Nov 112 min read

MARLIN'S BAR & GRILL - New on the Beltline in Decatur, Alabama

Since the closing of O'Charley's and Red Lobster in Decatur, we have been eagerly waiting for new eateries to take their place. The sign for Marlin's Bar and Grill (in the former O'Charley's location) went up long before the doors opened for diners, but that time finally came on Election Week. Steve and I visited for lunch on their 3rd day in operation.

From our experience, Marlin's appears to have an adequate staff -- something that is not often found in these post-Covid days. We were greeted and seated quickly, and a friendly, efficient server took our order.

One big surprise was the menu emphasis on Mexican-style dishes. Considering the restaurant name, the logo, AND the interior decor, we assumed there would be many seafood offerings. There are . . . a few. Take a look for yourself. Here is the lunch menu --

And here is the dinner menu. It is similar to the lunch menu but has a few additional items, and entrees come with two sides rather than one.

For our first visit, Steve chose the Blackened Mississippi Catfish Fillets with a side of Cuban Black Beans.

I ordered the Papa Loca, which is a baked potato stuffed with grilled chicken, steak, onions, bell peppers, chopped green onions, and cheese. No sour cream for me. As you can see, it was HUGE!! It was actually TWO potatoes. I ate 1/4 and will have the leftovers for the next several days. In the future, we know this is definitely shareable, and the price of $13 makes it quite a deal.

The most delightful surprise came when our meal arrived at the table carried by a robot playing Herb Alpert's "Tijuana Taxi." What fun!! For those of you too young to remember Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, here's a sample -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8k1JciB2dg