12 Florida Seafood Shacks Social Media Just Found And Locals Have Visited Forever
I’ve learned that Florida’s best seafood rarely waves you in from a billboard.
You find it by following the smell of frying oil along a dock, by spotting picnic tables half buried in sand, by watching which places the boats drift closest to when noon rolls around.
I’ve eaten oysters that arrived sweating over crushed ice, shrimp baskets that landed before the grease had time to settle, and fish so fresh the plate still felt like it belonged to the water.
These are the joints locals slipped into long before anyone bothered tagging the location.
Fryers keep steady time, screens rattle on screened-in porches, and pelicans linger with professional patience just beyond the rail.
The menus stay tight because they don’t need to be clever.
What matters here is timing, temperature, and the way salt lives in the air even when you’re sitting down.
You leave with sand on your shoes, sunscreen on your wrists, and one or two orders already locked into memory for next time.
This list follows those instincts, the places that don’t chase attention but earn it quietly, plate by plate.
Come hungry, come curious, and let the water, the kitchen, and a little Florida heat do the rest.
1. Dewey Destin’s Seafood
The dock creaks softly underfoot as the bay nudges the pilings and sends a briny breeze across the tables.
Gulf shrimp arrive crisp and hot beside sweet hushpuppies, and blackened grouper flakes clean under a squeeze of lemon.
You will find it at 9 Calhoun Avenue, Destin, FL 32541, where picnic tables overlook water that tells its own story.
The Destin family’s fishing history shows in the restraint and confidence of each plate.
Order at the window and claim a far-edge table to watch boats drift past.
I left with salt-stiff hair and every intention of trying the smoked tuna dip again.
2. Peg Leg Pete’s
A chorus of shuckers sets the rhythm at Peg Leg Pete’s and mixes with surf chatter outside the doors.
Baked oysters loaded with jalapeño, bacon, and Parmesan lead well into a grouper sandwich with a perfectly toasted bun.
Set your map to 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, where nautical kitsch frames a lively dining room.
The place grew from an oyster bar into a local institution known for quick, friendly pacing.
Put your name in before sunset and stroll the boardwalk until the buzzer sounds.
Regulars reveal themselves by ordering a half dozen oysters twice without hesitation.
3. Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar
From the second floor, the Gulf looks painted in shifting blues as napkins lift gently in the breeze.
Gulf oysters land bright and mineral with a touch of mignonette, while blackened redfish tacos carry citrus through each bite.
The bar sits at 1875 S County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, with tall windows watching 30A’s slow glide.
The name honors a historic fishing reef that once guided boats safely to shore.
Grab a rail-side seat if you want the best fade of day into dusk.
I saved one hushpuppy for last, then did not, because hot bread never waits politely.
4. High Tides At Snack Jack
Atlantic spray freckles the windows and makes the weathered boards feel like part of the shoreline.
Minorcan clam chowder shows datil heat, and the grilled mahi sandwich keeps its crunch under bright slaw.
The shack stands at 2805 S Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach, FL 32136, perched directly above the sand.
The building has ridden out storms since the 1940s with quiet resolve.
Take your tray to a deck table closest to the dunes and keep napkins tucked tight.
Locals nod to newcomers, a coastal custom that settles easily after a warm bowl of chowder.
5. Aunt Kate’s
Live oaks shade the entrance as the river slides by with unhurried confidence.
Minorcan clam chowder brings sweet heat, and fried gator tail arrives crisp with lemony tartar.
Find it at 612 Euclid Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084, tucked along the Tolomato River under wide, quiet skies.
The Usina family has guided the restaurant through generations of steady service.
Plan dinner near sunset to split the broiled seafood platter and catch the last orange glow.
River chill follows you out, pleasant and lingering as you walk back beneath the trees.
6. O’Steen’s Restaurant
The line forms early, and no one minds because anticipation is part of the tradition.
Fried shrimp arrive butterflied and dusted in fine breading that snaps lightly under the fork.
Slip into 205 Anastasia Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080, where the modest exterior hides decades of ritual.
The place has anchored beach days and weeknight dinners since the 1960s.
Bring cash and remember they close on Sundays to keep the rhythm familiar.
Minorcan slaw and hushpuppies pair so well you understand the line before your plate is half done.
7. St. Augustine Fish Camp
Soft river light turns glassware warm and makes the whole room glow.
Seared scallops sit over creamy corn, and blackened fish earns its brightness from a careful herb butter.
You will find it at 142 Riberia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, right beside the San Sebastian docks.
The Fish Camp group blends polish with long-standing local roots.
Reservations help, though sliding onto a bar seat works when you want speed.
I left planning a return for the whole snapper when it appears as a special.
8. Palm Valley Fish Camp
A quiet bend in the Intracoastal gives this spot its porch-light warmth.
Grilled octopus with lemon and olive oil leads well into flounder meuniere where capers burst brightly.
Set your GPS to 299 N Roscoe Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, where boats idle between conversations.
The owners built a constellation of Fish Camps by keeping things local and precise.
Walk-ins work early in the evening before the rush settles in.
Marshland copper at dusk creates a soft backdrop that makes each plate feel intentional.
9. Stinky’s Fish Camp
Laughter and clatter move through the room with the confidence of a place that knows its stride.
Crawfish pie breaks into peppery steam, and fried oyster platters land with gentle crunch.
Find it at 5960 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, near dune lakes that shape local stories.
New Orleans veterans built the menu around Gulf-southern comfort.
Arrive early on music nights or accept a wait that rewards patience.
The pie’s crust gives with a soft tap and settles into warmth that stays long after the last bite.
10. Dockside Seafood Restaurant
Boat horns and gull calls drift in from the marina and shape the meal’s soundtrack.
Fried grouper cheeks shine when available, and blackened mahi on a toasted bun hits clean without heaviness.
Dockside sits at 6349 N Atlantic Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, overlooking working vessels that move with the tide.
Fish crews often eat early, a sign of trust worth noting.
Parking tightens on launch days, so adjust timing if rockets are on the schedule.
Vinegar slaw cuts through the fry and keeps each bite lively.
11. Fish Camp On Lake Eustis
Evening quiet settles over the dock as the lake darkens behind cypress silhouettes.
Catfish arrives cornmeal-crisp with no muddy aftertaste, and smoked fish dip carries a campfire whisper.
The address is 901 Lake Shore Boulevard, Tavares, FL 32778, where jon boats glide past with gentle hum.
The property nods to old Florida fish camps that favored simplicity over spectacle.
Ask for extra lemon and share hushpuppies to keep room for dessert.
I left with a faint wood-smoke scent in my clothes and no regrets.
12. The Old Fish House Bar & Grill
Mullet jump in the lagoon beside the deck as music drifts from the tiki bar.
Grilled cobia, shrimp baskets with peppery batter, and conch fritters lead the rotation of fresh catch offerings.
You will find it at 5385 US Highway 1, Grant-Valkaria, FL 32949, south of Melbourne with a wide water view.
The building has watched generations tie up boats for lunch and ice refills.
Call ahead for dock space if arriving by water because it fills quickly.
Smoke from the grill blends with brackish air in a way that feels deeply Floridian.