Another thread got me thinking about cooking salmon. The best salmon I've ever had was a cedar-planked spring chinook at Pescatore's Restaurant in Victoria, BC.

Anyone else know a restaurant that does a great salmon?

I eat so much salmon at home I refuse to buy it in a restaurant...

fillet, prime rib or new yorks for me

I think the best salmon is done at home. Who wants to eat salmon in a restuarant when you have it 5 out of the 7 nights a week?

I prefer Elkrun's Barbeque:

1. No fancy dress code... if fact wearing a tie gets you kicked out.

2. No reservations needed.

3. You can drink right outta the can!

ditto, what piper said!!!

I continue to order salmon when I'm in a good restaraunt, just to see if any of them come close to the salmon I cook myself. So far, all have confirmed that I indeed BBQ the world's best salmon. It's nice to be good at something so useful.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I have a few places but I have to say a nice steelhead on my BBQ with my secret sauce is the best. How do I know this, because I have had freinds that do not like fish and they always request Erndogy's Steelie with the sauce . Now the restaurant's, do not the names, but one is in LaConner. They BBQ the fish out by the sidewalk and the smell just lures ya in. Good eats I have to say :p . The other was on the north end of the Seattle pier, they make a slamm'n alder plank Salmon. But nothing better than home .

I guess I don't kill enough salmon for the freezer. I still enjoy salmon out on the town.

One of the best plates I ever had was in Seoul, Korea. It could be because I'd been there about 10 months already and not had any salmon since leaving the states. It was a nice quaint French bistro just a block from "Hooker Hill." Or so I was told the "Hill" was a block away.

Another fine dish I had was at a social club in Lynwood where they BBq'd a fantastic King.

Speaking of cooking at home, how many out there take the time to remove that row of little bones from the filet? Kind of a pain, but makes a difference in my opinion.

harley..I've been to Korea and you never know what you are eating...maybe it was really snake

I am sorry I cant help you. I eat a lot of salmon, stealhead at home I have never ordered it at a restaurant. The best seafood I have ever had is a tye between a mahi mahi I had on vancouver island and Linc cod in portland.

One of the perks of my business is that executives from the East coast home office fly out here and take me to nice restaurants to discuss business. They always order the salmon special as they never have it except when they are out here. They always ask me why I don't order it and it is the same reason as all of you have said, "I only eat salmon I catch."

Of some of the restaurants we've been to, here's some comments:

Crab Cracker in Kirkland: excellent, often prepared different ways.
Daniels Broiler: good, but their halibut is better.
Lombardi's in Issaquah: good with healthy portions.

What Piper said.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Harley,

If that salmon has been in the freezer, in my opinion, the best one can hope for is "good", but it won't be excellent, outstanding, or to die for. The potential exception is commercial flash freezing and vacuum packing. That process keeps salmon as good as fresh. At least the time I was able to try some, I could not detect any difference in taste or texture, and I'm brutally ruthless in critiquing fish.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

OK here is an actual answer to your question. I know everyone on the board eats so many salmon they get the urge to swim up stream every 4 years and only mate once in their life, but some of us are not as proficient or don't have as much time to fish as much as we would like so we do buy a salmon dinner on occasion.

I like "Chinooks" at fishermans terminal in ballard. They have a great casual atmosphere, great veiw of the commercial docks, first class menu and fantastic food. Try the fresh halibut when it is in or the alder plank salmon. My son swears by the fish and chips (can't call it a night out unless he has eaten a few fries). I have taken buisness associates from all over the country there and never had anything but rave reviews. It is the perfect way to finish a day of meetings, a nice casual dinner in a place that inspires everyone to break out their big voices and old fish stories.

I'm with you Baddawg on Chinook's(how could you go wrong with a name like that!) I eat salmon at home twice a week, but once a year I will order it at Chinook's. In my opinion the best is the Copper River King that is cooked on an Alder plank and served with a rosted red pepper/onion beurre blanc. The flavor and texture are out of this world! I would highly recommend it.

I agree with the recommendations for Chinook's. or a Bridgeport IPA ...... Absolute heaven.

OK this doesn't really fit the thread but...

This summer I grilled a king caught that morning..... covered it in dungeness crab caught and cooked the day before, and drizzled it in holindaise sauce.

Quite possibly the best meal I've ever eaten...makes me wish it was summer!

My BBQ in the back yard!

Yeah, no kidding. But it was a pretty big filet, so maybe it was Tyee Great Dane.

I haven't bought fish or seafood, with the exception of shimp, some crab (sorry Aunty M) and some surimi, since 1986. Some folks aren't as lucky though, so they go someplace else.

The best fish I had that someone else cooked was a silver that turned out to be extra, BIG OOPS, on a charter boat I went fishing on over 10 years ago. Other than that, I'm pretty picky about how it is done, so I usually just do it myself.

Elkrun, next time try Bernaise sauce. Get the Knorr brand and use half and half, not regular milk. Also serve with shrimp and al dente asparagus or broccoloi. Soem restaurants call the "oscar"ing either beef or fish.