Fresh Seafood Restaurants

[ValerieJo]

Hi,

We are headed down over the holidays and staying in The Villages. While we are there, I'm hoping to go to a couple of good fresh seafood restaurants (or even shacks) for dinner. No Chain Restaurants.

Coming from Michigan we can get some good lake seafood, however we're looking for some good ocean seafood. It does not necessarily have to be in The Villages.

Any suggestions? :mmmm:

Thanks.

[tomwed]

Fresh Seafood Restaurants

I hear the halibut at Fishbone Grill are cheeky.

[keithwand]

No Whitefish or Lake Perch here.
Have to wait until summer.

[dbussone]

Isn't Lake Seafood an oxymoron? ::jester::

[NYGUY]

Hi,

We are headed down over the holidays and staying in The Villages. While we are there, I'm hoping to go to a couple of good fresh seafood restaurants (or even shacks) for dinner. No Chain Restaurants.

Coming from Michigan we can get some good lake seafood, however we're looking for some good ocean seafood. It does not necessarily have to be in The Villages.

Any suggestions? :mmmm:

Thanks.

After living in Florida for 25 years, I think you will be surprised to learn how few fresh seafood restaurants there are. They exist, but not as many as you would think for a state nearly surrounded by an ocean. I know of none in this area.

[tomwed]

click here (http://thevillagesgourmetclub.com/)
I don't eat out very often so I don't have too much restaurant experience. I think these reviews are valid. You can sort the database for fish.

[Bonny]

You may want to Google fresh seafood restaurants in Central Florida.
Oh how I miss my Michigan Lake Perch !!

[Philip Winkler]

The Legacy Restaurant offers great seafood!

[l2ridehd]

Here are a few not to far away to try.

Bonefish Grill, Villages This is a chain, but very good and local
Sam St Johns, Villages Mostly fried, but will do blackened or grilled
Surkua, Villages Excellent Sushi
Lighthouse, Villages Just OK IMO
O'Shucks Oyster bar, Wildwood, Mostly just Oysters, but also great burgers
Quarterdeck, Umatilla Good Variety
Eaton Beach Off 42 on Lake Weir. Decent selection, but great views
Whales Tail Fish House, Mt Dora
Catfish Johnnys, Lake Panasoffkee Catfish is the house speciality
Stumpknockers on the River, Dunnellon
Blackwater Inn, Aster Lots of Florida unique items.
Mullett Hole Tavern, Crystal River
310 Lakeside, Orlando Good selection of local seafood.

[rubicon]

Living in this are for 8 years I have yet to find one decent Sea Food Restaurant
And the only decent one I found was just above the keys

[gerryann]

In order to get anything "fresh" here in the middle of the state, you're gonna have to drive about 1 1/2 hours either east or west......then you'll find some nice fresh seafood resturants.

[e-flyer]

Cedar Key is just south of Leesburg. It's on our list to try. The one in Gainesville, Fl. is very good.

[delima2000]

I miss Michgan lake perch. Fish around here is not like the fish from Michigan seems like nothing taste like food from our home state. I heard Catfish Johnnys has perch but it is from Alaska. Haven't tried the perch from there yet.

[dbussone]

Here are a few not to far away to try.

Bonefish Grill, Villages This is a chain, but very good and local
Sam St Johns, Villages Mostly fried, but will do blackened or grilled
Surkua, Villages Excellent Sushi
Lighthouse, Villages Just OK IMO
O'Shucks Oyster bar, Wildwood, Mostly just Oysters, but also great burgers
Quarterdeck, Umatilla Good Variety
Eaton Beach Off 42 on Lake Weir. Decent selection, but great views
Whales Tail Fish House, Mt Dora
Catfish Johnnys, Lake Panasoffkee Catfish is the house speciality
Stumpknockers on the River, Dunnellon
Blackwater Inn, Aster Lots of Florida unique items.
Mullett Hole Tavern, Crystal River
310 Lakeside, Orlando Good selection of local seafood.


Wow. Thanks for the list.

[perrjojo]

Buy seafood from LIGHT HOUSE Seafood Market on 466. Not the resturaunt but the market. They do have some good prepared items like grouper cakes, crab cakes and crab stuffed portobellos. Lighthouse seafood is good and so is Bone fish grill but still not that geat local seafood you may be wanting.

[TheVillageChicken]

Cedar Key is just south of Leesburg. It's on our list to try. The one in Gainesville, Fl. is very good.
I think you mean Cedar River.

[NYGUY]

Here are a few not to far away to try.

