During our stay in Newport as part of our roadtrip along Highway 101, we ate lunch at Local Ocean Seafoods, a place I just have to rave about.
It was busy when we walked into the two-story restaurant, bar and market, and we came at an opportune time to snag a table. Our helpful waitress gave us a corner seat. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows in the front, so there’s plenty of opportunity to gaze at the harbor and people watch. Adding to the view is a vegetable bed out front with impressive artichoke stalks, among other healthy goodies.
We started with a Dungeness crab, which came out adorably styled, the crab resting its claws on the rim of a cup of butter dipping sauce.
I love oysters and hadn’t been able to indulge since last summer, when we still lived in the U.S., so I immediately went for the oyster shooters as another appetizer. We would’ve ordered raw oysters, but our waitress said it wasn’t a good time of year for them (June), so we were happy with the shooters. They were deliciously creamy, with just the right amount of cocktail sauce and a hit of acidity for a touch of tartness.
For mains, we ordered a Dungeness crab sandwich and fried oysters (can you tell how much I love oysters?). The sandwich was rich with crab, and the fried oysters were large and hearty, just the way I like them. (How I do miss gathering massive beach oysters at low tide on Vancouver Island.) The oyster dish came with a side of cucumber and cabbage slaw; something I’ve never seen before, and I thought it was pretty and creative. I kept the garlic dip from the crab appetizer so I could dunk the fried oysters.
The verdict: a sophisticated meal with unfussy creativity, beautiful execution and excellent flavors.
ATB 