The Georgia Shrimp Company, located at 100 N. Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City Georgia, is one of Fayette County Georgia’s most well -known seafood restaurants. Boasting fresh seafood, a large wine list, and live music; the Georgia Shrimp Company is often recommended to those who are looking for a nice dining experience that doesn’t involve traveling to Atlanta. After moving to the area I decided to try the Georgia Shrimp Co. and Murph’s Bar after receiving a recommendation from a neighbor. With prices ranging from $15.00 to $33.00 per entrée, I expected a nice weeknight dining treat for myself and my family. Unfortunately, though the overall atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant, the food and management of the Georgia Shrimp Co. leaves a lot to be desired.
Seating and Service
At 6:45pm on a Monday night the restaurant itself was only slightly busy so seating was instant. The hostess herself was extremely friendly and our waitress was so pleasant that my small child commented on how friendly she was. In addition to being friendly, the waitress initially kept our drinks refilled; however, after the food came she disappeared and did not ask if we enjoyed our meal. Most importantly, the dessert never found its way to our table, but (on later inspection) magically appeared on the bill. Unfortunately, this mishap was not noticed until we were halfway home and my daughter asked about her desert.
The Food
Most people who are interested in trying a new restaurant are desperate to find out about the quality of the food so I will try not to disappoint. To get the most out of our dining experience we ordered soup, an entrée, and dessert. I did intend to order one of the appetizers, but was worried that we were going overboard and that the food would not get eaten. In retrospect I probably would have been much happier if I’d just ordered an appetizer.
Soup
The two available soup options during our visit were the clam chowder and gumbo. Knowing that I was going to be following up with a review (eventually) I made sure we tried both soups. The gumbo was very good, and that is coming from someone who has eaten gumbo at some restaurants in Louisiana that specialize in it. The clam chowder was also good with just the right amount of seasoning, but it was not anything that I would go out of my way to eat again.
Entrée
Even though the Georgia Shrimp Co. and Murph’s Bar is primarily a seafood restaurant, I just had to try the Surf ‘n Turf. Anything involving 8 ounces of beef tenderloin, studs of garlic, and creamy sauce gets my attention. Also, the meal came with two grilled prawns (personal favorite) and a “pile of fries” (personal kryptonite). We also ordered the fried shrimp assuming it would be good since there were many good reviews online of the restaurants fried options.
Now it’s time for the letdown.
The thick cut tenderloin of beef I received was pretty far from 8 ounces. How do I know? I buy tenderloin steaks at least once a week (family favorite) and have eaten out enough to know better. Plus, when something is exceptionally small it is generally obvious. Next, there wasn’t a garlic stud to speak of and my creamy white wine and shrimp sauce were three shrimp thrown onto my steak with a disgusting, greasy, bland white goop poured over it.
The only thing that saved the meal was my single grilled prawn (yup only one prawn even though the menu clearly stated two) and my 19 fries. Both things were good, but whatever happened to truth in advertising? If someone tells me I’m getting two of something I should receive two, and if the word “pile” is involved in the description I should not be able to quickly count my portion. Of course, none of that would have mattered if the star of the meal (the steak and shrimp) had not tasted horrible.
Sadly, the fried shrimp and French fries were not much better. Again, the meal came with a pitifully small portion that was just an embarrassment. Worse, the shrimp had a strange, thin, batter that gave them an odd texture after frying. It was just an absolute mess of a main course from start to finish.
The waitress stayed away after our food was brought to the table (probably knowing it wasn’t up to par) and brought boxes without prompting. The entire shrimp entrée and over half of the Surf ‘n Turf entrée came home with us and the waitress made absolutely no comments and asked no questions. I will admit it has been a LONG time since I ate a restaurant that took such cheap short cuts and had wait staff that were clearly embarrassed by what they were serving.
Dessert
I’ll have to get back to you on that one. It never made its way to the table and I was disgusted with the main course I completely forgot that the order was placed until after we’d left (and I’d paid). I checked the receipt at home and verified that I did indeed pay for the dessert that never found its way to the table.
Management
Following my less than happy visit I did try to reach out to the management of the restaurant. I was hoping that I stopped by on an off night and that if I came back on a Friday or Saturday we might be able to purchase a better meal. I did not receive any type of feedback and am not holding my breath. Reviews I’ve read since my experience give me the impression that once the food is out of the kitchen, the management washes their hands of the whole mess and focuses on collecting payment.
Final Thoughts
The Georgia Shrimp Company in Peachtree City is one restaurant I recommend bypassing. While the live music is pleasant and the restaurant does seem to have a loyal following, I cannot in good conscious encourage anyone to visit it knowing that they have a chance of receiving a bad meal and leaving hungry. Considering the prices being charged and the image the restaurant seems to want to maintain, the quality of the food (along with the quantity) needs some serious improvement. In the meantime, I am still looking for a good seafood restaurant in Peachtree City or the surrounding area so please leave a comment if you have some recommendations.
