Our guest from Germany ordered a special that he wasn’t familiar with: striped bass ($29). Rolled in panko crumbs, seared and roasted, it was thick enough to remain moist and flavorful. He was as appreciative of the accompanying vegetable bounty, which included mashed sweet potatoes and fennel, plus a few green beans for looks, as well as rice.
Not wanting to break up this seafood theme and having a light appetite, I chose the spinach salad with seared tuna ($19.50). The baby spinach contained mung bean sprouts and yellow bell pepper, drizzled with a delectable dressing, slightly sweet, that we were told contained the liqueur Coco Lopez.
I didn’t specify how I wanted the fish cooked, but it arrived properly rare, thickly encrusted with white and black sesame seeds, and topped with seaweed and green edamame soybeans, all redolent of sesame oil. It was a treat for my nostrils as well as my taste buds.
There are more than a half-dozen desserts offered ($8.50-$11), such as a Grand Marnier crème brûlée and an apple tart tatin. We wanted their molten-centered chocolate concoction, but were told it would take 20 minutes. We didn’t do badly, instead having the blueberry cobbler, which was hot and sweet with melting vanilla ice cream and a tasty cake component.
Yes, shame on us for momentarily forgetting the West Deck, distracted by fancier, more prominent waterfront restaurants. Sorry, chef Robert Biela. It won’t happen again.
Bill Rodriguez can be reachedatbill@billrod.com.
On the Web
The West Deck: westdeck.com
