Bluewater Grille can please seafood fans and foes alike

photo The Stuffed Lemon Sole With Lobster Sauce at Bluewater Grille is served with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables.

IF YOU GO• Where: Bluewater Grille, 224 Broad St.• Phone: 423-266-4200• Website: www.bluewaterchattanooga.com• Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday• Price range: $3.95 (cup of corn or roasted corn chowder)-$32.95 (blue cheese crusted filet)

A few short steps from the Tennessee Aquarium, hungry tourists and locals can find one of the area's signature seafood restaurants. With ample options for fresh seafood, Bluewater Grille welcomes patrons to a unique restaurant for a memorable meal.

THE MENU

Don't run away if you're not a seafood fan. In addition to more than 20 seafood dishes, Bluewater also features several steak, chicken and salad options. Diners can start with their choice of 10 appetizer possibilities, including Salt and Pepper Calamari ($9.95) and Lobster and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake ($14.95), which is served with housemade tartar and mustard sauces. Seafood aficionados can select from possibilities including Baked Mahi Mahi ($20.95), Lemon Sole With Brown Butter Sauce ($19.95) and Cedar Plank Pecan Crusted Salmon ($20.50). For diners who aren't big on fish, you can try everything from Sesame Chicken Salad ($11.50) to Pasta Primavera ($14.95) to Filet Oscar ($32.95).

THE ORDER

With so many options, it's truly hard to choose, but to begin our meal, friends of my wife and I had recommended we try the Tavern Shrimp ($9.95). Wow! Incredibly flavorful, the lightly breaded shrimp are tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce.

For our entree, my wife and I both tried the Stuffed Lemon Sole With Lobster Sauce ($22.95). The fillet is stuffed with shrimp, scallops, crab and cheese. It makes the dish very sweet, flaky and flavorful.

The meal was served with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. Our server told us the rice pilaf was "nothing special," and my wife listened, but I didn't. She made the right choice and substituted asparagus with bearnaise sauce for the rice. I'd recommend the substitution if your dish is served the same way.

For dessert, we caved in to order White Chocolate Bread Pudding ($6.50). That's another recommendation I have to make. Unlike any bread pudding I've tried before, Bluewater adds sun-dried cherries to make a sweet dessert even better. It's served warm with a rum butter sauce and topped with shaved white chocolate.

THE SERVICE

Our service and overall dining experience were excellent. Our drinks were always filled, and the server was always attentive to anything we might need. Additionally, at a time when so many restaurants aren't accepting reservations or have switched to the call-ahead-seating option, I liked that I was able to make a reservation at Bluewater. We were immediately shown to our table upon our arrival. It was a nice change of pace.

THE SPACE

The restaurant is handsomely decorated, with one-of-a-kind light fixtures and a refreshing combination of an open-air area in front and an air-conditioned dining room. The restaurant features hardwood floors and a spacious seating area that's decorated in a contemporary style. There's also a relaxing bar area in the front of the restaurant.

THE VERDICT

Great food and great service will make me return to Bluewater Grille. For my budget, it's not an everyday restaurant, but it's definitely a great location for a special-occasion dinner. The wide variety of menu options also makes it a wonderful option to recommend for visiting family and friends.

Contact staff writer Patrick Smith at psmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6589.

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