We all know we should be eating more fish and seafood, but it’s not always easy to find incredible treats from the sea when you live in the Midwest. (St. Louis, especially).
So, I was thrilled when Oceano Bistro opened a few years back in Clayton. It’s a beautiful space with an open feel from the inside restaurant to the windowed patio. The kitchen looks into the dining room so you can see the food as it comes up (causing me to change my order on many a night!!).
So many places cover the taste of their fish and seafood with heavy sauces, butter, and breading, but since Oceano serves a really fresh, high quality product, the flavor of the food comes through without piling on calorie-laden toppings.
According to their website, they “feature the finest and most fresh fish and seafood available in the St. Louis area.” And they use fresh local produce and products in their preparation. Using flavorful marinades, light sauces, and healthy prep methods like pan roasting, grilling and steaming, the dishes at Oceano are not only healthy, but delicious too! The sides like corn and asparagus risotto, grilled Szechuan long beans, or grilled Portobello mushrooms provide rich tasting accents without a heavy food overload.
And although the Clayton restaurant is about 20 minutes away, it’s always worth the drive. So, imagine my excitement when I heard they were opening a second location in Chesterfield, about two minutes from where I live. I was worried that the new location might not have the same menu or ambiance as the original location, but it still has the same great feel and amazing food that allows us to go out to eat without killing our healthy lifestyle.
According to a recent article in St .Louis magazine, “Oceano's co-owner Amer Abouwasser said that the new Oceano would mirror the Clayton flagship, both in menu and interior design:” They will also have a “lavishly landscaped rear patio” for outside dining. It is a beautiful setting with a similar feel to the original.
We typically order many of the same dishes, but our recent dinner was a bit more adventurous.
The light Bistro Market Salad is a spring lettuce mix with tomatoes, red onion and gorgonzola cheese tossed in balsamic vinaigrette (which, of course, I get on the side). It’s just the right size to take the edge off of your hunger without filling you up.
The Hamachi Avocado Ceviche has thin slices of sashimi grade Hamachi with Meyer lemon vinaigrette, avocado, peas and micro sprouts. It’s so light and unique that I sometimes want to have two orders for my meal.
My friend Sarah actually ended up ordering two appetizers for her meal and both were healthy and filling. She’s a very health-conscious eater, but also an amazing cook, so her seal of approval on a dish means a lot. The Grilled Seasonal Vegetables with Balsamic dipping sauce and Maryland Lump Crab Cakes with shitake mushrooms, green apples and arugula were both filling and flavorful and she actually ended up taking some of each dish home because she was full.
My husband’s favorite dish at the restaurant is their Steamed Shellfish Soffrito. A super generous portion of prawns, mussels, and, scallops are cooked with lemons, tomatoes, and roasted garlic and served in a bowl over what they call a risotto gallette (Kind of like a risotto pancake). When my husband was on his low-carb diet, he would order it with green beans instead, but the galette is light and not too big, so it’s a great way to soak up the broth from the soffrito. Our friend Larry ordered it and loved every bite.
Since there are so many “good-for-you” choices, my husband decided to finally try something different, so he got the Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallops . They were large and grilled with a great sear, but not oily. A truffle beurre blanc is served on the side so you can dip into it if you want, but the pesto-like garnish is flavorful as well.
My current favorite there (I’ve gotten it the past three times) is the Sauteed Warm Water Sea Bass. It’s lightly herb crusted and the outside is crisp and the inside is so moist and flavorful, and perfect with the sweet corn and asparagus risotto and smoked tomato butter garnish around the plate. The risotto is creamy, but the creaminess comes more from how long the rice cooks rather than from added fat.
We know that seafood contains high levels of many important nutrients that are not commonly found in other foods. It is an excellent source of proteins, omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and iodine. So why not have the healthy benefits while enjoying a great night out.
Oceano Bistro has really raised the bar with a beautiful atmosphere, great flavors, and unique presentations of foods that are actually good for you!
No comments:
Post a Comment