First Look: Waterfront Seafood in Ankeny

Fish and chips at Waterfront Seafood. (Credit: Eric Rowley/Juice)

What it is: Waterfront Seafood, the longtime West Des Moines standby, now has a second location in Ankeny. Unlike the West Des Moines location, the new restaurant actually has a waterfront view with outdoor seating. Inside, a large waiting area with a simple waterfall leads to a large, open dining area lined with booths and sprinkled with tables. Off to the left is a full bar, bar seating and a sit-down sushi bar. A party room is also available.

The buzz is definitely out--we waited an hour to be seated. The wait staff was very friendly, but they seemed slightly understaffed on such a busy night. Customers were mostly older, except for a large party of young ladies celebrating a friend's 21st birthday.

As the name suggests, the menu is loaded with seafood selections. The menu is priced to please a variety of budgets--sandwiches start at $6.95, and entrees go up to $23.95 for the halibut royale or market price for wild salmon and Alaskan king crab. Fish is available for purchase by the pound on the market menu.

What we tried: We started off with lobster bisque and New England clam chowder. My dining partner's bisque was creamy and tasty. The chowder wasn't very creamy, but it was thick and filled with generous pieces of potatoes and clams. We munched on the complimentary warm Coeur d'Alene sourdough bread before our main dishes came out. My dining partner's fish and chips basket ($10.50) might have lacked seasoning, but the fish was delicate enough to almost melt in his mouth. Another friend tried the prawns ($23.95). They were grilled beautifully, but seemed a bit smaller than he was used to. My salmon burger ($8.50) was topped with a fresh dill dressing, a surprising and welcome addition to the sandwich, although perhaps too overwhelming for the salmon's delicate flavor.

Why you should go: Dine at a Des Moines staple in a new location. The food is fresh, the staff is friendly, and the place is definitely buzzing. If you can't stay for a sit-down dinner, purchase seafood from the market and enjoy it at home.