Went for lunch on Saturday. Pretty crowed but still got a table quickly. Ordered shrip appetizer and fish sandwich. Both were very good. Also got a key lime pie - it was good as well. This place is solid - expect good value for your money.
(4)
David F.
Came here strictly for the oysters. Had a dozen oysters florentine and then a couple dozen raw. Can't do better than this place for oysters. The gas tiki torches outside were a nice touch right on the water and we had fantastic weather. The florentine was fantastic and though it's hard to mess up raw oysters (other than cleanliness obviously) the term "baker's dozen" doesn't come close. And for a great price too. Around $11.95 per dozen and with our two dozen we ended up with about 2 1/2 doz. They really know how to take care of you. Would have liked to have the option for a larger glass of beer and my wife didn't find the sweet tea to her liking but those are nit picky things. We'll be back here again.
(5)
Jim Z.
I felt like I was in the crypt keeper's castle when I dined here. The average patron is about 73. Food here is OK. I don't care for the local seafood, so I tried some New England seafood here, cod I believe. It was alright, but not great. Service tends to be particularly slow here. It took almost 30 minutes to get a seat, then about 2 hours from first service to final check.
(2)
Casey C.
Went there at about 6pm for the monday all you can eat fish and chips. Loved it. The fish was way bigger then I thought it would be, and the fries and the coleslaw were the perfect addition. Service was great, even though the restaurant was packed! I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Todd R.
This quickly became a family favorite from the first time we ate there about 7 years ago. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is always great. In 7+ years and easily 50 meals there, we've only been less than pleased on one occasion and that was when one refill of the all you can eat fish came out a little over cooked. You can't go wrong with their hallmark dish, the all you can eat fish. The fish is a white fish (Pollock I think?), lightly batterd, and served with your choice of two side. Most afternoons it can be had for less than $8, which is a bargain for fresh cooked fish with two side. The fact that it tastes great is a huge bonus. Everytime we go I swear I'm going to get something different, but each time I get the same thing (the fish). However, other party members have ordered a variety of dishes and I have yet to hear a complaint. They also have a variety of lighter portioned meals and have daily "2 for" dinners that are usually $20 or less (for both). As residents, this is one of our top 3 restaurants and is heartily recommended without hesitation.
(5)
Rick A.
Great Meal for the price. The Skillet Meal was brought out in a real skillet and was enough food for four!!!. Issues with meal was dealt with very quickly, friendly and without question. Would travel outta my way to re-visit.
(5)
Roland S.
Happened to go here two nights in a row earlier this month. Free margaritas drew us in (a deal from the hotel next to where we were staying). The margarita was pretty good, but about as strong as you'd expect for a free margarita. This place is packed during early bird dinner time and thins out after that. Seafood is the specialty as the restaurant name suggests. Everyone in my large group seemed satisfied with their meal. My fried shrimp was good as were the hush puppies. Caesar salad was decent enough. However, the service was quite spotty, even making allowances for the fact we were a large group. Some things we had to ask for several times, simple things like water or drinks, and some things never arrived at all. The second night was worse, and bit less friendly to boot.
(2)
J. B.
Great seafood for a great price. One of the area's best kept secrets. Be sure to try the lobster bisque.
(4)
Gary C.
love it. Great staff and good food
(4)
Lori N.
This is a family favorite place to go when we want great seafood. The shrimp are by far my favorite followed closely by the sea scallops and the clams. The rice is also to die for. I had the whole Maine lobster last time which was also great at $14.95. Prices are comparable if not better then most Florida seafood restaurants that we are aware of. This is how seafood is supposed to taste in Florida. Fried to perfection. They also offer baked, broiled or blackened I believe. The oysters on the other hand have been depressing at sometimes with chunks of shell or grit but the manager was quick to take them off our bill. This leaves me to believe oyster bar in the name is more named for the bar not the oysters. The drinks come with plenty of alcohol in them. You will also experience the manager coming by each table to check on things which means to me they really care about what they serve and how it is perceived. We have never been disappointed here and it is worth the drive. Highly recommended visit for seafood lovers.
(5)
Carolyn H.
Prime Rib Thursdays is awesome! The Shrimp and Grits is the next best thing I think I have ever experienced here. It's just a shame it's a "special". This is an item that should be a regular on their menu. A winner for sure. I am a true southerner and some things cannot get by me but this is one dish that just pleases my taste buds. Usually fast service. Prices are reasonable. Convenient location.
(4)
Christie K.
Stopped by with my in laws for a Sunday lunch. We ordered sweet tea, as that is the beverage of choice her in the south. Hush puppies were offered and we accepted, not sure if they are complimentary because I didn't pay the bill but they were great either way. We all ordered the unlimited fish and chips. I really appreciated that the fish filets were not overly breaded as is often the case with fish restaurants in the south. The fries and cole slaw were unlimited as well. In cooler weather we would have chosen to sit on the porch but in July we choose indoor seating. Service was speedy fast and attentive.
(4)
Christina C.
Fun place with tasty, fresh seafood. This is one of those places that screams Florida. The walls are pastel colored and it is very casual. Honestly, I think we were one of the only tables that was under the age of 60. But should that stop you from going? No! The food, the prices, the laid-back attitudes, it all makes up for it. This place can get packed! I was clued in on how crazy it could get by the sign in the front referencing pagers. If a restaurant this laid back has a need for pagers, then you know it is popular. Luckily, we were there at about 11 30 on a Saturday. By the time we left at about 12:30 p.m. there was a wait. I love their menu. There is all types of seafood and it all looks so good. Even if you aren't a seafood lover, like my husband, there is something for you. He ended up getting the Buffalo style chicken sandwich, with fries and green beans. I got the Salmon Oscar with red potatoes and coleslaw. It took a little longer than I expected to get our food, but that might have also been because I was really hungry. Time slows down when you're hungry. The fries with his sandwich were really good. I also liked my coleslaw. The potatoes were a little bland, so I added butter to it. The Salmon Oscar was very fresh tasting. I was glad to see it was a smaller portion. I still wasn't able to eat my entire dish, since potatoes are very filling. There are so many other things I want to try on this menu. If I lived closer, I would be coming here constantly!
(5)
Bo W.
Not impressed. They're trying to sell a grouper sandwich for $20, so I ordered the recommended Borger instead. The burger want good. The patty was hard, dry, and tasteless. The coconut shrimp was the worst I've ever had, being small and flavorless. The service is slow, and the place was dirty. I felt like I needed a shower after being in there. Overall, not a good experience, and they are charging top notch prices for very poor quality food.
(2)
Andrea W.
Great local hangout with an old world feel and fresh seafood. I had the salmon in puff pastry - large portion- light and flaky salmon. My daughter tried the local Gulf Oysters Rockefeller - best oysters we have tried since New Orleans!!! We were in the area for local outlet shopping and we were looking for fresh seafood close by - this restaurant really met our expectations for a classic Florida seafood dinner on the water!
(4)
Lindsay G.
Tried this place w/ a friend after some shopping. Trying to maintain our clean eating, we both ordered fiesta salads w/ grilled shrimp on top. Overall, the salad was sort of bland. The staff all seemed very friendly! The owner even brought us some complimentary oysters to try...nice! Prices were affordable, especially if you have a little one w/ you. The hostess measures their height at tue entrance and you're only charged a penny/inch for their meal. My daughter loved her 42 cent pizza! I'd go back again, but would probably try one of their specialties instead of the salad.
(4)
Aaron M.
1970s diner feel fried seafood and nice view. Food was good to really good drinks were fine service was fine again ambience is 1970s diner think Golden girls. All the other patrons were gray-haired but everyone seemingly have a smile on their face. We had a mahi sandwich and a salmon pastry both were good and the mod he was questionably money but nonetheless tasty enough again don't expect for star ambience or four star service but for a nice hole in the wall fish and chips or fried shrimp basket it is a good place to go
(4)
Stella M.
It's fair pricing and you leave stuffed! Great service and great staff. The drinks have been very week so i wont be drinking there anymore but the food is great!
(5)
D J.
We were invited to this location for a private party in the back room. Our server was nice but just like the other location the food was simply average. I don't even really feel like taking the time to write a review for this place again (different location). Feel free to check out my review for the Cortez location (which I gave 3-stars; I added one for amazing serving) Welp! At least they're consistent...LOL!
(2)
B K.
Stopped in for the first time after a day of fishing for some seafood with a friend that lives near by. Parking lot was full on a Sunday at 3pm, so that's always a good sign. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were seated right away. The dining room was large and clean, and our server Bethany was very nice and attentive. It's not a fancy place by any means, but it's much nicer than some seafood houses that have picnic tables and signs all over the walls. We ordered a bunch of different apps and one entree to split, we got calamari, garlic Parmesan oysters, fried oyster entree and a bowl of clam chowder. The oysters we very fresh and tasty, and prepared very well, but they were on the small side. Paying $18 for a dozen small fried oysters and two sides and $9 for a half dozen small garlic parm oysters is a bit high, it would've been nice to throw in a couple extra oysters for that price, but they were very good. The only thing that could've been better food wise were the sides, I got the red potatoes and zucchini squash and both were steamed and just plain. Plus they weren't very hot, and adding butter to them didn't work well. The calamari was $9 and it was a nice sized order that looked like they were prepped in house and not frozen pre-breaded from a food supplier. They came with both the rings and tentacles, and a darker breading that was really good and a side of marinara. We both thought they were the most tender calamari we ever had. The clam chowder was just average, not bad though, and pretty reasonable at $5 for a bowl. They have a small bar with full liquor and a couple TVs, we would've sat there but there wasn't a empty seat, which is another good sign. They also have outside seating and was told that it's dog friendly, but not completely positive on that. I will defiantly return, but I will probably try something different and a bit cheaper, we spent $60 with tip for the food, one beer and a ice tea. I blame myself though, because the oysters were market price and I didn't ask how much they were.
(4)
Beautiful S.
Really a great experience. Service was excellent. Lobster and Wolf Fish were great. Only thing I would change is less blackened seasoning on the Wolf Fish. Do not forget the shark bites!
(5)
Holiday H.
My parents and I came after reading some good reviews and found the atmosphere a surprise. Expecting a nice dining establishment, my father paid $27 for the toughest grouper we've ever tried, it was more like a diner. I sent my "award winning" lobster bisque back. It reminded of something you'd be served at a nursing home. They have rolls of paper towels hanging above each table... Need I embellish? Go ahead and eat here if you don't mind spending $80 b4 tip, for 3 people to have dinner and wish they'd never come. In the case of attire, feel free to dress as if you were eating inside McDonalds. No worries there! Ps the waiter forgot my side of horseradish, the extra plates he promised and my mom had to ask for her Cesar salad she'd previously ordered. I'm only writing this review at my mothers insistence... She figured it would help you save your hard earned cash for something worth it. Try Bonefish Grill!
(2)
Robbie C.
