Marker 7 Brings the Ocean to Athens

By: Brittany Stewart

Smoked Salmon Pimento Cheese Appetizer at Marker 7 Coastal Grill in Athens, GA (Photo/Brittany E. Stewart)

There isn’t an ocean within 230 miles of Athens, but Marker 7 Coastal Grill is a little slice of the sea right on the corner of Five Points. The menu isn’t flashy or even fancy, but there’s beauty in simplicity and Marker 7 delivers consistent simple quality that makes you feel a little closer to your flip flops and beach chair.

The decor of the grey house situated on a street corner attempts to transform customers to the beach with its distressed, colorful wood-paneled tables and chairs and marine life artwork throughout. There is a full bar in the back, and the restaurant serves cocktails, red and white wine, and beer (including those from local breweries).

The main menu features several sections of choices, including one solely devoted to oysters. The majority of the selection is seafood, but that’s to be expected at a coastal grill. Don’t worry. If you’re into land-only dishes, the Fried Artichoke Hearts, Wedge salad and Marker 7 burger are waiting for you.

I recently became a fan of seafood myself, so I decided to try Marker 7 for what they do best. Seafood was the main component both my friend’s meal and mine. We began with an appetizer of Smoked Salmon Pimento Cheese, though it was a fairly close call after seeing the Grouper Nuggets make their way to a nearby table.

The dish arrived fairly quickly after ordering, and our waiter delivered it with a relaxed, nonchalant attitude that seemed to match the overall vibe of the employees. The pimento cheese was centered on the plate and surrounded by toast points. It was easy to lather the pimento cheese thick on the crunchy slices of bread, as there was a delightfully full serving.

Truthfully, when we first ordered it, I wondered how the flavors might fit together. I admit that I love pimento cheese and salmon separately, but I wondered how two foods that are so different could possibly be combined to taste somewhat normal.

Well, they complimented each other perfectly.

Satisfied with our appetizer, we had a few moments to chat and enjoy each other’s company before the main course arrived. No one in the restaurant seemed too pressured to turn tables, so it made for a good time of socializing and relaxation.

When the main courses finally arrived, I was greeted with two plump crab cakes topped with a delicious remoulade sauce. My dish came with two sides (though not all do), and I selected the Gouda mac and cheese and grilled asparagus. The portions were generous and served on a larger-than-normal dinner plate.

Previously, I’ve only ever ordered crab cakes at a beachfront restaurant, and I was not disappointed with the quality of these. The cakes had plenty of crab meat in them, and no flavor overpowering another. When I return to the restaurant, I will be sure to have this classic dish again.

My friend ordered the platter, which allows customers to choose two items from a list that included shrimp, oysters, grouper, clam strips, calamari and artichoke hearts, plus two sides.

She selected the grilled shrimp and fried grouper with sides of roasted sweet potatoes and green beans with peppers and onions.

She wanted a simple, straightforward dish and that is what was delivered. There were no sauces or additions to the fish, which was delightful with the plump grilled shrimp that were just simply enjoyable. The thin pieces of fried grouper tasted average and a bit salty, with more breading than flaky fish. The roasted sweet potatoes also lacked noticeable flavoring, but were generous in presentation and portion.

The experience was enjoyable overall and I am certain I will return, especially with the lack of quality seafood restaurants in Athens. I won’t go so far as to say I would choose Marker 7 Coastal Grill over fresh seafood at a restaurant looking over the ocean, but for a restaurant four hours from the coast, it does the trick to satisfy a seafood craving.