Spondivits is still Spondivits... and that's exactly why I keep going back…read more
It may not have quite the same pop-culture buzz it had years ago when Jeezy was rapping about eating at Spondivits four times a week , but if you actually care about good seafood, this place still deserves its flowers.
I've been eating here for years, and what I appreciate most is the consistency.
We've watched seafood-boil restaurants pop up everywhere, with seafood tossed into bags and completely buried under oil, butter substitutes, salt and seasoning until you can barely taste what you're eating.
Spondivits has never needed to do all of that.
The seafood actually tastes like seafood.
It's fresh, high-quality, properly cooked and seasoned without being overwhelmed. Even their seafood buckets are served with actual garlic butter, which makes such a difference. The restaurant itself emphasizes fresh seafood simply steamed and served with garlic butter, and that straightforward approach is part of why it has lasted.
On this visit, I had a seafood bucket with lobster and crab, and it was exactly what I wanted. Fresh, flavorful and cooked properly without being drowned in seasoning.
My girlfriend had the fish of the day, which I believe was branzino, prepared blackened with vegetables.
Amazing.
Perfectly cooked fish, great seasoning and vegetables that actually complemented the meal instead of feeling like an afterthought. Their menu does offer a catch of the day that can be prepared blackened, grilled, fried or broiled with rice and vegetables.
I also have to mention some longtime favorites:
The cheese bread.
The garlic bread.
The gumbo.
And I recently learned something I wish I had known years ago. Some ingredients in the gumbo can apparently be removed. I don't eat oysters, and one of the gentlemen helping us let me know that oysters could be left out. That immediately made the gumbo a much better option for me.
Another reason I keep Spondivits in the rotation is the location and the hours.
Whenever I stay at the Renaissance Concourse near the Atlanta airport, this is an easy go-to. And when almost everything else is closed, Spondivits is still serving a full seafood menu late into the night. Their published hours currently run until 4 a.m., including the kitchen.
It also travels surprisingly well. I've enjoyed the food dining in and taking it to go.
Is it trendy?
Not really.
Does it need to be?
Absolutely not.
Spondivits has been doing seafood since 1979, and sometimes the old-school place that has been doing the same thing for decades is exactly where you need to go.
Fresh seafood.
Real butter.
Great late-night option.
Good portions.
Consistent quality.
And I'll take that over seafood swimming in a plastic bag full of seasoned oil any day.
Seafood:
Freshness:
Late-night availability:
Atlanta nostalgia:
Cheese bread: ALWAYS YES.
Spondivits is still one of my go-to seafood spots in Atlanta.