Last date I was here: 02/04/2010Restaurant: Starfish Café (http://www.starfishcafedc.com/)
Location: Barracks Row
Total Rating: 3.3
Food: 3, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5
Summary: This Caribbean Creole Seafood Restaurant has a cool, contemporary, tropical feel. Decorated with various ceramic fish and oceanic items, this local hotspot offers happy hour specials with a raw bar. They serve daily specials – but beware of ordering the special from the day before (leftovers). Keith had the misfortune of receiving cold paella that we had to send back to the kitchen. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.
August 2008: A lot of the menu is fried, which can be heavy for me. The Fried Crab Fingers are actually the whole front claws, which was different and so-so; I probably would not order it again. I really want to try one of the fresh ceviches. I think this would be great paired with a margarita or other tropical cocktail on a warm evening. Just close your eyes and your experience takes you to white sandy beaches….
UPDATE: Since a big snow storm was on the way, we decided to try Starfish again for dinner. It was empty when we arrived, but soon filled up with the dinner rush. Service was very attentive, but I did not enjoy my meal at all. The mussels were bad - either microwaved or just undercooked - I had to send them back. And my pasta/sauce was way oversalted. Keith, enjoyed his gumbo and po' boy sandwhich though. I think I prefer this place for the appetizers and drink specials only.
What I ate:
Seafood Linguine
scallops, calamari, shrimp, mussels with linguine in a tomato cream sauce
Fried Crab Fingers
Lightly breaded with “panko” and flash fried. Served with a citrus -horseradish sauce.
Stuffed Tilapia Parmesan
Farm-raised Tilapia filets lightly breaded with parmesan cheese and flashed fried,
stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and spinach and finished with a caper-lemon-butter sauce.
Served with garlic mashed potato & fresh vegetables.
Lightly breaded with “panko” and flash fried. Served with a citrus -horseradish sauce.
Stuffed Tilapia Parmesan
Farm-raised Tilapia filets lightly breaded with parmesan cheese and flashed fried,
stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and spinach and finished with a caper-lemon-butter sauce.
Served with garlic mashed potato & fresh vegetables.
Cajun Fried Calamari
Hand-breaded with corn flour and Cajun spices. Served with saffron-lime tartar sauce
Shrimp "Verde" Ceviche
Gulf shrimp marinated in lime juice, tossed with avocado, peppers, chopped cilantro, red onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and sea salt
Plus Keith ate:
Gumbo
seafood soup with sausage and rice
Fried Seafood Platter
Golden fried shrimp, oysters, crab balls & catfish filets,
served with fries, coleslaw, our saffron-lime tartar sauce
Served with a cup of seafood gumbo.
Starfish Seafood Paella
Combination of large shrimps, mussels, scallops, calamari rings,
andouille sausage and chunks of white fish cooked with rice
in a delicious saffron broth and topped with fried asparagus.
Golden fried shrimp, oysters, crab balls & catfish filets,
served with fries, coleslaw, our saffron-lime tartar sauce
Served with a cup of seafood gumbo.
Starfish Seafood Paella
Combination of large shrimps, mussels, scallops, calamari rings,
andouille sausage and chunks of white fish cooked with rice
in a delicious saffron broth and topped with fried asparagus.
Shrimp and Grits
Creamy gorgonzola infused grits topped with blackened
gulf shrimp and drizzled with a spicy tomato Creole sauce
Fried Oyster Po-Boy Sandwich
Served on crusty french bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and saffron-lime tartar sauce.
Served with coleslaw and french fries.
