Very plain and unassuming, to the point that you've probably driven right by, Essex Seafood Two is where you may have been missing some of the best fried seafood this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
What were the portions like?
Known to locals as the place with the best fried (insert name of seafood here) platter, "the Essex," as some call it, serves up whopping portions. News-Journal staffers Karen Gallagher and Stephanie Wilson began with a heap of mushrooms as appetizers -- large, whole, breaded, deep-fried, yummy and much better than normal bar-fare mushrooms. Dip these jewels in cheese, ranch or honey mustard sauces; plenty for four people (We took half the heap home.).
What's on the menu?
Just about every kind of seafood or fish you can imagine is offered. Locals rave about the fried clams. Entrees can be deep fried, grilled or baked (some blackened), and the restaurant also offers oysters on the half shell, steamed. Stephanie chose blackened haddock with coleslaw. We made sure there was no leftover haddock -- it was terrific, tasty and near perfection.
I had fried oysters, onion rings and coleslaw. It is the best and freshest coleslaw I've ever had -- anywhere, all time, really. The servings of onion rings and oysters were so large, I had plenty to take home. The owner warned me the onion rings were lousy as leftovers. She was right -- there was no bringing them back because of the breading, but the onions themselves held up.
To add to the rest of the leftovers (actually, for my husband), I ordered a combo plate to go of fried shrimp and scallops with a baked potato and coleslaw. Again, it looked like enough food for two or three people, but we had plans for packing lunches out of the leftovers.
How's the service?
This is a cozy little roadside place. It's popular and stays mostly packed. Each entree is prepared when ordered, so be patient; it's not a fast-food restaurant.
For the business traveler, please take note: There is no cash register, so you won't get a printout or detailed receipt; the owner will be happy to give you a handwritten breakdown of your meal and tear it out of her spiral-ringed notebook.
The parking lot is dirt, the decor not much, but who cares? It's a comfy place to eat good old-fashioned seafood.
What about cost?
With the appetizer, two entrees, a to-go order AND an iced tea and two domestic beers, the tab came to $49.04. We had about six meals out of it.
Essex Seafood Two
WHERE: 1360 W. State Road 40, Pierson (about 4 miles due west of Barberville on S.R. 40)
HOURS: Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
PHONE: 386-749-1557
MISC.: Cash only -- no credit or debit cards
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