A-J’s Dockside
My first Food Spy Article! I’m very happy and extremely lucky that my first
solo article was on everyone’s favorite sunset spot – A-J’s Dockside!
I have to start out and say the feast presented to us was over the top!
Just when I thought we were done, more food kept appearing, and I was
in heaven! For this trip I was joined by photographer extraordinaire Wen
McNally, the always fun to be around Carolyn Williams, and (oh how the
tables have turned) my lovely assistant Alaina Loughridge. Let’s dig in!
First on my fork, the Blackened Shrimp & Grits, topped with a Cajun
cream sauce, this was out of this world. I’m from the Midwest and grits
aren’t typically my favorite, but I licked this plate clean. The grits were
light and fluffy, with just a hint of parmesan. The blackening seasoning
had a slight kick to it, but did not overpower the taste of those fresh (local)
Georgia shrimp!
Next up a beautiful Caprese Salad. Fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes that
you know haven’t been off the vine very long. Drizzled in a balsamic glaze,
this was light, refreshing, and tastes like summer.
Chef Mark personally delivered this new menu item, Head On BBQ Shrimp.
The presentation was spectacular! The aroma came over us, wild caught
Georgia shrimp, off the Agnes Marie, in a house made BBQ sauce. Mark
gave me the recipe but I’m taking it to my grave. Garlic toast sprinkled
with salt, and a sculpted mountain of yellow rice (cooked in chicken stock)
took this dish to the next level. I want to say Alaina and Wen enjoyed it, but
Carolyn and I refused to share!
We were still tucking in the BBQ Shrimp when the Buffalo Shrimp arrived.
Now I know you’re thinking why feature that, everyone on Tybee offers
Buffalo Shrimp. NO. Not like this. It was hot and sweet (like me). The sauce
was just right. Dipped in a house blue cheese sauce, wow!
Oh my, I forgot to start with the cocktails, probably because I had drank
all of them! Let’s back up; Rum Punch – it was fruity, and full of rum,
a sweet taste of coconut, and I felt like I was on the beach. Next the
Fresh Squeezed Watermelon Margarita. I know I shouldn’t use the drink
to describe the drink, but it was a Fresh Squeezed Watermelon Margarita,
there was no denying that. A little bit of pucker, and triple sec, this was
a perfect balance (between you and me, we may have ordered a couple
rounds of this drink). This was followed by the Lemon Drop Martini, a
thick sugar rim, there was nothing tart about this drink. It was so smooth
and happy, it had to be a sin to enjoy it that much! Then we got to Molly’s
Margarona. This MASSIVE margarita comes out with a bottle of Corona
sticking out of it. The entire thing was bigger than my head! The beer
and Jose Cuervo paired perfectly. As soon as ours arrived, the rest of the
deck started ordering them because not only do they look bad ass, they
are bad ass! Everyone was having a good time! How can I forget, the
Tybee Blonde, it’s the beer of our people! Coastal Empire Brewing never
disappoints with this classic.
14 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | SEPT 2018
First on our list of entrees was the Deviled Crab, two 4 oz. crab stuffed
crab shells of pure delicious. Often when I order Deviled Crab a “fishy
taste” overpowers it and ruins it, but this was so perfect. Fresh crab meat,
diced veggies, paired with a remoulade sauce that is house made daily.
This plate came with cole slaw that you know has to be made in-house,
and sweet hush puppies stuffed with fresh corn kernels. Outstanding!
We were so fortunate to be there on this particular night, as we got to
experience a new special dish, Citrus Salmon Salad. A-J’s orders the
wild caught salmon whole and fillets it in-house. Scored and seared
beautifully, this came out on a massive bed of spinach, with red onion,
grape tomatoes, Georgia peaches, and ruby red grapefruit. The dressing
was a citrus mustard based, and it was eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good.
The dish I had been so eager to try, the piece de resistance! Crispy Scored
Flounder. This mamma jamma came out whole (head removed), baked
to perfection with a sweet Thai chili sauce drizzled on it. The sauce was
caramelized and I couldn’t decide if this was dinner or dessert. The fish was
so flaky it was breaking into bite-sized pieces. What a phenomenal dish!
Served with seared mixed veggies and house made mashed potatoes,
there was enough food on this plate to feed a small army.
I have three words for you: Sweet Potato Fries. These waffle-cut beauties
are served with a house made cinnamon butter by A-J’s very own Jackie. I
could not put these down. This basket of heaven is technically vegetables,
and should count as a daily serving as so (probably). So while I’m talking
about Jackie and her dish, we also have to acknowledge Alan is knuckle
deep with his own version of Salmon Dip, which is flat out perfection!
At this point I was stuffed, and what did our amazing server Christina
do, brought us coffee and dessert. First our fresh hot coffee, which was
perfect, as the sun was setting and the breeze started picking up over the
marsh. She set down a SIX LAYER Chocolate Cake, drizzled in raspberry
sauce; we were fighting over it. Then a piece of homemade Key Lime Pie.
Oh goodness. We were all going back and forth tasting them both, when
suddenly Carolyn says ‘mix them,’ and so we did, a bite of each per fork.
We need a moment of silence to thank the food gods for that magical
combination.
I must mention their wine!! Their wine is hand selected, much like
their ingredients in every dish they serve. The list is not overwhelming,
but simple, and there is no bad vintage. While I’m talking about wine, I
completely neglected to mention the sunset!!! Sitting on that back deck,
eating fabulous food and drinking amazing drinks, watching Mother Nature
at her finest. Life is good!
All and all this was an experience I will not soon forget. The deck was
packed with happy faces, from young to old, enjoying the gorgeous
view, great service, and exceptional food. Stop on in and give them a try!
Chances are good you’ll catch me there, going back for more!
A-J’s is located at 1315 Chatham Avenue and is open seven days a week
for lunch from 11am to 5pm and dinner from 5pm to 10pm.
On a separate note, if you want to try everything like we did, check out
their kayak rentals to either work up an appetite or work off that guilty
pleasure!
By Jimmy Prosser - Photos by Wen McNally