A vintage, barrel-shaped neon sign shimmers against the rough brick exterior of The Fish Keg, where the Hansen family draws on 50 years of experience to hand-bread shrimp, fish, and chicken and concoct made-from-scratch tartar and cocktail sauces. Shipments of seafood fly in daily from around globe to star in the rotating menu, which changes according to the availability of quirky fishing-boat names. Orange roughy arrives from New Zealand, and shrimp bursts in from the Gulf of Mexico to don cloaks of spicy batter and splash into the golden depths of a deep fryer.

Spices, mixes, and goods from Zatarain's crowd colorful shelves, begging to bring their piquant fragrances to home kitchens. The Hansen family's happy chatter wafts into the dining room as they craft custom party platters that fuel shindigs and offer tailored maritime experiences without the embarrassment of an overly snug lobster costume.