Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar
Highway 180 & 161, Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar Menu
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Address :
Highway 180 & 161
Orange Beach, AL, 36561 - Phone (251) 981-6999
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
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 : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mark M.
We have driven by this place for the many times over the last two Summer vacations. We finally decided to stop and give it a try. We were told to make sure that you arrive before 6 pm to avoid the long waits. We arrived at 5:30 and had a enough time to order a drink from the Bar ( Drinks were great ) and a little small talk and our tables for 12 were ready. The place is very Beachie which was fine for our group. They have a simple menu with lots of fried foods. Everything our group tried they all liked. The prices were great and the service was very nice. I am looking forward to our return trip next year.
(5)Heather H.
Great fried shrimp and fried clams! Oysters on the half shell were delicious and cheap!!!
(4)Jo L.
A local recommended this place to us...we loved it! All of the items we had was really good
(4)Richard G.
Docs is an institution and we have been eating here and the Gulf Shores locations every vacation. However this most recent dinner on 10/13 was barely OK. Ordered the little 'un shrimp dinner. Seven small shrimp and a huge plate of French fries. Maybe rename it the French fry dinner. Table was dirty from previous diner. Server not at all attentive. What's up?
(2)Christy L.
Can't say enough about their fried shrimp, oysters and gumbo. That gumbo is the real deal. We eat here every visit to Orange Beach at least twice. No one ever leaves there hungry. Very casual atmosphere and usually not much wait if you go a little earlier. I've only bought one t-shirt from a restaurant and It's a Docs.
(5)Linda R.
I will never go back again, and I hate to say that because I have been going to Doc's for years. They did not have any fresh Gulf fish on the menu just some farm raised stuff from Louisiana. The place was also dirty.
(1)Erin M.
Truly the best fried shrimp I have ever had! We tried it on vacation and now I want to move close! My 6 year old son got the kids fish plate and I have never seen him eat so fast. The key lime pie was equally amazing and the service from entrance to exit was great. A must go try kinda restaurant.
(5)John M.
Lunch was great. Had the Special of the day. Grilled Shrimp salad. It had plenty of shrimp. 1 doz oysters, a Bloody Mary which was nice and Spicy. We were seated immediately with no wait. Very friendly and good food.
(4)Carolyn C.
Had great fried shrimp and grilled shrimp. Staff was knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I definitely will go three again.
(4)Justin L.
This is my favorite seafood place in Gulf Shores! The platters are big and the seafood is great!
(5)Dale S.
If we're in or anywhere near OBA we're at Doc's for lunch. I ALWAYS order the Spider Burger with an additional spider. If you have not had their perfectly fried soft shell crab sandwich you have lived a deprived life. To die for. Regardless of what my wife orders we always share their perfect onion rings. Ice cold draft beer is served in frozen glass mugs. We've never been disappointed with the food or service at Doc's.
(5)Kim S.
Very disappointed. The meal looks big when you get it but soon realize there is little of the main dish and a huge mound of basic frozen fries. Hush puppies were ok. We won't be going back.
(1)Amber J.
Went there 8/10/13 got told it was a 45 minute wait barely waited 30 minutes. We always love this place! Got raw oysters appitezer deviled crab entree and fried fish. Reviews complaining about all the fried food are true but it is the South so if you want something not fried try a sald. Overall one of our favorites!
(4)Michelle S.
We went on a Tuesday night during spring break. Waited about 5 minutes for a table. Food was great and our waitress was excellent and very friendly. Casual place for a family. My favorite was the gumbo. I tried the royal reds and they were good ,but too much work to eat them :) I finished off my sons popcorn shrimp and that was good too.
(4)Jeanne C.
Ask hem where the shrimp are caught.
(2)Jonathan A.
Verrrrryyy good spider burgers
(4)Danielle A.
I gotta eat at Doc's every year when we hit the Gulf Coast. It's a fried food seafood dive, but we love it! Nothing fancy, but everything is good. I've never heard anyone in my various groups complain in the 10 years I've been eating at Doc's.
(4)Ken B.
Had to wait 1/2 hour on a Monday night. Food was good, but nothing special. I think the quality has fallen off a little since our last visit in 2009.
(3)I Love g.
A great place: good food, excellent service, reasonable prices. We went there for lunch. The sign by the place says " best gumbo in the world" so we had to stop by and try it. The gumbo was really good! We also ordered lunch of the day. Each day they have a blue plate lunch - for $7.95 you get an entree, a drink and a dessert. We got grilled shrimp salad which came with a drink and a yummiest banana pudding. The service was very efficient and cordial. It is not dirty there like the other reviews suggested. Overall a great place to get fresh seafood, will be back for sure.
(5)Jeff S.
Food was OK
(3)Russ M.
Doc's USED to be a local place known for fresh seafood. Sadly, this place is now owned by a conglomerate of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach restaurants. These days, you can count on frozen food served in an environment which is uninteresting at any level. Doc's ( 2 locations), Hazels, Jakes Steaks and Bubba's are all part of this same "family" of average eateries.
(2)Mallory N.
Great service, awesome appetizers, and damn good fried seafood, obviously. I've only been once but I remember leaving happy and full despite being sunburned and exhausted from the day.
(4)J M.
This place was recommended highly. I ordered the grill shrimp, when it arrived it was cold as was the potatoes. I sent it back but even then it was only slightly warmer. They ended up taking it off my bill. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Marc A.
