Seafood Restaurant in Raleigh?

[blbst36]

My mother is coming down to visit in June and wants to go to a seafood restaurant. What is the best on in Raleigh? (Not Chapel Hill, Cary, or Durham. Just Raleigh)

Thanks!

[ciaob]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Captain Stanley's on Falls of the Neuse. Recently opened, its menu is great. Quality and prices are equal to the old Captain Stanley's place south of town when it was the GO TO PLACE back in the 80's.

Mostly Calabash style, but done well.

Give it a try sometime and I think you will agree.

[blbst36]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

[Tom from Raleigh]

Poole's Diner is not a seafood restaurant, but they usually have at least one fish dish on their menu. The chef is one of the best in the area.

[Sensuous]

When we were living there we liked Kemp's very much. We went often to their seafood restaurant at the Farmer's Market too. We were never disappointed. They prepare seafood very similarly to what we were used to in South Carolina. We used to take our dog with us and sit outside to eat. I miss that.
The Oyster Bar downtown was cool.

[meatn3]

I tried Michael Dean's on Falls of Neuse Rd. for brunch recently. Based on that experience I would definitely try them for dinner. Here is their dinner menu:

http://rockytophospitality.com/lib/up...

Service and atmosphere was very nice, food prepared well - especially at brunch (which often suffers) - if you sign up for the newsletter the send a coupon too.

For fried seafood I find the place at the farmers market to be the best. Very casual atmosphere, but the best of this category in Raleigh. Kemps was close in flavor but not as good.

[jonfrank604]

I live near Kemps and really want to like it.....but I don't..It's strictly calabash, and i'm not in love with the breading they use, but i'm not a big fan of the fried platters anyhow...Michael Dean's is very good! It's owned by the same owners of Bogarts, Red Room, and Hi-5...very good oyster bar, and excellent fresh fish prepared with nice flavors...get dessert too! I can't remember exactly, but we had some caramel apple crumb magic with ice cream, it was awesome! I also am a fan of the Bonefish grill, but its hatefully crowded...

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Red Room
510 Glenwood Ave, Ste 101, Raleigh, NC 27603

[raleighboy]

Kemps is decent but really not worth the price. You can get the same things elsewhere for much cheaper.

[Guilty Gourmand]

Thanks. Where else do you find comparable for less?

[rafeco]

As someone mentioned above, the NC Seafood Restaurant at the State Farmers Market is a great place to get fried fish or shrimp for a relatively low price. The floor is cement and you order at the counter, but the seafood is really good -- the shrimp are kind of tiny so they get chewy when they're fried, but the fried fish are really, really good.

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State Farmers Market Restaurant
1240 Farmers Market Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603

[cackalackie]

That's funny - because Kemp owns that one too.

I haven't been to Kemp's in ages, but I heard that he had changed it to counter service (like the one at the Farmers Market) - as opposed to waiter service at the table. This was supposedly a cost-saving measure. (But don't the customers pay the servers' wages?)

[jonfrank604]

It was like for that a while during renos, but now they're back to waiter service...alot of people left because of the counter service...

[meatn3]

I'm not a fan of popcorn shrimp, but my SO is - so I have tried a bite and agree with your assessment. I tend to get the fried oysters with fish (trout?) at the farmers market. I eat the oysters immediately and usually have a fish sandwich later.

[shelec]

FYI - Michael Dean's is now closed. Tribeca Tavern (there is already one in Cary) will be opening in this location.

[meatn3]

Michael Dean's has closed.

edit: Opps, didn't see post by shelec!

[johnnya]

42nd Street Oyster Bar. Menu here:

http://www.42ndstoysterbar.com/upload...

[cackalackie]

I always forget about 42nd Street - because the last time I went there for dinner I swore I wouldn't return. I just thought it was over-priced for inferior quality. But it's always packed - and it's been around for ages - so lots of people obviously like it. I do love the atmosphere.

[blbst36]

That's one of the first restaurants that I went to downtown. I found it inconsistent as well. I am still willing to go, though, depending on my mother's final say.

Thanks!

[danna]

It's been about 300 years since I was in Raleigh. I looked at this thread to see if 42nd street was recommended. That's where we always went back in the day, loved the atmosophere, the guy shucking oysters for us while we ate them, the cioppino.

[cackalackie]

I think it depends on what she wants. Calabash style - the fried stuff you get at the beach?

[blbst36]

More on the side of NOT deep fried.

[cackalackie]

18 Seaboard usually has a few nice fish dishes. I look forward to hearing others' suggestions.

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18 Seaboard
18 Seaboard, Raleigh, NC 27604

[Guilty Gourmand]

Frankly, for the money and for general consistency we've found the chain, Bonefish Grill, at North Hills (also at Cary but you say that is out) tobe one of the better ones. While 42nd Street can be good (and is a great atmosphere and great historic oyster bar) I've found it inconsistent and expensive when it comes to grilled or blackened fish options.

If you want the best seafood in Raleigh though, I would probably go to Bu Ku (formerly Fins) in downtown as they had the best seafood dishes although those can be expensive. Obviously you'll want to take a look at the menu as the concept has changed a good bit from the old Fins but some of the old favorite fish options are still there.

If we are after fried shrimp, we usually go to the seafood restaurant at the farmers market or Kemps out Highway 70 towards Durham. Both of those though are your more traditional Calabash style seafood houses.

[blbst36]

I always wondered about Kemp. I drive past it everyday to and from work.

Thanks for the suggestions

[Guilty Gourmand]

I think it's pretty darn good for what it is but I've basically only ever gotten fried shrimp. Very much the same food as the State Farmers Market Seafood Restaurant in a bit nicer seafood house setting. (I think both of those are or at least were at one time owned by the same people.) Can get pretty crowded, especially on weekends.

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State Farmers Market Restaurant
1240 Farmers Market Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603

[LulusMom]

18 Seaboard is really nice. It's a beautiful space and the food is very good. It isn't inexpensive, but mom will feel well taken care of there.

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18 Seaboard
18 Seaboard, Raleigh, NC 27604