Fish Thyme Restaurant & Bar at 3979 S. Main St. in downtown Acworth has a devoted clientele only a year after opening. Specializing in fresh seafood, Fish Thyme is the second establishment of restaurateur Stephen Dudley.

“We saw a need in our area for a good seafood restaurant,” he said. Dudley also owns Capers Restaurant & Bar that opened in 2004. Its current location is 1635 Old 41 Highway in Kennesaw at the intersection of Barrett Parkway.

Relying on a proven concept, Dudley brings the same philosophy of superior quality and well-executed food to Fish Thyme. Fresh ingredients are a priority with sources as local and close when possible.

“Fish Thyme is special and unique because it’s in Cobb County and one of the few restaurants that has fresh seafood everyday,” Dudley said. Fish Thyme brings the freshest seafood to Cobb County by ordering from the Honolulu Fish Market in Hawaii that receives about 650,000 pounds of fresh seafood daily.

“(The Honolulu market) is the biggest fish market this side of Tokyo, Japan. It’s all of the great fish from the clear waters around Honolulu,” he said.

Fish Thyme also capitalizes on a Sea to You program for fresh seafood from the Texas coast to Maine such as grouper, monkfish and Atlantic swordfish. “We just wanted to do fresh seafood at reasonable prices,” said Dudley, who has worked in the restaurant business for more than 30 years.

The redfish flown from Texas is a Fish Thyme signature dish, and fresh ahi tuna is another popular specialty. “Seafood is a healthy option that can be prepared the Fish Thyme way or broiled, fried or sautéed,” Dudley said.

Fish Thyme’s menu includes options for landlubbers such as ribs, ribeye steak, bone-in double pork chop and roasted free-range chicken.

“(Fish Thyme) has been greatly received. We take a lot of care in what we do,” Dudley said.

Fish Thyme is open for dinner only Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. weekdays and 5 to 11 p.m. on weekends. Reservations are recommended on the weekend.

Live entertainment is available Wednesdays and weekends. Specials include $10 per pound Alaskan snow crab on Wednesdays, half-price on select wines on Thursdays for ladies, and the “gentlemen’s special” on Sunday. For more information, call (770) 974-2323 or visit www.fishthymerestaurant.com.