About Us

 

Al and Diane Sawyer opened Captain’s Galley in 2008, after the longtime local establishment had been closed by previous owners. This unique little spot on the river seemed the perfect match for their passions and their business philosophy. They’ve built a reputation for fresh local seafood served in an unpretentious way. They know that if they focus on the food, their guests will be happy.

So the secret to Captain’s Galley’s popularity is its great food. And the secret to its food is Al Sawyer. He’s been selecting and preparing seafood for his customers his entire career. And his experience with seafood started even before that, as he learned about the famously plump Bon Secour oysters from his father, as they waded through Bon Secour Bay.

Al’s restaurant experience includes being a part of regionally famous restaurants like Morrison’s and Hemingway’s early in his career. Later, Al traveled the country, from shore to shore and points in between, selling fresh seafood harvested by Bon Secour Fisheries. So for Al, this isn’t just a business, it’s a way of life. And doing it right is a passion for both he and his wife Diane.

“We’ve just always focused on providing our guests great food. That comes easily to us, because of our experience and our love of fresh seafood from the Alabama Gulf Coast,” explains Al Sawyer.

While selecting and serving great seafood may be what comes to mind first about the Sawyers, they’ve learned more than a little about putting their passions into cooking that seafood, too. Many of the creative recipes that have found a home on the menu at Captain’s Galley have been road tested, as well. Just one example: Al and Diane took first prize at the Food Show in New Orleans, beating out 500 competitors that included Chefs Paul Prudhomme and McIlhenny, producers of Tabasco sauce. They’ve been featured on such shows as Bobby Flay’s Food Nation and The Travel Channel’s Travel in the Deep South, as well as in Southern Living magazine and Travel USA.  Al has also served as a Culinary Ambassador for the state of Alabama.

Most days you’ll find Al and Diane at Captain’s Galley or their nearby King Neptune’s restaurant in Gulf Shores. They spend time greeting old friends and making new ones. But don’t be fooled by that laid back demeanor. They are always working to find ways to perfect the passion that has built them a reputation for serving the best seafood. So next time you come there may be a new recipe on the menu, but it’ll stand alongside the time-tested favorites and be served in same friendly, unassuming way. Because Al and Diane know a good thing when they find it. Their reputation depends on it.