Let me say first - the look, atmosphere of this restaurant and the staff in general deserve perhaps four stars but the food is a hugh disappointment. Birmingham and the eclectic hip patrons of The Fish Market deserve better. The food is bland and tasteless in the extreme. The wonder of it all is that the this restaurant attracts the classy crowds that it does. Perhaps if fewer waited, as we did for some forty -five minutes for disgraceful food the owner might improve the quality. Hopefully this review sends that message. I repeat - the wonderful people of Birmingham deserve better. BTW- we were a family of seven - four adults/three children and had a wide range of the menu - we far over-ordered - our first (last) time so were had a wide selection and all agree the low quality of the food- all left their meals unfinished- it was that bad.
(2)
Brandy B.
Really enjoy this place every time I go. I almost always get the grilled salmon. The sides are yummy, too.
(4)
Christopher T.
The staff and waiters of this restaurant was amazing. Their hospitality and kindness were a great way to represent the true southern spirit. The food was below average I felt and should have been better for the price that I paid. I ordered catfish platter and the fish was bland and no taste. I wasn't impressed with the fish here at all. I'm not saying all their food is this way but I wasn't pleased with what I purchased. I may find their average, but their sweet tea was amazing. If I'm ever back in the area I will not return to this place as I feel I could receive better food elsewhere.
(3)
Stephanie Y.
So whatever yelper wrote about the place to go if you are staying at the Hyatt I am about to find your review useful. I'm staying at said Hyatt, now the Spring Hill Suites Marriott and I kind of feel a little isolated. I'm alone, here in Birmingham for work. I walk the dark and lonely streets on a Friday night and there is this beacon of energy near a Dunkin' Donuts and an Arby's that I assume is this delicious fishery. It is. I sat down at the bar- it's kind of a cluster f*ck if you don't know whats going on. You can wait in line and order and eat like sitting in the front waiting area/bring home or you can wait to be seated. I flagged someone down and said it was just little ole me so I got to sit at the bar. Two fabulous women start chatting me up and next thing you know they are ordering my meal for me and a glass of wine. The Greek Snapper was really good, so large I couldn't finish it. The hush puppies were soooo good and I had the Greek salad which was decent nothing to write home about. I am not the fat ass tonight, all of that came with my meal. The ambiance was rocking, the prices were great, the food was damn good, the people were nice, the neighborhood blows minus this gem of a restaurant.
(4)
Raye F.
Not so much! I heard ppl ranting over yhe fish market, but I thought otherwise. The location is very nice, parking can be madness, service was lack luster, prices are not too bad, but the food is not impressive to be a food market. Everything fried hard & in corn meal-smh. Im not sure it'll be a place ill take my parents. You decide for yourself. carry on to happier eats!
(1)
Kelly S.
I have been here exactly twice, and I can't decide if I want to give it a third chance or not. Probably not. The first time, I sat at the bar and ordered shrimp and grits. The service and atmosphere were good, but when I got my food I was more than disappointed. The shrimp and grits are served in a giant bowl of gravy, with a little volcano of grits mounded in the center, atop which lie a small handful of overcooked shrimp. The entire thing was overwhelmed with the amount of gravy covering it all. It was so soupy (yet not soup) that I couldn't eat it. I didn't send it back, either, as my appetite was ruined, so I regretfully paid my bill and left. Knowing that I should have manned up and asked for a replacement entree, I gave the place another chance. On my second visit, I sat at a table and asked my server for a recommendation. She told me that the crab stuffed amberjack was good, so I got that with some buttered cabbage and onion rings. The wait was a little longer than I expected, but it didn't bother me until I saw several tables who arrived after me receiving their plates. I saw my server sitting at a back table rolling silverware, and when she saw me looking, she quickly got up and ran to the kitchen - and miraculously, my food was ready. The crab stuffing was actually pretty wonderful, but the fish itself was extremely dry and rubbery. The cabbage was also overcooked, though I guess some people prefer it to be a bit mushy. The onion rings were great, and it was a very large portion, too. Overall, the meal was underwhelming but not terrible, but because of my previous experience and the price I was paying for dry, overcooked fish, I left unhappy. I think with a name such as The Fish Market, the fish should be cooked perfectly every time. Maybe culling the menu a bit would help, or starting with larger portions of fish so they don't cook as quickly. This is a Birmingham favorite, though, so I don't know if my bad experiences were anomalies or if Birmingham just doesn't know what good seafood is supposed to taste like.
(1)
Nicole S.
Oh, how I love this place. I return again and again and again for the Shrimp and Grits. It make's absolutely no sense how good the dish is. The waiters are so helpful and accommodating. There is plenty of room for dining and larger groups, with extended dining on the outside. Perhaps, this may be hard to realize with the tight parking on the outside (at least there is an attendant)
(5)
Tom R.
Excellent selection of fresh fish and shellfish. The French mussels were terrific! We also bought some Grouper to take home. They were very accommodating with ice given our 4 hour drive home to Memphis.
(4)
Yorke W.
This is one of our most favorite seafood restaurants in Birmingham. I strongly suggest that you give it a try. We went twice this week. Once we just went by to get a dozen oysters and have a beer at the bar. Another time we went for dinner and split the grilled rainbow trout and the sides. The drinks and food are very reasonably priced. George's olive oil is the only kind that I buy. The Athenan snapper and trout almondine are also very good. Enjoy!
(5)
Robert L.
Nice. Just wish I could pack the whole place up and take it back to Maryland with me.
(5)
Dax B.
I probably eat lunch at the Fish Market at least once a month if not more for work. The quality of the fish is consistently good if not great although some of the fish in the cases for the market looks spectacular (especially the tuna). For lunch, I typically get one of the "kabobs" which is actually not served on a kabob. Instead, they pull the fish and onions, peppers and tomatoes off and serve over a cup of rice. There is always a LOT of food with this order but it seems to be getting even more (olive) oily over the years. They do not ask how you want your fish cooked so it basically comes out somewhere around medium to medium well. Since I get those grilled vegetables, I typically go with a "Greek salad' as my side. It seems their idea of a Greek salad is a lot of iceberg, one tomato, two pepperoncinis, and 3-4 olives (at least they are real olives with pits) and some oily greek dressing. The salad is fine, but that is all it is. We did stop in for a dozen oysters yesterday and they were great. We split the dozen between the malpeques and the blue points. I love those creamy, briny PEI oysters and the Blue Points were pretty darn good too, very meaty. We also ordered the Greek nachos which was a bunch of toasted pita chips covered in Greek cheese(s) and supposedly crawfish (which I could not really find or taste), small shrimp and some red bell pepper. This was not my favorite dish but I'm not a huge fan of seafood and cheese either. The bartended (Dino?) provided excellent service. About that, I tend to sit and eat at the full service side and service can be hit or miss but mostly acceptable.
(3)
Max M.
I fell in love with this place! The food was really top-notch. Even better than i expected. I went with my mom and a friend, and we all loved our entrees and sides and appetizers. I got the Cioppino, which is basically a savory tomato-ey seafood soup, with cole slaw and wonderfully-seasoned Greek potatoes. Everything was perfect. Our waitress was such a nice sweet lady and very attentive. She recommended everything.... which is usually annoying b/c most of the times they are lying. But she wasn't... everything was REALLY good! I will most likely eat here everytime i visit my friend in Birmingham!
(5)
Steve G.
Went here for dinner and have always had a good experience. The place is lively and has a good vibe. Sat at the bar & had good service. I started with the gumbo and it was just ok. I had the cioppino and it was pretty good. The sauce was very tasty. Will continue to go here when I'm in town.
(4)
Mark H.
The food is awesome!! I had the fried catfish fillet with fries, cold slaw and hushpuppies and left more than full. The puppies were sweet and fresh, the cole slaw was finely cut and sweet and the fish was perfectly fried with no "fishy" taste. What more could you want? The only snafu occurred because I arrived at shift change and my original waiter disappeared after the first beverage. I just moved to the bar and the service was flawless. You can eat at the full service area or choose an order at the counter cafeteria style.
(4)
Craig S.
This is easily one of Birmingham's top seafood restaurants. Diners have three options: (1) Order at the counter and then pick up your food in the large dining room; (2) Sit down at a table in the main room and be served; or (3) Sit at the full service Raw Bar. As it is indeed a "market", you can also purchase fresh seafood at the counter to take home and cook yourself. I have never been disappointed with the freshness or the flavor of my food here. The alligator is absolutely delicious. It comes either grilled or fried, and with an outstanding remoulade sauce. However, they have not had it the last couple of times I've been there. Everything from the grilled/fried platters to the fresh oysters to the Greek nachos has been phenomenal. I recommend going for lunch, as my dinner experiences have not been quite as good.
(4)
Cody M.
It delivers what it advertises. Not much more to say. It tastes good and the service is friendly. Good resturant overall. Would come back for sure.
(5)
Brian E.
Every time I am in Birmingham, this is my no.1 go-to place to eat. I always choose full service, as its always worth it. Freshest oysters anywhere around and fresh blackened fish is to die for!
(5)
Paul C.
Our family had lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The good: Atmosphere - seafood market/restaurant in a renovated downtown building; lots of seating and an outdoor patio. The location has character. Tuna Kabobs - generous portion of grilled tuna, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes with Greek seasoning. It is served with white rice, and the lunch portion was huge! Greek Salad - fresh salad with lettuce, tomato, olives, and Greek dressing. Fried Pickles - crispy and salty. The not so good: Appetizers - served at the same time as the rest of the meal. Why is it called an appetizer? Fried calamari - Big portion, but the batter was non very flavorful. Slow service - We ate at around 1:00 and restaurant was crowded, but not packed. It seemed like forever between the time we ordered and the time our food was ready. Note: not all of the Fish Markets restaurants around town are the same. I definitely prefer this one over the location in Hoover.
(4)
Ken E.
Big, loud, crazy and in the middle of Birmingham. The place to go for fish in every shape and form, cooked to raw. Great for large parties. Get your eat on Bham.
(3)
Nicole B.
Love this place! I loved going here for lunch. I thought the food was great and great service. Love the atmosphere of this place!
The Fish Market is a gem in an otherwise dead neighborhood. We stayed at the nearby Hyatt Place hotel and had a quick walk over. We initially overshot the restaurant and didn't realize it was right behind us, since the back is a working factory. After consulting what turned out to be an employee on the street, we rounded the corner and found ourselves inside a large-scale seafood restaurant and store. You can order at the counter and get a pager, or sit at a table and receive full-service. We opted for the latter. My first choice was the Alligator Dinner, since I've had gator before and loved it. Unfortunately, they were out of it and they didn't have any halibut (or oysters, which was shocking), either. So I had the broiled seafood platter instead, with a generous side of fried pickles and a cup of delicious gumbo. The place was packed on a Friday night (probably because it's the only game around away from Five Points and spots on the UAB campus), but we arrived our food in a decent enough timeframe. If you're staying at Hyatt Place, this is your best bet -- otherwise, you'll have to subsist on Pizza Hut or travel further down deserted streets in what looks like an apocalyptic 1970s sci-fi film.
(3)
Anne T.
First time at The Fish Market last night. Monday night, not very busy. I arrive with a party of 4. We are directed to seat at a table meant for 6-8. I ask politely if we could sit at the 4-top so we can actually hear each other talk. We move to the new table, server asks for our drinks, my dad orders a beer that is clearly on the menu and the server states that is now an "Avondale Flat Tire". My dad says, "I'm pretty sure it's New Belgium Fat Tire". Guy keeps calling it Flat Tire all night. He mentions that it is his 2nd week working. I understand, I've waited tables most of my life and know how difficult it can be to learn a menu as large as this one. My issue wasn't the fact that we had a new server, it was the lack of general customer appreciation. The last thing I want to see when dining out is the back of the house employees taking a seat at the table next to mine at the end of their shift and carrying on personal conversations in the middle of the dining room. This place did not meet my expectations. While we were scoping out the patio for a potential catered event, I hope my family does not end up choosing this as the location. Food was mediocre, service was awkward, and ambiance was non-existent.
(2)
Jacklyn H.
I love the crab cakes and atmosphere! Seems like the portions have gotten larger and quality even better since last time I had been there.
(4)
Mark A.
I'm a fried oysters fan and done right I can't get enough. This place has excellent food with good service and seeing your dinner sitting in the glass cases up front is always a good sight. And even better when the food comes out and it tastes as you hope for. I can't say more than that. Great food, great spot, and great time.
(5)
Craig L.
Outstanding southern fish market and restaurant. Rustic atmosphere with live music. Wide variety of fish prepared any way you like. Great place for a fun casual dining experience.
(4)
brad h.
Impressive old warehouse location w/ great decor. Pick out a bottle of wine as you walk to the counter to order your food. The line winds through 3 or 4 wine racks. They sell old Greek copper and brass pots, etc. They have some very nice hand made Greek pottery/cookware for sale - hand painted and very colorful, not cheap. Oh and they have food too! The fish is cooked "Greek style" with some reasonable spices, not too much... I had the broiled plate with a Greek salad which was great. The platter comes with 85% Talapia (also good), with maybe 4 or 5 scalops that were small, maybe 4 small shrimp (haha) and 2 very small oysters and four huspuppies... So I had a Talapia and hushpuppy plate with a sample of some other food. Don't want to give the impression that the plate was small - it's a huge meal and it was good. I would go back. And the prices are maybe 40% lower than you might expect... There is a lot of variety at a good price in a nice place...
(3)
Patrick G.
Great for seafood.
(4)
Sebastian M.
I had the fish tacos and was initially disappointed when they we in flour tortillas instead of corn... but the flavor punch it delivered soon overcame any reservations I might have had and I got the collards greens and black eyed peas as sides, which were both much better than I expected. overall all a very pleasant experience and highly recommended.
(4)
LL C.
My dad really enjoyed the gumbo and his catfish fillets. And he loved the sweetness of the cole slaw. I always get the shrimp po-boy thinking it would get better but no. Being from Louisiana I have certain expectations for my po-boys. The shrimp is bland and the sandwich is dry, even after I had condiments. The shrimp need more spices. I got the wings as an appetizer and they could stand to be cooked a few minutes longer to crisp the skin just a bit. Everyone raves about the other dishes so maybe I will try something different when I go back. The atmosphere is cool, but I prefer full-service instead of counter service.
(3)
Wanda O.
The location and atmosphere is nice. The food is just ok. I had the clam chowder and it was good. The closest I have had to New England clam chowder down in AL. My crab clam where spicy and I had never had just the "thumbs" of a crab (when I ordered them I thought it was the whole claw). They were ok a bit over cooked. If you are going to order these let them know you want butter and how spicy you like them. My hubby had the alligator sausage and chicken plate with two sides and he didn't really care for it. I had a bit of his side an they were over cooked a stale old fries suck. This place has a lot of potential but they fall short. Our waitress was nice but when we asked if they had a military discount she said they didn't and that she didn't even get a discount and then over stepped and said the owner was Greek so she made it sound like Greeks are cheap people and we didn't like that.
(2)
Kathy T.
Found a great place for fresh oysters! The place was nice and bustling. We also ordered the calamari and snow crabs ; snow crabs were disappointing and not very fresh. I would go back for more oysters or to try their fish dishes.
(3)
Natasha S.
