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...

By OBA Staff November 26, 2025
Third Freestanding Emergency Room Built By Ascension Sacred Heart In Six Years
Boat Owners Can Register At Homeport Marina For December 13th Event
By OBA Staff November 26, 2025
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — After the sun goes down in Gulf Shores, the magic is set to begin on the Intracoastal Waterway. LuLu’s will once again host the LuLu’s Lighted Christmas Boat Parade, sending a dazzling fleet of decorated boats into the night on the Intracoastal Waterway. Organizers describe the view of...
Superintendent Highlights Success Challenges And Community Strength
By OBA Staff November 26, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools is preparing for a week of rest and reflection as the community enters Thanksgiving break. District leaders say the pause is a chance for families, students, and staff to slow down and appreciate how far they have come together. The message going into the...
Flora-Bama to Host Locals Membership Launch Party
By OBA Staff November 25, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Flora-Bama is inviting area residents to gather for a special locals appreciation event focused on its membership program. The coastal venue plans to combine live music, complimentary food, and member perks into a single afternoon. Organizers say the celebration is designed to thank peo
Photo by World Atlas
By OBA Staff November 25, 2025
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Saying the are snakes in a park located near swampy water it a bit like saying there are sharks in the gulf. Yet, World Atlas, one of the largest publishing resources in geography and other topics, highlighted the Gulf State Park on their list of snake-infested parks in the U.S..
Aspiring Actors/Actresses Can Reserve Audition Appointments for Local Production
By OBA Staff November 25, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Orange Beach is preparing to bring a popular Disney story to the local stage. Expect Excellence Theatre will present “Disney’s Frozen – The Broadway Musical” at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. The production will feature both named roles and an ensemble cast.
Foley Organization Launches The Sharing Shed to Support Community Groups
By OBA Staff November 24, 2025
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — A new community resource in Foley will help local nonprofit and civic organizations access event equipment at no cost. Lee Charities announced the opening of The Sharing Shed, which will provide free tables, chairs, tablecloths and pop-up tents to qualifying groups. The program aims to reduce rent
Orange Beach Surf Rescue 2025 Lifeguards
By OBA Staff November 24, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach Surf Rescue is already looking ahead to the summer of 2026 and is inviting new applicants to try out as Beach Safety Lifeguards. The agency is calling on strong swimmers and runners who are interested in protecting beachgoers. Organizers say the tryouts are the first step...
Celebrate Thanksgiving Week the Gulf Coast Way
By Jessica A. Taylor November 24, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — As Thanksgiving week arrives, there’s plenty to be grateful for on the Alabama Gulf Coast, where days ahead are filled with holiday excitement and coastal charm. There are numerous ways to celebrate, explore, and spend quality time with family and friends. From ice skating and visiting...
Alabama State Parks Launch Parks for People Food Drive
By OBA Staff November 23, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Alabama State Parks Division is asking visitors to help neighbors in need through a new initiative called Parks for People. The effort is a statewide food drive that focuses on communities around Alabama State Parks. Organizers say the goal is to connect outdoor recreation with service to o
Show More