9 Best Seafood Restaurants in Calabash

“Favorite restaurant for seafood“

“Had lunch with my husband today Nov 4. Food was just ok however our server Julianna was excellent! She was knowledgeable and friendly. I would go back for the outstanding service!“

“Plenty of Fried Calabash Style Seafood to Go Around

I definitely need to learn more about the history of Calabash style seafood, because here just about everything comes fried (though there are plenty of nonfried options too). The décor is fun, the volume was perfect for a date night, and the energy in the room was shared. Everyone was having a great time.

Like most spots in the area, the meal started with hush puppies.. huge, golden, and delicious. The honey butter makes them special, and I liked that they came complimentary. The lemon pepper calamari was more complicated and confusing, it had a burnt like flavor at first, but after a few bites and plenty of lemon juice, it started to work. You just need to take some time to figure where the flavors are coming from. (You need to ask for lemons, they don’t come with it) Still, the oil pooling in the basket turned me off, and I wouldn’t order it again.

The “stuffed” flounder was tasty, though a bit misleading? It’s more of a fillet split down the middle with filling in between. I enjoyed the full shrimp and crab tucked inside, but the skin left under the fish made me pause for a second (maybe that’s normal?). On the sides, the coleslaw was sweet and refreshing vs a more vinegar approach, while my fries were disappointing lacking crispness, salt, and flavor. I’d go for the baked potato next time.

We also tried the Calabash shrimp and deviled crab combo plate. The shrimp missed the crunch and seasoning I was hoping for, but the deviled crab was unique. Not necessarily my favorite but it was somewhere between a crab pot pie and a sweet hush puppy flavor. Meanwhile, my 1 year old happily worked through her spaghetti, so at least it passed that test.

Overall, the atmosphere here had a good weekend energy and was overall enjoyable, but the food missed the mark in several places for me. Not sure I’d rush back. I’m going with four stars because I’m not the best fish food critic, but if you’re into fried fish you should try it out. It seems like a calabash staple and the staff was extremely nice/helpful.“

“Great food and drinks with waterfront dining“

“Needs a little updating but, the food makes up for it. Food was great and seafood was cooked the way I use to cook it in the restaurants I worked and managed. Suggestion, little more flour in your hush puppies to make it fluffier . Glad we stopped to eat here.“

“Came back again for dinner & Sue was our server again. She made it once again pleasurable & our dinners were exceptional!“

“Fresh seafood, non greasy, great flavor. The staff is nice and service is fast. Will definitely return for great seafood.“

“Always enjoy eating here. Staff is awesome. Food is great! Fun atmosphere!“

“Wow! One of the best places in the golf coast region. Owner Mac and bartender Jenna provide a wonderful and quirky experience. Come here to relax and laugh and enjoy delicious too quality Italian style food, and enjoy banter between customers and the staff. Don’t be uptight - go with the flow - and you’ll be a friend for life. In a sea of copycats this stands out and is a winner every time.“