From the moment that the door is pulled open at the Clam Castle restaurant in Jersey City, the fusion between fine dinning and fresh seafood becomes obvious. Overhead, a huge crystal chandelier sets the ambiance and mood for the dinning room. To the far right there is a huge fish tank with yellow and purple tropical angelfish swimming across vividly-colored coral. To the left of the entrance there are atrium-style windows that bend over a row of tables which give a garden feel.
While patrons wait for their table, they can sit in a bar area. For those that would like to have a cocktail before dinner, there is a top shelf and premium bar. But this is no ordinary oak bar; it is shaped like a ship with the bow springing away from another fish tank that graces the near side of the bar. The lighting in the bar area is dimmer than the dinning room and cozier.
The dinning room is spacious with plenty of room in between tables. There is new carpeting, as well as brass light fixtures and wood cushioned chairs. The service is excellent; formal without being stuffy.
The food
The Menu at the Clam Castle is extensive. Most of the food offered is seafood, but there is a significant amount of continental cuisine. There are dishes such as chicken or veal Mediterrano ($15.95) which is chicken with spinach, roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella, cooked in a sherry wine sauce. There are also a continental selection of steaks and lamb.
But most of the menu is seafood. I tried several dishes, starting with the Clam Castle Golden Tray ($11.95), an assortment of tasty oysters, shrimp, clams and snow crab legs. I have a special weakness for crab legs and these did not disappoint. They were a good-sized and fresh. The boiled jumbo shrimp were peeled and ready to eat. To top off the platter there were raw oysters that really pulled together the medley of different flavors.
For the entr