Okay, this place is always pretty packed, so a colleague and I decided to give it a try. We were on a streak with great restaurants and were quite excited about this place. We both ordered the Fried Shrimp unfortunately, with two sides. When we got our food, I tasted my food and it was bland and no seasoning what so ever! My colleague had the same look. We asked the first server, and he said we don't season our food. Here's some salt and pepper, you can sprinkle it. No, I am not going to sprinkle salt and pepper on my fried shrimp. The second server we stopped said, oh yeah it pretty much sucks, I never get this, but here's more seasoning. The third one finally was nice enough to be like, come with me, let's get you a refund. When we walked up, the woman was like where are your sides, we had left them at the table. She went to check if we had eaten them, pretty retarded, they should comp the whole thing. I had a few sips out of my drink, and she had the nerve to be like, 'Oh yeah, you drank out of your drink'. Yes, you see I was expecting to eat my meal, so yeah I did. Then she told us it was against the law to season their food? What is that supposed to mean? She also said its on their menus et al, which I did not see. I went online to check and read no such note. Nor is it on the menu on the screen. For such a big and busy place, I'd expect the customer service to be a bit better than this. NEVER going back again.
(1)
Teresa L.
Since I'm from Alabama, I have to have whole fried catfish when I visit Alabama. Filets just don't compare. The Fish Market had some really great catfish. My boyfriend loved his Athenian flounder (I think it was flounder). The atmosphere isn't very cozy. This place could use an interior designer. Maybe it used to be a Western Sizzlin or a Sizzler. Service was great.
(4)
Eric G.
Smooth jazz tonight, plus really good seafood. I had the pesto shrimp and sun dried tomatoes. It was very delicious. The steamed broccoli had a good light lemon oil on it, and was very refreshing. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Ellen H.
Food was good the first time I went not so much the second. Skip the shrimp and scallop dish and stick with the main items - shrimp & grits were great. The fried pickles are worth the salt - drink lots of water
(5)
Dan W.
I was so pleased with my visit to The Fish Market. Our waiter was very friendly and helped me and my colleague to navigate the menu and find something really good. I really enjoyed the flavor of the food and the variety of the menu.
(4)
Cait J.
Everything is delicious, especially the calamari as an appetizer. I always get a greek salad with a grilled fish--usually tuna, swordfish, or salmon. the tuna is always cooked to perfection. great food for a great price. the crab cakes are a little too much breading and not enough crab for my taste, but everything else i have had is fantastic.
(5)
B N.
Bustling restaurant with Greek influences serving a wide variety of tasty seafood entrees at reasonable prices. This place isn't a secret judging by the folks filing in the front door on a Saturday though we were seated in 15 minutes after being told the wait was half an hour. The seafood seemed very fresh and was prepared well.
I kept hearing about this place all around town. Everyone knows the owner (who also owns DoDiYos which is delicious) and says it's great. I have no idea what they are talking about. We ate there for dinner tonight and were impressed by the vibe of the place but that ended pretty quickly when the confusion set in. We had to read a menu standing in line and walk to a counter to order. We thought we were at a sit down restaurant but it was more like a cafeteria. We were told that they were out of fried green tomatoes which is the appetizer we wanted. So we skipped an appetizer and ordered only entrees. I ordered buffalo shrimp and my partner ordered seafood (shrimp & scallop) grilled over rice. We were handed cups and were given a buzzer and that was it. We werent told how anything worked from the cashier who was not friendly at all. We figured out where to get our drinks and asked a guy cleaning one of the tables how we got our food. He said that when it went off we went to a window to pick it up. We did that and it was served cafeteria style on trays with the food all in different dishes. The food was awful. The batter from my shrimp was falling off and the shrimp was sitting in a bed of grease and oil. The only redeeming thing was the hush puppy. My partner's food was also bad. She said the rice was soggy and wet and her scallops had no sear and no taste. Very shocked to have such a bad experience. We love his other restaurant but we won't ever be back to this one. We had to leave and eat somewhere else because we couldn't finish our meal. We haven't had such a bad dining experience in years and we eat out a ton.
(1)
Nancy B.
My main dish was outstanding, although the salad was mediocre. Not worth the extra cost for the feta "dressing". We were in a large party. Most were pleased with their dinners, but the fried fish platter was a disappointment to those who chose it. Be aware that the shrimp are served whole - a shock to some in our party who felt that should have been made clear. Read the menu ahead of time.
(4)
Alex W.
The shrimp and grits were one of the best things I've ever eaten. Ever. Ever. Ever. The prices are high because the portions are huge. Go hungry. I like that you can choose between wait service or doing the carrying and ordering yourself.
(5)
Terje D.
I used to like this place and would go there regularly for lunch. It is a nice place and it is certainly pleasant to sit outside at their terrace, but their food is not up to par, and it seems to have been in decline for some time now. Their menu has always been confusing, but the latest incarnation seems to have lost many of its better items, like the fish and chips made with cod and the grilled scallops. All prices have gone up considerably of late -- the Red Snapper went up from around $9 to $15, presumably due to a shortage of this particular fish in the Gulf. In response, good ol' tilapia--a farmed fresh water fish, definitely nothing to do with snapper--has become "Cherry Snapper" on the menu! Overall, the food just isn't very good. Their grilled fish is drowned in oil and sometimes very salty. Their fried fish is spongy, tasteless and oily. The cole slaw is terrible. I don't think I will come back here again.
(2)
Tracy W.
We enjoyed our meal here. The service was good. The food was good. But it did not reach my "very good" level. That being said, I would recommend to friends that they eat here.
(3)
Sherry W.
Who would have ever thought a fish market would serve the best nachos ever! The Greek nachos are the most delicious things ever!!! Be sure to try them
(4)
Gary W.
Always good
(4)
Todd S.
Solid. Huge menu selection with any fish you can practically imagine, short of Fugu. Good bottled beer selection; no draft beer. The wait staff is friendly and does a good job. Lots of aides to choose from; the fried pickles are good but they have outstanding fried okra. I had the swordfish (grilled) and it was succulent, firm and flavorful. The prices are cheap and the portions are HUGE.
(4)
Ann M.
We stopped going to this location when the Hoover and Greystone locations opened. Well, they're good, but nothing compares to the original!
(5)
FJ E.
It's a different sort of experience based on the time of day you come in. Food is generally served in a market/cafeteria style methodology at a main counter ... unless you come on nights when they have set up "full service" with waiters, etc. Food was good, plentiful, and prices honest. A bit of a wait and some confusion from the staff as to when full-service and cafeteria styles are running and how seating works, it seemed.
(3)
Mary B.
The ambiance of this restaurant is amazing. The bar area is decorated with flags and the backsplash is a giant mosaic made with pottery, really cool. You can order at a counter if you like, or you can sit and have a full service meal. We had a rather large party, so we were seated at a conveniently sized round table which offered a great view of the whole restaurant. Our waitress was so sweet and efficient, she was great. The best part about the menu: they tell you where all their seafood if from! I'm highly suspect of getting seafood while not on the coast, but knowing that my shrimp came from Apalachicola made me feel confident in ordering. We ordered fried pickles and the greek nachos for appetizers. First off, the friend pickles weren't pickle chips like most places, they were fried pickle spears! Awesome. And I highly highly recommend the greek nachos. Served with pita chips instead of tortilla chips, and the toppings include shrimp and artichoke hearts. My main course was shrimp and grits, a southern staple. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and so so delicious! Overall, great experience, wonderful food! I'm definitely frequenting The Fish Market Restaurant a lot in the future!
(5)
Chad L.
The Market looks really nice but the experience and food let me down. First ordered the soft shelled crab that they were out of, so I went with the deviled crabs and Lobster bisque. They said it came with two sides and salad so I ordered the greek salad, fries and cole slaw. The lobster bisque had shrimp and no lobster, but still had a great taste. The greek salad didn't show up, the fries were frozen aned below par and the cole slaw was decent. the low point were the deviled crabs. There was NO crab in them, NONE. It was just stuffing filling a crab shell and deep fried. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Dan W.
One of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. Went last week with family and everything was fresh, tasty and plentiful. I had the Athenian Snapper which rocked, wife had a huge greek salad with Snapper which was awesome looking. Even the kids meals were plentiful and well-done. Highly recommended.
(5)
Puffer P.
Grilled platter was great! Came with fish, scallops, oysters, hush puppies, shrimp and two sides or a salad for $14.50. Great deal and yummy food. Had some catchy live jazz music playing as well for dinner on a Thursday night.
(4)
David B.
Excellent
(5)
Kev H.
Not many good reasons to visit Birmingham. But I'll give you one very good one. The Fish Market. This downtown gem offers up great Greek inspired seafood at the best price I had seen for seafood. There ate two levels of service: full and self. Self-service gets you cafeteria style dining in the back or the preferred full service which you get at or near the bar area. The service is best in the full service area. I highly recommend the alligator (grilled). The seafood is fresh and the price is great.
(5)
Janet S.
Greek, eek methinks not, ...the building is quite appealing from the outside and on entering quite promising, with its fish market counters where you can buy fish and its rows of cooking paraphenalia...but there it stops. The Greek style appetizer was not like anything from earth let alone Greece. Mussels/shrimp and crab claws drowned in a thick soupy salty goop. Thank God that I ordered oysters and not the Fish entrees. Friend's scallops were overcooked and buttery, hush puppies accompanied them....so like which part of Greece are they from! Pablo had the Cobia which is a lovely fish, meaty and flavorsome and in this case smothered in butter (eek methinks not). The Greek Salad was Greek because it had Feta Cheese (in it) (think Stavros my British friends). If I wanted Oysters and a glass of wine I may stop by there again and sit at the bar but unfortunately the memory of the Greek appetizer will sit with me for a while.
(1)
Brooke A.
I've never had a bad meal here. The food is very good and a great value. The servings are tasty, huge & affordable... Sign me up as a regular. Plus, the staff is very friendly and make you want to come back as a repeat customer... especially at the bar.
(5)
Kevin W.
i have been dinning her for a few years. the past few visits i have been noticing a lack of customer care, dirty, tables, floors, windows and food quality. when ordering at the counter the cashiers are not friendly and occassionaly rude. the waiters are lazy and do not make an effort to accommodate. when i typically visit late afternoons before a flight back home. need to pay attention to details. Great menu and i love seafood. needs sharpen the focus to customer service and providing a quality product.
(2)
Gene G.
Simply the best food at the best price! I had a 22$ meal for 10$ that was absolutely out of this world. Can't be beat! I could sit at their oyster bar for days.
(5)
Danny G.
A Stoli up with a twist for $4.50? Yummy On the first visit get the Athenian Snapper. A solid value. Always find a seafood restaurant connected to a market selling the fish!
(4)
Jason M.
The thing that surprised me the most wasn't the tank of live lobsters and the two of live fish. It wasn't the boat inside the door, selling Greek urns and pots. And it wasn't the long line or the exceptionally good food. It was the fact that, when my wife made mention to me that they were out of sweet tea, the busboy came over, said "Excuse me, ma'am", and explained that they are *never* out of sweet tea. This being the very depths of the South, I suppose I can see why someone would take it personally if you were to say that there was no more sweet tea. I had the Jambalaya, which was great, and some of my son's chicken tenders (kids menu), which were some of the best chicken tenders I've ever had. My wife had a salad with huge chunks of Swordfish on top, which she really enjoyed, and my mother-in-law made short order of the crab legs. I don't remember what my father-in-law had, but I do remember he was very happy with it. I can't wait to come back!
(4)
Tim F.
The Fish Market! It's hard to believe that no one has reviewed this not-so little gem in the heart of Birmingham -- the GINORMOUS UAB medical center and the Kirkland Clinic is right next door. This alone is enough to explain the huge lunch crowd. Diners should be prepared to wait more than a few minutes in a line reminiscent of the ones in Disney World. There is ample seating outside and in with an oyster bar thrown in for good measure. The food is a mix of the usual suspects and a few more unusual (Mediterranean) ones sprinkled in. The food is hit or miss -- I dig the grilled catfish po' boy, the fried clam po' boy, and the grilled snapper. There are plenty of sides to choose from, including lemon butter linguine. Mmm. The restaurant is nothing spectacular when broken down to the different parts, but ultimately, the Fish Market will always have a warm place in my heart.
(4)
B. C.
Love this place. I'm a semi-regular. But on Saturday I witnessed a waiter being very rude to a first-time customer who was confused by the sometimes there's table service/sometimes there's not system. ... It really can be very confusing for first-timers. Management needs some decent signage clearly and simply directing first-timers to tables with table service, or to the line for self-service.
(4)
David M.
Food was a big let down but the service at the oyster bar was fantastic. I'm sure there are some better items on the menu, but my order of Cajun Style Shrimp (gumbo-esque) seemed very mild to the taste and lacked pizzaz. Per usual, it's hard to find good affordable seafood in Birmingham but the Fish Market will do in a bind.
(3)
Rik W.
Service was fair, however; excellent quality, preparation and portions for the price!
(4)
Karl F.
Went here for a business lunch. Wow the food was so tasty and plenty of it! Service was very good although it took a while to get a table because this place was slammed with people. Only downside was free parking was tough to find and the fact that the place was so busy. It's worth it though!
(5)
Tom W.
just a okay spot for dinner...fresh oysters were very good but the entrees were just okay. staff was friendly and sides were just okay (again). I guess it is a "just okay" place for dinner.
(3)
Brandon C.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Great place. Went here on overnight trip to Birmingham and was looking for a local place. Don't think yelp could have helped me make a better choice. Had the fried platter and was fried just right and portions were more than plentiful. Order calimari if you have a big group we couldn't finish ours.
(5)
Celia M.
We moved here recently, and my colleagues at work took me here. The frilled trout was delicious, and when my husband and I went back, we tried the Greek appetizer for 2 which includes mussels, shrimp, and scallops, in an olive oil and lemon sauce on top of shredded cabbage. To die for! we have been back 3 days in a row for it. And the fried green tomatoes? Sliced perfectly thin with a cornmeal breading. Crispy and not greasy. We also like the U Peel Em shrimp with cocktail sauce. This is a local place, and the owners want you to enjoy the food. We love it and will return often.
(5)
Leslie F.
Went back today. Had the shrimp and pasta. A MUCH better dish. Fun place, very affordable and large portions and sides.
(3)
Charlie S.
The food is good! Greek Island Grouper is my favorite! And their green beans are good! The portions big enough to justify the price tag. I have never left here anything less than way over stuffed. And if the weather is nice, they have a really great patio.
(5)
Greg W.
Out in Birmingham on business and had no idea where to eat. A couple of people told us about this place and said everything is good and that wasn't a lie (mostly)! I had red beans and rice and that was somewhat of a letdown compared to what I can get in New Orleans (Mother's or Desire) but not bad. We also had the big seafood combination appetizer, fried crawfish and calamari. Those appetizers could be entrees themselves they are so big. Food is wonderful. Atmosphere is very relaxed. I would highly recommend this restaurant and many locals swear by this place so you can't go wrong!
(4)
Nelly N.
The grilled blacked seafood platter was delicious! Well seasoned and fresh. The side items were hit or miss the collars seemed canned. The Greek potatoes, cabbage, Jack slaw, and black eye peas were pretty good. The coleslaw was excellent. The seafood bisque was very bothy and lacked content.
