Shellfish Allergy? Who Cares!

“You do not travel if you are afraid of the unknown, you travel for the unknown, that reveals you with yourself.” -Ella Maillart

On our most recent trip to Florida, we decided to take a day on the East Coast and explore for a little while. As we started to get hungry and start searching for food, we came across our typical seaside conundrum…what to eat where Hubs could get fresh seafood and where I wouldn’t kill myself from my newly acquired shellfish allergy…not typically easy to do. We are driving down the coast, out on the barrier island of Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach, when we pass this little restaurant that looks like a place where assisted living people go to get something a little different. It really isn’t much to look at. It just so happens I was looking at the reviews of the same place on YELP. They have a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars from over 300 reviews. Yes, I really questioned those reviews but didn’t see much else for several miles unless we went bay side and we weren’t really up for that, so we decided to stop. Now, let me tell you, people typically look at me like I am INSANE when I go into a seafood restaurant and tell them I am allergic to shellfish. Shocking, I know! I don’t see what the problem is. (Yes, that is sarcasm you sense.) So…we go in, get seated and here comes the waiter. I have prepared myself and am ready, here goes my spiel…”Sir, I know you are going to look at me like I am crazy, don’t worry, everyone does, BUT – I am allergic to shellfish and mushrooms.” I sit back and wait. WHAT?! No crazy look?! NO! I get a smile and, “Don’t worry, we get that all the time! We have a separate fryer and grill, you can eat anything on the menu that is not shellfish and we can cook whatever else without mushrooms. What would you like to drink while you are looking?” Wait, what?! First, let me say, how refreshing is THAT?! As many seafood restaurants as we have been in, I have NEVER been told that. I am normally told I can’t have anything fried and if it can’t be cooked in a fresh frying pan I can’t eat anything there. My choices are VERY limited in a typical restaurant that has seafood of any kind. For that reason alone, this is a great place to go for those of us who have specific food allergies and are limited. They also do not use peanut oil, so it’s also safe for peanut allergy sufferers. As for Celiac Disease…I didn’t think to ask about that one, maybe on our next trip or if one of our fellow readers can answer it for us that would be great!

So, on to the food. Hubby ordered the Nantucket Trio, which is boiled shrimp, scallops, and cod topped with buttery garlic breadcrumb sauce and two sides. He ooh’d and ah’d throughout the entire thing, telling me how much I would like it and how he wished I didn’t have the new allergy so I could try it (husbands…am I right?). I, on the other hand, had a beautifully cut and cooked 12 oz. Chef’s Cut Steak Dinner with a baked potato and steamed vegetables (pictures of which have been added to the photo page, of course!). All of the food was absolutely delicious, the staff was wonderful, and I am so very glad we did not let the outside keep us from stepping into this wonderful eatery and pub. We will definitely be back for a visit and for me, a delicious steak. If you ever decide to drive south down A1A (thanks to dear Hubs I now know this road is in Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice), past Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach, don’t continue past this little hole in the wall. You will be missing a lot more than a great meal.