The Original Fish Market Restaurant

Address: 1001 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh Phone: (412) 227-3657 or toll-free 1-877-EAT-FISH (1-877-328-3474). Reservations: Yes Credit cards: All Smoking policy: Separate areas provided Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday Dress: Upscale casual

As you walk into The Original Fish Market Restaurant in the Westin Hotel on Liberty Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh, you get the distinct feeling it’s time to indulge. From the atmosphere that exudes dignity, to the rich, wood decor with an understated nautical theme, to the expansive seafood menu, this is a place you will enjoy if you have any interest in seafood. Service is swift – we had barely slid into the booth before a server arrived with tall glasses of iced water followed by warm, fresh breads served with herbed butter. As you sip your water and scan the menu, you’ll notice unusual lighting throughout the restaurant and bar. When we asked our server about the decorative lighting, she said the architect who designed it wanted to portray seashells on white sand. The lounge area of the bar has two spectacular lighted 4-foot world globes embedded in the ceiling. As opulent as the setting is, most patrons seemed more interested in the sushi bar or the expansive seafood menu. If sushi is your taste, The Original Fish Market will meet your expectations. We, unfortunately, had no one brave enough in our party willing to try sushi. Shameful, yes, but we also were being realistic. We cannot possibly order everything. We started with Lump Crab Cocktail ($10.50), an exquisite dish. A cocktail glass was filled halfway with sauce and then heaped with an ample serving of luscious, fresh-chilled crab. The Popcorn Candied Rock Shrimp on Mescaline Greens ($7.50) provided little firecrackers on our tongues. A perky zing coated the 15 to 20 candied shrimp amid the tender greens. The black sesame seeds sprinkled on top provided drama to the appealing dish. From the salad menu, the Fish Market Garden Salad ($5) was ever so fresh. It was simple but beautifully composed with mixed greens and carefully arranged julienned tomatoes and carrots. The Insalata Supreme ($5.50) featured bountiful mixed greens sprinkled with pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and chevre. The balsamic vinaigrette dressing was heavenly. From the entree specialties, we ordered Alder Planked Wild King Salmon ($21), an excellent choice. The platter offered a thick yet tender salmon fillet with a hint of smoke. On the side were roasted Yukon Gold potatoes and creamed spinach. The Large Gulf Shrimp ($19.50) featured about a dozen meaty shrimp in a golden breading. Crunchy crab fries piled high on the platter provided the perfect accompaniment. A small crock of creamy, thick slaw came on the side. Who but a veteran Lunch Buncher would consider ordering lobster fried• We never had heard of lobster prepared that way, so in the interest of new ventures, we felt compelled. The 12-ounce Baby Cold Water Lobster Tails ($36) are a lot of lobster. The three tails dipped in a crispy tempura batter were more than one person could eat and still rise from the table. Add crab fries and cabbage slaw, and you’ll be on overload. Not everyone likes seafood, so our beef lover opted for Grilled 10-ounce Filet Mignon ($25.50). The 2-inch thick filet was gorgeous, but we wish we had the option of having it butterfly-cut. Everyone else at the table was enjoying tender seafood, while our beef eater sawed the huge steak into pieces. Savory as the flavor was, the meat was slightly tough, although cooked exactly to order at medium well. From the dessert menu, we settled on the Dessert Sampler Plate ($12.50) so we could try four half-sized varieties of sweet temptations. Our advice is to save room for the desserts, because they are decadent. The Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce ($4.50 if ordered separately) was outstanding. It won us over with its rich plump raisins held by thick custard and bread with bourbon sauce soaked into it. Who needs an after dinner drink when there’s Raspberry and Kahlua Tiramisu• This dessert is rich and luscious with creamy layers separated by liqueur-soaked cake and raspberry sauce. We also found a winner in the Chocolate Praline Mousse Cake ($4.50) that we deemed rich, decadent and absolutely worth every indulgent calorie. Compiled by Rebecca Killian and guests. Meals are paid for by the Valley News Dispatch and are unrelated to advertising.

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