Tulsa’s Da’ Boat is a rather unassuming little place. The sign isn’t flashy, and while the exterior is pleasant, it does live in a slightly above-average strip mall. It would be easy to pass the place by, based solely upon a glance.
And things don’t improve immensely upon walking through the door. We visited on a blistering, 100 degree Sunday afternoon, and they didn’t have any air conditioning. If you’re at all sensitive to heat, stay away from Da’ Boat during summer… they’ll fry you right beside your clams. Ceiling fans just won’t cut it on a day like that.
From there, though, things begin to look up considerably. The place is cozy, with only a handful of tables and a couple dozen barstools. (The occupancy sign claimed they could handle fifty souls, but I’d consider that ambitious.) The staff was very friendly and quite attentive, keeping the cold drinks flowing.
Our appetizer came in the form of a trio of stuffed crabs. I was slightly disappointed with the crab-to-crumb ratio, but my dining partner loved it. In fairness, I thought it was a great starter… I just wouldn’t order them as an entree.
My wife had a fried clam strip platter, which she loved. The clams were fried perfectly golden, with a delightfully crispy breading that didn’t get soggy as she slowly ate her fill. She’s a New England girl at heart, and they passed the test presented by her sometimes snooty Yankee tastebuds.
I ordered a small portion of blackened swordfish, with grilled vegetables and fries. My first thought upon seeing my plate was: “This is small?” The fish was cut thin, but it was still pretty big, and more than sufficient for most lunchtime diners. And wow, was it tasty! Perfectly cooked by a chef who clearly understands the distinction between “blackened” and “burned to a crisp”, it was fantastic. The grilled zuchinni made for a solid accompaniment, although I might have preferred thicker slices.
As for the price, it was extremely reasonable. Although I’d pay more if they’d be willing to kick on the air.
Heartily recommended.
Da’ Boat
Tulsa, OK
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