Jimmy’s Seafood Sampler

This spring, I went to Washington, DC, for my annual pilgrimage for the National Cherry Blossom Festival (this was not a good year for Cherry Blossoms…) And the hail storm that occurred as we arrived didn’t help either…

Anyway, when all else fails, let’s eat!!!

We decided on seafood at the Wharf aka, The DC Fish Market located in SW Marine Terminal.  I went to where I usually go for shrimp and clam chowder and decided to go to a spot called Jimmy’s for dessert as per my friend’s recommendation.  Little did I know that I was about to embark on a culinary adventure!

I went up to the counter and asked for a slice of Strawberry Shortcake.  The gentleman behind the counter asked me if I was sure I didn’t want the entire cake.  Or if I wanted anything else. Then. he quickly asked if I had ever been there before.  When I responded that this was my first visit, he invited me to come down the ramp and get samples. In Brooklyn, the center of my universe, when you are offered samples, they usually come in the form of small spoonfuls.  Well… after struggling down the ramp (it was scary… like a good 45 degree angle… definitely not for ladies in stilettos…) Anyway, it turns out I was talking to “Jimmy” of Jimmy’s himself,  and he had just invited my friend and I to a very rare, behind the counter, serious dessert and seafood sampling.

He didn’t pull out little spoonfuls of anything.  He pulled out a huge butcher knife and started cutting entire slices for each of us.  What had we gotten ourselves into???  If I had known I would have skipped out breakfast.  We tried the following cakes and everything was good:

• Pecan Cheese Cake
• Banana Nut Cake
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Red Velvet
• Lemon Cake

And that’s just 5 of the 18 different types of cakes that he offers.  None of the slices are small – for those concerned about their weight!  I was in cake heaven… Yum! Yum!

Then he asked if we had eaten. He was going to show us real seafood (forget the $50 of seafood we had just bought…) He quickly turned toward the grill and ordered us Stuffed Baked Shrimp – they were EXCELLENT! - And Crab Balls, Scallops, and Sauted Spinach – also EXCELLENT.  Even after all that, he ordered us a Jimmy Super Delight to go!!!  And don’t forget the homemade cocktail sauce.  Jimmy just went on and on how he experiments with different recipes until he gets it just right.  It really is like down home cooking.

Jimmy has a decent size menu of mostly fried and grilled seafood, including 19 different sandwiches and 23 different platters.  Prices range from $4 for a slice of cake to $19.95 for his jumbo combo platter.

I wish I lived in the area so I could visit more often.  So if you in the DC area, please stop by and maybe you’ll get as lucky as I did.  And if you aren’t into take out spots and want something a little nicer, Jimmy is planning on opening a sit down restaurant nearby any day now so be on the look out.  I got a strong impression that Jimmy has built his restaurant the way they did in the good old days – it’s all about the food! Thank God!

Jimmy’ Grille

1100 Main Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
202-484-6008