Blog Layout

Cosmo's means great food, giving back to the community

John Mullen • May 24, 2018

Jodi & Brian Harsany of Cosmo's Restaurant & Bar

Cosmos giving to the community
Orange Beach, AL - (OBA®) - Brian and Jodi Harsany have built a solid reputation for community involvement in more than 20 years of being in the restaurant business in Orange Beach.
 
But there’s a really good reason for that, Brian says.
 
“We’re just very fortunate and happy the locals have been in our favor, the community,” Brian said. “People say ‘you do so much for the community’ and I say because the community does so much for us. If we take care of each other then we’ll all be all right.”
Cosmo's namesake, Cosmo

Harsany was relaxing in the bar area of his iconic Cosmo’s restaurant on Canal Road, the flagship of the five restaurants he and Jodi now own in the city. They took over the Ivan-ravished courtyard-type building in 2006 and built it into an icon of the Gulf Coast culinary scene.

 

“It was empty and a bakery café before that,” Brian said. “It opened just before Ivan. Everybody struggled that winter after Ivan because there was so much destruction. It sat empty from the fall of ’04 until we came in in May of ’06.”

 

Brian had managed Bayside Grill at Sportsman Marina for more than 10 years in his first job at the beach. He left there to enter a partnership that lasted just seven months.

Chicken Roulade

“When I stepped away from that partnership I didn’t have any plans but took our ideas that we had sort of come up with back off the shelf and started talking about it,” he said. “I had three ladies three straight days say something about this spot. I think there’s something to it when three people who don’t know each other say ‘you ought to go check out that spot.’”

 

They named their new place after one of their pets, Cosmo, and the restaurant took off. Cars spilled out into the roadsides, grassy areas and even parked across the street to cross busy Canal Road to get at the tasty fare coming out of Cosmo’s kitchen.

 

The secret to this rousing success?

 

“I don’t know,” Brian said with a laugh. But he knows how he wants his restaurants to operate and believes it is usually something as simple as doing things right.

 

“I think we did really well with executing and people knowing that our hours were going to be consistent, our food was going to be consistent and our service would be consistent,” Brian said. “They know what product we give and feel very confident whether or not to recommend it or when they come in themselves they are going to get what they expect.”

 

He and corporate chef Jack Baker have worked together since the mid-1990s and the recipes they have forged have proved popular and developed loyal followings.

“Our guests aren't happy if we take any items off the menu,” he said with another laugh. “There are many lunchtime guests we take a menu to just as a courtesy. If a particular server waits on them they just verify they are going to eat their usual and then they go place the order. Some people haven’t deviated in years from what they order here.”

 

One of the most popular dishes sort of happened by accident. Our Banana-leaf-wrapped fish would vary the, based on what was available.


“A local chef mentioned how he enjoyed the sea bass in banana leaf and it made the list of 100 things to eat in Alabama, before you die.” Brian said. “If we deviated people would get upset about it so now it’s always sea bass.”  It comes rubbed with a special blend of herbs and seasonings, wrapped in banana leaves and baked. It’s served with house rice and lemon garlic asparagus.

But it’s not Brian’s personal favorite. In a world of seafood along the beachfront, he’s just not a big seafood guy.
 
“It’s not my thing,” he said with a shrug. “I’m not a real big fish guy. I love fishing, I’ve always worked in seafood restaurants. It’s just not my favorite.
 
“My favorite’s the chicken roulade. It’s a gruyere cheese asparagus rolled up and wrapped in bacon with a sage and leek cream sauce and parmesan risotto.”
Pecan-encrusted redfish from Cosmo's

You’ll find plenty of delicious seafood from pecan-encrusted redfish, Cosmo’s famous crab cakes or even Alabama-raised catfish. But if you prefer barnyard fare try Brian’s favorite chicken dish or you can get a tender filet or ribeye cooked to order.

 

The redfish is encrusted with chopped pecans and Japanese breadcrumbs, lightly sautéed and topped with meuniere sauce. It comes with “dirty” risotto and lemon garlic asparagus. You have the option of adding sautéed crab meat on top.

 

You’ll find traditional fried seafood of any variety as well as po’ boys and other sandwiches at Cosmo’s. Check out Cosmo’s page on the OBA Community Website.

 

Cosmo’s also has an extensive sushi menu that’s served all day on Saturday and Sundays and starting at 3 p.m.

 

In the offseason, a regional menu lets the kitchen stray from the popular menus to offer up some variety for the fall and winter.

Cosmo's sashimi sushi roll

“We have a lot of fun in the fall and the winter running our regional menus because it allows the chefs to really explore some new cuisine,” Brian said. “We have through the years added items to the menu through those regional menus just because of the popularity of them in just a two- to three-week period. One of them being the redfish.”

