Fresh Seafood? In Newburgh, Indiana? Get it at The Tin Fish [REVIEW]

Tucked away in downtown Newburgh sits an unassuming building serving up the freshest seafood you'll find outside the coastal United States.

A good friend of mine had told me a few months back that he and his wife had visited The Tin Fish on Jennings Street in Newburgh on a few occasions and had yet to find something they didn't like. Being someone who enjoys eating and trying new places, I was anxious to give it a try.

Normally you wouldn't associate fresh seafood with a community that sits on the Ohio River. I'm not saying the "mighty, muddy Ohio" is disgusting and that I wouldn't dare eat anything that's fished out of it — no wait, that's exactly what I'm saying. Fortunately, the seafood at Tin Fish doesn't come from the Ohio.

Sitting just off Jennings Street along the Newburgh riverfront, Tin Fish is one of 11 locations in America, and the only one in Indiana. Lucky for us, it's here and not hours away in Indianapolis or somewhere even farther north. The company's website says the seafood is caught wild and flown or drove in seven days a week. I don't know how often the Newburgh location receives a shipment, but I do know it's delicious!

My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch / early dinner one Saturday afternoon around 3:30-4:00. We opened the door to find a clean dining area complete with an ocean theme. We were two of about six people in the restaurant at the time. Waiting behind the counter was an employee ready to take our order. Above her was a large menu board with everything Tin Fish offers. Everything from Tilapia, Shrimp, and Calamari, to Salmon, Catfish, and Ponga, whatever that is, was available. Many of which could be ordered in a variety of ways; fried, grilled, served on top of nachos, in a quesadilla, or as a sandwich. It was a bit overwhelming at first to be honest.

I enjoy seafood, but don't eat it often. The majority of my experiences with seafood have come from either Long John Silvers or Red Lobster. Both fine establishments, and two I still enjoy eating at from time to time, but when compared to seafood restaurants like those I ate at on a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama over the summer, it's not quite the same.

I was bound and determined to venture out of my comfort zone at Tin Fish. My friend had raved about the fish tacos so I went with the grilled Mahi Mahi taco platter while my wife opted for the Fried Cod taco platter. Each platter came with a small cup of sweet cole slaw, and a side of seasoned waffle fries. Total bill — just over $28.00 which included to medium soft drinks. Not bad in my opinion as I can easily drop over 10 bucks on myself at the aforementioned fast food seafood restaurant.

We found a table and waited for our order to arrive which was somewhere in the neighborhood of five to ten minutes. The young lady who took our order brought our food along with a bottle of hot sauce she had offered when we ordered.

Dressed with tomato salsa, "white sauce", and shredded cheddar cheese, the fish was flaky and seasoned well with just the right balance of spice. I took a few bites before laying on the hot sauce provided which was low on heat, but added a great extra layer of flavor without overpowering the fish. I was equally impressed with the waffle fries. Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and seasoned with a blend of what tasted like salt, pepper, and possibly a small amount of chili powder for hint of heat, they were a nice spin on the classic fish and chips concept.

I did try a small piece of the cod my wife had ordered and was really impressed with it as well. The breading was light, and just like my Mahi Mahi was seasoned just right. It didn't overpower the flavor of the fish, but certainly added to it.

As I like to do anytime before I check out a restaurant for the first time, I read a few reviews on Urbanspoon.com. While nearly all the reviews were positive, a few did make mention of the price being a bit high for an establishment where you order your food at the counter like a fast foot joint. For the quality of food you get, I think the price is more than fair.

On this particular trip, it was just my wife and I as the kids were spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa, but in the event we do return with the kids, Tin Fish does offer a "Minnow Menu" for the kids which offers some seafood like fish, popcorn shrimp (my daughter's favorite), and fried clam strips, along with standard kids fare like hamburgers and chicken nuggets.

With such a wide variety of options on the menu I'll definitely make multiple return trips to Tin Fish when I'm in the mood for seafood. I think there's a Garlic Shrimp Burrito with my name on it in there somewhere.