Char-Grilled Octopus

[Kibbee Nayee]

A question for the well-informed gourmands on this site -- where can I tuck into a righteous dish of Char Grilled Octopus in our area?

I know that Fabio does this at Fiola on occasion, and I'm betting that Komi also does it. But I'm looking for a less-fine dining establishment, especially in the Virginia suburbs, where a reliable and damned good Char Grilled Octopus can be had.

Please discuss....

[Toogs]

This won't help you at all but maybe someone else who wants the same--just had a bite or two of my sister's grilled octopus salad at Salt Tavern in Baltimore. It was delicious. That dish also has giant slabs of pork belly but the octopus is the star.

[weezy]

Isn't that one of the mainstays at Nostos in Tyson's Corner?

[kirite]

Isn't that one of the mainstays at Nostos in Tyson's Corner?

Yes, Nostos has it and so does Bistro Vivant.

[The Hersch]

Mourayo.

[frogprince]

Zaytinya. Cellar. 2 Amy's sometimes does on the bar menu. Mintwood.

[hillvalley]

Black Salt

[Choirgirl21]

I'm no help either, but I loved the charred octopus I had at Cafe St. Ex long ago. Report back on what you find.

[levjn]

I don't recall if it was charred or not, but we had an absolutely delicious octopus small plate at Pizzeria Orso in Falls Church recently... I'm not usually the biggest octopus fan, but this was so good I'd gladly reorder it again.... and again. :-)

[DonRocks]

We're getting one heck of a response here - Bruce, do you care if it's baby octopus (served whole, with head), or regular octopus (often just a tentacle or two)?

Based on your criteria, I'd have gone first with Nostos - not necessarily because it's "the best," but because they take pride in it being a specialty; that said, I think octopus is only as good as when it was last swimming, assuming it's not over-charred (which it often is, and that robs it of all the delicacy).

[lekkerwijn]

They pretty much always have octopus on the menu at Tosca. Both simply grilled and baby octopus as an appetizer. I was there last week for lunch and had the appetizer. It was lovely.

[Kibbee Nayee]

We're getting one heck of a response here - Bruce, do you care if it's baby octopus (served whole, with head), or regular octopus (often just a tentacle or two)?

Based on your criteria, I'd have gone first with Nostos - not necessarily because it's "the best," but because they take pride in it being a specialty; that said, I think octopus is only as good as when it was last swimming, assuming it's not over-charred (which it often is, and that robs it of all the delicacy).

Either baby or regular, although the regular takes the char nicely. Good mouthfeel too.

I've been to Nostos for lunches, and about all I saw on the menu was a few sparse pieces over a salad. I'll have to try dinner there sometime.

[Justin Bittner]

Not to self promote but we have grilled baby rock octopus on our menu with a white bean ragout comprised of path valley white beans, smoked bacon and Serrano ham, mirepoix and smoked paprika. We pick up the beans with clam stock and throw in a few clams then butter and parsley to finish, octo on top and some good olive oil. I personally love the dish, my sous came with it.

[JimRice]

Mio Restaurant in DC makes a nice Peruvian-style grilled octopus tentacle with pickled corn kernels.

[astrid]

Pizzeria Orso's grilled octopus is indeed charred. I've seen it on the menu for the past year at least, so I suspect it's there to stay. Get it, it's terrific.

I used to be a big fan of Green Pig Bistro's grilled octopus, but they've recently made some changes to their menu in the wrong direction. So what used to be a delicious grilled octopus small plate with a couple simple accompaniments became an overloaded and hard to eat crostini with a *barely there* sprinkling of octopus bits.

[jpbloom]

Passionfish does a good job, always on the menu as an appetizer.

[wristband]

Echoing the thumbs up for the grilled octopi @ Nostos (most especially) & PassionFish.

[Pool Boy]

I would dearly love to see someone do a smoked octopus. I had it in Bologna once and I am not the same person now.

[DonRocks]

I would dearly love to see someone do a smoked octopus. I had it in Bologna once and I am not the same person now.

That's an odd thing to stuff a luncheon meat with - sort of a poor man's prosciutto-wrapped halibut. It almost sounds Korean.

[Kibbee Nayee]

We're getting one heck of a response here - Bruce, do you care if it's baby octopus (served whole, with head), or regular octopus (often just a tentacle or two)?

