Unfussy landmark for battered, broiled & steamed seafood, plus steaks, bar bites & daily specials.
Chris Severns
The food was amazing. We had conch fritters, the best I’ve ever had, fried green tomatoes, and Hog Fish with baked potato and hush puppies. Christine was our waitress, she was absolutely wonderful. Everyone was so friendly. I cannot wait to go back again!
… moreCJ Wagner
The food was delicious. But, portions were small. The shrimp cocktail was some of the best anywhere. Presentation was good on some things, but…orange slices on fish? My steak was ordered medium rare, and came out definitely medium. They recooked it, but it left me getting my steak when everyone else was finished.
Service was just ok. She never asked if I needed a drink refill. The drinks are in Styrofoam cups, so it’s not like she could see the level. My husband had to ask twice for his water. It was very hard to get our servers attention.
If they are busy, be prepared to wait a bit for a table.
… moreSamantha holmes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re wondering whether Gary’s Oyster Bar lives up to the hype, worth celebrating something special? It’s exactly where you should go!! The food was absolutely exceptional. The drinks were so delicious and perfectly made. My mom’s birthday was yesterday, and we decided last minute to give them a try since oysters are a favorite of ours. Delicious! The best part wasn’t even on the menu. The hospitality was top tier! The energy, the comfort, the warmth, the inviting atmosphere ..Everything was perfect! The sweet couple sitting next to us, who are regulars, made our entire night, and I pray they read this because they filled our hearts, and it meant everything. They made my mom feel special. We escaped life through genuine laughter, and they bought us birthday shots and celebrated with us. The kindness, free spirit, and coolest vibes ! You don’t find that anywhere anymore. We will definitely be back!!! I don’t know who Gary is…. but he should be incredibly proud of the beautiful souls representing his restaurant!! 10/10
… moreTimothy Lohrig
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. This place doesn’t look like much on the outside but the inside is very nice and clean. Friendly service. The food was great. Fried mushrooms at other restaurants are usually over breaded, greasy, and from a bag of frozen. These were battered when ordered and were crispy and fresh. Everything was great!
… moreBrea Johnson
I came here with my daughter and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated, which was fine. However, the experience changed the moment our waitress approached us. From the start, her attitude was rude, dismissive, and unwelcoming.
As one of the only Black families in the restaurant, the way we were treated felt uncomfortable and discriminatory. It was enough for me to decide not to order any food at all. I chose to leave with my daughter rather than spend money somewhere we didn’t feel respected.
I’m sharing this especially for other Black families if you value being treated with basic kindness and respect, you may want to think twice before visiting. No parent should have to feel that kind of energy while out with their child.
… moreMaggie Lutz
We were so looking forward to having some really good seafood. First and foremost, the prices were quite high. A table of 4 with one alcoholic beverage before tip was $200.00 and 2 family members shared a platter. The New England Clam Chowder was very good, along with the onion rings. The scallops were tiny bay scallops, not sea scallops. The breading was very light brown and kept falling off of the scallops. The deviled crab was mostly filler, I didn’t taste any crab whatsoever. It was such a disappointing birthday dinner. I read so many good reviews about this place and was hoping for some really good food. I am from Pennsylvania and the seafood there was delicious. This for sure was a big let down. Also, be sure to bring a sweater or jacket, the place was freezing!
… moreDAVID
Loved going here when I used to putt my motorcycle around Polk County. Don’t think to many places hold up to this excellent food and atmosphere.
… moreStephanie Phillips
My husband and I went to Gary’s Oyster Bar on New Year’s Eve and had a wonderful experience. We ordered two dozen oysters and gator bites, and everything was absolutely delicious. The oysters were fresh and flavorful, and the gator bites were cooked perfectly. The service was phenomenal — friendly, attentive, and welcoming the entire time. We had such a great visit and will definitely be going back!
… moreViper Glyde (VIPER)
They best hole-in-the-wall seafood place I’ve been too. I think we got full on the appitizers. Then they brought out the entrees and we were hard pressed to finish . Food was amazing! I cant wait to go back next year!
… moreSammy Kern
Super cozy, hometown place! Food is excellent! Gumbo soup is outstanding! Oysters are delicious raw or flavored! Fried Lobster was new to me, but delicious! I gave the service 4 stars, because the place was packed! Believe me, we didn’t go hungry! Friends had Snapper and crab legs and crawfish. They said it was all good! The only thing I didn’t care for was the smoked fish dip. I can’t wait to go back!
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