Top Choice Fish Market and Eatery (Carlsbad)

mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today; she has time and Kirk as well as Ed(from Yuma) are just too busy.

There are many posts on this blog about the Carlsbad Grocer and Restaurant, Tip Top Meats.  It's a great German owned and European style meat store, grocery store with a small restaurant inside.    When The Mister and I drove up last November, we saw that a new Fish store was being constructed inside the adjoining former produce market.  We finally had time for the drive North the other day.  Turns out Top Choice opened less than a month ago. 
Stepping inside, there is a refrigerated display case with prepared items and above that, menu boards, the same as at Tip Top, but the prices aren't listed on it, yet.    We were given a paper take out menu, which was helpful.  We ordered, paid and found a seat (there are some larger communal like picnic tables out front and inside, but not as much seating as the meat store.


 While waiting, I walked over to the fish market side.  It's small, the prices are fair (not inexpensive) and everything was very fresh.  I enjoyed that the menu has a similar to the meat store 'Special Steak Dinner', mentioned at the bottom of this post-The 'Showcase Fish Platter' feature of picking out any fish from the case and you pay the price of the fish, add $5 for two sides. The fish will be sautéed or broiled as you request.  

 Since this was a first visit and the menu was so interesting, we decided to try simple basics.  The Bouillabaisse (cup $2.98, bowl $5.98, bread bowl$8.98)was a wonderful choice.  The garlicky broth was filled with a large piece of grilled solid fish (a various 'fish of the day'), two large shrimp, five clams and three mussels.  Next time we might just order two bowls of this, although I am curious about the New England clam chowder and house made special fish stew soup.  The Fish and Chips (substitute cole slaw for the chips) ($9.49) came with  five large pieces of lightly battered and fried Alaskan cod.  The batter and its frying was proper: crisp, thin, to a light brown.  The fish was flaky and light flavored.  A quite large side of house made tartar sauce came with the plate and was very good. The slaw seemed to have small bits of pineapple but also some pungency, almost like horseradish or maybe a special mustard.  In any case, it was very good.  

All in all a great meal.  We will be back.  

Top Choice Fish Market and Eatery 6118 Paseo Del Norte, Suite B Carlsbad 92011 (760)517-8680 Open 7 days.  Fish Market 8-8, Eatery 11 a.m.-8 p.m. website

Comments

[Jason]

Cool thanks, didn't realize they opened this secondary store.

[Soo @ hungryones]

Good looking fried fish!

[nhbilly]

Can't get any fresher than this.

[Caninecologne]

Can't wait to try both Tip Top and this place.

[Seth]

Great, another good reason to drive up from Mission Valley to Carlsbad. Wonder if I could fit it and tip top in one day :)

[Ed (from Yuma)]

You go to places I've never seen. Sometimes never been close to. Nice find.

[TFD]

OMG! Thanks for posting this. I will be going for sure!

[Cathy]

It's a great place, Jason.
They do know how to fry, Soo. I know you'll like it.
So very fresh, Bill. Another good choice around here.
You need to get up there, cc. It is a 45 minute drive with no traffic, so plan ahead! The grocery at Tip Top, maybe get a sandwich to go and then seafood. One stop shopping!
Sure you can, Seth- Go to Tip Top for breakfast, then a bit North on Paseo Del Norte to the Outlet Mall, or over the freeway to the ocean, then come back to Top Choice for lunch.
Tip Top has been a part of our 'rotation' over the years, Ed. A meat store, German grocery, nice restaurant with wonderful comfort food. The addition of Top Choice makes it more interesting to stop here.
You'll like it, TFD.
Sorry for the late answers; there must've been a glitch.