Maine Avenue Seafood Market is urban art for the palate

June 28, 11:01 PMUrban Arts ExaminerRobert Gandy

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Fresh fish sits on ice at the market. Photos by Robert Gandy.

Tucked into Washington D.C.'s Southwest Waterfront neighborhood is a historic market that has never lost its flavor. According to the DC Traveler, the market has been around for around 200 years, and although it has gone through a metamorphosis or two, it has always been a place of commerce and fresh seafood in the nation's capital.

The market operates 7 days a week out of what may appear to be ramshackle storefronts on floating barges permanently tied to the pier. It does not matter whether you drive and fight for the very limited parking, or walk from the nearby L'Enfant Plaza or Waterfront Metro stations, you will smell the market before you actually get to it. On hot summer days it goes from pockets of overpowering rot to savory deliciousness in a matter of steps, so be prepared. The sometimes chaotic traffic is kept moving by D.C. Metropolitan Police that keep an active and visible presence.

Visitors will find a half dozen or so barges outfitted with a wide variety of the freshest seafood. From swordfish to salmon, squid to tilapia, tuna to clams and even snails, browse before you buy because you may just miss something. For those seeking instant gratification, there are a number of vendors that offer fresh steamed crabs, shrimp, crawfish and more covered in Chesapeake Bay flavored spices. You can also get seafood platters, desserts, and fresh fruit and produce to round out your meal. At the raw bar, iced clams and oysters are shucked while you wait, and with a little hot sauce and fresh lemon are heaven on a hot, muggy summer's day.

If you can't make up your mind, hawkers offer free tastes to passers by. Jimmy's Grill has perfectly cooked battered calamari, and Jessie Taylor Seafood gives out hot crawfish samples.

Make no mistake: the imposing smell, difficult parking, and rough exterior of the market are not for the faint of heart. Don't be fooled; although far from pretty, it is a heirloom piece of Washingtonian culture. Having a picnic lunch or a sunset dinner at the gritty market is an experience to be savored. The service is always prompt and friendly, and the prices are great for seafood that could only be fresher if you caught it yourself.