On the Waterfront: Seafood Restaurants in Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia
When I tell people I am from Jacksonville, Florida, they tend to reply “Oh yes, I drive past there heading down I-95!” With this blog post, I intend to give you a reason to stop! Below is a list of the best seafood restaurants with beautiful water views – all easily accessible along I-95 – in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida.
- Palm Valley Fish Camp, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
With its combination of hominess (the restaurant is actually a repurposed house), stunning sunset views along the Intracoastal Waterway, and exquisite cuisine, Palm Valley Fish Camp tops our list. While the restaurant pushes its oysters on the half-shell, it has so many creative, lovingly-executed options that it is hard to go wrong. For starters, try their grilled octopus and white bean salad ($12) or choose from other local favorites such as Rick’s All Day Seafood Soup ($5-7). The mains range from more economical Seafood Baskets ($12-24 or $46 for a Platter for 2) to more elegant options such as Salt and Pepper Seared Tuna ($23) and Blackened Mahi with Tasso Ham Gravy, Collards, and Creamy Grits ($24.50). But their daily specials are unique and absolutely “special,” such as the Fried Flounder over Bacon Farro with Tasso Ham Gravy or Gorgonzola Ribeye that my party ordered. Wash it down with a crisp glass of quality imported or domestic wine or beer, and don’t forget dessert! The Signature White Chocolate Bread Pudding ($8) is a show-stopper, if you still have room, that is! This venue’s success has allowed the owners to open up new locations at North Beach Fish Camp at Neptune Beach, Julington Creek Fish Camp, and coming soon, St. Augustine Fish Camp!
Palm Valley Fish Camp, 299 Roscoe Blvd N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904) 285-3200
2. Mudcat Charlie’s, Brunswick, Georgia
Mudcat Charlie’s wood-paneled interior lined with mounted deer and alligator heads sets a laid-back mood that prepares you for its down-home cooking. While they offer both surf and turf options, here overlooking the Altamaha River famous for its local shrimp, you must go with the surf! The restaurant’s light, flaky batter is unmatched, whether applied to their tasty oysters ($9.95) or hand-battered onion rings ($6.50). For an entrée, we recommend sampling the local shrimp, scallops, fish, snow crab, and fried oysters in the Mudcat Platter ($29.50), with the crab legs and oysters being the stand-outs. You can also choose from a whole bone-in catfish, pasta, home-made soups, salads, and much more to satisfy any craving. End with the unusual “Fanny Kemble After Dinner Drink,” a concoction of Brandy, Kahlua, Amaretto, ice cream, and chocolate syrup, all blended with whipped cream. Make sure you get a cherry on top!
Mudcat Charlie’s, 250 Ricefield Way, Brunswick, GA 31525
(912) 261-0055
3. Safe Harbor Seafood, Atlantic Beach, Florida
Safe Harbor’s motto is “Served from the boat to your plate,” and they mean it, as they both catch and prepare local seafood from the nearby St. Johns River themselves! While the atmosphere is casual, their turning out the freshest possible seafood is serious business. This is not so much a sit-down restaurant as a deli-style spot where you belly up to the counter and either order your meal, which the staff brings to your table, or take home a fresh catch to cook yourself. But the venue, set along the expansive river, makes it worth sticking around. Chow down on fresh Mayport peel and eat shrimp (9 count for $10), a basket of shrimp, scallops, the fresh catch, and more ($11-20), rolls, soups, salads, and steamed or raw oysters while gazing at the shrimping boats plying the river. We recommend trying the fresh catch because whatever the boats pull in that morning is sure to be fresh as can be and seasoned to perfection!
Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant, 4378 Ocean St #3, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
https://www.safeharbor-seafood.com/mayport
(904) 246-4911
4. The Conch House Restaurant, St. Augustine, Florida
This restaurant, nestled near the St. Augustine Inlet, exudes a relaxed beach vibe. Sit back with a cool drink under a palm tree outside, enjoy the Caribbean-style cuisine of seafood, steaks, salads, and more in a Jamaican grass hut over the water, or even take your meal back to your boat which you can dock just a few steps from the restaurant’s entrance. Try something Southern, such as fried local gator tail with house-made Minorcan datil ranch dipping sauce ($13),or go with an old favorite injected with some spice: fried calamari with a side of banana and red peppers and lemon garlic butter sauce ($12). For a main course, why not order the fried shrimp that has remained popular since the owner’s great-grandfather created the recipe ($19-$21)? End on a sweet note with home-made key lime pie from the same recipe the owner has been using for the last 30 years!
