1.) Manuel Fish Market — 1369 Forest Ave., Port Richmond; 718-301-8229
Formerly known as the stalwart Verrazano Seafood under a prior owner, this is good and busy utilitarian market with a shucker on duty. The variety is impressive, ideal for a variety of cultures and includes a copious supply of whole fish. Lobsters and crab can be ordered in advance.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
2.) Carlos Fish Market — 3852 Richmond Ave., Eltingville, 718-967-5758
Outstanding customer service and excellent value abounds with details like free fish cleaning, personal attention and meticulous packing. Inventory includes fillet varieties, live Maine lobsters, snow crab legs, Alaskan King crab legs and, when in season, live blue crabs.
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday closed.
3.) Octopus Garden — 15 Newark Ave., Elm Park; 718-946-1100, Facebook.com/Octopus-Garden
Under the Bayonne Bridge find octopus galore and a solid inventory of frozen selections. Also in the offerings are fresh and seasonal catches plus delights like snails, blackfish, red prawns aka Carabineros, calamaretti and a whole lot of eight-legged species in a variety of sizes that can be pre-tenderized.
Hours: Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday
4.) Belfiore Altlantic Fishery and Produce — 2500 Victory Blvd., Willowbrook; 718-477-1041
A nice set of locally caught fish options from Atlantic Highlands can be scored either as filet or prepped for dinner — blackened, fried, stuffed and/or served as a to-go meal with a side like mashed potatoes.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, closing at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
5.) Fisherman’s Cove at Met Foods — 1177 Hylan Blvd,, Grasmere; 718-720-5800
A 21-year old fish department with a premium, consistent yet modest selection of salmon, flounder, shrimp, Vongole clams, fresh mussels, scallops, plus plus heat-and-serve selections and fish salad. Knowledgeable fishmongers on duty can shuck clams and oyster, give basic tips on food prep. Crabs, live lobsters and other catches can be ordered with a few days notice for special occasions and the holidays.
Hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
6.) Sea Breeze at Met Foods — 1795 Victory Blvd., Castleton Corners; 718-524-0800
This is a great place to play Iron Chef between a wholly respectable variety of fresh selections and the nearby condiment and canned fish sections always so thoughtfully merchandized by Met.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
7.) La Bella Marketplace — 99 Ellis St., Tottenville; 718-967-2070, (Press 2, then 3) Labellamarkets.com
Excellent spot for Italian delicacies and notable source for the so-called Feast of the Seven Fishes. The vast frozen inventory is admirable.
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
8.) Rossville/Woodrow Fish Market — 655 Rossville Ave., Rossville; 718-317-6947
For staples like mussels, clams and shrimp, its a reliable source of fillet, as opposed to the whole fish, salmon, sole varieties, halibut, tuna, Branzino and swordfish.
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9.) Lobster House Joe’s — 1898 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-667-0003
The Dongan Hills location, the original, has a small display case. The restaurant offers a sit-down dining area and clam bar for on-premise consumption. It is a top-notch lobster and clam source with the crustaceans sold fresh or steamed.
Seafood-centric chef-prepped catering and steamed/broiled/stuffedlobsters, shrimp and other fish can be pre-ordered from the Charleston restaurant — and 4707 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston; 718-227-0003; Lobsterhousesi.com. There is no retail store at this South Shore location.
Hours: Both are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; Friday and Saturday til 11 p.m.
10.) Sea Breeze at Food Dynasty (formerly Top Tomato) — 1071 Bay St., Rosebank; 718-981-8571 or the main number at 718-816-1100
Seafood is presented whole and filleted, offering varieties that appeal to many cultural backgrounds and palates. For those who make fish stock from scratch, this is concession is a rich resource. Also enjoy some of the heat-and-serve preparations along with a few prepped salads.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.-ish daily
11.) Fish Market Ary — 81 Brook St., New Brighton, 347-466-4683
A fairly new neighborhood place that has picked up some of the former Castleton Avenue Boston Market regulars from way back when. Inventory is basic and fresh — cleaned shrimp, fillet, clams, oysters, whiting, whole porgy and some frozen fish.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
12.) Coast to Coast — 87 Grove Ave., 718-720-8008; Coast to Coast Meat & Fish Purveyors
For large non-commercial fish orders, this might be a surprising and wonderful source for some. Shopping the warehouse is not ideal for the average cook but the 50-year old business delivers to the house and pickup is available. Note for the holidays they need ideally four days lead time for orders. Look for the price list on Facebook (link above.) Payment can be in all forms.
