On Sunday night, my NY Giants took on the Cowboys. Since our group had dinner reservations at 9:40pm, I knew that would be in my prime time. While everyone else ate dinner in the restaurant, my eyes were glued to the television in the bar. I settled in with a Yuengling, followed by some Orange Blossom Pilsner. Since it was late, I wasn’t really crazy about eating a big meal, and I needed something that didn’t require much focus. I thought the Key West Conch Fritters served with a lemon garlic remoulade fit the bill for my “meal.”
They looked fantastic, with a crispy, evenly browned exterior. Six come in a serving for $10.95, and each one is fairly sized.
The lemon garlic remoulade looked simply, yet nicely, seasoned, and it had a well-balanced flavor that paired perfectly with the fritters.
The interior of the fritters was hearty yet fluffy. They had a mild heat which was easily cooled by the remoulade. They had a nice ratio of veggie to conch, too.
While I didn’t dine with everyone else, Matt was kind enough to snap a few pics with his iPhone of what he ate. The table started with Malpeque oysters from Prince Edward Island, and are described as having a fine texture and briny flavor. Matt isn’t crazy about oysters (and honestly, I could take them or leave them myself). He noted that the one he tried had no grit at all, had a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and were indeed briny. He described it as “chewing on the ocean.” While they were better than he’s had in the past at other restaurants, I still don’t think he’s sold. They were also served with cocktail sauce on the side, which he doesn’t like, so he got the straightfoward taste of the oysters alone. I’m just glad he gave them a try! They ring in at $2.25 a piece.
For his meal, Matt ordered the Baby Back Ribs, which were Loin ribs cooked over an open flame and served with Fulton’s slaw and French fries. His meal was $26.95, and he brought some leftovers home. He thought the ribs were fantastic, as was the slaw. He mentioned that I’d probably like the slaw since it wasn’t overly mayonnaise-y. The fries, on the other hand, weren’t very good at all. They were a bit soggy and underseasoned.
Matt also mentioned that the waiter was pushing the filet for non-seafood eaters, saying it was one of the best he’s had. Considering the reservation was so late, Matt figured he should probably skip that as they were probably trying to unload whichever item of which they had the most. He also had pretty much decided on getting the ribs anyway, so he stuck to his instinct and was pleased.
Although I didn’t have the opportunity to eat a true meal this visit (priorities, and it was worth it to watch the G-Men squeak into the playoffs!), Matt and I were certainly impressed and will definitely be back. I’ve only visited when it was still the Empress Lilly, and it had been many years for Matt as well. We look forward to next time!
Since Fulton’s is considered a seafood restaurant, what are your favorite seafood items to order? If you’re more like Matt and me, what do you recommend for those who prefer land over sea?
I had a less-than-stellar experience here with my family last summer. They had some wonderful bread with seafood spread, but the lobster bisque was so-so, crab was sub-par, fish tacos were meh and ribs were pretty fatty. For the prices we paid, I was disappointed.
Sorry to hear your experience wasn’t very good. Perhaps they’ve made some adjustments since your visit. I only had conch fritters, so I have yet to judge an entree. We’ll likely go for lunch next time to save on costs.
If the calamari is the same recipe they had..oh about 12 years ago…it’s fantastic. They told us they soak it in milk for 24 hours to make it very tender and mild, and then cut it in strips. I like any calamari, but this was one of the best I’ve had. Looking at their current menu on their website, it looks like it’s the same description.
We’ll definitely have to give the calamari a try next time. Matt and I are both fans, and Fulton’s preparation sounds delicious!
Jealous that you ate on the Empress Lilly!
I was maybe 7 or 8 years old, and it was for breakfast. A very vague memory!
That’s still pretty awesome! Did you read Jim Hill’s article about how character dining basically originated on the Empress Lilly: http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2011/12/26/the-post-christmas-origin-of-character-dining-at-walt-disney-world.aspx?? LOVE IT!
Great article! Thanks for sharing. I vaguely remember it being a character breakfast when I was there.