Please explain to me why this place gets nearly 4 stars on Yelp. They are the self proclaimed "best fried shrimp in the known universe" place. Not quite. The beer is cold and the food is fried (just about all of it). Not much else to say. No real flavor to anything. Sorry guys. Unless you are in the mood for a dive bar atmosphere and just feel like grabbing a cold one and snacking on some fried seafood that all tastes the same regardless of what is inside the batter, take a pass on this place.
(2)David J.
Ok, we waited 45 minutes for a table, but we had beers and fried okra outside. We finally get a table and holy hell this place is wonderful, almost everything we had was out of this world. We started with two dozen oysters and an order of onion rings....both were great, in fact my wife ordered two more dozen oysters, I had the fish/chicken basket and she had a pound of royal reds. My only beef was that it was just a piece of fried fish, but the chicken was perfect.....and the reds....what can I saw, they were spot on. We plan on hitting Doc's one more time before we leave OB....
(4)Bryce D.
We eat here at least once every time we come down to Gulf Shores. We get the "Baked Seafood Platter" which is $21. It comes with crab cakes served in a crab shell, Swain (white fish), grilled shrimp on a skewer, and baked shrimp. It also includes corn on the cob and new potatoes and a couple of hush puppies. Oh and to start it comes with a seafood gumbo. It's good but it is drowned in butter.
(3)Robert G.
When in doubt go to Doc's. Like everyplace else they are occasionally bad, but more often than not they are one of the best places at the beach. This review is for the Orange Beach location, the Gulf Shores one is absolutely horrid.
(4)Lisa G.
I have been eating here several years and it is always great! Tried the onion rings for the first time tonight. Amazing! There is usually a long wait but it is worth it. Better than the Docs in Gulf Shores.
(5)Kiko O.
For what it is, Doc's is awesome. One of the best beach-dive restaurants I've been to. Sure, Doc's is prone to hyperbole - the sign out front says the serve the world's best gumbo, the sign above the entrance says they serve the best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world, and the menu boasts that they serve world famous fried chicken and onion rings - but I think they have a pretty good stake on those claims. The fried shrimp and chicken are that good, and the onion rings truly are, hands-down, the best I've ever had. Our lunch was so great I had to buy a t-shirt on my way out the door, Thank you, Doc's!
(5)Heath J.
A great little place for lunch. Not a big selection like some places but I have never had a bad meal here. I suggest the spider burger (soft shell crab) or the fried shrimp, which is the best I think I have had in a very long time!
(4)Tom M.
This place is a popular DIVE. It's not fancy and not special but the food is good. The stuffed crab was really tasty and the hush puppies were way above average. As for the atmosphere you'll feel like you are slumming so it's not a good first date place unless you are testing for gold diggers. The inside toward the end of the night is disgusting so don't look down at the floor unless you want to get grossed out by all the food on the floor. Big plus for the staff, everyone was friendly and didn't rush us even though they were slammed.
(3)Michael J.
We ate at the Gulf Shores location. The food is very good. The Gumbo is Great.
(4)Matt M.
I suppose I expected a little too much. It was literally a shack that was most difficult to get into if you came from the wrong way, which we did. They have a sign out front that says "World's best Gumbo." Uh, you might want to go to NOLA and try some just to get some inspiration cause that needs some work.The stuffed crab was definitely frozen as was the fish. Again, maybe I expected too much but don't you guys reside next to an ocean? Food was mediocre at best. The service was A+ and the beer was cold, hence 2 stars.
(2)K A.
If you want fried food, go here. No, the atmosphere is not ideal (needs to be updated desperately), but the food makes up for it (IF you are looking for fried!). Their fried shrimp is the best I've had in the area.
(4)CHAD H.
GREAT fried shrimp. Docs was priced perfectly and fresh tasting. Beats the crap out of Tacky Jacks.
(5)Sherry M.
Food is good there. We had crab claws and made cocktail sauce with fixings on the table. The fried shrimp were superb I think the low key atmosphere was just right for a quiet Christmas at the beach. Tartar sauce for my shrimp was great ! I had way too much food. ...look for coupon book with discount!
(4)Kim B.
We've been going to the area for several years and driven by Doc's on the way to many other restaurants - we won't make that mistake again. To call Doc's a dive is generous. It's a pit but a pit serving the best fried chicken I've had outside of my Nana's kitchen. The chicken was hot, juicy, crispy and seasoned perfectly. Served with fries, add in a beer and really - perfection.
(4)Ashley K.
This place is awful....inside is gross and dirty, bad staff (they told my husband "no outside drinks allowed" regarding a bottle of water lol), food is barely edible. Also very pricey for the quality. We ordered crab claws which took forever and came out COLD. Gumbo was disgusting I only ate a few bites which is saying a lot b/c I love gumbo! It has only a tiny bit of seafood and mostly gross dark-meat chicken...ewwww, gives me chills just thinking about it. Pretty much everything is fried so I ordered one of the few "baked" things they have. Please note: this is baked in about a stick of butter. The grilled shrimp on a skewer that came with it had this almost rotten taste...as soon as my hubby ate one, he generously says, '"you can have these babe!" Thanks honey! Needless to say those got thrown away. I don't understand how this place has been around so long....although I do vaguely remember going there about 8.5 yrs ago and not thinking it was bad, however I had been drinking all day and probably got something fried lol.
(1)Abi T.
