Great views, fresh ingredients, homemade soups and desserts are no joke at Foolish Frog

By Pamela Brownstein

On these gorgeous, sunny fall afternoons, lunch at the Foolish Frog on St. Helena Island offers a lovely place to enjoy stunning marsh views and great food in a friendly, intimate environment.

The Lunch Bunch started with the Flash Fried Calamari with garlic chimichurri, and Irene was a big fan of this tasty appetizer. We also tried the Vietnamese chicken wings, which were very yummy, and also very big.

Irene, even though she’s new, seems to have her pulse on the most inviting items on the menu. Her Island Seafood Supreme soup — shrimp, crab, clams and fish in a seafood cream stock — was excellent. She also ordered the Asian Tuna salad that was piled high with colorful ingredients such as cucumbers, greens, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, red onions, and topped with thin pieces of tuna. She said it tasted as good as it looked.

Elizabeth ordered the Mahi BLT — blackened Mahi Mahi with crisp lettuce, tomato, bacon with Cajun remoulade on a crusty baguette. The sandwich was so delicious, with perfectly cooked fish and just the right amount of remoulade to give a kick without being overwhelming.

I also tried a seafood dish in the form of the Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos. The Caribbean blackened mahi mahi

served on a corn tortilla and topped with wasabi slaw, mango mustard jam and Key Lime sour cream really hit the spot.

Buck, who’s always on the search for a great chicken sandwich, was quite pleased with his Texan Chicken sandwich — a juicy piece of chicken smothered with melted cheese and bacon and served with a side of homemade chips.

The Foolish Frog, with its outdoor seating area that overlooks the marsh and a well-stocked bar inside, and live music playing most weekends, is also a great place to relax and socialize at night.

Desserts vary as they are homemade daily, and we were fortunate enough to sample a piece of cheesecake, a fantastic crème brulee, and a succulent piece of Key Lime pie made by Chef Eric himself.

Foolish Frog is at 846 Sea Island Parkway, St. Helena Island. Lunch is Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to