Restaurant Spotlight: Go Fish Creative Cuisine in Avalon, New Jersey

There's a new dinner restaurant in Avalon, New Jersey, you're going to want to try..."Go Fish Creative Cuisine". Owner Lori Mantella and General Manager Mark McBride, have created an uncommon dining experience that you won't find anywhere else! "Go Fish Creative Cuisine" has a dinner menu unlike any menu you've ever seen.

They use only the freshest products...whole foods and vegetables. Everything on the menu is created here. It's a 'scratch' kitchen...nothing comes out of a box or a can. It's all made right here.

For seafood fans, their customized menu allows one to choose exactly how they would like their selection prepared. Ever ordered a "typical" salmon dinner? You know...salmon broiled in butter, with a baked potato or wild rice? Well...at Go Fish, salmon, (or whatever you choose), is anything but typical. Want that salmon prepared in a citrus butter? Or how about garlic oil, a chile rub or grain-battered perhaps? And, relax! While the menu is geared toward the fish lover, you can also choose non-fish entrees, like "Sirloin Sand Dollars" (little hamburgers), or "Tastes Like Fish", which is actually chicken! Now, partner your selection with a choice of 12 family-style side dishes, and you've got quite a meal. "The menu is more like a guideline," said Mark, to create your own cuisine.

There's also a fun "Bubbles On The Bay" sparkling wine and juice bar. Diners bring their own sparking wine (or sparkling water for the kids) and then Go Fish can mix in mango puree, peach nectar or fruits.

There's a great "Minnow Menu" for kids and those with smaller appetites. Six of the nine items are "fishy", and specifically designed to turn kids on to fish. The most popular is their "Crab-i-pops", which are crab balls on a stick. Adults love them just as much as the kids!

Lori, manages the "front end" of Go Fish. Not only does she greet customers, she often sits with them for a minute. "Chatting with people is one of my perks. It's like hosting a dinner party every night! And, I get to speak with each party that comes in," said Lori. She went on to tell The Bright Side that, "I'm still not sure this is what I wanted to be, now that I'm grown up, but it's a great outlet for my creativity, and though it's a great deal of work, it's a lot of fun!" Lori worked in the dance and fitness industry for 30 years, and owned "half-full-fitness", a personal training company in Center City Philadelphia. Lori said, "I used to help my clients work off what they had eaten...and now I'm feeding them...but healthfully!"

"Lori is the consummate hostess! She treats her patrons like family.", Mark told The Bright Side. This kind of interactive service is surely just one more thing that makes Go Fish stand out from the crowd.

I've raised three kids", said Lori, "and of course, they think I'm crazy. My older son Rocky, and his girlfriend Kyle, are on staff at the restaurant, and they've worked their tails off all summer! They helped from startup marketing to being servers that repeat customers specifically request."

Mark manages the "back end", including the kitchen staff, and does all the ordering, Said Mark, "I only pick from the local seafood markets' freshest catches, so the selection of fish changes from day to day". And if there's a need anywhere else in the restaurant, Mark fills in and gets the job done. He has over 25 years experience in the industry, and has worked with such notables as Iron Chef Morimoto. He also owned Zocolo Restaurant in University City, Philadelphia. Mark understands the dynamics of a dining room, and sees that everything is done with one goal...to create a dining "experience".

Here's an inside tip...the best time to treat yourself to a wonderful dinner is when you can catch a beautiful sunset...so find out when sunset occurs on the day you plan to dine, and make a reservation! (Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are suggested). At Go Fish, sunsets are something quite special and worth celebrating. Every day at sunset, Lori rings a bell, someone (usually a patron) stands up and gives a toast, and the whole restaurant raises their glasses in unison and toasts the end of a great day, and the beginning of an enchanted evening. What a great tradition!

Go Fish also caters private parties from 20 to 75 on-site at their beautiful waterfront gazebo, and theme parties are their specialty! Make that next birthday, anniversary or special celebration something really special. They have some great ideas for you!

You know what they say...water has a calming effect. If you need a break, or just want to experience a wonderfully unique dining experience, then it's time to discover firsthand what the word "peaceful" really means! In Avalon, New Jersey, "relaxing" is spelled "Go Fish Creative Cuisine"! Call 609-967-3592 for reservations, and then simply head west over the 21st Street Bridge and drive to the end of the road. Dinner begins at 5:00 p.m. Enjoy!