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...

Orange Beach Senior Center to Close for Renovations
By R. Ken Cooper May 31, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Senior Center in Orange Beach is scheduled to close temporarily for interior updates. The closure will affect most regular programming for most of June. Some activities will move to other locations, while others will not be held during the closure.
Foley Main Street Recognized
By OBA Staff May 31, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley Main Street has earned one of the most respected honors in community development. The organization has been named a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program. This designation is the highest recognition given by Main Street America, a national nonprofit with more than 40 years of experien
Gulf State Park's Shark Fest
By R. Ken Cooper May 31, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf State Park is bringing back Shark Fest, one of its most popular summer events. The three-day festival focuses on marine life, with an emphasis on Gulf Coast sharks. It will be held at the park's Saltwater Pier in Gulf Shores. Organizers are encouraging families to register and book the
Orange Beach Lady Makos are Six-Time State Champions- Photo by Brent Williams, Wolf Bay Media
By John Mullen May 30, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Just about every time Shane Alexander thinks about his softball team’s incredible run, another point of history seems to reveal itself. Like the fun fact that only one percent of high school athletes experience the thrill of a state championship. In any sport.
Foley Alabama Fire Station 4 Location
By Guy Busby May 30, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley is moving ahead with plans for a fourth fire station. The project would provide better coverage on the city's north side. City leaders now have the land and are beginning the design process. Current plans call for the station to be designed in 2026 and for construction to begin
Legendary Marine Gulf Shores
By R. Ken Cooper May 30, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Sea Glass Initiative announced the return of the Salty Shuffle Charity Poker Cruise. This local fundraiser will benefit Baldwin County residents in need. Organizers expanded the event this year to boost participation. Participants can now join by water or on land.
Flora-Bama National Recognition
By R. Ken Cooper May 29, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — A beloved bar on the border of Alabama and Florida has once again captured the nation's attention. Flora-Bama has been named one of the Top 10 Best Beach Bars in the United States by the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The honor places the Gulf Coast landmark in the same conv
South Baldwin County Theatre in Gulf Shores
By R. Ken Cooper May 29, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — South Baldwin Community Theatre (SBCT) is kicking off the summer with something a little different. The Gulf Shores theater company is staging an original play by a local playwright. The production, titled "Livin' and Comin' Back," tells the story of a Southern family on one very big day in
Alabama Shrimping Season Reopens
By R. Ken Cooper May 29, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced the opening of shrimping season in state waters. The change allows shrimp harvesting in several coastal areas. Officials said the opening complies with state law and established regulations. The announcement applies
National Hamburger Day on the Gulf Coast
By R. Ken Cooper May 28, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — National Burger Day has arrived! Although the Alabama Gulf Coast is renowned for its top-notch seafood, both locals and visitors know there are plenty of fantastic burger spots to satisfy any craving. Remember to cast your vote for the top burger in the area at BestBurgersGulfShores.com and
Show More