The Joy of Squid

I can't get enough of the grilled squid appetizer at TAC Quick Thai. It's tender, it's tasty, it's fresh, the marinade and the dipping sauce are divine...

How about some other recommendations for delicious squid dishes? I am an equal opportunity eater, so no ethinicities are excluded--Asian, Italian, American: bring it on!

"Delicious squid dishes", say it three times fast!

Salt & Pepper squid at LTH.

Usually traditional Japanese restaurants have grilled squid - "Ika Steak." Typically comes with a soy / ponzu sauce and some grated ginger. Simple yet tasty!

The garlic and parmesan calamari at Goose Island is divine.

The grilled calamari served as an appetizer at Bella Notte is excellent. Served with a little balsamic reduction and some jalapenos.

La Bocca dela Verita grills whole baby squid - truly fantabulous. One can also request grilled calamari at Santorini (and I would expect most of Greektown).

La Bocca Della Verita
4618 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-784-6222

I've had two excellent versions of good ol' calamari friti in recent years:

1) In several places in Connecticut, they serve calamari with sliced banana pepper rings. The heat and vinegar are exactly what are needed to offset the greasiness of calamari. Definitely a good approach (the oiliness of giardinera would probably not be a good substitute)

2) At Eccola, in Parsippany, NJ, they served a calamari chinense (sp?), which had a sweet, garlic and ginger sauce poured over it. Almost like a General Tso kind of sauce. Outstanding.

I love the salt and pepper squid at Shui Wah in the Chinatown Mall. They cut long strips and lightly fry them so you end up with a plate of what look like an asian take on french fries. The dusting of salt and red pepper is divine, I can down an entire order in minutes.

To continue the "squid as french fries" theme, I'm crazy about the "ika butter" at Akai Hana in Wilmette. The squid strips are sauteed in butter and soya, and they're cooked perfectly every time.

Akai Hana
3243 Lake Street
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-251-0384

Best,
Michael / EC

Joel, I've had fried calamari tossed with Giardiniera in a few places here as specials (can't recall specifics now, though I want to say Harry Caray's). I thought it was brilliant. The oil worked similarly to that on the S&P cuttlefish at Silver Seafood and places on Argyle.

not exactly squid but definitely worth mentioning:

curry cuttlefish dim sum at happy chef

Wok-Tossed Calamari at Friendship Chinese is a consistent favorite of mine. The julliened strips of squid are very lightly battered and fried up with bell pepper strips and onions, some salt and pepper. Simplicity itself; gorgeous squid "junk food" you can't stop eating. It's one of those appetizers that can take over your whole meal.

I'm going to reply to my own post to say that tonight I had the stir-fried squid with lemon grass and hot pepper at Tank Noodle and it was delicious. I think it was cuttle fish, or at least a short fat type of squid, but whatever it was--yum! Just enough heat, a nice tang of lemon grass, and very juicy.

Everything else we had was good, too: Pho Tai with sliced beef and brisket, the stuffed crepe/omelette appetizer, and the lime juice with soda water, which I can never have enough of.