Top 5 Seafood Places by editors of AOL

On the opening screen of AOL today they list the top 5 (by their selection) Seafood places around the nation. Descriptions of each are with the list. I have never been in any of these establishments so I can't support or negate their choices. Do any of you have evidence regarding the status of these five?
By Region- not by Quality-

1. The Place in Guilford, CN
The Place, Guilford, Conn. You sit at outdoor tables made from plywood mounted on logs. Logs also serve as chairs. The T-shirt slogan is: "Put your rump on a stump." Everything -- including the clams, steamers, mussels, shrimp, bluefish, lobster, and corn on the cob -- cooks on an immense grill. Tents provide rainy-day cover (but bring insect repellent). Bring your own alcohol, side dishes, and seat cushion. (901 Boston Post Rd., 203-453-9276)

2. O'leary's Deck & Grill in Sarasota, FL
O'Leary's Deck & Grill, Sarasota, Fla. Parrots squawking in the trees overhead drown out the poor singer/pianist. Such are the perils -- and delights -- of dining at O'Leary's, a basic burgers-and-fried-seafood place south of the causeway in downtown Sarasota. The warped wooden picnic tables spill over from the outdoor deck onto the adjacent beach, which borders a peaceful boat basin. (5 Bayfront Dr., 941-953-7505)

3. Harbor Fish Cafe in Carlsbad CA
Harbor Fish Cafe, Carlsbad, Calif. This seafood Shangri-la north of San Diego relies on its Pacific Ocean backdrop for atmosphere. Order the large plate of fish-and-chips -- three pieces of lightly battered fish, a mound of fries, and homemade tartar sauce. It weighs about 5 pounds, but it's worth every calorie-laden bite. (3179 Carlsbad Blvd., 760-729-4161)

4. Huggo's on the Rocks in Kailua-kona, Hawaii
Huggo's on the Rocks, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Nestled amid seaside shops and eateries in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, this open-air restaurant features a thatched-roof bar, nautical-style rope along the deck, plenty of wave-breaking rocks below, and front-row seats for showy sunsets. It's the casual side of Huggo's, a finer dining establishment next door. Ahi sashimi and seafood pizza provide ocean-inspired fare. But it's the cocktails that make eating here at cocktail/sunset hour a must. (75-5828 Kahakai Rd., 808-329-7204)

5. Bluebird Rest. & Bar in Leland Michigan
The Bluebird Restaurant & Bar, Leland, Mich. One block from Lake Michigan in this fishing village-turned-tourist town, the Bluebird has evolved into a white-tablecloth institution. Or at least the dining room has. The bar, with its more casual menu, remains a relaxed throwback to the restaurant's 1927 roots as a sandwich and soda shop (with the addition of a wine list). Definitely try the fried whitefish, either the sandwich or the platter. On later visits you might explore the smelt, perch, or walleye. (101 River St., 231-256-9081)


I am curious as to how many roadfooder's have visited any of these places.

I've been to two of them. The Bluebird and The Place.

Now, I have not been to The Place in a long time. In fact, it wasn't even called The Place when last I ate there. It was Whitey's Roast Clams, and I started stopping there in 1951. A couple of years ago I tried to eat there, but a drenching rain came along and they shut down just as we got out of the car.

I was last at the Bluebird two years ago -- in the bar. Good perch sandwiches.

I cannot, however, understand how anyone could name these two places to a top five list. Heck, I can't understand how they'd make it to a top 50 list.

I concur with Michael RE: the place. The food is edible but not outstanding.

O'leary's Deck & Grill in Sarasota, FL

I wouldn't call it a great seafood place, I might call it a great place to eat seafood. The atmosphere is very laid back, right on the bay. Self serve, shrimp baskets, clam strips (no bellies), grouper sandwich, beer by the pitcher (domestic); typical fare for this area. I have never had one of their burgers.

Some years ago, people in the office (women) thought it would be a great idea to have an office Thanksgiving meal the day before Thanksgiving. DUH! I declared this to be stupid and engineering snuck away to a lost afternoon lunch. The last few years this has ended up at O'Leary's. Too much sun and too much beer. the food is ok but it is a fun time.

Cakes

Never been to any of them. I'm glad to see a place from Florida though! We're so under visited down here.

I've been to The Place, but I went for the steak. Corn on the cob was great.

If " The Place" is any indication of what the AOL folks were looking for in the "best seafood places" , we have to assume they really meant the best laid back casual fun seafood places. The clams and the corn and the totally casual and very smokey atmosphere are what people go to Whitey's (the Place) for. I'd recommend a stop at Whitey's for anyone who happens to be driving up old Rt 1 in Connecticut any time in the Summer.

Cheers, John

They forgot Le Bernardin!

And Long John Silver's.

What---no Red Lobster!! i KNEW there was a reason to get off AOL!

O'Leary's is overpriced and the food is very inconsistant. The so-called atmosphere is chinzy,basically a draw for 'SNOWBIRDS' our quaint name for Northerners who invade every sept.)hold on now,thats not a dig,I come from Maine,how much Northern can you get?)

The Wreck! Bowen's Island! Seewee! Edisto PO!!

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty246

Never been to any of them. I'm glad to see a place from Florida though! We're so under visited down here.

Actually, no you're not. Mark Militello has a national following for his place in Miami and Mark's Las Olas in Ft. Lauderdale!! He's a spectacular chef, one of the best rated in the country and named Best Florida Chef for years.
And I've been to four out of the five places (the exception is the one in Hawaii) and I totally disagree with AOL.........hey, they have to support their advertisers. Doesn't make them restaurant conoisseurs like the rest of us.

I've been to the Harbor Fish Cafe. It's ok, but it's kind of puzzling as to why it would be included in a great seafood list. You can get better, either up or down the coast.

well first off...maybe they should respect connecticut a little more and get our state abbreviation right it is CT not CN. I live in Madison and my house is about 5 minutes from "the place" I have been there plenty of times, but if that is the best seafood in the USA then damn I am spoiled. I would rather go to Lenny and Joes in clinton, not the sitdown Old geaser restaraunt in westbrook, or the clam shack right across the street from Lenny and Joes.

I still never understood why people always talk about lenny and joes in westbrook. When you can go to the clinton one and eat outside and enjoy the atmosphere.

These folks have obviously never made it to Calabash, North Carolina or to the Chesapeake Bay.

Not even one from the Chesapeake?
Charlatans!

How can a place landlocked as Michigan be on a top list of seafood!Its lakefood !not seafood.Good God!not a place from the Carolinas on the list.Well thats OK we like to keep them a secret anyway.

They left out Gosman's and The Lobster ROll in the Hamptons!