Early last month, Mark and I enjoyed lunch at the fairly new Sunset Pointe restaurant at Fly Creek Marina. The location itself isn’t new—it was once home to the Fly Creek Café—but Pete Blohme’s recent incarnation opened early this year (Pete is also the owner of Panini Pete’s, one of my favorite local sandwich spots, which has been featured on “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives”).
On a perfectly sunny and warm day, we opted to sit outside overlooking the marina. It was absolutely gorgeous, although a little shade would’ve been welcomed.
It’s been a long time since we visited the old Fly Creek Café, so I can’t remember it much. I can tell they made some changes to the interior, however, as it’s light and airy (they knocked down some old walls), something you’d imagine for a water-side restaurant.
Everything on the menu sounded incredible. I had a tough time choosing, so Mark and I both started with a (local) Fairhope 51 Pale Ale while we perused the offerings. Baby M opted to remain sleeping. 🙂
Finally I chose the Seared Tuna BLT (I was craving seafood but wanted to step outside the usual box). The sandwich was fantastic. I loved the fresh focaccia (probably the same from Panini Pete’s), and the Conecuh bacon, lemon aioli, Bibb lettuce, and tomato were a wonderful compliment to the perfectly-seared tuna.
The slaw on the side was crisp and fresh, but I thought it was missing something. I did love its simplicity, but for me it was a touch too sweet and needed another splash of lemon juice or acid.
Mark really stepped out of the box and tried the Sunset Pointe Burger (I didn’t get a photo). It was enormous and loaded with Conecuh bacon, pimento cheese, and caramelized onions. The sweet potato chips served on the side were also delicious (of course I poached one or two).
We thought the menu was a smidge too pricey (maybe?), but the lunch options were definitely affordable. Dinner, of course, was higher, but even it wasn’t out of our price range. I don’t mind paying a bit more for something obviously fresh and of high quality.
The rest of the menu highlights local seafood. There are Gulf Coast BBQ Shrimp, Crab Meat Balls, and Eastern Shore Bouillabaisse for “small bights.” The salads sounded delicious—and one could add grilled chicken, shrimp, or seared tuna/fish of the day if desired. I almost tried the Ode to Grouper Sandwich, and the “large bights” of Southern Fried Fish ‘N Chips, Sesame Seared Tuna with Sweet Soy Glaze, and even the Lemon Butter Chicken sounded tantalizing!
I’d love to go back for dinner to view one of our incredible sunsets, as the restaurant faces west with an unobstructed view of Mobile Bay.
If you’re looking for a casual, non-chain restaurant with a creative menu focusing on local ingredients, look no further than Sunset Pointe. I highly recommend it (although, if you sit outside, you may need sunscreen!).
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