Like most working NYCers, I eat out a lot – and I have plenty of excuses; whether it’s my time to meet
up with friends over a nice meal, I’m craving sushi or Indian or Korean food,
or simply because I’m too tired to cook after working all day or haven’t had
time to buy groceries. In and of itself,
that’s not a bad thing but I’m
finding myself ordering take out from the same usual suspects a bit too often
of late.
That brings me to my two food related New Year’s
Resolutions: (1) cook more and better (better meaning locally sourced when
possible and new recipes) and (2) try new restaurants (especially in the outer
boroughs).
So last night, since I was in the mood for seafood and I got
home too late and unmotivated to cook chicken chili, we decided to take the
opportunity to try Sel de Mer. This unassuming
seafood bistro located on Graham Avenue between Skillman Ave and Conselyea St
is a quintessential Brooklyn restaurant.
In the vein of Diner, Marlow & Sons, Dressler and Dumont, Sel de Mer
is a foodie’s dream come true. Providing expertly prepared dishes with the
freshest and highest quality ingredients in an unassuming and relaxed setting,
these restaurants all manage to be cool without trying, or maybe by not caring.
We started with an appetizer of two crab cakes – since in my
opinion, nothing beats a good crab cake- that was dressed with arugula and
remoulade. With only trace amounts of
filler and just enough seasoning to maximize the crab flavor, Sel de Mer’s
crispy, pan fried version is perhaps the best I’ve had in New York. The boy ordered “fish and chips” and I had
the fried scallops with salad. Although the
“friedness” of the cod was a bit heavy handed, the scallops were perfection. That
being said, the quality and freshness of the seafood were unmistakable.
Rounding out the meal was an intriguing and delicious bottle
of Saint Pierre de Serjac - Esprit De Vin “Cotes de Thongue” which had strong
chocolate undertones.
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