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...

Things to do on the Gulf Coast This Week
By Jessica A. Taylor September 21, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — It’s hard to believe September is almost over, and though it may be winding down, as usual, no one told the Alabama never-sleepy Gulf Coast to slow down. From dancing boots and honky-tonk tunes to fishing rods, Jeeps that shine, cornhole comps for rescued pups and a little sensory-friendly
By K. Cooper September 21, 2026
The City Council will consider updates to development design standards.
Gulf Shores City Hall
By K. Cooper September 21, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — City leaders will review proposed updates to local ordinances and resolutions governing beach parking. The adjustments, proposed by the police department, aim to refine regulations and manage parking flow in high-traffic public access areas.
Mobile River Bridge
By Erica Thomas September 20, 2026
The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project will feature a toll that increases over time, as reported by local news outlets. Recently, the project received attention for its $2.5 billion federal loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additionally, some funding details have been revealed online through the offi
National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Tour de Beach
By OBA Staff September 20, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is bringing its annual Bike MS: Tour de Beach fundraising ride to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The event is open to cyclists of all experience levels and raises funds for MS research and support programs. Riders can choose from three route distances: 25, 43,
Haunted Hustle returns to Gulf Shores.
By K. Cooper September 20, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores is reviving a popular coastal celebration featuring costumes, running, and community spirit. Residents and visitors are invited to wear their favorite Halloween outfits for an evening of entertainment. The festival features several new activities added to this year's official sc
Big Mike's Steakhouse
By OBA Staff September 19, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — A local steakhouse has earned one of the beef industry's most prestigious honors. Big Mike's Steakhouse, with restaurants in Orange Beach, Andalusia, Moundville, Auburn, and Guntersville, Alabama, has been named the Certified Angus Beef® Steakhouse of the Year. The award recognizes restaura
Flora-Bama Hosts Paddle Dash
By K. Cooper September 19, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Flora-Bama Ole River Grill will host the fourth annual Flora-Bama Paddle Dash in October. The event is a two-mile paddling race along the Ole River at the Alabama-Florida state line. Competitors will paddle from the Ole River Grill beach to the Ono Island Bridge and back. The race is op
The free event will be on the lawn of the Foley Activity Center behind City Hall.
By OBA Staff September 19, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The Foley Community Library is bringing back one of its most popular family events for the third consecutive year. Children will have the chance to climb on, explore, and learn about large trucks and heavy equipment. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend.
Orange Beach City Schools
By K. Cooper September 18, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools reminds families and fans that the district's official logos are trademarked. The logos may appear only on merchandise, apparel, or other products made by an approved vendor. The district appreciates the community's enthusiasm for showing Mako pride. However, that
Show More