Met my daughter for lunch here as it is somewhat midway between Fort Myers and Tampa. Located very close to the Ellenton premium outlet mall. Was pretty busy for lunch time. Beachy decor, they have outdoor seating overlooking a lake. Only one brave table of patrons on a hot humid Florida summer day. We were greeted and sat right away. They offer many daily specials. Lots of seafood options. I ordered crab cake appetizer and was quite tasty. For entree, I ordered the seafood pasta in Alfredo sauce. This comes with shrimp, scallops, and veggies (cauliflower, carrots and broccoli). Yum! Free margaritas with yelp check in was a nice surprise. Lots of leftovers for another meal. Prices are surprisingly low! The margarita was pretty strong and priced at $3.50 for none yelpers. Great deal in my book! Our server was great and I'd come back again to try out other specials.
(4)
Joel C.
Scallop and shrimp pasta with Anna Maries special sauce was excellent. Make sure you try the onion strings.
(5)
Shannon M.
This is the go-to place when family visits. It has the Fl charm and the food is good.
(5)
Adrianna C.
Not bad not great - family recommend this place while we were in town and we decided to give it a try one afternoon since it was really close to our hotel. At about 4:30 on a Thursday it was quite busy but we were seated right away and the food didn't take too long to come out. My husband and I shared a few different things - everything was ok but not great - we got a cup of lobster bisque, which was fine, crab cakes with a side of slaw and garlic mashed potatoes; the slaw was good nothing fancy but good, the potatoes were not good and I hardly ate much of them as they tasted almost microwaved, not good. The crab cakes, which our family raved about were actually a let down, they were not the best crab cakes I have had. We also shared a plate of coconut shrimp which was probably the best thing we ordered. It wasn't terrible, and I would be willing to give them another shot, maybe just get crab or lobster instead. The service was very good, our waitress was very sweet, friendly and prompt. And although it was quite busy she made sure our water glasses were full and our food was out fairly quickly.
(3)
Amanda K.
Crab cakes were very good and ribs were falling off the bone good. Didn't really like the coconut shrimp- the shrimp themselves were very tasteless.. Everything else was great!
(4)
Joe L.
Excellent! Glad we made the stop! Fantastic service, great food and the key lime topped off an awesome visit! We would highly recommend this place! Debra was amazing!
(5)
Step H.
This Place Rocks!! Its crowded but they can always make room for more. Sat outside for more room and fresh air. Park at the hotel if lot is full. Had several things on the menu. All were fantastic and very fair priced! Servers work all areas so service is fast and friendly...All you can eat fish 2-5. They also have King Crab, Scallops, lobster & much more....Put this on your list!!!
(5)
Stephanie T.
So far so good. We have been here a few times and have always enjoyed the food. The only problem is the wait. It's always packed.
(4)
Jeremiah T.
Pretty disappointed. Service was stellar. My food was actually kinda gross. I had the "crab meat" stuffed cod, with veggies and their special red potatoes as my sides. My cod came stuffed with a crab cake in the middle... And as we all know, crab cakes mostly consist of the breading, and this one was no different. Then, my veggies were absolutely mush. Lastly, the red potatoes were served whole, and were just boiled in water an put on a plate. Needless to say, I didn't even eat my leftovers.. And I'm poor. I will never step in there again.
(2)
Kathleen B.
I always make sure to go here on my travels. The food here is so good. They have all you can eat fish on Monday nights which is totally worth the price. You get a potato side and coleslaw that is also all you can eat. The coleslaw and the rice are my favorites. They are both homemade and boy I can't get enough of them. The popcorn shrimp is very filling as well. The plate is covered with shrimp way too many to count can barely eat them all. The soups are always hot and tasty. They have a good array of alcoholic drinks to choose from. To end the meal I always get the key lime cheese cake...it is so so rich and delicious with just the right amount of tartness. I will be back for more great food cause I never leave disappointed.
(5)
Maria J.
A follow up since we returned for another visit, we had a fantastic waiter on this most recent visit, his name is Grant. So if you dine here be sure to be seated so Grant or Cheryl can take care of you! Thanks again Lenny for providing a great dining establishment with the best service!!!
(5)
Louis W.
The food was good the atmosphere was perfect and our waitress made the experience perfect
(4)
Francesco C.
At a last minute decision to go to a place to eat with some ambiance. I found this place in Ellenton before shopping at the outlets. Walking in you couldn't help to see the locals and guests sitting and standing around the bar for happy hour. Looking around you could tell this place is popular with all the customers filling each table. When it was our turn to be seated, the hostess took us to the rear of the restaurant. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better view. Just at the other side of the window, you can see the canal that flows at the rear of the restaurants to Manatee River and a sign that says "Don't feed the Alligators." Palm trees and birds made it all worth the sit down area. Since I am on a protein SLASH low fat diet, I ordered the Fresh Atlantic Salmon, grilled with Hollandaise sauce on the side. Came with steamed veggies. The salmon was a descent portion and tasted very good. Not too fishy but flaky and cooked just right. My guest ordered the First Mate's Combo, with small portions of tilapia, shrimp, and scallops all sauteed in a creamy lemony sauce. Came with steamed veggies. For it's great service and view (per our seating) I give it a great review. Family friendly, but try to sit away from the bar. Daily specials! Will come back.
(4)
Evan J.
So so greasy spoon fish place. Had the fish and chips. Lunch size. Huge potions. I got about four pieces of mediocre fish in a decently tasty batter. Skin was still on a few pieces sadly. Soda was really watered down. Seats really uncomfortable. Place could use a once over with some soap and elbow grease. Service was good though. Well except this one waitress that gave us attitude. Will not dine here again.
(3)
Jhon Alexander R.
Brian was great. The Grouper was fresh and delicious. Captain's combo platter was very good!!
(5)
Ashley H.
Fabulous meal! They have a great selection and are reasonably priced. Everything is freshly made. The service was great. If you are in the area, this is a must stop place! I had the crab cake sandwich which is delightful.
(5)
Christian M.
Completely satisfied! Excellent food and service. Went to there in a Sunday lunch peak and had good and fast service. The grouper and mahi mahi plates were fresh and well done. The clam chowder and lobster bisque were perfect. Nothing pretentious and no new cuisine approach here, but fresh traditional "paper towel roll on the table" good seafood!
(5)
Joli M.
Very nice atmosphere and festively decorated. our server was awesome and attentive, but not overly so. Dinner was delicious. ... tilapia oscar and chicken w/linguine in the specialty house sauce ... both were delicious. Didn't have room for dessert but the selection looked delicious. Free Margarita was yummy.
(4)
Nicole P.
Crab legs were decent other ( which are hard to screw up) than that food seemed precooked and the service wasn't the best.
(2)
John B.
Really good I had the grilled grouper, frys, slaw My brother had the mahi Large portions Oysters really fresh $1 margarita on Saturday and a free Yelp margarita! beers $2.00 Definitely will go back
(4)
Stephanie F.
We've been here twice now; it's a great place to stop right off the Interstate between Tampa and Venice. The Grouper Oscar was excellent, blackened Mahi Mahi was ok, pasta was great and there was a ton of it, clam chowder and Caesar salads also were good.
(3)
Elle K.
Love coming here! The nightly sea full of grey hairs know what's up with this gem.. Delicious reasonable seafood. Our server Brandy was friendly, timely and overall awesome on a 30 min wait night.
(5)
Valerie G.
The Oyster Bar is always busy so we were glad we were seated right away! There is outdoor seating as well. Food is reasonably priced and good. My dad said the fish & chips were excellent! Plus they have all you can eat fish and chips everyday 2-5 and all day Mondays! Service was good too!
(5)
Don H.
We decided on AMOB because of their newspaper ad for Shark Week. I'm not sure if everyone saw the same ad, but for the middle of August, this snowbird palace was packed as we arrived and when we departed. Our server, Brittany, was very nice but somewhat uninformed about the preparation of food, although she got the information we requested. Knowing that Black Tip Shark can be somewhat tough we asked whether it was brined - and how. Brittany brought back the correct answer - in milk. That said, the Shark Bites appetizer was rubbery. The remoulade was a bit zingy... but not completely to our unliking. Perhaps tartar sauce may have been more enjoyable. Our entrees consisted of the Fish & Chips. Plenty of fish. In fact, enough for a leftover dinner. The blackened catfish was well-seasoned and very moist. The Black Tip Shark entree was nothing like the appetizer version... thick but not rubbery... and while the citrus sauce got to be a bit much towards the end, it was still a flavorful meal. For the price it was a Value Meal.
After a long day of shopping, my mom and I pulled up yelp to find a nearby spot. We were not disappointed. First, you receive a free margarita when checking in for the first time (which we both enjoyed). We went mid-afternoon and I would say the crowd was slightly older than the two of us inside, but the outside patio area was quite nice. We both enjoyed fried oyster sandwiches and the oysters were to die for. Nice size, great breading. The waitstaff was very friendly. My only complaint was the environment, but that could have been due to the time of day we visited. I would certainly go again if I were in the area!
(4)
Natalie C.
FOOD POISONING ALERT! My mother got food poisoning from this place last night. We believe it was either their coleslaw or salmon. Never going back there again
(1)
Rick L.
This place is not good. The only reason we came here was because Lee's Crab next door shut down. The clam chowder has the consistency of water. Their scallops (advertised as melt in your mouth) are tough and taste like stale lemons. The squash crunched. It's not supposed to do that.
(2)
Blake H.
Good food, decent prices. I ordered the popcorn shrimp with a cup of clam chowder. Both were very good! The shrimp were light and there were a ton of them! Two of us ordered the popcorn shrimp and we had almost a full to go container left! Husband had a cheeseburger; not impressed, tasted like a frozen pre-made patty. Coleslaw was sweet and everyone at the table enjoyed. We were able to snag a table outside (first come, first serve) and were fine thanks to the space heaters. Key lime coconut cake was delicious. I would go again.
(4)
Emily J.
This is a down home, relaxed, buzzing restaurant. Definitely seems like a local spot to hang out. I had the fish and chips which were good/great. Got a margarita free with an entree and it was wonderful. Next time I would sit outside for the atmosphere. Indoors was fine but when in Florida.... Definitely will be back!
(5)
Chris G.
I was meeting friends and arrived early so I sat at the bar to wait. Bartender was quick to check on me and recommended the margarita as the special. I should have just gone with the beer. Marg was very sour. Not very strong. It was cheap enough though at $3. I had the grilled / sauted first mates platter. The tilapia was good but I would have liked to see more fresh local options for fish. The scallops were tiny and rather bland. Also came with three shrimp. Friends had blackened chicken and said it was good. Another had the fish and chips and was very happy with it. Atmosphere was noisy with an older retiree crowd mixed with families. Kids under ten are charged s penny per inch for kids meals. Making it very affordable for a family. Outdoor patio was first come seating. Would have liked to have been told tgat upon arrival.
(3)
Gary M.
We stayed right across the street from this place so decided to give it a try. It was very busy but we got right in and our waitress got our drinks right away and took our order promptly. I ordered the coconut shrimp and my wife ordered the creamy Alfredo. About five minutes later, out comes Crissy with our order, hot, correct and delicious. I couldn't believe how fast it came out being they were so busy. I would definitely recommend this place to whoever wants a great meal with great service.
(5)
Sara F.
