Gone Fishin’ at Atlanta Fish Market

It’s amazing that after 11 years of living in Atlanta, I still hadn’t ventured into the Atlanta Fish Market until this week. I mean, just the big fish jumping out of the ground is usually the kind of gimmick that would attract a goofball like me. Thanks to my boss, who gave me a Buckhead Life gift certificate for the holidays, this was the Steakheads’ destination for Valentine’s Day.

Like most Buckhead Life restaurants, the service at Atlanta Fish Market is top notch. Our waiter was fantastic, and really knew the menu, which can be daunting. Because this was a rare night out without the little one, we were not in any hurry, and we weren’t rushed to make our selections. For starters, we tried his recommendations of the yellow fin tuna carpaccio. This was outstanding, but as is the case with most carpaccios, there is not a lot of substance. So to complement that appetizer, we ordered a volcano roll from their sushi menu. This was outstanding- one of the better spicy tuna rolls I have had!

I really struggled with the main course. There was a long island boil that included a ½ lobster, scallops, mussels and clams that caught my eye. Numerous fresh fish selections and the crab cakes also looked appealing. But in the end, I went with the 1 ¼ lb. stuffed lobster. While this was good, I wound up regretting this selection for a couple of reasons. First of all, the deviled crab topping was too rich and really took away from the lobster. Second, this wasn’t the kind of dish that really showcases what a kitchen can do. I mean, how hard is it to take a lobster, throw him in a pot of boiling water, and serve him on a plate? From now on, when in the mood for lobsters, I’ll either have it at home, or go to Maine, where any lobster dock with a picnic table is a 5-star joint.

We did enjoy our evening at Atlanta Fish Market, and would like to think we will come again. While you may have noticed we haven’t been heading out much lately, we will be hitting the town hard next week. A pre-Spamalot dinner at Baraonda on Tuesday, and then Steakhead’s traditional birthday meal at Fogo on Wednesday! Can’t wait!

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$-$$$$