Westminster, as we noted in our guide to foodie day trips, reminds us of a mini-Aurora for its broad diversity of cuisines, from Polish, old-school Italian and Afghani to Tibetan, Korean and Vietnamese. We’ve come to expect the unexpected from the suburb — and Big Mac & Little Lu’s Seafood Market & Grill is a charming example. The Florida transplants who run this seafood shack out of a generic strip mall know the Gulf Coast inch by inch, as is obvious at a glance. Photos of the family on fishing expeditions cover the walls amid mounted replicas of sharks and rays, while rope-strung pilings line the entrance, along with a display case filled with the daily catch for market customers. The lengthy menu confirms the first impression: think Atlantic snapper and grouper and hogfish, Caribbean conch chowder and jerked pumpkin-swordfish tacos, fried-catfish po’boys and grilled oysters. You’ll have a ball just reading the menu, not to mention the list of goofy beach-bar cocktails. At some point, though, you’ve got to bite the bullet (or the lure, as the case may be) and  order.

Make sure your meal includes the conch fritters (pictured top), studded with chopped, dried chiles whose kick is only underscored by a smear of rémoulade and a side of sweet-spicy St. Vincent’s dipping sauce, not unlike the Thai condiment that comes with spring rolls. Get the impeccably fresh, plump steamed mussels and clams too (below) — we tried them with both the garlicky butter-white wine sauce and the green curry, and preferred the mellow creaminess of the latter. Perhaps our favorite dish, however, was the teriyaki tuna burger (above). Though not representative of the Gulf Coast region, the patty sparkled with ground sushi-grade fish, offset by sliced, grilled pineapple, fresh arugula and a bit of Sriracha mayo. As for the thick-cut chips, they were even better dipped into the curry. Of course, if you take our advice, you probably won’t have room for the bread pudding — but there’s always next time.2851 W 120th Ave., Westminster; 303-404-2722Join the conversationFollow ZagatYou’re missing outThe Zagat app helps you find the best places, faster.

of 39results12NextDidn't find what you were looking for?magnifying glassSeafood LandingSeafood landingBest place in town to get fresh seafood in Denver!!! Bruce is a great guy!Do you like it?× LikeNot a Fan× Thank You!Cafe Diva Steamboat Springs offers eclectic seasonal menu Every year I visit my in-laws in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and I try to visit a different restaurant each time. This year we went to Cafe Diva, a favorite among the family. Located in Torian Plum Plaza at the base of the ski mountain, Cafe Diva Steamboat Springs focuses its menu on local, seasonal ingredients. Dish preparations vary in style and include influences from Latin, Asian, European and other cultures. My favorite dishes came at the beginning and end of the meal. My starter of elk sausage and manchego cheese empanadas with a poblano-pepita pesto and cilantro-lime cream was an interesting take on the Latin-American snack using very-Colorado elk meat. This was my first time eating elk, and I liked it a lot, mostly because it wasn’t as gamey as I thought it would be.

My husband’s elk tenderloin was really nice, too. The dessert we shared — a take on bananas foster with Grand Marnier-vanilla bread pudding, roasted banana gelato, rum salted caramel and candied pecans — was also a standout. buy sushi grade fish ottawaAll the flavors worked together nicely, as did the different textures. sushi online bestellen oldenburgThe roasted banana gelato was my favorite part, as I love everything banana!jiro dreams of sushi houston When it came to my main dish, seared diver scallops wrapped in bacon and served on a bed of spinach spaetzle with lemon-vermouth butter and capers, I wasn’t as impressed. haru sushi menu london ontario

The dish was too salty, which made it hard to enjoy. I should have ordered the sablefish with white balsamic-orange miso served in a coconut broth with snow peas, shiitake mushrooms and crispy ramen noodles. yo sushi menu chesterI had a taste of my sister-in-law’s, and I found it much more balanced. sushi grade fish colorado springsHowever, she thought it was a bit on the sweet side, so maybe I just liked it because my dish was so salty.jiro dreams of sushi singapore cinema Even though there were some hits and misses, because my family likes Cafe Diva Steamboat Springs so much I’d be willing to try it again, especially since it is one of the few nicer restaurants in town (which is not very big).

Tags: bananas foster, big game, Cafe Diva, Colorado, dessert, elk meat, fish, scallops, Steamboat Springs, Torian Plum Plaza by Maya Meinert posted in Food, Travel No Comments 643 North is welcome addition to Chinatown Chinatown is the new downtown. That’s what it certainly feels like, with newcomers such as Chego, Starry Kitchen and General Lee’s making their way into the historically low-income neighborhood just north of its rapidly gentrifying big brother, downtown Los Angeles. And now comes 643 North, a restaurant and bar from Los Angeles native and owner of Michael J’s Catering, Michael Ourieff. 643 North, named for its address at 643 N. Spring St., is a new concept for Chinatown. It serves non-Asian food, for one. But unlike its neighbor across the street Spring Street Smoke House, which specializes in barbecue, 643 North offers a full menu ranging from a pickled beet salad and a lamb burger to a roasted eggplant pizza and ossobuco ravioli. And there’s a full bar with a decidedly drinkable cocktail menu.

