In a tourist-driven community where restaurants depend on tourist dollars to stay afloat, it says something about a caf? when locals return week after week.
This is the refreshing rapport George Barnes at Smiling Fish Caf? 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 Caf? 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.
