Ever had branzino? Either way, you'll love it grilled! Buy the whole fish, grill it, and serve it topped with a rosemary vinaigrette. (Best substitutes are walleye, Pacific rock cod, or a large Atlantic black sea bass.)

Photography Credit: Elise Bauer

What is Branzino?

Branzino. Sounds kinda like a the name of a 1940s prizefighter, doesn’t it? If it’s ringing a bell, that’s because this fish is popping up in American supermarkets. Also known as European sea bass, the fish—now farmed throughout the Mediterranean—has been a prized item on European menus since the days of ancient Rome.

The farmed variety began appearing on American restaurant menus a little less than a decade ago, when the European farming operations ramped up production.

How To Tell if Branzino is Fresh

Branzino, which is the fish’s name in Northern Italy, generally run about 1 pound each and are almost always sold whole and gutted. This is a good thing, as it is far easier to discern whether a fish is fresh when it still has its eyes and gills.

Here’s what you’re looking for:

Bright, healthy eyes

Bright red gills.

Avoid fish with sunken, red eyes and brownish gills. This means the fish has gone off.

We found ours at Whole Foods quite by accident—I saw the whole fish in the case and was immediately seduced by the sight of a whole fish, with gleaming clear eyes. I had to have it.

When I asked the price, I was even happier. It was only $9.99 a pound, which is pretty cheap for Whole Foods. The relatively low price is because the fish is farmed.

Should you ever see a wild branzino on sale in the United States, it’ll set you back at least $30 a pound—and I’ve only seen one in a market once, and that was at the Fulton Fish Market in New York City.

Don’t Have Access to Branzino?

No problem. Midwesterners actually have the perfect alternative in the walleye. The flavor, texture and bone structure are nearly identical.

Other great alternatives would be Pacific rock cod, Atlantic black seabass, a large croaker or a small red drum or striped bass. Basically, you want a whole fish (scaled and gutted, of course) that is just about the size of a platter.

Purists eat their branzino solely with salt and lemon. We’ve created a rosemary vinaigrette that goes great with the fish. Simply drizzle it over right when you serve.

What to serve with branzino

This grilled fish recipe goes well with crusty bread and a glass of pilsner beer or white wine.

Incidentally, the vinaigrette for this recipe would also be great with potatoes, chicken or turkey – or just over a tossed salad.

More Grilled Fish Recipes to Try!