The Scene
The Food
With certain exceptions, the menu at the Original Fish Market changes daily, offering a huge variety of tempting appetizers, salads, and entrees. Chef Daniel Mosedale keeps things exciting with such inspired dishes as olive crusted king salmon on saffron potatoes and ratatouille jus, sesame-seared tuna on a tempura vegetable roll wasabi aioli and spicy soy, and jumbo lump crab cake with ancho coulis and fried plantain. A variety of raw oysters and tempting sushi are also available.Appetizers & Meal Starters
I began the meal with the 5 Spice Crusted Ahi Tuna appetizer. Served on a surprisingly tasty seaweed salad, the tuna itself was actually a bit bland and disappointing, despite the word "spice" in the description. The Cajun Blackened Sea Scallops entree, chosen from the "Fresh Catch of the Day" portion of the menu, was one of many varieties of fresh fish available either mesquite grilled, cajun blackened or Hong Kong style. The generously-sized scallops were done to perfection, although they could have benefited from more cajun seasoning. Vegetable side dish portions, ordered 'a la carte' with the "Fresh Catch of the Day," are huge (more than most people can eat), especially the popular roast garlic mashed potatoes. Both the potatoes and the sauteed baby spinach I tried were delicious and my favorite part of the meal.
Desserts
While the desserts all sound delicious, I can personally recommend the Classic Opera Cake - thin, alternating layers of chocolate and yellow cake and vanilla cream, covered with chocolate ganache and then chilled and hardened. The presentation is dramatic, with Chocolate Kahlua sauce, raspberry coulis and chocolate shards making it almost (but not quite) too pretty to eat.
Service
Despite the fact that the restaurant had dozens of empty tables when I arrived, I was seated at a table for two directly across from the sushi bar and next to the serving station. Feeling a bit "out on display" I asked the hostess if I could be seated in a booth instead, but was told that "wasn't an option." I realize that this was probably because I was a single diner, yet still found it quite disconcerting. Especially the "take it or leave it" attitude. Many booths were occupied by couples throughout the evening and a few remained empty, so I felt there could have been at least some attempt to honor my request. My waiter redeemed things a bit, being prompt (at least at first), and well-trained in both food and wine. Even he, however, got a bit slow near the end - leaving me waiting longer than was comfortable for drink refills, dessert, and my bill.
Dining at the Original Fish Market
The Original Fish Market is open for lunch (weekdays only) and dinner. Reservations available.
Dinner prices: Appetizers $5.75 to $10. Entrees $17.50 to $37. Desserts $7 to $7.50.
Hours: M-F, 11 am to 1 am; Sat. & Sun., 4 pm to 1 am
The Original Fish Market
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 152225
(412) 227-3657
