Earlier today, my friend told me a joke: ‘I am on a seafood diet - whenever I see food, I eat it.’ Read it out loud, hopefully you will get it. And why am I telling you this? Because that joke reminded me of my recent visit to a famous seafood restaurant, called McCormick and Schmick’s.
It is no secret to anyone that knows me, that I love seafood. And I am so lucky to discover this great seafood restaurant (that has multiple locations). In this entry, you can read more about the reasons why I like it, the food and drinks there and the cost of everything. Thanks for reading.
Ambient
Usually, I go to certain restaurant not because I love its interior, but because of their food. But McCormick and Schmick’s is one of the restaurants that have both - great food and cool ambient. And this is one of the reasons why I keep coming back.
McCormick and Schmick’s restaurants are always covered with dark wooden panels on the inside, and the lights are dimmed, so it looks like you are actually in a seaside bar, where fishermen hang out.
Last time I was at McCormick and Schmick's, I was the only guest for a while
Seats with the view of the bar.
If you just want a drink and an appetizer, you can choose to sit by the bar, where you will be able to admire McCormick and Schmick’s impressive drink selection, and, with a little bit of luck, you will also be able to admire bartenders, preparing and mixing the drinks.
If you choose to sit at the regular table, that is also a great choice. All the McCormick and Schmick’s restaurants that I have been to so far, can host a lot of people, but yet they somehow managed to arrange the tables in a way that you will never feel people at the table next to you can listen to your conversation.
This is a restaurant that is on a fancier side, therefore do not be surprised when you see waiters and waitresses wearing sleek black dresses and bow ties. But do not be alarmed - there is no dress code for the guests. Whew! And since I just mentioned waiters - do not be afraid to ask them for recommendations. They will gladly help you pick a dish that you will love.
Food and drinks
McCormick and Schmick’s menu is pretty extensive. They actually offer two different menus, depending on the time of the day - the lunch menu and the dinner menu. And since I have been to this restaurant more often than I probably should, I have come to a conclusion which foods and drinks there are a must - order, and which ones you can easily survive without.
A part of the menu. Strawberry jalapeno margarita is on my must - try list! I just have not had the courage yet.
As an appetizer, I would highly recommend you to try the coconut shrimpin a coconut and lime sauce. Well, the portion is big enough for this to be a main course, but it is listed under appetizers in their menu.
Just looking at this picture makes me hungry!
If you do not like shrimp, another great appetizer is the crab cake. And just like the coconut shrimp, the portion of the crab cake that you get, is almost big enough to be the main course. This crab cake comes with a variety of dipping sauces, but it tastes equally good by itself as well.
McCormick and Schmick’s is not known only for their delicious seafood. They apparently also have excellent steaks. I am not a big steak fan, so I cannot confirm whether that fact is true or not, but I have heard multiple people mention that their steaks are superb. So, guess what, instead of steaks, I always order seafood there, and these are my top three dishes so far:
Salmon, stuffed with crab and shrimp. This dish is, in my opinion, the seafood lover’s ultimate choice. It offers a mix of my three favourite seafood dishes, and it also comes with grilled vegetables on the side.
When I am really hungry, or when I am sharing dinner with someone else, I usually order the dish, called Ultimate mixed grill, which consists of a grilled salmon filet, two versions of shrimp (that constantly change) and a crab cake. I think the description gives you an idea how big this dish is, but I once managed to finish the whole thing by myself. In my defense, let me just say that I was really really hungry!
You can never go wrong with tacos, and McCormick and Schmick’s knows that. Their fish tacos are amazing. The beer battered fish comes in two taco shells, with a side of black beans, coleslaw and french fries. This dish is equally very messy to eat and delicious.
Oh, and let’s not forget about some dessertsthat you should not skip there. McCormick and Schmick’s has the best chocolate cake with raspberries in the world. And one slice of it is filling enough that it could almost substitute the whole meal. Just look at this beauty.
Raspberry chocolate cake. It is a must - try!
Or, for these who love visually appealing food, you can order a chocolate bag. I have only tried thi once, because it is tiny and it costs thirteen dollars, but it looks super cute, and I was almost afraid to eat it. This dessert is literally a ‘bag’, made out of chocolate, filled with mousse, strawberries and blackberries. Do I need to say more?
And not only does this place serve excellent food, their drinks also deserve to be mentioned, especially some of the cocktails. My absolute favourite is called The blue mango, and it is also the strongest of all their drinks that I have tried. The drink is not actually blue, but it has a nice yellow - orange colour.
The second drink that deserves mentioning, is The basil strawberry smash. This unusual combination tastes pretty good in reality. It is topped with club soda, so this is a sparkly drink. The taste of basil is not too overwhelming, but you can still taste it, and I love it.
McCormick and Schmick's margaritas are also pretty good.
Specials
Furthermore, this restaurant claims to be ‘the restaurant with the best happy hour in the United states of America’. And I cannot argue with that at all. See for yourself.
So, from Monday to Friday from four o’clock to seven o’clock, you can, for example, get fish tacos or a cheeseburger for only five dollars. You can also get Oysters Rockefeller for nine dollars, which is an amazing deal, since this dish is usually very pricey.
They also offer some happy hour items for three dollars, which change weekly.
Staff
I know I have already mentioned it, but the McCormick and Schmick’s staff is just amazing. The first thing that I noticed about them during my first visit to this restaurant, is how well dressed they are.
They are also extremely polite, and they will tell you daily menu specials and their personalized recommendations, based on what you like. And this is why I always leave a generous tip whenever I eat at McCormick and Schmick’s.
A few words for the end…
I always love trying out new restaurants and different styles of food, so it is quite unusual for me to keep eating at the same restaurant over and over again. Well, McCormick and Schmick’s more than deserves that honor. Their food is simply amazing, it is ready fast and the waiters and waitresses will always go out of their was to make your dining experience memorable. I highly recommend this place!
