Adam & Eats: Mr. Shark

Editor’s note: Adam Brandt is a graduate from the Cobra Kai School of Culinary Callousness, where he received their highest award, the Red Apron of Merciless Eating. Aside from eating and talking about eating, he makes pots, paintings, prints, books, photographs, and generally, a big mess. He has been the studio assistant at Mudpuppy Pottery for almost nine years and is attending a local university in a desperate attempt to earn a biology degree.

Oh holy crap, have I got a good one for you this week.

As you may have noticed, the address may be somewhat familiar. It could possibly be because I have written a handful of articles on restaurants that previously occupied this building. Let us hope and pray that I will never have to write an article on any other business being there ever.

The best part is that this new place is sure to make you raise an eyebrow. Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I give you Mister Shark.

Located in that ever-so-familiar tiny building in between South 19th and 20th Streets is the new home of Mr. Shark. You heard right. It has a name like a cute cartoon marine Biology character.

Why call a restaurant that? Well, Mama Linda (as I like to call her) who is the very proud proprietor of this new joint, informed me that the name comes from her love of fish. Her love of fish can only be trumped by her love of cooking fish. So, knowing all of this, the name makes a lot more sense. It doesn’t hurt that the children friendly television choices and her choice of a “World’s Greatest Dad” t-shirt make the name seem youthful and whimsical rather than just plain loony.

After having eaten there, you will more than likely be casting your vote for Linda in the upcoming World’s Greatest Dad competition. Once in the kitchen, Linda earns her title as Mama because she treats every customer like one of her kids.

And boy, does she spoil you rotten. The service at Mr. Shark is some of the best in town. Friendly, helpful, attentive, informative, and over-indulging are some of the words that come to mind. I can’t think of another restaurant off of the top of my head that treats you as well as Linda does. That’s saying a lot. You would probably say more, but it is not polite to talk with your mouth full.

The food, ah the food. Where to begin?

Let’s start with the fact that they have daily specials that knock a buck off of the regular menu price. Lunch specials during the week are only $4. Starting in a few weeks, Mr. Shark will serve a buffet for $5.99.

This is where things get interesting.

This will not be your ordinary buffet where you walk up and serve yourself. Oh, no. Not in Mama Linda’s house you won’t. The menu will consist of a handful of items you pick and are handmade and brought to your table. You can eat as much as you can hold in your belly.

Oh, wait, I haven’t actually told what kind of food it is that they serve at Mr. Shark. I got so excited that I forgot. Sorry.

The food is Latin for sure. There are influences of both El Salvadorian and Mexican cuisine on the menu so picking one country to represent just wouldn’t be fair. Okay, now that we’re caught up, let’s get to particulars.

The fish tacos, by far, are the best things on the menu, possibly in the whole world. Floured and fried in delicious butter, the fish is crispy and combines with the acid from pico de gallo to overwhelm your taste buds and take your breath way. “Dreamweaver” might start playing in your head.

Fish tacos not your thing? Don’t worry. All of the other menu items are on the same playing field with the fish. (It just happens to be Mama Linda’s passion, so they had better be damned good, right?) They also offer tacos carne asada (steak tacos) and huevos con chorizo (eggs with spicy sausage), which are spec-friggin’-tacular. In continuing with the bizarro nature of Mr. Shark, they have the best sweet tea that I have ever had at a Latin restaurant.

So, if you want a food adventure that makes Jacques Cousteau and Paula Deen dressed like gauchos and playing the marimba look like a round of musical chairs, head on over to Mr. Shark for lunch or dinner. Mama Linda’s “everything made fresh” policy will never disappoint you.

Until next week, good eating to you and yours.

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When he’s not beating his eggs, Adam makes time to respond to e-mails that get past his hard-ass spam filter. You can try to reach him at [email protected]

Adam also has this thing called Sandwich Control.