Airport Blvd. may be bustling with new restaurants and developments, but it has not always been that way. As dilapidated shopping centers and vacant lots make way for new businesses, one Austin institution has refused to be a part of the past. Quality Seafood, Austin’s premier seafood market and restaurant, dates back to 1938 and seems only getting better with age. While the decades have marked changes in ownership and location, the heart and soul of Quality Seafood Market has remained unaffected. In its long history, Quality Seafood has touched many an Austinite, something apparent during this recent foray with my visiting father. While in college I spent many a Taco Tuesday enjoying $2 fish tacos and beer, it was his first return trip to Quality in about 40 years. Born and raised in Austin, he recounted with nostalgia visiting Quality Seafood with his mother Beverly, who had also grown up buying fish from the market. Austin was quite a different city back then, and the University of Texas growth eventual pushed the market ‘way up north’ to Airport. In its current location, Quality Seafood Market has flourished and often acknowledged as one of the best places to eat in town.

Read More Quality Seafood [expand title=Here] Despite its consistent high ratings, it is easy to underestimate Quality Seafood after pulling into the parking lot and walking inside. This is a seafood market, after all, complete with bright florescent lights and linoleum floors. Most tables are counter service with the exception of bar seating. However, this laidback atmosphere is all part of the restaurant’s uniqueness. After taking a seat at the bar, I ordered a glass of wine off of the small but diverse wine list priced by glass ranging from $6-$8. White wine came served in a chilled, thick wine glass, which was an unusual yet pleasant surprise. Quality Seafood Market is the type of place ordering a dozen oysters is a must. Our Canadian malpeque and Connecticut bluepoints were full of flavor and served fresh and cold as can be. Next up was an order of the bacon wrapped scallops. In this appetizer, large sea scallops are wrapped in Applewood bacon and flash fried. The bacon was crisp and salty while flash fry delivered a perfect caramelized crust to the scallops without making them greasy. The scallops still remained tender and juicy inside these perfect bites. I sampled a few bites of a bowl of New England clam chowder. It was rich in clams and flavor without being too heavy in cream. For entrees, I choose the grilled Steelhead trout fish special with a zinfandel orange mustard glaze while my father order the Thursday softshell crab special. The softshell crabs are served two to a plate fried or sautéed in a New Orleans style BBQ sauce. I preferred the fried version although the sauce on the other was excellent. However, the crab couldn’t hold a candle to the trout. While steelhead trout resembles salmon in color, it is a much milder, flakier fish. The sweet, citrusy light sauce was an exceptional compliment to the subtle flavor of the fish. Should you visit Quality Seafood when this is a featured special, order it.

There are a good many reasons for Quality Seafood Market storied longevity. Casual in feel and price, the restaurant’s food is on par with fancier establishments whose fish is most likely supplied by business’ wholesale arm. And, soon more changes are in store for Quality Seafood. A recent takeover of an abandoned retail space next door means Quality Seafood is expanding in a big way. The current space will be used for the wholesale and retail business while the new space will be used for the restaurant that will soon include a large outdoor seating area. Adding so much square footage is always a risk, but if history is any indication, Quality Seafood will adapt smoothly. [/expand]

Quality Seafood. 5621 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX. 512.454.5827. http://www.qualityseafoodmarket.com/

Scallop Appetizer - $9.99

Love this chilled glass!

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