Chamberlain’s Fishmarket Grill: The Finest Seafood in Dallas!

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Have you ever experienced the euphoria of tasting the fish you have actually caught yourself?!

I have had this experience, in the halcyon days of my childhood in India which has stayed with me ever since, and often evokes fond memories and nostalgia.

I was born in Kolkata (“The City of Joy”) and raised in Bombay, and often went to Kolkata to visit my uncles and aunts at our ancestral mansion in a small yet beautiful hamlet in the suburbs of the metropolis.

My grandfather, a retired landowner ("zamindar") and Bon-Vivant and epicure extraordinaire, grew his own fruits and vegetables to be able to consume fresh produce everyday. As well, he had a little lake on his property to breed fish for our daily consumption, amidst the lush, green and verdant surroundings, complete with mango and coconut groves.

The lake was a huge attraction for me, with my cousins indulging me with their fishing rods and bait, and helping me catch enough fish to feel a sense of real achievement, at the end of a day of fun and frolic. To put things in an American perspective, the stark change in scenery for a city boy from Bombay in this almost bucolic and semi-rural suburb of Kolkata, was not dissimilar to that experienced by a Manhattan dude who works in Madison Avenue over the week and then seeks adventure fly-fishing in Montana over the weekend!

The joy of netting the catch was only matched by the gratification of consuming the fish, freshly cooked, using a mouthwatering recipe from my aunt’s magical repertoire, worthy of the seafood capital of India that is Kolkata! Little did I know then that I would end up in a city like Dallas, where in sharp contrast, the seafood has to be flown in everyday, from places as far as Alaska, Seattle, Chile and Honduras!

An establishment that has raised seafood to fine art is the Chamberlain’s Fish Market and Grill in Addison, Dallas. Chamberlain's has had the rare distinction of securing D Magazine's endorsement as the "finest seafood restaurant in Dallas", for the last 3-5 years! An interesting anecdote is that their companion steakhouse happens to be actor Goldie Hawn’s steak restaurant of choice, across the US of A!

What brings me back for more:

Chamberlain’s Fish Market exudes opulence, excellence and hospitality and is highly recommended for special occasions where price is not your consideration!:-) The warm and elegant ambiance is matched by excellent customer service but most of all, it is the seafood par excellence that I cannot get enough of!

My Favorites:
Appetizers and Soups:

• Crispy Calamari with marinara and their special ponzu dipping sauce really gets your juices flowing in anticipation…
• Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with spicy remoulade is well…simply divine and melts in your mouth!
• The Combination Appetizer comprising chilled Colossal Shrimp, Fried Shrimp, Calamari and Ahi Tuna is highly recommended for couples and groups seeking adventure at their seafood fiesta.
• Florida Rock Shrimp Lettuce Wraps – crispy rock shrimp in a spicy sesame sauce is Chamberlain’s answer to the P.F. Changs signature dish, but delightfully rendered with shrimp vs. chicken, to which I can only say, “Vive la Difference”!
• The Louisiana Gumbo is a signature soup and the finest I have had in Dallas!

Entrées:
I like to try a different entrée every time I visit this "shrine of seafood sacrament", and some of my favorites include:

• Honduran Tilapia – macadamia crusted with basil fruit chutney and stir fried veggies is simply awesome!
• The fresh fish of the day (Halibut, Mahi Mahi or Trout) served with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing over a julienne of grilled veggies is outstanding, and one I cannot get enough of!
• Idaho Rainbow Trout – pecan crusted with roasted onion and mashed potatoes and broccoli which can be substituted with grilled veggies, is something to write home about!
• Cajun spiced Louisiana Gulf Redfish – served with spicy crawfish and fresh herb tomatoes will transpond you to New Orleans, for sure!
• Crispy fried Seafood Combo of Shrimp, Scallops and Redfish is a great dish to share with a group to add some additional zest to what is guaranteed to be a memorable food fest!
• Grilled Asparagus with Crabmeat Béarnaise as a side dish to complement the entrées, is highly recommended

While they serve some great desserts as well, I must confess that we are so fulfilled and satiated by the primo seafood, that it hardly leaves us with any desire to sample the desserts most of the time!
Check out the Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill and do let me know if you have had a comparable or superior seafood experience anywhere in Dallas - If you do, I would love to hear about it!:-)
This adventure in Dallas begins at: Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill, 4525 Belt Line Road, Addison, Texas 75001. Tel # (972) 503- 3474. Click on this link for Online reservations. Click here for the Google Map and Directions.
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Comments: Anonymous said...
As a fellow seafood lover, I cannot agree with you more re: the fare offered at the Chamberlain's Fish Market in Addison. The Halibut and the Mahi Mahi are usually my dishes of choice on their menu where choices are indeed tough to make. Cheers, Elias A.May 29, 2007 8:49 AM