Fish Tales on Lake Lanier ~ Food & Fun for All

Father’s Day was hot and sunny — and stormy and rainy.  The weather was too iffy for a long motorcycle ride or a day fishing on Lake Lanier, but it was too nice to stay inside.

So, I drove to Fish Tales in Flowery Branch, Georgia, by Lanier’s Hideaway Bay Marina hoping for a filling meal and a pleasant adventure.  I chose … wisely.

They had an open table outside, under a shady palm tree umbrella.  The horizon looked a bit stormy, so the pleasant crew offered me a table inside.

Lindsay offered me a menu and was kind enough to help me decide what would “hit the spot.”

Yes, I wanted fish.  No, I didn’t want anything “blackened.”  (I can burn my own food, thank you.)

Together, we picked the Gulf Grouper, although I loved the name of the Floribbean Grouper.  That’s “Caribbean jerked Gulf Grouper topped with lump crab meat, lobster sauce & grilled asparagus.”  To me, personally, grilled asparagus sounds as appetizing as sautéed kudzu over a bed of poison oak leaves.

To each his or her own.  Take salad dressing, for example.  The only reasonable choices should be: French, Italian, Bleu Cheese or Thousand Islands.

At Fish Tales your options are Caribbean Mango Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette, Buttermilk Ranch, Bleu Cheese and Creole Honey Mustard.  That’s dizzying.

Ready for the salad toppings?  Fish Tales, Ahi Tuna, Fried Shrimp, Salmon, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Fried Oysters, Aloha Chicken, Chicken Tenders and Tilapia.

Girl food on Father’s Day?  No, thank you.  Fish fry, please!

Speaking of girls.  They will tell you that what you say is not as important as how you say it.  That also applies to food.  Sure, what you eat is important, however, where you eat is every bit as important.  Don’t believe me?  Ask your wife/sister/girlfriend or Amy Adams.  They call it “ambiance.”  (Maybe it’s ambulance?)  Whatever it is, its important.

The ambiance of Fish Tales is bright, colorful, lake-y, watery and just as a waterfront restaurant should be.  As long as you wear a shirt and shoes, folks in bathing suits are welcome.

No, it’s not exactly on the edge of Lake Lanier.  Close enough.  The view of the marina and inlet/outlet to the lake is nice.

After your meal, you’re welcome to sit for a while and make up stories of when you were at sea … or the man you met who came back from the sea.  Your choice.

According to their website, “Fish Tales at Hideaway Bay Marina was founded in 2010 by owners Dale and Jessica Ozaki,” with a “dedication to quality service, fresh seafood entrees and a family-friendly dining environment.”  They’ve accomplished their goal!

Open daily for lunch and dinner March through October, Fish Tales features a sandbox for the kids, cold drinks for the adults and live music for everyone.

Please Note:  As usual, I paid for my meal and left Lindsay a tip.  No one asked me to write this review and no one had a clue (including me) what I would write.  Yes, it’s a fun, expensive, job.

Before we get to the menu, I have something else to say.

Attention Guys:  If you drive a Prius, wear tassel loafers or have a profitable career, you might know about sriracha honey soy sauce or remoulade drizzles or Caribbean jerks.  For those of us who lack such refinements, there’s hope.  Invite a beautiful woman to dinner and converse (that means “talk”) about culinary delicacies.  Who knows?  Your life might go from pico de gallo to spicy boom-boom sauce faster than you can say, “Check, please!”

Fish Tales Menu

Fish Tacos:   Tres flour or corn tortillas stuffed with blackened tilapia, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo & spicy boom boom sauce.  Served with black beans & yellow rice.

Jerked Tilapia:   Caribbean jerk tilapia over black beans & yellow rice.  Topped with pico de gallo & spicy boom boom sauce.

Aloha Chicken:   Hawaiian marinated grilled chicken breast, topped with a pineapple ring with Creole honey mustard

Alaskan Snow Crab:   A pound of fresh steaming hot Alaskan snow crab legs with drawn butter

Filet Mignon:   Eight ounces of certified angus filet mignon grilled to perfection

Tales Fish Fry:   A heaping portion of  Fish Tales served with creamy super slaw & sea salt fries

Gulf Grouper:   Fresh Gulf Grouper prepared fried, grilled or blackened.  Served with homemade fresh dill tartar sauce on (in my opinion) a delicious bed of yellow rice with a hint of garlic.

Ahi Tuna:   Seared sesame seed encrusted yellowfin tuna prepared medium-rare over fresh greens & drizzled with a sriracha honey soy sauce

Shrimp & Grits:   Delicious homemade southern-style grits topped with sautéed grilled or blackened Gulf Shrimp and parmesan cheese

Crab Cakes:   Handmade and loaded with fresh lump crab, drizzled with house-made remoulade.

Filet Oscar:   Eight ounces of certified angus filet mignon topped with fresh lump crab, creamy lobster sauce and grilled asparagus.

Fish Tales Info

Hours

• Monday – Thursday and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Friday – Saturday from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Location & Stuff

• 6330 Mitchell Street in Flowery Branch, GA 30542
• By  Hideaway Bay Marina on Lake Lanier
• Phone: 770-967-3775

FishTaleslakelanier.com