Whether it comes from a local lake or a faraway ocean, fish is one of the most popular proteins on any menu. Lighter than red meat and high in heart-healthy fats, it’s as delicious as it is versatile, at home in a soup, wrapped up in a taco or deep-fried and served alongside crispy fries. Dive in to some of the best seafood-centric meals in Maple Grove.
Sea Scallops Benedict
Pittsburgh Blue
Pittsburgh Blue isn’t just for steak-lovers; their seafood selection rivals those of the best urban eateries, with fresh mahi and sea bass entrees featured alongside lobster tail and cedar-plank salmon. One of our favorites is the sea scallops Benedict appetizer, a unique creation evocative of a seaside brunch. Three succulent, jumbo sea scallops are lightly seared and set atop applewood-smoked bacon and perfectly toasted brioche, then topped with a rich, creamy hollandaise sauce, chives and paprika. The result is a remarkable balance of tastes and textures, a decadent delight that you’ll be reluctant to share. $19.95.
Smoked Salmon Platter
Highlander Restaurant
The Highlander at Rush Creek Golf Club is best known for outstanding service and spectacular sunset views, but the food is just as memorable as the ambience. The smoked salmon platter is a signature dish, featuring a generous portion of wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon, a rich and flavorful fish with a firm texture and distinctive red hue. Brined and smoked in-house, the salmon is served surrounded by shredded lettuce, salty capers and diced red onion. The appetizer platter includes a savory house-made salmon mousse, tangy lemon dill aioli, fresh lemon and assorted crackers, perfect for sharing with friends after a round of golf. $22.
Deep-fried Walleye
Dehn’s Country Manor
This cozy, family-friendly steakhouse has been serving classic comfort food for nearly 60 years, so they know how to treat Minnesota’s favorite fish right. Renowned for its sweet, mild flavor, walleye is a staple of local fish fries for a good reason. At Dehn’s, eight-ounce Canadian walleye fillets are hand-coated in a traditional shore-lunch style breading of cornmeal, wheat
flour and seasoned breadcrumbs, then deep-fried and served with homemade tartar sauce, lemon and a choice of soup or salad and potato or broccoli. A delicious, gluten-free version, featuring broiled walleye with lemon garlic butter, is also available. $16.95 fried, $18.95 broiled.
Fish Tacos
Three Squares Restaurant
Lean, flaky tilapia is the second-most cultivated fish in the world, and this low-fat species is popping up on menus across the country. At neighborhood eatery Three Squares, it serves as the ideal base for some zesty fish tacos. Cooked quickly over high heat, six ounces of blackened Hidden Bay tilapia is diced and served in a soft flour tortilla with guacamole, black bean and corn salsa, crunchy napa cabbage and sour cream spiked with chili and lime. $15.99 for 3 tacos.
Firecracker Shrimp Tacos
Malone’s Bar and Grill
Shrimp can sometimes seem like an old standby, but a little culinary imagination puts it back in the “can’t miss” category at Malone’s, where it gets the full Tex-Mex treatment. Lightly battered and deep-fried, then tossed in signature firecracker sauce, a sweet and spicy chili sauce, the tasty shrimp shares a soft flour tortilla with crisp lettuce, cucumber, pico de gallo and mixed cheeses. “The sauce is tangy, not too hot,” says general manager A.J. Stevens. Jalapenos, guacamole and chips and salsa are served on the side, and gluten-free corn tortillas are available. $11.95 for two, $13.95 for three.
Fisherman’s Delight
Sawatdee
To get a true taste of Thailand, look beyond the pad Thai and opt for a more adventurous entrée that incorporates fiery red curry, a staple in Thai cooking. Sawatdee offers some of the most authentic, flavorful Thai food in the area, and the fisherman’s delight pairs the variety of spices the cuisine is known for with an abundance of high-quality seafood. In this dish, tender shrimp, scallops, squid and crab claws are stir-fried with a spicy red curry, but the heat is tempered by the addition of slightly sweet coconut milk. Served with steamed veggies and white rice. $22.99.
Baked Crab Dip
Redstone American Grill
Artichoke dip is a classic crowd-pleaser, but Redstone’s twist on the original is sure to please seafood-lovers and traditionalists alike. This appetizer combines seasoned artichokes with a creamy Old Bay horseradish sauce and a generous amount of jumbo lump crab meat. The dip is finished off in oven, so it comes out hot and bubbly. Served with lemon sea salt-crusted flatbread chips, this briny delight pairs perfectly with a glass of sauvignon blanc or sparkling prosecco. $16.
Fish Facts
Did you Know…
- Fish Predate the Dinosaurs Fish have been around for more than 450 million years.
- Fish Are Diverse There are more than 25,000 identified species of fish (and an estimated 5,000 species yet to be identified), more than all the species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined.
- We Eat a Lot of Them Every year, Americans consume about 4.8 billion pounds of fish (nearly 16 pounds per person), with shrimp, salmon and tuna topping the list of most-consumed seafood.
Fry Days
When and where to get your fish fry fix in the Grove:
Malone’s Bar and Grill
Every Monday night, Malone’s walleye fish fry special offers six pieces of fried walleye, served with fries, for $11.95.
Wild Bill’s Sports Saloon
The Friday night fish fry at Wild Bill’s features all-you-can-eat fried Atlantic cod from 3–9 p.m. for $10.99. Served with fries and tartar sauce.
Lookout Bar and Grill
On Fridays at the Lookout, $12 gets you all the deep-fried cod you can eat from 5-9 p.m. Paired with fries, coleslaw, lemon and tartar sauce, this traditional fish fry is best enjoyed with a front-row seat for one of the live bands that play after 9 p.m. every Friday night.
