Stupendous seafood: Automatic Seafood & Oysters.
It’s much bigger inside than it looks from the outside but a reservation is recommended on weekend nights. While the space has high ceilings…it used to be the Automatic Sprinkler Company and hence the name…it is quite comfortable.
While there are a few land animals on the menu, stick with the sea creatures unless you hate it or are allergic. When in the South and near the Gulf one must try any form of Blue Crab claws. This offering came with mint and cilantro relish and a lime vinaigrette. Simply outstanding. Followed this with the smoked fish hushpuppies and the grilled oysters.
For mains I had the seared blackfin tuna…perfectly cooked rare. We also sampled the redfish on the half shell…grilled skin and scales on, duck fat poached amberjack, grilled pompano, and the crispy whole lane snapper. A word about the snapper…you must get this dish if it’s on the menu! Even though it wasn’t my choice it gets the nod for the best of the bunch.
Wines offered included a very nice Spanish Garnacha Rosé from the Basque region. You must try wines from this region if you see them on a menu…slight effervescence, low alcohol and wonderful flavors of red fruit. Second choice was a very nice French Burgundy. The wine list has been chosen to pair with the menu offerings and includes nice new and old world options.
Believe it or not…we had dessert! I had to try the fudge brownie with chocolate malt ice cream and spiced caramel popcorn…delicious and paired with a Pedro Ximenez Sherry, it was perfect . Others tried the brown sugar cake, black sesame chiffon cake, key lime pie and the pavlova. They were all very good but an additional nod goes to the brown sugar cake…bananas foster like and delicious.
Service was excellent.
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