Maybe you are looking for delicious meat-free options during Lent. Or you are just craving the Proustian frisson of a chewy clam or slick fish fillet beneath a layer of batter. Either way, these crispy seafood platters are sure to satisfy.
The Salt Line
One of the very best seafood restaurants in NoVA, The Salt Line combines mostly regional suppliers with New England clam shack–style offerings, as well as modern interpretations from the briny deep. The very name of its crispy behemoth, The Waterman’s Platter, gives deserved weight to this collection of under-the-sea delicacies. With a base of rustic skin-on french fries, the mighty meal features a hearty portion of white fish, shrimp, oysters, and scallops. The well-seasoned flour coating is as knotty as coral. 4040 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Dave’s Seafood & Subs
Just as The Salt Line pays tribute to the Northeast, this unprepossessing strip mall find has its heart in DC. The evidence is in the fish sampler, a combination of whiting, trout, and catfish. Coated in cornmeal, the swimmers represent some of the most common seafood on our region’s plates. Whiting and catfish, in particular, are soul food favorites, and if flavor equals soul, the platter has plenty. Get your meal with some mumbo sauce to really awaken your palate. 4008-A Walney Rd., Chantilly
Ned’s New England Deck
Known for its meaty lobster rolls, this petite counter-service restaurant also turns out fried seafood to be reckoned with. Diners can five different seafood platters to satisfy your cravings. Choose from the fried clam strips, whole belly clams, fish and ships, fried scallops, and popcorn shrimp. Most of these hand-battered dishes come with a creamy coleslaw and tartar sauce that are a cut above in flavor, but we like the squeeze of fresh lemon best. For fans of long-ago meals at Howard Johnson’s, Ned’s is sure to ring a bell. 10655 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
Blue Ridge Seafood
A community favorite since 1979, it’s apparent that this restaurant hasn’t changed much. Oversized assemblages of ocean-born delicacies are meant to be shared at the picnic tables with family and friends. The best way to get a lot of bang for your buck? The create-your-own-dinner option allows you to pick two proteins for $27, three for $34, or four for $41. There are 13 choices, from soft-shell crab to frog legs, all served with whatever two sides you desire. There’s an extra charge if you go with snow crab legs. 15704 Lee Hwy., Gainesville
Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar
This beachy bar and restaurant has a large menu, and that includes fried platters. Chunky and moist beer-battered cod is the centerpiece of the crispy, crunchy meals. But the crown jewel is the Baltimore Seafood Platter, which pairs cod and shrimp with a meaty crabcake. The hand-cut fries, slaw, and remoulade all further enhance the meal. 3903-I Fair Ridge Dr., Fairfax
Feature image of The Salt Line by Rey Lopez
This story originally ran in our July issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
