Where To Look For Shad and Shad Roe in D.C. This Season

The regional fish has an extremely short season, so here's where to look for shad on special.

by Adele Chapin Mar 31, 2015, 11:30am EDT

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Iron Gate

| R. Lopez

by Adele Chapin Mar 31, 2015, 11:30am EDT

For those unfamiliar with shad, it's a bony saltwater fish that swims from saltwater to Northern freshwater to spawn. Shad migrate in the spring and they are only available in local restaurants while they are in season.

Here's a list of restaurants that plan to serve shad dishes when they can get their hands on it, as well as their current shad status. But be sure to call ahead since shipments are unpredictable. Additional chefs who plan on serving shad this season should send an email to dc@eater.com.

Restaurant Eve

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At Restaurant Eve, chef Cathal Armstrong will have shad on the menu as soon as he sees it on the market. The plan is to serve it either with carrots and bacon or with asparagus. STATUS: Timeline unknown, as soon as it's available.

110 S Pitt St, Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 706-0450

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BlackSalt

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Look for shad at BlackSalt’s fish market. It's also available on special in the dining room as well as a market item, since dining guests can order anything from the fish market and the chef will prepare it. Shad at BlackSalt is usually served with a warm sherry bacon vinaigrette, a seasonal vegetable and potatoes. STATUS: Available now, call ahead to confirm.

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

(202) 342-9101

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Birch & Barley

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Chef Kyle Bailey is going to be doing a crab sabayon with roasted shad roe and sherry at Birch & Barley. STATUS: Will be available in the next few weeks.

1337 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 567-2576

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Bluejacket Brewery

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Bailey also plans to serve shad roe at the Arsenal. He plans to offer seared shad roe with bacon, lemon and escarole. Both Birch & Barley and the Arsenal dishes should be on the menu soon. STATUS: Will be available in the next few weeks.

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

(202) 524-4862

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Iron Gate

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Mark your calendars for chef Anthony Chittum’s shad roe dish. He plans to serve a "taramasalata" of local shad roe, shaved radish, pickled mustard seeds on the outdoor menu and a bacon wrapped shad roe, smoked shad & polenta tortellini, brown butter, sweet potato mostarda on his Chef's Tasting Menu at Iron Gate. Chittum will be using local Virginia shad roe, which is tentatively available in April. STATUS: Estimated April availability.

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 737-1371

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Et Voila!

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Et Voila plans to serve shad roe cooked meuniere with a red wine sauce, along with pomme dauphine and roasted green swiss chard. STATUS: Available, call to confirm.

5120 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

(202) 237-2300

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Station 4

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Station 4 will also offer shad roe on their menu for two weeks starting April 1, and chef Orlando Amaro plans to serve spaghetti with shad roe bottarga. Dried shad roe, lemon zest, garlic, red crushed pepper and extra virgin olive oil make up the dish. STATUS: Available April 1 to 15.

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1101 4th St SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

(202) 488-0987

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River Bend Bistro

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At River Bend Bistro, chef Carolyn Ross is serving dishes like smoked shad rillette and shad roe sauteed with lemon caper butter. STATUS: Available now, call to confirm.

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7966 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308

(703) 347-7545

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Bistro Bis

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When shad roe is available in the market at Bistro Bis, the Capitol Hill restaurant plans to offer it as a special. Look out for L'Oeufs d'Alose Ardennaise or sautéed shad roe with capers, lemon, proscuitto, parsley, brown butter and celery root purée. STATUS: Available now, call to confirm.