Fish

Fish the unassuming glass and steel place on the docks at Gate 5 in Sausalito is worth investigating further. We just can't manage to get beyond the Crab Roll. What a Lobster roll is to the Eastern Seaboard, the Crab Roll has become to the West Coast, or at least this part of it.

The restaurant itself is bare bones on comfort and minimal on style. With stainless, glass and concrete as the main building materials, there is a cool, industrial feel, as well there should be in this blue collar working environment. There is a boat building school around the corner, a West Marine store and a marina where many small sailboats are berthed, so casual is the theme for this nautical crowd.

The menu appears broad but it specializes exclusively in fish and specifically in sustainable fish and responsible fishing practices, so you won't see farmed salmon on the menu. Fish also sources its organic vegetables from local vendors and small farmers in Marin. This may account for pricing that seems a bit high for such a casual restaurant. I can personally attest to the quality of their Dungeness crab. Their popularity certainly contributes to the idea that they serve good food. There's always a long line after noon.

What do you think, is this picture worth a thousand words? The Acme torpedo roll is toasted and buttered with all organic Strauss butter, the crab is fresh and unadorned, except for a smattering of chives. Fries are crisp and flavorful.

How about this one? I find their website full of interesting information about them and what they love most, fish. Go Fish!

http://www.331fish.com/food/index.html

350 Harbor Drive
Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: 415-331-FISH (3474)
Fax: 415-331-3421

Open all week 11:30 am - 4:30pm for lunch
5:30pm - 8:30pm for dinner
limited offerings between 4:30 & 5:30

Anchorage 5

Anchorage 5 was a restaurant of last resort, because our first choice, Fish, had lines out the door and a long wait ahead for anyone joining the line. We had gone over to Sausalito for crab sandwiches and hated to go home empty handed. Luckily I was with an "old salt" who knew his way around the area, and with a quick walk out of the parking lot and across the street, we found ourselves at Anchorage 5 Restaurant, a homey, modest American & Mexican restaurant that serves crab in season. You wouldn't choose this place for atmosphere, just go for the food. It's primary business is breakfast and lunch, since they are open from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily except Sundays when they open an hour later. They have every Benedict on the menu except Arnold, including crab, salmon, avocado, vegetable, and corned beef to name but a few.

The old salt selected the crab melt with fries, a reasonably good choice that had plenty of crab to please his desire for the crustacean. For my taste it was too much like a tuna melt, which will forever remind me of the Jolly Roger restaurant at Disneyland and a child's disappointment at a perfectly good grilled cheese being ruined with tuna.

I had a better fish to fry, and decided to go for the special of Crab Enchiladas. The full plate including rice beans and a small salad cost all of $11, less than half of a crab roll at Fish.

The corn tortillas were filled with fresh Dungeness crab meat, barely layered with a green salsa and then covered with Monterrey Jack cheese. A Mexican recipe for crab was just the right choice.

475 - Gate 5 Road
Sausalito Ca 94965
(415) 331-8329

Sweet Ginger in Sausalito

If you find yourself in Sausalito and you like sushi, Sweet Ginger is your best option for price and a peaceful, spare, atmosphere. It resides just across the street from a small, quiet park, so the scenery is pleasant too. The sushi is well made and very fresh, but not exceptionally creative. Even so we always manage to find what we need and have always enjoyed our meal.

In the above photo, their classic approach is evident and the California Roll is easily identifiable. Granted, I have never ordered a special, so there may be more creativity than my experience indicates. But no one needs to stand on their head to please the patrons as this is good solid food.

Quality and freshness are mandatory for good sushi and this spicy tuna was a prime example of both. The addition of avocado cooled the palate while the cucumber provided a nice textural element; both worked just as well in the soft shelled crab roll to the back of this photo and the addition of crab meat pushed it over the edge in the flavor department.

The hamachi roll, in the foreground of the photo to the left, was so very fatty and rich tasting it practically melted in your mouth. It needed nothing more to boost the flavor, and was quite an achievement in its simplicity. Similar but less restraint was used on the Red Sun Roll, a California style roll topped with tuna. The sushi is so very fresh at this restaurant, it's a surprise that it doesn't still wiggle.

http://www.sweetgingersausalito.com/index-1a.html

400 Caledonia St

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 332-1683

Closed Monday Lunch Tues-Sat 12-3

Dinner Tues-Thur 5-10

Dinner Fri-Sat 5-10:30

Dinner Sunday 4:30-9:30