March 7, 2019
The season of Lent has begun, which means many Atlanta diners go meat-free on Fridays. Churches and neighborhoods hold fish fries, and even Chick-fil-A helps those forgoing meat with a pescatarian version of their classic sandwich with the “Fish-fil-A,” available through April 21 (Easter). Religious or not, there are plenty of seafood options to explore on Fridays (or any day) in Atlanta. We went fishing for you.
Avalon’s Brine Seafood Shack is like Cape Cod meets Santa Monica. With a menu of sustainable seafood there are sundry delicacies to enjoy, whether you feel like boat drinks and raw bar selections downstairs or tiki style cocktails and fish tacos in the rooftop bar. Chef Marc Taft makes a succulent lobster roll with tender chunks on brioche. There is also a walk up window to grab a snack of clam fritters or a soft serve cone while strolling the numerous shops.
Brine Seafood Shack. 700 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta. 470-226-2190. brineseafoodshack.com.
Shake up Fridays with both a menu of unexpected sustainable southern seafood choices and expertly crafted cocktails at Watchman’s. Start with stone crab claws or a dozen oysters at the Krog Street Market endcap. One dazzling choice is the ceviche verde, with shrimp, fish, corn nuts, cilantro puree, and citrus. It’s downright zingy. For a bowl of comfort, dip crusty grilled bread in a deep bowl of Fisherman’s Stew.
Watchman’s. 99 Krog St. Atlanta. 404-254-0141. watchmansatl.com.
Buford Highway affords a wide array of seafood choices from all over the world. Crayhouse serves up seafood prepared the way you like—fried, boiled, steamed, in a bucket… They do cornmeal crusted catfish or grouper as well as their Treasure Bucket of boiled seafood (snow crab, crawfish, shrimp, corn, and potato). Spice it to your level and pick your sides. Red beans and rice are quite exceptional with a heaping plate of fried shrimp.
Crayhouse. 5091 Buford Highway NE. Doraville. 602-885-1778. facebook.com/crayhouse.
White walls, marble columns, and blue ceilings that appear to be sparkling with stars, Buckhead’s Kyma is an escape to Greece. Choose from Atlanta’s largest selection of Greek wines to pair with their signature octopus. It’s grilled over oak and comes with marinated onions, olives, and capers. We’re particularly enamored with Chef Pano Karatassos’ pan roasted skate served over beluga lentils, root veggies, and a swirl of root emulsion.
Kyma. 3085 Piedmont Rd. NE. Atlanta. 404-262-0702. buckheadrestaurants.com/kyma.
Perhaps make Fridays a tasty learning experience. At Brush Sushi Izakaya, Chef Jason Liang sources fish seasonally from local sources as well as flown in fresh from Japan’s Tsukiji Market. Try a couple of nigiri or try sliced assorted fishes from the jewel-like chirashi box. Recent options include spot prawns (Amaebi) with roe, Scorpion fish (Aka Kasago), Bigfin reef squid (Aori Ika), and clam like cockles (tori-Gai). For a splurge, reserve an evening of Omakase, where Liang chooses your fish filled journey with delicate preparations.
Brush Sushi Izakaya. 316 Church St. Decatur. 678-949-9412. brushatl.com.
Ecco’s new outpost in Buckhead is stylish and modern but still serves European comfort food. Snack on their iconic fried goat cheese balls with honey while perusing the eclectic wine list and choosing an entrée. Chef Andrea Montobbio’s cod brandade flatbread is a wise choice with crispy potato, black olives, and lemon oil.
Ecco. 3586 Peachtree Rd. NE. Atlanta. 404-347-9558. Buckhead-ecco-atlanta.com.
