With tons of places that specialize in southern-style seafood, Florida is the perfect place to get fresh fish, clams, scallops, lobster, crab, shrimp, and more. Are you looking for a delicious seafood restaurant in Jacksonville? We’ve compiled a list for true seafood lovers who are looking for a variety of seafood dishes.
Keep reading for several excellent choices with a variety of atmospheres, dishes, and price points – you’re sure to find the perfect place for dinner!
Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant $$
4378 Ocean St. Atlantic Beach, Florida, 32233
*Dine-in *Takeout
This is a Mayport neighborhood gem and Florida staple for lots of people who live in Jacksonville – not just tourists. Safe Harbor consistently tops the charts as the place to get seafood.
Its slogan proudly boasts that its food comes straight from the boat to your plate, and its reputation validates that. It gets consistently great reviews and even gets featured in magazines for its fresh, succulent seafood. The cooks and staff are knowledgeable and the seafood comes out perfectly fried, grilled, or boiled.
Must-try dish: Fresh Mayport shrimps over southern-style grits. The restaurant is right near the marina and a fish market, so go with something local – you aren’t going to get fresher shrimp anywhere else!
Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant is open to serve you Tuesday to Thursday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Friday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00, and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM. It’s closed on Mondays.
The Blue Fish Restaurant $$
3551 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205
*Dine-in *Takeout
Another spot to try to get some of the best seafood in Jacksonville is the Blue Fish Restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood. Rather than a fish market atmosphere, this place is a little fancier with cloth napkins and an events space.
The Blue Fish Restaurant is well-known for its scrumptious, fresh seafood and its specialty cocktails and brewed beers. A lot of locals show up for happy hour, so it’s the perfect place to make new friends!
Must-try Dish: If you are looking for fresh fish, get the catch of the day grilled with butter. You always know it’s good fish when it is delicious despite being lightly seasoned! We are also intrigued by the Seared Scallop and Shrimp White Cheddar Mac and Cheese.
The Blue Fish Restaurant is open for lunch on Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM and for dinner from Sunday to Thursday from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Friday to Saturday from 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Elevated Avondale Hours are Wednesday to Saturday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday Brunch is from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM.
Ship 2 Shore Seafood And Steaks $$
1403 Dunn Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32218
*Dine-in *Takeout *No Contact Delivery
This restaurant is family-owned and operated and has been for the last 45 years, so you are sure to be in good hands if you head to Ship 2 Shore Seafood. Ship 2 Shore’s seafood is fresh, tender, and well-cooked. It’s also well-known for its steaks and generous portions!
Must-try Dish: Stuffed Flounder and anything in a pot. Fresh boiled seafood is the best at Ship 2 Shore!
Ship 2 Shore is open to serve you Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday to Saturday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, and on Sunday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
St. Mary’s Seafood And More $$
8129 Point Meadows Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256
11290 Old St Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257
*Dine-in *Curbside Pickup *No Contact Delivery
St. Mary’s has a few locations around Florida and Georgia, so you know there’s a demand for this restaurant’s delicacies. It’s renowned for its seafood dishes, which you can have broiled, blackened, grilled, or fried. This place offers good value for money as most of its dishes are affordable, and the price for the portions is excellent.
Must-try Dish: Any of its Fisherman’s favorites, especially the Mahi-mahi.
St. Mary’s Seafood and More is open Monday to Sunday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
Timoti’s Seafood Shak $$
21 N 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida
*Dine-in *Takeout *Delivery
Timoti’s Seafood Shak immediately stands out from the rest of the places on this list for having a little more “hip” fare. While it still has the classic favorites, if you are interested in something newer and more creative, then head over to Timoti’s family restaurant and check out the food there. Rather than regular seafood that you can have cooked to your liking, it has inventive new delights like poke bowls and crab burgers.
Must-try Dish: The Blackened Shrimp – it comes out perfectly blackened and seasoned, plus it’s fresh from the area!
Timoti’s Seafood Shak is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Marker 32 $$$
14549 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32250
*Dine-in *Takeout
Marker 32 is a little more upscale than the other entries on this list, but its food lives up to the prices. Stick to the seafood menu items as it’s the specialty of the area. And be sure to make a reservation! This place is usually packed even on the weekdays.
Must-try Dish: Grilled octopus and the crowd-favorite warm spinach salad.
