History
Calabash-style frying emerged in the small fishing town of Calabash, NC on the South Carolina border in the mid-20th century, when Captain Lucy Coleman opened the first calabash-style restaurant in 1940. The light cornmeal batter became the standard for fried seafood across the North Carolina coast and now defines fried-fish counters across Charlotte; Hot Fish Club, Captain Steve's Family Seafood and Boardwalk Billy's run the canonical Charlotte versions.
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Common allergens: Gluten, Shellfish, Fish
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 450g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 450g flounder or cod fillets, cut into 5cm pieces
- 240ml buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- Dredge: 150g cornmeal, 50g plain flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, half teaspoon cayenne
- Peanut or vegetable oil for frying
Method
- Combine the buttermilk and hot sauce. Add the shrimp and fish, refrigerate 20 minutes.
- Mix the cornmeal dredge in a shallow dish.
- Heat the oil to 185 degrees Celsius (365 Fahrenheit) in a heavy pot.
- Remove the seafood from the buttermilk, letting excess drip. Dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
- Fry in small batches 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crisp. Drain on a wire rack.
- Serve immediately with hush puppies, slaw and tartar sauce.
Tip from the editors. Cornmeal is the secret. Wheat flour alone makes the batter heavy; cornmeal keeps it light and crispy.
Where to eat calabash-style fried seafood
Calabash-style fried seafood in Charlotte
Fin and Fino ★ 4.3
Fin and Fino at Levine Avenue of the Arts in uptown Charlotte is the city's destination seafood room, with a raw bar and a pre-theatre dining slot.
OrderA dozen oysters from the raw bar and the whole roasted fish.
Book1 week ahead
TipPre-theatre seatings fill fast around Belk Theater performances. Book through OpenTable.
LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood ★ 4.0
LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken on Tuckaseegee Road brings Mid-Atlantic fried chicken and crab cakes to a quick-service counter in west Charlotte.
OrderA Maryland-style chicken plate and a side of crab cake.
TipCounter-order and quick takeout. The Tuckaseegee flagship has the longest hours.
More places near Fin and Fino and LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- The Open Kitchen Italian, about 250 m away
- Pinky's Westside Grill American Diner, about 550 m away
- Restaurant Constance Contemporary, about 1.1 km away
- Counter- Tasting Menu, about 1.2 km away
- LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken Seafood, about 1.3 km away
- Bossy Beulah's Fried Chicken, about 1.4 km away
More cities are in research. Want calabash-style fried seafood covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.