Smackdown: Tuna

Big eye sashimi and yellow fin tartar at Oceanaire

First impression: Looks good, but what's with the cracker?

Contents: Big Eye sashimi: Slices of raw tuna served with sesame seeds and sinus-clearing wasabi cream sauce on the side. If you don't like spicy food, stick with the soy sauce that is also served with this dish.

Yellow Fin Tartar: Chunks of tuna with a light, tasty sauce served on pumpernickel toast

Fork or chopsticks? The sashimi is easy to eat with chopsticks because the slices are just the right size to dip and eat. The tartar is simple enough to scoop up with your piece of pumpernickel toast.

Damage: The sashimi (entrée): $34.95. You'll have to actually order the tuna, and then ask for it to be prepared as sashimi. It's expensive, but yummy.

The tartar (appetizer): $14.95. The tartar isn't on the menu, either; you'll have to request it. It's worth every cent.

We had sample portions (pictured) of each of these. Actual portions at Oceanaire are pretty big at 10 ounces.

Decision: You can taste the freshness in both the sashimi and the tartar. Oceanaire is expensive, but what else are you gonna spend your stimulus package on? (We know you already own a Wii.) The sashimi is a bit expensive to eat on a regular basis, but we could eat mounds of the tartar every day.

Fish tales: Most addictive. This was the best tuna we had. The tartar is what sealed the deal. More. Now.