Marker 32 is open for dining Monday to Saturday from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Sunday from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
New Berlin Fish House and Oyster Bar $$
604 New Berlin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218
*Dine-in *Curbside Pickup
The New Berlin Fish House and Oyster Bar is a hidden gem in North Jacksonville. It’s a little off the beaten path, so if you are looking for a place that is frequented more by locals than tourists, then this is the place for you.
Brought to you by the people who brought you OP Fish House and Oyster Bar and Seafood Kitchen, New Berlin has delicious seafood dishes and a welcoming staff.
Must-try Dish: The measure of a good fish house is to be able to get fresh fish without too many frills. Any of the signature plates like the stuffed grouper and the whole fried snapper are great choices here!
New Berlin Fish House and Oyster Bar is open from Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM, Friday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
OP Fish House And Oyster Bar $$
636 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida
*Dine-in *Takeout *Delivery
OP Fish House and Oyster Bar is a Jacksonville gem that is relatively new to the restaurant scene. Just opened in 2018, the OP Fish House and Oyster Bar is owned by a fishing-crazy family and only serves fresh-caught seafood.
Must-try Dish: Anything from the just-caught menu. The Alaskan Crab’s legs are also very popular and come in a generous portion.
OP Fish House and Oyster Bar is open from Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM, Friday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM.
Julington Creek Fish Camp $$
12760 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 32223
*Dine-in *Takeout
This place does not disappoint. It has a reputation for consistently delivering mouth-watering seafood. Julington Creek has plenty of options from shrimp to steaks, the atmosphere is casual, the portions are generous, and the food is delicious – you can’t go wrong with any of the fish.
Must-try Dish: Any fish-related dish is a good bet. The calamari is also on point, and the clams are flavorful.
Julington Creek Fish Camp is open to serve you on Monday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and then Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday to Saturday from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
Dockside Seafood Restaurant$$
2510 2nd Ave N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250-2702
*Dine-in *Takeout
You shouldn’t miss the waterfront ambiance and the affordable seafood at Dockside Seafood Restaurant. It’s an unpretentious place to get fish and other southern-style favorites.
Must-try Dish: Any of the fresh catch dishes and the conch fritters.
Dockside Seafood is open for dining every day from 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM.
Seafood Kitchen $
31 Royal Palms Dr, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
*Dine-in *Takeout *Delivery
If you are up for a little drive, Seafood Kitchen is worth it for the succulent seafood and old-fashioned family-style portions. The owners come from generations of fishermen from the Jacksonville area and pride themselves on serving the best when it comes to fish and seafood.
The restaurant often features owner-caught fish. You can also be sure you’re eating the freshest seafood by bringing in your own catch to be cooked!
Must-try Dish: Stuffed Flounder is the star here, but the crab chowder is another interesting menu item that’s wonderfully buttery and flavorful.
Seafood Kitchen, Atlantic Beach is open 7 days a week from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
The Juicy Crab $$
8106 Blanding Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32244
*Dine-in *Curbside Pickup *Delivery
While most of these places are fish and seafood places, there are also plenty of crab boil restaurants in the Jacksonville area – and The Juicy Crab tops the list. It has some of the biggest and juiciest crab’s legs and oysters in the business, so it’s no surprise that it’s popular with Jacksonville locals. If you are looking for the best seafood restaurant in Jacksonville for crab, then this is it!
Must-try Dish: Low Country boil with crab’s legs is delicious, fresh, and juicy – just what you’d expect from the restaurant’s name!
The Juicy Crab is open to serve you Monday to Thursday from 12:00 NN – 10:00 PM and Friday to Sunday from 12:00 NN – 11:00 PM
A Note About Fish
If you are splurging on a night of seafood, steer clear of the tilapia and the catfish – these are farmed fish and are easy to get anywhere. Opt instead for fresh-caught local fish like red drum, snapper, and grouper.
Another thing to avoid is anything with too much sauce. You know your seafood is fresh when it is flavorful on its own without too much going on.
Final Thoughts
Many claim to be the best seafood restaurant in Jacksonville, FL, but each spot has its own specialty. Pro-tip? Look for where the locals go – these tried-and-tested haunts make up the bulk of our own list of the best seafood places.
We hope this article has helped you choose what you are having for dinner. Enjoy!