Brew Fish Bar & Grill
Brew Fish is a fairly hidden spot unless you know where it is. But once you find it, you will want to keep going back. MY friends Joe and Don suggested that we go there for dinner with our friend Ed. This place is a regular spot for them to hang out. Ed and I had never been there, so we figured why not check it out.
The Restaurant:
Brew Fish is located on one of the river’s forks; you have intercoastal access if you have a boat. You can even tie your boat up to the dock next to the restaurant. Seating is available in three sections. There is a large open room off to the left as you enter with table seating and a bar. It’s also where they do their karaoke. To the right, as you enter, you have the main dining area with a bar that offers inside and outside seating. Walking through, you can access the outdoor seating. From here, you are sitting on a deck overlooking the water. They were doing a good job with social distancing, and all the wait staff was following protocols. The customers, on the other hand, were not as good at that. But the staff would remind them they needed to be wearing their masks.
This place does get jam-packed, so be aware of that. If you want to go for dinner, I recommend making reservations to ensure you get to sit where you want. On the night we went, they messed up, though, and gave our reservation to someone else who just told them they were named Joe. This led to us having to wait for much longer than anticipated for our table and inconveniencing their guests.
The Food:
Let’s take a look at the food. First up is Ed, who had a sandwich called Pompano’s Best Fish Sandwich. You get a thick piece of fresh Mahi. You can choose to have it grilled, blackened, or fried. Ed chose to have it blackened. It is served with basil aioli on a brioche bun. A small slaw tops off the sandwich. For his side, he chose to go with the french fries. Ed was pleased with his sandwich and said that the flavor was nice. It was not overpowering as some blackened seasonings can be. It did not take him long to finish it off, chased down by a few locally brewed beers.
Don decided to go with a special that they had, the chicken fajita. Now, this is not exactly made as you would find in a Mexican restaurant. The cast-iron skillet does not come out sizzling, which is probably better for the waitresses, so they don’t get burned from spattering soy sauce. They gave him a huge amount of chicken, which looked to be grilled instead of being cooked in the skillet. The peppers, tomatoes, and onions also did not look like I am used to with a fajita, but they were still delicious. They served a few tortilla shells with guacamole and sour cream for him to make his fajitas. Don was delighted and even had to take some of it home with him.
Joe was up next with his fish and chips. Not quite the same as you would get in the UK, but an American version that came out with two big pieces of breaded and fried cod. They were put on top of a pile of french fries and sprinkled with parsley. A side of tarter sauce accompanied the dish, and Joe said that he was in heaven. We could hear the crunching sound of the breading as he bit into them, telling us how crisp they were. The fish inside was still flaky and tender from the flash fry. The meal hit the spot, and we don’t count calories when you are happy. He was probably the first one done and had a few Coors Lights to with it.
Lastly was my meal. I debated over the homestyle Caribbean meatloaf and the Brewfish Cheesesteak. Being from the Philly area, I decided I needed to try their cheesesteak. I am glad I made the choice I did. You get a decent amount of steak shaved and chopped. It’s not an Amarosa roll, but the hoagie roll they use was still good. Onions and Provolone adorned the meat and were perfectly placed on the lightly toasted roll. The sandwich was good; however, it does not compare to other restaurants like Wicked Cheesesteaks, Stout, or Downtowner. Next time I will have to try the meatloaf instead. The french fries are thinner and nice and crispy. I like it when a fry can stand on its own but still taste good.
Pricing $$-$$$: Depends on what you order and how much drinking you do with your meal. You can now order take-out.
