Tuba Sapanli can’t wait to show off the floors at Mediterrafish, the seafood market that recently opened at its new location in Halstead Square less than a year after its lease expired at nearby Mosaic District.
Made of an aquamarine-colored epoxy, the floors are meant to make customers feel like they’re walking on water and—if aromas from the market’s restaurant didn’t already do the trick—that should cause cravings for the effortless brand of eating that accompanies a good day at the beach.
Sapanli and her husband, Bilge, doubled the size of their former space to 2,000 square feet to deliver just that with their new-and-improved seafood market.
Customers can still get their pick of raw seafood from Mediterrafish’s counter, which has added mealtime fixings like bread crumbs and olive oil. But now they have the option to take home ready-to-eat trays (think oven-ready bronzini and broccolini) or to eat in-store at a fast-casual restaurant. And, for those who can’t make it to the store, the brand is rolling out its own meal delivery service that can be picked up or delivered weekly.
“We want to be the source for anyone looking for a healthy meal,” Sapanli says, “whether it’s to come get it cooked or not cooked or delivered to their house.”
The new menu skews healthy—with simply baked stone bass or salmon fillets served alongside vegetables—and practical, particularly for busy families. Originally from Turkey, the Sapanlis wanted to recreate the fresh-fish experience of their homeland. But the parents of a 2- and 5-year-old also know how difficult the daily dinner routine can be.
“We always struggle as a couple to go somewhere and eat something healthy,” says Sapanli. “If you want kids to play while you eat, your options are basically McDonald’s.”
A 10-by-10-foot space for children to play near the restaurant’s counter adds another option, complete with noise-muffling windows.
Forking seafood at a seashell-covered table nearby, parents might, for a moment, forget they’re only in Fairfax.
