Good Eats

Brothers

Serving upscale food with all the laid-back feel of Smith Lake

Story by David Myers Photos by David Moore

Brothers on Smith Lake is a combination marina and eatery. Dinnertime packs the parking lot and docks with folks hungry for upscale food and drinks in a place where they’re comfortable in swimsuits and shorts.

Rose and I made the trek one busy weekend. Plenty of tables inside and out on the deck plus seats at the bar give diners lots of choices. Having spent time in South Louisiana, I find myself enjoying the ambiance of a waterfront setting. It seems to be good for the digestion.

Our fellow diners included families, couples and small groups clustered around the bar. It was a jovial atmosphere with everyone talking and laughing with their neighbors, indicating Brothers is a regular hangout for locals. We got lucky with a server who must have been the best in the house. She pointed us in the right direction at every turn, starting with cocktails and continuing through a delicious meal.

We started with a couple of the house signature cocktails: The Cullman Stress and The Smith Lake Splash. Both were wonderful. Rose especially liked the Stress, with vodka and malibu. My favorite was the Splash, with Southern Comfort, Peachtree liqueur, pineapple and melon.

We also sampled a couple of margaritas: strawberry and regular. Outstanding. Cocktails at Brothers are creative and tasty. We find that recipe to suit our taste perfectly. It wasn’t long before food began rolling out of the kitchen. We started with Firecracker Shrimp from the “Share” section of the menu. It’s an excellent starter choice anytime, not just when celebrating Independence Day. Slightly crispy with a delicious, spicy sauce, they were a taste bud explosion. “They were some good, yeah,” as we like to say on the bayou.

Also from the Share section, the tuna dip with crackers was generous enough to make a meal. This item provided features that both of us particularly enjoy in a dip: smoky flavor with enough spice to provide a modest kick.

We tried several items from the main menu, and all were outstanding. The fried shrimp were perfect and exactly how I like them. They were lightly battered and – more importantly – cooked spot-on. They were tender and lightly seasoned. Once again, perfect!

We stepped out a little bit and tried the

There are fish tacos and there are the blackened mahi-mahi tacos Brothers serves, upper left. Want to chow down on some good appetizers? Go for the smoked tuna dip or firecracker shrimp – or both, above. Go light with seared ahi tuna filets or go bigger with a half-order of shrimp boil, both at left. How about a Bushwacker, described by bartender Alana Edwards as an adult milkshake. Brothers on Smith Lake is basically a weekend place. Summer hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day are 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon – 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed Thursdays after Labor Day.

ahi tuna filet. It was wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented. It was meaty and delicate at the same time. There was a small amount of wasabi on the side for dipping. Rose says avoid it, but I say try it. Give your tuna a slight dip. Just have your drink handy.

Fish tacos are always an interesting selection. We ordered them and received a winner. The fish was blackened and the tacos were served with a spicy sauce and homemade slaw. We absolutely recommend this dish. Naturally, even big eaters like Rose and me can’t sample everything. We have to keep something in mind for future visits. Besides the fish tacos, the menu offers chicken and shrimp. I’m also a lover of crab cakes and that’s at or near the top of my list for next time. I’m also curious about the burgers, including the Bayou Burger. Our server raved about the shrimp and grits, so we put that one on our list also.

Will Dowdy, owner and chef, says his main goal is to give diners a lake vibe with the surprise of upscale food. That means he and crew prepare handmade dishes, hand-battered shrimp and hand-crafted sauces with a lot of creativity.

“There’s real work put into our recipes,” he says. “We offer a nice, laidback atmosphere without sacrificing the quality of the food. We give quick service and excellent food.”