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Monterey Bay Fish Grotto – The Ultimate Dining Experience

Fish is a tricky business. Someone needs to literally be out on the boat catching fish for my meal. For Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, if they can’t get it from a particular fisherman, they have to get it from someone else or else they can’t have it for the evening. If the quality is not what is expected, they don’t put it on the table. This from them is a challenge, but it is a great opportunity to make some really great food for which I had the pleasure of tasting.

And that’s what they do; find the finest ingredients available and make the best meal they can with what they’ve got. With over 20 kinds of fishes served in an array of original and unique styles, there is so much this restaurant offers. You’ll realize, as I had, that every dish you are served tastes fresh and takes you away on a journey.
For instance, the swordfish made Caribbean style, garnished with jerk spices with juicy pineapples, red peppers, and green onions made me imagine white sand beaches, crystal water, and palm trees. To the suggestion of Executive Chef John Dober, this dish paired quite nicely with a glass of Ramey California Chardonnay.

The next beautiful presentation, a favorite of John, was the big eyed ahi tuna sashimi style from Hawaii garnished with fresh ginger. For Asian influenced dishes, Conundrum White Table Wine pairs perfectly because of the lightness of the wine. 
The Maryland crab cake described as fresh jumbo lump crabmeat on the menu was not an understatement. At first sight, I knew this dish was my favorite; two colossal mounds of moist and meaty crab cakes with more crab than filling was absolutely fantastic. Not dry and clumpy like some other restaurants serve them, it paired quite nicely with the slaw mixed with a medley of fruit. The drink to wash it down would be a lighter Sauvignon Blanc from Rudd Napa Valley.

At Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, not only are their staple menu items all caught on American waters, their extensive wine list are all American as well. This is done to showcase the best of what America has to offer. They started this as a way to compliment American fish with American wine, specializing in something not many other people do, but it doesn’t stop there. There are so much the ocean offers, so it’d be silly to limit what they can create. The restaurant also has nightly specials of exotic fish and meat from all over the world. The chef is on the phone figuring out what’s the newest catch to put on that weeks menu.

They offer a five course tasting menu that changes depending on what ingredients they have to work with. If you went last week, they can show you something brand new tonight.

Their tasting menu also always includes a type of land meat, ranging anywhere from pork, to duck, to quail. The special I had was Black Moore Waigoo beef with foie gras over brioche toast drizzled with balsamic vinegar aged 15 years. The tenderness of the meat with the light buttery crisp toast accompanied by the foie gras was an extreme delight to the palate. This plate proved that this seafood restaurant is not limited to creating strictly fine seafood cuisine.

With all the steak restaurants in Tysons Corner it is a wonder that Monterey Bay Fish Grotto has emerged as a prime seafood restaurant. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto challenges their guests’ palette while providing a complete dining experience.
As I left the restaurant, I realized, this would not be my last time here. When you’re happily satiated and you’re still thinking about the food you just ate, you know you’ll be coming back for more. You’ll just have to visit for yourself to not only taste their food but to check out their beautiful décor which enhances the whole experience.

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Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
www.montereybayfishgrotto.com
1799 Tysons Blvd
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 917-0661

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