Bonefish Grill, Villages This is a chain, but very good and local
Sam St Johns, Villages Mostly fried, but will do blackened or grilled
Surkua, Villages Excellent Sushi
Lighthouse, Villages Just OK IMO
O'Shucks Oyster bar, Wildwood, Mostly just Oysters, but also great burgers
Quarterdeck, Umatilla Good Variety
Eaton Beach Off 42 on Lake Weir. Decent selection, but great views
Whales Tail Fish House, Mt Dora
Catfish Johnnys, Lake Panasoffkee Catfish is the house speciality
Stumpknockers on the River, Dunnellon
Blackwater Inn, Aster Lots of Florida unique items.
Mullett Hole Tavern, Crystal River
310 Lakeside, Orlando Good selection of local seafood.

Just how many of these places are selling "fresh, never frozen ocean seafood" as the OP asked"....close to none!!

[wmkhut]

Crackers Restraunt in Crystal River take 44 to US 19 turn Right its on left, excellent Grouper, Shrimp, and Scallops. The Restraunt is on the water seating inside and outside.

[tomwed]

Just how many of these places are selling "fresh, never frozen ocean seafood" as the OP asked"....close to none!!
Which one[s] are selling "fresh never frozen"? Please share what you know.

[ValerieJo]

Thanks to all who responded. You've all been most helpful. And to my fellow Michiganders, you are all right. Nothing quite like fresh lake perch and fresh caught Walleye.

Thanks again for the responses. Looking forward to meeting some nice people on our preview visit.

[CFrance]

No Whitefish or Lake Perch here.
Have to wait until summer.
Maybe they could bring us some before the lake freezes over.:smiley:

[l2ridehd]

Actually they all do except the three in The Villages. Skaura is fresh, but Sushi.

[applesoffh]

Bonefish is OK, but I'd be shocked if any of the fish were fresh. I've given up and purchase fish at Lighthouse Seafood (Brownwood Farmers Market on Saturdays or the red barn on 466) and cook it myself.

[missypie]

We bought a Traeger smoker/grill. It is the most amazing thing we ever bought. Fish, chicken, pork and beef just to die for. Uses wood pellets in different flavors. Juicy, tender and oh so flavorful.

I love to cook at home.

[tomwed]

We bought a Traeger smoker/grill. It is the most amazing thing we ever bought. Fish, chicken, pork and beef just to die for. Uses wood pellets in different flavors. Juicy, tender and oh so flavorful.

I love to cook at home.
I hope it's not this model. It's way too big. You could cook a tuna in that one.

http://www.ajmadison.com/ajmadison/images/large/bbqpig_c9bd1.jpg

[Jaggy]

Mayport ( Jacksonville) has Safe Harbor Seafood.. It is worth the ride .. Fresh right off the boats.. they are also a seafood market, so bring a cooler !!!

[eweissenbach]

Thanks to all who responded. You've all been most helpful. And to my fellow Michiganders, you are all right. Nothing quite like fresh lake perch and fresh caught Walleye.

Thanks again for the responses. Looking forward to meeting some nice people on our preview visit.

Fresh Walleye, mmmmmmmmmmmm!

[NYGUY]

Actually they all do except the three in The Villages. Skaura is fresh, but Sushi.

:a20:

[tomwed]

:a20:
Can you name the restaurants that serve seafood that is not frozen? Or are you wasting everyone's time.

[NYGUY]

Can you name the restaurants that serve seafood that is not frozen? Or are you wasting everyone's time.

LOL......No, I am not trying to waste your valuable time.....I am just pointing out how few places, especially around here, sell fresh, never frozen seafood.

[SouthVillager]

O'Shucks gets fresh oysters on Weds. 20 for $30. Can call ahead to ask what kind if you know your oysters. Great stuff for a dive bar ;) SE corner of 301 and 44.

[tomwed]

thank-you
that was helpful too

[Chatbrat]

Go to the Lucky Pelican in Sarasota---everything is fresh-not cheap, but close to the being the best seafood in Florida--you see all the food in a showcase;before its prepared

[under55]

I ordered shrimp from Danny at Lighthouse Seafood for a party last night. He cleaned them and cooked them. All I had to do was pick them up.
Fresh from the Atlantic.

[ron122049]

Try Dan's Clam Stand in Crystal River. Maine lobster and New England clams are flown in. Yummy! Go Blue!

[Viking]

I have to agree. We haven't found any exceptional seafood in the area, as yet. The best we've had was at a restaurant called The Tides in Vero Beach two years ago. It was a bit pricey, but both my wife's dinner and mine were excellent.

[JerryLBell]

Living in this are for 8 years I have yet to find one decent Sea Food Restaurant. And the only decent one I found was just above the keys
That is sad to hear! I was really hoping that when the wife and I retired to TV in a couple of years that we would find a handful of decent seafood restaurants. For now, the only non-chain one I can think of from our last visit to Florida was Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. They have, hands down, the best shrimp I've ever had (I've tried their fried Royal Red shrimp, broiled Rock Shrimp, coconut-battered shrimp and bacon-wrapped shrimp). They also serve a bowl of small corn fritter balls with powdered sugar as you sit down and before you order. They are insanely yummy. We make a point of going there whenever we pass through Titusville to go to the bird sanctuary out on the island and will continue doing that once were in TV. We sure were hoping to find something as good a LOT closer, though!

