Alright, so let me tell you about my little quest, my personal mission, to find some really good seafood here in Cary, NC. You’d think, okay, it’s North Carolina, the coast isn’t a million miles away, so it should be easy, right? Well, sometimes it feels like you’re hunting for treasure without a map.
So, this one particular Saturday, the craving hit me. Not just any craving, mind you. I’m talking about that deep, gut-level need for something fresh from the ocean, something that tastes like vacation. I wasn’t looking for a super fancy, white-tablecloth kind of deal. Just good, honest seafood. I simply wanted to find a place, sit down, and enjoy a proper meal.
I started my usual routine. First, I racked my brain. I’ve been to a few places already; some were okay, some were… well, let’s just say they served fish. I even asked a neighbor, who just shrugged and said, “Uh, there’s that one place by the mall?” Not exactly inspiring confidence, you know? So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and begin my search.
My Big Expedition
I decided to just drive. Sometimes that’s the best way. I figured I’d stumble upon a hidden gem. I drove around for a bit, looking for anything that caught my eye. Eventually, I ended up at this spot that someone vaguely mentioned once. From the outside, it looked promising enough. Not too flashy, not too run-down. “This could be it,” I thought to myself, feeling a bit hopeful. I parked the car and walked towards the entrance.
I walked in. The vibe was… interesting. Let’s call it “aggressively nautical” but in a way that felt like it was trying a bit too hard, like someone had just discovered a bulk sale on anchor-themed decorations. There were nets on the wall, plastic lobsters, the whole nine yards. Okay, fine, I told myself, I’m here for the food, not the interior design awards. I was shown to a small table in the corner.
I sat down and looked at the menu. Lots of fried stuff, which, okay, is a thing in many seafood places. I tried to find something grilled or broiled, something a bit lighter. After a few minutes of scanning, I eventually settled on some shrimp. The waiter was a young guy, seemed a bit flustered, maybe new. He took my order, scribbled it down, and then the waiting game began. I looked around while I waited, observing the other diners and the slightly chaotic atmosphere.
The Main Event (or lack thereof)
When the food arrived, it looked… alright. Just alright. The shrimp were a decent size, I’ll give them that. They were piled on a plate next to some fries and a small cup of coleslaw. But the taste? It was just… seafood. Nothing offensive, but nothing that made me go “Wow!” It was the kind of meal you eat, you pay for, and you kind of forget about by the time you get back to your car. It filled the seafood-shaped hole, but it didn’t sing to my soul, if you catch my drift. I finished up, paid the bill, and left.
And you know what’s funny? This whole seafood hunt reminded me of when I first moved here to Cary. Everything was a bit of a search back then too. Finding a good barber, the best coffee spot, even a decent grocery store that had all my weird specific things I like. It wasn’t that Cary didn’t have these things, it was just that my perfect version of them wasn’t always obvious or easy to find. It takes time, you gotta kiss a few frogs, or in this case, eat a few mediocre shrimp baskets, before you find your spots.
It’s not like I’m giving up on finding the ultimate seafood spot in Cary. Oh no, the quest continues. I’m sure there are great places out there I just haven’t discovered yet. But it makes you think, doesn’t it? Sometimes it’s not about finding the absolute best, blow-your-socks-off amazing thing on the first try. Sometimes it’s just enjoying the process of looking, and the little quirks you find along the way. Or maybe I just need to lower my expectations a tad when I’m this far from the actual ocean waves. One of these days, I’ll strike seafood gold. Or I’ll just learn to make peace with “just alright” more often. We’ll see. For now, the hunt is still on, and I’m actually looking forward to the next attempt.
