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There’s nothing quite like enjoying fresh seafood while sitting dockside amidst the salty sea air. In Jacksonville, Florida, there are many great sea and dockside establishments where you can get some great tasting fish, crab, oysters, and more. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spots so you can get out there and enjoy the water with some mouth-watering grub. Whether you’re local to Jacksonville or just driving through, we’re sure these spots will satisfy your craving for authentic fresh seafood. After a day at the beach, these joints are sure to hit the spot.
Dockside Seafood
One of our favorite establishments in Jacksonville, Dockside Seafood Restaurant, serves fresh, local seafood alongside the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville Beach’s lively boating scene. Dockside sources its seafood from local fishers, all-natural shellfish farms, and top-quality wild-caught seafood purveyors. Its owners, Benjamin and Liza Groshell, own several restaurants in the Jacksonville area and apply their expertise to create a memorable dining experience for their customers. Dockside offers a casual setting with great menu offerings that seafood lovers will appreciate.
Be sure to sample the restaurant’s fried oyster baskets, crab cake melts, and shrimp tacos. The restaurant is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, so be sure to stop in and try on of Jacksonville’s most iconic dockside eateries.
Beachside Seafood Restaurant and Market
Another great seaside destination to try is Beachside Seafood Restaurant and Market. The restaurant serves only the freshest caught local fish, and even sells its catches at a market, so you can take Jacksonville’s freshest fish to go. In operation since 1989, Beachside is many residents’ go-to source for fresh fish options and delicious food. As the only combined seafood market and restaurant in Jacksonville, these guys are your one-stop shop for crab, shrimp, and fish.
Beachside has an upstairs dining area and a patio for a casual beach atmosphere. You can stop in wearing your beach attire or head over after a workday or while passing through. Also upstairs, you can find a bar where Beachside offers several beers on tap and satisfying wine selections. Be sure to try their award-winning Philly cheesesteak sandwich and take home some of the restaurant’s famous fish dip while you’re at it. Other great menu options include the lemon butter Basa, the seasonally available lion fish, and their oyster shooters.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, and is closed on Monday. The market is still open on Mondays, however, so stop in any day of the week to get some of that delectable fish dip, great on crackers or a morning bagel.
The North Beach Fish Camp
North Beach Fish Camp has the same owners as another one of our favorites on this list, Dockside Seafood, so you know it’s good. This restaurant mimics the charming atmosphere, inventive menu options, and stellar service of the area’s other Fish Camp locations in St. Augustine, Palm Valley, and Junction Creek. Almost as good as the food is the location. This two-story restaurant offers a sophisticated and clean spin on traditional beach casual, with exposed beams, large windows, and wooden floors.
Some of our favorite North Beach Fish Camp menu items are its blue crab cakes with a signature caper aioli sauce and the steamed gulf-coast oysters. Stop in for lunch or dinner for great food, unbeatable views, and friendly service. The spot is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Sandollar Restaurant
Sandollar Restaurant has built a long-standing legacy of excellence and fresh seafood offerings. Since it was first built in 1954, locals have looked to the Sandollar for delicious local shrimp and seafood prepared with expert care. To meet the demand for its popular food, Sandollar was rebuilt as a larger facility in 1988. Since then, it’s carried on the tradition of offering exceptional seafood at affordable prices to customers. Be sure to check out the restaurant’s weekly specials, which feature a prime rib knight, discounted oyster night, and crab leg night.
The restaurant also frequently hosts live music, so you can come enjoy the beachside digs while also seeing some great local performers play. It’s hard to go wrong with Sandollar’s menu. We particularly enjoy the salmon, blue crab sandwiches, and shrimp. The business is open daily, and you can visit for lunch or dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Eleven South
For a more elevated dining experience on the beach, check out Eleven South. Great for special occasions or just a weeknight treat, the seasonally inspired cuisine at Eleven South is well worth the drive to the beach. Although it’s set back slightly from the sea, this restaurant is still well worth a mention on our list. The menu offers a diverse array of options, from seafood, to pasta, to steaks. Pair your dinner with a wine from the extensive wine list the restaurant offers. Be sure to get a reservation to ensure your seat for lunch or dinner.
The restaurant is open for lunch, which it serves at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. Dinner is served daily at 5 p.m. You can also enjoy brunch at Eleven South when you attend Eleven South’s annual Mother’s Day brunch. It’s a truly special place to celebrate the important people in your life.
There’s so much great seafood in Jacksonville to try and love. Pair that with proximity to the salty air and you have a match made in heaven. Have you tried any of the restaurants on our list? Contact us to let us know. We’d love to hear what you think of them or to hear about another dockside offering we missed. So grab your bathing suit, bring an appetite, and head to the beach to try some of Jacksonville’s great local seafood offerings. We’re excited to see you out there.
Oysters by Toukou Sousui 淙穂鶫箜 is licensed with CC BY 2.0
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