Captain D's restaurant in Greeneville is getting a new look and a new menu.

It is changing its name to Captain D's Seafood Kitchen, with a new appearance outside and inside.

More importantly, the restaurant is adding many grilled items and a healthier, tastier menu, according to Kyle Moore, the restaurant's vice president.

Moore said in an interview this week that the Greeneville restaurant will switch to a new, expanded menu on Monday, July 7.

"We think the grill will provide a much better product," he said, both in terms of taste and health considerations.

Captain D's Seafood Kitchen will continue to offer fried fish, but will add grilled items such as wild Alaskan salmon, seasoned tilapia, coastal flounder, shrimp skewers, mahi mahi and chicken breast.

The restaurant will also be adding apple sauce, fresh tomato slices, garden vegetables, roasted red potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, fried pickles, grilled shrimp salad and grilled salmon salad.

Captain D's restaurant was opened here in 1977 by Harold Moore, Kyle's father and the restaurant's owner. At the time, it was one of the first drive-through restaurants in Greeneville.

About 45 percent of its current business is in providing takeout orders, Kyle Moore said.

Captain D's moved to its present location, 2455 E. Andrew Johnson Highway, in 1997.

The Moores operate two other Captain D's, one in Morristown and one in Middlesborough, Ky. The entire Captain D's chain has about 550 restaurants.

Several weeks ago the Captain D's Seafood Kitchen in Morristown initiated the new menu. Moore said the number of customers there has increased noticeably.

Assisting Moore in managing the three restaurants is Johnny Jones, the company's director of operations.

He and Kyle Moore praised the Greeneville restaurant's employees, many of whom are long-timers.

For example, the local Captain D's manager, Janie Norton, has worked there 18 years, while the assistant manager, Nancy Dunbar, has been there 17 years.

What is becoming Captain D's Seafood Kitchen has seating for 120 diners. It employs 29 people.

The restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The telephone number is 639-6311.