(4)
W M.
My husband and I are on a road trip, one of the cities we visited and spent the night was Birmingham. I scanned Yelp to see where would be a nice place to eat. Luckily we came across this restaurant. When we arrived we were met by this very friendly hostess who set us immediately. The ambiance and live music was a just what I need. We ordered the seafood platter and Trigger Fish our sides were fried okra, rice, coleslaw (too finely chopped), but ok in flavor, and the fried pickles. We also the crab cake on a bed of corn to go. All the food met our exceptions. Our server was AWEFUL!!!! Literally AWEFUL!!! She placed one of our orders incorrectly and then had the nerves to argue with me. I asked for the manager She came to our table with a slight smile and immediately started apologizing for the server saying that she's a friend George, (like I know who the heck George is). Also saying oh she'e not from here and she doesn't speak English well and learning (talked quite fluent to me). Long story short, food was excellent, service horrible, will I return YES!
(4)
Alex P.
Having lived in Birmingham for a number of years, this is without a doubt one my favorite restaurants. CRAWFISH TAILS ARE A MUST. For $13.99, you get a full bowl full of pre-peeled crawfish tails. Absolutely spectacular. AMBIANCE? Let's put it this way, I wouldn't bring anyone here for a date. You have to go to the window to pick up the plates, it's just extra casual atmosphere. Atmosphere wise it's somewhere between a seafood shack and a red lobster on that scale. GREEK POTATOES ARE MY FAVORITE. I would highly recommend them as one of your sides. BEAUTIFUL PATIO. Now, if you do want a nice ambiance and you don't mind being simmered live under alabama's heat like a crawfish, the patio is a spectacular option. To sum things up, The Fish Market is a neat little spot. Tasty food that's hard to get while away from the coast, at reasonable prices and solid service.
(5)
Milton S.
The Fish Market downtown in a historic old building in Birmingham is a favorite stop on our way back driving home from Florida. It is unusual to us that we find the seafood here to be equal or in some cases often superior to what we can find in Florida. I think this is the end product of another great Greek restaurateur tradition in Birmingham. The live Maine lobster is really great here. I love their gumbo and Greek salad. Scallops were very sweet and well prepared. The choice of fish is extensive and can be purchased fresh in the adjoining market along with some real bargains in bulk spices, seasonings and olive oil. At lunch service is somewhat deli-style with orders placed at registers and then picked up at a service window when a portable buzzer sounds. During the evening, you can choose deli-style or full-service with a dedicated wait staff in the front area surrounding the bar. Live music was a pleasant addition to the dining experience on our last visit. We have eaten here for many years. While every dining experience may not be five stars, this is a well-run restaurant that is a solid choice for fresh seafood, well-prepared.
(5)
Kayla B.
Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Got the pleasure of meeting the owner. He was very down to earth and loves his customers. Recommend shrimp and grits and fried calamari.
(5)
Nicole F.
Delicious food, fun/casual environment, fast & pleasant service. My husband & I are at UAB for a few months & unfamiliar with the area. A nurse recommended The Fish Market, we were happy to have a change of pace & fresh food. I ordered the devil crabs with a side salad. The salad was delicious & so were the crabs. Lots of meat with a great fried crust. My husband ordered the snapper, it was a little salty for his taste & over seasoned for mine. He got the coleslaw & fried okra for sides, both were tasty. I'm sure we'll be back soon.
Don't know why this place has such rave reviews. Everything was way too salty on my visit. The gumbo that everyone talks about was boring and tasted like frozen fare. Jambalaya tasted like I was drinking up marinara sauce. Seafood was not great quality. The place tries to create a more upscale feel with the atmosphere. Then they give you styrofoam cups and butter in small squeeze packets. Giving you two stars for the service. Server was nice and attentive throughout our meal.
(2)
Jeremy E.
I have been a fan of The Fish Market since they were in the small location on the other side of the block. They did a great job with the interior of the new, much larger space. The only complaint that I have about the place is that it gets loud inside when it is crowded...and it is almost always crowded, because the food is great! Not only is the food fresh and delicious, it is also very fair priced! I definitely enjoy sitting outside when visiting here...so much quieter and more relaxing.
(4)
Lori T.
Fish Market rocks. At night I prefer to be inside so we can have a server dedicated to our table. It isn't like that if you sit outside, which I am not a fan of not having my own wait staff. It can be quite noisy and difficult to have conversations. The wait staff rocks. Food is delish. Oysters on the half shell is our fave. It is a definite repeat spot.
(4)
Mike S.
Bluegrass and dixieland music in the background, mason jars and a bar beneath a dozen or more international flags makes the Fish Market downtown a sight to behold. We stopped in a fee Sundays ago after a weekend of weather in the 50s elsewhere in the nation to find Birmingham still about 87 degrees. Needless to say I was overdressed. The stuffed flounder was noticeably good, but the much-acclaimed gumbo was an absolute bore; I have a gallon of homemade Gumbo in the freezer that would shame theirs into next year. The fried green tomatoes were pretty solid... but missing that "thing" that fried green tomatoes are all about. At Fish Market, the crust is golden perfection... to the eyes. My mouth thought "hey, maybe they should just cut 'em thinner." I accidentally tried one of the sangrias before the waitress noticed I had the wrong drink; I ordered the Old fashioned and wondered to myself why it was purple. But since it was nearly summer-hot outside, I didn't ask enogh questions. I like a good old fashioned every once and again... just not here. The sangria, however, was good! All in all, the fish market is a solid place all around, but not necessarily somewhere I'd beat my neck going back to. The fresh fish selections are worth their weight. I'll try the shrimp and grits next time to put it up against some of my favorites from around the south.
(3)
Dino T.
Great, fresh seafood. Large portions. Service was also very good. Had the fried calamari, fried fish and fried snapper. Everything was very tasty and fresh.
(5)
Preeyam P.
Best fish in the city! I live around the corner and I always see trucks dropping off loads of fresh fish DAILY. There's a fishy smell when you first enter but the atmosphere makes you forget about that. The day I went the restaurant was packed so we sat at the bar. There were only 2 bartenders taking care of everyone's drinks and orders so it was a little hectic. Although the waiter forgot my appetizer order (he got the drinks right) we still had a good time. The fish was incredibly fresh, very moist, and packed with flavor. Unfortunately, the vegetables were overcooked, mushy, and salty. Come for the fish (not the vegetables).
(4)
Jessica H.
At the recommendation of a friend I hit up The Fish Market while in Birmingham for business. I didn't know what to expect and quite frankly, given the name, I figured I'd be wondering upon a smelly, dirty market with super fresh fish. Boy was I wrong. Not that there would be anything wrong with that at all, I love me a good fish shack, but this place is a restaurant, good for casual, good for dates, good for family, or ladies nights even. I showed up pretty late, probably 8 or 9, on a Saturday evening and it was BUSY and loud. Since I was alone, the waitress said I could sit at the bar but that was full too. I was very pleased that when I went back up to tell her the bar was full, she didn't make me get back into the long line, she put me at the top of list. To top it off, I think I got the best seat in the house, especially for a lone business traveler. I was right in front of the live jazz music! My heart flittered. Food and jazz. My waitress was a doll. And filled up my sweet tea and gave me lots of time to peruse the menu. I started off with a big bowl of gumbo. Mmmm. Love me some gumbo. It was tasty enough. A little too tomatoey and acidic for what I prefer, but I definitely polished it off. I followed up with some seafood, of course! I've learned my lesson during my travels that me and fried foods don't really agree (I made an exception for that okra you see back there), so I got the grilled fish platter which included tilapia, shrimp, delicious scallops, oysters AND a couple pieces of fried calamari and hushpuppies. The seafood was great. It was fresh as far as I can tell, well seasoned. I didn't like that the butter and sour cream for the potato were in to-go little packets. The thing that kind of turned me off is just how casual this place is, with its styrofoam bowls and such. It's like a nice, fancy restaurant trying to capture that fish shack feel but they just aren't quite making it work together seamlessly. If that makes sense?
(3)
Bill B.
The food was great ,service was fast ,enjoyed the evening ,well be back:-) :-) :-)
(5)
Joe L.
The Fish Market downtown is normally a good consistent place to eat with generally good food quality. Today we had seafood gumbo, fried catfish fingers regular and Cajun style with hush puppy's. Sides that included Greek salad, pasta with marinara sauce and fried okra. The meal was hardy in size. The seafood gumbo wasn't nearly good as what I was hoping for. I wouldn't order it again. It was more like seafood soup. The catfish & hush puppy's were excellent! The fried okra and pasta wasn't something I would order again (very bland). The Greek salad was fresh and good. The service was also good. On this day, the lunch we had was overpriced for the overall quality of the meal, eating off of plastic plates (school cafeteria type). $43.00 for two to eat lunch at the bar with not to comfortable chairs, plastic dishes and without alcohol beverages. I did see that they have "living" you pick them out -Maine Lobsters at 18.00 a pound. I haven't seen too many places in Birmingham you can get fresh Maine lobsters that you can pick out.
(3)
Jeremy B.
My expectations for this place was pretty high based off of all the Yelp reviews. My friends and I were dissatisfied when our food came out. I ordered the salmon cakes with fried okra and grits. My grits, okra, and salmon cakes were like warm! I hope they're better at dinner time. My friends fries and entree were Luke warm also and my wife's jambalaya was Luke warm! Hopefully this was just one bad day! My hush puppies were delicioso!
(2)
Tia H.
Sigh. The food was pretty good and would've earned this place four stars. The service, however, was terrible. Positives: The seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked. It was seasoned well. The decor was nice. Negatives: Our server, Leslie (I had to get her name off of the receipt), started out pleasantly enough. As our meal progressed, her attitude changed. She was short with us, and was not as attentive to our table as she had been to those around us. She came at the end of our meal to ask if everything was okay, only to leave before we could answer her. She gave us our check but didn't thank us. She made sure to thank the other table, though. She also made sure to check up on them during their meal. I don't know if race had something to do with it or not, but I do know that we were the only melanin-rich people that she happened to be serving at the time. That was the only difference between us and her other tables. I make sure to treat all service workers with respect, because I work in the same field and know how hard it can be. This was terrible, and colored my entire experience here negatively.
(2)
Lee C.
We stopped by at about 6PM on a Thursday night. The parking lot was nearly full but there was sufficient seating. We were seated outside within a short time. The waitress was helpful with the menu, and we decided to order one meal, the Greek fish. They were out of snapper. So, we had grouper. It took a while for the meal to arrive, and it tasted pretty good. With the two sides, we were barely able to finish it. So, you may consider splitting one dish between two people to save money. The server seemed to forget about us, and we needed to head out in a timely way. We had to flag her down for the check and then she didn't return. I had to go get her. She was apologetic and then returned with credit card I gave her. It delayed us a lot. So, the food this time was decent but not remarkable. The service leaved something to be desired this time.
(3)
Dan G.
In town on business and a colleague and I ate dinner here tonight. Great friendly service. Awesome selection of food. Our food was cooked very well and very flavorful. Fantastic southern food, and more than you can eat. Definitely will need back.
(5)
Judy R.
This place is overrated. Fish was greasy and the salad boring. The fried sweet potatoes were good. My husband ordered raw oysters--what can I say other than SMALL. There are many good places to eat in the Birmingham area, but this is not one of them.
(1)
Shannon T.
The downtown location is my favorite as I am a fan of sitting outside. The shrimp n' grits here is where its at. All I can say is if you have not done it do it. Walking into The Fish Market you are welcomed by copper pots and Greek inspired things as well as large fish holding tanks. You order at the window and normally the person is not the most friendly but more of a "next" order taker. You proceed to your table and wait till your called. I cannot say anything bad about the restaurant its a good choice!
(4)
Jeremy M.
So first time here. Was a great experience. Server was prompt and friendly. Kept my drink glass full. Checked in without being overbearing. Had the dozen Justins oysters was amazing. The oysters were fresh and the toppings weren't overpowering. Got the cup of clam chowder and it blew my expectations out of the water. Fresh and creamy with a good clam flavor. We ordered the oyster and shrimp po boys and split them half and half. Good flavor to them both. Not greasy at all and good toasted bread. All in all worth the 65 for the bill with all the food we got. And enough to take a bit home for later.
(5)
S C.
On our drive across the US, NY to Los Angeles, my wife and I stopped here on the recommendation of a hotel worker in Atlanta Georgia who grew up in Birmingham. We are soo glad we stopped! The staff is super friendly. We ordered the Buffalo Shrimp and it was awesome. We both had the Shrimp and Grits and I can honestly say that it's the best I've had. Flavor profile was spot on. Not over powering. Perfect! Based on the Shrimp and Grits alone we will be returning. On a side note -I was wearing a USMC tshirt and the waitress serving us said her grandson is presently serving in Marines. She thanked me for my service and went on her way. Then the Manager and assistant manager came over and thanked me too. A very nice gesture.
(5)
Samantha I.
Portions are huge!!! But food was fantastic and lots of sides. I had the salmon on salad- so much fish, came with hush puppies and a baked potato! Nice atmosphere inside
(4)
Michael P.
The oysters are really good. I also enjoyed the Greek salad as well. The waiters are all very nice and it's not over priced.
(4)
Jeanne C.
I've been here three times now. I've eaten three completely different specialties. Each was better than the other. Very happy from start to finish. Reasonably priced and great atmosphere.
(5)
Michael L.
Same restaurant, new venue but that didn't change the service or the food but you wouldn't know that by the crowds that patronize this restaurant. The food is still just average and the wait time still takes too long. I'm probably one of few who holds this view about this restaurant, but it's my opinion!!!
(3)
Thomas B.
So we tried this place for lunch and wow! Huge servings of fresh seafood. Friendly service and there was a boat in the place!
(5)
Sheri P.
It is with a heavy heart I write this review. I have heard only good things about this restaurant and in a way I feel robbed. Today was the first time I have ever been here. My friend has been many times and recommended the salmon dip as an app and the red snapper (grilled) as a meal. The salmon dip was very nice. The pita chips that came with it where stale. Very stale. Which was unfortunate because I was told they were going to be delicious. The "red snapper" was over cooked. It was rubbery and chewy. In my opinion it was not even red snapper! It did not look like red snapper and it did not taste like red snapper. It tasted like over cooked and over seasoned tilapia. It did. I feel really bad saying that... but maybe there was a mistake. I had two pieces in my lunch order and both were the same: over cooked unfortunate pieces of a white fish trying to pass as red snapper. You get 2 sides or a salad. I saw the sides from other tables. They looked canned. So I ordered the salad. It was okay. Just okay. Not bad- not good. Their Greek dressing is overly salty and I like salty. Our server and service was average. So 2 stars instead of 1. It was nice enough. The decor is very homey and comforting. Like an old meat and 3 kind of place with copper and random Greek influences. After 30 years of living in Birmingham and just trying out the Fish Market for the first time, I don't know if I will ever be back.
(2)
Cathy B.
The downtown location of this restaurant is the one to hit. There are few places you can go for fresh seafood that are reasonably priced. Most in Birmingham are going to be over 20 a plate for an entry level piece of amberjack. My trip of late was a good one. My party started with Blue Point oysters on the half shell. A nice touch is the mignonette sauce they include on the tray. Entrees included grilled trigger fish, Greek shrimp, and steamed gulf shrimp. All were fantastic and the highest priced one was 13.99. Service on the table service side is pretty basic but it beats waiting on your food on the side where they just have food runners. If you are going to have cocktails this side makes a lot more sense as well. My only complaint was that I didn't order enough oysters!
