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One of our favorite starters, the Rosemary Grilled Octopus, with potato crispies on top.
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12 Unbeatable Seafood Restaurants in Jacksonville

Fresh fish is easy to find at these local places

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One of our favorite starters, the Rosemary Grilled Octopus, with potato crispies on top.
| Marker 32 Facebook

Florida is known to have some the best seafood in the entire country with its access to water from almost all parts of the state. In Jacksonville, there are dozens of seafood restaurants all around town, and while most are good, these are the 12 that are worth the extra drive and potential wait for a table to get that seafood fix.

Editor’s Note: The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant

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Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant offers up sweeping views of the waterways where the restaurant’s catch of the day is caught. Guests can often see the boats offloading fish and shrimp and delivering them to restaurant’s kitchen where it is serves up a menu filled with items like smoked fish dip and the oyster po’boys.

Southern Coast Seafood

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Since opening in early 2020, Southern Coast Seafood has quickly become a staple in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville. The restaurant gets its fish and shrimp from Mayport to create some of its fan-favorite dishes like the fish club sandwich piled high with house-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a lemon aioli, along with fish tacos where there’s more fish than fillers. 

Seafood Kitchen

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Like many of the other restaurants on this list, Seafood Kitchen has been serving up seafood dishes for for several decades. Guests can dine on dishes like whole belly clams (no clam strips here), perfectly fried whole snapper, and deviled crab.

North Beach Fish Camp

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Neptune Beach is flooded with restaurants trying to lure in beach goers, but locals know North Beach Fish Camp is the best spot along the sandy shores. Start off with an order of spicy pimento cheese dip, which is a Southern staple, followed by the salt and pepper seared tuna, which is cooked to perfection time after time.

Marker 32

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Marker 32 has been a cornerstone of the seafood restaurant scene in Jacksonville for more than 30 years. The restaurant is a unique mix of fine dining and a casual atmosphere, offering items like the seared scallop dish, which comes with collard greens, grits, and roasted corn basil shrimp broth is not to be missed.

Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant PV (Multiple locations)

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Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant is a Jacksonville icon, with two locations, one in Ponte Vedra and one in Atlantic Beach. All of the seafood here is fresh and never frozen so everything retains the briny, sea flavor like it just got caught out of the water. For spice lovers opt for the jalapeño crusted catch, which is offers a choice of fish with a jalapeño crust and drizzled with a coconut lime cream.

Palm Valley Fish Camp

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When Palm Valley Fish Camp debuted in 2009 its goal was to open a family-friendly restaurant that feels like the neighborhood go-to —and it has become a favorite of Ponte Verde residents relaxed seafood dinner with friends and family. While classics like smoked fish dip and crab cakes can be found on the menu, for those looking for something a little different on a seafood menu consider getting the salmon BLT, which comes with house-made tartar sauce and pickled zucchini.

Aqua Grill

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Aqua Grill has been around for more than 25 years and Jacksonville locals continue to flock there for the seafood and cozy atmosphere. One item that diners love is the classic chilled seafood tower filled with Mayport shrimp, Galveston Bay oysters, king crab, and lobster tails. For those who not craving seafood the menu has plenty of dishes for the meat and potatoes enthusiast as well. 

Barbara Jean's On The Water

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Homestyle seafood graces the menu at Barbara Jean’s On The Water. The restaurant is known for its back patio, where guests can take in views of the inlets as they enjoy a drink and wait for their food to arrive. This is one of a few places in town to find true southern-style catfish, where diners can get it battered and fried or spicy grilled with their choice of two sides like white cheddar grits and the ultra nostalgic Ambrosia salad.

OP Fish House and Oyster Bar

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Since opening in 2018 OP Fish House and Oyster Bar has been bringing in customers who are hungry for seafood but live an hour or more from the docks of the beaches and Mayport. The restaurant gets its seafood delivered daily from local purveyors, including trigger fish, shrimp, and gulf oysters. Orange Park locals love dining here on Wednesdays when oysters are 75 cents each all day long.

Bulkheads Taphouse & Kitchen

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Newcomer Bulkheads Taphouse and Kitchen specializes in all things crab and Maryland-style seafood including masterfully prepared crab cakes. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on a busy road, so it’s easy to miss, but it's certainly worth seeking out for a crab cake sandwich that’s more crab than anything else.

