The Astoria Restaurant That Does Pick-Your-Own-Seafood Right

"walk in, head to the iced seafood display at the counter, point to the fish and crustaceans you want to eat, and tell the staff how you want 'em cooked, among fried, grilled, and baked options. Then sit back and wait until it's ready, and commence feasting. The space of owner and chef Ahmed Ibrahim is barebones - butcher paper tops the tables to make post-eating cleaning that much easier, which allows the stunning dishes to shine."

"The soft-textured calamari (large, $30.13) is some of the best I've had in a while - fried but not oily with just a dusting of red-hued fiery spices. Thetail-on black tiger shrimp (about a pound for $34.97) was grilled, smoky, buttery, and herbal. The whole-fish baked branzino (large, $22.60) arrives in still-sizzling oil on a pretty tray. The flesh was tender and juicy. For a non-seafood side, the eggplant with tomato sauce ($6.99) rounded out the meal well."

"My family took up seven seats across two tables and easily cleared eight large dishes plus the free, endless soft pita (always ask for more). Grab soft drinks - some American options as well as Lebanese (malt drink Laziza) and other imports, and water bottles from the fridge in the dining room. We let the staff determine how our seafood should be cooked because they know best, and they didn't steer us wrong."

AbuQir is an Egyptian restaurant in Astoria where customers pick seafood from an iced display and choose frying, grilling, or baking. The space is barebones, with butcher paper covering tables for easy cleanup. Signature dishes include soft-textured calamari ($30.13), tail-on black tiger shrimp (about a pound for $34.97), and whole baked branzino (large, $22.60). The calamari is fried with a red-hued spice dusting; the shrimp is grilled, smoky, buttery, and herbal; the branzino arrives sizzling in oil with tender, juicy flesh. Eggplant with tomato sauce ($6.99) is available as a non-seafood side. The restaurant suits groups, offers free soft pita, a variety of drinks, and a small cash discount.

Read at Eater NY