Bob's Seafood — Local services in University City

Bob's Seafood is bar none the best fishmonger for literally hundreds of miles. After hundreds of visits, I am yet to be disappointed. They stock the absolute BEST soft-shelled crabs in season that they many times have them live-the quality of which is unparalleled save for on the East coast. I buy from them: Lobster Shrimp-always wild caught gulf or sea, Monkfish (lobstery flavored delicately textured) King crab (sometimes as thick as a red bull can) Salmon, trout-both golden and rainbow Sturgeon when available Sashimi grades of Tuna

and 20+ more kinds of Seafood. As a chef working in some of St Louis busier places, I have sent hundreds of people to Bobs after they asked about the product we were serving and it is one of my favorite places to shop for food bar none. If you are a connoisseur of fine seafood I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. As someone who knows how to spot aged seafood (cloudy eyes, sunken in shape, discoloration, haze or sheen on surface) I have never seen products not up to my standard of freshness. Bob's is a mecca for all things from the sea.

If it sounds like I am over the top crazy about Bob's-thats because I am! My mouth watering just thinking about my next visit. I have been out of town for the last 2 years and been disappointed in seafood markets traversing the West coast. I am going to jump and kick my heels on my next visit-which will not be...

Hard as it would seem to believe, several Saint Louis stores sell very fresh fish, and Bob's is at the top of the list. When I moved to Saint Louis after decades on the west coast and east coast, I worried that I would not be able to get fresh seafood. Somehow both saltwater and freshwater fish are fresh in a number of stores, and the fish is better than the supermarkets I know in Los Angeles, Washington, or Seattle areas. Schnuck's has been OK (good 70% of the time), Dierberg's and Whole Foods are better (good 85 to 90% of the time), but no one beats Bob's (good 100% of the time). What's most impressive is that all the fish they sell are all excellent. While the fish costs a bit more than you would pay at a supermarket, it's top notch fish and you will easily notice the difference...

Bob's Seafood is the absolute best place in Saint Louis to go for fresh fish, shellfish, and almost anything edible that comes from the sea.

About a month ago I was wanting some steamer clams as I was just up around Boston and was still craving fried clam bellies. I called Bob's and he ordered me around two dozen steamer clams and I picked them up a few days later. They were all still very much alive and very fresh. I took them home, cleaned them, shucked them and fried them up.

They also carry very excellent oysters, mussels, soft shell crab, gulf shrimp and fresh fish of almost any variety. I've spent much time in New England on the coast, in Atlantic Canada and in the Florida panhandle and I can say that whenever I'm wanting fresh seafood Bob's never...