Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 22nd 2007, 12:37pm By Christa Glennie Seychew

If you’re looking for fresh seafood, La Marina may not only be your safest bet, arguably, it may be your best one.

Rosalie and Charlie Morreale have been running La Marina for a decade, offering fresh fish and seafood to it’s customers from its location on Hertel Avenue.

But the Morreales have been in business on Hertel for a long time, and the neighborhood is as fond of them as they are of it. Rosalie started as the “fry girl” at Jerry’s Seafood in her teens. Later, she and her husband bought the place. Once children came, they closed their doors to spend more time with the family, but once the kids got to be a little older, they opened up La Marina, a restaurant and seafood market of sorts.

Every piece of fish or seafood served at La Marina is inspected by Rosealie, a stickler for quality and a very knowledgeable purveyor. And her vendors know it; you can’t sneak anything by Rosealie.

La Marina’s menu plays host to a broad assortment of dishes, most of which feature their fantastic seafood. Lobster Bisque ($6.75) is a nice way to start the meal, though the crab cakes are too; crispy and served with a rich Cajun cream sauce ($9.95). A big bowl of steamed PEI mussels served with tomatoes, garlic and oil is also available ($9.95), as are raw Malpeque oysters ($11.95, half dozen), or clams on the half shell ($9.95, half dozen).

The Hertel Avenue location is conducive to many of their classic Italian items like Penne Con Vodka ($16.95, $22.95 w/shrimp), Pasta Bolognese ($18.95), and Linguini with Clam Sauce ($17.95).

The fresh seafood is really showcased in dishes like the Bouillabaisse, which is comprised of PEI mussels, shrimp, scallops and the catch of the day simmered in a seafood broth and topped with a lobster dainty- a really affordable luxury at $24.95. The Haddock alla Mamma is breaded and served with fresh tomatoes, onion, cheese and black olives ($17.95), while the Atlantic salmon is served with lobster ravioli and a dollop of crème fraiche ($21.95).

On my visit, I enjoyed a dish from the specials menu called Shrimp and Scallops Olio ($22.95). Giant, soft scallops and sweet shrimp topped a bowlful of angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil, fresh plum tomatoes and garlic. Simple? Yes, and absolutely delicious, with enough left over to enjoy for lunch the next day.

Other specials included a creamy lemon and seafood risotto made with shrimp, scallops and a lobster dainty ($22.95) and a 20 oz. rib eye steak served with a Gorgonzola compound butter ($26.95).

Those that are not big fans of our finned friends can choose from an assortment of offerings that include Chicken Marsala ($18.95) and Bracciola ($22.95). The fish fry, offered on Thursdays and Fridays, is, in my opinion, one of the best in the city and is available for takeout.

On Thursdays and Fridays the restaurant functions as a market as well. A call ahead will leave you with a mouthwatering list of the fresh seafood available for purchase. Huge scallops, salmon, Nantucket sea bass- it’s different every week.

La Marina has a neighborhood feel, with a committed and friendly staff and a strong set of regulars. With a decent kid’s menu, you’ll find many families that consider La Marina their home away from home.

La Marina Market & Grille
1503 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, 14216
716.834.9681


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