Where to buy fresh octopus north of Boston?

[fdr1968]

I am looking to buy fresh octopus and I live in Newburyport, MA. So far I have only been able to find frozen octopus that is available only in large amounts (5 lb. bags). Any suggestions?

[galleygirl]

Buy the frozen, even most of the octopus you find in town, at any of the ethnic places, is frozen. I've heard tell of fresh at Courthouse Seafood, but never seen it.

Octopus shrinks down a HUGE amount when cooked. A five pound bag will barely yield 2 pounds cooked. Just do it, and eat the leftovers.

[dulce de leche]

They had it at New Deal when I was there a few weeks ago.

[RoyRon]

I have seen fresh octopus at several of the Whole Foods markets but I would call to check before going there.

[galleygirl]

I have only seen the baby ones fresh at WF, and I gathered, from the 5 lb. comment, that the OP was looking for the larger sized ones. I have never seen these fresh at WF. Defrosted, perhaps, but not fresh. I can't speak to whether the ones at New Deal, were fresh or frozen...

[yumyum]

The big octo guy I got earlier this year at New Deal was fresh. But I'd give Carl a call and ask him what's up. Last time I was in, they were having problems with distribution.

[Highland Park]

Yes, galleygirl is correct, if WF has octopus its baby octopus. Its previously frozen and from the Phillipines. It works well for making octopus salad, but looks nothing like the picture in fdr1968's original post. The Bedford store used to carry it regularly but I haven't seen or bought it in a a few months.

[Infomaniac]

David's Fish Market on Bridge Road in Salisbury, MA has them frozen. They were 2 to 3 lbs. each.
As GG mentions 5 lbs. will reduce to about 2 and I like having leftovers.

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Fish Market
170 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

[fdr1968]

Thanks everybody! I had called David's Fish Market in Salisbury and thought the large frozen bags would be too big, but now I'll go for it. I am hooked on grilled octopus.

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Fish Market
170 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

[ajrossi]

Its actually better to purchase the Octopus frozen, almost all of it is anyway as they are processed immediately to keep them fresh. The freezing process also helps tenderize them. You can purchase them as fresh as they get down at the fish pier in Boston but there may have to purhase in bulk. I saw some recently at John Nagle, its a wholesaler. You pay cash and if you want to go out on the floor to pick up your order you must put on a fishnet and wear closed toed shoes.

[BostonRag]

There's a place right on the Hampton Falls/Hampton border on Rt 1 that sometimes has them fresh. It's hit or miss, but they usually have some interesting treats, as the owner is from Portugal and he seems to stock a more exotic variety than your typical haddock/lobster joint. He also carries some monster lobsters at a good price if you are so inclined. I can't recall the name, but you can't miss it on the right hand side heading north from Newburyport, just past Martha's Restaurant.