More than 70 years after its Southern California founding, King’s Fish House has dropped anchor in the Bay Area — more specifically, Valley Fair, where the restaurant is part of the mall’s billion-dollar expansion that features a new outdoor dining plaza.
The restaurant opens today at 11 a.m.
King’s Fish House and the other restaurants spawned by King’s Seafood Co. all direct-source the fish and seafood offered on their extensive menus.
“We designed our menu with San Jose, more specifically the great and abundant seafood and produce from this swath of land and coast, in mind,” said Fabrice Poigin, the culinary director. “For example, petrale sole will only be on the menu when it is local to the Bay Area. Dungeness crab season has started in other states, but soon we will focus on the season opening here in the Bay Area and celebrate it.”
The inaugural lineup also boasts wild California spiny lobster (that season has just started), wild Columbia River salmon, live king crabs, sushi, two chowders (clam and spicy seafood) and a raw bar with a dozen oyster varieties (half Pacific, half Atlantic) plus chilled lobster, sea urchin, clams, mussels and shrimp. Expect Santa Barbara spot prawns next year when that season begins.
The crab tanks are always a customer draw, Poigin said. “Harvesting these beasts from the Barents Sea and bringing them to us alive is no small feat.”
Local sourcing extends to produce and other ingredients. Right now the restaurant is serving Castroville artichokes marinated and lightly charred with a basil vinaigrette and pesto mayonnaise, he said.
The wine list mixes it up with Sonoma, Napa, Oregon, New Zealand and European offerings, while the craft brews on draft at Valley Fair have been curated for a local audience. Look for beers from Strike and Hermitage brewing of San Jose, Calicraft of Walnut Creek, Drake’s of San Leandro, Almanac of Alameda and Discretion of Soquel.
This is the 12th restaurant in the chain. Nine are in Southern California (Calabasas, Carlsbad, Corona, Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Long Beach, Mission Valley, Orange, Rancho Cucamonga); one is in Tempe, Arizona; and one is in Henderson, Nevada.
The King’s in Santa Clara will be open daily for lunch and dinner, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is located on the Stevens Creek Boulevard side of the center.
Details: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara; www.kingsfishhouse.com
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