2nd time there in one week. Tried the ribeye and wife had the filet again and both were top notch and cooked to perfection. Alexis was our server for the 2nd time. She's great
Bill
Stopping for lunch. We have drove by here so many times. Today was the day! Very nice inside with great views of the water Started with the crab corn chowder. Amazing! So delicious. Perfect consistency. Fried BOLOGNA/ Brasstown, NC COUNTRY BOLOGNA, WHITE RICAN CHEESE, MUSTARD SLAW. So good!!! Instead of a thick cut piece of bologna it was lots on thinly sliced slices. Really well done. The mustard slaw was so perfect with the fried bologna. Deb chose the crab cake app as here meal. All of it with the salad and succotash was well paired. Great food. Chilled laid back atmosphere. Would sit outside next time but inside is so nice. Service was awesome. Lindsey Was so nice and friendly. Can't wait to come back.
Justine
We visited Bayside while visiting our in-laws for a few days, the restaurant was in a great location and had nice views of the water. The menu was quite small, but everything we ordered was amazing!! I had a lemon drop martini and it was perfectly made and my husband had a smoked old-fashioned and he said it was “really good”. We ordered the pork belly appetizer, I ordered the salmon, my husband had the Chilean sea bass special.. everything was cooked perfectly!! The sun was directly in my face where we were seated, and they were really accommodating.. moving our table and putting a plant in front of the window to block the sun. 
benjamin
Restaurant and food were great! Gave only 3 due to hostess, came in without reservation early (545) and was told they were only seating people with reservations and none till 730. Made host aware that Open Table was showing tables for open reservations at 6 pm time slot. Restaurant was less than half full many tables empty. Watched her turn away 4 more groups. Since she would not seat without reservation we went ahead and made reservation on open table and returned at 6pm to be seated/ host was not very happy when we returned and had reservations, we where told that they would not typically honor reservation and not to expect good service since bar was busy (snarky tone when said) regardless of what she said bar staff and food where great! Other than Host being snarky and obviously not happy not a bad place. They should look to either replace Host with someone more professional or not show reservations in open table if they don't want to honor them.
Gail
We went scalloping earlier in the day. They took our cleaned scallops and turned them into a wonderful meal. Service was excellent. Next time we'll get sea bass from the menu. Great place.
Aimee
This was our first time visiting. Everything from our drinks to dessert was amazing. Our server Keith was so enthusiastic and spot on with all of his recommendations! My husband loved his sea bass with the crispy Brussel sprouts. We will definitely be frequenting this place.
Sue
What a nice surprise to find this upscale food waterfront restaurant in Crystal River, FL. Our meal was fantastic and the service fabulous. Highly recommend this restaurant and will return if we are in Crystal River again.
Ted
Bayside Kraft Kitchen is one of the more upscale restaurants in the Citrus County area. The area doesn't offer much in the way of epicurean fare. There's plenty of burger and pizza joints, but nothing with true culinary practice. Bayside's comes very close to what's offered in larger metropolitan areas like some of the resorts in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, etc. Very close. The menu is small, giving the kitchen the chance to hone their skills on what is offered. They do a good job, but at times go overboard on seasoning to achieve flavor. The service is good, but they definitely give off a rural, “country” feel, which to me minimizes the intent to be classical. Our server was nice, but she had table side that could be found at any Texas Roadhouse, Applebees or some other chain. If you're going to charge $52 for Chilean Sea Bass, back it up with polished servers. Unfortunately, the labor pool in Citrus County doesn't possess this quality so this style of service may be the ceiling. I relocated to Florida from the mid-Atlantic and have lived in Boston and New York and know quality when I see it. So discovering Bayside is a rare find in this area.
jim
The waitstaff and food was absolutely perfect. Bayside is always our “go to” whenever we have visitors and even when it's just us- fabulous restaurant!
Addie
This was our first visit and it was outstanding! It was the best place to celebrate our anniversary! Givani was terrific; from answering questions, making suggestions and making it an excellent experience. Thank you to the chef and staff! Looking forward to our next dinner!
Tucked away in the charming town of Crystal River, **Bayside Kraft Kitchen** is a refreshing culinary find that blends rustic comfort with bold, chef-driven flavors. With its casual-yet-stylish atmosphere and friendly, attentive service, this local gem offers a dining experience that feels both relaxed and refined. We came in hungry and left impressed, especially by two standout dishes: the **St. Louis ribs** and the **short rib**. The St. Louis ribs were a smoky, savory triumph—perfectly tender with a mouthwatering char and just the right amount of tangy, house-made sauce. Each bite pulled clean from the bone and left us wanting more. Equally memorable was the short rib: slow-braised to perfection, rich with deep, comforting flavor, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It was served with thoughtful sides that complemented without overpowering—clearly the work of a kitchen that knows how to balance flavors and textures. The vibe at Bayside Kraft Kitchen is laid-back but polished. Whether you're grabbing a casual dinner or planning a special night out, the welcoming staff and well-crafted menu make it a place you'll want to return to. And for those who appreciate the little things—like a well-poured drink or a thoughtful recommendation—this place gets it right.
Lisa
Our first visit and we were not disappointed! Drinks and food were amazing! Service was excellent! Sat on the patio and were treated to music from next door! It was great way to celebrate Father's Day! We will definitely be back soon!!
Shaneena
10/10 service, food quality, view, cleanliness! Great job you guys. We will definitely be back
Lorena
Our waitress was phenomenal and the espresso martini was the best I've ever had!! Food is delicious! Love this place!
barb michels
Our second visit was a slight improvement over the first. The servers are very pleasant but the dishes offered run the gamut from very good to underwhelming. The best thing here is the view and "happy hour/appetizers" from 2 - 5 PM. Same food...half price.
