Pier 247 opened a couple weeks ago in Oak Cliff (247 W. Davis Street), transforming what was once a small, lonely brick building into a pretty cool seafood restaurant. There's certainly not a glut of Cajun-inspired seafood restaurants in the area, and this spot offers just that in a nice, laid-back place. On a recent Sunday evening, almost every table was taken at dinner time, along with several seats at the bar.
We didn't work our way through the entire menu, instead ordering just a couple things -- including the Triple Seafood Club sandwich. This six-inch-tall sandwich is enough food for two people, easily, and is made with house-made shrimp salad, lump crabcake (prominent player), bacon, Romaine lettuce for crunch, tomato and a spicy remoulade, all heaped onto sourdough bread. With a few dabs of Tabasco, which is already on every table, it's a beast.
The first bite is the hardest, unless you're one of those people with an unusually large mouth. But after that, you'll get the hang of it. It's a two-hand situation, and once you start in on it, you won't want to put it down because you'll mess up the balance of the universe.
Pier 247 has a Cajun spices throughout the menu and the ambiance. The hi-fi is set to a blues/rock mix, and the design is industrial with a touch of seafaring adornment. The bar offers a mix of local craft beers along with some basics, including Miller Lite. They had every flavor of Austin-based Deep Eddy vodka, including the new cranberry, along with all the other usual bar suspects.
Pier 247 recently opened for lunch. The 10 or more picnic tables out on the patio are beckoning warmer temperatures. And perhaps the most important note: There's a nice parking lot behind the restaurant. Leave your valet scorn at home.
