Another great seafood lunch on Maywood's charming main street

Soft-shell crabs and fresh trout on ice, above and below, at Seafood Gourmet, the Maywood fish market and restaurant where you can order just about anything you see served to you in the dining room.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Maywood's downtown is not only pleasant to visit. 

The main street is called West Pleasant Avenue.

That's where you'll find Seafood Gourmet, the market and restaurant that keeps your fish or other selection fresh on ice until you order it for lunch or dinner.

On Monday, I met a friend for lunch there, then strolled along the main street, where parking is free, and stopped at Maywood's Marketplace, one of the best independent supermarkets around.

Grilled Wild Salmon Miso with Jasmine Rice and Bok Choy was one of the specials on Monday ($14.99).

My friend ordered another special, Southern Fried Catfish with Black Beans and Yellow Rice ($12.99), and picked up the check.

From simple to sophisticated

The kitchen at Seafood Gourmet can prepare your selection simply broiled with steamed vegetables, but also offers sophisticated specials, such as the wild salmon with a miso glaze I ordered.

I tasted my friend's catfish, which was coated in corn meal before frying, and it was moist and delicious.

The cook shows restraint in adding salt and other seasoning, a nod to the many older customers who patronize the restaurant.

The small dining room can get noisy when full, as it was on Monday afternoon.

Other specials on Monday were an entree of Crabmeat Stuffed Calamari, simmered in a Blue Crab tomato sauce ($13.99); and an appetizer of Prince Edward Island Mussels steamed with beer and jalapeno peppers ($9.99)

Twin Door Tavern at 122 W. Pleasant Ave. is offering an Oktoberfest menu.

Maywood's Marketplace is an independent supermarket that may remind you of Cafasso's Fairway Market in Fort Lee. I bought five ears of fresh sweet corn for $1.99.

At Maywood's Marketplace, there is plenty of opportunity to say "cheese."

The deli counter.

Seafood Gourmet, 103 W. Pleasant Ave., Maywood; 201-843-8558. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays. BYO, free street parking, Web site. 

With only 38 seats in the dining room, reservations are recommended for dinner.

Maywood's Marketplace, 78 W. Pleasant Ave., Maywood; 201-843-8361. Open 7 days from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Web site.