See More of Seamore’s! The NYC Based Seafood Joint Opens in Darien

Andrew Dominick

Directly across the street from the Noroton Heights Metro-North Station, seemingly sprouting stores out of nowhere, is the brand new Darien Commons.

Aside from the luxury apartments the development provides, there are a bunch of “residents” from near, like the soon-to-open second location of Molto, and micro chains from New York City like Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the also coming soon Chip City Cookies, and now, a branch of the popular Seamore’s.

Brought to you by founder Michael Chernow and CEO Jay Wainwright, the idea for Seamore’s was to “bring back the ocean to the urban table,” but to do it using sustainable practices. What this means is that every piece of seafood served at Seamore’s comes from a stable or growing species that are also harvested in an environmentally conscious manner by following the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Standards and by sticking to species that are categorized as Green (best choice) or Yellow (good alternative).

Additionally, you can expect a fresh catches at all of Seamore’s eight seafood spots—that’s seafood cooked and served to you within 24-48 hours after it’s caught.

And besides sourcing from Profish, J.J McDonnell, and Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co., wherever they go, they continue to source local to that particular location. In Darien, Seamore’s gets their clams and oysters come from Copps Island and Noank Oysters, and on opening day, the sea bass and hake were caught off the Connecticut coast.

Now that you’re up to speed on Seamore’s, let’s give you a glimpse of their Darien location!

Have a look inside! Seamore’s is casual. Bring a date, bring the kids, have a drink, eat your body weight in seafood.

Shareables include chips + guac, fried calamari with yuzu chili aioli, Copps Island Oyster with pink peppercorn mignonette and cocktail sauce, and this tuna poke with ponzu, peanuts, avocado, black sesame seeds, scallions, and crispy shallots.

Non-seafood lovers might dig this “Firecracker Cauliflower,” that’s tempura battered and fried and tossed in a spicy/sweet chili aioli. Think along the lines of a sesame chicken meets General Tso’s flavor, minus the bird.

Two types of crispy rice are offered, too. One is the ginger salmon (pictured here) with sesame seeds, pickled garlic, and white soy sauce. The other is a spicy tuna with pickled chilis and scallions.

If you’re a soup + salad kinda person, there’s New England clam chowder plus two veggie filled bowls in a kale + avocado salad, and their signature Seamore’s Salad (above) with avocado, mixed greens, peanuts, mint, pear, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes, all dressed in a porcini vinaigrette. Salad add ons are charred organic chicken, whatever the special daily catch is, blackened shrimp, or Norwegian salmon.

Plenty of sparkling, rose, white, and red wines are offered, as are three local draft beers, and eight cocktails.

Almost all cocktails are variations of classics like a lemongrass Bee’s Knees and this smooth, sweeter than average old fashioned with apricot. Other drinks are a Paloma (spicy or regular), a passionfruit margarita, watermelon basil spritz, and their own Seamore’s Cucumber Martini using Tito’s.

Fish + chips! This one was with hake, lightly battered, fried to golden brown, and served with plenty of addictive shoestring fries.

Seamore’s “The Reel Deal” is a frequently switched up fish dish should you choose the daily catch as your protein. This is the sea bass that was caught off the shores of Clinton, CT. FYI. The veggies? Cauliflower mash, cured eggplant and roasted tomatoes, and caper tapenade green beans.

Seamore’s “Maine lobster roll” isn’t that of the goopy, too much mayo variety. It’s lightly dressed, there’s a touch of celery, a sprinkling of Old Bay, and the brioche bun was extra buttery. A winner, imo, even in CT where butter drenched warm rolls are king.

A smash burger at a seafood joint that takes no backseat! Two juicy, smashed Pat LaFrieda patties, double American cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles, and their own burger sauce come together for a worthy choice. Definitely add bacon.

Stay for dessert, especially if you can get your hands on this churro ice cream sandwich stuffed with caramel chocolate chunk ice cream, and a heaping swipe of caramel sauce on the side. If you decide to begin your meal eating one of these, no one would blame you.

110 Heights Road; Darien
203.202.2648;
seamores.com