crab zone

crab zone
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on my 101 in 1001 list (34/143)
at first sight, crab zone looks like your stereotypical beach town seafood resto catering to the tourists. i quickly realized there was something unusual about their vietnamese-inspired the menu that consisted of some interesting sounding asian fusion dishes like garlic noodles, tamarind crab, and cassava in addition to more typical fare.

in the end, after a long day, i was really craving a shrimp po-boy, so that is what i ordered, along with a mixed green salad, gumbo and curly fries with cajun spices. green salad was fresh and included slivers of crunchy jicama and delicate fried wonton skins. i doubt the dressing was made in-house, but it did not taste like your typical cheap, cisco, comes in a large vat variety. gumbo was not memorable, but the warmth was nice. the po-boy really hit the spot and took me back to one i had in galveston, texas, another seaside town. shrimp were crispy on the outside, fresh with a snap on the inside. cajun spices were fairly subtle, but the fries were great.

the resto feels casual, but serves up quality food which has some attention to detail. definitely a step up from the usual tourist trap. plus, the prices are very reasonable, especially in this part of laguna where many things often feel superficial and overpriced. i would eat here again if i were in the neighborhood craving seafood.