Fresh seafood in our own backyard!
Updated: August 21, 2012
DECATUR -- If you've ever had really, fresh seafood, you know how good it tastes. This week, Robert Reese found a place in Our Town where you can get a taste of the ocean.
If you close your eyes, and think of a beach, you most likely see sand, surf, maybe a few seagulls. And, if you're a little hungry, you probably visualized some seafood. Where can we find fresh seafood around here?
"Now, a craving for really fresh seafood in Central Illinois at one time, may have led you to take some desperate measures. No worries at the Beach House. We get our seafood from several different purveyors. And we get shipments almost every day. That was the goal. To have outstanding cuisine, prepared by an executive chef, provided to the community at prices anyone could afford."
How did a place with gourmet seafood, a highly-trained chef, and reasonable prices end up here?
"Initially, this was a beach HOUSE. This is where the community came to swim and enjoy the park and the lake and the beach. When I took over in 2005, the thought-process was, 'Why not bring it back to what it originally was?' I felt there was a need for the community to have chef-quality cuisine at reasonable prices."
Even better, there is a come-as-you-are dress code.
"This is a place no matter whether you're wearing a shirt and tie, or shorts and a bikini, you're more than welcome to come to the Beach House. We have all different types, we have business people. We have people that come and play bridge. Elderly. They're fun!"
The best thing on the menu?
"Ummm. I would probably say the pita. It's healthy."
No, really.
"I like a lot of the things on the menu. I don't think I could decide on one."
"I love the tilapia."
"It would probably be the Chilean sea bass."
Enough chit-chat. Hand me a menu! You can get a burger if you want one, but I am concentrating on seafood. So many choices. When in doubt, try everything.
In hindsight, maybe everything was a bit too much. But, now I know all the seafood on the lunch menu is as good as any I have had ocean-side.
To find out for yourself, you'll have to visit the Beach House in Our Town Decatur. They'll even special-order fresh seafood for you and you can arrange to have it prepared in your home.
If you close your eyes, and think of a beach, you most likely see sand, surf, maybe a few seagulls. And, if you're a little hungry, you probably visualized some seafood. Where can we find fresh seafood around here?
"Now, a craving for really fresh seafood in Central Illinois at one time, may have led you to take some desperate measures. No worries at the Beach House. We get our seafood from several different purveyors. And we get shipments almost every day. That was the goal. To have outstanding cuisine, prepared by an executive chef, provided to the community at prices anyone could afford."
How did a place with gourmet seafood, a highly-trained chef, and reasonable prices end up here?
"Initially, this was a beach HOUSE. This is where the community came to swim and enjoy the park and the lake and the beach. When I took over in 2005, the thought-process was, 'Why not bring it back to what it originally was?' I felt there was a need for the community to have chef-quality cuisine at reasonable prices."
Even better, there is a come-as-you-are dress code.
"This is a place no matter whether you're wearing a shirt and tie, or shorts and a bikini, you're more than welcome to come to the Beach House. We have all different types, we have business people. We have people that come and play bridge. Elderly. They're fun!"
The best thing on the menu?
"Ummm. I would probably say the pita. It's healthy."
No, really.
"I like a lot of the things on the menu. I don't think I could decide on one."
"I love the tilapia."
"It would probably be the Chilean sea bass."
Enough chit-chat. Hand me a menu! You can get a burger if you want one, but I am concentrating on seafood. So many choices. When in doubt, try everything.
In hindsight, maybe everything was a bit too much. But, now I know all the seafood on the lunch menu is as good as any I have had ocean-side.
To find out for yourself, you'll have to visit the Beach House in Our Town Decatur. They'll even special-order fresh seafood for you and you can arrange to have it prepared in your home.