(4)
Katie C.
The best fresh fish I have had so far inland in my life. The staff was far above par even with the 10 tables our waiter was handling. Large portions and strong drinks are always a pro on my book. I love the Casual atmosphere and heated patio. The prices are FAR below what I would have been happy to pay for the delisheness I encountered! I can't wait till the next time I travel to Birmingham this will be my first stop! But until then I'll be dreaming about the hushpuppies...
(5)
Brian Y.
Best meal so far in Birmingham! I ordered the grilled amberjack along with the gumbo and green beans. First off, I order fish quite often. However, NEVER have I had anything so juicy and flavorful. The fish was amazing!! And the gumbo! This is my first real taste of southern food. I've had the gumbo at disneyland, but always knew it wasn't quite the real thing. Now I can say I have and it's fantastic! The andouille sausage, the shrimp and everything else in it tasted really fresh and flavorful. If I'm here any longer, may come back to try something else.
(5)
Heather B.
Yum. The Fish Market has been a go-to for me for quite some time....but I've still yet to try all the menu items. Alligator sausage - check. Shrimp & grits - of course check. Swordfish kabobs - double check. Many moons ago, there was a citrus orange roughy dish with onions & potatoes that was omg my fave, but I haven't seen it on the menu in a while. Sure do wish they'd bring that one back! Since then, I often opt for the amberjack, or if I'm with someone who is willing to share, I'll order fried blue crab claws (is too much to eat by myself!) At the market in front, you can purchase anything from fish filets to whole crawfish, house-made cocktail sauce to stuffed olives, authentic canned olive oil to the salt they serve on the table here. The oyster bar is a fun little section of the restaurant, even though I'm not crazy about oysters. You don't have to order oysters or booze to sit here! It's interesting to watch the guys in action (man, that fella sure is speedy at shucking oysters! I hope he doesn't stab himself in the hand!). Plus, they're happy to drop knowledge on you about the varieties of oysters that they serve. Even an eater with an unrefined palate can taste the difference between a cold-water oyster and a gulf oyster. I remember a time when they didn't have a dedicated table service, when you just went through the line, took a pager, and they brought the food out to you. Now, when you opt to sit in the front dining room, you have a server. They even have secluded little sections that partition you off from the general bustle of the restaurant. This is especially nice when going on a date, or having a more intimate meal with friends or family. And there's also live jazz! Old habits die hard, though, and I find myself typically just going through the line, trying on a Greek fisherman's hat that is WAY too big for my head, ordering up, and making my way to the back dining room. Wherever you sit, it's not unusual to see George Sarris wandering about, talking to patrons about the dishes he has prepared for them. Seeing this makes you think he is a chef who truly enjoys his life's work, and that he relishes that look on your face when you truly enjoy what he has created. And what he has created is a welcoming atmosphere, a nod to Greek culture, and meals that bring you back for more.
(4)
Timothy P.
Eh. Its just "ok" not bad. Not great. Just "eh". Tilapia was basically tasteless. Shrimp tastes frozen. "Eh"
(3)
Cary H.
Huge portions and very friendly service. Wonderful fried green tomatoes and gumbo. We all flounder and it was tasty and fresh.
(5)
Leslie L.
Food was delicious. Oysters were SO fresh and our server Kelsey treated us very well. Made us feel very welcome.
(5)
Indigo P.
Yum Yum! Shrimp & Grits, delicious. Fried okra, delicious. South coleslaw. ... finally! Good slaw! Server, very nice. Don't speak too much. You might get him confused! Lol! Seating, no wait! Definitely coming back!
(4)
Suzycreamcheese F.
Not coming back here again. After half a year of bad food and dealing with a lazy, slow kitchen on a lunch hour time crunch, I don't expect to ever have a good experience here again. My last fish entree was dry and tasted fishy, and the manager comped my meal. This is something I rarely ever ask for but the food was so bad I was NOT going to pay for it. Just sitting in this once bustling, excellent restaurant that is now a sad former shadow of itself is depressing. My nerves can't take another bad experience.
I'm a Birmingham guy, so of course I know Fish Market. I won't comment on the food, as it's the same as it has been for years. Just giving a heads up for people. I was going to eat lunch here on Tuesday, July 1st, when a man, purportedly employed by the restaurant, threatened to have my vehicle towed. He called to me while I was waiting at door for my wife and said "You're going to Iron City. I'm calling a tow truck now" At which time, I called my wife and we went elsewhere. There are too many good, fresh restaurants in Birmingham to put up with this. Just glad I didn't walk out to find my vehicle gone after eating.
(1)
d a.
Had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp had a soapy taste...no clue why! I will not be returning..
(2)
Caroline C.
Just recently moved to Birmingham & this is one of my favorite places thus far. Everything is very fresh & the staff are all very friendly. If you don't have time to sit at a table, you can order at the counter & they'll buzz you when it's ready. Great downtown lunch spot for sure!
(5)
Kevin T.
Tried out the restaurant for lunch on 10/17. Started with seafood gumbo which was very good. Entree was jambalaya with Greek salad side. Jambalaya was not good. Tasted more like a marinara sauce than Creole. Greek salad was poorly done and too greasy. Expected better, frankly. Service was good, though.
(3)
paul o.
Downtown is great. Stay away from the 280 location if you've visited the downtown location cause you will be mighty disappointed, not same menu or service
(4)
Ron U.
Sweet, honest and what a fantastic variety of fish. YELPERS called this restaurant right as a must when you're visiting. Loved the live band and the local draft beers.
(4)
Yvonne S.
I love seafood, whenever I vacation I must dine at one of thee best seafood restaurants in town, after asking several ppl this place was recommended. The staff was extremely friendly and so were the gentlemen who helped us with our trays and issues (I had to ask one of them to take my collard greens back due to the fact that they were cold). The seafood was not fully cooked, all my sides and the other two guests' sides were cold. The lemon cake was extremely good, best I had in a very long time and the sweet tea was perfect!! I wouldn't visit this place again though.
(2)
Garnet G.
George Sarris the owner is wonderful!!! I called in an order for my moms birthday who was turning 101. She has no teeth so I requested the food be cooked to a very light golden brown so it would be softer. When I spoke with George he said he would cook it himself and there was no charge. In this day and age rarely do you find kindness like his. I can't say enough good things about him & their delicious food! Their food is always fresh and delicious!!! The fish market rocks - go there you won't regret it!
(5)
D D.
Good service - Marcus was conversational and knowledgeable about the menu and the Bham area. Good food, atmosphere was a little on the loud side but ok
(4)
Chad S.
Had the Red Snapper and it was wonderful! It was fresh and in season. A side salad and the fried pickles just to give them a try. Pretty good, but WAY to salty for sure. I would recommend any of the fresh fish because I spoke to 4 or 5 folks that all had different ones and the raved about the dish.
(5)
Jessica M.
This place is beautiful but I can't help but think they have a heavy hand on the salt shakers in the back. I usually get their grilled amberjack or mahi mahi. I like their calamari as well. Ask them to go light on the feta for your salad or your whole meal will taste like it! I have never used their waited tables, but I am sure I would like that better than having to stand in line and rushing to figure out what I want. I like that they have an actual fish market inside as well so you can order your favorites to cook at home!
(4)
Jay K.
Best fish I've ever had. Casual atmosphere, good food, great service. I am coming back for more. They tend to get busy so get here early!
(5)
Massimo F.
Good fish, maybe not the superbest but definitively good fish. Plus, you can purchase fish at the market inside the restaurant. I go there often. It's a good balance between good fish and reasonable price. Service is excellent. Drink selection is good enough, wine list is well populated. Menu selection is big, maybe too big. Food is well done, maybe a bit too spiced but not taste-covering. Recommended especially for lunch time.
(4)
Kristopher G.
This place is a real jewel! Great food, service, and atmosphere. The prices are reasonable for a seafood restaurant.
(5)
Laszlo U.
My girlfriend and I came here and were very disappointed. The food was actually very bad and the fish was under cooked. The service was equally bad and I would recommend many of the good restaurants on 1st ave
(1)
Elsa M.
I was really disappointed with my experience at The Fish Market. While the food was fabulous (I got the shrimp and grits w/ bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, and finished w/ a creamy wine sauce and a greek side salad), the service really left a bad taste in my mouth - figuratively and literally. Our server, Stedman, started out fine enough, even though he was really soft-spoken and hard to decipher. That could be overlooked, but not carelessness. Upon wiping down our table before we sat, he apparently threw the dirty brown paper towel into a tall, red, semi-transparent glass. Imagine my surprise when I asked for water a short time later, took a sip, and THEN noticed that that same dirty paper towel was IN my water glass!! I, of course, informed Stedman of this. Instead of apologizing, he just mumbled something awkwardly, took the glass, and replaced it. Since I was there with my husband, cousin, and his new fiancee that I was just meeting for the first time, I didn't want to make a scene. I assumed that he would do something to discount my bill as a sign of good customer service. Apparently, I was wrong. When the check came, it was for the full amount of everything as if nothing had ever happened! When I asked him if he planned on discounting my meal because of the disgusting paper towel in my drink, he said that he wasn't sure what he could do since I didn't order another drink that he could knock off the bill. Seriously? Discount or take off the meal! It's that simple. I told him that I would happily speak with the manager then. Peter, who represented himself as the manager, then came to the table. I recounted what had transpired. He made an awkward joke about how they weren't charging me extra for the dirty paper towel, to which I chuckled awkwardly as well - however it was far from funny. I paid good money at a restaurant that many of my friends and family mentioned as a pride of Birmingham and was disappointed that such poor service was not being acknowledged with the seriousness it deserved. Peter said that he did not have the authority to discount or wave the price of my meal (I thought you were the manager?!), and that he could only offer a free dessert. Seeing that I couldn't even finish my meal (it was great, but just a lot of food), a free dessert was of no use to me, but since it looked like he wasn't budging and again, since I didn't want to cause a scene and spoil this time with my family whom I was visiting, I told my husband to pick something out he liked which he did. We boxed it up and left. I doubt that I will ever be back to The Fish Market. I mean, why would I give my money to an establishment that doesn't respect me as a customer enough to take such egregious action seriously? It really is a pity since my meal was so good. The chef here is top notch. It's a shame that his or her work had to be tarnished due to circumstances outside of the kitchen and beyond his or her control. The chef is the only reason this review gets an extra star beyond the one.
(2)
Emily S.
This place is a Birmingham institution -- my grandfather has been taking me here since i was little. The food is nothing fancy but really authentic and good. They have every kind of seafood you're looking for.
(4)
Joe V.
Needed a nap after eating here!! So much food!! Like we say in the south, I was stuffed like a tick on a hound dog!! (too much of a visual? huh? Sorry) Was a business lunch (and I didn't pay yay!) So we ordered appetizers for the table, I sampled the Salmon Spread, the Crab Claws, the Fried Green Tomatoes and the Fried Pickles. (When I say "sampled" I mean I ate a bunch of each!) Each and every one was extremely tasty, if I had to offer some constructive feedback I'd say the pickles were over cooked and very salty, they were more like pickle chips. But friends if that's the worst I can say, then tha t"ain't sayin' much" I have had the Jambalya, the Shrimp and Grits and many other tasty entrees. Food sometimes takes a little longer to arrive depending on the day of the week and time of day you go. But everything is very fresh, they even display and sell catch of the day right there in the place. I have yet to try the raw bar, but it is on my "to do" list. Parking is always a challenge, valets are available. Great for families and small groups, you will surely come back!
(4)
Stephanie L.
Best calamari I've tasted in a long time! Good fooXd. 3 Nice people moved from a huge table in order to accommodate our party of 6. Good service. Good food.
(3)
Yohan N.
Food: Got the dozen oysters and grilled grouper. - total came out to $28. The Grouper was good. A wee bit too oily (the plate did not have a dry spot. Covered in oil) For my sides, I got collard greens and corn on a cob. Collard greens was smothered in salt and the Corn on a cob was bland and just tasted like butter. The grouper was good. Wasn't amazing but above average. The oysters were a disappointment. Not only did they not tell me I had to pick it up at the oyster bar, it took 20 minutes for me to get it. They finally had it ready when I finished my meal and the oysters were not fresh. Food = 2.5 stars Service: There were a lot of servers around and they were all very active. Even though you are to go get your own food once it's ready, they were very willing to help you carry it back for you. Decent service. Service = 3.5 stars I would hesistant to go back but would probably since they have a huge menu with tons of selections.
(3)
Gordon K.
I really like the looks of this restaurant. I find it very appealing. Also, I was treated in a very friendly manner by everyone and the waiters were so helpful. It was really pleasant because of that. The restaurant was pretty quiet which made our meal and conversation pleasant. We got there about an hour before closing. At other times it may be noisy. I got the stuffed red snapper, John's slaw, fries and a small Greek salad. The snapper was fresh, but not remarkable. I did like the fact that the snapper was not over-salted and not greasy or oily. However, while stuffed, there was no sauce or seasoning, so it was just bland. Fries were from frozen, crinkle cut stock. They were mediocre at best and not enjoyable enough for me to ever order them again. I liked the John's slaw and the hush puppies were good. Hush puppies here are small and crisp on the outside which to me is the proper way to do them. John's slaw is just angel hair cut cabbage to which you add John's dressing at your table.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Patrick M.
Let me say first - the look, atmosphere of this restaurant and the staff in general deserve perhaps four stars but the food is a hugh disappointment. Birmingham and the eclectic hip patrons of The Fish Market deserve better. The food is bland and tasteless in the extreme. The wonder of it all is that the this restaurant attracts the classy crowds that it does. Perhaps if fewer waited, as we did for some forty -five minutes for disgraceful food the owner might improve the quality. Hopefully this review sends that message. I repeat - the wonderful people of Birmingham deserve better. BTW- we were a family of seven - four adults/three children and had a wide range of the menu - we far over-ordered - our first (last) time so were had a wide selection and all agree the low quality of the food- all left their meals unfinished- it was that bad.
(2)Brandy B.
Really enjoy this place every time I go. I almost always get the grilled salmon. The sides are yummy, too.
(4)Christopher T.
The staff and waiters of this restaurant was amazing. Their hospitality and kindness were a great way to represent the true southern spirit. The food was below average I felt and should have been better for the price that I paid. I ordered catfish platter and the fish was bland and no taste. I wasn't impressed with the fish here at all. I'm not saying all their food is this way but I wasn't pleased with what I purchased. I may find their average, but their sweet tea was amazing. If I'm ever back in the area I will not return to this place as I feel I could receive better food elsewhere.
(3)Stephanie Y.
