- January 26, 2025
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My parents met at a bar — well, technically my dad saw my mom on the train as they commuted from Connecticut into the Big Apple. He overheard that she was from a certain part of Illinois, which happened to be mere minutes from where he grew up. So he stalked her. Took the same train as she did for a few weeks — until he had the courage to follow her off the train to the bar that she frequented with friends on Fridays after a long work week.
He found the courage, in a couple of drinks of Jack Daniel's, I'm sure, to walk up to his future leading lady of 37 years. He introduced himself by saying, "I heard you're from Chicago."
Her response would not be allowed to run in this paper.
My mom eventually caved in — or you wouldn't be reading this column.
But that's the thing — my parents were polar opposites. She likes top-shelf champagne while he would have been fine with an Amstel light. My mom loves traveling to London while my Dad enjoyed going to Chicago and driving the same streets he drove as a teenager. My mom grew up eating fresh fish and my dad grew up eating fish sticks.
National Fish Taco Day on Jan. 25 has me thinking that I know the places with the best fish tacos that will have you hooked. You won't be finding fish sticks on my list but there will be something for everyone.
Here are the most fin-tastic tacos in town:
1265 Old Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key; 941-349-1971; SpearfishGrille.com
What a Catch: The fish that was caught and placed on your taco tonight will most likely differ from the fish on tomorrow's menu — because the gulf caught tacos ($18 - market price) were brought in mere hours before you sat down to nosh. They're wrapped in grilled flour tortillas or lettuce wraps and dressed with crispy slaw, black beans, sweet corn, cotjia cheese, chives, pickled onions, siracha sour cream and locally grown micro cilantro. Not into fish? Hook yourself up with the lobster tacos (market price).
Reeling in the Flavor: Follow the nachos with Spearfish's sushi nachos ($16). Pan-seared ahi tuna over crispy wontons, with avocado, house salsa, citrus soya glaze and a wasabi aioli drizzle.
4151 Proctor Road, Sarasota, 941-914-8788; 1824 Main St., Sarasota, 941-929-8788; Blinq.me
What a Catch: I have to be honest here — if I had a dollar for every "Have you eaten here yet?" or "When are you going to feature them?" question I have received from readers and my coworkers, I'd be able to order tacos from these food trucks for the rest of my life. The fish taco ($4) is layered with wild-caught seared mahi mahi, cabbage, fruit pico and a hint of heat with the chipotle aioli.
Reeling in the Flavor: Observer Media Group's own Taylor Poe said she is planning to either nosh on the fusion taco ($4) with steak, chorizo and cheese or the pork with pineapple quesadilla ($8.50) weekly after her first, "10 out of 10 experience."
4862 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-921-0578; 2773 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 941-922-9078; CasaMasa-SRQ.com
What a Catch: Rob Disilvio has created a masterfully beautiful selection of Oaxacan flavors and curated a menu that appeases the masses in two locations. His brand new location in The Landings serves alcoholic beverages. The pescado taco ($6.50) is made to your liking: grilled, blackened or masa-tempura battered and fried grouper, topped with fresh napa cabbage, tangy pickled red onion, out-of-this-world-get-me-a-tub-of-this-stat black garlic crema and micro cilantro. Or set your eyes on the camarones ($6.50), or gulf shrimp, served with the same.
Reeling in the Flavor: Treat yourself to land and sea with the vieiras con pork belly ($18), only offered at The Landings location. It's a nearly perfectly seared sea scallop with a green sauce for which I could easily lick the plate, a superb pork belly adorned with chicharrones and a foodie-moment mole negro and sprinkled with salmon roe.
516 Burns Court, Sarasota, 941-951-6936; 6516 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, 941-951-5052; OwensFishCamp.com
What a Catch: We know it, we love it, we couldn't stay away if we tried — even when it's season. Two fish tacos ($14.99) with green salsa and a spicy baja sauce are served with the finger-licking good old bay french fries or the heavenly slaw that I, no kidding, have dreamed about. While you can't get the fish tacos at the new and impeccably designed Lakewood Ranch location, you can stick to the sea and order the two blackened shrimp tacos ($15.99) served with the same salsa and sauce as at the Sarasota downtown location.
Reeling in the Flavor: The naked fish is what I get all my out-of-town and local foodie friends alike ordering. Take a pick of the local offerings, get the lemon-caper butter, get the grits and the local collard greens. You can thank me later.
12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton; 941-567-6206; TideTablesCortez.com
What a Catch: Plop down in paradise at this Cortez Village eatery. The fish tacos ($19.95) paired with the waterfront views is a local combo that never gets old for this Connecticut transplant. Packed with blackened mahi, creamy coleslaw, cheddar jack cheese and Tide Tables' special sesame ginger sauce all wrapped in a soft flour tortilla — this taco take makes waves with every bite.
Reeling in the Flavor: Save room for dessert, my foodie friends. The homemade key lime pie ($8) is a tangy, tropical hug for your tastebuds that you won't want to skip. Want a different sweet treat? Delectable daily dessert specials are offered too.
