17 Aug Restaurant retreat
When my husband and I recently vacationed with friends in Orange Beach, Alabama, I knew I had to write about a favorite retreat that isn’t a home, but a restaurant that I could live in.
Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina, recognized by Southern Living Magazine in both 2014 and 2015 as one of the best restaurants in the South, is also gorgeous.
As Epicurean Traveler wrote in its food blog, “Finding Fisher’s is akin to finding an unblemished Junonia shell washed up on the nearby white sandy shoreline. Rare. Unexpected. Exhilarating.” We couldn’t agree more.
And the food isn’t the only star here.
The neutral color palette and comfortable linen covered chairs make up the elegant dining area. One of my favorite accessories is the chandelier made of coconut husks over this table where we’ve dined in the past. Good looking sconces and lamps add to the wonderful lighting.
Designer Melanie Martin is responsible for the look. She had worked with owner, Johnny Fisher , on other projects and he wanted her in on this one too. Although she does both residential and commercial design, she tells me she loves doing restaurants and working with someone like Fisher who’s the coolest guy.
The stunning bar, made of onyx, is a showstopper.
White linen draperies can be seen throughout the space, both upstairs and down. Martin told me her claim to fame is simple curtains like these; no fringe, and no pattern. You can see how they provide such a softness to the room.
There’s also a sitting area without dinner tables in the middle of the restaurant. Martin said they used a couch and chairs instead, sacrificing table seating for the look that is so inviting.
Floors are made out of dirty top pine. It’s from old saw mills where the floors had dirt in them that’s just part of the wood, adding to the authentic feel.
Cane backed bar stools and chairs at some of the dining tables add another layer to the mix along with the upholstered pieces throughout the restaurant.
Of course I have to show my entree, which by the way was divine. Swordfish in a sauce that melted in my mouth.
Famous chef Emeril Lagasse made an appearance at Fisher’s for the Southern Grace Celebrity Chef Dinner series back in 2014. In fact, Lagasse was the first guest Fisher’s ever served when they opened in 2013 because Chef Bill Briand had honed his craft in Lagasse’s kitchens in New Orleans. That, according to al.com.
But back to the furnishings. I, for one, could definitely see a house with all of these elements.
Sophisticated, but comfortable. Dressy, yet down to earth. You could walk in with shorts and flip flops or a pretty sundress ladies.
If you arrive by car and come through the front doors, this is the pretty lobby. Unique shadow boxes with antique lures and other items hang on the wall to give it that collected look. Melanie Martin’s son, Mikell, is the artist responsible for those unique pieces.
We arrived by boat, thanks to our friends, Captain John Embry and his first mate, Amie.
We had another great experience at Fisher’s. A feast for the eyes and the discriminating palate!
We hope to be back again soon.
Sources: Melanie Martin http://mtwo@mtwointeriors.com Fisher’s Restaurant, Orange Beach, Al. 251-981-7308
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