So whatever yelper wrote about the place to go if you are staying at the Hyatt I am about to find your review useful. I'm staying at said Hyatt, now the Spring Hill Suites Marriott and I kind of feel a little isolated. I'm alone, here in Birmingham for work. I walk the dark and lonely streets on a Friday night and there is this beacon of energy near a Dunkin' Donuts and an Arby's that I assume is this delicious fishery. It is. I sat down at the bar- it's kind of a cluster f*ck if you don't know whats going on. You can wait in line and order and eat like sitting in the front waiting area/bring home or you can wait to be seated. I flagged someone down and said it was just little ole me so I got to sit at the bar. Two fabulous women start chatting me up and next thing you know they are ordering my meal for me and a glass of wine. The Greek Snapper was really good, so large I couldn't finish it. The hush puppies were soooo good and I had the Greek salad which was decent nothing to write home about. I am not the fat ass tonight, all of that came with my meal. The ambiance was rocking, the prices were great, the food was damn good, the people were nice, the neighborhood blows minus this gem of a restaurant.
(4)Raye F.
Not so much! I heard ppl ranting over yhe fish market, but I thought otherwise. The location is very nice, parking can be madness, service was lack luster, prices are not too bad, but the food is not impressive to be a food market. Everything fried hard & in corn meal-smh. Im not sure it'll be a place ill take my parents. You decide for yourself. carry on to happier eats!
(1)Kelly S.
I have been here exactly twice, and I can't decide if I want to give it a third chance or not. Probably not. The first time, I sat at the bar and ordered shrimp and grits. The service and atmosphere were good, but when I got my food I was more than disappointed. The shrimp and grits are served in a giant bowl of gravy, with a little volcano of grits mounded in the center, atop which lie a small handful of overcooked shrimp. The entire thing was overwhelmed with the amount of gravy covering it all. It was so soupy (yet not soup) that I couldn't eat it. I didn't send it back, either, as my appetite was ruined, so I regretfully paid my bill and left. Knowing that I should have manned up and asked for a replacement entree, I gave the place another chance. On my second visit, I sat at a table and asked my server for a recommendation. She told me that the crab stuffed amberjack was good, so I got that with some buttered cabbage and onion rings. The wait was a little longer than I expected, but it didn't bother me until I saw several tables who arrived after me receiving their plates. I saw my server sitting at a back table rolling silverware, and when she saw me looking, she quickly got up and ran to the kitchen - and miraculously, my food was ready. The crab stuffing was actually pretty wonderful, but the fish itself was extremely dry and rubbery. The cabbage was also overcooked, though I guess some people prefer it to be a bit mushy. The onion rings were great, and it was a very large portion, too. Overall, the meal was underwhelming but not terrible, but because of my previous experience and the price I was paying for dry, overcooked fish, I left unhappy. I think with a name such as The Fish Market, the fish should be cooked perfectly every time. Maybe culling the menu a bit would help, or starting with larger portions of fish so they don't cook as quickly. This is a Birmingham favorite, though, so I don't know if my bad experiences were anomalies or if Birmingham just doesn't know what good seafood is supposed to taste like.
(1)Nicole S.
Oh, how I love this place. I return again and again and again for the Shrimp and Grits. It make's absolutely no sense how good the dish is. The waiters are so helpful and accommodating. There is plenty of room for dining and larger groups, with extended dining on the outside. Perhaps, this may be hard to realize with the tight parking on the outside (at least there is an attendant)
(5)Tom R.
Excellent selection of fresh fish and shellfish. The French mussels were terrific! We also bought some Grouper to take home. They were very accommodating with ice given our 4 hour drive home to Memphis.
(4)Yorke W.
This is one of our most favorite seafood restaurants in Birmingham. I strongly suggest that you give it a try. We went twice this week. Once we just went by to get a dozen oysters and have a beer at the bar. Another time we went for dinner and split the grilled rainbow trout and the sides. The drinks and food are very reasonably priced. George's olive oil is the only kind that I buy. The Athenan snapper and trout almondine are also very good. Enjoy!
(5)Robert L.
Nice. Just wish I could pack the whole place up and take it back to Maryland with me.
(5)Dax B.
I probably eat lunch at the Fish Market at least once a month if not more for work. The quality of the fish is consistently good if not great although some of the fish in the cases for the market looks spectacular (especially the tuna). For lunch, I typically get one of the "kabobs" which is actually not served on a kabob. Instead, they pull the fish and onions, peppers and tomatoes off and serve over a cup of rice. There is always a LOT of food with this order but it seems to be getting even more (olive) oily over the years. They do not ask how you want your fish cooked so it basically comes out somewhere around medium to medium well. Since I get those grilled vegetables, I typically go with a "Greek salad' as my side. It seems their idea of a Greek salad is a lot of iceberg, one tomato, two pepperoncinis, and 3-4 olives (at least they are real olives with pits) and some oily greek dressing. The salad is fine, but that is all it is. We did stop in for a dozen oysters yesterday and they were great. We split the dozen between the malpeques and the blue points. I love those creamy, briny PEI oysters and the Blue Points were pretty darn good too, very meaty. We also ordered the Greek nachos which was a bunch of toasted pita chips covered in Greek cheese(s) and supposedly crawfish (which I could not really find or taste), small shrimp and some red bell pepper. This was not my favorite dish but I'm not a huge fan of seafood and cheese either. The bartended (Dino?) provided excellent service. About that, I tend to sit and eat at the full service side and service can be hit or miss but mostly acceptable.
(3)Max M.
I fell in love with this place! The food was really top-notch. Even better than i expected. I went with my mom and a friend, and we all loved our entrees and sides and appetizers. I got the Cioppino, which is basically a savory tomato-ey seafood soup, with cole slaw and wonderfully-seasoned Greek potatoes. Everything was perfect. Our waitress was such a nice sweet lady and very attentive. She recommended everything.... which is usually annoying b/c most of the times they are lying. But she wasn't... everything was REALLY good! I will most likely eat here everytime i visit my friend in Birmingham!
(5)Steve G.
Went here for dinner and have always had a good experience. The place is lively and has a good vibe. Sat at the bar & had good service. I started with the gumbo and it was just ok. I had the cioppino and it was pretty good. The sauce was very tasty. Will continue to go here when I'm in town.
(4)Mark H.
The food is awesome!! I had the fried catfish fillet with fries, cold slaw and hushpuppies and left more than full. The puppies were sweet and fresh, the cole slaw was finely cut and sweet and the fish was perfectly fried with no "fishy" taste. What more could you want? The only snafu occurred because I arrived at shift change and my original waiter disappeared after the first beverage. I just moved to the bar and the service was flawless. You can eat at the full service area or choose an order at the counter cafeteria style.
(4)Craig S.
This is easily one of Birmingham's top seafood restaurants. Diners have three options: (1) Order at the counter and then pick up your food in the large dining room; (2) Sit down at a table in the main room and be served; or (3) Sit at the full service Raw Bar. As it is indeed a "market", you can also purchase fresh seafood at the counter to take home and cook yourself. I have never been disappointed with the freshness or the flavor of my food here. The alligator is absolutely delicious. It comes either grilled or fried, and with an outstanding remoulade sauce. However, they have not had it the last couple of times I've been there. Everything from the grilled/fried platters to the fresh oysters to the Greek nachos has been phenomenal. I recommend going for lunch, as my dinner experiences have not been quite as good.
(4)Cody M.
It delivers what it advertises. Not much more to say. It tastes good and the service is friendly. Good resturant overall. Would come back for sure.
(5)Brian E.
Every time I am in Birmingham, this is my no.1 go-to place to eat. I always choose full service, as its always worth it. Freshest oysters anywhere around and fresh blackened fish is to die for!
(5)Paul C.
Our family had lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The good: Atmosphere - seafood market/restaurant in a renovated downtown building; lots of seating and an outdoor patio. The location has character. Tuna Kabobs - generous portion of grilled tuna, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes with Greek seasoning. It is served with white rice, and the lunch portion was huge! Greek Salad - fresh salad with lettuce, tomato, olives, and Greek dressing. Fried Pickles - crispy and salty. The not so good: Appetizers - served at the same time as the rest of the meal. Why is it called an appetizer? Fried calamari - Big portion, but the batter was non very flavorful. Slow service - We ate at around 1:00 and restaurant was crowded, but not packed. It seemed like forever between the time we ordered and the time our food was ready. Note: not all of the Fish Markets restaurants around town are the same. I definitely prefer this one over the location in Hoover.
(4)Ken E.
Big, loud, crazy and in the middle of Birmingham. The place to go for fish in every shape and form, cooked to raw. Great for large parties. Get your eat on Bham.
(3)Nicole B.
Love this place! I loved going here for lunch. I thought the food was great and great service. Love the atmosphere of this place!
(4)Mike T.
I used to eat here at least twice a month but now I won't even go back. The food has gone way downhill and the side dishes are either too lemony, salty or overcooked into a mush! The hush puppies and corn on the cob are pretty good. I would recommend an entrée and Greek salad if you're going to eat here but there are better places to go for the amount of money you will spend at the late great downtown Fish Market.
(2)Scott J.
The Fish Market is a gem in an otherwise dead neighborhood. We stayed at the nearby Hyatt Place hotel and had a quick walk over. We initially overshot the restaurant and didn't realize it was right behind us, since the back is a working factory. After consulting what turned out to be an employee on the street, we rounded the corner and found ourselves inside a large-scale seafood restaurant and store. You can order at the counter and get a pager, or sit at a table and receive full-service. We opted for the latter. My first choice was the Alligator Dinner, since I've had gator before and loved it. Unfortunately, they were out of it and they didn't have any halibut (or oysters, which was shocking), either. So I had the broiled seafood platter instead, with a generous side of fried pickles and a cup of delicious gumbo. The place was packed on a Friday night (probably because it's the only game around away from Five Points and spots on the UAB campus), but we arrived our food in a decent enough timeframe. If you're staying at Hyatt Place, this is your best bet -- otherwise, you'll have to subsist on Pizza Hut or travel further down deserted streets in what looks like an apocalyptic 1970s sci-fi film.
(3)Anne T.
First time at The Fish Market last night. Monday night, not very busy. I arrive with a party of 4. We are directed to seat at a table meant for 6-8. I ask politely if we could sit at the 4-top so we can actually hear each other talk. We move to the new table, server asks for our drinks, my dad orders a beer that is clearly on the menu and the server states that is now an "Avondale Flat Tire". My dad says, "I'm pretty sure it's New Belgium Fat Tire". Guy keeps calling it Flat Tire all night. He mentions that it is his 2nd week working. I understand, I've waited tables most of my life and know how difficult it can be to learn a menu as large as this one. My issue wasn't the fact that we had a new server, it was the lack of general customer appreciation. The last thing I want to see when dining out is the back of the house employees taking a seat at the table next to mine at the end of their shift and carrying on personal conversations in the middle of the dining room. This place did not meet my expectations. While we were scoping out the patio for a potential catered event, I hope my family does not end up choosing this as the location. Food was mediocre, service was awkward, and ambiance was non-existent.
(2)Jacklyn H.
I love the crab cakes and atmosphere! Seems like the portions have gotten larger and quality even better since last time I had been there.
(4)Mark A.
I'm a fried oysters fan and done right I can't get enough. This place has excellent food with good service and seeing your dinner sitting in the glass cases up front is always a good sight. And even better when the food comes out and it tastes as you hope for. I can't say more than that. Great food, great spot, and great time.
(5)Craig L.
Outstanding southern fish market and restaurant. Rustic atmosphere with live music. Wide variety of fish prepared any way you like. Great place for a fun casual dining experience.
(4)brad h.
Impressive old warehouse location w/ great decor. Pick out a bottle of wine as you walk to the counter to order your food. The line winds through 3 or 4 wine racks. They sell old Greek copper and brass pots, etc. They have some very nice hand made Greek pottery/cookware for sale - hand painted and very colorful, not cheap. Oh and they have food too! The fish is cooked "Greek style" with some reasonable spices, not too much... I had the broiled plate with a Greek salad which was great. The platter comes with 85% Talapia (also good), with maybe 4 or 5 scalops that were small, maybe 4 small shrimp (haha) and 2 very small oysters and four huspuppies... So I had a Talapia and hushpuppy plate with a sample of some other food. Don't want to give the impression that the plate was small - it's a huge meal and it was good. I would go back. And the prices are maybe 40% lower than you might expect... There is a lot of variety at a good price in a nice place...
(3)Patrick G.
Great for seafood.
(4)Sebastian M.
I had the fish tacos and was initially disappointed when they we in flour tortillas instead of corn... but the flavor punch it delivered soon overcame any reservations I might have had and I got the collards greens and black eyed peas as sides, which were both much better than I expected. overall all a very pleasant experience and highly recommended.
(4)LL C.
My dad really enjoyed the gumbo and his catfish fillets. And he loved the sweetness of the cole slaw. I always get the shrimp po-boy thinking it would get better but no. Being from Louisiana I have certain expectations for my po-boys. The shrimp is bland and the sandwich is dry, even after I had condiments. The shrimp need more spices. I got the wings as an appetizer and they could stand to be cooked a few minutes longer to crisp the skin just a bit. Everyone raves about the other dishes so maybe I will try something different when I go back. The atmosphere is cool, but I prefer full-service instead of counter service.
(3)Wanda O.
The location and atmosphere is nice. The food is just ok. I had the clam chowder and it was good. The closest I have had to New England clam chowder down in AL. My crab clam where spicy and I had never had just the "thumbs" of a crab (when I ordered them I thought it was the whole claw). They were ok a bit over cooked. If you are going to order these let them know you want butter and how spicy you like them. My hubby had the alligator sausage and chicken plate with two sides and he didn't really care for it. I had a bit of his side an they were over cooked a stale old fries suck. This place has a lot of potential but they fall short. Our waitress was nice but when we asked if they had a military discount she said they didn't and that she didn't even get a discount and then over stepped and said the owner was Greek so she made it sound like Greeks are cheap people and we didn't like that.
(2)Kathy T.
Found a great place for fresh oysters! The place was nice and bustling. We also ordered the calamari and snow crabs ; snow crabs were disappointing and not very fresh. I would go back for more oysters or to try their fish dishes.
(3)Natasha S.
Okay, this place is always pretty packed, so a colleague and I decided to give it a try. We were on a streak with great restaurants and were quite excited about this place. We both ordered the Fried Shrimp unfortunately, with two sides. When we got our food, I tasted my food and it was bland and no seasoning what so ever! My colleague had the same look. We asked the first server, and he said we don't season our food. Here's some salt and pepper, you can sprinkle it. No, I am not going to sprinkle salt and pepper on my fried shrimp. The second server we stopped said, oh yeah it pretty much sucks, I never get this, but here's more seasoning. The third one finally was nice enough to be like, come with me, let's get you a refund. When we walked up, the woman was like where are your sides, we had left them at the table. She went to check if we had eaten them, pretty retarded, they should comp the whole thing. I had a few sips out of my drink, and she had the nerve to be like, 'Oh yeah, you drank out of your drink'. Yes, you see I was expecting to eat my meal, so yeah I did. Then she told us it was against the law to season their food? What is that supposed to mean? She also said its on their menus et al, which I did not see. I went online to check and read no such note. Nor is it on the menu on the screen. For such a big and busy place, I'd expect the customer service to be a bit better than this. NEVER going back again.
(1)Teresa L.
Since I'm from Alabama, I have to have whole fried catfish when I visit Alabama. Filets just don't compare. The Fish Market had some really great catfish. My boyfriend loved his Athenian flounder (I think it was flounder). The atmosphere isn't very cozy. This place could use an interior designer. Maybe it used to be a Western Sizzlin or a Sizzler. Service was great.
(4)Eric G.
