It's hard to find a fishmonger in Washington DC where you can see the fish whole before it's filleted. It's a common practice in Europe where housewives gauge freshness by demanding to press the flesh, check the gills and look at the eyes of their approaching dinner before they decide to buy. So your best bet for assuring freshness is to buy fish from a source where the eating of fish is key to the culture.

This is why I like The Fishery, a Korean-owned market. The fish may not be whole. But you know that the fishmonger only deals with the very freshest because fish is what he eats himself. Perhaps that's why I've had too many glitches with the freshness of fish from Whole Foods. I asked one of their guys behind the counter if he ate fish and he said he never touched the stuff...

There are live lobsters and crabs in tanks and usually a range of wild fish or line-caught fish and seasonal treats like shad roe and soft shell crabs. Prices are higher, sometimes, than elsewhere. But so is the quality. You're always asked if you want the fish packed in ice to take home.

The Fishery also has a small stock of fresh produce necessary for fish cooking, like tomatoes, cucumbers, lemons, herbs and more, as well as dried goods such as grissini sticks, risotto rice, olive oil, vinegars and cans of tomatoes, tuna, olives. There's plenty to tempt.

The Fishery Seafood Market, 5509 Connecticut Ave NW, 202 686 1068. 

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6 Comments

1. The Food Scribe

   I just found this place recently, too, and was quite impressed with their stock of groceries and the quality of the fish. Thanks, Julia!

2. Aviva Goldfarb

   I love the fishery--I've never had a disappointing fish from there and they have some delightful specialty foods and vegetables, too.

3. Karen Thomas

   Thank you! Thank you!

4. Judith Kahn

   I would never go to the Fishery - overpriced and not great in any way; the place to buy fish is the A&H Seafood Market in Bethesda. Owned by 2 Spanish brothers, I've been shopping ONLY there for 25 years for my fish and other interesting groceries. I live very close to the Fishery, but, believe me, it is NOT the place to buy fish. I was shocked that you didn't mention A&H.

5. Julia

   I too am a huge fan of A & H Seafood. Check out my view of it by writing its name in the Search box or clicking Markets. (The Spanish brothers sold it some time ago to Santi Zabaleta, who used to be the chef at Taberna del Albardero.) But we need wider options for a good fishmonger, even if you personally don't feel The Fishery should be among them. Why aren't there more than a sparse handful of choices for buying reliably fresh, good quality fish in the greater capital area? How far are we from the coast, after all? If Europeans can buy fish straight off the boats, why is that such an impossible expectation here?

6. MaryJo DeMatteis

   I'm a caterer and The Fishery always does an absolutely outstanding job in preparing my fish, from 8 to 100. The quality gets rave reviews from my customers and their guests. The service is wonderful. Want a place you can depend on? Ask for Sue at The Fishery.