Blue Water Seafood Co., East Brunswick

I downright ADORE seafood, but, unfortunately for me, Matt does not. I mean, after all this time he is just now coming around to trying a bite of lobster or crab if I insist that it's delicious, and that's probably as good as it's going to get. That being said I try to go out for seafood whenever I am not with him. This post will be a compilation of my last two visits to Blue Water Seafood Co. in East Brunswick. The place is really easy to miss.... a small, lone building on Route 18 across from the Brunswick Square Mall, but if you do stop in, I'm sure you'll be pleased. The place doesn't hold too many tables, so it has an intimate, cozy feel. Be warned, though.. it gets LOUD in there!

On my first ever visit with ND we started with two appetizers, and now whenever we go we always order them... the Asian inspired fried calamari and the goat cheese salad. The calamari is INSANE. Perfectly fried and then coated in a sticky, delightful Asian sauce... its sweet, spicy, and tangy all at once. I'd like to say there is some sort of fruit in it... perhaps orange or apricot... something sweet and thick, and then red pepper flakes and sesame seeds round it out. There is also a fruit based sauce for dipping, but there is hardly ever any need for extra flavor. I LOVE this dish, and while it's not technically on the menu it has been featured on the specials list every night for the last two years, so it seems as though it's here to stay! The goat cheese salad has changed several times over the past years, but the core ingredients are the same: pan griddled goat cheese, roasted tomato, beets, and apples over a bed of greens. On my most recent visit with ND there was an addition of grilled fennel. YUM. The goat cheese is crispy crunchy on the outside, and warm and melty on the inside. It's so tangy that it makes the beets seem sweeter, the apples taste more tart, and the lettuce fresher. It's a rare occasion that I don't get one of these to begin my meal (hell, it's rare when I don't get both!)

I usually don't order salmon in restaurants... I don't always care for it, and so many people tend to overcook it and make it way too dry. This changed on my last trip to BWSC with Mom. She adores salmon, and when I saw her dish come out I couldn't help but try it.... and once THAT happened I couldn't keep my fork off of her plate! Their house preparation of salmon is something I've never seen before; a gorgeous slab of Scottish salmon crusted in a horseradish and potato mixture, served over asparagus, with a creamy mustard sauce. OMG. So delicious. The fish tastes downright sweet under the crunchy, salty potato crust which is mixed delightfuly with spicy horseradish. The contrasting flavors and textures really capture the attention and focus the brain. This house specialty (and Mom ordering it!) has made a salmon lover out of me. Truly. ND is Italian, and while I don't want to stereotype, the girl loves her pasta, loves her red sauce, and loves a little kick of heat. Enter seafood Fra Diablo. This pasta dish packs a ton of seafood into a slowly simmered, spicy marinara sauce. The portion is huge, and the dish is insanely filling. There are shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari, and mussels all stuffed into this one entree, and they're each cooked to perfection. The marinara can be served sweet, mild, or spicy, but ND usually goes for mild. She'd rather taste the seafood than the heat, and I don't blame her. The sauce is delicious on it's own, well seasoned and authentic tasting, but pairing it with the various seafoods gives it a little extra oomph. The flavors all compliment each other very well, and since there is just so damned much of it, she always has leftovers to take home for the next day! Over the last ten years I have tried basically everything on the menu. Some other notable dishes include the pan seared Yellow Fin tuna, which is crusted in sesame seed and served with an Asian stir fry, the Chilean sea bass in a delicious mango sauce, and the spicy Buffalo style scallops. I adore everything I've ever had here, and I have yet to go home unsatisfied. The open style of the kitchen allows you to watch some of the action upon entering, the space feels inviting but not intimidating, and the staff is always friendly and attentive. It's a little on the pricey side, but there are ways to keep it cheap... order the lobster bisque and a dozen oysters and you'll be able to get out for about 20 bucks. In a town where the only other notable seafood joint is a chain restaurant, Blue Water Seafood Co. is an exceptional find.

Blue Water Seafood Co.

http://www.bluewaterseafoodco.com/

1126 Route 18

East Brunswick- 08816

732 967 9220