and ended up being inept, with waitresses falling over each other, and they were serving food that was better suited to a strip mall steakhouse.

Anyway, the Fishhouse was a mixed bag. I'l start by saying the service was excellent - we were with freinds we had not seen in a while, and the waiter never rushed us or interrupted our conversations. He was friendly and knowledgable.

The crab cake was excellent, as was the chopped salad - spicy with bits of hot pepper in it. But the seafood bisque was way too salty, and the fried calamari, though tender, was soggy.

The sea bass calabrese was not on the menu, so I got sea bass with a porcini mushroom crust. - delicious and with a nice creamy risotto. The sesame tuna was a nice piece of fish but was overdone - ordered as the chef recommends, medium rare, but came out on the medium side with a warm center. It was nothing doesn't appear on upscale seafood restauratns all over the place. Our dining companions enjoyed their seafood risotto and steak. And dessert-eaters enjoyed the chocolate cake and bananas Foster.

So, we'll be back again, just to see these friends of ours who live nearby. But it's not worth the drive from New Haven on its own.

[Scargod]

I agree wholeheartedly with what you mean. I misunderstood. Thanks for the report. I have been reluctant to go to a Carmen Anthony's. I think I'll stay that way.
Texas Yahoo

[csense101]

I've been going to Carmen Anthony in Woodbury for 7 years, I have found it to be a very good seafood restaurant. I use it to hold business dinners quite often. It is the best around and the service is always friendly and attentive. They serve nice portions and you get what you pay for. It is my favorite seafood restaurant in CT