fresh and local seafood From Dungeness crab to razor clams, the fresh seafood specialties of the North Coast await any visitor to Seaside looking for the catch of the day. You can find some of Oregon’s finest fish in season at a range of restaurants — think salmon, rockfish and albacore — and many kinds of shellfish. Opt for a romantic dinner at one of Seaside’s fine-dining establishments, or take the kids for fish and chips or bowls of chowder at a friendly family-style diner. You can even do it yourself: Spend the day crabbing in the estuaries or digging clams at the beach. Any way you choose, you’re in for an appetizing adventure. COURTESY OF BELL BUOY OF SEASIDE Seafood Restaurants To sample the catch of the day, choose from several of Seaside’s restaurants featuring creatures of the sea, each of which adds their own twist to dishes featuring freshly caught, local ingredients. While shopping for locally caught filets or canned tuna at Seaside’s long-standing fish market, Bell Buoy of Seaside, don’t forget to put in an order for fried-fish baskets or seafood sandwiches at its fish hut next door. Another staple in the Seaside dining scene, Dooger’s Seafood & Grill has been ladling up bowls of chowder and Dungeness crab specialties for roughly 40 years. Nearby on Broadway, sit outside on a heated patio and people-watch at Finns Fish House with a Dungeness crab melt or seafood fettucini made with local rockfish. For delicious seafood meals for the whole family, Norma’s Seafood & Steak serves several kinds of fish and chips — including its house-specialty albacore — and is one of the best places in town to find locally sourced razor clams in season. Smoked wildcaught salmon is the star ingredient at Salmon River Smokehouse in paninis and mac and cheese. Mo’s, one of the Oregon Coast’s classic chain restaurants, has generations of families craving its creamy clam chowder along with its seafood baskets, sandwiches and salads. DIY Seafood Meals Clamming, crabbing and fishing are family traditions in Seaside. You can dig for razor clams on nearly any beach in Clatsop County from September to July 15 — always check myODFW.com for rules and safety closures first. Head out during low tide and use your hands, a shovel or a “clam gun,” a cylindrical tube that suctions up the mollusks. If crab is more what you fancy, you can catch your fill of Oregon’s favorite species in season, the meaty Dungeness crab. Just toss a crab trap into the Necanicum River from the 12th Avenue Bridge, a popular spot for crabbing. Check each crustacean for keeper size and gender, then enjoy them steamed or picked for succulent crab cakes. Find everything you need for clamming, crabbing and fishing, including rental equipment and the proper licenses, at Bud’s RV Park & Campground on the north side of town and Trucke’s 1-Stop on the south side. Bell Buoy of Seaside seasideOR.com 21
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