Cap's On the Water

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Cap’s On the Water is known for the spectacular views of the St. Augustine waterways, ample outdoor dining space, and plates of seafood with a distinct Greek and Southern twist. One plate that is often seen flying out of the kitchen is the sea bass succotash, which is prepared with Chilean sea bass over a bed of pillowy gnocchi with edamame and oven roasted tomatoes in corn chowder. One great thing about Cap’s is that it can make many of their dishes allergy-friendly, so just let the server know.

Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant

Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant offers up sweeping views of the waterways where the restaurant’s catch of the day is caught. Guests can often see the boats offloading fish and shrimp and delivering them to restaurant’s kitchen where it is serves up a menu filled with items like smoked fish dip and the oyster po’boys.

Southern Coast Seafood

Since opening in early 2020, Southern Coast Seafood has quickly become a staple in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville. The restaurant gets its fish and shrimp from Mayport to create some of its fan-favorite dishes like the fish club sandwich piled high with house-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a lemon aioli, along with fish tacos where there’s more fish than fillers. 

Seafood Kitchen

Like many of the other restaurants on this list, Seafood Kitchen has been serving up seafood dishes for for several decades. Guests can dine on dishes like whole belly clams (no clam strips here), perfectly fried whole snapper, and deviled crab.

North Beach Fish Camp

Neptune Beach is flooded with restaurants trying to lure in beach goers, but locals know North Beach Fish Camp is the best spot along the sandy shores. Start off with an order of spicy pimento cheese dip, which is a Southern staple, followed by the salt and pepper seared tuna, which is cooked to perfection time after time.

Marker 32

Marker 32 has been a cornerstone of the seafood restaurant scene in Jacksonville for more than 30 years. The restaurant is a unique mix of fine dining and a casual atmosphere, offering items like the seared scallop dish, which comes with collard greens, grits, and roasted corn basil shrimp broth is not to be missed.

Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant PV (Multiple locations)

Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant is a Jacksonville icon, with two locations, one in Ponte Vedra and one in Atlantic Beach. All of the seafood here is fresh and never frozen so everything retains the briny, sea flavor like it just got caught out of the water. For spice lovers opt for the jalapeño crusted catch, which is offers a choice of fish with a jalapeño crust and drizzled with a coconut lime cream.

Palm Valley Fish Camp

When Palm Valley Fish Camp debuted in 2009 its goal was to open a family-friendly restaurant that feels like the neighborhood go-to —and it has become a favorite of Ponte Verde residents relaxed seafood dinner with friends and family. While classics like smoked fish dip and crab cakes can be found on the menu, for those looking for something a little different on a seafood menu consider getting the salmon BLT, which comes with house-made tartar sauce and pickled zucchini.

Aqua Grill

Aqua Grill has been around for more than 25 years and Jacksonville locals continue to flock there for the seafood and cozy atmosphere. One item that diners love is the classic chilled seafood tower filled with Mayport shrimp, Galveston Bay oysters, king crab, and lobster tails. For those who not craving seafood the menu has plenty of dishes for the meat and potatoes enthusiast as well. 

Barbara Jean's On The Water

Homestyle seafood graces the menu at Barbara Jean’s On The Water. The restaurant is known for its back patio, where guests can take in views of the inlets as they enjoy a drink and wait for their food to arrive. This is one of a few places in town to find true southern-style catfish, where diners can get it battered and fried or spicy grilled with their choice of two sides like white cheddar grits and the ultra nostalgic Ambrosia salad.

OP Fish House and Oyster Bar

Since opening in 2018 OP Fish House and Oyster Bar has been bringing in customers who are hungry for seafood but live an hour or more from the docks of the beaches and Mayport. The restaurant gets its seafood delivered daily from local purveyors, including trigger fish, shrimp, and gulf oysters. Orange Park locals love dining here on Wednesdays when oysters are 75 cents each all day long.

Bulkheads Taphouse & Kitchen

Newcomer Bulkheads Taphouse and Kitchen specializes in all things crab and Maryland-style seafood including masterfully prepared crab cakes. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on a busy road, so it’s easy to miss, but it's certainly worth seeking out for a crab cake sandwich that’s more crab than anything else.

Cap's On the Water

Cap’s On the Water is known for the spectacular views of the St. Augustine waterways, ample outdoor dining space, and plates of seafood with a distinct Greek and Southern twist. One plate that is often seen flying out of the kitchen is the sea bass succotash, which is prepared with Chilean sea bass over a bed of pillowy gnocchi with edamame and oven roasted tomatoes in corn chowder. One great thing about Cap’s is that it can make many of their dishes allergy-friendly, so just let the server know.

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