Smooth jazz tonight, plus really good seafood. I had the pesto shrimp and sun dried tomatoes. It was very delicious. The steamed broccoli had a good light lemon oil on it, and was very refreshing. Definitely coming back.
(5)Ellen H.
Food was good the first time I went not so much the second. Skip the shrimp and scallop dish and stick with the main items - shrimp & grits were great. The fried pickles are worth the salt - drink lots of water
(5)Dan W.
I was so pleased with my visit to The Fish Market. Our waiter was very friendly and helped me and my colleague to navigate the menu and find something really good. I really enjoyed the flavor of the food and the variety of the menu.
(4)Cait J.
Everything is delicious, especially the calamari as an appetizer. I always get a greek salad with a grilled fish--usually tuna, swordfish, or salmon. the tuna is always cooked to perfection. great food for a great price. the crab cakes are a little too much breading and not enough crab for my taste, but everything else i have had is fantastic.
(5)B N.
Bustling restaurant with Greek influences serving a wide variety of tasty seafood entrees at reasonable prices. This place isn't a secret judging by the folks filing in the front door on a Saturday though we were seated in 15 minutes after being told the wait was half an hour. The seafood seemed very fresh and was prepared well.
(4)Chad J.
The food was good, but not great. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer and it was really good. For dinner my wife had the Cajun catfish strips and those were very good with good flavor. She had the fries and fried pickles (waiter recommended) for sides. The fries were ok and the fried pickles were not good at all. I had the crawfish étouffée and it was good, but not great. The flavor was not as impactful as I would hope and it was on a bed of white rice, which detracted from any flavor that existed. I too had the fried pickles and thought they lacked any flavor. The fried okra that I had was as good as you can get it at any bar across the south. I am not saying I would not good back, because I would go back and just try a different experience. First of all, the portions are huge. As a big guy, I normally enjoy this, but it was just to much food. In going back, I would split a meal with my wife, try different sides, and not get anything fried.
(3)Reviewer B.
Best seafood in the state
(5)Misty F.
I kept hearing about this place all around town. Everyone knows the owner (who also owns DoDiYos which is delicious) and says it's great. I have no idea what they are talking about. We ate there for dinner tonight and were impressed by the vibe of the place but that ended pretty quickly when the confusion set in. We had to read a menu standing in line and walk to a counter to order. We thought we were at a sit down restaurant but it was more like a cafeteria. We were told that they were out of fried green tomatoes which is the appetizer we wanted. So we skipped an appetizer and ordered only entrees. I ordered buffalo shrimp and my partner ordered seafood (shrimp & scallop) grilled over rice. We were handed cups and were given a buzzer and that was it. We werent told how anything worked from the cashier who was not friendly at all. We figured out where to get our drinks and asked a guy cleaning one of the tables how we got our food. He said that when it went off we went to a window to pick it up. We did that and it was served cafeteria style on trays with the food all in different dishes. The food was awful. The batter from my shrimp was falling off and the shrimp was sitting in a bed of grease and oil. The only redeeming thing was the hush puppy. My partner's food was also bad. She said the rice was soggy and wet and her scallops had no sear and no taste. Very shocked to have such a bad experience. We love his other restaurant but we won't ever be back to this one. We had to leave and eat somewhere else because we couldn't finish our meal. We haven't had such a bad dining experience in years and we eat out a ton.
(1)Nancy B.
My main dish was outstanding, although the salad was mediocre. Not worth the extra cost for the feta "dressing". We were in a large party. Most were pleased with their dinners, but the fried fish platter was a disappointment to those who chose it. Be aware that the shrimp are served whole - a shock to some in our party who felt that should have been made clear. Read the menu ahead of time.
(4)Alex W.
The shrimp and grits were one of the best things I've ever eaten. Ever. Ever. Ever. The prices are high because the portions are huge. Go hungry. I like that you can choose between wait service or doing the carrying and ordering yourself.
(5)Terje D.
I used to like this place and would go there regularly for lunch. It is a nice place and it is certainly pleasant to sit outside at their terrace, but their food is not up to par, and it seems to have been in decline for some time now. Their menu has always been confusing, but the latest incarnation seems to have lost many of its better items, like the fish and chips made with cod and the grilled scallops. All prices have gone up considerably of late -- the Red Snapper went up from around $9 to $15, presumably due to a shortage of this particular fish in the Gulf. In response, good ol' tilapia--a farmed fresh water fish, definitely nothing to do with snapper--has become "Cherry Snapper" on the menu! Overall, the food just isn't very good. Their grilled fish is drowned in oil and sometimes very salty. Their fried fish is spongy, tasteless and oily. The cole slaw is terrible. I don't think I will come back here again.
(2)Tracy W.
We enjoyed our meal here. The service was good. The food was good. But it did not reach my "very good" level. That being said, I would recommend to friends that they eat here.
(3)Sherry W.
Who would have ever thought a fish market would serve the best nachos ever! The Greek nachos are the most delicious things ever!!! Be sure to try them
(4)Gary W.
Always good
(4)Todd S.
Solid. Huge menu selection with any fish you can practically imagine, short of Fugu. Good bottled beer selection; no draft beer. The wait staff is friendly and does a good job. Lots of aides to choose from; the fried pickles are good but they have outstanding fried okra. I had the swordfish (grilled) and it was succulent, firm and flavorful. The prices are cheap and the portions are HUGE.
(4)Ann M.
We stopped going to this location when the Hoover and Greystone locations opened. Well, they're good, but nothing compares to the original!
(5)FJ E.
It's a different sort of experience based on the time of day you come in. Food is generally served in a market/cafeteria style methodology at a main counter ... unless you come on nights when they have set up "full service" with waiters, etc. Food was good, plentiful, and prices honest. A bit of a wait and some confusion from the staff as to when full-service and cafeteria styles are running and how seating works, it seemed.
(3)Mary B.
The ambiance of this restaurant is amazing. The bar area is decorated with flags and the backsplash is a giant mosaic made with pottery, really cool. You can order at a counter if you like, or you can sit and have a full service meal. We had a rather large party, so we were seated at a conveniently sized round table which offered a great view of the whole restaurant. Our waitress was so sweet and efficient, she was great. The best part about the menu: they tell you where all their seafood if from! I'm highly suspect of getting seafood while not on the coast, but knowing that my shrimp came from Apalachicola made me feel confident in ordering. We ordered fried pickles and the greek nachos for appetizers. First off, the friend pickles weren't pickle chips like most places, they were fried pickle spears! Awesome. And I highly highly recommend the greek nachos. Served with pita chips instead of tortilla chips, and the toppings include shrimp and artichoke hearts. My main course was shrimp and grits, a southern staple. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and so so delicious! Overall, great experience, wonderful food! I'm definitely frequenting The Fish Market Restaurant a lot in the future!
(5)Chad L.
The Market looks really nice but the experience and food let me down. First ordered the soft shelled crab that they were out of, so I went with the deviled crabs and Lobster bisque. They said it came with two sides and salad so I ordered the greek salad, fries and cole slaw. The lobster bisque had shrimp and no lobster, but still had a great taste. The greek salad didn't show up, the fries were frozen aned below par and the cole slaw was decent. the low point were the deviled crabs. There was NO crab in them, NONE. It was just stuffing filling a crab shell and deep fried. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Dan W.
One of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. Went last week with family and everything was fresh, tasty and plentiful. I had the Athenian Snapper which rocked, wife had a huge greek salad with Snapper which was awesome looking. Even the kids meals were plentiful and well-done. Highly recommended.
(5)Puffer P.
Grilled platter was great! Came with fish, scallops, oysters, hush puppies, shrimp and two sides or a salad for $14.50. Great deal and yummy food. Had some catchy live jazz music playing as well for dinner on a Thursday night.
(4)David B.
Excellent
(5)Kev H.
Not many good reasons to visit Birmingham. But I'll give you one very good one. The Fish Market. This downtown gem offers up great Greek inspired seafood at the best price I had seen for seafood. There ate two levels of service: full and self. Self-service gets you cafeteria style dining in the back or the preferred full service which you get at or near the bar area. The service is best in the full service area. I highly recommend the alligator (grilled). The seafood is fresh and the price is great.
(5)Janet S.
Greek, eek methinks not, ...the building is quite appealing from the outside and on entering quite promising, with its fish market counters where you can buy fish and its rows of cooking paraphenalia...but there it stops. The Greek style appetizer was not like anything from earth let alone Greece. Mussels/shrimp and crab claws drowned in a thick soupy salty goop. Thank God that I ordered oysters and not the Fish entrees. Friend's scallops were overcooked and buttery, hush puppies accompanied them....so like which part of Greece are they from! Pablo had the Cobia which is a lovely fish, meaty and flavorsome and in this case smothered in butter (eek methinks not). The Greek Salad was Greek because it had Feta Cheese (in it) (think Stavros my British friends). If I wanted Oysters and a glass of wine I may stop by there again and sit at the bar but unfortunately the memory of the Greek appetizer will sit with me for a while.
(1)Brooke A.
I've never had a bad meal here. The food is very good and a great value. The servings are tasty, huge & affordable... Sign me up as a regular. Plus, the staff is very friendly and make you want to come back as a repeat customer... especially at the bar.
(5)Kevin W.
i have been dinning her for a few years. the past few visits i have been noticing a lack of customer care, dirty, tables, floors, windows and food quality. when ordering at the counter the cashiers are not friendly and occassionaly rude. the waiters are lazy and do not make an effort to accommodate. when i typically visit late afternoons before a flight back home. need to pay attention to details. Great menu and i love seafood. needs sharpen the focus to customer service and providing a quality product.
(2)Gene G.
Simply the best food at the best price! I had a 22$ meal for 10$ that was absolutely out of this world. Can't be beat! I could sit at their oyster bar for days.
(5)Danny G.
A Stoli up with a twist for $4.50? Yummy On the first visit get the Athenian Snapper. A solid value. Always find a seafood restaurant connected to a market selling the fish!
(4)Jason M.
The thing that surprised me the most wasn't the tank of live lobsters and the two of live fish. It wasn't the boat inside the door, selling Greek urns and pots. And it wasn't the long line or the exceptionally good food. It was the fact that, when my wife made mention to me that they were out of sweet tea, the busboy came over, said "Excuse me, ma'am", and explained that they are *never* out of sweet tea. This being the very depths of the South, I suppose I can see why someone would take it personally if you were to say that there was no more sweet tea. I had the Jambalaya, which was great, and some of my son's chicken tenders (kids menu), which were some of the best chicken tenders I've ever had. My wife had a salad with huge chunks of Swordfish on top, which she really enjoyed, and my mother-in-law made short order of the crab legs. I don't remember what my father-in-law had, but I do remember he was very happy with it. I can't wait to come back!
(4)Tim F.
The Fish Market! It's hard to believe that no one has reviewed this not-so little gem in the heart of Birmingham -- the GINORMOUS UAB medical center and the Kirkland Clinic is right next door. This alone is enough to explain the huge lunch crowd. Diners should be prepared to wait more than a few minutes in a line reminiscent of the ones in Disney World. There is ample seating outside and in with an oyster bar thrown in for good measure. The food is a mix of the usual suspects and a few more unusual (Mediterranean) ones sprinkled in. The food is hit or miss -- I dig the grilled catfish po' boy, the fried clam po' boy, and the grilled snapper. There are plenty of sides to choose from, including lemon butter linguine. Mmm. The restaurant is nothing spectacular when broken down to the different parts, but ultimately, the Fish Market will always have a warm place in my heart.
(4)B. C.
Love this place. I'm a semi-regular. But on Saturday I witnessed a waiter being very rude to a first-time customer who was confused by the sometimes there's table service/sometimes there's not system. ... It really can be very confusing for first-timers. Management needs some decent signage clearly and simply directing first-timers to tables with table service, or to the line for self-service.
(4)David M.
Food was a big let down but the service at the oyster bar was fantastic. I'm sure there are some better items on the menu, but my order of Cajun Style Shrimp (gumbo-esque) seemed very mild to the taste and lacked pizzaz. Per usual, it's hard to find good affordable seafood in Birmingham but the Fish Market will do in a bind.
(3)Rik W.
Service was fair, however; excellent quality, preparation and portions for the price!
(4)Karl F.
Went here for a business lunch. Wow the food was so tasty and plenty of it! Service was very good although it took a while to get a table because this place was slammed with people. Only downside was free parking was tough to find and the fact that the place was so busy. It's worth it though!
(5)Tom W.
just a okay spot for dinner...fresh oysters were very good but the entrees were just okay. staff was friendly and sides were just okay (again). I guess it is a "just okay" place for dinner.
(3)Brandon C.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Great place. Went here on overnight trip to Birmingham and was looking for a local place. Don't think yelp could have helped me make a better choice. Had the fried platter and was fried just right and portions were more than plentiful. Order calimari if you have a big group we couldn't finish ours.
(5)Celia M.
We moved here recently, and my colleagues at work took me here. The frilled trout was delicious, and when my husband and I went back, we tried the Greek appetizer for 2 which includes mussels, shrimp, and scallops, in an olive oil and lemon sauce on top of shredded cabbage. To die for! we have been back 3 days in a row for it. And the fried green tomatoes? Sliced perfectly thin with a cornmeal breading. Crispy and not greasy. We also like the U Peel Em shrimp with cocktail sauce. This is a local place, and the owners want you to enjoy the food. We love it and will return often.
(5)Leslie F.
Went back today. Had the shrimp and pasta. A MUCH better dish. Fun place, very affordable and large portions and sides.
(3)Charlie S.
The food is good! Greek Island Grouper is my favorite! And their green beans are good! The portions big enough to justify the price tag. I have never left here anything less than way over stuffed. And if the weather is nice, they have a really great patio.
(5)Greg W.
Out in Birmingham on business and had no idea where to eat. A couple of people told us about this place and said everything is good and that wasn't a lie (mostly)! I had red beans and rice and that was somewhat of a letdown compared to what I can get in New Orleans (Mother's or Desire) but not bad. We also had the big seafood combination appetizer, fried crawfish and calamari. Those appetizers could be entrees themselves they are so big. Food is wonderful. Atmosphere is very relaxed. I would highly recommend this restaurant and many locals swear by this place so you can't go wrong!
(4)Nelly N.
The grilled blacked seafood platter was delicious! Well seasoned and fresh. The side items were hit or miss the collars seemed canned. The Greek potatoes, cabbage, Jack slaw, and black eye peas were pretty good. The coleslaw was excellent. The seafood bisque was very bothy and lacked content.
(4)W M.
My husband and I are on a road trip, one of the cities we visited and spent the night was Birmingham. I scanned Yelp to see where would be a nice place to eat. Luckily we came across this restaurant. When we arrived we were met by this very friendly hostess who set us immediately. The ambiance and live music was a just what I need. We ordered the seafood platter and Trigger Fish our sides were fried okra, rice, coleslaw (too finely chopped), but ok in flavor, and the fried pickles. We also the crab cake on a bed of corn to go. All the food met our exceptions. Our server was AWEFUL!!!! Literally AWEFUL!!! She placed one of our orders incorrectly and then had the nerves to argue with me. I asked for the manager She came to our table with a slight smile and immediately started apologizing for the server saying that she's a friend George, (like I know who the heck George is). Also saying oh she'e not from here and she doesn't speak English well and learning (talked quite fluent to me). Long story short, food was excellent, service horrible, will I return YES!
