Back in June, Don Rockwell broke the news that former Corduroy manager Ferhat Yalcin will be opening a casual seafood eatery called Fishnet. Since the projected August opening has passed, we checked in with Yalcin to see when he’ll debut.
As is the case with many restaurant openings, Yalcin has been delayed by final inspections—he hopes to open the 40-seat space by the end of this month. In the meantime he’s been finalizing the interior and menu.
A native of Istanbul, Yalcin was inspired on a trip home by the simple sandwiches of grilled fish, tomato, and onion that are made on boats along the banks of the Bosphorus River. He will put an American spin on them, offering three or four different kinds of fish—such as wild salmon, rockfish, and mackerel—which can be grilled or fried and then tucked into Lyon Bakery ciabatta. Toppings include the traditional onion and tomato, but there will also be local greens and house-made sauces such classic tartar and saffron aioli. Yalcin also plans to emulate the lobster roll that was once on the menu at Corduroy and to serve specials like fish tacos. On the side, there will be hand-cut fries and slaw and fresh lemonade. A permit to have bottled and draft beers might be secured when the place is up and running. Nearby University of Maryland students can also eventually look forward to delivery.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
