Naming restaurants is hard work. Unless you go for the obvious and default to something like Joe’s Diner, it’s difficult to come up with something clever, catchy and memorable that also conveys the concept. Hawkers is one that clicks on all levels. On the other hand, just about any restaurant with a number in its name is a head scratcher. I know there’s a Tex-Mex restaurant in Winter Park called Cocina something or other, but I can never remember the number part of the name. It’s the area code for Dallas, which would count as clever for a Tex-Mex restaurant, but memorable? No.

Like I said, it’s hard work.

So what to make of Something Fishy, a seafood restaurant in Apopka? Clever? Sort of. Memorable? Yes, it is. Advisable? Ehhhhh. Should the Black Bean Deli rename itself the Musical Fruit Cafe?

I can only advise that if you’re going to give your restaurant an
ironical name, it should be good enough to rise above it. Luckily, Something Fishy does.

Something Fishy is a quick-serve operation. Order your food at the counter and take a seat; someone will deliver it when ready. Seafood, of course, is the forte. On a recent visit I ordered the lunch special of fish and shrimp, which got me two of each. The menu said they could be ordered fried or grilled. I didn’t specify and the young woman at the counter didn’t ask.

So I was delighted when they arrived breaded and fried. That’s how I really wanted them, but when asked I often feel like I should go for the less artery-clogging method.

The dish included two shrimp and two fish fillets. The shrimp were especially good, the light breading seasoned with a bit of salt, just right with a dip into some cocktail sauce. (Cocktail and other sauces are available for squeezing into little cups at a centralized condiment station.)

The two whitefish fillets were also nicely battered and deftly fried, not at all greasy, which made me feel better about having fried food.

For my side dish I selected the Black Bean & Corn Salsa, which had a nice taste once I added some salt from the grinder on the table and some heat from the bottle of Tabasco.

Something Fishy is a family operation owned by Patrice and Terence Phillips, with support by their kids. It’s a small but tidy storefront in an out parcel in front of a strip mall. Service was friendly and helpful. And there wasn’t anything the least bit fishy about the place.

Something Fishy is at 2107 E. Semoran Blvd., Apopka. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily, though it closes at 5 p.m. on Sundays. The phone number is 407-703-4850.