Smiling Fish article

[bent T]

http://www.waltonsun.com/articles/ow...ling_café.html

Smiling Fish is a café locals call their own

In a tourist-driven community where restaurants depend on tourist dollars to stay afloat, it says something about a café when locals return week after week.

This is the refreshing rapport George Barnes at Smiling Fish Café shares with the South Walton community.

"I am geared toward the local community," said Barnes. "I opened this restaurant to emulate more of the neighborhood restaurants I had in New Orleans. I'm geared toward local business. Tourist dollars come and go. If you don't take care of local business, it won't take care of you. It's about people who live in the neighborhood who we see three or four days a week."
Barnes opened Smiling Fish Café in 2000. Originally open for both lunch and dinner, in the restaurant's sixth year, Barnes had become so busy that he was forced to re-evaluate.

The conclusion Barnes reached was that he could serve a quality lunch and special dinners, but he could not continue to serve two meals a day.
"It made the decision easy for me to balance and gave me more of what I moved to beach for," said Barnes.

Since then he has offered a quality lunch menu unique to County Road 30A. Barnes' New Orleans' roots can be seen throughout the menu, as well as the influence of the coast. Some of the menu items came with him from New Orleans, where he owned the 8-5 Deli.

An offering of 10 unique salads, as well as wraps and sandwiches such as a Boca Veggie Burger, Cashew Chicken Wrap, baskets and a Blue Cheese Burger has made Smiling Fish a lunchtime favorite.

Salad offerings are some of his most popular items - Crispy Duck Spinach Salad (his most popular), Saint-Barths Salad Nicoise, Crispy Calamari Salad, Panko Fried Shrimp Caesar, Tortilla Chicken Salad - nothing on the menu is more than $14.

However, once a week - due to popular demand of locals - the Smiling Fish opens its doors with a tantalizing dinner menu of grouper, ravioli, scallops, crispy duck or filet of beef.

Only being open one night a week leaves Barnes free to cater private parties and offer his services as an in-home chef.

"When you come down here and pay thousands of dollars a week for a house, people don't want to stand in line to eat, they want to enjoy the house and have individual attention. It's quality of life," said Barnes, who prepared eight private dinners this month.

Barnes also hosts occasional wine dinners at Smiling Fish during the off season.

In an effort to keep his ideas fresh, Barnes travels to France yearly.
Every menu item is prepared fresh daily using local food sources.

"The fact that one-third of the menu is dedicated to salads in the summer is unique to us," he said. "People want to eat healthy."

The Smiling Fish's healthy menu is complemented by a respectable list of beer and wines from wineries such as Rodney Strong.

"I base my business on price point and consistency and when you see people coming back every week you know you're doing something right," said Barnes.
Smiling Fish is located at Gulf Place at the corner of County Roads 393 and 30A.

Lunch is served Monday - Saturday at Smiling Fish. Locals' night is every Tuesday.

[Jdarg]

Great article for a great restaurant! Thanks George for making me excited to eat out for lunch!

[Bob]

they have good food there, but am I the only one to detect a wee bit of employee attitude?

[goofer44]

they have good food there, but am I the only one to detect a wee bit of employee attitude?

Bob, you might be. The servers have always been very accommodating and helpful. But I go to Smiling Fish mostly on Tuesdays for dinner. I go there for lunch occasionally.

[Jdarg]

they have good food there, but am I the only one to detect a wee bit of employee attitude?

Yes. The employees at Smiling Fish have only been wonderful.

Remember the shirt "Be Nice or Leave." Maybe it applies.

[beachmouse]

We've gotten the wee bit of employee attitude there as well. Nothing bad or anything, but it's like when someone tells a joke and it just doesn't work for you when everyone else thinks it's funny.

[Sheila]

I've never noticed any employee attitude. Of course we are always way too busy digging in to such delicious food, we may over look a side of 'tude!

This is one of our favorite places to dine when we are on 30-A.

[elgordoboy]

they have good food there, but am I the only one to detect a wee bit of employee attitude?

Before you get to the counter find the biggest employee there and wear him/her out. The rest will fall in line.

[bent T]

Before you get to the counter find the biggest employee there and wear him/her out. The rest will fall in line.

I never noticed 'tude there but if there is one it's the old "we-got-the-best-duck-salad attitiude".

[Mango]

They always give me a HUGE piece of banana bread pudding. I have enough for breakfast, and they do it with a smile.

[foodie]

Wish I could travel to "France yearly" like Barnes... MMMMm mm mmm. Sounds like a winning situation.

France is one of my favorite places on the earth. Imagine a culture centered around food!