The food was absolutely amazing. The seafood was super fresh and everyone that came with us really enjoyed this restaurant. It was our first time here and definitely will not be our last. The ambience is so cozy and gives off a wonderful coastal vibe. The service was wonderful and very attentive. We had a large party and they were very accommodating. I would go back specifically for the sushi, 30a dip, and the key lime pie! read more

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We really like the area where this place is found. Full of locals all around. The decor is fun and it has a nice bar area. This is a family place with varied table sizes and groups. It also has outdoor covered seating with a tv. We had reservations, got a table and were seated quickly. It soon gets very full and very very loud. There are hard surfaces everywhere making this much worse. In order to compensate for this noise issue the tables have like an egg-shell material attached underneath. This can be a bit off-putting when you put your napkin in your lap and feel something fairly strange under there. We both order fish. Me, shrimp & grits and my husband, an assorted plate of fried fish, shrimp and oysters and chips. He specifically asked for no fired oysters, and the waitress offered to bring extra shrimp instead of oysters. My shrimp was good and served fairly warm, the grits were cold. My husband received all the things including the oysters and only 4 shrimp. We would have asked for it to be fixed but no one came by to ask how our food / dinner was going. When the waitress finally came by to ask if we wanted dessert we mentioned it but she didn't offer to fix anything, just to bring us some shrimp but by that time we didn't want it. We were also visiting ATL and didn't have anywhere to take it back to or warm it up in the hotel. So overall it was a bit disappointing but some may really enjoy the place. read more

Where is this place?!? I couldn't find it, and there were these cute little wooden signs pointing you in different directions to different places, but no message in the bottle cute little sign. It's tucked in the back of the village area, but basically, just take a few steps from Bar n Booze and it's right there. It's a bit intimidating, because the entry way is a party scene so you feel a little weird walking through a functioning dining patio and bar to get to another restaurant. The server was a kind woman who was very opinionated. She loosened up a bit as she got more comfortable with us. For an appetizer we had the Japanese Ceviche, which had "Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Avocado, Onion, Tomato, Cilantro, Sesame-Chili Sauce, Fried Wantons." It was more a poke bowl than ceviche, hence the title, but good. For dinner we ordered the Pacific Rim Tuna Salad "Chilled Rare Sesame Tuna, Napa Cabbage, Crispy Noodles, Sweet Peppers, Onions, Basil, Ginger Dressing, Peanuts" and the Seafood Cobb Salad "Blue Crab, Chilled Shrimp, Bacon, Avocado, Egg, Romaine, Remoulade-Ranch." The marketing for this place is a little all over the place with the message "Sailor Spirits and Superior Seafood." Maybe they mean the sailor spirits are the drinks? Also, combining a Japanese theme and sushi menu with beach theme is a bit different. My tiny mind, you know. I'm not a sailor. When we were done, the server admonished us for eating so much, which was more than a little unprofessional (but exactly something my mom would say), and told us to get some exercise the next day. Okay! Will do. read more

Very good atmosphere and service. Food quality is good! Great seafood but the portions are tiny now. I do not know what happened and it was ok today because we were not super hungry but these pics are the legit size of the food. Great half price bottle of wine deal on Sunday. Great server! Also if they had some buffet and at short changed on food they should have told us! read more

This is a super cool area. The people with this bar on multiple other restaurants in the area, so you basically have one big courtyard that you can walk around in. It's super tucked away in Dunwoody so if you don't know where you're going you probably wouldn't notice it, but this is a very lobby place and they do do events here since there's so much space. It's indoor and outdoor, there's a courtyard in the middle where they have a huge screen so you can sit outside if it's a nice day or a nice night. But all the restaurants have indoor seating as well. It's also free parking so you don't have to worry about paying the part since it's Dunwoody. Tommy has worked the bar every time I have been in and he is always super dope. The first time I went he actually let me try a couple of wines and I would consider buying because we were talking about it so much. Which was actually pretty cool. He really knows his stuff at the bar and he's been doing it for years and years so he's a really good person to sit down in front of. The service lady gave us great and I would definitely go back in. See him again. The establishment is set up and a nautical sense, so they're really good decorations and the decor is very nice. Is very clean and neat so and very well lit. Old bay fries - So the fries were good. They had Old Bay on them and they were seasoned to perfection. And the majority of the fries were actually crisp fried to perfection as well. Like you didn't actually need ketchup to give him anything else. If you didn't have it, they were a good seasoned on their own. They're good either way. Sea smoke - The sea smoke was a sushi roll, came out pretty good. It had good presentation, and it had a very good taste to it. I had a little kick and I appreciate it that. Double double galley burger - The burger was good, it reminded me of a Big Mac. But a much more well put together. Big Mac I guess LOL. It had a burger sauce, which reminded you of Big Mac sauce if you looked at it. But it came stacked very tall so it was a very hearty burger. I would definitely get it again. Overall it's just a really dope area to be in. Like I said, you can go from one place to another and be perfectly fine. You can stay in one spot and eat and drink and be merry if you want to as well. But either way, I've been satisfied since I've been going thus far. read more

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The food is spectacular with attention to detail in every dish we ordered. Our server Emma was extremely helpful and thoughtful. It made our experience even better. The decor is perfect for a seafood environment. Only comment I would say it that there is a high volume of noise from the patrons. As an architectural engineer, I would recommend dropping in a ceiling to absorb much of the noise. But our total experience was super wonderful. read more

We have been going to Hugo's for years. We had not made it to Message in Bottle until Saturday night. It was beyond my expectations. The Oysters we perfect. My wife had the Redfish and Grits. It was very very good. I had the fried basket. It was an amazing portion of really good food. The atmosphere was very cool. Like going out to eat at the beach. We will be back in a couple of weeks. I can't wait!! read more