Love penny an inch night for the kids. (Sun -Thursday). Awesome oysters. It's usually very busy on weekends.
(5)
Noelle L.
A solid 3 star experience. Everyone was pleasurable. The good: Fast service Friendly staff Great prices Oysters rockefeller Fried shrimp were cooked perfectly and were pretty big Free margarita if you check in on Yelp! (and it was strong!) woo! The not so good: Decor could be updated The fried fish tasted not as fresh as I would have liked Will we be back? Yes, most likely. It's the same exit as the outlet malls, so we'll give it another go.
(3)
Cynthia M.
For the money, wasn't that good. My mother got food poisoning from the clam chowder a few years ago and ended in hospital. My father went back and told them about the clam chowder.....that was that.
(1)
Cathy J.
My husband and I decided to head over to Anna Maria Oyster Bar the other night as neither of us felt like cooking. My husband doesn't eat seafood, but I promised him that there was steak on the menu. We arrived, and the restaurant was packed! But luckily we did not have to wait and were seated right away. I needed some wine after the day that I had endured. I usually go with the house wine but for whites they only offered chardonnay and white zin, neither of which I like the taste of, so I opted for a pinot off the regular wine list. At this point I checked in on Yelp and voila! Free margarita! I was very excited about this, because I have heard really good things about AMOB's margaritas. Let me tell you, they are GOOD. I would go back there again just for the margaritas. As for the food, I really enjoyed my meal. I had the pasta skillet with scallops and shrimp in the Anna Maria sauce. It came with a salad, and I had the caesar which was crisp and delicious. The pasta skillet was enough food to feed an army. The scallops and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and I love the Anna Maria sauce which had a lemon butter base, tomatoes, garlic, artichokes, etc. So good. My husband ordered the NY strip which he enjoyed. Not the best steak he's ever had, but pretty good for a seafood joint! He really liked the house salad that came with his meal. Mixed greens with dried cranberries, almond slivers, blue cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette. Yum. Great place to stop at for seafood lovers. Very reasonable prices, large portions and delicious margaritas!
(4)
Patricia H.
Tuesday night at about 7pm. Just ok. Food must cater to the older crowd. Bland. I had the fish and chips and my husband had sword fish. Both bland. Very bright! Bright lights like a cafeteria. All in all ok in a pinch but we won't go back.
(3)
Chris F.
What a fantastic experience. The food was great. Had lobster bisque, seared tuna, and escargot in mushroom caps to get warmed up; the best I've eaten in my entire life. Great atmosphere outside. The inside was dated, but our waitress was a true talent and turned us on to the free margaritas. Will be back.
(4)
Sydney L.
bad oyesters make for a relatively unpleasant evening. seriously.
(1)
Stacey T.
The restaurant was very busy tonight, so I sat at the bar. The service was exceptionally fast for how busy it was and the food came out steaming hot. I had the Caption's platter and enjoyed the broiled seafood.
(4)
Rosie L.
If you're in the area, Anna Maria Oyster Bar is well worth stopping for. The menu is varied with seafood and land-lover fare alike. The place is always busy but expect a longer wait in season. Our favorite specials include the all-you-can-eat fish and chips, the fiesta salad, and grouper Oscar. Drink specials with local coupons, too.
(4)
Cher M.
I should have worn my lobster bib, but I am not from Florida, so I reasoned "I am capable of feeding myself other food without requiring a hosing down after," and matched ahead sans bib, several lobstery tools in hand to attack my lobster. Frankie (oh yeah, i named him) put up one hell of a fight and within 2 minutes I figured out why all the white haired customers sported bibs; it's really not optional. I made a mess but I did it with confidence and gusto, to the chagrin of my dining companion. But no one cared. This place is casual and laid back, with paper towel rolls on chains suspended over tables. And the drink specials! $3.25 for a bahama mama? I'll take 3! (and I did) followed by the best incarnation of lobster, ever! LOBSTERCARGOT! Get it. So delicious I could just melt into a pile of buttah... But back to Frankie. He fought valiantly, but in the end, my waiter (Kevin, FTW!) neatly broke him down into "eatable" pieces. The key lime pie wasn't anything to write home about (seriously, expect zero postcards mom.) but they had a mango pie that looked like a better option. If you're a local, a snow bird, or just on a long weekend vacay, go to AMOB!
(5)
Kat O.
Great seafood. Great lunch specials. Good margaritas. Fresh mahi mahi. Great staff. Nice location. Outdoor seating by a,lake/pond. Gets crowded. I recommend!
I really debated between 1 or 2 stars but considering this was our second visit and we definitely will not return, I decided on 1 star. For some reason this place is always packed with senior citizens even though for the money Red Lobster is a better option with better quality seafood that is better prepared. The seafood on both occasions (fish and lobster) was extremely overcooked on both occasions. If you advertise as a seafood restaurant and you are putting out overcooked food, that is inexcusable. Someone in the kitchen has some talent because the sides and salads are perfect. I am not a big fan of chains but after 2 really poor experiences I would recommend Red Lobster over Anna Maria Oyster Bar. What a huge disappointment.
(1)
Sue S.
We love this place. We have our free margaritas with check in with yelp. Oysters Rockefeller are fantasic. Fried clams with added hush puppies and mai mai with 6 added fried shrimp. We continue to go back every chance we get.
(5)
Ken B.
Wow ! What a great Yelp !! If you mentioned Yelp ..... Boom ...... Free Margarita . Sandi loved it . Dave was outstanding in his service and the food was delicious . We started with Caesar salads which were better than most with the fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and I chose a favorite of mine , Shrimp Alfredo which was perfect and loaded with gulf shrimp. Sandi enjoyed the Shrimp & Scallop Linguine with Anna Marie sauce which is the reason we will definitely returning......fantastic ! Lots of free parking and worth every cent !
(5)
James K.
This seafood joint is tucked away in an old Shoneys just off of 301 (exit 224 on I-75.) To get there, head west on 301 and take the 1st right that isn't an on-ramp. I think its the 2nd redlight. I've been in FL for a couple of months now and I've been rather surprised by the lack of "traditional" seafood restaurants around where I live. Perhaps I haven't done much exploring, but I had seen this place on yelp, and have been mulling it over since I got here. Food reviews on yelp in the area seem very weird to me, a lot of people seem to have a bone to pick. I don't get it. They almost say they refuse to eat somewhere because they don't like the wallpaper. So here's my experience with Anna Maria's Oyster Bar in Ellention: The good: Atmosphere is beachy. Some people call it touristy, and sure, you could say that, but c'mon its a seafood restaurant in a near beach area. I would expect coral and light blue with nautical themed items on the walls in a seafood restaurant ANYWHERE in the country. It's an old Shoneys from the 80s, so its laid out like that. There's a bar near the door, and sort of a diner layout open front kitchen area in the middle. When I was there they were playing oldies music, which is fitting for the dineresque theme, and for the clientele. It's true what many folks on the reviews have said, there is an early bird special on all you can eat fish & chips and the place gets quite busy during this time! Despite the busy atmosphere we were seated immediately and greeted by our very friendly and helpful server. (I don't remember his name, but he had a mustache.) The food is great! It came out rather quickly, we all got the light side popcorn shrimp and fries. Everything was hot fresh and tasty! The not so good: Well, there are a few things that could have been better but they're VERY minor. First, we really wanted a baked potato, but they don't have them. What they do have is red potatoes. (What I call "new potatoes.") or Fries. They may have onion rings, I don't know. When I was on my way in I heard another patron at another table tell the waiter "give me lots of coleslaw, this is the best coleslaw in the world." So I was eager to try it. I was a little disappointed that my taste disagreed with that patron's taste. It's not bad! But its far from the best in the world. (I suppose, this is the other patron's fault, not the restaurants, for getting my hopes up. I love a good coleslaw!) The portion/price ratio. This is the biggest one for me. I could have sworn I got like.. 8 popcorn shrimp. They do offer larger plates, and WHEN I come back I'm getting one! But after all was said and done I was looking at about $10 a head for popcorn shirmp, fries, a drink, and a side of hushpuppies. I guess everything's kind of expensive around here, but I thought this was a little high. Would I recommend this restaurant? Absolutely! Will I be going back? Absolutely!
(5)
Valerie M.
Yuck! Bottom line. Do not understand the good reviews. The restaurant is grungy, dirty and outdated. The food was overpriced, outdated, and loaded with grease. We ordered the king crab legs and got 4 legs for $27 as well as the shrimp and scallops which were sopping in butter for $17. We ordered the veggies which were clearly from a frozen bulk bag (looked like they came straight from a grocery store freezer). There are so many beautifully located and upper scaled restaurants for half of the cost - I really do not understand why people come here. Never again it was disgusting!
(1)
Erica H.
Ok first off. Come for the food not the decor. Oysters were very fresh , calamari crisp and tender and the salmon dish I had was perfect. Really good specials. Very busy but good service.
(4)
Gregory J.
I have been eating here for years. All dinners are fresh and cooked perfectly. Great specials and great servers. Cheapest place around for a fresh fish dinner. Great place to bring your kids too. Only a penny an inch for them to eat. Happy hour drink specials are also unbeatable. You wont be let down.
(5)
Bizz M.
Well, first of all, every review about the decor & age range are spot on, in a more hysterical way. A beautiful teal & pink beach theme. A cruise ship feel you would say. A cruise ship parked next to a Waffle House within ear shot of I-75. We also had the pleasure of visiting during the July 4th weekend. So, as you might imagine it was filled with flags, LOTS of flags, tucked into the drop ceiling tiles, over every table. Hey, we love America too!! The service was good, Thomas was funny, attentive and an excellent server. I remember his name because it was on the back of his TB Rays t-shirt. Rays gear or Hawaiian shirts for all the staff. We went for the oysters. Rockefeller's were very good, raw were good. Good doesn't make me want to drive 30 minutes when I can get good 10 minutes away....again the Rockefellers were quite delicious. Entrees...just ok. I had the Mahi Mahi "Caribbean Jerk" style...well, the chef considers jerk seasoning: salt, pepper & rosemary?!?! Emphasis on the salt, and they forgot the mango chutney (I didn't remember to ask for it either, but since the jerk was so on point, heh) Mr. Bizz had baked grouper...under-seasoned and fairly bland. Nothing stood out except the Stella Artois Cidre (Cider) they offered, quite delicious. They also honored the free margarita FourSquare offer. We decided we would share one. It was very tangy... I wouldn't say it was horrible....but we definitely wouldn't go back when there are some better spots closer like The Lucky Pelican or Monk's. The 65+ hostess gave me a nice compliment on the way out. When we got out to the parking lot Mr. noted that I sat on something. Lovely. We'd probably give the place 2.5 stars but since yelp still isn't feeling that option...2 it is. If you like friendly service then you should go....the food leaves you wanting something more.
(2)
Laura H.
I don't really like seafood, but my family decided to meet here because it's our Nana's favorite restaurant. The wait staff was excellent and very helpful (we had like 20 people). They did have other things besides seafood as well. I had chicken tenders because I wanted to be safe, lol. My son, who is 3, also enjoyed his lunch. I love the special thing they do for kids where they charge by their height. It's pretty awesome. Over-all it was a great experience.