Doc's is a great, old-school casual beach seafood joint. Lot's of fried stuff, but they also have steamed mussels and scallops, raw oysters, and "broasted chicken." The lunch specials change every day and are a great deal: $6.25 for a meat and 3 sides. I had the Fried Oyster Loaf (aka Po' Boy), which was really yummy, along with a side of cole slaw, not too mayonnaise-y. Also sampled the onion rings and crabmeat stuffed jalepeno poppers which were both good. Next time, I'd try the spider burger, a fried softshell crab on a bun. Another great thing about Doc's is that when they serve your drink, the server just brings out an extra pitcher of whatever you are drinking so you don't have to wait for refills. That's a great relief when you are eating all that salty fried food. Yum!
(4)Adam C.
Great, local seafood in a super-casual setting. I had a steamed pound of Royal Red shrimp and they were excellent. This is a type place that is a bit off the beaten path in Orange Beach and seems to serve many locals in addition to some tourists. We look forward to eating here at least once every time we visit the area.
(4)Tom E.
Best gumbo this side of New Orleans. Fried shrimp is really good. Not popcorn sized but could be a little bigger. Be sure to make your own cocktail sauce with the fresh horseradish on the table. Fill the cup with ketchup and dredge some crackers through it. Amazing!!!
(5)Michael W.
Went to Doc's on the reccomendation of a local. When we arrived the place wasn't full yet (Sunday night) but was getting that way. Walked in and though "mmm something's smellin' good". After perusing the menu for several minutes, finally decided on the baked seafood platter which included a cup of their gumbo...FANTASTIC GUBO!!!!! Main platter arrived and I started in. The shrimp was Wonderful! both the grilled and baked...not tough/rubbery....perfect. The deviled/stuffed crab claws...perfect seasoning nad not overcooked nor ndercooled. The fish sillet...not sure what it was except that it was delicious. Two things kept them from getting a 5-star rating in my book - 1) Serer was a little slow on getting back to check on us and a little quick to move on before you could ask for more hushpuppies, 2) the hushpuppies are barely more than a bite each, you only got two, and they were some of the best tasting hushpuppies I've had. Price-wise...middle of the road...about $70.00 for three adults but we were quite satisfied when we left. Moth is still watering thinking about that gumbo...might have to get some and stick it in the cooler and take it back home. As several have said, it does look like a shack but when I was working travelling to smalltown america several years ago, we would always drive through the town to see what resteraunts had the most local cars ther and ate there...didn't pay that much attention to where the license platges were from but having passed this place several times whiule in Orange Beach, the old tried and true method of finding a good place to eat would definitely have worked with Doc's. Doc's will definitely be on our list of palces to eat next time in ORange Beach.
(4)Laura R.
Original (8/12): I can't imagine why this place is so popular. I'm from California, so I eat seafood regularly, and maybe that's biasing my review, but I have never in my life eaten seafood this bad for the price (and the 45 minute wait). Their motto is "laid back local stuff" and they sure live up to the laid back part. To start, our table and chairs were covered in coleslaw. I had to clean them off myself with my own hand sanitizer and half a roll of paper towels. For the dinner, I ordered a side salad (supposedly made with mixed greens) and half shell oysters. The side salad was covered in what seemed like prepackaged shredded cheese (you know when it is coated in a cancer-causing powdery substance to keep it from clumping?), which wasn't listed on the menu. Yuck. The oysters weren't cleaned and were served on a brown serving tray. Given the state of the table and chairs, who knows if they bothered to wash the tray off before serving dinner on them. The mouthfuls of dirt combined with the tray killed it. I mean...did they run out of plates? A $20 dinner should be served on an actual dish. The best part of the meal food-wise was the horseradish, but our waitress deserved 5 stars (only reason I gave this place 2 stars). She was a doll. Super sweet and totally on the ball with refilling drinks and checking on our table. Unfortunately it wasn't the same story with the food. Just another case of over-hyped "local" food. Would never eat here again. Update (8/14): I had to come back and change my review. My dad and I both got food poisoning and were throwing up all day the following day. Put a huge damper on our two-day visit to Orange Beach. Word to the wise: save your money and your stomach; eat ANYWHERE but here. You'd be better off with McDonald's.
(1)Paul S.
My family ate here today. I ordered the large plate of fried shrimp. There were about a dozen that were overlooked, rubbery and cold. My wife had boiled shrimp which were very good and skewered shrimp that were cold and had some sort of a coconut tasting sauce. Not good. My son had a chicken sandwich that he reports tasted like a fast food sandwich. We may have just had a bad experience. I don't know. We won't try it again though.
(2)Elinor F.
Best fried shrimp, period. Love the laid back atmosphere. If you come during peak season, you will have to wait. Also enjoy the stuffed crab, hush puppies, and gumbo!
(5)Sherry B.
We love the blue plate specials!! I like to eat here because their blue plate lunches are what I called Country Fixings. Food that southerners like to eat.
(4)Adam G.
Voted one of the top seafood shacks in the country, and it's easy to see why. Not a whole lot of seating, but food was excellent! Fresh oysters are a must! Most everything else is fried, but not too heavy.
(5)Kenneth Patrick J.
Doc's is a seafood shack that is always pretty busy. We ordered a variety of fried seafood platters and were disappointed. Everything seemed to taste the same, just of fried batter. We would rate this place as just okay and if we went back we would probably order something grilled or broiled.
(3)Andy D.