[Bonny]

There are some good seafood restaurants in Orlando

[TomOB]

You will probably need to go to the coast to get fresh seafood. We are inland and almost everything is frozen.

[Mikeod]

Lighthouse Seafood on 466 in the red barn has fresh seafood.

[NYGUY]

Lighthouse Seafood on 466 in the red barn has fresh seafood.

I think the title of the thread said "restaurants".

[The Mountaineer]

It's far from The Villages, but the best seafood restaurant I have found in Florida is Captain Curt's on Siesa Key adjacent to Sarasota. Large, juicy fried oysters. We'll be taking 4 days off from our 3-month stay in The Villages to go to Siesta Key and I want to eat at Captain Curt's and at the Greek Festival at St. Barbara's Church in Sarasota, which has the best Greek food I've ever tasted and I've been to 52 countries including Greece.

[Maxman]

Bonefish uses fresh not frozen fish. Otherwise I have to agree that the seafood in the Villages area is sub par especially as one who came from the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.

[NYGUY]

....Bonefish uses fresh not frozen fish....

We enjoy Bonefish Grill, especially considering it is a chain restaurant, however I doubt they are selling much fresh fish. Do you have any support for this belief other than your tastebuds.

[Bonny]

We enjoy Bonefish Grill, especially considering it is a chain restaurant, however I doubt they are selling much fresh fish. Do you have any support for this belief other than your tastebuds.
On the website they say their fish is market fresh.

[NYGUY]

On the website they say their fish is market fresh.

Bonny, it would be interesting to know how Bonefish defines "market fresh", since I don't think it has an official technical or legal meaning. Next time one of us is there, we should ask.

[Villager Dude]

I like Charlie's Fish House in Crystal River. One hour away. After Dinner, they have an adjacent retail store that has a great selection of fresh products.

[gpirate]

Fresh Walleye, mmmmmmmmmmmm!

I agree one of the best fish and very seldom see on any menus. When we lived in Kansas we could catch Walleye in Lake Milford and very good on the grill.

[Villager Dude]

Bump

[ConnieNonnie]

[QUOTE=rubicon;982239]Living in this are for 8 years I have yet to find one decent Sea Food Restaurant
And the only decent one I found was just above the keys[/QUOTE

Don't know if you like to cook seafood, but
My sister & I are nursing our parents and
Can't go out to eat right now- we've been buying
Really fresh seafood @ Publix Spanish Springs.
The cod fish fillets & lobster tails on sale this week.
So good!

[TheVillageChicken]

Regarding fish, the USDA's definition of "fresh" simply means "never frozen" regardless of how old the product is.

[Bill32]

Mallory Hill Country club is serving fresh , not frozen fish now, give them a call

[Bonanza]

Living in this are for 8 years I have yet to find one decent Sea Food Restaurant
And the only decent one I found was just above the keys

In the sad, but true department, you are 100% correct.
There is no "really good" seafood restaurant in this area.
However, from Miami up to West Palm (and actually -- even further north),
there is great seafood and fish available.
I'm talking about fresh -- not frozen.

[ssmith]

Anna Maria Oyster bar on Anna Maria island and also in Bradenton at the outlet mall exit

[TheVillageChicken]

The best I have found is Hulls (http://www.hullsseafood.com/) in Ormond Beach. They run their own boats and sell fresh seafood to other restaurants.

[Foodielife]

Simply Seafood in Dunnellon sells to alot of restaurants in the the area. They recently opened up a small restaurant on the side of there store where the bakery used to be. It only has about 5 tables but the seafood is very fresh. Worth a try.

[Shimpy]

Crackers Restraunt in Crystal River take 44 to US 19 turn Right its on left, excellent Grouper, Shrimp, and Scallops. The Restraunt is on the water seating inside and outside.

Excellent choice and add Charlies just before seeing Crackers, almost sharing the same parking lot. Also add Corkey Bells. 185 S. Hwy 17, East Palatka, Fl.
Now to mention one of my favorites......Pecks Old Port Cove. 139 N. Ozello Trail, Crystal River, Fl.......795-2806
Another which is very good is Crystal River Ale House. 1610 SE Paradise Circle, Crystal River, Fl.
By the way, I went to Charlies last week and had Grouper and it was the first time since I was growing up in S. Florida that I knew that I actually got real Grouper. Investigations have shown that you will only get real grouper around 30% of the time if you are lucky. I'm pretty sure I know the difference.

[dmorhome]

Lena's SeafoodDirections
4.4
9 Google reviews
Restaurant
Address: 18478 FL-40, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Phone:(352) 625-6489
Hours: Closed now · Hours
Menu: urbanspoon.com
Write a review
Reviews
"Fired clams, shrimp everything was good."
"Best new england seafood that's not in new England."