(4)
Geno K.
My meal was really a 1 or maybe 2 star experience, but I'm going to give this place the benefit of the doubt and try it again sometime. It was slammed tonight (a Monday) so there's got to be something special about this place. Some friends who grew up in Maine with me recommended this place, so I figured it'd be stellar. I had the fried shrimp dinner. Hands down it was the worst shrimp I've ever had. The only thing I can imagine is that I'm biased to New England shrimp... I saw they had Maine lobster, so I assumed it'd be Maine shrimp. I'd never had southern shrimp and never plan to again. It was a bland almost sour taste. I'm used to juicy sweet cold water shrimp I guess. I never would've imagined the taste difference would be so big. But I guess I really can't fault the restaurant for this. The fries, catsup and cocktail sauce were all good... so I guess I can say something positive about this place! Was a little annoyed that to substitute a side for a small Caesar salad was an extra $3. Would've been cool with it if the Ceasar was amazing. It wasn't. Shallow dish of lettuce and croutons with Cesar dressing that was pretty tasteless. Even the tartar sauce was weak. Not at all tangy. The place was slammed, so again, I just must have ordered the wrong thing. Or I'm just too biased because I come from New England and my standards for seafood might be too high.
(2)
Aerin F.
Very laid back and good service. Fried shrimp and crab cakes - yum!!! The salmon was so so, not overly flavorful and nothing special. They also have a gumbo that my boyfriend raved over, although I didn't personally try it.
(4)
Gary C.
I had the .50 cent fresh oysters for the Sunday special. Excellent. We also had the tuna sashimi which was excellent as well. Good prices, ugly decor. Very friendly service. Cool patio, even seen a gator behind my wife while we were snapping pics.
(4)
Eldon P.
Just went with friends Friday for the first time. It was fairly crowded but we were seated right away since there was only 4 of us. All of us had seafood of one type or another and it was all very good. My only negative was the very small portion I got of the grouper. The price was $18 and change but I have had more fish then that on a grouper sandwich in other restaurants! If I went again I would get another type of fish that comes with more to eat. Rum punch was great! All in all it was a OK experience and I would probably go again.
(3)
Dolly P.
just got done eating at anna maria oyster bar in ellenton....had the prime rib...to die for.....was excellent...cooked medium rare...great...better than some fancy steak houses....cant ever go wrong eating at anna maria oyster bar.....
(5)
Joe R.
This was the last restaurant I dined at before heading back to St. Louis. After eating a bunch of seafood everynight I have to say I was pretty disappointed by their food. Let me say this, everything on the menu sounds amazing. From the Lobster Tail to the King Crab Legs to the Scallops and the Grouper. The interior of the place looks very touristy and florida like. It reminds me of the 80s with the baby blue, greens, white and pink colors. The staff all had very loud floral pattern shirts on as well. I guess this was to make tourists feel comfortable when they came in. Our server came by and they were running a 3.25 margarita special so we all went with that as our drinks. Since I'm land locked in Missouri I decided to get Scallops one last time before I went home. The family ordered Oysters Rockafeller as well, this would be the second time I've had Oysters this trip and they were pretty good. When my entree arrived though I was somewhat disappointed. I had 10 scallops that were kind of over cooked sitting in some flavorless butter sauce. The red potatoes and green beans were also pretty bland as well and didn't have much of a flavor other than being smothered in butter. The drinks weren't that great either. I couldn't find any trace of tequilia in my two cocktails so it was basically lemonade I was drinking I felt. This place will really have to impress me to bring me back here next time I'm in Ellenton.
(3)
Tori T.
Went to this place because it had a higher rating then other seafood places close by. The service was great! Helpful and happy and ready that was a rarity! I ordered the dinner salad for $5.99 and added the cod that was listed. I asked my waitress if that was the only thing I could add yes was her answer. So I said ok. I loved it descent size of fish blackened perfectly and well seasoned, very tasty! I enjoyed every bite of that salad! The shock came when I received the bill. $22.00 yes the piece of fish cost me $15.00 it was crazy and I was a little disappointed that the waitress did not inform me of the cost, it was not on the menu it only said market price. I have never paid $15 bucks for a 3 by 4 piece of cod!!! My son had crab stuffed fish with boiled red potatoes, he was very disappointed. Plain with no flavor. My daughter and her husband ordered the fish and chips. They were just ok. The good news was my wonderful waitress went to her manager and informed her of my disappointment, the manager changed my bill to reflect the cost of maui maui that I could have ordered. I was very happy! It was a great salad!
(3)
Steve P.
great little seafood place right off of I-75. Open for lunch and dinner with a full bar and draft beer selection.Prices are very reasonable. They have outdoor seating available with a small tiki bar.All seafood from shellfish toSalmon cooked 5 different ways is fresh and cooked to perfection.Great sides! I recomend the red bliss potatoes.If youre looking for seafood stop here!
(4)
Chris R.
This particular location (there is another is another one in Bradenton that is much better) reminds me of a cafeteria at a senior center. All pastels - think lots of turquoise and pink and coral. My assumption is that the building used to house a casual dining chain (think Friendly's or Perkins) since it is wide open. The food was eh, okay, but nothing to write home about. At first I was psyched (sure, pulling into the parking lot because I had good experiences at the other location which is much better) but that quickly passed. On the plus side, the beer was cold and who doesn't like a cold beer. My grouper sandwich (blackened) was decent but served in a plastic tray with the micro-serving of fries and cole slaw that it was simply lost in. The staff was damn nice. Okay so another 1/2 star for them. Austyn was our waitress and she was friendly and efficient. But overall, the other meals were weak and the ambience just plain old, well, it's just plain old. I imagine that the early-bird diners flock here. They probably feel very comfortable there.
(2)
Karen M.
We'll a year later I went back and I ordered the same thing as last time it was soooo good. Not sure what happened the year before it just didn't taste as good as the first time.
(5)
Carey Y.
If you look at the heading of my blog, you will see that one of my mottos is "I will try anything twice". Anna Maria Oyster bar proves that point. Gabriel and I had a pretty poor experience the first time we went. As regular blood donors, we were given a $25 gift certificate to A.M.O.B and went to check it out for the first time about 2 months ago. We arrived to find a totally dated and tacky atmosphere, and a crowd of patrons whose average age was probably around 75. We sat in a booth with plastic-y, pastel cushions in the back, and noted the weird painted mural on the walls, the horrible lighting and the feeling that we were in 1967. We ordered a small salad (mixed greens with tomatoes, toasted almonds, strawberries, blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette), a bowl of lobster bisque, and a cheeseburger with fries, a pickle and coleslaw. Our salad consisted of slimy strawberries, tomatoes that were wrinkled and shriveling on their way to rotten, lettuce that was browning and the most overly-sweet, jelly-like raspberry dressing I've ever had. Gross. We immediately alerted the waiter to our total disappointment about the salad, asked for a new one with different dressing, and moved on to the soup. The bisque is raved about on the website and described as award winning on their menu. It was not good. It was so salty, I really couldn't eat it. It was mostly cream and salt and just enough lobster (or maybe lobster juice) to make it pink. Really not good. Definitely not about to win any awards in my book. The burger was fine. I know it's weird to order a burger in seafood place, but having just donated blood we needed an iron fix. It was ok, not bad, not great. The fries were pretty darn good, as is just about anything when it's deep-fried to a crispy golden color. The floppy pickle and over-mayo'd coleslaw wasn't really worth finishing. The meal was really just a total let-down and we let the waiter know. Maybe the tables packed with elderly folk have tastebuds that don't really discriminate food like this, but we don't pretend it's good when it's not. The manager came over shortly after and said the whole meal was on him. He told us to please keep our $25 gift certificate and come back another time. Well, ok. It definitely wasn't something I would have done otherwise, but a free meal and deep apology warrants chance #2. So, a couple of months later, the opportunity to go back presented itself when we were in that neighborhood again. We took a deep breath, parked in the lot with as open a mind as possible, and asked for a table outside. We were led to the side of the building and a choice table facing the lake. It was a gorgeous day, with a lovely view and already this experience was way better than the first. A very friendly waitress named Delilah told us the specials, and her description of the grilled shrimp with cheesy grits sounded too good to pass up. We ordered that to start with, plus a Caesar salad, and salmon with dill sauce, french fries and green beans. The app came out fast and looked amazing. The grits were ok but the shrimp were incredibly salted. Gabriel agreed, but ate them anyway, but I really couldn't manage them. I worried that this meal was going to be worse than the first. The salad and the salmon, thankfully, were actually very good. The dressing was homemade and just fishy enough, the salmon was fresh, cooked well and it's dill sauce was creamy and delicious. The green beans were fresh and not overcooked- there is nothing worse than mushy green beans, and the fries- like last time, were great. The view definitely made everything taste a little better, and the avoidance of the inside of the restaurant helped to change the feel of our experience to a more positive one. Overall, I am glad we gave it a second try. It was still not outstanding, but had our first experience been like the second one, we might have gone back by choice and not because we got our meal comped and had a gift certificate to use. I'm still not sure I'll ever return...but in all fairness, I probably should go back one more time to have the oysters. After all, it's what they do and what they are named for...and I DO love oysters. Maybe the third time will be the charm. What do you think?
(2)
Karen V.
I eat here every time I make a trip to the Prime Outlet Mall. The service is always top notch even when it's totally packed full of people. I've never been disappointed with anything that I've ordered. My favorite dish is the Basa Roma which is lightly fried and served with a yummy saute of tomato, garlic, and capers in a lemon and wine sauce. My mother's favorite dish is the pasta skillet of linguine and shrimp with their special Anna Maria Island sauce. It's a huge portion that we always end up taking home and sharing the next day. It's a place we'll continue to go to anytime we're in Ellenton.
(4)
JT H.
Me and my wife came here back in November for my birthday and had a decent time. Probably wouldn't come back all the time but to bring visitors or if they had a groupon.
I really enjoyed dinner here. The place was busy at 7:00pm but we were seated as soon as we arrived. The service was excellent. Our server, Austyn, made us feel like regulars. She was attentive, pleasant, and cheerful and couldn't have been better. Austyn must love her job because she was working on her birthday and she was awesome. The food was good too and reasonably priced. I recommend the crab cake, it was fresh and delicious. If I am ever in Ellenton again, I will definitely eat at this restuarant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert 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 Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Mark S.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Pretty crowed but still got a table quickly. Ordered shrip appetizer and fish sandwich. Both were very good. Also got a key lime pie - it was good as well. This place is solid - expect good value for your money.
(4)David F.
Came here strictly for the oysters. Had a dozen oysters florentine and then a couple dozen raw. Can't do better than this place for oysters. The gas tiki torches outside were a nice touch right on the water and we had fantastic weather. The florentine was fantastic and though it's hard to mess up raw oysters (other than cleanliness obviously) the term "baker's dozen" doesn't come close. And for a great price too. Around $11.95 per dozen and with our two dozen we ended up with about 2 1/2 doz. They really know how to take care of you. Would have liked to have the option for a larger glass of beer and my wife didn't find the sweet tea to her liking but those are nit picky things. We'll be back here again.
