Friday, June 1, 2007

Best Bites: Dining out in DFW June 1

By Teresa Gubbins

It's like being on a boat, except it's not.

If you've been eating seafood in the Dallas area for any length of time, you might already know Rick Oruch. He's been a fish buyer, owned a seafood shop (Rick’s Fresh Seafood Shoppe in Plano), worked at Simon David, Central Market, and Whole Foods. Now he's resurfaced at Sea Breeze Fish Market and Grill, a combination fish market-restaurant in the Lakeside Market center in Plano, where he's partnered with a business guy, Mark Alterman, and chef Todd Lindsay, who once worked with Two Sisters Catering.

The fish counter runs along the left; the seating area sits to the right. There's fish by the pound (they have real bluefish this week; call Central Market and they say, "we haven't been able to get that in"), plus seafood entrees prepped to take home and cook. Or you can sit down with a glass of wine or beer and eat: fish tacos, shrimp po'boys, mini crab cakes, clam chowder, seafood gumbo, and more. At the high end is the shellfish medley, $16.95; fish & chips (beer-battered!) are $8.95.

Crepes for U. No, U

The Asia World Market complex at Legacy and I-75 has been documented previously, but Crepes For U is a new guy on the scene. It occupies a colorful storefront where you can watch your crepe being poured and flipped on a mighty hot stone. A long menu on the wall lists the toppings, from ice cream to chocolate to fruit.

Owner Paul Pokachaipatt, who gets an A+ for customer service, is a worldy fellow and a Franco-phile who was previously a wine consultant but wanted to do something on his own; he has his eye on opening a high-end tea shop, as well.

Berry squared

It seems rather quaint to open a frozen yogurt place these days. It was such a thing in the late '80s; do people still want frozen yogurt? Berry Berry Yogurt opened in mid-May in Addison, where they proudly tout the fact that their yogurt is not only low-fat, it is also "natural." Is there "unnatural" frozen yogurt out there? They offer four flavors and a counter-ful of nuts, dried fruit, cereal, coconut, and other toppings.

It's like a fruit tree, except it's not.

Sushi Samba serves drinks

Sushi Samba opened in mid-May with a big splash (and a drooling column from Mr. Dallas). This is the sixth branch of a chain that originated in New York (whose biggest claim to fame is that it appeared on Sex and the City). It blends Asian + Peruvian, one of the trendier cuisines lately (Stephan Pyles is all over Peruvian, and so will be Aló Cenaduria & Piqueos, being opened by the owners of La Duni). Anyway, along with the sushi and the Peruvian and the what-not, Sushi Samba has an over-the-top drinkie thing called a "Cocktail Tree" with 12 mini drinks for $50. Outrageous -- but considering the average fruity cocktail runs $10+, and factoring in the fact that this is one of those festive things you get when you "go out with the girls," and also factoring in your state of mind after a couple of those mini-drinks, it'll seem like a bargain.

Related stories

• Best Bites: Dining out in DFW March 21 (March 21, 2008)

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• Food and Drink > Dining / Restaurants > Best Bites

Comments

twisteddog Anonymous

Hey, is that a fruit tree?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99 Anonymous

Oh my goodness gracious... an over-the-top drinkie thing called a "Cocktail Tree!"

I can hardly wait till Bill Addy sings its praises. I'm presumptuously preparing my polyester in precious preparation!

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

kirk Anonymous

Much as I would love to pile on to the Cocktail Tree discussion, I would much rather mention that we had a VERY good dinner at Sea Breeze tonight. Excellent fish, prepared well, with friendly people working hard, in an informal atmosphere. The place has a few kinks to work out, like table busing when they are busy, but we will definitely be back.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Teresa Gubbins Staff

oooooh kirk, what kind of fish, how was the preparation, was it crowded?

also, if i may do a 2-for-1 here, i wanted to pay tribute to billusa's praiseworthy parade of p's. bravo!

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99 Anonymous

Pleeeeeeeeeeeze... Plet's not peasily placate the platitudes of PKirk... how was the pbooze? ptee-hee.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

twisteddog Anonymous

How many shrubs did you take out personally?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )