Jack S.
Yelp
While enjoying a cup of morning java on the porch, the wife interrupts my solitude and announces...
"I've decided to cook tonight, so don't try to convince me that we're going out instead."
"10-4" I reply.
Eight hours later, my wife once again interrupts my weekend solitude and announces...
"I've decided NOT to cook tonight, AND I want fresh fish, so think of somewhere to go."
"Uncle Joe Biden", I curse to myself, under my breath.
"What did you say?" she asks, giving me the old stink eye.
"Great idea Hon!" I reply.
It's 5pm...!
...on a Saturday night!
And she wants fresh fish!
For those of you not from these parts, fresh fish (that isn't fried or tourist priced) is a rare commodity, despite Charleston being a coastal city.
Our go-to option is Gillies Seafood, a diamond in the rough Mom and Pop fish joint, but at this time of the night, there'll be a line outside that's longer than one for Springsteen tickets at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
We fire up the EV-eating Buick Roadmaster (it's brand new pleather seatcovers look terrific) and head out for the elusive, Lowcountry Fresh Fish.
As expected, traffic on Folly Road is a nightmare (nah, we don't need to complete the I-526 expansion!) and when we arrive at Gillies, we're given a wait time of 45 minutes, which means we'll actually be served our food sometime around dusk.
I'm not happy.
Wife is not happy.
We are now having a married couple moment, staring at each other menacingly in the parking lot, when I remember that CUDACO is just up the road, a seafood market that we've heard about but never visited.
We inch along Folly, find the place, and park near the world's strangest looking carport.
There's a fairly decent crowd of folks picking up takeout orders, all of whom look to have been born around the last time the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series (1994), including the staff.
In other words, folks who wouldn't be caught dead in Gillies, (or at least until they hit their late fifties).
A case full of fresh fish dominates the smallish space, containing a pretty amazing selection of oysters, or as I call them, "Phlegm on the half-shell."
Not a fan.
Cudaco is basically a throwback to the old fish markets along the Jersey Shore with a few tables inside and picnic tables outside (with obligatory Edison lights), though with a much smaller selection of fish.
By now, I want (make that, desperately need) a beer, while the wife orders for us at the counter.
Unfortunately, being an OLD WHITE GUY, I've never heard of any of the cervezas in the fridge.
In fact, I'm so unfamilar with these brands, that I'm not sure whether they're beer, seltzer, power drinks or automobile additives.
I'd kill for a Bud Light at this point, Dylan or no Dylan.
By the way, I HATE IPA. I end up skipping the beer.
The music playing over the speakers was equally alien to me.
Boy, do I feel out of place.
Luckily the food was surprisingly good (ordered the Coconut Sticky Bowls) but the portions were skimpy, more along the lines of a lunch serving.
I was starving when we left.
We'd have given CUDACO 5 stars, but one of my personal peeves is being served food in plastic bowls, soup in paper cups and eating with plastic utensils, despite the fact that we ate in (and the soup was $12).
All things considered. My wife loved it, staff was welcoming and friendly. Tables were clean. Food was prepared nicely and tasted great!
I personally won't be back, but my wife and her friends will most definitely become regulars here.