(5)Jim Z.
I felt like I was in the crypt keeper's castle when I dined here. The average patron is about 73. Food here is OK. I don't care for the local seafood, so I tried some New England seafood here, cod I believe. It was alright, but not great. Service tends to be particularly slow here. It took almost 30 minutes to get a seat, then about 2 hours from first service to final check.
(2)Casey C.
Went there at about 6pm for the monday all you can eat fish and chips. Loved it. The fish was way bigger then I thought it would be, and the fries and the coleslaw were the perfect addition. Service was great, even though the restaurant was packed! I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Todd R.
This quickly became a family favorite from the first time we ate there about 7 years ago. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is always great. In 7+ years and easily 50 meals there, we've only been less than pleased on one occasion and that was when one refill of the all you can eat fish came out a little over cooked. You can't go wrong with their hallmark dish, the all you can eat fish. The fish is a white fish (Pollock I think?), lightly batterd, and served with your choice of two side. Most afternoons it can be had for less than $8, which is a bargain for fresh cooked fish with two side. The fact that it tastes great is a huge bonus. Everytime we go I swear I'm going to get something different, but each time I get the same thing (the fish). However, other party members have ordered a variety of dishes and I have yet to hear a complaint. They also have a variety of lighter portioned meals and have daily "2 for" dinners that are usually $20 or less (for both). As residents, this is one of our top 3 restaurants and is heartily recommended without hesitation.
(5)Rick A.
Great Meal for the price. The Skillet Meal was brought out in a real skillet and was enough food for four!!!. Issues with meal was dealt with very quickly, friendly and without question. Would travel outta my way to re-visit.
(5)Roland S.
Happened to go here two nights in a row earlier this month. Free margaritas drew us in (a deal from the hotel next to where we were staying). The margarita was pretty good, but about as strong as you'd expect for a free margarita. This place is packed during early bird dinner time and thins out after that. Seafood is the specialty as the restaurant name suggests. Everyone in my large group seemed satisfied with their meal. My fried shrimp was good as were the hush puppies. Caesar salad was decent enough. However, the service was quite spotty, even making allowances for the fact we were a large group. Some things we had to ask for several times, simple things like water or drinks, and some things never arrived at all. The second night was worse, and bit less friendly to boot.
(2)J. B.
Great seafood for a great price. One of the area's best kept secrets. Be sure to try the lobster bisque.
(4)Gary C.
love it. Great staff and good food
(4)Lori N.
This is a family favorite place to go when we want great seafood. The shrimp are by far my favorite followed closely by the sea scallops and the clams. The rice is also to die for. I had the whole Maine lobster last time which was also great at $14.95. Prices are comparable if not better then most Florida seafood restaurants that we are aware of. This is how seafood is supposed to taste in Florida. Fried to perfection. They also offer baked, broiled or blackened I believe. The oysters on the other hand have been depressing at sometimes with chunks of shell or grit but the manager was quick to take them off our bill. This leaves me to believe oyster bar in the name is more named for the bar not the oysters. The drinks come with plenty of alcohol in them. You will also experience the manager coming by each table to check on things which means to me they really care about what they serve and how it is perceived. We have never been disappointed here and it is worth the drive. Highly recommended visit for seafood lovers.
(5)Carolyn H.
Prime Rib Thursdays is awesome! The Shrimp and Grits is the next best thing I think I have ever experienced here. It's just a shame it's a "special". This is an item that should be a regular on their menu. A winner for sure. I am a true southerner and some things cannot get by me but this is one dish that just pleases my taste buds. Usually fast service. Prices are reasonable. Convenient location.
(4)Christie K.
Stopped by with my in laws for a Sunday lunch. We ordered sweet tea, as that is the beverage of choice her in the south. Hush puppies were offered and we accepted, not sure if they are complimentary because I didn't pay the bill but they were great either way. We all ordered the unlimited fish and chips. I really appreciated that the fish filets were not overly breaded as is often the case with fish restaurants in the south. The fries and cole slaw were unlimited as well. In cooler weather we would have chosen to sit on the porch but in July we choose indoor seating. Service was speedy fast and attentive.
(4)Christina C.
Fun place with tasty, fresh seafood. This is one of those places that screams Florida. The walls are pastel colored and it is very casual. Honestly, I think we were one of the only tables that was under the age of 60. But should that stop you from going? No! The food, the prices, the laid-back attitudes, it all makes up for it. This place can get packed! I was clued in on how crazy it could get by the sign in the front referencing pagers. If a restaurant this laid back has a need for pagers, then you know it is popular. Luckily, we were there at about 11 30 on a Saturday. By the time we left at about 12:30 p.m. there was a wait. I love their menu. There is all types of seafood and it all looks so good. Even if you aren't a seafood lover, like my husband, there is something for you. He ended up getting the Buffalo style chicken sandwich, with fries and green beans. I got the Salmon Oscar with red potatoes and coleslaw. It took a little longer than I expected to get our food, but that might have also been because I was really hungry. Time slows down when you're hungry. The fries with his sandwich were really good. I also liked my coleslaw. The potatoes were a little bland, so I added butter to it. The Salmon Oscar was very fresh tasting. I was glad to see it was a smaller portion. I still wasn't able to eat my entire dish, since potatoes are very filling. There are so many other things I want to try on this menu. If I lived closer, I would be coming here constantly!
(5)Bo W.
Not impressed. They're trying to sell a grouper sandwich for $20, so I ordered the recommended Borger instead. The burger want good. The patty was hard, dry, and tasteless. The coconut shrimp was the worst I've ever had, being small and flavorless. The service is slow, and the place was dirty. I felt like I needed a shower after being in there. Overall, not a good experience, and they are charging top notch prices for very poor quality food.
(2)Andrea W.
Great local hangout with an old world feel and fresh seafood. I had the salmon in puff pastry - large portion- light and flaky salmon. My daughter tried the local Gulf Oysters Rockefeller - best oysters we have tried since New Orleans!!! We were in the area for local outlet shopping and we were looking for fresh seafood close by - this restaurant really met our expectations for a classic Florida seafood dinner on the water!
(4)Lindsay G.
Tried this place w/ a friend after some shopping. Trying to maintain our clean eating, we both ordered fiesta salads w/ grilled shrimp on top. Overall, the salad was sort of bland. The staff all seemed very friendly! The owner even brought us some complimentary oysters to try...nice! Prices were affordable, especially if you have a little one w/ you. The hostess measures their height at tue entrance and you're only charged a penny/inch for their meal. My daughter loved her 42 cent pizza! I'd go back again, but would probably try one of their specialties instead of the salad.
(4)Aaron M.
1970s diner feel fried seafood and nice view. Food was good to really good drinks were fine service was fine again ambience is 1970s diner think Golden girls. All the other patrons were gray-haired but everyone seemingly have a smile on their face. We had a mahi sandwich and a salmon pastry both were good and the mod he was questionably money but nonetheless tasty enough again don't expect for star ambience or four star service but for a nice hole in the wall fish and chips or fried shrimp basket it is a good place to go
(4)Stella M.
It's fair pricing and you leave stuffed! Great service and great staff. The drinks have been very week so i wont be drinking there anymore but the food is great!
(5)D J.
We were invited to this location for a private party in the back room. Our server was nice but just like the other location the food was simply average. I don't even really feel like taking the time to write a review for this place again (different location). Feel free to check out my review for the Cortez location (which I gave 3-stars; I added one for amazing serving) Welp! At least they're consistent...LOL!
(2)B K.
Stopped in for the first time after a day of fishing for some seafood with a friend that lives near by. Parking lot was full on a Sunday at 3pm, so that's always a good sign. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were seated right away. The dining room was large and clean, and our server Bethany was very nice and attentive. It's not a fancy place by any means, but it's much nicer than some seafood houses that have picnic tables and signs all over the walls. We ordered a bunch of different apps and one entree to split, we got calamari, garlic Parmesan oysters, fried oyster entree and a bowl of clam chowder. The oysters we very fresh and tasty, and prepared very well, but they were on the small side. Paying $18 for a dozen small fried oysters and two sides and $9 for a half dozen small garlic parm oysters is a bit high, it would've been nice to throw in a couple extra oysters for that price, but they were very good. The only thing that could've been better food wise were the sides, I got the red potatoes and zucchini squash and both were steamed and just plain. Plus they weren't very hot, and adding butter to them didn't work well. The calamari was $9 and it was a nice sized order that looked like they were prepped in house and not frozen pre-breaded from a food supplier. They came with both the rings and tentacles, and a darker breading that was really good and a side of marinara. We both thought they were the most tender calamari we ever had. The clam chowder was just average, not bad though, and pretty reasonable at $5 for a bowl. They have a small bar with full liquor and a couple TVs, we would've sat there but there wasn't a empty seat, which is another good sign. They also have outside seating and was told that it's dog friendly, but not completely positive on that. I will defiantly return, but I will probably try something different and a bit cheaper, we spent $60 with tip for the food, one beer and a ice tea. I blame myself though, because the oysters were market price and I didn't ask how much they were.
(4)Beautiful S.
Really a great experience. Service was excellent. Lobster and Wolf Fish were great. Only thing I would change is less blackened seasoning on the Wolf Fish. Do not forget the shark bites!
(5)Holiday H.
My parents and I came after reading some good reviews and found the atmosphere a surprise. Expecting a nice dining establishment, my father paid $27 for the toughest grouper we've ever tried, it was more like a diner. I sent my "award winning" lobster bisque back. It reminded of something you'd be served at a nursing home. They have rolls of paper towels hanging above each table... Need I embellish? Go ahead and eat here if you don't mind spending $80 b4 tip, for 3 people to have dinner and wish they'd never come. In the case of attire, feel free to dress as if you were eating inside McDonalds. No worries there! Ps the waiter forgot my side of horseradish, the extra plates he promised and my mom had to ask for her Cesar salad she'd previously ordered. I'm only writing this review at my mothers insistence... She figured it would help you save your hard earned cash for something worth it. Try Bonefish Grill!
(2)Robbie C.
Met my daughter for lunch here as it is somewhat midway between Fort Myers and Tampa. Located very close to the Ellenton premium outlet mall. Was pretty busy for lunch time. Beachy decor, they have outdoor seating overlooking a lake. Only one brave table of patrons on a hot humid Florida summer day. We were greeted and sat right away. They offer many daily specials. Lots of seafood options. I ordered crab cake appetizer and was quite tasty. For entree, I ordered the seafood pasta in Alfredo sauce. This comes with shrimp, scallops, and veggies (cauliflower, carrots and broccoli). Yum! Free margaritas with yelp check in was a nice surprise. Lots of leftovers for another meal. Prices are surprisingly low! The margarita was pretty strong and priced at $3.50 for none yelpers. Great deal in my book! Our server was great and I'd come back again to try out other specials.
(4)Joel C.
Scallop and shrimp pasta with Anna Maries special sauce was excellent. Make sure you try the onion strings.
(5)Shannon M.
This is the go-to place when family visits. It has the Fl charm and the food is good.
(5)Adrianna C.