It's a shame I've driven by here many time, I've seen the lines, I've seen the crowded parking lot, but I still said to myself it's all fried. Well, today is the big day I went to docs and yes a lot of it's fried, but it's the best damn fried food I've ever had. I am not a connoisseur of fried food. And, I am not a connoisseur of fried shrimp. Typically it's rubbery, ammoniated and dry. Now for the purposes of this review I'm going to purposely misspelling the word shrimps and spell it scrimps, why you ask? Well, there's this jerk reviewer from yelp that had the temerity to send me a short note about how my misspellings were atrocious. There by negating the review. Yes, it's a shame we have so many arrogant jerks out there, but they exist, so yes the SCRIMPS were delicious I really wanted the fried chicken black, eye'd peas and rice with gravy, because that is the south. I went with though the combo order of fried shrimp (scrimps), fried oysters and fried clams. The fried shrimp and fried oysters were very fresh and light, yes light. There was no heavy oily taste. The fried clams, well Orange Beach, Al isn't known as a clam capitol, and they tasted bagged and previously frozen. That being said Doc's yeah it's a shack, but it's a shack with a line. A line worth standing in. So, go get dem scrimps, scrimps, scrimps and maybe later I'll tell ya about the fried chiken or is it chixen?
(4)Charlie S.
The food was great and the server was really nice....but the atmosphere was just not our style. It was very sticky and uncomfortable. The signage on the table called a PBR a premium beer! And they had no local beer...huh? I'd recommend paying a little more somewhere else for a good atmosphere unless you just want great seafood and nothing else!
(3)Dennis P.
Never ever gotten a bad bowl of Seafood Gumbo here at Doc's Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar... Followed by grilled fish, new potatoes and the best cole slaw. Vacation to the beach is not complete without at least two trips to get my Gumbo fix and pickup a couple quarts of Gumbo to take home...
(5)Suely C.
We went in for old times sake since we were nearby on a Wednesday evening & they were not packed. We ordered the fried crab claws appetizer, clam strips and medium/hot buffalo wings. The buffalo wings were very good; they were crispy even when coated with sauce. The fried claws were a bit overcooked and were a little dry. My husband enjoyed his fried clam strips and hush puppies. Overall it was not as great as we remembered it so we were glad we didn't have to wait through a weekend line.
(3)Jennie N.
Hmm, where do I start...we've been visiting the Alabama coast for years. Doc's is one place we never visited until now. Went before 2pm and noticed they had a blue plate special. With two teen boys it was a good deal, less than $9.00 for a main dish & three sides, also included a drink & desert. Our waitress was wonderful! Service on a whole was slow, but we are on vacation & realize we need to "roll with it." That being said, while we were waiting we did spot a cockroach, climbing on the wall next to our table...ick. Fried chicken was REALLY good, as was the fried fish. I had the gumbo, and comparing it to gumbo I've had in New Orleans...I thought it was just so/so. We probably wouldn't go out of our way to visit again.
(3)Valencia D.
Doc's claim they have the best fried shrimp in the modern world. I am convinced they are right. They have a store you can buy shirts and some other small novelty items from. We bought several T-shirts of course - after we had stuffed ourselves appropriately. They have a tiny eat-in bar if you are not up for sitting in the restaurant side. Super family friendly w/ plenty of TVs to watch all the sports you want. On the tables they have several little containers of horseradish and a large vat of ketchup. This is so you can mix it yourself and create your own cocktail sauce. Genius!!!! The waitress told us, insert appropriate southern accent here "Careful you don't eat that horseradish by itself now, it'll bite ya." Of course we mixed it HOT. Friend shrimp is a MUST and absolutely delightful. Fried clam strips were meh. Fried fish - to die for - and fried chicken - super yum. The crispy crunchy batter kind. Yes, we ordered everything. If you go here, just order everything. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Mr T.
Doc's serves up some of the best fried seafood in town without pretension and super high prices. The menu is a variety of seafood platters, all served with crinkle fries, a couple hush puppies, and a small cup of mayo-based cole slaw. You can never go wrong with the fried oysters and fried shrimp, and if you're wanting something a littler "healthier" you can get the grilled fish fillets, which are also delicious. I would recommend a Create-Your-Own platter so you can sample these different items.
(5)John D.
Oysters on the half shell were decent... but you can't mess those up. If you know what great seafood is - this is not the place. I was very disappointed. If you're looking for deep fried - you've found it. To give the establishment something positive - the service was very fast, friendly and efficient.
(2)Chandler M.
Second time coming here and it was better than the first time! The Royal Reds taste like they just came out of the water. So good and fresh. Great service.
(5)Chattanooga Property Shop R.
Typical beach fried food and for typical fried food it was sufficient. Great staff. Friendly and attentive. We went early on a rainy day to avoid the crowds. Good decision. Long line when we left.
(3)Ginger M.
We finally are able to get I for lunch, I have never had such bad service here! This was my favorite restaurant in Orange Beach... I guess it will be the Shrimp Basket from now on. I don't see us going back!!
(1)Rhonda F.
Eating at Doc's in Orange Beach has been part of our vacation for over 20 years now. We were introduced to Doc's by friends who are locals. I wasn't sure what I thought of the place when we first drove up. It is definitely not the nicest looking eatery in the area. But, once inside we were treated by a friendly hostess and was served by a very friendly helpful server. The fried shrimp is to die for. The breading is light, not greasy, and seasoned just right. My husband and I both agree that it is the best fried shrimp that we have ever had on the Gulf. The crab claws are excellent as well. I like making my own cocktail sauce too. The key lime pie is always good. It will continue to be a "must" on all future visits to the area. Note: if you go in the evening in the summer months you most likely have to wait a while because it is a very popular eatery. In the Spring or Fall you are likely to be seated right away. We go for lunch in the Summer and the wait is usually short.
