McCormick's Fish House & Bar: A Review

Born and raised a Jersey girl, I grew up participating in the summer tradition of most natives of the Garden State: going down the shore. My family and I would join the statewide weekend migration to the beaches of southern New Jersey for a sunny escape filled with swimming, miniature golf and ice cream, nights wandering the boardwalk, and, of course, partaking of the local surf fare at seafood restaurants. I hail from a long line of seafood lovers, and I cannot recall a single childhood summer that we failed to assemble around a choice restaurant's table laden with the freshest lobster, shrimp, crab cakes, and flounder among other oceanic delicacies.

When members of my extended family moved to Denver, one of the aspects of the east whose lack they found most to adjust to was Colorado's landlocked status and the natural scarcity of high quality fresh fish. My family, along with the passionate seafood enthusiasts of Denver, did not need to despair, however, because they do have at least once path of recourse. McCormick's Fish House & Bar, located at 1659 Wazee Street, offers a luxury dining experience with a powerhouse menu of the freshest fish available.

When my family and I booked a reservation at McCormick's, I felt skeptical. Colorado has no coastline, after all -- how good could its seafood-laden menu be? I thought that the dishes would taste rather stale and mediocre as a result. Although all of my family members adore seafood, I tend to avoid it ordering it even in the best of situations. My expectations of McCormick's menu could not have been lower.

My fears proved entirely groundless. Founders Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick established this chain of over eighty restaurants across the country on the reputation of serving only the freshest of fish. As a result, the menu in the restaurant changes not once, but twice daily based on what fish are shipped into the house that day. Patrons can choose from over thirty varieties of fish and more than eighty seafood dishes. Seafood selections fluctuate according to what is in season, ensuring that customers eat only the best of the best fish. Also, the restaurant's seafood options hail from both local sources as well as international waters, from the Atlantic to the Alaskan Pacific to New Zealand. The variety and scope of what McCormick's calls its daily fish "fresh list" is both impressive.

Perusing McCormick's menu, I felt my feelings of foreboding begin to dissipate. Still, as a reluctant consumer of seafood, I thought that it would be difficult to find a dish that would satisfy me. McCormick's Fish House does offer a few selections for its patrons who may not count themselves as fish enthusiasts, from vegetarians to those with fish allergies, as well as people like myself simply don't enjoy seafood. The fish-free menu is slim, however, although delicious. I eyed a pear and balsamic salad, as well as a French onion soup that sounded decadently cheesy. In the end, I decided upon a tuna and coconut curry.

My dinner at McCormick's was the best seafood meal that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. The tuna steak was tender and juicy, stir-fried in a coconut curry sauce with succulent yet crisp vegetables. Served over the fluffiest white rice, every bite gave fresh meaning to the term "melt in your mouth." I was converted -- seafood was no longer a food group to avoid, but to embrace, especially if it is prepared by the excellent chefs of McCormick's Fish House.

McCormick's superb quality selections are not kept solely to their seafood menu. The bartenders possess equivalent skill to that of the chefs, preparing what the bar menu describes as "hand-crafted" drinks. All beverages are mixed by hand and created only from fresh-squeezed juices. In addition, patrons can choose from a wide variety of mixed drinks as well as both regional and imported beers and wines. McCormick's has gained further renown through their $1.95 bar menu, boasting more traditional bar fodder such as cheeseburgers and steamed mussels.

While the bar menu is by far the most thrifty dining option at McCormick's Fish House, the other menus don't stress the wallet as far as one might expect given the high quality of food available. The more casual lunch menu is comprised of appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches as well as pastas and fish entrees. Starter selections, which include such items as a seafood and corn chowder and a blackened catfish sandwich with a side of french fries, start at $2.80. Main lunch entrees, including dishes like yellowfin tuna imported from Kona, Hawaii and the crabcake platter served with rice and vegetables, begin at $8.70. Families with small children might choose to visit McCormick's for the lunch menu as non-seafood savvy kids will be more likely to find something more in line with their tastes. McCormick's does not offer a menu geared specifically for children.

McCormick's dinner menu is significantly more pricey. Starter soups and salads begin at $3.95, with other appetizers at $7.95. Non-seafood meat dishes, like the flank steak salad with ginger dressing, start at $13.70. Shellfish selections begin at $19.90, and specialty dishes start at $17.60, including such options as Costa Rican tilapia encrusted in cashews and Jamaican hot rum butter as well as rainbow trout with a maple glaze fresh from Idaho. I found that patrons more than receive what they pay for in terms of the high caliber of seafood in addition to the restaurant's service.

The wait staff was not only genuine and efficient in their service, but also possessed an almost encyclopedic knowledge of all things seafood. This proficiency is part of what makes McCormick's Fish House unique. With the ever-changing menus, the restaurant's employees must be passionate as well as well-educated about the world of seafood to be able to fully answer customers' questions. As an uninitiated partaker of seafood myself, I felt impressed by our waiter's ability to thoroughly address my questions in both an informative and engaging manner.

I left McCormick's Fish House satisfied. Not only was my stomach full of a delicious and delicately rendered meal, but I had had a rather eye-opening experience as I discovered new tastes that truly surprised and delighted me. The restaurant's austere casual-dressy environment, proficient staff, and amazing quality and variety of seafood make dining at McCormick's Fish House a singular experience that I would gladly revisit and recommend.

Make reservations in person at 1659 Wazee, Denver, CO, by phone at 303-825-1107 or 1-888-344-6861, or on the web. Inquiries about catering, banquets, weddings, and other events can be directed to 303-628-5532.