Not bad not great - family recommend this place while we were in town and we decided to give it a try one afternoon since it was really close to our hotel. At about 4:30 on a Thursday it was quite busy but we were seated right away and the food didn't take too long to come out. My husband and I shared a few different things - everything was ok but not great - we got a cup of lobster bisque, which was fine, crab cakes with a side of slaw and garlic mashed potatoes; the slaw was good nothing fancy but good, the potatoes were not good and I hardly ate much of them as they tasted almost microwaved, not good. The crab cakes, which our family raved about were actually a let down, they were not the best crab cakes I have had. We also shared a plate of coconut shrimp which was probably the best thing we ordered. It wasn't terrible, and I would be willing to give them another shot, maybe just get crab or lobster instead. The service was very good, our waitress was very sweet, friendly and prompt. And although it was quite busy she made sure our water glasses were full and our food was out fairly quickly.
(3)Amanda K.
Crab cakes were very good and ribs were falling off the bone good. Didn't really like the coconut shrimp- the shrimp themselves were very tasteless.. Everything else was great!
(4)Joe L.
Excellent! Glad we made the stop! Fantastic service, great food and the key lime topped off an awesome visit! We would highly recommend this place! Debra was amazing!
(5)Step H.
This Place Rocks!! Its crowded but they can always make room for more. Sat outside for more room and fresh air. Park at the hotel if lot is full. Had several things on the menu. All were fantastic and very fair priced! Servers work all areas so service is fast and friendly...All you can eat fish 2-5. They also have King Crab, Scallops, lobster & much more....Put this on your list!!!
(5)Stephanie T.
So far so good. We have been here a few times and have always enjoyed the food. The only problem is the wait. It's always packed.
(4)Jeremiah T.
Pretty disappointed. Service was stellar. My food was actually kinda gross. I had the "crab meat" stuffed cod, with veggies and their special red potatoes as my sides. My cod came stuffed with a crab cake in the middle... And as we all know, crab cakes mostly consist of the breading, and this one was no different. Then, my veggies were absolutely mush. Lastly, the red potatoes were served whole, and were just boiled in water an put on a plate. Needless to say, I didn't even eat my leftovers.. And I'm poor. I will never step in there again.
(2)Kathleen B.
I always make sure to go here on my travels. The food here is so good. They have all you can eat fish on Monday nights which is totally worth the price. You get a potato side and coleslaw that is also all you can eat. The coleslaw and the rice are my favorites. They are both homemade and boy I can't get enough of them. The popcorn shrimp is very filling as well. The plate is covered with shrimp way too many to count can barely eat them all. The soups are always hot and tasty. They have a good array of alcoholic drinks to choose from. To end the meal I always get the key lime cheese cake...it is so so rich and delicious with just the right amount of tartness. I will be back for more great food cause I never leave disappointed.
(5)Maria J.
A follow up since we returned for another visit, we had a fantastic waiter on this most recent visit, his name is Grant. So if you dine here be sure to be seated so Grant or Cheryl can take care of you! Thanks again Lenny for providing a great dining establishment with the best service!!!
(5)Louis W.
The food was good the atmosphere was perfect and our waitress made the experience perfect
(4)Francesco C.
At a last minute decision to go to a place to eat with some ambiance. I found this place in Ellenton before shopping at the outlets. Walking in you couldn't help to see the locals and guests sitting and standing around the bar for happy hour. Looking around you could tell this place is popular with all the customers filling each table. When it was our turn to be seated, the hostess took us to the rear of the restaurant. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better view. Just at the other side of the window, you can see the canal that flows at the rear of the restaurants to Manatee River and a sign that says "Don't feed the Alligators." Palm trees and birds made it all worth the sit down area. Since I am on a protein SLASH low fat diet, I ordered the Fresh Atlantic Salmon, grilled with Hollandaise sauce on the side. Came with steamed veggies. The salmon was a descent portion and tasted very good. Not too fishy but flaky and cooked just right. My guest ordered the First Mate's Combo, with small portions of tilapia, shrimp, and scallops all sauteed in a creamy lemony sauce. Came with steamed veggies. For it's great service and view (per our seating) I give it a great review. Family friendly, but try to sit away from the bar. Daily specials! Will come back.
(4)Evan J.
So so greasy spoon fish place. Had the fish and chips. Lunch size. Huge potions. I got about four pieces of mediocre fish in a decently tasty batter. Skin was still on a few pieces sadly. Soda was really watered down. Seats really uncomfortable. Place could use a once over with some soap and elbow grease. Service was good though. Well except this one waitress that gave us attitude. Will not dine here again.
(3)Jhon Alexander R.
Brian was great. The Grouper was fresh and delicious. Captain's combo platter was very good!!
(5)Ashley H.
Fabulous meal! They have a great selection and are reasonably priced. Everything is freshly made. The service was great. If you are in the area, this is a must stop place! I had the crab cake sandwich which is delightful.
(5)Christian M.
Completely satisfied! Excellent food and service. Went to there in a Sunday lunch peak and had good and fast service. The grouper and mahi mahi plates were fresh and well done. The clam chowder and lobster bisque were perfect. Nothing pretentious and no new cuisine approach here, but fresh traditional "paper towel roll on the table" good seafood!
(5)Joli M.
Very nice atmosphere and festively decorated. our server was awesome and attentive, but not overly so. Dinner was delicious. ... tilapia oscar and chicken w/linguine in the specialty house sauce ... both were delicious. Didn't have room for dessert but the selection looked delicious. Free Margarita was yummy.
(4)Nicole P.
Crab legs were decent other ( which are hard to screw up) than that food seemed precooked and the service wasn't the best.
(2)John B.
Really good I had the grilled grouper, frys, slaw My brother had the mahi Large portions Oysters really fresh $1 margarita on Saturday and a free Yelp margarita! beers $2.00 Definitely will go back
(4)Stephanie F.
We've been here twice now; it's a great place to stop right off the Interstate between Tampa and Venice. The Grouper Oscar was excellent, blackened Mahi Mahi was ok, pasta was great and there was a ton of it, clam chowder and Caesar salads also were good.
(3)Elle K.
Love coming here! The nightly sea full of grey hairs know what's up with this gem.. Delicious reasonable seafood. Our server Brandy was friendly, timely and overall awesome on a 30 min wait night.
(5)Valerie G.
The Oyster Bar is always busy so we were glad we were seated right away! There is outdoor seating as well. Food is reasonably priced and good. My dad said the fish & chips were excellent! Plus they have all you can eat fish and chips everyday 2-5 and all day Mondays! Service was good too!
(5)Don H.
We decided on AMOB because of their newspaper ad for Shark Week. I'm not sure if everyone saw the same ad, but for the middle of August, this snowbird palace was packed as we arrived and when we departed. Our server, Brittany, was very nice but somewhat uninformed about the preparation of food, although she got the information we requested. Knowing that Black Tip Shark can be somewhat tough we asked whether it was brined - and how. Brittany brought back the correct answer - in milk. That said, the Shark Bites appetizer was rubbery. The remoulade was a bit zingy... but not completely to our unliking. Perhaps tartar sauce may have been more enjoyable. Our entrees consisted of the Fish & Chips. Plenty of fish. In fact, enough for a leftover dinner. The blackened catfish was well-seasoned and very moist. The Black Tip Shark entree was nothing like the appetizer version... thick but not rubbery... and while the citrus sauce got to be a bit much towards the end, it was still a flavorful meal. For the price it was a Value Meal.
(3)Melissa M.
Excellent service, touristy but pleasant atmosphere. We had the calamari app which was not greasy at all - very tasty. I had the sautéed shrimp & scallops - fantastic. My boyfriend had the Florida lobster tail - also fantastic. Brandon was a very attentive and great server. And the fresh homemade key lime pie was a wonderful finish to a delicious meal. I would definitely come back!
(5)Rachel C.
After a long day of shopping, my mom and I pulled up yelp to find a nearby spot. We were not disappointed. First, you receive a free margarita when checking in for the first time (which we both enjoyed). We went mid-afternoon and I would say the crowd was slightly older than the two of us inside, but the outside patio area was quite nice. We both enjoyed fried oyster sandwiches and the oysters were to die for. Nice size, great breading. The waitstaff was very friendly. My only complaint was the environment, but that could have been due to the time of day we visited. I would certainly go again if I were in the area!
(4)Natalie C.
FOOD POISONING ALERT! My mother got food poisoning from this place last night. We believe it was either their coleslaw or salmon. Never going back there again
(1)Rick L.
This place is not good. The only reason we came here was because Lee's Crab next door shut down. The clam chowder has the consistency of water. Their scallops (advertised as melt in your mouth) are tough and taste like stale lemons. The squash crunched. It's not supposed to do that.
(2)Blake H.
Good food, decent prices. I ordered the popcorn shrimp with a cup of clam chowder. Both were very good! The shrimp were light and there were a ton of them! Two of us ordered the popcorn shrimp and we had almost a full to go container left! Husband had a cheeseburger; not impressed, tasted like a frozen pre-made patty. Coleslaw was sweet and everyone at the table enjoyed. We were able to snag a table outside (first come, first serve) and were fine thanks to the space heaters. Key lime coconut cake was delicious. I would go again.
(4)Emily J.
This is a down home, relaxed, buzzing restaurant. Definitely seems like a local spot to hang out. I had the fish and chips which were good/great. Got a margarita free with an entree and it was wonderful. Next time I would sit outside for the atmosphere. Indoors was fine but when in Florida.... Definitely will be back!
(5)Chris G.
I was meeting friends and arrived early so I sat at the bar to wait. Bartender was quick to check on me and recommended the margarita as the special. I should have just gone with the beer. Marg was very sour. Not very strong. It was cheap enough though at $3. I had the grilled / sauted first mates platter. The tilapia was good but I would have liked to see more fresh local options for fish. The scallops were tiny and rather bland. Also came with three shrimp. Friends had blackened chicken and said it was good. Another had the fish and chips and was very happy with it. Atmosphere was noisy with an older retiree crowd mixed with families. Kids under ten are charged s penny per inch for kids meals. Making it very affordable for a family. Outdoor patio was first come seating. Would have liked to have been told tgat upon arrival.
(3)Gary M.
We stayed right across the street from this place so decided to give it a try. It was very busy but we got right in and our waitress got our drinks right away and took our order promptly. I ordered the coconut shrimp and my wife ordered the creamy Alfredo. About five minutes later, out comes Crissy with our order, hot, correct and delicious. I couldn't believe how fast it came out being they were so busy. I would definitely recommend this place to whoever wants a great meal with great service.
(5)Sara F.
Love penny an inch night for the kids. (Sun -Thursday). Awesome oysters. It's usually very busy on weekends.
(5)Noelle L.
A solid 3 star experience. Everyone was pleasurable. The good: Fast service Friendly staff Great prices Oysters rockefeller Fried shrimp were cooked perfectly and were pretty big Free margarita if you check in on Yelp! (and it was strong!) woo! The not so good: Decor could be updated The fried fish tasted not as fresh as I would have liked Will we be back? Yes, most likely. It's the same exit as the outlet malls, so we'll give it another go.
(3)Cynthia M.
