For a long time I thought that fried shrimp was fried shrimp. Of course there were differences in size and different types of breading but for me at least, most fried shrimp felt heavy and would leave me with sort of a queasy feeling if I ate too much. When eating at Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC I decided to try their fried large gulf shrimp plate. This was the menu’s description of what I was in for.
“Lightly breaded in our firecracker seasoning served with cocktail, tartar, tortilla slaw and french fries”
While fries or hushpuppies are a common pairing for fried shrimp I am not fond of plates loaded with fried foods. I asked the waiter if I would be able to swap out the fries with mashed potatoes. The wait staff is very accommodating for special requests at Blue Marlin.
About 15 minutes after ordering the entree and stuffing my face full of the delicious Blue Marlin bread, my fried large gulf shrimp plate arrived. Piled high with crispy looking thumb sized fried shrimp, a mound of mashed potatoes, and a decent amount of tortilla slaw.
Here is what my plate looked like upon arrival:
The breading on the fried shrimp was crispy which I prefer over the oil saturated soft breading you will find at some other seafood restaurants. The firecracker seasoning on the shrimp was definitely noticeable but not overwhelming. In my opinion the shrimp was just about perfect. Mild enough to not burn your mouth but with enough spice to give the flavor a kick. The size of the shrimp I would say was average. They certainly were not popcorn sized but I have also seen larger at other seafood establishments.
The mashed potatoes are extremely buttery and delicious. After ordering this plate multiple times now there is definitely inconsistencies in the texture of the mashed potatoes. Sometimes the potatoes are fluffy and smooth while other times they still have chunks of potatoes still floating around in the fluff. At times I have seen garnish on the potatoes but this was not the case in the image above.
Overall I would recommend the fried large gulf shrimp at Blue Marlin to anyone who enjoys fried shrimp in general. You have the option to swap the standard side of fries with other sides on the menu. I personally go for the mashed potatoes but if you would prefer fries go for it! I enjoy the fact that these shrimp have a light crispy breading that makes them easier to stomach large amounts without it feeling heavy. Again if you are a fan of fried shrimp, the fried large gulf shrimp at Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC is an excellent option.
Here is my rating for the fried large gulf shrimp at Blue Marlin.