Chef Oz Ramuco (Dar Maghreb, Caffe Opera and Bistro, The Roosevelt Hotel) helms the kitchen here, and Bar Manager Adam Acuff (Blue Palms Brew House, Far Bar) designs the cocktail program. Some menu standouts include the mini grilled cheese sandwiches with roasted pears, white and yellow cheddar, wild arugula, honey mustard and white truffle oil, which thankfully aren’t heavy on the truffle oil. The beef sliders come perfectly cooked — which is no small feat, mind you — and are made with grass-fed beef patties, pickled red onions and white cheddar on brioche. When it comes to the mains, the seared diver scallops are buttery and come on a bed of parmesan farro and asparagus tips. Do not skip dessert here; get the butter cake, which arrives at your table warm, topped with vanilla sugar, chantilly crème and raspberry coulis. So simple, yet so good. As for the cocktails, first and foremost I have to applaud Acuff for having a menu dedicated to building your own martini or manhattan.

On the regular drink menu, try the Don’t Drink This (pictured above) made with Evan Williams Single Barrel bourbon, maraschino liqueur, Dolin sweet vermouth, Fernet Branca and fire. The seasonal Go Figure, with Avion reposado, Benedictine, Carpano Antica Formula vermouth, fig thyme syrup and pinot noir, is an interesting combo, especially with the addition of the wine. There’s also a happy hour available Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6:43 p.m. (cute, huh?) with discounted bites, including the beef sliders, and $3 draught beer and $5 wine, martinis and manhattans. How can you beat a $5 manhattan? So next time you’re in the area on your way to a Dodger game or just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown proper, pop in to 643 North. They’ll treat you right. Note: This meal was hosted. Tags: 643 North, Adam Acuff, cake, Chego, Chinatown, cocktails, Downtown LA, General Lee's, grilled cheese, Happy Hour, manhattan, martini, Michael Ourieff, Oz Ramuco, scallops, sliders, Starry Kitchen

by Maya Meinert posted in Drinks, Food No Comments David LeFevre is Fishing With Dynamite in Manhattan Beach When I heard that Chef David LeFevre opened a seafood-centric restaurant, I was excited. Not only is LeFevre’s MB Post a winner, but his stint at Water Grill proved his mastery with fish. And while Fishing With Dynamite is a welcome addition to Manhattan Beach, just up the street from MB Post, it didn’t wow me as much as I hoped it would. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy some of the dishes, though. The chilled shellfish platter is a stunner. We made our own with Peruvian scallops, which were served raw with grapefruit, Prince Edward Island mussels, Atlantic lobster, an oyster sampler, and a special sea urchin plate that isn’t always available. While everything was tasty, the scallops were amazing, especially with the pop of citrus. I also really liked the hamachi (pictured above) served with ponzu, avocado, red radish, serrano chili and shiso. Bright, bold flavors — just how I like my food.

What I really wanted to love was the New England clam “chowdah,” served here with Neuske’s bacon, Weiser Family Farms potatoes and house-made oyster crackers. The flavors were good, but I wanted the soup itself to be just a bit creamier and thicker; while the milk and cream were blended beautifully, the end result didn’t produce that thin coating on my spoon that, to me, means the perfect New England clam chowder texture. But I’m not telling Chef LeFevre how to make his chowdah! Chef David’s Mom’s Cape Cod Squash Rolls with rosemary butter were addictive (LeFevre’s biscuits are always good: see the cheddar buttermilk biscuits at MB Post), the seared diver scallops were cooked beautifully, and the crab cake was made with a lot of sweet meat. But overall, I wasn’t blown away. LeFevre gives a solid performance at Fishing With Dynamite, but if I had to choose, I would pick his MB Post for my meal. Tags: clam chowder, David LeFevre, Fishing With Dynamite, hamachi, Manhattan Beach, MB Post, scallops, sea urchin, seafood, shellfish, uni, Water Grill

by Maya Meinert posted in Food 2 Comments Hello, lover: Jean-Georges New York I went to New York, and I fell in love. In love with Jean-Georges restaurant, that is. The eponymous New York fine dining establishment from Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten offered the most elegant and flawlessly executed meal I’ve ever had. What else would you expect from a place with three Michelin stars? I started my meal with a plate of beautiful roasted Brussels sprouts, avocado, pistachio and mustard vinaigrette. These were some gorgeous Brussels sprouts, and they didn’t tase bad, either. The sea scallops with caramelized cauliflower and caper-raisin emulsion were hearty yet delicate. The yellowfin tuna ribbons with avocado, spicy radish and ginger marinade is the most straight-up delicious version of the tuna-and-avocado dish I’ve ever tasted. My absolute favorite dish was the crispy confit of suckling pig served with corn “pudding” and smoked bacon marmalade.

O.M.G. Perfectly cooked and prepared. There are no words, really. Special thanks to my aunt and uncle for treating me to this meal! Tags: brussels sprouts, Jean-Georges restaurant, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Michelin stars, New York, scallops, suckling pig, tuna tartare by Maya Meinert posted in Food 1 Comment Restaurant Row’s best bang for your buck: Gonpachi Beverly Hills Restaurant Row on La Cienega Boulevard has been long known for its large, overly expensive eateries — Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Benihana, Woo Lae Oak, The Stinking Rose. But the Row’s Gonpachi Beverly Hills, though large, is one of the best values on that strip with its incredibly fresh-tasting sushi-grade fish and satisfying hot dishes, including robata. I was recently invited to dinner at Gonpachi to try out its new menu. I hadn’t been to the restaurant for years, and only for happy hour, so I was excited to go back. The courtyard is lush with foliage and a koi pond, and the interior is reminiscent of the film Kill Bill (which was filmed at the Tokyo location of Gonpachi).