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Canoe Cafe…Seafood Lovers – Here’s Your New Favorite Restaurant

5-4

By Emma Barhydt

Fresh Scallops in a Yuzu Sauce with Microgreens

In an unassuming little plaza near the Greenwich Train Station on Railroad Ave, sits a restaurant that is bursting with life and with flavor. Canoe Cafe is new to Greenwich, boasting a beautiful interior and ultra fresh ingredients, with a particular focus on seafood. I had the opportunity to enjoy their flavor packed tasting menu which exhibited the chef’s ingenuity, skill, and creativity. The tasting menu and indeed their whole menu is a seafood lover’s delight.

The evening started off with fresh scallops, served with a yuzu sauce that makes your mouth buzz with delight. Literally. The scallops are melt-in-your mouth tender and the sauce leaves a lingering almost tingle of yuzu on your tongue. I also tasted the duck foie gras with perfectly toasted bread and a berry compote. The foie gras was almost buttery in texture and had a great umami flavor without being too heavy. The berry compote is the perfect, albeit unexpected, tangy compliment.

Amazing Lobster Shooters

The star of the show was served early, and this item is featured on their standard menu as well- the Lobster Shooters. Served in sake glasses, bite sized portions of fried lobster tail swim in a lobster bisque bath and topped with chili oil and green onions. Canoe’s twist on Lobster Shooters makes it unique. The bisque is the perfect amount of rich and creamy, and full of lobster flavor in and of itself.

There’s a good amount of spice and kick to the shooters without being overwhelming or numbing your tongue, and adding an interesting flavor that you don’t often see with lobster.

The next dish was octopus, sauteed simply with a garlic oil and topped with tomatoes, garlic, and green onions. This dish is simple, making each element shine on its own and as a component of the dish. I’ll be honest, I’m not usually one for octopus. I usually find the texture to be a little chewy, but I was absolutely blown away by this dish. The texture was superb, it was akin to a perfectly flaky fish but still absolutely melted once I began to chew. According to the chef, this particular dish is Spanish-inspired. It certainly transported me to a warm climate with an ocean breeze.

Duck Foie Gras with Perfectly Toasted Bread and Berry Compote

Next, we were served a perfectly cooked Salmon atop a bed of spinach and rice, topped with a chinese black bean sauce. The Salmon literally fell apart when I went to take a bite- it was that tender. The dish was filling but not heavy and all the textures worked well together. I had never had black bean sauce before this dish. It was an interesting combination of savory/sweet that pulled the dish from something that might be a little more commonplace and elevated it to the next level. This dish was inspired by the chef’s upbringing in China, saying that while most of the dishes have a little bit of home in them, that salmon and rice with black bean sauce was something close to his heart. It comes across in a wonderful way.

For my final course of the tasting menu, I was served squid ink pasta in a champagne cream sauce with a beautiful assortment of seafood, topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese. Eating this, I imagine this must be what it’s like to be a mermaid. Every ingredient was so fresh and was so flavorful. Even down to the squid ink pasta which was black in color with a distinct oceanic taste to it. This decadent dish is truly the reigning champion of seafood pasta.

Squid Ink Pasta in Campaign Cream Sauce with Assortment of Seafood

Not to forget dessert, I got the chance to try their Rocky Road Brownie and Crème Brûlée. The brownie was fudgy and chocolatey, but not too sweet which I appreciated. Topped with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, walnuts, and chocolate chips there’s no doubt you’ll enjoy this fun twist on a classic dessert. Now, Crème Brûlée is my favorite dessert. If it’s on the menu I will order it you can guarantee. So, I consider myself a bit of a Crème Brulée aficionado. Canoe’s Crème Brûlée is fantastic. There’s a beautiful crack when you first get a spoonful, the custard is light and airy, and it’s not overly sweet. These were both perfect ways to end my experience at Canoe Cafe.

If you’re a seafood lover, rush to your phone ASAP to grab yourself a reservation at Canoe Cafe, I guarantee it will be your new go-to spot. The atmosphere of Canoe is what I like to call “upscale chill”- lively, fun, and vibrant, but still a place to wear your nice slacks. They have something on the menu for everyone and they’re not kidding when they say ultra fresh. You’re guaranteed to find something you’ll love.

Canoe is located at 280 Railroad Avenue. They are open seven days a week; Monday through Thursday 11:30am to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 10:30pm and Sunday 11:30am to 9pm. Their number is: 203-900-1211.

Canoe Cafe

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