Caplinger’s Fresh Catch Seafood Market 7460 North Shadeland Ave.
This joint is the real deal. Not only is it a premier facility for fish mongering it is also a pretty nice little place to get a fresh fish feast. In addition to a set menu of favorites they also offer the guests the option of picking from their large selection of fresh product and having it prepared for a flat $2.50 fee.
Just about any fish product you might desire I think you can find here. From whole Grouper to U 10 scallops to 4 count shrimp. Trust me that in itself is rare in Indy.
I am a very simple fellow. Show me a fish market or a sausage shop and I am a happy man. Give me the opportunity to eat some of my favorite foods at said location and my eyes become as big as a full moon. In other words I invariably over order, and subsequently over eat.
As soon as I walked in I saw a sign on the first cooler cabinet advertising Blue Point Oysters for $1.59 each. That was my mandatory “first course”- 6 fresh Blue Points; shucked for free.
A delightful combination of sweet and briney. A great start to any meal.
After that was ordered I inquired about the sandwiches. They offer a Caplinger’s Special for $ 4.99. I thought it might be an ever-changing special but I think it is a constant Basa sandwich. For the sake of brevity when you think of Basa think bottom feeder. Think catfish. It is a sweet, and firm white fish. In addition to the sandwiches they also offer the same fish choices in a dinner. Now that comes with a bigger portion and 2 hush puppies and choice of 2 sides. I am ashamed to admit that I forgot that they offer hush puppies as a side. I wanted to try the Special sandwich.
I try not to engage in superlatives. However I do admit that when I bite into something I really enjoy I act like a 13-year-old boy who kissed his first love. That being said. My first bite into my Basa sandwich was damn near perfection. Soft, sweet and tender,with a slight hint of heat and a crisp,salty breading. Oh- the bread. To me it was an excellent accompaniment to the fish. Again the bread is from Roll With it Bakery in Irvington.
You would think that all of that food would satisfy me. But oh no. You see when I review a joint I feel compelled to try as many food items as possible. Hey. You must suffer for your craft. So I had to try the Chowder. Clams, potato and cream.
This was a delicious display of simplicity. True to their description. Great hunks of clam. Tender pieces of ‘tater and…of course cream. This is a great example of chowder. Thick, and wonderful.
By now you would think that I have consumed enough. Oh no. I had to try their “New Recipe” crab cake. A 4 oz. cake made exclusively of lump meat. That is all I can say about that. They produce a thick cake full of lump meat that is really a good buy at $6.99 for an add on.
Pat naturally opted for the cod sandwich. He couldn’t try any of the chowder; because of onion.
Well boys and girls if you like fish. If you think you like fish this is the joint you must go to. Fresh oysters, yellow fin tuna. Hell the list goes on. Even Pat; the most critical fish fiend in the city liked the cod sandwich.
I’m so jelly!! I just discovered this place and added it to my wishlist a few days ago! I was looking up fresh fish markets trying to find a good place to purchase mussels for me to make at home. Then to know they also serve what appears to be delish food and homemade sides?! Ahhh!! 🙂 Awesome! Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it! Did you happen to see any mussels?!
July 18, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Honestly didn’t notice. I am sure they could get them for you. The folks that run the place are super nice. They also make their own desserts. I could live there.
July 18, 2014 at 6:17 pm
I love fish, and that Basa looks great! I could eat a dozen hushpuppies, but I don’t think I could eat that several course meal that you did. Ha! Just one pickle on that sammich?
July 19, 2014 at 7:35 pm
I know. Pickle allotment does seem Spartan. I guess they follow the condiment as accent rule. I can’t believe I forgot the hushpuppies. However I did make a facsimile for dinner that night with a box of Jiffy. You are right about the amount I ate. I do that way too often. I over indulge and I have to waddle out. But; it always seems like a good idea at the time.
July 19, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Oh, to find a great fishmonger! You’ve lucked out, Benson. I too could eat my way from one end of the display counter to the other. Seriously, at times I wonder why, with the amount of food I eat, I’m not simply a building with feet. Everyone says that pretty soon my fiery metabolism will come to a rapid and irreversible halt. In the meantime …
These all looked amazing!
July 20, 2014 at 4:55 pm
I am not quite a building but I am certainly closing in on the size of a shack. I hope your fiery metabolism continues for as long as you enjoy eating. Moderation is so over rated. As always thanks for your graciousness.
July 20, 2014 at 8:12 pm
I love this place, the best fish in town, and the greens are delicious. The Best Customer Service!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
December 19, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I agree. Haven’t tried the greens but the fish is always top notch.
December 19, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I’ve probably been here 5 times in the past year. I LOVE the fried oysters. A 1/2 lb. of fried oysters and clam chowder is usually my go to. I tried the lobster roll once, but I found the lobster meat kind of tasteless. I haven’t tried the crab cake yet, I’ll have to do that one next!
May 21, 2017 at 10:21 am