(4)Bill S.
This place certainly did not disappoint. Please don't let the amount of people out front or the wait scare you off. I have been coming to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach since the 80's. This is by far one of the best experiences I have had. Superior food, atmosphere and service. I could not ask for more. I am looking forward to coming back again. A+++
(5)Jennifer H.
Our party of 7 adults and 1 child enjoyed ourselves tremendously at Doc's last night! We arrived around 6pm and had no wait time. Because the space is small, we were slightly crowded, but it is, after all, a dive. Our table ordered catfish fillets, steamed royal reds, crab claws, and a couple combo plates, and EVERY ONE was pleased! My sister in law had the crab claws, and her plate was MOUNDED... No one would go hungry ordering those. My Royal Reds tasted great, especially dipped in the garlic butter sauce! They weren't necessarily appealing to the eye, but I think that comes with the territory. All in all, the food itself was delicious. They brought us pitchers of drinks to the table, so that was nice to not have to ask for more. A couple negatives... The outside of the place smelled TERRIBLE. I'm sure it was just the dumpster, but surely they could control that somehow. Also, my husband got the all you can eat catfish filet and had to wait a bit longer than we would have liked to ask for his second helping. Other than that, we've give Doc's 2 thumbs up!
(4)Nicole B.
Large group with small children and it was perfect! Oysters, gumbo, crab claws, fried shrimp... everything was excellent! Amazing service too :)
(5)John H.
Great little beachy lunch place. I had the spider burger and the whole table enjoyed some onion rings and shared off of everyone's plates of fried fish and shrimp. Our expectations were met, we were well fed, and it's a great lunch spot.
(4)Dave C.
Fried Chicken truly is world famous. Place was packed on a thurs night...we got take out and everything was outstanding!!! Gumbo, baked seafood platter, fried chicken, key lime pie ....all 100% legit... Staff was very friendly and helpful despite being very busy we did not wait at all for our order.
(5)Heather T.
Definitely one of my faves in OBA! I always get the daily special and have never been disappointed. Country Fried steak was the best I've ever had! Fried Chicken, fried fish, fried okra are also great. Prices for a lunch can't be beat. It's down home, local cooking. Beats the overpriced tourist traps.
(5)Randy F.
Original Doc's Seafood a Orange Beach AL Head and shoulders better than Doc's Seafood Gulf Shores more food better food and food is actually warm not cold
(4)Nicholas T.
Goo food great service, expect to wait, but the wait time will be pretty close to what you are told. Good system with beeper. Cheap, No you will be dropping $25-$35 per person for dinner , a shared appetizer and 1 drink.
(4)Andrea P.
Great food and wonderful wait staff! Highly recommend the fried stuffed crab! Two thumbs way up!
(5)Justin K.
This place is most definitely a shack and a dirty one at that! We walked in and were told to seat ourselves. We took a two-seater by the wall. After we sat down, I noticed that the wall was covered in a thick layer of dust. The food wasn't good at all! My wife's shrimp wasn't prepared properly and I'm 100% sure I could have gotten a better hamburger from the McDonald's across the street. To top it off, our waitress mumbled every word she spoke to us and disappeared for long periods of time. I had to ask another waiter to go find her just to get our check. Bottom line: If you're looking for an absolute hole in the wall place with food quality to match, I would recommend this place. If you're looking for a nice place to eat while on vacation, pick ANY place else.
(1)Pam M.
After coming to the orange beach area well over 18 years my husband an I finally decide to try Docs. OH MY GOODNESS! WE HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT! We will definitely return to explore the menu further . As for now I can highly recommend the fried shrimp and oysters!
(5)Liam N Holly C.
Great local place to go for some pretty good seafood. The oysters were okay, somewhat undercooked and barely seasoned. Now the make your own platter or the baked platter were great! Stuffed crab, baked shrimp, grilled shrimp, and fish were all completely delicious. Kind of small and cramped so make sure you go early and not starving because you may have to wait.
(4)Tanner S.
This place has a very laid back atmosphere. Was very tempted to try the shrimp because of their motto "The very best shrimp in the entire civilized world" and I have to say it was delicious. Very good appetizers and I would recommend the cheese sticks. ($7.95 for 6 cheese sticks though) The waitress was very kind and would help with any confusion with the menu. You have to try their sweet tea because it is sweeeeet, and probably the best I had while in Orange beach. The only thing I didn't like about the restaurant was condiment box. It was gross and the bottles were sticky and covered in what was in the bottle, hope they can clean those up! Something I really liked was that they would bring a pitcher of whatever you were drinking so you didn't have to ask for a refill every 5 minutes. Hope everyone enjoys this place as much as I did!
(4)Harrison F.
Very delicious. When they say the best shrimp in the civilized world they mean it! Doesn't get five star because the tables and condiment bottles felt sticky and it was a little less than appetizing. Great waitress! Very friendly and helpful.
(4)Sarah J.
The fried oysters were to die for! That being said, from the time we got there to the time our waitress brought our food was about an hour and a half! Don't go there if you are really hungry!
(3)Eric M.
Good gumbo, good shrimp. I would eat here again. I've had better and I've had worse.
