First Course

Tallahassee’s first family of seafood

The Wharf Returns

By Jessica Stasiw

{mosimage}After an absence of almost five years, Tallahassee’s first family of seafood is going back to its roots with the opening of The Original Wharf. The Duggar family is bringing back the seafood restaurant that created a loyal clientele at its Apalachee Parkway and Timberlane Road locations.

The new restaurant, located in the shadow of the Interstate 10 flyover on Thomasville Road, takes over the space occupied by Manna, another Duggar family restaurant that featured gourmet takeaway. (Manna will live on as a catering service.) The Wharf’s old menu has been revamped to include traditional fresh seafood platters and succulent ribs, as well as Manna’s signature prime rib. Seafood also will get a new spin from Culinary Institute of America-trained Steven Duggar, with dishes such as Almond Crusted Tuna with fresh mango salsa and a spicy soy ginger glaze, and Paella with shrimp, mahi-mahi and mussels.

The new Wharf also has a few aces up its figurative sleeves with dishes that accommodate diners with a taste for Mediterranean, New Orleans, Pacific Rim and Caribbean cuisines. The coastal theme of the restaurant is captured in its soothing neutral tones and luxurious seating.