(4)Alex P.
Having lived in Birmingham for a number of years, this is without a doubt one my favorite restaurants. CRAWFISH TAILS ARE A MUST. For $13.99, you get a full bowl full of pre-peeled crawfish tails. Absolutely spectacular. AMBIANCE? Let's put it this way, I wouldn't bring anyone here for a date. You have to go to the window to pick up the plates, it's just extra casual atmosphere. Atmosphere wise it's somewhere between a seafood shack and a red lobster on that scale. GREEK POTATOES ARE MY FAVORITE. I would highly recommend them as one of your sides. BEAUTIFUL PATIO. Now, if you do want a nice ambiance and you don't mind being simmered live under alabama's heat like a crawfish, the patio is a spectacular option. To sum things up, The Fish Market is a neat little spot. Tasty food that's hard to get while away from the coast, at reasonable prices and solid service.
(5)Milton S.
The Fish Market downtown in a historic old building in Birmingham is a favorite stop on our way back driving home from Florida. It is unusual to us that we find the seafood here to be equal or in some cases often superior to what we can find in Florida. I think this is the end product of another great Greek restaurateur tradition in Birmingham. The live Maine lobster is really great here. I love their gumbo and Greek salad. Scallops were very sweet and well prepared. The choice of fish is extensive and can be purchased fresh in the adjoining market along with some real bargains in bulk spices, seasonings and olive oil. At lunch service is somewhat deli-style with orders placed at registers and then picked up at a service window when a portable buzzer sounds. During the evening, you can choose deli-style or full-service with a dedicated wait staff in the front area surrounding the bar. Live music was a pleasant addition to the dining experience on our last visit. We have eaten here for many years. While every dining experience may not be five stars, this is a well-run restaurant that is a solid choice for fresh seafood, well-prepared.
(5)Kayla B.
Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Got the pleasure of meeting the owner. He was very down to earth and loves his customers. Recommend shrimp and grits and fried calamari.
(5)Nicole F.
Delicious food, fun/casual environment, fast & pleasant service. My husband & I are at UAB for a few months & unfamiliar with the area. A nurse recommended The Fish Market, we were happy to have a change of pace & fresh food. I ordered the devil crabs with a side salad. The salad was delicious & so were the crabs. Lots of meat with a great fried crust. My husband ordered the snapper, it was a little salty for his taste & over seasoned for mine. He got the coleslaw & fried okra for sides, both were tasty. I'm sure we'll be back soon.
(4)Chamberlaine B.
ATMOSPHERE: I'm still befuzzled by this oddity. It presents itself as a kind of upscale seafood restaurant online, yet upon entering it is much more along the "Joes Crab Shack" lines. However, upon further inspection, you'll see that the décor is oddly incongruous with the fare they serve. Clay pots and tribal tapestries adorn the white textured walls and ceiling, giving you more of an Ethiopian or even Grecian feel, rather than the bayou/seafoody (yes, "seafoody" is a word... or it is now) atmosphere that you would expect. I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that this was a different kind of restaurant before becoming The Fish Market, and they didn't feel like altering the interiors. PARKING: Small lot- confusing. Just assume you'll probably end up parking on the street. FOOD: I hope you like salt! Man, oh man. Everything was salty. From the grilled tilapia and fried lobster, all the way down to the breading on the fried pickles and the cole slaw. Yikes. I needed six glasses of water to make it through dinner. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the food here. Nothing was bad, but I wouldn't come back for anything either. We tried: -Fried Calamari Appetizer- very average flavor, but a good texture (not rubbery at all) -Lobster Roll- This just as well could've been shrimp or fish- it tasted NOTHING like lobster. But the bread was nice and soft. Served without any kind of dressing, which made for a bland flavor. -Cole Slaw- meh -French Fries- the fat, soggy kind. Very average -Ranch Dressing- Surprisingly delicious! For a southern girl who needs good ranch to dip fries in, I enjoyed their house-made dressing. -Grilled Seafood Platter (oysters, shrimp and tilapia)- good size (a solid three full fillets of tilapia), and decent flavor, but everything on the plate wound up tasting kind of the same -Fried Pickles- WAY too salty, and too crispy. More like chips than pickles -Orzo Pasta Salad (cold)- no dressing, no flavor. Terrible. SERVICE The ladies that served us were on top of their game! It was a big table and they were not hesitant to split us up and make sure that the checks went to the right places. Although I didn't enjoy the food at all, the service was great! Thank you, ladies!
(2)Winnie T.
Don't know why this place has such rave reviews. Everything was way too salty on my visit. The gumbo that everyone talks about was boring and tasted like frozen fare. Jambalaya tasted like I was drinking up marinara sauce. Seafood was not great quality. The place tries to create a more upscale feel with the atmosphere. Then they give you styrofoam cups and butter in small squeeze packets. Giving you two stars for the service. Server was nice and attentive throughout our meal.
(2)Jeremy E.
I have been a fan of The Fish Market since they were in the small location on the other side of the block. They did a great job with the interior of the new, much larger space. The only complaint that I have about the place is that it gets loud inside when it is crowded...and it is almost always crowded, because the food is great! Not only is the food fresh and delicious, it is also very fair priced! I definitely enjoy sitting outside when visiting here...so much quieter and more relaxing.
(4)Lori T.
Fish Market rocks. At night I prefer to be inside so we can have a server dedicated to our table. It isn't like that if you sit outside, which I am not a fan of not having my own wait staff. It can be quite noisy and difficult to have conversations. The wait staff rocks. Food is delish. Oysters on the half shell is our fave. It is a definite repeat spot.
(4)Mike S.
Bluegrass and dixieland music in the background, mason jars and a bar beneath a dozen or more international flags makes the Fish Market downtown a sight to behold. We stopped in a fee Sundays ago after a weekend of weather in the 50s elsewhere in the nation to find Birmingham still about 87 degrees. Needless to say I was overdressed. The stuffed flounder was noticeably good, but the much-acclaimed gumbo was an absolute bore; I have a gallon of homemade Gumbo in the freezer that would shame theirs into next year. The fried green tomatoes were pretty solid... but missing that "thing" that fried green tomatoes are all about. At Fish Market, the crust is golden perfection... to the eyes. My mouth thought "hey, maybe they should just cut 'em thinner." I accidentally tried one of the sangrias before the waitress noticed I had the wrong drink; I ordered the Old fashioned and wondered to myself why it was purple. But since it was nearly summer-hot outside, I didn't ask enogh questions. I like a good old fashioned every once and again... just not here. The sangria, however, was good! All in all, the fish market is a solid place all around, but not necessarily somewhere I'd beat my neck going back to. The fresh fish selections are worth their weight. I'll try the shrimp and grits next time to put it up against some of my favorites from around the south.
(3)Dino T.
Great, fresh seafood. Large portions. Service was also very good. Had the fried calamari, fried fish and fried snapper. Everything was very tasty and fresh.
(5)Preeyam P.
Best fish in the city! I live around the corner and I always see trucks dropping off loads of fresh fish DAILY. There's a fishy smell when you first enter but the atmosphere makes you forget about that. The day I went the restaurant was packed so we sat at the bar. There were only 2 bartenders taking care of everyone's drinks and orders so it was a little hectic. Although the waiter forgot my appetizer order (he got the drinks right) we still had a good time. The fish was incredibly fresh, very moist, and packed with flavor. Unfortunately, the vegetables were overcooked, mushy, and salty. Come for the fish (not the vegetables).
(4)Jessica H.
At the recommendation of a friend I hit up The Fish Market while in Birmingham for business. I didn't know what to expect and quite frankly, given the name, I figured I'd be wondering upon a smelly, dirty market with super fresh fish. Boy was I wrong. Not that there would be anything wrong with that at all, I love me a good fish shack, but this place is a restaurant, good for casual, good for dates, good for family, or ladies nights even. I showed up pretty late, probably 8 or 9, on a Saturday evening and it was BUSY and loud. Since I was alone, the waitress said I could sit at the bar but that was full too. I was very pleased that when I went back up to tell her the bar was full, she didn't make me get back into the long line, she put me at the top of list. To top it off, I think I got the best seat in the house, especially for a lone business traveler. I was right in front of the live jazz music! My heart flittered. Food and jazz. My waitress was a doll. And filled up my sweet tea and gave me lots of time to peruse the menu. I started off with a big bowl of gumbo. Mmmm. Love me some gumbo. It was tasty enough. A little too tomatoey and acidic for what I prefer, but I definitely polished it off. I followed up with some seafood, of course! I've learned my lesson during my travels that me and fried foods don't really agree (I made an exception for that okra you see back there), so I got the grilled fish platter which included tilapia, shrimp, delicious scallops, oysters AND a couple pieces of fried calamari and hushpuppies. The seafood was great. It was fresh as far as I can tell, well seasoned. I didn't like that the butter and sour cream for the potato were in to-go little packets. The thing that kind of turned me off is just how casual this place is, with its styrofoam bowls and such. It's like a nice, fancy restaurant trying to capture that fish shack feel but they just aren't quite making it work together seamlessly. If that makes sense?
(3)Bill B.
The food was great ,service was fast ,enjoyed the evening ,well be back:-) :-) :-)
(5)Joe L.
The Fish Market downtown is normally a good consistent place to eat with generally good food quality. Today we had seafood gumbo, fried catfish fingers regular and Cajun style with hush puppy's. Sides that included Greek salad, pasta with marinara sauce and fried okra. The meal was hardy in size. The seafood gumbo wasn't nearly good as what I was hoping for. I wouldn't order it again. It was more like seafood soup. The catfish & hush puppy's were excellent! The fried okra and pasta wasn't something I would order again (very bland). The Greek salad was fresh and good. The service was also good. On this day, the lunch we had was overpriced for the overall quality of the meal, eating off of plastic plates (school cafeteria type). $43.00 for two to eat lunch at the bar with not to comfortable chairs, plastic dishes and without alcohol beverages. I did see that they have "living" you pick them out -Maine Lobsters at 18.00 a pound. I haven't seen too many places in Birmingham you can get fresh Maine lobsters that you can pick out.
(3)Jeremy B.
My expectations for this place was pretty high based off of all the Yelp reviews. My friends and I were dissatisfied when our food came out. I ordered the salmon cakes with fried okra and grits. My grits, okra, and salmon cakes were like warm! I hope they're better at dinner time. My friends fries and entree were Luke warm also and my wife's jambalaya was Luke warm! Hopefully this was just one bad day! My hush puppies were delicioso!
(2)Tia H.
Sigh. The food was pretty good and would've earned this place four stars. The service, however, was terrible. Positives: The seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked. It was seasoned well. The decor was nice. Negatives: Our server, Leslie (I had to get her name off of the receipt), started out pleasantly enough. As our meal progressed, her attitude changed. She was short with us, and was not as attentive to our table as she had been to those around us. She came at the end of our meal to ask if everything was okay, only to leave before we could answer her. She gave us our check but didn't thank us. She made sure to thank the other table, though. She also made sure to check up on them during their meal. I don't know if race had something to do with it or not, but I do know that we were the only melanin-rich people that she happened to be serving at the time. That was the only difference between us and her other tables. I make sure to treat all service workers with respect, because I work in the same field and know how hard it can be. This was terrible, and colored my entire experience here negatively.
(2)Lee C.
We stopped by at about 6PM on a Thursday night. The parking lot was nearly full but there was sufficient seating. We were seated outside within a short time. The waitress was helpful with the menu, and we decided to order one meal, the Greek fish. They were out of snapper. So, we had grouper. It took a while for the meal to arrive, and it tasted pretty good. With the two sides, we were barely able to finish it. So, you may consider splitting one dish between two people to save money. The server seemed to forget about us, and we needed to head out in a timely way. We had to flag her down for the check and then she didn't return. I had to go get her. She was apologetic and then returned with credit card I gave her. It delayed us a lot. So, the food this time was decent but not remarkable. The service leaved something to be desired this time.
(3)Dan G.
In town on business and a colleague and I ate dinner here tonight. Great friendly service. Awesome selection of food. Our food was cooked very well and very flavorful. Fantastic southern food, and more than you can eat. Definitely will need back.
(5)Judy R.
This place is overrated. Fish was greasy and the salad boring. The fried sweet potatoes were good. My husband ordered raw oysters--what can I say other than SMALL. There are many good places to eat in the Birmingham area, but this is not one of them.
(1)Shannon T.
The downtown location is my favorite as I am a fan of sitting outside. The shrimp n' grits here is where its at. All I can say is if you have not done it do it. Walking into The Fish Market you are welcomed by copper pots and Greek inspired things as well as large fish holding tanks. You order at the window and normally the person is not the most friendly but more of a "next" order taker. You proceed to your table and wait till your called. I cannot say anything bad about the restaurant its a good choice!
(4)Jeremy M.
So first time here. Was a great experience. Server was prompt and friendly. Kept my drink glass full. Checked in without being overbearing. Had the dozen Justins oysters was amazing. The oysters were fresh and the toppings weren't overpowering. Got the cup of clam chowder and it blew my expectations out of the water. Fresh and creamy with a good clam flavor. We ordered the oyster and shrimp po boys and split them half and half. Good flavor to them both. Not greasy at all and good toasted bread. All in all worth the 65 for the bill with all the food we got. And enough to take a bit home for later.
(5)S C.
On our drive across the US, NY to Los Angeles, my wife and I stopped here on the recommendation of a hotel worker in Atlanta Georgia who grew up in Birmingham. We are soo glad we stopped! The staff is super friendly. We ordered the Buffalo Shrimp and it was awesome. We both had the Shrimp and Grits and I can honestly say that it's the best I've had. Flavor profile was spot on. Not over powering. Perfect! Based on the Shrimp and Grits alone we will be returning. On a side note -I was wearing a USMC tshirt and the waitress serving us said her grandson is presently serving in Marines. She thanked me for my service and went on her way. Then the Manager and assistant manager came over and thanked me too. A very nice gesture.
(5)Samantha I.
Portions are huge!!! But food was fantastic and lots of sides. I had the salmon on salad- so much fish, came with hush puppies and a baked potato! Nice atmosphere inside
(4)Michael P.
The oysters are really good. I also enjoyed the Greek salad as well. The waiters are all very nice and it's not over priced.
(4)Jeanne C.
I've been here three times now. I've eaten three completely different specialties. Each was better than the other. Very happy from start to finish. Reasonably priced and great atmosphere.
(5)Michael L.
Same restaurant, new venue but that didn't change the service or the food but you wouldn't know that by the crowds that patronize this restaurant. The food is still just average and the wait time still takes too long. I'm probably one of few who holds this view about this restaurant, but it's my opinion!!!
(3)Thomas B.
So we tried this place for lunch and wow! Huge servings of fresh seafood. Friendly service and there was a boat in the place!
(5)Sheri P.