For the money, wasn't that good. My mother got food poisoning from the clam chowder a few years ago and ended in hospital. My father went back and told them about the clam chowder.....that was that.
(1)Cathy J.
My husband and I decided to head over to Anna Maria Oyster Bar the other night as neither of us felt like cooking. My husband doesn't eat seafood, but I promised him that there was steak on the menu. We arrived, and the restaurant was packed! But luckily we did not have to wait and were seated right away. I needed some wine after the day that I had endured. I usually go with the house wine but for whites they only offered chardonnay and white zin, neither of which I like the taste of, so I opted for a pinot off the regular wine list. At this point I checked in on Yelp and voila! Free margarita! I was very excited about this, because I have heard really good things about AMOB's margaritas. Let me tell you, they are GOOD. I would go back there again just for the margaritas. As for the food, I really enjoyed my meal. I had the pasta skillet with scallops and shrimp in the Anna Maria sauce. It came with a salad, and I had the caesar which was crisp and delicious. The pasta skillet was enough food to feed an army. The scallops and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and I love the Anna Maria sauce which had a lemon butter base, tomatoes, garlic, artichokes, etc. So good. My husband ordered the NY strip which he enjoyed. Not the best steak he's ever had, but pretty good for a seafood joint! He really liked the house salad that came with his meal. Mixed greens with dried cranberries, almond slivers, blue cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette. Yum. Great place to stop at for seafood lovers. Very reasonable prices, large portions and delicious margaritas!
(4)Patricia H.
Tuesday night at about 7pm. Just ok. Food must cater to the older crowd. Bland. I had the fish and chips and my husband had sword fish. Both bland. Very bright! Bright lights like a cafeteria. All in all ok in a pinch but we won't go back.
(3)Chris F.
What a fantastic experience. The food was great. Had lobster bisque, seared tuna, and escargot in mushroom caps to get warmed up; the best I've eaten in my entire life. Great atmosphere outside. The inside was dated, but our waitress was a true talent and turned us on to the free margaritas. Will be back.
(4)Sydney L.
bad oyesters make for a relatively unpleasant evening. seriously.
(1)Stacey T.
The restaurant was very busy tonight, so I sat at the bar. The service was exceptionally fast for how busy it was and the food came out steaming hot. I had the Caption's platter and enjoyed the broiled seafood.
(4)Rosie L.
If you're in the area, Anna Maria Oyster Bar is well worth stopping for. The menu is varied with seafood and land-lover fare alike. The place is always busy but expect a longer wait in season. Our favorite specials include the all-you-can-eat fish and chips, the fiesta salad, and grouper Oscar. Drink specials with local coupons, too.
(4)Cher M.
I should have worn my lobster bib, but I am not from Florida, so I reasoned "I am capable of feeding myself other food without requiring a hosing down after," and matched ahead sans bib, several lobstery tools in hand to attack my lobster. Frankie (oh yeah, i named him) put up one hell of a fight and within 2 minutes I figured out why all the white haired customers sported bibs; it's really not optional. I made a mess but I did it with confidence and gusto, to the chagrin of my dining companion. But no one cared. This place is casual and laid back, with paper towel rolls on chains suspended over tables. And the drink specials! $3.25 for a bahama mama? I'll take 3! (and I did) followed by the best incarnation of lobster, ever! LOBSTERCARGOT! Get it. So delicious I could just melt into a pile of buttah... But back to Frankie. He fought valiantly, but in the end, my waiter (Kevin, FTW!) neatly broke him down into "eatable" pieces. The key lime pie wasn't anything to write home about (seriously, expect zero postcards mom.) but they had a mango pie that looked like a better option. If you're a local, a snow bird, or just on a long weekend vacay, go to AMOB!
(5)Kat O.
Great seafood. Great lunch specials. Good margaritas. Fresh mahi mahi. Great staff. Nice location. Outdoor seating by a,lake/pond. Gets crowded. I recommend!
(5)Jennifer B.
Thanks to Yelp I found this little hidden gem. We sat outside and had an awesome view of the sunset over the little lake. They even had heaters for us which was really nice. The only thing about eating outside was the mosquitos! Not being from here, they love my blood so I got a lot of bites. The oysters were really good and fresh! I tried the raw oysters and the Rockerfeller oysters. They were both big and juicy which is always a plus. For the entree, I got the scallops with broccoli. The scallops came blackened or sautéed with butter and garlic. Of course I got the garlic butter and the broccoli also had butter. So my meal was pretty much butter overload. The scallops were okay. It was small and a little rubbery so I wouldn't order it again. We ended our meal with key lime pie which was really good! I would definiely recommend that. It wasn't too sour or overpowering. The service was great! They were very attentive and always made sure my drink was full. I would come back here for the oysters and try a different entree.
(4)Marlene C.
I really debated between 1 or 2 stars but considering this was our second visit and we definitely will not return, I decided on 1 star. For some reason this place is always packed with senior citizens even though for the money Red Lobster is a better option with better quality seafood that is better prepared. The seafood on both occasions (fish and lobster) was extremely overcooked on both occasions. If you advertise as a seafood restaurant and you are putting out overcooked food, that is inexcusable. Someone in the kitchen has some talent because the sides and salads are perfect. I am not a big fan of chains but after 2 really poor experiences I would recommend Red Lobster over Anna Maria Oyster Bar. What a huge disappointment.
(1)Sue S.
We love this place. We have our free margaritas with check in with yelp. Oysters Rockefeller are fantasic. Fried clams with added hush puppies and mai mai with 6 added fried shrimp. We continue to go back every chance we get.
(5)Ken B.
Wow ! What a great Yelp !! If you mentioned Yelp ..... Boom ...... Free Margarita . Sandi loved it . Dave was outstanding in his service and the food was delicious . We started with Caesar salads which were better than most with the fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and I chose a favorite of mine , Shrimp Alfredo which was perfect and loaded with gulf shrimp. Sandi enjoyed the Shrimp & Scallop Linguine with Anna Marie sauce which is the reason we will definitely returning......fantastic ! Lots of free parking and worth every cent !
(5)James K.
This seafood joint is tucked away in an old Shoneys just off of 301 (exit 224 on I-75.) To get there, head west on 301 and take the 1st right that isn't an on-ramp. I think its the 2nd redlight. I've been in FL for a couple of months now and I've been rather surprised by the lack of "traditional" seafood restaurants around where I live. Perhaps I haven't done much exploring, but I had seen this place on yelp, and have been mulling it over since I got here. Food reviews on yelp in the area seem very weird to me, a lot of people seem to have a bone to pick. I don't get it. They almost say they refuse to eat somewhere because they don't like the wallpaper. So here's my experience with Anna Maria's Oyster Bar in Ellention: The good: Atmosphere is beachy. Some people call it touristy, and sure, you could say that, but c'mon its a seafood restaurant in a near beach area. I would expect coral and light blue with nautical themed items on the walls in a seafood restaurant ANYWHERE in the country. It's an old Shoneys from the 80s, so its laid out like that. There's a bar near the door, and sort of a diner layout open front kitchen area in the middle. When I was there they were playing oldies music, which is fitting for the dineresque theme, and for the clientele. It's true what many folks on the reviews have said, there is an early bird special on all you can eat fish & chips and the place gets quite busy during this time! Despite the busy atmosphere we were seated immediately and greeted by our very friendly and helpful server. (I don't remember his name, but he had a mustache.) The food is great! It came out rather quickly, we all got the light side popcorn shrimp and fries. Everything was hot fresh and tasty! The not so good: Well, there are a few things that could have been better but they're VERY minor. First, we really wanted a baked potato, but they don't have them. What they do have is red potatoes. (What I call "new potatoes.") or Fries. They may have onion rings, I don't know. When I was on my way in I heard another patron at another table tell the waiter "give me lots of coleslaw, this is the best coleslaw in the world." So I was eager to try it. I was a little disappointed that my taste disagreed with that patron's taste. It's not bad! But its far from the best in the world. (I suppose, this is the other patron's fault, not the restaurants, for getting my hopes up. I love a good coleslaw!) The portion/price ratio. This is the biggest one for me. I could have sworn I got like.. 8 popcorn shrimp. They do offer larger plates, and WHEN I come back I'm getting one! But after all was said and done I was looking at about $10 a head for popcorn shirmp, fries, a drink, and a side of hushpuppies. I guess everything's kind of expensive around here, but I thought this was a little high. Would I recommend this restaurant? Absolutely! Will I be going back? Absolutely!
(5)Valerie M.
Yuck! Bottom line. Do not understand the good reviews. The restaurant is grungy, dirty and outdated. The food was overpriced, outdated, and loaded with grease. We ordered the king crab legs and got 4 legs for $27 as well as the shrimp and scallops which were sopping in butter for $17. We ordered the veggies which were clearly from a frozen bulk bag (looked like they came straight from a grocery store freezer). There are so many beautifully located and upper scaled restaurants for half of the cost - I really do not understand why people come here. Never again it was disgusting!
(1)Erica H.
Ok first off. Come for the food not the decor. Oysters were very fresh , calamari crisp and tender and the salmon dish I had was perfect. Really good specials. Very busy but good service.
(4)Gregory J.
I have been eating here for years. All dinners are fresh and cooked perfectly. Great specials and great servers. Cheapest place around for a fresh fish dinner. Great place to bring your kids too. Only a penny an inch for them to eat. Happy hour drink specials are also unbeatable. You wont be let down.
(5)Bizz M.
Well, first of all, every review about the decor & age range are spot on, in a more hysterical way. A beautiful teal & pink beach theme. A cruise ship feel you would say. A cruise ship parked next to a Waffle House within ear shot of I-75. We also had the pleasure of visiting during the July 4th weekend. So, as you might imagine it was filled with flags, LOTS of flags, tucked into the drop ceiling tiles, over every table. Hey, we love America too!! The service was good, Thomas was funny, attentive and an excellent server. I remember his name because it was on the back of his TB Rays t-shirt. Rays gear or Hawaiian shirts for all the staff. We went for the oysters. Rockefeller's were very good, raw were good. Good doesn't make me want to drive 30 minutes when I can get good 10 minutes away....again the Rockefellers were quite delicious. Entrees...just ok. I had the Mahi Mahi "Caribbean Jerk" style...well, the chef considers jerk seasoning: salt, pepper & rosemary?!?! Emphasis on the salt, and they forgot the mango chutney (I didn't remember to ask for it either, but since the jerk was so on point, heh) Mr. Bizz had baked grouper...under-seasoned and fairly bland. Nothing stood out except the Stella Artois Cidre (Cider) they offered, quite delicious. They also honored the free margarita FourSquare offer. We decided we would share one. It was very tangy... I wouldn't say it was horrible....but we definitely wouldn't go back when there are some better spots closer like The Lucky Pelican or Monk's. The 65+ hostess gave me a nice compliment on the way out. When we got out to the parking lot Mr. noted that I sat on something. Lovely. We'd probably give the place 2.5 stars but since yelp still isn't feeling that option...2 it is. If you like friendly service then you should go....the food leaves you wanting something more.
(2)Laura H.
