Fish Boutique has closed
mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Writers of this blog include Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy, among others. The guys are both busy with jobs and such. Cathy has time to blog.
Boutique- a French word for "shop", a Greek word for "storehouse". Usually associated with clothing or such, but since I am literal, those definitions make perfect sense for a place which sells and stores fish, with the bonus of serving meals…'Bistro' is so overused. When I saw the "Fish Boutique" in the Trader Joe's mall in Mira Mesa (just next to Stone Flats) one morning when we were going to 'just get milk' (the euphemism we use when we know we will be spending at least $20)…
I knew I needed to walk up to see what I could see:
A menu on the door. Not inexpensive, not overly extensive, but descriptive and tasty to my brain. 
A fish counter…actually two- there is another one to the right, with a take out menu above it. Apparently they serve and sell wine.
A relatively small, un-fussy, bistro-like eating area. The fish counter area is to the right, at the other doorway.
I later learned the owner calls the food here "European modern" and that is an accurate description.
The two areas are separated by the black beaded curtain-you can see the other fish counter in this photo.
We wanted to try 'basics' on our first visit. Fish and chips ($9.50). The fish was flaky, very fresh cod, breaded in a crispy, panko/bread crumb batter (not beer batter) and served with house made smoked ketchup, cocktail sauce, lemony tartar sauce and pepper seasoned shoestring fries. An unusually high end preparation for a more or less 'common' entree. We really enjoyed this.
I ordered the sauteed shrimp sandwich($9.50)- served on a ciabatta roll.
Yes. Six very large, fresh sauteed butterflied shrimp, served on the soft yet hearty roll, topped with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar…and underneath those shrimp- thick pecan smoked bacon slices and mixed lettuces. This was heaven. I took bite with the bread, but ate the rest as a sort of salad meal. It was that good.
Of course, after coming home, we found a two for one coupon and I went back and ordered from the take out area.
Two slices of the crabmeat-spinach quiche. ($4…would be $4 each without the coupon; worth the $4 each price)
This was made of hand picked (none of that pasturized, canned stuff here) crabmeat- both King and Snow Crabs are used. The crust, as you can see, is hand made. The quiche was excellent-filled with crabmeat, spinach and a delightful custard-cheese (and nutmeg?) base. I served one half piece to each of us as a side with a steak meal at home. It could have been a meal in itself. We had to split the other piece for breakfast the next morning and I wanted more…
The fresh fish prices are good, considering the fish is fresh daily…and daily add-on a piece of cooked fish to a salad prices are posted on the door (skate was $6 the other day). As I said, not inexpensive but very much worth it. The chef, the waiters, everyone working here are very knowledgeable and helpful. Excellent European Modern food in an unexpected location.
Fish Boutique 9844 Hibert Street San Diego 92131 (858) 481-0505