(3)Mike M.
Food was really good along with the service but the building is tiny, we felt like we were all squished together along with other folks there at were eating
(4)Amanda H.
You get what you pay for! Food was so good! Highly recommend the grilled shrimp and the hush puppies!
(5)Pam W.
I love the fried shrimp here. The batter is what my taste buds scream for! Make your own cocktail sauce. Horseradish and spices at table. The tarter sauce is super. Yum yum
(5)Beth G.
Great food and great lunch prices. My patents loved the daily blue plate specials. This is great if you aren't into seafood and want some vegetables. The fried scrimp were the best I have ever had. If you like cocktail sauce, you make your own at the table which I thought was neat. There is a wait especially at dinner time so lunch is the best time to go since it isn't a big restaurant.
(5)Holly G.
The food here is worth the wait! I had grilled fish that was amazing. Others in our party had fried shrimp/fried oysters and were very pleased. I didn't think there was a lot on the menu to choose from ... But what we had was great! Our waitress seemed young and obviously doesn't have kids of her own, as she kept sitting all the drinks and hot plates right in front of my 1 yr old at the end of the table. She was sweet and attentive though. I am looking forward to eating here again!
(5)Kathryn W.
I've wanted to try Doc's for years as we pass by it on our way to Caribe a few times a year. Today we finally ate at Doc's for lunch and it was excellent! The fried oysters and stuffed crabs were divine and their gumbo was one of the best gumbos I've ever tasted. We will definitely will be back!
(5)Jacquie T.
Fried food was very good, all other food was ok. service was pretty good. I just couldn't get over the fact that I woke up the next morning and could smell our clothes from the night before a room away. They had a fishy/fried food odor to them. I'm sure the smell will come out, but I wouldn't go there again for that reason. But if you don't mind that- I would recommend the fried shrimp and French fries.
(3)Jack C.
Every time I go to docs it is great. There gumbo is really good. There fried shrimp is great. I also love there grilled shrimp. It is never bad.
(5)Lauren T.
Doc's is very laid back, casual, small, and frequented by locals. My family and I come here every year when we come to town for the Polar bear dip. The beers are ice cold and the seafood is fresh. They have a meat and three that varies daily which is pretty good. The cheeseburgers, fried shrimp, and gumbo are all yummy too. However my recommendation (and what I order every single visit) is the spider burger with fries. It is a soft shell crab fried whole, served on a soft hoagie roll with lettuce and tomato. The fries have a nice crisp and the portion is large. The prices are reasonable and the staff is friendly. Check them out!!
(4)Michelle S.
The "best fried shrimp in the world" (according to their sign), I think NOT! After coming to Orange Beach several times and staying right down the road, we noticed Doc's ALWAYS has line out the door at night and pretty frequently during lunch as well. Decided to give it a shot even though fried really isn't our thing. There was nothing special about any of the food we got which consisted of fried shrimp, fried clam strips, grilled shrimp and hush puppies. Personally I thought the quality as well as the quantity were not in line with the price you are charged. $17.99 for a two combo basket consisting of a 4oz (if that) serving of clam strips and 10 extremely SMALL grilled shrimp with a Dixie cup of cole slaw and a hush puppy. Glad I ordered the ala carte house salad which was surprisingly fresh and good. Overall there are far better seafood shacks out there, just maybe not in OBA because there are no other options.
(2)Albeny B.
Ok wasn't the best thing that bothered me. It was an a experience with some of the teenage customers who were loud, hogging the bathroom, and being really obnoxious. The food, service, gift shop, and all of the other things were wonderful. I think I would have given 5 stars if the teens weren't making trouble which I think could have been and should be stopped by the faculty.
(4)Brett N.
Great place for lunch. We went on a Friday, and really enjoyed the blue plate special.
(4)S C.
What a joke. Waited a long time to be seated at a disgusting table by a rude hostess. If only the fun stopped there. A good bit of the seafood served here is fried and it all tastes the same. Literally, the only difference between my shrimp and hush puppies (and everything else) was the texture. Soft shell crab was gross. Would never even dream of going back. Drive 200 yards down the road either way for some much better food.
(1)Kimberly R.
This place is pretty touristy, and the food is just okay. We got and seafood platter, and the fried clams, stuffed crab, and oysters were just okay. The grilled shrimp was excellent. We had Key lime pie for dessert and it was to DIE FOR!!!! Don't skip dessert!! The service was not great, our waitress was pretty unfriendly and inattentive.
(3)Jackson G.
Our group was encouraged to eat at Doc's by the bellhop at our hotel. We loved the authentic seafood/Cajun atmosphere that reminds you of mama's kitchen. The wait for a table was minimal. Our waitress was fast, helpful, and very friendly. The food was to die for. Outstanding fried shrimp and grilled, yes grilled, crab cakes. The best part however was the fried chicken. This place could take everything else off of the menu I don't think anyone would complain. One person in our group happened to be a very picky eater that only eats chicken. She said it was the best chicken she has had in her life. All for only 7 bucks. Combined with some darn good southern sweet tea and you will leave one happy camper. Keep it up Doc's.
(5)Tanya H.
A-maz-ing! Left absolutely stuffed. We tried gumbo, oysters, onion rings, boiled shrimp, and soft-shell crabs. All were fabulous!! Gumbo is must have!
(5)Jonathan T.
I went to Doc's two weeks ago. Me and my family loved the food here. We will be back!
