The Steamhouse Lounge is one of those local hangouts that you have to visit in Atlanta. It used to bear the moniker “The best little dump in Buckhead,” but, since it is no longer located there, it is now “The best little dump in Midtown.”
Understand that when we are rating the Steamhouse, we are not rating an upscale, tie-and-jacket location. This is a come as you are, flip flops and shorts place that serves beer in a can (yes, seriously! You can order a PBR Tallboy!). Nonetheless, it’s a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a lazy weekend day out on the patio. I can think of no better place for hanging out in the summer than The Steamhouse!
The Steamhouse Menu
The menu at the Steamhouse is largely seafood—down and dirty seafood! Yeah, you aren’t going to find a Chilean Sea Bass dish here.
What you are going to find is fantastic fare that doesn’t require you to use specialized forks. It reminds me a great deal of Tubby’s Tankhouse in Savannah.
There are a few items that are “must haves” when you visit. First, be sure to get a cup of the lobster bisque. It’s creamy and flavorful, and goes great with a beer while you sit in the shade on the patio.
After you’ve had a cup of the bisque, you absolutely have to order the oysters Rockefeller. They are cooked to perfection, and really start a meal on the right foot.
As far as main courses go, there are several very good choices. The lobster roll is excellent, the fried grouper basket is amazing, and you can’t go wrong with the shrimp salad sandwich.
But the one that really sets it off? The black and blue grouper sandwich. Trust me on this—this sandwich does not disappoint.
The Steamhouse Service
The service at the Steamhouse has to be qualified. Remember, this isn’t a posh restaurant—it’s a hangout. For what it is, the service is actually pretty good.
The staff is friendly and prompt, and really, that’s all it takes for a place like this to get a good rating in the service department.
Cost
The Steamhouse offers a very reasonably priced menu. In fact, they boast one of the best seafood deals in all of Atlanta with their shrimp and crab dinner. It’s a pound of crab legs, six shrimp, corn, slaw, and garlic cheese toast all for 20 bucks.
The rest of the menu falls in line with that type of deal, and there is no one entree that costs more than $35.50.
If you are looking for a place where you can have an appetizer and drinks for a few hours without spending more than 50 bucks, this is a good place to start.
Environment
The Steamhouse has four distinct areas. First, you have the Oyster bar. It’s up stairs. Outside of that, you have the upstairs deck, which wraps around the building and shares doors with the Oyster bar.
Underneath they have a downstairs bar area.
For my money though, this is a place to eat outside. If you can get it, grab a spot on the outside patio. They have a bar right there to go along with the picnic style tables, so you don’t have to go far for a drink on a hot day.
Be warned though, smoking is allowed. If this bothers you, be advised in advance. It isn’t something that is overpowering, but you do notice it.
Special Events And Deals
For many locals, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of the Steamhouse is Oysterfest. This is truly one of the killer events in the city of Atlanta, and is not to be missed. It takes place every February, and if you are in town, get there! I would suggest buying tickets in advance of the event, which you can do at Steamhouse’s site, www.steamhouselounge.com.
Besides Oyserfest, you can always find a special deal going on. As of this writing, they offer the following specials:
- Monday: $12 one pound crab dinner
- Tuesday: $1 beer night
- Wednesday: $5 for 1 dozen raw oysters
Definitely Worth A Visit
I don’t think the Steamhouse gets enough publicity or credit for what it is. It’s a great little hangout in the heart of Midtown where you can grab a cold one, and some absolutely fantastic bar food at the same time.
Drop in and see for yourself.