Nothing defines summertime dining on Mobile Bay better than good company, sunny views of sparkling water and lots and lots of seafood. This is exactly what you’ll find at Pier House, the Causeway’s newest restaurant.
Pier House’s location off Battleship Parkway, which has been home to several dining establishments before, felt meant to be. “Our name is Pier House, and this is a house on piers, so that really stood out to us,” says co-owner Carrie Munier. The house went through extensive renovations, which included tinting windows, painting walls and redecorating, before the official grand opening in February. A neon sign on the wall near the entrance greets customers with the signature Pier House “Shell Yea! Let’s Eat!” phrase upon entry. Patrons have welcomed the restaurant with the same enthusiasm since its launch.
Fried seafood is plentiful at many Gulf Coast restaurants. At Pier House, it’s served with a unique catch. Almost everything on the menu is gluten free. “My husband and co-owner, Jeremy, and daughter have food allergies,” explains Carrie. “We know that it’s hard to eat in Alabama with food allergies of any sort.” Menus mark dishes for a variety of allergens, covering dairy, eggs, shellfish, gluten and beyond.
The dishes attract a crowd, both those with allergies and without, all of whom enjoy the flavorful lineup of seafood dishes, burgers, salads and more. The shrimp platter, featuring Gulf shrimp, is a bestseller. “We have a lot of people who drive hours to come eat fried seafood here because it’s been years since they’ve been able to eat it,” says Jeremy. The menu also has some standouts. The escovitch, which comes in half a pineapple stuffed with white rice and topped with a choice of fried fish or chicken with pickled vegetables and scotch bonnet peppers, immediately becomes the star of the show when it’s brought to the table. The pork chop is served with a bourbon sauce that patrons keep coming back for. “People want us to bottle it,” says Carrie. Other favorites include the surf and turf, shrimp and grits, seafood pasta and oysters.
Live music on Fridays and Saturdays and beach volleyball courts out back round out the fun. Though allergy-friendly meals make the restaurant a go-to stop for a large crowd, the focus remains on making sure that everyone who comes to dine enjoys a delicious meal by the water. “It’s not just for allergies,” says Carrie. “It’s about providing quality food. We want everybody to be welcome.”
On the Menu
CRAB CLAWS
This must-try staple seafood appetizer comes fried or sauteed and is served with lemon wedges and a flavorful homemade cocktail sauce.
ESCOVITCH
Available topped with flaky snapper or crispy chicken, this pineapple bowl is stuffed with rice, tangy pickled vegetables and scotch bonnet peppers for a punch of spice.
SHELL YEAH! OYSTERS
Refreshing and delicious, these fresh oysters are served by the half dozen on ice and topped with a zesty cucumber chili mignonette and fresh jalapenos.
SHRIMP AND GRITS
This classic dish gets a Pier House upgrade. Smoked gouda cheese grits are topped with Gulf shrimp, tasso, smoked gator sausage, the holy trinity and a Cajun cream sauce.
Pier House • 5872 Battleship Parkway, Spanish Fort • pierhouse.us • 349-5765
Tue – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri – Sat 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. closed Mon