The Conch House Restaurant, 57 Comares Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 829-8646
5. Local’s Dockside Restaurant, St. Marys, Georgia
Take in the sunset over the St. Marys River as you enjoy your thoughtfully-crafted entrée. Their menu is very much seafood-forward, even though there is a smattering of land options on the appetizer menu such as jalapeno poppers. For the main dish, choose your favorites from shrimp, scallops, oysters, clam strips, tilapia, crab legs, and the Captain’s Catch (ask your server what is fresh that day – $20-40).
Locals Dockside Restaurant, 307 St Marys St W, St Marys, GA 31558
(912) 333-9515
6. Singleton’s Seafood Shack, Jacksonville, Florida
Opened along the St. Johns River in 1969 by Captain Ray and Ann Singleton, this “Seafood Shack” is just that: a shack where the captain and his wife fed locals and shrimpers. The building has been added onto over the years, but the “shack” lives on with floors and ceilings still covered with plywood. Singleton’s clam chowder, voted the best in Jacksonville, is a must-try, and you can tell that local Mayport shrimp is the focus of this menu, as eight different dishes are shrimp-based ($22-$26)! They have plenty of other land and sea options as well, including steam pots, taco dinners, and the house favorite, the Imperial Crab Stuffed Shrimp Dinner ($24).
Singleton’s Seafood Shack, 4728 Ocean St, Jacksonville, FL 32233
(904) 246-4442
7. Shucker’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Fernandina Beach, Florida
Shucker’s claims to have the best views in Fernandina Beach, and they aren’t exaggerating, as they are situated on a promontory offering almost 360 degree views of marshy Kingsley Creek. Sit outside listening to a live band while the kids play on the nearby playground or cool off in the vast dining room as you chow down on land and sea appetizers and mains, an array of soups, salads, and sandwiches, and their specialties: oysters. Try them raw or steamed, or make the tough decision between Oysters Rockefeller, Chargrilled Garlic Parmesan Oysters, and Shucker’s Famous Oysters with bacon, bleu cheese, and garlic butter ($18). But why choose? Request all three and have three times the fun!
Shucker’s Oyster Bar & Grill, 96008 Wade’s Pl, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 277-2580
8. Skippers’ Fish Camp, Darien, Georgia
The real draws here are the venue and location: situated along the Darien River overlooking the shrimping boats that bring your meal straight from the sea to your table, this restaurant has some interesting construction details. The flooring is made of hand-cut bricks recovered from a demolished 1940s Georgia building, and the bar and table tops are made from timbers floated down the nearby Altamaha River during the height of Darien’s timber shipping days of the 1800s. Like the restaurant’s historic interior and relaxing waterfront patio, the food doesn’t disappoint, either. Whether you want ribs, oysters, or other lightly-seasoned seafood that highlights its natural taste, you will leave satisfied. Experiment with their prosciutto-wrapped scallops appetizer ($12.99), homemade crab cakes ($24.99), or a must-try, their Sweet Georgia Shrimp Platter ($22.99). You can’t get them fresher than right off the boat!
Skippers’ Fish Camp, 85 Screven St, Darien, GA 31305
https://www.skippersfishcamp.com/
(912) 437-3474
Honorable Mention:
España Restaurant & Tapas, Fernandina Beach, Florida
Although this Spanish and Portuguese restaurant is a few blocks from the Amelia River in Fernandina Beach, its food – especially its seafood – is of such high quality that it too deserves to make this “waterfront” list. Choose to dine at the festive tile-decorated bar, in the elegant main dining room, or in the inviting outdoor garden. Following Spanish tradition, this locale offers countless hot and cold tapas. Consider making a fun meal out of splitting such shareable plates as Calamari a la Plancha topped with capers, olive oil, and balsamic glaze ($11) or Pulpo Escabeche, octopus marinated in sherry vinegar and several delicious spices ($13). But we recommend you save room for the meat and seafood entrees, particularly the traditional Spanish paella. Try the Marinera with seafood ($25), “Valencia” with chicken and seafood ($24), or our personal favorite, Paella Rustica, the all-meat paella ($23). Don’t skip dessert, either! Think traditional Iberian favorites like Tres Leches and Dulce de Leche, made with the highest quality ingredients. Pair it with strong, quality ports or another wine from their extensive, thoughtfully-crafted drink menu to create an unforgettable finale.
España Restaurant & Tapas, 22 S 4th St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 261-7700
So there it is! The all-star list of local seafood offerings in gorgeous locations. Maybe now instead of driving past my area, you’ll be motivated to exit the interstate and experience these great seafood finds!
Are there other venues you believe should be added? Comment below!
Learn more about local seafood and enjoy it yourself after a Cumberland Island or St. Marys Walking Tour.