(5)Kim M.
The food here was really good. Unfortunately, the attitudes of the staff ruined it. The hostess and cashier were very rude and short. We waited forever for a bill and finally went up to pay and were treated like we were a huge bother. They were openly complaining that other people had walked out without paying, but if you don't bring the bill or check on your tables, people are probably going to walk out.
(2)Stuart O.
Went for dinner on a Friday and as expected the line was out the door. Hostess said 40 min wait for party of 2, and we were in a hurry, so we decided to order carry out. 20 min wait for that. While waiting I snagged a couple chairs at the small bar, and asked if we could eat our carry out there. Bar maid said sure so we ordered a beer and waited. Our to-go order did arrive at about the prescribed time, so I paid for it by the tshirt counter (where u order and pay for carry out) and took our bags and styrofoam boxes to the bar to eat. We had a "bigun" (large) fried shrimp dinner and bowl of gumbo to share. The hush puppies were long John silver quality, nothing special. Like wise for the fries, very basic, probably frozen. But we came for the shrimp and gumbo, and were not disappointed! The gumbo was amazing, truly world class. Dark and rich broth from a proper roux. Even eaten from a styrofoam cup it was outstanding. The shrimp were medium size and crispy in a nice batter. Very good, but I dont know if I'd say "best in the world" as advertised. Still, well worth the brief wait. This is a popular spot for the locals and tourists alike, very casual, and fairly priced. Don't miss the incredible gumbo!
(4)Elizabeth G.
Amazing isn't enough for Doc's. Fresh seafood, great service and a place we will return too! Hush puppies, fried shrimp and raw oysters are amazing! Fresh and not fishy. This is the type of dive that I look for at the beach! 5 Stars!
(5)Kenneth C.
If you want "Good Fresh Fried Seafood" this is the place. The Shrimp melt in your mouth. Ask for the fried Oysters with cornmeal instead of flour coating. It gets busy because it is a local favorite. Expect a little wait. It is worth waiting for.
(4)Dave H.
We were exploring Orange Beach when we passed Doc's. It was off the main tourist strip, looked local, so we had to give it a try. I'm glad we did. It's a clean place, but nothing fancy. Just your basic diner style restaurant. We were seated quickly, the service was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere is very laid back and relaxed. We ordered a pitcher of Fairhope Beer (try it, it's good). I had a dozen oysters which tasted incredibly fresh. Some of the guys I ate with had fried shrimp and an oyster loaf (po boy). They all were very happy with their food as well. Doc's also has a location on the main strip in Gulf Shores. I haven't been there, but if you're looking for something that isn't packed with tourists, this is a great place to check out.
(5)Patrice F.
Let's face it if you're looking for a fancy restaurant this ain't the place to go. But, if you're looking for yummy fresh seafood, hell yes this is THE place! This is a locals joint if that tells you anything. The place can be a wreck in the middle of dinner hours due to the amount of patrons that they serve. My family has been coming here for 15 or more years and we will continue because of the food. This is the original Doc's and the best!! Get ready to wait in line during summer hours but who cares!! Any beach town restaurant has long waits to eat!
(5)Jessica M.
Food isn't bad but the people that work there, a blonde named Kimi, is absolutely disrespectful. She had been sleeping with my (now ex) boyfriend who is a cook there. Lesson learned, let trash be with trash. My friend and I wanted to come eat last week, and I took the initiative to call ahead to make sure that neither of them were there because I wanted to avoid conflict. Neither were working so we headed in. The food was good with the exception of the dirty looks I was getting from most of the employees. Towards the end of our meal I realized that Kimi was coming in for her shift. We decided it was time to finish and pay our bill. I noticed the whole time Kimi was standing near the bar where we were seated. I paid my bill(37 dollars with a 10 dollar tip) and proceeded to make my way to the door at that point Kimi with a smug attitude kept saying come back I'm here all the time (first of all don't flatter yourself, I don't dine in the presence of trash) I turned around and shook my head at her to which she shot up her middle finger at me. I called the manager once I got in my car and explained what happened. She took my number and said she would talk to the manager Cindy about it and call me back....I still haven't heard anything. I'm appalled that I took all steps to avoid conflict and spent 40 dollars here and they let their employees act like that to paying customers. I will continue to spread the word of the disrespectful people that work there...and be careful...there's a lot of drugs that float around in the kitchen as well.
(3)Reenie S.
Um...best if McDonalds is what you are used to eating. Fried crab claws are a crime to man.
(1)Kate C.
Well...the hush puppies were good... But...the fried seafood is nasty. The breading is bland and the fish/shellfish are low quality. The "sides" come from a can or a box, which I can do at home myself. The fries were obviously frozen. I ordered the build your own combo and did not receive my Cole slaw or my hush puppies. I nabbed a few hush puppies and they were good, so I am disappointed that my were forgotten. If you want to show your kids what will happen if they don't study, this is an excellent place to do it.
(1)Cat P.
Awesome service and food was fabulous. Not too pricy, either.
(5)John M.
Outstanding. Gumbo and Cole slaw were favorites. Two thumbs up. Shrimp was also a hit.
(5)Patti N.
Wonderful! The best grilled shrimp (honey basted) and gumbo ever tasted. We have traveled extensively and are foodies at heart. This is a must do for our family each year. Oh, and the hush puppies were delighful. Create your own cocktail sauce was fun and very tastey addition.
(5)Jack K.
