We decided to dine at Fish Thyme in Acworth in Georgia for a special occasion. I can always go for seafood; and the restaurant is conveniently located not far from where I am based.
Fish Thyme in Acworth in Georgia. Restaurant Review.
Fish Thyme is in a fairly quiet area only a few minutes south of downtown Acworth in Cobb County and almost 33 miles northwest of Atlanta.
We were seated at a table right by a window at the third table from the rear of the room. The atmosphere is between casual and elegant. The person who served us identified herself as Miss Dorothy, who was exuberant, accommodating, patient, and delightful.
In addition to the main menu, a special menu for the day is offered.
Blackened Crab Fingers was one of the items listed on a special menu that is only available on that day and not on the main everyday menu of the restaurant. I figured from the name that the dish would include crab cakes that are shaped long and rectangular — like fingers. I was wrong. Instead, a generous plate of claws that had already been cracked and seasoned was served on half of a loaf of garlic French bread, which soaked in some of the blackened seasoning. Eating the garlic French bread can prove to be sloppy; so ensure that clothing is protected. The spicy remoulade sauce also had sweet notes to it and accompanied the crab fingers quite well — as did the lemon slice. $17.00
The Grilled Caesar salad comprised of an enormous wedge of romaine that was lightly grilled; shaved parmesan cheese; real croutons; red peppers; corn; and Caesar dressing. A “half” version was available for nine dollars; but we ordered one full version and decided to share it. Corn is usually not part of a Caesar salad; but it worked here, as it tasted like it was fresh and sweet. The red peppers were completely unnecessary. The salad was delicious; but I would have liked more anchovies in the dressing — or even better yet, actual anchovies on the salad itself. $11.00
Lemon caper beurre blanc adorned the Horseradish Encrusted Grouper, which comes as a half serving for $18.00. I ordered the full serving. The fish was piled high on the plate; and it was eventually completely finished before we left. The flavor of the grouper was mild and delicious; but I was slightly disappointed that the “kick” of the horseradish was not more pronounced. Regardless, I did not use the slice of lemon that was included on the plate for additional flavor. Two side dishes can be chosen. One side dish was parmesan truffle fries, which had a nice potatoey texture and were thickly cut; but a few of the fried potatoes had black parts to them — as if the bad parts of the potato were included. $25.80
Cucumber salad was the other side dish that was ordered with the grouper. The slices of the cucumber were thick; and the light taste of the slightly sweet vinegar was almost excellent. I would not be surprised if an entire cucumber was used for this refreshing side dish. I did not eat the onions, which are necessary for a proper cucumber salad. Once again, the red peppers were way too large and completely unnecessary.
The Parmesan & Potato Encrusted Flounder was accompanied by a bacon beurre blanc sauce and a choice of two side dishes — in this case, creamed spinach with bacon and sautéed corn with red peppers and onions. The flavor of the bacon seemed to be missing from the beurre blanc; but chunks of diced bacon were included in the creamed spinach. Once again, the red peppers that accompanied both the fish and the corn were completely unnecessary. I actually enjoyed the generous portion of flounder even more than the grouper. The coating was unusual in that the parmesan and potato crust was crispy on the exterior of the fish; but the rest of the potato coating resembled the consistency of mashed potatoes. I have no idea how the chefs did that; but I have never experienced a texture of the coating quite like this, as it was both unique and full of flavor. The creamed spinach was too rich; and the flavor had too much of a dairy note for my taste. The consistency of the kernels of corn were almost perfect, with a light sweetness and crunch to them. Once again, the slice of lemon that was included on the plate was not used or needed. I would definitely order this fish again. $24.90
Despite feeling like we were bursting at the seams from all of the food we ate during our meal, we decided to order the Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert. The whipped cream tasted like it was homemade; and the chocolate sauce and raspberry sauce elevated not only the rich and luxurious taste of the cake to a level of decadence; but it also tasted well with the fresh sprigs of mint. This plate was practically empty by the time we were finished. $12.00
A full wine and appetizer bar area of the restaurant is named JUICE and is fully stocked with an expanded wine and drink list from which to choose and imbibe.
Even the bathroom was a pleasant experience for the olfactory sense, with wild eucalyptus room and linen spray; sandalwood and vanilla liquid moisturizing hand wash; a Phalaenopsis orchid; sandalwood myrrh room and linen spray; and a candle with a wild fern and moss scent.
Final Boarding Call
My dining companion described the food as “upscale coastal soul food”. I am not an aficionado of soul food — my experiences are few and far between, such as this one at Mary Mac’s Tea Room in Atlanta — but I believe that that was a perfect description of the dining experience; and I would definitely return for more.
My most significant criticism of Fish Thyme is that red peppers are far too prevalent in their dishes; and I wish they would cut back on using them. They are completely unnecessary and add only color to the dishes, in my opinion. I now know for next time to have them excluded from what I order.
I recommend dining at Fish Thyme. Not only was the food fresh and very good; but the portions were surprisingly plentiful. Members of the staff were friendly; the service had no issues; and the prices were quite reasonable for the amount of food that was provided.
Considering that Fish Thyme is only open 25 hours per week and is a popular place to dine with the local people, booking reservations is highly suggested. The restaurant was at full capacity with patrons during most of our entire dining experience, with more customers waiting for a table.
Unfortunately, the founder and owner of Fish Thyme passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024. Steven Joe Dudley wanted the people in the northern suburbs of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area to have the same fine dining experience and seafood of the big city without the long drive. He succeeded, in my opinion. Steve was 65 years of age.
Fish Thyme
3979 South Main Street
Acworth, Georgia 30101
United States of America
1-770-974-2323
Operating Hours
Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 in the afternoon through 10:00 in the evening.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Free parking is available on site.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
