Where to get great seafood in North Jersey during Lent
Well, North Jersey; it's the season of Lent, and you know what that means — no meat on Fridays.
And, though I don't claim to know a lot about Christianity, I do know one thing: God never saw Finding Nemo.
Because, if he did? He'd know that fish are friends, not food.
That's right folks; for the next seven Fridays, you'll be eating a whole lot of fish, as swimmers don't fall into the meat category. Whether tuna salad sandwiches, teriyaki scallops or pan-seared salmon, all sea creatures — in all preparations — are fair game.
AKA, when Jesus said love thy neighbor as thyself, he clearly didn't live next door to Flounder.
Here are six great local seafood restaurants to visit during Lent.
Oceanos, Fair Lawn
Oceanos is an upscale, modern Mediterranean bistro with a menu centered around high-end seafood. During each service, guests — who are often dressed to the nines — enjoy Arctic char with grilled lime and ginger beurre blanc, or wood-grilled swordfish, to name a few.
If you're into raw bites, begin your meal with an oyster taster (featuring five varieties of American oysters), or sushi-quality tuna tartare. Chase that with mussels Lyonnaise, or jumbo jump crab cakes. For those whose wallet hasn't burst by course number three, indulge in steamy South African lobster tails drawn in drippy, decadent butter.
From shellfish to branzino, this coastal-inspired oasis serves just about everything that swims.
Go: 2-27 Saddle River Rd., Fair Lawn; 201-796-0546, oceanosrestaurant.com.
Crab Island Cajun Seafood & Bar, Clifton
Do you ever crave one of those massive seafood steamer pots full of crab legs and peel-and-eat shrimp? The ones with the corn and random chunks of sausage hidden in them?
If you answered yes, Lent is your lucky season, because you now have seven excuses to crush one of those bad boys.
When we're hankering to get dirty in a plastic bib, we always head to Crab Island Cajun Seafood in Clifton. Order the "A" Combo, and you're looking at a pound of crab legs and shrimp, two lobster tails and all the corn, sausage and potatoes your heart desires — all served in a plastic bag in a bucket.
Go: 1016 Main Ave., Clifton; 973-955-2911, crab-island-cajun-seafood-bar.business.site.
Hot Fish, Hackensack
Szechuan cuisine is one of the most flavorful food categories on the planet. Peppercorns, garlic, ginger and bean paste season many of the region's dishes, and hot chili oil is commonly found on the tables of Western Chinese restaurants. All of these spices work excellently on fish, which can often be bland.
In North Jersey, we have numerous reputable Szechuan restaurants, but Hot Fish in Hackensack is truly special. Michelin Bib Gourmand-honored a few years back, the trendy Chinese spot offers a seafood-centric menu with a plethora of exceptional dishes. Some of our favorites include the boiled fresh fish in hot chili oil and the whole grilled striped sea bass in spicy sauce.
Oh, and PS? The Scallion Pancakes are technically meat-free, too.
Go: 450 Hackensack Ave. #6, Hackensack; 201-881-0180, hotfishhackensack.com.
Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Morristown
If you want to make a special occasion out of a Lent dinner (perhaps you're trying to prove to your in-laws that you didn't forget to celebrate it), look no further than Morristown's Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen. Locally known for being that "fancy restaurant inside a mansion," the ornately-decorated venue is breathtaking — and boasts food as impressive as its appearance.
Starting a meal at Jockey Hollow with a round of oysters is a must, as the farm-to-table spot is nearly famous for them. After that, we recommend enjoying some tuna tonnato, because the sauce is notably rich and creamy, or the crisp octopus confit.
Round out your meal with an entrée of lightly smoked Arctic char over puréed potato and parsnip, and you'll totally forget you were once eyeing the lamb shank.
Go: 110 South St., Morristown; 973-644-3180, jockeyhollowbarandkitchen.com.
Kenko Sushi, Lincoln Park
Sushi Fridays are so totally a thing, so, good news Lent-ers: nothing has changed! Go out for a cool Philadelphia roll, or some sort of deep-fried volcano dragon Phoenix, and spend the first day of your weekend just like every other high school girl or millennial couple.
Though we have yet to meet a sushi we don't like (even the ShopRite rolls are pretty bangin'), Kenko Sushi is our go-to casual neighborhood spot.
Located in a cozy strip mall in Lincoln Park, the tremendously popular restaurant offers colossal "special" rolls. A great one is the Godzilla, which features spicy tuna and avocado topped with a mountain of crabmeat, tempura crunch, spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce.
Go: 261 Comly Rd., Lincoln Park; 973-633-5498, kenkosushinj.com.
The Chippery, Union
Absolutely no frills, and undeniably nothing fancy — The Chippery just has the best damn fish and chips in Jersey since Arthur Treacher's disappeared from the Rockaway Mall.
Go: 2698 Route 22, Union; 908-349-8511, the-chippery.com.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey seafood restaurants near me to visit during Lent