Based on your criteria, I'd have gone first with Nostos - not necessarily because it's "the best," but because they take pride in it being a specialty; that said, I think octopus is only as good as when it was last swimming, assuming it's not over-charred (which it often is, and that robs it of all the delicacy).

I was at Nostos last week and had the grilled octopus for lunch. Their prices have escalated and their portions are on the small side. I paid over $20 for one tentacle on a puree of beans....it was delicious, but a second tentacle would have made this a righteous dish in terms of quantity-price ratio.

Pizzeria Orso's grilled octopus is indeed charred.  I've seen it on the menu for the past year at least, so I suspect it's there to stay.  Get it, it's terrific.

I used to be a big fan of Green Pig Bistro's grilled octopus, but they've recently made some changes to their menu in the wrong direction.  So what used to be a delicious grilled octopus small plate with a couple simple accompaniments became an overloaded and hard to eat crostini with a *barely there* sprinkling of octopus bits.

Seems like the northern Virginia consensus is/was Pizzeria Orso....but it doesn't appear on the online menu.

[weezy]

I was at Nostos last week and had the grilled octopus for lunch. Their prices have escalated and their portions are on the small side. I paid over $20 for one tentacle on a puree of beans....it was delicious, but a second tentacle would have made this a righteous dish in terms of quantity-price ratio.

Seems like the northern Virginia consensus is/was Pizzeria Orso....but it doesn't appear on the online menu.

I was there for lunch last Saturday and didn't see it on the menu -- and I looked for it.  I guess it didn't make the cut when Chef Chemel made menu changes.

[JSnake]

I love the grilled octopus appetizer at Osteria Morini. I order it every time I'm there.

[jandres374]

The charred octopus at Kapnos is very good, although sometime a bit salty.  Per on-line menu is $16.

[pras]

The octopus at the full restaurant Cava locations is very good as well.

[MC Horoscope]

FishNook had a great grilled octopus on the menu when my wife and I visited. Hope Fishnet has it again in the future!

[lizzie]

A friend had the grilled octopus at the new Barcelona on Wisconsin Ave. She liked it - but was grateful that I told her when she ordered "pulpo" that it was octopus. My favorite has been at Red Hen, although not sure it is on the menu right now. It was served over white beans and greens, if i recall. It was always perfectly charred.

[The Doctor]

Yes, Red Hen's is awesome. Difficult to photograph, though, with all its accessories.

[jandres374]

Same question came up today in Tom's chat, his response:

Octopus is becoming like pork belly: ubiquitous! Probably my favorite version right now is the octopus crisped over a wood fire at the recently reviewed Centrolina in CityCenter.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Same question came up today in Tom's chat, his response:

Octopus is becoming like pork belly: ubiquitous! Probably my favorite version right now is the octopus crisped over a wood fire at the recently reviewed Centrolina in CityCenter.

Yeah, I'm the one who asked it! I'm on a focused quest for the best of the best of this dish, and I can't believe there are so few regular menu entree-sized options available....

[pras]

Just remembered that I had a very good octopus entree at  Trapezaria in Rockville.  It was a special, but I think it might be a very frequent special.

 

[Kibbee Nayee]

Lebanese Taverna at Tyson's Galleria has it as a mezze dish on the lunch menu. It's one tentacle, on a delicious little bed of celery and almonds, and today it was nailed to perfection. Perfect char on the outside, nice chew, fresh flavor, everything in harmony. I loved it.

I've had it for lunch at this same restaurant in the past, and sometimes it tastes and looks warmed over from the previous night's service. Not today.

Thumbs up!

[Biotech]

Our Mom Eugenia in Great falls has an absolutely perfect octopus appetizer. It's pricey at $16, but it's a generous portion for an appetizer (two tentacles) and has the right amount of char. The restaurant is relatively new, but we had a fantastic meal there last week. 

[Bob Wells]

Had some delicious, perfectly grilled octopus at the New York Kellari Taverna two weeks ago. If the DC outpost can do it as well, it's definitely worth checking out (more so if someone else is paying).

[dcs]

The Liberty Tavern in Clarendon has had charred baby octopus (hummus, kale, fennel confit, black olives, paprika aioli) on the menu for some time.  I usually end up ordering it every couple of months or so.  Always tender and satisfying; never rubbery.  $13.25 as an entrée at lunch.  $13.50 as a starter at dinner.

