DINING OUT
5-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m-9 p.m. Sundays.
Soups, salads and starters, $4.95-$16.95; entrees and signature dishes, $13.95-$29.95; sides, $2.75.
1105 Canton St., Roswell, 770-993-5749, thebigketch.com.
In late October, Southern Proper Hospitality Group opened a second location of its popular Buckhead restaurant, the Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, on busy Canton Street in downtown Roswell.
Southern Proper owns and operates a mix of casual and chef-driven restaurants, including Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in Milton, Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead Village, and The Southern Gentleman and Gypsy Kitchen at Buckhead Atlanta.
The Roswell version of the Big Ketch emerged from the demolition and complete remodel of a 1950s brick house, which doubled the square footage and added parking in back. Inside, the airy, vaulted space is divided between adjoining dining rooms and a large bar room adorned with mounted fish and maritime curios.
Executive chef Derek Dollar, who leads the kitchen at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, put together the sizable “beach chic” menu, which not surprisingly focuses on seafood but also features a surprising number of seemingly healthy offerings.
There’s the Bowl of Brussels starter ($6.95) with herbs, veggies and crunchy rice noodles, and signature Mediterranean and Asian low-cal salad bowls ($6.95) with quinoa. Fresh fish plates ($15.95-$24.95), including salmon and grouper, are available grilled, blackened or jerk-style.
Of course, there are decadent choices, too, including Fish IN Chips ($13.95), which means beer-battered cod, rolled in kettle-cooked potato chips and deep-fried, and the Steak Burger Royale ($10.95), a hefty half-pound blend of ribeye, tenderloin, New York strip and chuck with grilled onions, American cheese and pickles.
At the bar, snack on market-price oysters on the half shell, lump crab and lobster cocktail with citrus-basil sauce ($16.95), hush puppies with remoulade ($2.95/$4.95) and Beach Balls, “surf and turf” bacon, shrimp and green onion fritters with key lime mango sauce ($8.95).
On the beverage menu, find a good selection of local beers on drafts, including Copperhead American Amber ($6.50) from Roswell’s Gate City. The price-tiered cocktail list ranges from House Drinks ($5), Boat Drinks ($7.50) and Yacht Drinks ($9-$10). Peach Perfect is a mix of Angels Envy bourbon, peach puree, mint, citrus and honey liqueur.
Lunch is served Fridays-Sundays with lower prices on entrees and sandwiches.
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