The Tarter sauce was great and the slaw was good. Seafood not so good and hushpuppies were cold. The wait time to be seated and wait time to get the food were long. The service was not good. Overall disappointed based on reviews we read vs actual experience. If in area again we would not go back.
(2)Sonya V.
For what it is, I give four stars. I have been eating here for at least thirty years and it has not changed one bit! This is a diner, but it does serve beer and perhaps even other adult beverages. The menu is fried, fried and more fried, but if you are going to eat that sort of food this is the place to do it. The po' boys are excellent and any "basket" will make you happy. Service is fast but if the tourists catch wind of the place there can be a waiting line. The Gumbo is as good as I can make and you may also get it "to-go" in quart or even gallon sizes. It freezes well and is a good deal. Just remember it is a diner. You will see people dressed in ways that should never be seen outside of their home, what it is an experience not to be missed!
(4)Paula C.
Loved the seafood platter (with fried fish, fried shrimp, and grilled shrimp). My husband loved the gumbo and we both thought the hush puppies were great. The corn on the cob was ok, but probably frozen. Still one of our favorite places!
(5)Wayne H.
We enjoyed our dinner at Doc's very much. The boiled shrimp for an appetizer was as good as any we have ever eaten. My wife had the soft shell crab & loved it. My fried fish & shrimp was outstanding. Best of all was our service that night. Thanks Jena!!
(5)Melissa G.
Boiled shrimp are amazing!!!! Everything else on the menu seafood wise is fried. Go here if you want fried shrimp (good shrimp, batter a little too thick) and fries (you can tell they are frozen fries they stick in oil). We went to the one on highway 59 so we didn't have to wait for 45 minutes instead of canal rd, maybe that's why our food wasn't as good.
(3)Mj R.
We went for lunch and I actually liked the 'dirty dive' feel to Docs. Service was friendly and fast. We ordered several lunch specials, fried chicken, friend fish and hamburger steak. The fish was a big disappointment, two pieces of thin cornmeal crusted fish. Although you get 3 sides, roll and cornbread, none of it seemed of particular good quality- I usually eat any cornbread but mine was......Very firm. I did not eat the mashed potatoes and gravy as I do not believe they were homemade. Side salad was 3-4 tablespoons of chopped iceberg. The fried shrimp, ordered by my daughter was very good and my husband ordered the seafood platter, all fried, and he said he gave it 4 star. The 'homemade' Apple pie was not from scratch. They might make it in house but it is definitely not from scratch. IF I were to go there again, I would just order something steamed or grilled, like steamed shrimp or a quality piece of fish. If you are not too particular about your food and just want to be full, then this satisfies.
(3)Stanley L.
A little wait but it was nice outside. Shrimp was great stuff crab really good to. Best burger I've had In a long time and it came from a seafood restaurant
(5)Matt H.
A must visit when in the area. Their daily specials are fantastic! Local down home cooking that welcomes all. Give it a shot.
(5)Lisa M.
Recommended by the Shell station local. Excellent, fresh seafood. Split the fried seafood platter. Plenty for lunch. Stuffed crab, oysters, shrimp, fish. Light breading, good tartar sauce. Server was great!
(4)Amanda S.
Good for group with kids. Very casual environment. It wAs a fried food extravaganza. The skewered grilled shrimp was the best part. Gumbo was good too. Nothing really stood out as amazing but was a good experience - especially with three kids.
(3)Jay V.
One of my favorite local dives at the beach. Went by earlier this week and enjoyed the fried crab claws. Gumbo was also excellent! Highly recommend for a laid back lunch. They serve a daily special with a choice of a meat and 3 for $9.
(5)Will T.
Doc's Seafood Shack has seemingly been around forever, 25 years to be exact. It's one of those places you visit every time you go to the beach. And to hear them tell it, they have the best seafood on the island. Don't believe everything you hear. The crab claw appetizer is everything you'd expect - a heaping pile of 3 dozen crab claws lightly breaded and fried golden brown. It's a generous serving that's great for sharing. My Create-Your-Own Platter wasn't as successful. The batter on my shrimp was mushy and soggy and the fries were as cold as a three dog night. I find that a sign of a lazy kitchen - cooking ahead and sacrificing quality in the process. My stuffed crab was battered and fried, which I find to be an odd treatment for deviled crab. Maybe it's another lazy kitchen habit. It's just easier to batter it and throw it in the fryer than cook it off in the oven. With only 6 shrimp, I didn't find my platter to be a particularly good value at $16. Doc's is not quite a dive, but it's uber casual. Service staff wears the de rigueur service uniform of the island - jeans or shorts and a t-shirt. Regardless of age, they feel like old pros working a room, attentive and competent. The walls are lined with framed posters of the Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival, each one caked with splatters of food that have been there for who knows how long. It created a real icky factor for me. Some serious cleaning is in order. Doc's menu is heavy on fried food. In my opinion, there are other restaurants at the beach that do it better.
(2)Johney B.
Very friendly service good oysters on the half shell! Most if us got the. Seafood plater good amount good fried seafood!
(4)Eric M.
Good food at an affordable price. You have to mix your own sauces though. Staff are down to earth people that are very friendly.
(4)Lauren C.
Food had a good taste but wasn't hot, fries tasted like they had sat under a warming lamp for awhile. Would recommend the onion rings if you do go!
(3)Alison P.
Prices are way too high and the woman at the cash register is the nastiest person I've dealt with in a while! I would never go there again because of her!
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