Salmon & Bear, Zetland

I heart salmon, let me count the ways- raw, steamed, grilled, baked, cured, smoked, I love them all! So when Salmon & Bear opened up in Zetland, just opposite the East Village shopping centre, I knew it was just the place for my salmon loving soul. Chef Mark Jensen (Red Lantern and Pork’d) has designed a menu that’s short and sweet and focussing on sustainably sourced fish.

I was tossing up between getting the Salmon Fish Cakes (4/$12) or the Chilli Garlic Prawns($18) but instead chose the Salt and Pepper Squid ($12) which were lightly battered curls of deliciousness.

The Grizzly Plate ($25) comes with your choice of fish, any 2 sides/salads and sauce which I thought was a pretty good deal esp as the fish by itself would’ve been $15, salads ($8), sides ($5) and sauces ($2).

I chose the Ora King Salmon (there’s also barramundi, Spanish mackerel, snapper and tuna on the menu) which is bang on perfect. Like, 10/10 perfect! The salmon was so juicy with a touch of smokiness from the magic of being cooked in a Mibrasa oven and that skin! SO FRICKEN CRISPY I DIE! It barely needed the salsa verde sauce but woah man that sauce was just a burst of freshness that I wanted to smother everything in it. The sweet potato fries are pretty amazing too, crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

The Corn Salsa salad gets a pic of its own because it was just so awesome with chargrilled corn, cucumber, red capsicum, tomato, shallots, mint, coriander and a lemon and sour cream dressing. I freaking love grilled corn, it just tastes like summer! Also this would’ve been perfect as a ceviche style salad with raw tuna (hint hint guys!).

Noods wasn’t super hungry so he ordered the Sticky Soy Glazed Salmon Taco ($6) which came with loaded with pickled onions, coriander, lime, siriacha mayo and wrapped up in a soft corn tortilla.

And also the Crispy Fish (Hoki NZ) ($6). I preferred the salmon taco over this taco, there was just something about the crumbed fish that reminded me of a fish finger… Not that I don’t like fish fingers but I think I was expecting the fish to be battered and not crumbed?

Salmon & Bear is a pretty casual joint, perfect for the locals to bring the family and have a beverage or two with their meals. Oh and there’s free parking after 6pm at the East Village car park!

Salmon & Bear
6 Defries Avenue
Zetland

Trading Hours:
Mon – Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm
Sat – Sun: 12pm – 10pm