It is with a heavy heart I write this review. I have heard only good things about this restaurant and in a way I feel robbed. Today was the first time I have ever been here. My friend has been many times and recommended the salmon dip as an app and the red snapper (grilled) as a meal. The salmon dip was very nice. The pita chips that came with it where stale. Very stale. Which was unfortunate because I was told they were going to be delicious. The "red snapper" was over cooked. It was rubbery and chewy. In my opinion it was not even red snapper! It did not look like red snapper and it did not taste like red snapper. It tasted like over cooked and over seasoned tilapia. It did. I feel really bad saying that... but maybe there was a mistake. I had two pieces in my lunch order and both were the same: over cooked unfortunate pieces of a white fish trying to pass as red snapper. You get 2 sides or a salad. I saw the sides from other tables. They looked canned. So I ordered the salad. It was okay. Just okay. Not bad- not good. Their Greek dressing is overly salty and I like salty. Our server and service was average. So 2 stars instead of 1. It was nice enough. The decor is very homey and comforting. Like an old meat and 3 kind of place with copper and random Greek influences. After 30 years of living in Birmingham and just trying out the Fish Market for the first time, I don't know if I will ever be back.
(2)Cathy B.
The downtown location of this restaurant is the one to hit. There are few places you can go for fresh seafood that are reasonably priced. Most in Birmingham are going to be over 20 a plate for an entry level piece of amberjack. My trip of late was a good one. My party started with Blue Point oysters on the half shell. A nice touch is the mignonette sauce they include on the tray. Entrees included grilled trigger fish, Greek shrimp, and steamed gulf shrimp. All were fantastic and the highest priced one was 13.99. Service on the table service side is pretty basic but it beats waiting on your food on the side where they just have food runners. If you are going to have cocktails this side makes a lot more sense as well. My only complaint was that I didn't order enough oysters!
(4)Katie C.
The best fresh fish I have had so far inland in my life. The staff was far above par even with the 10 tables our waiter was handling. Large portions and strong drinks are always a pro on my book. I love the Casual atmosphere and heated patio. The prices are FAR below what I would have been happy to pay for the delisheness I encountered! I can't wait till the next time I travel to Birmingham this will be my first stop! But until then I'll be dreaming about the hushpuppies...
(5)Brian Y.
Best meal so far in Birmingham! I ordered the grilled amberjack along with the gumbo and green beans. First off, I order fish quite often. However, NEVER have I had anything so juicy and flavorful. The fish was amazing!! And the gumbo! This is my first real taste of southern food. I've had the gumbo at disneyland, but always knew it wasn't quite the real thing. Now I can say I have and it's fantastic! The andouille sausage, the shrimp and everything else in it tasted really fresh and flavorful. If I'm here any longer, may come back to try something else.
(5)Heather B.
Yum. The Fish Market has been a go-to for me for quite some time....but I've still yet to try all the menu items. Alligator sausage - check. Shrimp & grits - of course check. Swordfish kabobs - double check. Many moons ago, there was a citrus orange roughy dish with onions & potatoes that was omg my fave, but I haven't seen it on the menu in a while. Sure do wish they'd bring that one back! Since then, I often opt for the amberjack, or if I'm with someone who is willing to share, I'll order fried blue crab claws (is too much to eat by myself!) At the market in front, you can purchase anything from fish filets to whole crawfish, house-made cocktail sauce to stuffed olives, authentic canned olive oil to the salt they serve on the table here. The oyster bar is a fun little section of the restaurant, even though I'm not crazy about oysters. You don't have to order oysters or booze to sit here! It's interesting to watch the guys in action (man, that fella sure is speedy at shucking oysters! I hope he doesn't stab himself in the hand!). Plus, they're happy to drop knowledge on you about the varieties of oysters that they serve. Even an eater with an unrefined palate can taste the difference between a cold-water oyster and a gulf oyster. I remember a time when they didn't have a dedicated table service, when you just went through the line, took a pager, and they brought the food out to you. Now, when you opt to sit in the front dining room, you have a server. They even have secluded little sections that partition you off from the general bustle of the restaurant. This is especially nice when going on a date, or having a more intimate meal with friends or family. And there's also live jazz! Old habits die hard, though, and I find myself typically just going through the line, trying on a Greek fisherman's hat that is WAY too big for my head, ordering up, and making my way to the back dining room. Wherever you sit, it's not unusual to see George Sarris wandering about, talking to patrons about the dishes he has prepared for them. Seeing this makes you think he is a chef who truly enjoys his life's work, and that he relishes that look on your face when you truly enjoy what he has created. And what he has created is a welcoming atmosphere, a nod to Greek culture, and meals that bring you back for more.
(4)Timothy P.
Eh. Its just "ok" not bad. Not great. Just "eh". Tilapia was basically tasteless. Shrimp tastes frozen. "Eh"
(3)Cary H.
Huge portions and very friendly service. Wonderful fried green tomatoes and gumbo. We all flounder and it was tasty and fresh.
(5)Leslie L.
Food was delicious. Oysters were SO fresh and our server Kelsey treated us very well. Made us feel very welcome.
(5)Indigo P.
Yum Yum! Shrimp & Grits, delicious. Fried okra, delicious. South coleslaw. ... finally! Good slaw! Server, very nice. Don't speak too much. You might get him confused! Lol! Seating, no wait! Definitely coming back!
(4)Suzycreamcheese F.
Not coming back here again. After half a year of bad food and dealing with a lazy, slow kitchen on a lunch hour time crunch, I don't expect to ever have a good experience here again. My last fish entree was dry and tasted fishy, and the manager comped my meal. This is something I rarely ever ask for but the food was so bad I was NOT going to pay for it. Just sitting in this once bustling, excellent restaurant that is now a sad former shadow of itself is depressing. My nerves can't take another bad experience.
(1)Urban C.
22nd st south Birmingham Al The Fish Market in downtown Birmingham is a favorite. It's wide selection of menu items is tailored for seafood lovers as well as land lubbers too. The oyster bar is where you find the best tasting oysters and great service. Maryann, Deano and Mo do an awesome job slinging drinks and shucking the salty bivalves. Some of the favorites on the menu are anything starting with greek island or athenian. The crab claws (sautéed, not fried) are to die for. If you're looking for fresh seafood, see Tim in the market. Hands down, the freshest seafood in town. Snapper, Grouper and Ahi, they've got it! There's live music on some evenings and lots of choices for adults and children too, all at modest prices. Urban Cowgill
(5)Kevin C.
I'm a Birmingham guy, so of course I know Fish Market. I won't comment on the food, as it's the same as it has been for years. Just giving a heads up for people. I was going to eat lunch here on Tuesday, July 1st, when a man, purportedly employed by the restaurant, threatened to have my vehicle towed. He called to me while I was waiting at door for my wife and said "You're going to Iron City. I'm calling a tow truck now" At which time, I called my wife and we went elsewhere. There are too many good, fresh restaurants in Birmingham to put up with this. Just glad I didn't walk out to find my vehicle gone after eating.
(1)d a.
Had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp had a soapy taste...no clue why! I will not be returning..
(2)Caroline C.
Just recently moved to Birmingham & this is one of my favorite places thus far. Everything is very fresh & the staff are all very friendly. If you don't have time to sit at a table, you can order at the counter & they'll buzz you when it's ready. Great downtown lunch spot for sure!
(5)Kevin T.
Tried out the restaurant for lunch on 10/17. Started with seafood gumbo which was very good. Entree was jambalaya with Greek salad side. Jambalaya was not good. Tasted more like a marinara sauce than Creole. Greek salad was poorly done and too greasy. Expected better, frankly. Service was good, though.
(3)paul o.
Downtown is great. Stay away from the 280 location if you've visited the downtown location cause you will be mighty disappointed, not same menu or service
(4)Ron U.
Sweet, honest and what a fantastic variety of fish. YELPERS called this restaurant right as a must when you're visiting. Loved the live band and the local draft beers.
(4)Yvonne S.
I love seafood, whenever I vacation I must dine at one of thee best seafood restaurants in town, after asking several ppl this place was recommended. The staff was extremely friendly and so were the gentlemen who helped us with our trays and issues (I had to ask one of them to take my collard greens back due to the fact that they were cold). The seafood was not fully cooked, all my sides and the other two guests' sides were cold. The lemon cake was extremely good, best I had in a very long time and the sweet tea was perfect!! I wouldn't visit this place again though.
(2)Garnet G.
George Sarris the owner is wonderful!!! I called in an order for my moms birthday who was turning 101. She has no teeth so I requested the food be cooked to a very light golden brown so it would be softer. When I spoke with George he said he would cook it himself and there was no charge. In this day and age rarely do you find kindness like his. I can't say enough good things about him & their delicious food! Their food is always fresh and delicious!!! The fish market rocks - go there you won't regret it!
(5)D D.
Good service - Marcus was conversational and knowledgeable about the menu and the Bham area. Good food, atmosphere was a little on the loud side but ok
(4)Chad S.
Had the Red Snapper and it was wonderful! It was fresh and in season. A side salad and the fried pickles just to give them a try. Pretty good, but WAY to salty for sure. I would recommend any of the fresh fish because I spoke to 4 or 5 folks that all had different ones and the raved about the dish.
(5)Jessica M.
This place is beautiful but I can't help but think they have a heavy hand on the salt shakers in the back. I usually get their grilled amberjack or mahi mahi. I like their calamari as well. Ask them to go light on the feta for your salad or your whole meal will taste like it! I have never used their waited tables, but I am sure I would like that better than having to stand in line and rushing to figure out what I want. I like that they have an actual fish market inside as well so you can order your favorites to cook at home!
(4)Jay K.
Best fish I've ever had. Casual atmosphere, good food, great service. I am coming back for more. They tend to get busy so get here early!
(5)Massimo F.
Good fish, maybe not the superbest but definitively good fish. Plus, you can purchase fish at the market inside the restaurant. I go there often. It's a good balance between good fish and reasonable price. Service is excellent. Drink selection is good enough, wine list is well populated. Menu selection is big, maybe too big. Food is well done, maybe a bit too spiced but not taste-covering. Recommended especially for lunch time.
(4)Kristopher G.
This place is a real jewel! Great food, service, and atmosphere. The prices are reasonable for a seafood restaurant.
(5)Laszlo U.
My girlfriend and I came here and were very disappointed. The food was actually very bad and the fish was under cooked. The service was equally bad and I would recommend many of the good restaurants on 1st ave
(1)Elsa M.
I was really disappointed with my experience at The Fish Market. While the food was fabulous (I got the shrimp and grits w/ bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, and finished w/ a creamy wine sauce and a greek side salad), the service really left a bad taste in my mouth - figuratively and literally. Our server, Stedman, started out fine enough, even though he was really soft-spoken and hard to decipher. That could be overlooked, but not carelessness. Upon wiping down our table before we sat, he apparently threw the dirty brown paper towel into a tall, red, semi-transparent glass. Imagine my surprise when I asked for water a short time later, took a sip, and THEN noticed that that same dirty paper towel was IN my water glass!! I, of course, informed Stedman of this. Instead of apologizing, he just mumbled something awkwardly, took the glass, and replaced it. Since I was there with my husband, cousin, and his new fiancee that I was just meeting for the first time, I didn't want to make a scene. I assumed that he would do something to discount my bill as a sign of good customer service. Apparently, I was wrong. When the check came, it was for the full amount of everything as if nothing had ever happened! When I asked him if he planned on discounting my meal because of the disgusting paper towel in my drink, he said that he wasn't sure what he could do since I didn't order another drink that he could knock off the bill. Seriously? Discount or take off the meal! It's that simple. I told him that I would happily speak with the manager then. Peter, who represented himself as the manager, then came to the table. I recounted what had transpired. He made an awkward joke about how they weren't charging me extra for the dirty paper towel, to which I chuckled awkwardly as well - however it was far from funny. I paid good money at a restaurant that many of my friends and family mentioned as a pride of Birmingham and was disappointed that such poor service was not being acknowledged with the seriousness it deserved. Peter said that he did not have the authority to discount or wave the price of my meal (I thought you were the manager?!), and that he could only offer a free dessert. Seeing that I couldn't even finish my meal (it was great, but just a lot of food), a free dessert was of no use to me, but since it looked like he wasn't budging and again, since I didn't want to cause a scene and spoil this time with my family whom I was visiting, I told my husband to pick something out he liked which he did. We boxed it up and left. I doubt that I will ever be back to The Fish Market. I mean, why would I give my money to an establishment that doesn't respect me as a customer enough to take such egregious action seriously? It really is a pity since my meal was so good. The chef here is top notch. It's a shame that his or her work had to be tarnished due to circumstances outside of the kitchen and beyond his or her control. The chef is the only reason this review gets an extra star beyond the one.
(2)Emily S.
This place is a Birmingham institution -- my grandfather has been taking me here since i was little. The food is nothing fancy but really authentic and good. They have every kind of seafood you're looking for.
(4)Joe V.
Needed a nap after eating here!! So much food!! Like we say in the south, I was stuffed like a tick on a hound dog!! (too much of a visual? huh? Sorry) Was a business lunch (and I didn't pay yay!) So we ordered appetizers for the table, I sampled the Salmon Spread, the Crab Claws, the Fried Green Tomatoes and the Fried Pickles. (When I say "sampled" I mean I ate a bunch of each!) Each and every one was extremely tasty, if I had to offer some constructive feedback I'd say the pickles were over cooked and very salty, they were more like pickle chips. But friends if that's the worst I can say, then tha t"ain't sayin' much" I have had the Jambalya, the Shrimp and Grits and many other tasty entrees. Food sometimes takes a little longer to arrive depending on the day of the week and time of day you go. But everything is very fresh, they even display and sell catch of the day right there in the place. I have yet to try the raw bar, but it is on my "to do" list. Parking is always a challenge, valets are available. Great for families and small groups, you will surely come back!
(4)Stephanie L.
Best calamari I've tasted in a long time! Good fooXd. 3 Nice people moved from a huge table in order to accommodate our party of 6. Good service. Good food.
(3)Yohan N.
Food: Got the dozen oysters and grilled grouper. - total came out to $28. The Grouper was good. A wee bit too oily (the plate did not have a dry spot. Covered in oil) For my sides, I got collard greens and corn on a cob. Collard greens was smothered in salt and the Corn on a cob was bland and just tasted like butter. The grouper was good. Wasn't amazing but above average. The oysters were a disappointment. Not only did they not tell me I had to pick it up at the oyster bar, it took 20 minutes for me to get it. They finally had it ready when I finished my meal and the oysters were not fresh. Food = 2.5 stars Service: There were a lot of servers around and they were all very active. Even though you are to go get your own food once it's ready, they were very willing to help you carry it back for you. Decent service. Service = 3.5 stars I would hesistant to go back but would probably since they have a huge menu with tons of selections.
(3)Gordon K.
I really like the looks of this restaurant. I find it very appealing. Also, I was treated in a very friendly manner by everyone and the waiters were so helpful. It was really pleasant because of that. The restaurant was pretty quiet which made our meal and conversation pleasant. We got there about an hour before closing. At other times it may be noisy. I got the stuffed red snapper, John's slaw, fries and a small Greek salad. The snapper was fresh, but not remarkable. I did like the fact that the snapper was not over-salted and not greasy or oily. However, while stuffed, there was no sauce or seasoning, so it was just bland. Fries were from frozen, crinkle cut stock. They were mediocre at best and not enjoyable enough for me to ever order them again. I liked the John's slaw and the hush puppies were good. Hush puppies here are small and crisp on the outside which to me is the proper way to do them. John's slaw is just angel hair cut cabbage to which you add John's dressing at your table.
(3)