I don't really like seafood, but my family decided to meet here because it's our Nana's favorite restaurant. The wait staff was excellent and very helpful (we had like 20 people). They did have other things besides seafood as well. I had chicken tenders because I wanted to be safe, lol. My son, who is 3, also enjoyed his lunch. I love the special thing they do for kids where they charge by their height. It's pretty awesome. Over-all it was a great experience.
(4)Geno K.
My meal was really a 1 or maybe 2 star experience, but I'm going to give this place the benefit of the doubt and try it again sometime. It was slammed tonight (a Monday) so there's got to be something special about this place. Some friends who grew up in Maine with me recommended this place, so I figured it'd be stellar. I had the fried shrimp dinner. Hands down it was the worst shrimp I've ever had. The only thing I can imagine is that I'm biased to New England shrimp... I saw they had Maine lobster, so I assumed it'd be Maine shrimp. I'd never had southern shrimp and never plan to again. It was a bland almost sour taste. I'm used to juicy sweet cold water shrimp I guess. I never would've imagined the taste difference would be so big. But I guess I really can't fault the restaurant for this. The fries, catsup and cocktail sauce were all good... so I guess I can say something positive about this place! Was a little annoyed that to substitute a side for a small Caesar salad was an extra $3. Would've been cool with it if the Ceasar was amazing. It wasn't. Shallow dish of lettuce and croutons with Cesar dressing that was pretty tasteless. Even the tartar sauce was weak. Not at all tangy. The place was slammed, so again, I just must have ordered the wrong thing. Or I'm just too biased because I come from New England and my standards for seafood might be too high.
(2)Aerin F.
Very laid back and good service. Fried shrimp and crab cakes - yum!!! The salmon was so so, not overly flavorful and nothing special. They also have a gumbo that my boyfriend raved over, although I didn't personally try it.
(4)Gary C.
I had the .50 cent fresh oysters for the Sunday special. Excellent. We also had the tuna sashimi which was excellent as well. Good prices, ugly decor. Very friendly service. Cool patio, even seen a gator behind my wife while we were snapping pics.
(4)Eldon P.
Just went with friends Friday for the first time. It was fairly crowded but we were seated right away since there was only 4 of us. All of us had seafood of one type or another and it was all very good. My only negative was the very small portion I got of the grouper. The price was $18 and change but I have had more fish then that on a grouper sandwich in other restaurants! If I went again I would get another type of fish that comes with more to eat. Rum punch was great! All in all it was a OK experience and I would probably go again.
(3)Dolly P.
just got done eating at anna maria oyster bar in ellenton....had the prime rib...to die for.....was excellent...cooked medium rare...great...better than some fancy steak houses....cant ever go wrong eating at anna maria oyster bar.....
(5)Joe R.
This was the last restaurant I dined at before heading back to St. Louis. After eating a bunch of seafood everynight I have to say I was pretty disappointed by their food. Let me say this, everything on the menu sounds amazing. From the Lobster Tail to the King Crab Legs to the Scallops and the Grouper. The interior of the place looks very touristy and florida like. It reminds me of the 80s with the baby blue, greens, white and pink colors. The staff all had very loud floral pattern shirts on as well. I guess this was to make tourists feel comfortable when they came in. Our server came by and they were running a 3.25 margarita special so we all went with that as our drinks. Since I'm land locked in Missouri I decided to get Scallops one last time before I went home. The family ordered Oysters Rockafeller as well, this would be the second time I've had Oysters this trip and they were pretty good. When my entree arrived though I was somewhat disappointed. I had 10 scallops that were kind of over cooked sitting in some flavorless butter sauce. The red potatoes and green beans were also pretty bland as well and didn't have much of a flavor other than being smothered in butter. The drinks weren't that great either. I couldn't find any trace of tequilia in my two cocktails so it was basically lemonade I was drinking I felt. This place will really have to impress me to bring me back here next time I'm in Ellenton.
(3)Tori T.
Went to this place because it had a higher rating then other seafood places close by. The service was great! Helpful and happy and ready that was a rarity! I ordered the dinner salad for $5.99 and added the cod that was listed. I asked my waitress if that was the only thing I could add yes was her answer. So I said ok. I loved it descent size of fish blackened perfectly and well seasoned, very tasty! I enjoyed every bite of that salad! The shock came when I received the bill. $22.00 yes the piece of fish cost me $15.00 it was crazy and I was a little disappointed that the waitress did not inform me of the cost, it was not on the menu it only said market price. I have never paid $15 bucks for a 3 by 4 piece of cod!!! My son had crab stuffed fish with boiled red potatoes, he was very disappointed. Plain with no flavor. My daughter and her husband ordered the fish and chips. They were just ok. The good news was my wonderful waitress went to her manager and informed her of my disappointment, the manager changed my bill to reflect the cost of maui maui that I could have ordered. I was very happy! It was a great salad!
(3)Steve P.
great little seafood place right off of I-75. Open for lunch and dinner with a full bar and draft beer selection.Prices are very reasonable. They have outdoor seating available with a small tiki bar.All seafood from shellfish toSalmon cooked 5 different ways is fresh and cooked to perfection.Great sides! I recomend the red bliss potatoes.If youre looking for seafood stop here!
(4)Chris R.
This particular location (there is another is another one in Bradenton that is much better) reminds me of a cafeteria at a senior center. All pastels - think lots of turquoise and pink and coral. My assumption is that the building used to house a casual dining chain (think Friendly's or Perkins) since it is wide open. The food was eh, okay, but nothing to write home about. At first I was psyched (sure, pulling into the parking lot because I had good experiences at the other location which is much better) but that quickly passed. On the plus side, the beer was cold and who doesn't like a cold beer. My grouper sandwich (blackened) was decent but served in a plastic tray with the micro-serving of fries and cole slaw that it was simply lost in. The staff was damn nice. Okay so another 1/2 star for them. Austyn was our waitress and she was friendly and efficient. But overall, the other meals were weak and the ambience just plain old, well, it's just plain old. I imagine that the early-bird diners flock here. They probably feel very comfortable there.
(2)Karen M.
We'll a year later I went back and I ordered the same thing as last time it was soooo good. Not sure what happened the year before it just didn't taste as good as the first time.
(5)Carey Y.
If you look at the heading of my blog, you will see that one of my mottos is "I will try anything twice". Anna Maria Oyster bar proves that point. Gabriel and I had a pretty poor experience the first time we went. As regular blood donors, we were given a $25 gift certificate to A.M.O.B and went to check it out for the first time about 2 months ago. We arrived to find a totally dated and tacky atmosphere, and a crowd of patrons whose average age was probably around 75. We sat in a booth with plastic-y, pastel cushions in the back, and noted the weird painted mural on the walls, the horrible lighting and the feeling that we were in 1967. We ordered a small salad (mixed greens with tomatoes, toasted almonds, strawberries, blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette), a bowl of lobster bisque, and a cheeseburger with fries, a pickle and coleslaw. Our salad consisted of slimy strawberries, tomatoes that were wrinkled and shriveling on their way to rotten, lettuce that was browning and the most overly-sweet, jelly-like raspberry dressing I've ever had. Gross. We immediately alerted the waiter to our total disappointment about the salad, asked for a new one with different dressing, and moved on to the soup. The bisque is raved about on the website and described as award winning on their menu. It was not good. It was so salty, I really couldn't eat it. It was mostly cream and salt and just enough lobster (or maybe lobster juice) to make it pink. Really not good. Definitely not about to win any awards in my book. The burger was fine. I know it's weird to order a burger in seafood place, but having just donated blood we needed an iron fix. It was ok, not bad, not great. The fries were pretty darn good, as is just about anything when it's deep-fried to a crispy golden color. The floppy pickle and over-mayo'd coleslaw wasn't really worth finishing. The meal was really just a total let-down and we let the waiter know. Maybe the tables packed with elderly folk have tastebuds that don't really discriminate food like this, but we don't pretend it's good when it's not. The manager came over shortly after and said the whole meal was on him. He told us to please keep our $25 gift certificate and come back another time. Well, ok. It definitely wasn't something I would have done otherwise, but a free meal and deep apology warrants chance #2. So, a couple of months later, the opportunity to go back presented itself when we were in that neighborhood again. We took a deep breath, parked in the lot with as open a mind as possible, and asked for a table outside. We were led to the side of the building and a choice table facing the lake. It was a gorgeous day, with a lovely view and already this experience was way better than the first. A very friendly waitress named Delilah told us the specials, and her description of the grilled shrimp with cheesy grits sounded too good to pass up. We ordered that to start with, plus a Caesar salad, and salmon with dill sauce, french fries and green beans. The app came out fast and looked amazing. The grits were ok but the shrimp were incredibly salted. Gabriel agreed, but ate them anyway, but I really couldn't manage them. I worried that this meal was going to be worse than the first. The salad and the salmon, thankfully, were actually very good. The dressing was homemade and just fishy enough, the salmon was fresh, cooked well and it's dill sauce was creamy and delicious. The green beans were fresh and not overcooked- there is nothing worse than mushy green beans, and the fries- like last time, were great. The view definitely made everything taste a little better, and the avoidance of the inside of the restaurant helped to change the feel of our experience to a more positive one. Overall, I am glad we gave it a second try. It was still not outstanding, but had our first experience been like the second one, we might have gone back by choice and not because we got our meal comped and had a gift certificate to use. I'm still not sure I'll ever return...but in all fairness, I probably should go back one more time to have the oysters. After all, it's what they do and what they are named for...and I DO love oysters. Maybe the third time will be the charm. What do you think?
(2)Karen V.
I eat here every time I make a trip to the Prime Outlet Mall. The service is always top notch even when it's totally packed full of people. I've never been disappointed with anything that I've ordered. My favorite dish is the Basa Roma which is lightly fried and served with a yummy saute of tomato, garlic, and capers in a lemon and wine sauce. My mother's favorite dish is the pasta skillet of linguine and shrimp with their special Anna Maria Island sauce. It's a huge portion that we always end up taking home and sharing the next day. It's a place we'll continue to go to anytime we're in Ellenton.
(4)JT H.
Me and my wife came here back in November for my birthday and had a decent time. Probably wouldn't come back all the time but to bring visitors or if they had a groupon.
(4)Joyce G.
We ate here for the first time last night after shopping at the Ellenton Outlet Mall. What a find - it was great!! The food was wonderful, the staff was friendly (especially our waitress,,Kelly Jo, who was awesome) and it's in a good location near the water. I had sautéed scallops with yummy French fries and green beans, and hubby had coconut shrimp with garlic mashed potatoes with cole slaw. We were both pleased with our menu sections, and we'll definitely be back. A good place to take out-of-town guests, too, we think!
(5)Russell J.
I really enjoyed dinner here. The place was busy at 7:00pm but we were seated as soon as we arrived. The service was excellent. Our server, Austyn, made us feel like regulars. She was attentive, pleasant, and cheerful and couldn't have been better. Austyn must love her job because she was working on her birthday and she was awesome. The food was good too and reasonably priced. I recommend the crab cake, it was fresh and delicious. If I am ever in Ellenton again, I will definitely eat at this restuarant.
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