[Ericandblueboy]

Why is every restaurant serving grilled octopus?  Are octopus falling off the truck?  Sysco has buy a duck and get 10 octopus free deal?  Are people eating these things like they're chicken wings?

[ktmoomau]

5 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Why is every restaurant serving grilled octopus?  Are octopus falling off the truck?  Sysco has buy a duck and get 10 octopus free deal?  Are people eating these things like they're chicken wings?

There is a rise in cephalopod population and so as a portion of overall fish catches, it is also rising, so that might be why... 

[Mark Dedrick]

I also am essentially guaranteed to order this if I see it on the menu, although I doubt I eat out often enough to influence purchasing decisions. So the increase in population is probably a better bet. 

[weezy]

I was watching an Andrew Zimmern show and he was with a fisherman who had developed a new, cheap & easily copied, method for catching octopus.  He made concrete tubes for the octopi to hide in on flat, sandy sea floors and could somewhat determine the size of his catch by the diameter of the tubes he dropped.  He just hauled  them up, squeezed lemon juice on them so the creatures released from the tube, and plopped the tubes back down in the water.  

[pras]

On 9/19/2017 at 9:59 AM, Ericandblueboy said:

Why is every restaurant serving grilled octopus?  Are octopus falling off the truck?  Sysco has buy a duck and get 10 octopus free deal?  Are people eating these things like they're chicken wings?

I think they are serving it, because if it is made properly it tastes awesome!

[ktmoomau]

Sysco must have found Octopus City http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/octopus-city-observed-180964936/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

[dcs]

Last week I had wild spanish octopus, charcoal grilled with tomato, feta and niçoise olives at Water Grill in downtown Los Angeles that was delightfully delicious.  So tender you could easily cut through it with a fork.

[Pool Boy]

I want SMOKED  octopus

[squidsdc]

Help!  Hubby has a bday next week and is craving a really good smoked or grilled octopus. Any recent good suggestions?  He's already dismissed Iron Gate and Siren. Why, I do not know...

I would prefer close to the downtown business district, where we can walk to the restaurant and then drive home, or either in Maryland, or on our way home from downtown to SS.

TIA!

[DonRocks]

19 minutes ago, squidsdc said:

Help!  Hubby has a bday next week and is craving a really good smoked or grilled octopus. Any recent good suggestions?  He's already dismissed Iron Gate and Siren. Why, I do not know...

I would prefer close to the downtown business district, where we can walk to the restaurant and then drive home, or either in Maryland, or on our way home from downtown to SS.

TIA!

Try this.

[Kibbee Nayee]

4 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Try this.

It appears to be on the tapas menu, not the dinner menu?

[DonRocks]

9 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

It appears to be on the tapas menu, not the dinner menu?

Second down on the left.

[squidsdc]

Thanks -just not sure he's going to go for Taberna. 

[DonRocks]

29 minutes ago, squidsdc said:

Thanks -just not sure he's going to go for Taberna. 

You know, they have a nice little bar area in front - almost like 2 Amys' bar, but somewhat dressier (not as dressy as the dining room) - you can get tapas, or the full menu, there, and the wines by the glass are sure to please.

Also, I had the wood-roasted polpo at Centrolina a few years ago, and it was *great* - here's my review.

[squidsdc]

On 1/5/2018 at 1:35 PM, DonRocks said:

You know, they have a nice little bar area in front - almost like 2 Amys' bar, but somewhat dressier (not as dressy as the dining room) - you can get tapas, or the full menu, there, and the wines by the glass are sure to please.

Also, I had the wood-roasted polpo at Centrolina a few years ago, and it was *great* - here's my review.

Thanks Don. Taberna has memories linked to his first outing after his bypass so probably not the best venue. I did suggest Centrolina, so it's good to have your review for reference!

[TedE]

On 1/4/2018 at 4:46 PM, squidsdc said:

Help!  Hubby has a bday next week and is craving a really good smoked or grilled octopus. Any recent good suggestions?  He's already dismissed Iron Gate and Siren. Why, I do not know...

I would prefer close to the downtown business district, where we can walk to the restaurant and then drive home, or either in Maryland, or on our way home from downtown to SS.

TIA!

The Red Hen has in the past almost always had a grilled octopus app on the menu with varying preparations, and I think one of the best in the city. I don't see it on the current menu posted online, but that is still dated Autumn 2017; might be worth giving them a call and seeing if it is back on.  A quick stop off of North Capitol if that is your route home.