Spring is officially here! As we begin to shed our heavy winter coats and comfort-food cravings, what could be better than a little light seafood to get us beach-season ready? Whether you fancy a whole fish brushed with olive oil, sashimi delivered with just a dash of wasabi or a ceviche sprinkled with lime juice, one thing's for sure, a deliciously prepared catch makes for a great warm-weather meal. Here are 18 fish dishes that have springtime written all over them:
Proving the wonder of a simply prepared fresh catch, Boston's Row 34 serves a moist, crackly, oil-brushed Daily Whole Fish to complement its foundational raw bar selections.
One of Kapnos' many crisp Greek share plates from Chef Mike Isabella is the Charred Octopus, creatively adorned with light-as-air lentils, slow roasted tomato and heirloom carrots.
Southwark offers a Fish of the Day, depending on the market catch, to pair with its classic cocktails and other farm-to-table fare.
Yanako in Philadelphia uses traditional techniques and fresh ingredients to deliver light, flavorful dishes including Albacore Ponzu -- white tuna made with soy-citrus vinaigrette, grated white radish, ginger and scallions.
Known as the foie gras of the sea, Monkfish Liver, a Japanese delicacy, is prepared at Sink Swim in Chicago in a classic French way, served cold with salted pear, chartreuse fennel, smoked celery root, brioche and pistachio.
Putting a Southeast Asian spin on the classic shrimp cocktail, the Shrimp Saigon at Tiger Mama is served with ripe tomatoes and fish sauce vinaigrette, making for a cold, fresh appetizer to kick off your meal.
In San Francisco, Wako seamlessly melds Japanese and California flavors, combining locally sourced seafood and produce in its omakase nigiri, which includes 12 pieces of nigiri (raw fish over rice) and other fresh small plates.
Sourcing its fish four times a week directly from Japan, New York's Sushi Azabu offers four different omakase (chef's choice) options, as well as other sushi, sashimi (thinly sliced pieces of raw fish) and Japanese small plates.
As its name suggests, Lure Fishbar in New York delivers best-in-class seafood, including sushi bar combination plates with sashimi, sushi or both, as well as raw bar options and whole fish.
Spotlighting fresh, seasonal seafood on a dynamic sushi menu, Cafe Sushi offers Moromi Maguro, a cut of tuna with wasabi oil, smoked salt, shiso (an Asian herb in the mint family) and tofu.
Part of the growing Tsujita empire in Tokyo, Sushi Tsujita in Los Angeles offers an omakase-style menu, including unexpected choices like Madai (seabream), Hirame (fluke), Anago (saltwater eel), Sayori (halfbeak) and many more, using old-school techniques to preserve the flavors of the seafood.
At the sophisticated Italian restaurant Fiola Mare in Washington D.C., the Sashimi Of Itoyori is a light, refreshing way to start your meal, made with hearts of palm, radish, sea beans, ginger, fennel and lime vinaigrette.
Radiant and reddish-pink in color, the Tuna Truffle Nigiri at Sushi Dokku in Chicago is as delicious as it looks, topped with truffle sauce and thinly sliced avocado.
A staple at many restaurants across the country, tuna tartare -- prepared with roast chili, shallot, lime and popped wild rice at The Lucky Bee in New York -- is a cooling, light dish that displays the smooth, firm texture of the raw fish.
Offering plentiful fresh fish to pair with its antipasti and homemade pastas, Barrique in Los Angeles delivers a Tartara di Tonno -- ahi tuna tartare served with avocado, capers and balsamic essence (thickened balsamic vinegar).
In The Church Key's version, ahi tuna tartare comes with compressed pineapple, Greek yogurt, pistachios, pickled avocado, serrano chili and pappadam (paper-thin, crisp wafers).
A bustling Peruvian eatery in San Francisco, Mochica serves up several tasty ceviche combinations including mixed seafood with mussels, clams and shrimp tossed in lime juice, and ahi tuna with toasted nori (edible seaweed).
One of a few antojitos (traditional Mexican snacks) offered at Pepita Cantina, the Tuna Ceviche is a flavorful, refreshing delight with coconut, lime and avocado.
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