At CT seafood grab n’ go, ‘Every bite you take out of here is going to have some love in it’

Two chefs who specialize in fish — one the steamed variety and the other fried — have combined their talents to open a new grab n’ go in West Hartford.

More Than Just Sharkbite New England opened at 1037 Boulevard, a combination of New Britain’s More than Just Lobster,1003 East St., New Britain and the former Hartford food truck Sharkbite New England.

The owners, Lonnie Arnold, the fry expert who had the food truck for a year, and Shawn Mack, the steamer with the restaurant, say it’s a perfect combo. Mack’s fiancee is also part owner, but is running the New Britain restaurant.

“The amount of people I turned away because I didn’t have fried — I’d probably be a rich man right now,” Mack said, referring to his More than Just Lobster eatery.

“I’ve been in business for five years and there hasn’t been a day when a customer didn’t ask do you have fried whiting?” and other fish, he said.

Arnold was a regular customer at Mack’s New Britain restaurant. When Arnold told Mack he wanted to expand, Mack visited the food truck for a taste of Arnold’s fare — and the partnership was born.

“I tried it and said, ‘yeah, he has what it takes to be successful, “‘ Mack said of Arnold. “It was like a no brainer.”

Both men have a passion for cooking fish and believe in using the freshest ingredients, but they also agree it’s the love that goes into their food that makes the biggest difference.

“It’s the love you add to each order and the passion to prepare it,” Arnold said. ” “Every bite you take out of here is going to have some love in it.”

Mack agrees love is the “secret.”

“You make the food like you’re making it for yourself,” he said. “Who would you treat better than yourself ?”

Mack’s fare is steamed, including: lobster, lobster tails crab legs, scallops, shrimp, king crab, blue crab and snow crab.

He also offers a variety of steamed vegetables, including corn, broccoli, potato, sweet potato, onions, asparagus.

The flavorings offered include lemon butter, garlic butter, Cajun and Old Bay seasoning.

Arnold fries all kinds of fish, as well as French fries.

Mack said some people enjoy mixing it up, having fried fish with healthful steamed veggies or French fries with healthful steamed fish.

They also carry grits and hush puppies.

“I love the versatility,” Mack said. “I love the smiles on people’s faces,” when they see and eat the food.

More Than Just Shark Bite New England is currently a grab and go, but Arnold said they would soon put two bistro tables because some people want to eat a pick up.

The men have a special local sandwich on the menu called The We-Ha, fried whiting with egg and cheese on Texas toast. They also are working on a dish that will be dedicated to Hartford.

So far, the men are happy as clams with the business.

“We’re getting a good response from everyone in West Hartford and the surrounding area,” Mack said. “It’s coming together very well.”

The business is open from noon to 8 p.m. seven days a week.