What's so right about Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina

Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina

A few weeks ago, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism invited me along with a few other bloggers to enjoy a girlfriend getaway in beautiful Orange Beach. This is a sponsored post; all opinions are my own.

Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina is a food lover’s restaurant with an absolutely gorgeous setting and a country club feel.

I told you in a recent post about a girlfriend getaway trip to Orange Beach Alabama. On every travel trip, I pick one restaurant that I deem worthy of its own post. This time I chose Fisher’s in Orange Beach.

Fisher’s is two restaurants in one, both American, Cajun, Seafood and more. Dockside is downstairs. Fine Dining is upstairs.

We met with owner, Johnny Fisher and Executive Chef Bill Briand. James Beard Award nominee, Chef Briand, comes well qualified having spent seven years with Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans and opening up Cochon with Chef Donald Link.

Chef Briand’s food view is wrapped around southern hospitality and quality comfort, which is why he put his mother’s oven- smothered pork roast on the menu. Fisher’s sources most of the food locally and sets high standards for the seafood that comes in the door, turning away more than they accept. Fish is never frozen and always purchased whole.

We ate downstairs in Fisher’s Dockside which is contemporary, and open air. This part of the restaurant is family friendly, but make no mistake, the food is as good as any high end restaurant.

The cocktails are sophisticated and superb. They are known for their Blood Orange Margarita made with orange bitters and sea salt foam, making this the most unique and delicious margarita I’ve ever had.

We loved this so much, we asked for the recipe. (watch for that).

The other cocktail that most caught my eye was the Yacht Rocker made with Luxardo Liqueur, rye whiskey and blood orange bitters.

There are three bars, each uniquely designed. The first bar is downstairs dockside, equipped with large screen TV’s for that extra casual setting.

The second bar is rooftop outside upstairs, and the third bar is a more traditional bar inside upstairs in fine dining.

Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina Makes Great Food

For starters, we had fried crab legs, baked oysters and raw oysters on the half shell. Each of us ordered something different for an entree and of course, I got a taste of everything. If you get there when they have murder point oysters, order them. They weren’t available, but ask for them when you go.

I recently took an oyster class in Nashville by a pretty famed shucker. He says to chew the oyster, taste, notice the difference in different waters and not to be so heavy with the condiments. These oysters were so fresh, sweet and I could have made a meal of just oysters. The baked oysters were also good and reminded of something I had on Bourbon Street, made with cajun roasted garlic butter.

There is a lot of New Orleans in the food. Not just the flavors, but the heart, soul and conscientiousness.

As an entree, I ordered shrimp and grits; the shrimp are plump, fresh and the tasso tomato gravy is tasty over the most comforting grits. I also got to try a bite of their pimento cheese burger which was amazing, as they put the cheese in the middle and serve it with tomato jam. I’ve had three burgers in the Gulf. This is the best and if you’re going to make a burger, you might as well make it the best burger in town.

Here’s a little video of our Fisher’s experience.

The dockside restaurant is family friendly, has a kid’s menu, yet is no average family restaurant.

When You Need a Special Fine Dining Experience

If you love fine dining while at the beach, or want to celebrate a special occasion, make reservations for Fisher’s upstairs.

The upstairs fine dining restaurant serves fresh seafood and steak in an exquisitely well decorated setting, extolling southern charm. Returning to Fisher’s to eat upstairs is on my bucket list.

Upscale fine dining served in a gorgeously decorated room, full of Southern charm and elegance, with waterfront views.

Here is a view from the upstairs cocktail area at Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina.

Corn Hole is a great way to pass the time if there’s a wait.

How beautiful is an open air restaurant? No matter where you sit dockside or upstairs, you will enjoy the view paralleled with well-crafted cocktails and excellent food, executed in a well-run kitchen.