6. Keys Fisheries Market and Marina, Marathon, Florida
This market-restaurant-marina supplies spiny lobsters, stone crab claws, and other Florida Keys–centric delicacies—including, of course, Key lime pie. Its customers include the famous Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach. Both the shop and the online store feature a favorite local concoction: a Lobster Reuben sandwich; 866/743-4353 or keysfisheries.com.7. Fisherman’s Express, Anchorage, Alaska
This market, founded and operated by a former commercial crab fisherman, specializes in Alaskan king crab. It also sells such other Alaskan specialties as halibut cheeks—all wild, not farm-raised. Browsers can visit the shop in downtown Anchorage or on the Web site, which includes photo galleries depicting fearsome-looking crabs and the unbelievably harsh conditions that crabbers endure to harvest them; 888/926-3474 or fishermansexpress.com.
8. B & A Seafood, Port Isabel, Texas
B & A specializes in fish and shellfish straight from the Gulf of Mexico—again, wild rather than farm-raised. The name of the Web site, freshtexasshrimp.com, hints at the biggest seller, especially to vacationers enjoying South Padre Island and other nearby resort areas. For those who are too hungry to wait, or who prefer to let someone else do the cooking, B & A recently opened the Harbor View Restaurant. The company also ships; call 956/943-2461 or visit freshtexasshrimp.com.
9. Lighthouse Deli & Fish Company, South Beach, Oregon
Lighthouse Deli sits just south of the elegant arches of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, which connects to Newport. The deli rose to prominence in 1994, when Portland’s Oregonian newspaper declared it the purveyor of the best fish-and-chips on the Oregon coast. In 2001, Coastal Living included it in our annual roundup of great seafood dives. In addition to being a great casual restaurant, this slightly ramshackle place also sells a great selection of locally caught seafood, both on premises and through the Web site. The name comes from the Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses, each practically within swimming distance; 866/816-7716 or lighthousedeli.com.
10. Empire Fish, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin restaurants have long depended on Empire Fish, which has been selling seafood since 1913. The retail store lets consumers choose from the same fish, shellfish, and other goodies that are available to chefs. The selection spans both Great Lakes waters and distant seas. Unfortunately for those who don’t live in Milwaukee, you have to visit the store. Empire Fish does not ship; 414/259-1330 or empirefish.com.
(published April 2006)
