Crab & Fin on St Armands Circle: Seafood & Sinatra

 

Previously known as Charley's Crab, the Crab & Fin has been a landmark seafood restaurant on St Armands Circle since 1978. It's one of the most popular outdoor dining spots on the 'Circle', especially when the sun is shining and the resident pianist is playing soft jazz standards from Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Coleman Hawkins, Blossom Dearie and more — it's worth the price of admission alone, if the food weren't so terrific too. Grab a table under the umbrellas and watch the world go by and later, perhaps a little shopping. 

St Armands Cobb Salad with crisp romaine, house-made buttermilk ranch dressing, 

applewood smoked bacon, avocado, tomatoes, blue cheese and chopped hard-boiled egg

and grilled Gulf shrimp

The resident pianist at Crab & Fin

Vanilla Iced Cream

Fresh chilled pineapple dipped in chocolate

www.crabfinrestaurant.com

Gazpacho 

Serves 6

Recipe courtesy of Chuck Muer, owner of Crab and Fin

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced 
1/2 green pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup pimento, finely diced
1/2 large onion, finely diced

3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing, or a good quality bottled Italian dressing

6 large Beefsteak tomatoes, peeled and seeded, or a 14-oz can diced tomatoes

1 cup tomato juice

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Sour cream, watercress, croutons and cucumber to garnish

Combine the cucumbers, green pepper, pimento and onion in large bowl with parsley, basil and garlic. Mix in the Italian dressing. If using canned tomatoes, use the juice with the tomatoes in the soup. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with sour cream, croutons and cucumber.