 

Back to the community theme, recently they, along with several other businesses on the coast, were involved in the Paw Ball with the Orange Beach Police Department Benevolent Association to raise money for another canine officer. The event at the Perdido Beach Resort raised more than $20,000.

 

“It was a huge success,” Brian said. “We gave them a check for $20,000. I believe our goal was $16,000 for a new canine. This will make sure that no canine officer has to work extra shifts.”

 

The Harsanys also own and operate Cobalt at The Restaurant, GTs on the Bay also on Canal Road and Luna’s Eat and Drink. Maggies Parlor and BuzzCatz’s Coffee & Sweets all in the Cosmo’s courtyard.

Share this article w/ Friends...

Gulf Shores Public Beach
By OBA Staff 07 May, 2024
As the tourist season is upon us, it is always good to review beach rules for the City of Gulf Shores. The City Council or departments of the city may provide new rules or adjust existing. Keep the reference guide to provide potential visitors who ask questions on social media or other locations.
Beach Express Toll Bridge
By John Mullen 07 May, 2024
The city will discuss formally ending its relationship with the Baldwin County Bridge Company at a joint regular/work session of Orange Beach City Council at 5 p.m. on May 7 at city hall in council chambers. The state announced in April it was buying the bridge from BCBC and ending toll collections sometime in May. This concludes the agreement where the city would receive a per car fee from the company that began in March of 2004.
Happy Mother's Day
By R. Ken Cooper 06 May, 2024
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Many restaurants in the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area are preparing special menus and offerings for Mother's Day next Sunday. From waterfront venues offering panoramic views of the Gulf to cozy, inland eateries serving up local flavors, the variety of options ensures that there's something special for every mom to enjoy. This list of options below will help you navigate you through the top dining destinations with the details of their Mother's Day specials.
Things To Do this Week
By Jessica A. Taylor 06 May, 2024
This week in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, the coastal calendar is full of diverse activities that cater to all tastes and interests. From the adrenaline-pumping dolphin cruises captained by the ever-entertaining Captain Dean to the relaxed, acoustic vibes at Big Beach Brewing Company, the region promises something for everyone. As the week unfolds, locals and visitors alike can engage in creative DIY projects at Orange Beach Hardware, compete in a spirited sandcastle contest at Flora-Bama, or soak in the melodious tunes of music legends at the Wharf Amphitheater. And don’t forget Mom. Lots of restaurants are planning a special day, just for her.
Foley City Hall
By John Mullen 06 May, 2024
As part of the agreement for the Alabama Department of Transportation to buy the Foley Beach Express toll bridge, Foley is turning over maintenance of its portion to the state. Since the expressway and toll bridge were built, Foley was responsible for maintaining the roadway from its beginning at State Route 59 to its intersection with County Road 12. As part of the purchase agreement, this portion will be taken over for maintenance by the state as part of an extended State Route 161.
Golf Cart access in Gulf Shores
By John Mullen 06 May, 2024
A lot of changes are in the works in the Gulf Pines neighborhood in the area framed by the 90-degree turn at Tacky Jacks including a detour around the turn through the neighborhood and streetscapes planned to improve the streets with landscaping, benches and other amenities. The latest could be the inclusion of the streets there in the golf cart ordinance for the city. Adding those streets will be discussed at the May 6 council work session at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.
Blue Angels photo by R. Ken Cooper
By R. Ken Cooper 06 May, 2024
Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola will be closed to the public from Tuesday through Thursday, according to a recent announcement. The National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, and Fort Barrancas will all be closed to the public for these three days.
A Month of Seafood, Fishing and Live Music Happening in May
By R. Ken Cooper 05 May, 2024
May at The Wharf in Orange Beach promises to be an exciting time filled with a variety of events catering to seafood enthusiasts, music lovers, and fishing aficionados. From the annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off to high-profile concerts by country legends Alabama and rising star Cole Swindell, as well as the thrilling Orange Beach Billfish Classic tournament, this coastal community is set to come alive with a diverse array of activities throughout the month.
Orange Beach Mayor Delivers Optimistic State of the City Address
By R. Ken Cooper 04 May, 2024
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon provided a detailed update on the State of the City at the Coastal Alabama Chamber First Friday Forum Breakfast, held at the Orange Beach Event Center, this past Friday. His presentation underscored the city's financial resilience, key infrastructure developments, and plans for enhancing community facilities and public services. Some of the highlights include…
Foley Police Patch
By R. Ken Cooper 04 May, 2024
The Foley Police Department and Foley High School are collaborating to introduce a new public safety program aimed at students interested in law enforcement careers. This initiative adds a specialized track to the school's curriculum, helping students explore potential careers in public safety.
Show More
Share by: