Whenever we want to go somewhere with a nice ambiance, but not too expensive, we head to our neighbourhood spot: Ocean Grill. We started with glasses of Zardetto prosecco ($8/glass, always a safe choice because it's not sweet).
The oysters we had were Evening Cove (BC, $2.50 ea), Cortez Island (BC, $2.50 ea), Fisher Island (NY, $2.75 ea), and Little Skookum (WA, $3 ea). We found the Little Skookums to be very mild (almost sweet) with a creamy texture. The Fisher Islands were also creamy with minimal salt. Both of the BC oysters were of the briny, salty variety.
Salmon and Tuna Tartare ($12.50) with taro root chips in sesame, lime zest, and lemongrass. We regularly order the tartare as the fish is always fresh and the taro chips make it a fun dish to share.
Sushi! From left to right:
Spider roll ($13.50): This soft-shelled crab roll was their special that night.
Rainbow roll ($14): Salmon, shrimp, tuna, hamachi, and avocado wrap this roll.
Spicy Lobster and Hamachi roll ($13): Our favourite! We love the spicy kick from the jalapeno peppers in the roll, the texture of the creamy avocado, and the subtle cilantro aioli.
Creamy Wasabi Tuna roll ($13): This also contained avocado and tempura crunch.
Horseradish Encrusted Scottish Salmon ($26) with subtle goat cheese gnocchi and baby artichokes. We love the light crust on the perfectly prepared (medium) fish.
Complimentary lemon squares: a tangy light dessert to end our meal.
The meal we shared was enough for our party of four. Ocean Grill has that great neighborhood vibe that people in t-shirts and jeans can feel comfortable sitting next to those wearing dinner jackets.
Ocean Grill is located at 384 Columbus Ave. (at 78th St).
