Before trying Obrycki's, we searched our local area for some good seafood. Alexandria just does not have a quality seafood restaurant (unless you really do like the Warehouse...), at least not any we have yet found. So somehow via the power of the internet(s), L came across this little shack just northwest of Wilson Blvd., beyond I-66.
You can easily miss it. It's behind a block of shops, each nicely shaded by their own primary-colored awning. The shack hides behind these shops...over the hill. It looks like the shelter for a parking lot attendant, but slightly bigger. Okay, okay -- M, it does look like a Key West beach shack, but the sand here is asphalt pebbles. Fortunately, it has a sign to assure you it's there.
It's not just a fish shack but also a fish market for your seafood purchasing needs.
So on to the important part, the food.
The food (why not start with dessert first?)
Key Lime Pie - Made by Key West people, with Key West limes, from a recipe obtained while working the fish shacks in south Florida. L noticed some newspaper articles posted inside that talked about how sour/bitter (pucker-your-lips tart) their pie was While M was relieved to actually have a true authentic slide of key lime pie. The tartness was the way it should have been, contrasted with a very sweet flavor. It's supposed to be sweet-tart and it was. I suspect the reviewers had never had an authentic Key Lime pie before. (And the owners know many Virginians have not either, so they brought their best effort to NoVA.) Nor was the pie overly tart or overly sweet like most imposters. Can't wait to have another slice.
Fried shrimp po boy -- this was on the recommendation of the several online users. Moist, tender, beautifully de-veined, the shrimp were fresh, fresh, fresh and fried, fried, fried -- a bit greasy. Loved it when the owner took a giant beefsteak tomato off the front counter, in the middle of the "great tomato crisis of 2011" and cut some hefty slices and put it in the po boy. Made the sandwich.
Fried grouper sandwich -- I think you get the theme. Fried fish. The sandwich was tasty, but had one flaw. It was the flaw of the entire trip -- OLD BAY.
Minuses
Yes, minuses first, because it was the prevailing issue. EVERYTHING had Old Bay. The fish, the shrimp, the FRIES had Old Bay on them. For the grouper, it completely detracted from the taste, turning tasty fresh fish into a fresh-fish-and-sour sandwich. We know people love it. We have used it. We know how to use it. Moderation.
Cost
$$ (M says almost $$$) -- This was a more expensive trip than we expected reading the reviews. It's seafood. What were we thinking? But you look, and the sandwiches are $7... the bill came out at $30.
Pros
Deveined shrimp
Fish market
Neighborhood place
Owners know their clientele
Mom-n-pop business/not a chain - You know, see, and are served by the people whose pockets your money's going into
Fresh (at least when we went)
Minuses
Oh, there are more. The drinks. Only bottled or canned drinks (mostly HFCS choices), and they ain't cheap. You may as well bring your own. Remember, they're in a shack. Propriety went out the window when you pulled in.
I feel them sprinkling Old Bay on this review
Grunting (see service)
Only five counter seats -- one right above the garbage. Healthy.
Service
Was okay. Except the grunting. So we're standing, waiting for our orders, looking at the fish in the glass freezers. Taking in all 25 x 20 space that is the majority of the business. And then L hears a grunt. And a second. And who knows how many before that because he doesn't really listen for people grunting AT him. Yes, he was being grunted at. By the co-owner/husband. The translation of the grunt is, "Your order is ready. Enjoy!" M says her translations was "Take your f'n food, you dum@#@#. I got your money. We're done." Here is this man, plate of shrimp po boy in hand, grunting to one of his patrons. Same with the grouper sandwich which came out seconds later. *grunt* Peter Boyle was more articulate.
It's not like the man cannot talk. He was having a wonderful conversation with his wife and another patron while we were eating. How anyone is supposed to expect that A) a grunt is an "order up" call for seafood, or B) that any owner will grunt at his patrons? Maybe I'm being a tad bit suburban. Maybe. Doubtful. *grunt*
I accept his version of the story will be, "These jackass suburbanites are off in their own worlds like everything revolves around them. I'm not yelling in my own place that their order is ready." I get it. Give order numbers. Something. *grunt*
Cleanliness
Clean, but did you read the part of sitting over a garbage bin? If you live close by, take it home. Otherwise, you know what you're getting into. The cooking area seemed clean.
Overall value
Two parts -- In general, not worth going out of the way for, unless you're really really wanting fresh seafood. For key lime pie, well worth it. If you like grunting, this is the place.
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