View full sizeStarfish Brasserie's Sake Marinated Albacore Tuna with a Soba Noodle Salad. Why they’re Exposed-worthy: Starfish Brasserie is a 100 percent sustainable seafood restaurant that aims to be as sustainable a business as well.
Fish2Fork named it one of the top 10 sustainable seafood restaurants in the country in January.
Owner Kristofor Sandholm says he uses local produce from Liberty Gardens and Scholl Orchards, serves seasonal side dishes and his fish is delivered from fishermen and flown in daily. Even his employees live within walking distance of the restaurant.
Each menu item lists where the fish has been caught and Sandholm stays away from overly fished populations. That means you’ll be introduced to a greater variety of seafood while dining at the restaurant.
View full sizeStarfish Brasserie's Arctic Char with marinated artichokes, tomatoes and Japanese Turnips is also popular.Ambiance: Starfish Brasserie may be a seafood restaurant but it's got a contemporary city vibe rather than a cheesy nautical theme.
Insiders eat: Let me preface this by saying the menu changes daily. Instead of a seafood restaurant that offers one "catch of the day" special, that's all Starfish Brasserie offers. Each menu is dictated by the fisherman's net. The only standard is the crabcake appetizer (served with purple cabbage slaw) — $10. Here are some appetizers off previous menus: Beer mussels (tasso ham, carmelized onions in a beer cream reduction) — $8; Veal sweetbreads (with organic greens and mushroom ragout) — $12; Seared North Carolina mahi (with marinated artichoke salad) — $8; Liberty Gardens Heirloom tomato salad (with goat cheese and aged balsamic vinaigrette) — $8
Entrees include: North Carolina Red Snapper (with citrus quinoa and roasted beets) — $23; Jambalaya (with shrimp, chicken and pork) — $18; Sea scallops (with saffron cous cous and roasted broccoli) — $23; Australian rack of lamb (roasted fingerling potatoes and root vegetables) — $25
Sweet endings: The current dessert menu has a fall theme (pumpkin creme brulee, pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse). They range $5-$7.
View full sizeStarfish Brasserie's Keepsake Farm Chicken Breast with sauteed Kale and Black Rice.Libation station: Sandholm calls their martini list insane and the wine offerings ridiculous — in a good way. "We stay away from the college and kid-type drinks, maybe making three margaritas in a year." Try their post-modern cosmopolitan (St. Germain Elderflower liquer, Boulard Calvados, Bouchard Macon Villages Chardonnay) or a Lavender martini (Appleton Estates rum, muddled mint, lavender simple syrup, fresh lime and a splash of soda). Martinis cost $7-$9. Their wine list has received a wine spectator award for the last five years. "We're not a snooty, overly expensive restaurant," Sandholm says. "We've got a younger clientele and a casual atmosphere."
Wild game dinner: Starfish Brasserie tries to host a five-course dinner for its customers at least once a month. This month, enjoy the Wild Game Feast on Sunday with music by the Dan DeChellis Duo. The menu boasts Smoked Lebanon County trout with microgreens and cucumber slaw, Phyllo-wrapped rabbit riellets with Liberty Gardens mizzuna, Confit duck ravioli in a dried cherry reduction, Venison medallions served with potato pancakes and candied carrots, finished off with a chocolate fig tart. Total cost: $45, reservations required. On Dec. 12, the restaurant will host a 12 Days of Christmas Celebration with a 12-course dinner for $50. Make your reservations early.
Meal steal: Happy hour is 5 to 6:30 p.m. daily at the Star Bar. Customers can enjoy 25 percent off drinks and all appetizers are reduced to $6. Enjoy live jazz every other Wednesday.