Tacklebox

Georgetown is filled with numerous unique concept restaurants, but despite being along the waterfront, the neighborhood doesn’t exactly evoke images of fine seafood offerings. In fact, I can’t think of any place that really emphasizes seafood as the focus of the establishment. Most places here are generally focused around the retail shops, the bar scene, and a scattering of restaurants, each pursuing their own theme and goals. So why not a seafood setup?

Two, in fact.

Hook and Tacklebox are a pair two seafood focused dining establishments; the former, a more upscale dining experience, while the latter is more of a rustic, beach shack, fast seafood type of experience.  Both are owned by the same group, located directly next to one another on M Street, serving two different groups of clientele built upon the idea of serving sustainably caught fish.  A good, forward thinking notion, no?

I went all out for lunch at Tacklebox, starting with the Fish Tacos.  Two tilapia tacos with cole slaw served on warm corn tortillas for $8, these things are spectacular.  Feel free to up the ante to three tacos for an additional $3, and be sure to not spill any on yourself, a disaster I narrowly avoided.  These things are off the hook good.

Fish Tacos

I also ordered the Maine meal: Your choice of fish, two sides, and a sauce.  I opted for bluefish, accompanied by sweet potato fries, mac and cheese, and a bit of tartar sauce to dunk everything in for $13.

Some people might complain that, for $13, you’re not really getting your money’s worth here.  The crispy grilled fish fillet is a tad on the small size, weighing in somewhere around 2.5 to 3 oz, and the sides are tasty, but not outstanding.  To that, you have to remember that most meats in this country are HEAVY subsidized or acquired through non-sustainable practices, so what’s the real cost here?  A few extra dollars towards a few more days in our lives with fish as a viable source of food is worth it, in my opinion.  The mac and cheese here is actually pretty good- a thick, creamy consistency, with soft elbow macaroni noodles, done just right. The sweet potato fries are a nice offering on the menu, but were less crispy and more soggy and limp upon arrival.  Luckily, the fish here is perfect.  Flaky and slightly charred on the outside, tender and soft on the inside, I was tempted to go back and order another fillet.

The Maine Meal

Except I had already ordered and received the coup de grace, their famous and self-proclaimed “Best Blueberry Pie in DC”.  How did it do?

Blueberry Pie

This this is PACKED with blueberries and light on the sugar and other fillers, topped with a thick crust and served on a paper plate, this thing had no chance in hell making it out alive.  I’m no blueberry pie connoisseur,  but this is a damn good blueberry pie, and an excellent way to finish off a meal here.

So what’s missing?  What’s the one side dish that you think of when you picture beach restaurants in your head?  For me, it came down to just one thing, the seasoned and fried bread balls known as hush puppies.  Maybe it’s the the fact that they things are so bad for you that only adds to the appeal to me, but they simply aren’t on the menu.  A conversation with the staff informed me that it was a conscientious decision by the owners to omit the offering from the menu board.  Without speaking to the owner as to why the decision was made, I can’t see how you can see any seafood restaurant worth its salt without them, but then again, I’m sure there’s a good reason for it.  Maybe they’re still working on the perfect recipe for them.  Maybe they can’t find a way to sustainably acquire the ingredients for them.  Maybe there’s an opportunity here for me to run a food cart selling them outside…but without them, I can’t justifiably say that I totally had my cravings fulfilled.

So what’s the cost of investing in the future?  Is it worth the hike in price?  Or can the high prices just be attributed to the exorbitant rent fees of having an establishment in the heart of Georgetown’s commercial district?  Luckily, I was able to shave off half of my meal through the likes of online group-coupon sites like Living Social, so a $30 meal turned into $15 seemed perfect.  Had I not, however, maybe I would have made an entirely different selection of dishes. Still, it’s nice to see that some people are considering what world we’ll have in a few decades, and if they can make taste as good as the fish from Tacklebox, I might just have to do it.

‘Might’ can be transformed into ‘definitely’ if you guys started making some hush puppies, Tacklebox.  Hint, hint!

See Tacklebox on a map here.

Recommended for:

• Pescetarians
• Beach lovers
• Paleo heads
• Blueberry Buffs
• Sea Captain Horatio McAllister

Not Recommended for:

• Vegans
• Vegetarians
• Landlubbers
• Zone Dieters
• Frugalistas