Shrimply the best

The world is your oyster at The Fish Peddler

By Sabine Wilson

For the TODAY

Tillamook Bay is the second-largest bay on the Oregon Coast, enclosing almost 600-square-miles of a watershed that include five contributing rivers.

And at the north end of the peaceful and picturesque bay, sits a pier where The Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster is located.

“We are on the biggest estuary in Tillamook,” said Retail Manager Erin Whitney. “If you want a seafood experience while you’re at the coast, this is the place to come.”

As one might imagine from the ideal location, the fresh seafood on offer from this Pacific Seafood operation is abundant. Millions of Pacific oysters pass through The Fish Peddler on their way to seafood-lovers around the world and show up on the menu with other tasty options.

“We have clam chowder to go, steamer clam kits, fresh and frozen seafood and we also make crab cakes people can take home,” Whitney said. “We’re kind of a destination point. We have an amazing view where you can see Haystack Rock and of course the bay.”

If you are craving a taste of nostalgia in a bowl, try the classic clam chowder, made from scratch. This is a recipe so good, it has been made using the same, tried-and-true recipe for the past decade.

And you can’t get any fresher than the delicious freshly-shucked oysters on the half shell. Delicate and meaty, they are served with a flavorful cocktail sauce, horseradish and lemon that work together to accentuate the oyster’s natural flavors. For something a bit more tangy, the popular barbecue oysters are zesty and delectable.

Order “Dominic’s Fish and Chips” to try the catch of the day. Whether it is local rockfish or cod, it will be seasoned, covered in Panko bread crumbs, infused with delicious flavors and deep-fried, then partnered with crisp French fries, a nice sweet cranberry coleslaw, cocktail sauce, tartar sauce and lemon. Your taste buds will thank you after biting into this crunchy, heavenly masterpiece.

The restaurant also offers beer and wine to-go. And what is better than enjoying some fish and chips with an ice-cold refreshing beer while sitting at their accommodating, outside picnic tables while overlooking the largest bay in Tillamook County?

“We do our best to have a convenient set up,” Whitney said. “We have many return customers that come in weekly. On Tuesdays we offer a discount for those age 55 and older. Our biggest focus is making sure our customers are happy and taken care of.”

While it might seem impossible to maintain any sort of mindfulness when dealing with such vast amounts of seafood, the Fish Peddler team exercise values of connection to the sea life around them.

“We focus on sustainability and traceability,” Whitney said. “When a boat brings seafood in, they’ll be able to tell what boat caught it and from which area. We can trace it all the way from boat to belly. That is a big thing that the company focuses on.”

This is a massive network, considering that Pacific Seafood is present across 41 facilities, 11 states and many countries.

For ease of access, the restaurant offers another mode of accessibility.

“We also offer online ordering where customers can come in to pick up their order,” Whitney said. “We also offer curbside pickup as long as you call ahead.”

While the seafood and location are some of the biggest draws, the expanded retail and to-go section bring a thoughtful and well-priced selection of great coastal finds, souvenirs and comfy merchandise.

“We’ve been adding to our retail side for convenience,” Whitney said. “We have specialty foods, jellies, hot sauces, marinades and more. We also added to our retail case, grab-and-go items and deli selections.”

Alongside a company culture that revolves around the needs of the customers and the adaptations necessary to adjust during a global pandemic, comes a loyal customer base that The Fish Peddler does not take for granted.

“Everybody is very supportive of our business,” Whitney said. “Our locals are what keep us going. We like to be able to provide a good price point for our customers and base our menu around what they want.”

For readers interested in exploring the sister Pacific Seafood locations, you’re in luck: there is one in Newport on the historic bayfront and another in Tacoma, Washington.

The secret to one of the finest gems on the coast? The team.

“We have a really great staff who work hard every single day,” Whitney said. “I’m super proud of how they have rolled with all the punches.”

The Fish Peddler is open every day from 11 am to 7 pm. For more information, go to www.pacificseafood.com or to the Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster page on Facebook.