2nd time there in one week. Tried the ribeye and wife had the filet again and both were top notch and cooked to perfection. Alexis was our server for the 2nd time. She's great
Stopping for lunch. We have drove by here so many times. Today was the day! Very nice inside with great views of the water Started with the crab corn chowder. Amazing! So delicious. Perfect consistency. Fried BOLOGNA/ Brasstown, NC COUNTRY BOLOGNA, WHITE RICAN CHEESE, MUSTARD SLAW. So good!!! Instead of a thick cut piece of bologna it was lots on thinly sliced slices. Really well done. The mustard slaw was so perfect with the fried bologna. Deb chose the crab cake app as here meal. All of it with the salad and succotash was well paired. Great food. Chilled laid back atmosphere. Would sit outside next time but inside is so nice. Service was awesome. Lindsey Was so nice and friendly. Can't wait to come back.
We visited Bayside while visiting our in-laws for a few days, the restaurant was in a great location and had nice views of the water. The menu was quite small, but everything we ordered was amazing!! I had a lemon drop martini and it was perfectly made and my husband had a smoked old-fashioned and he said it was “really good”. We ordered the pork belly appetizer, I ordered the salmon, my husband had the Chilean sea bass special.. everything was cooked perfectly!! The sun was directly in my face where we were seated, and they were really accommodating.. moving our table and putting a plant in front of the window to block the sun. 
Restaurant and food were great! Gave only 3 due to hostess, came in without reservation early (545) and was told they were only seating people with reservations and none till 730. Made host aware that Open Table was showing tables for open reservations at 6 pm time slot. Restaurant was less than half full many tables empty. Watched her turn away 4 more groups. Since she would not seat without reservation we went ahead and made reservation on open table and returned at 6pm to be seated/ host was not very happy when we returned and had reservations, we where told that they would not typically honor reservation and not to expect good service since bar was busy (snarky tone when said) regardless of what she said bar staff and food where great! Other than Host being snarky and obviously not happy not a bad place. They should look to either replace Host with someone more professional or not show reservations in open table if they don't want to honor them.
We went scalloping earlier in the day. They took our cleaned scallops and turned them into a wonderful meal. Service was excellent. Next time we'll get sea bass from the menu. Great place.
This was our first time visiting. Everything from our drinks to dessert was amazing. Our server Keith was so enthusiastic and spot on with all of his recommendations! My husband loved his sea bass with the crispy Brussel sprouts. We will definitely be frequenting this place.
What a nice surprise to find this upscale food waterfront restaurant in Crystal River, FL. Our meal was fantastic and the service fabulous. Highly recommend this restaurant and will return if we are in Crystal River again.
Bayside Kraft Kitchen is one of the more upscale restaurants in the Citrus County area. The area doesn't offer much in the way of epicurean fare. There's plenty of burger and pizza joints, but nothing with true culinary practice. Bayside's comes very close to what's offered in larger metropolitan areas like some of the resorts in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, etc. Very close. The menu is small, giving the kitchen the chance to hone their skills on what is offered. They do a good job, but at times go overboard on seasoning to achieve flavor. The service is good, but they definitely give off a rural, “country” feel, which to me minimizes the intent to be classical. Our server was nice, but she had table side that could be found at any Texas Roadhouse, Applebees or some other chain. If you're going to charge $52 for Chilean Sea Bass, back it up with polished servers. Unfortunately, the labor pool in Citrus County doesn't possess this quality so this style of service may be the ceiling. I relocated to Florida from the mid-Atlantic and have lived in Boston and New York and know quality when I see it. So discovering Bayside is a rare find in this area.
The waitstaff and food was absolutely perfect. Bayside is always our “go to” whenever we have visitors and even when it's just us- fabulous restaurant!
This was our first visit and it was outstanding! It was the best place to celebrate our anniversary! Givani was terrific; from answering questions, making suggestions and making it an excellent experience. Thank you to the chef and staff! Looking forward to our next dinner!
Restaurantji Recommends
Tucked away in the charming town of Crystal River, **Bayside Kraft Kitchen** is a refreshing culinary find that blends rustic comfort with bold, chef-driven flavors. With its casual-yet-stylish atmosphere and friendly, attentive service, this local gem offers a dining experience that feels both relaxed and refined. We came in hungry and left impressed, especially by two standout dishes: the **St. Louis ribs** and the **short rib**. The St. Louis ribs were a smoky, savory triumph—perfectly tender with a mouthwatering char and just the right amount of tangy, house-made sauce. Each bite pulled clean from the bone and left us wanting more. Equally memorable was the short rib: slow-braised to perfection, rich with deep, comforting flavor, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It was served with thoughtful sides that complemented without overpowering—clearly the work of a kitchen that knows how to balance flavors and textures. The vibe at Bayside Kraft Kitchen is laid-back but polished. Whether you're grabbing a casual dinner or planning a special night out, the welcoming staff and well-crafted menu make it a place you'll want to return to. And for those who appreciate the little things—like a well-poured drink or a thoughtful recommendation—this place gets it right.
Our first visit and we were not disappointed! Drinks and food were amazing! Service was excellent! Sat on the patio and were treated to music from next door! It was great way to celebrate Father's Day! We will definitely be back soon!!
10/10 service, food quality, view, cleanliness! Great job you guys. We will definitely be back
Our waitress was phenomenal and the espresso martini was the best I've ever had!! Food is delicious! Love this place!
Our second visit was a slight improvement over the first. The servers are very pleasant but the dishes offered run the gamut from very good to underwhelming. The best thing here is the view and "happy hour/appetizers" from 2 - 5 PM. Same food...half price.
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