We have dined in Dunwoody many times but never in this little restaurant Mecca. Tucked in the back of what appeared to be. Strip mall from the street is the cute, u-shaped little pod of restaurants with a giant outdoor patio in the middle. There was a live band and the place was PACKED with locals just enjoying a nice evening. Message in a bottle is one of the entry level restaurant closer to the parking lot. It isn't a huge restaurant, but larger inside than the store front would make you think. It's a nice restaurant with a casual vibe. We had a reservation (highly recommend doing this on open table) and were seated immediately. Our server was bubbly and friendly ... and very patient with us as we needed longer-than-usual to decide on a wine and had a million questions about the menu. I grew up going to 30A regularly and still visit often. This place claims to be 30A cuisine in Atlanta, which sets up a huge expectation for me. We orders the hush puppies as a starter, but there was a kitchen mix up and they came out with our mains. These were served with a remoulade and really had more of a funnel cake (sweet) flavor than a traditional hush puppy. (Very good, but not what I expected) For ur mains, we ordered a group sandwich (subbed green beans for the fries) and the Cioppini. The grouper on the sandwich was cooked perfectly and delicious. And normally the sides are just side decor - the green beans were heavenly (yeah, I said that!). They were the paramount of cooked between crunchy and soft with fabulous flavor. No complaints with the pasta dish either. For dessert, we went out of our usual pattern and shared the chocolate cake. It not a huge chocolate person, so this wasn't my favorite. It was Just ok, but likely that my preference for non chocolate desserts talking. Final thoughts - location A+, vibe A+, service A+, food solid A (very good, but my favorite dive in PCB still has a better grouper sandwich) read more

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Phenomenal! From the food, to the service, to the ambiance I can't speak highly enough about Message In a Bottle. I absolutely love the ability to select your fish and preparation style - such a great way to present dishes in unique forms and adds a great level of customizability. Everything we had from the appetizers to our mains to even our drinks were wonderful. Service was exceptional, and the ambience of the place is absolutely awesome and fits the intended vibe perfectly. I will 100% be coming back to Message In a Bottle next time I'm in ATL! read more

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So glad we've finally found a great local spot for seafood! The service and ambiance were both excellent, and the food was absolutely delicious. It was our first time exploring Dunwoody Village, and we're looking forward to coming back. read more

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Needed to update our review to a 5. As we are now regulars here . Every 2 weeks or more frequent. Weekday happy hours or Sunday afternoons. Service Sara and Tommy both great Our favorites are happy hour shrimp and oysters and Sunday lobster rolls . Anytime: seafood cobb salad and shrimp scampi. Daughter substitutes chicken on the scampi or gets the chicken sandwich. Owner David Abes is usually around, and quite friendly. Highly recommended read more

I was in the area and decided to stop by after exploring Dunwoody Village while running an errand. There was a wedding reception going on and the first place I stopped at was closed for a private event. Message in a Bottle, it is! I was seated quickly on an early Saturday evening. But I definitely wasn't acknowledged quickly. After 30 minutes, I was finally asked if I needed help. If it wasn't for the fact that I saw Old Bay fries on the menu (fries are my weakness), I would've left sooner. But right as I was about to leave, Catherine came to see if anyone had served me yet. She apologized and was super attentive during my dining experience. The She Crab Soup and Caesar Salad were a good start, especially the soup. For my entree, I went for all things fried because why not? Everything was seasoned and prepared well. I also had cocktails and dessert, which were good too. After a not-so-good start, things ended on a good note thanks to Catherine. I went from feeling invisible to being given a high level of attention, which I greatly appreciated. read more

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First time dining and my experience was great. I came for the happy hour menu and it's a steal; $1.50 oysters, $5 martinis, $10 salmon steak.. you can't beat it. Trynn (Hope I spelled her name right) was my server and she was very professional and friendly. I'll definitely be back soon! Great Job read more

The food, service and ambiance were excellent. This was my first visit and I will definitely be back.

We came for the happy hour, and from the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly host, and our server, Triend, was amazing. The raw oysters were incredibly fresh, and the restaurant has a great beachy vibe that makes you feel like you're on vacation. Chef Matt and the rest of the team even checked in on us frequently, which was a nice touch. I had the shrimp scampi, and I'm already craving it again--it was delicious! It was a little tricky to find since it's tucked away, but there's plenty of parking available in the lot. Highly recommend this place! read more

Message In a Bottle - Happy hour oysters - Seafood Near Me - Dunwoody, Georgia

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Our Server was fantastic~ Catherine! She knew her menu hands down, what a pleasure to be taken care of in this way! Food was Dee~ Lishwe celebrated Billie's birthday tonight. This was our first visit and we will deff b returning ! read more

My first yelp review of the year goes to Message In a Bottle! Nestled into Dunwoody Village, this seafood restaurant has the perfect neighborhood charm that makes you feel as if you are on the coast of 30A! I don't think I've ever had quite amazing quality of fish in Atlanta. My fish basket was blackened, and the oysters were incredible! When you visit, make sure to see my girl Triend! She was spectacular and such a sweet soul! We will be back very soon! read more

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Great seafood option in the heart of Dunwoody. You've been twice and will continue to go back. Something about the ambience is a little off to me. I'm not sure what it is. Like the restaurant is mixed between relaxed and a little upscale. read more

Everything was great! Went on a Sunday night, the manager (or owner, not 100% sure) helped us the whole time. Explained the menu, the drinks and recommended specials. Will definitely be back. Tried a little of everything and was THOROUGHLY satisfied! read more

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Great place. Went on Sunday night.Our sever was so nice! Great drinks & wine list. I had a nice white wine to start. We ordered straight from the entrees. I had the shrimp grilled & hubby had fish of the day Veracruz. Both entrees were great! Will come back for happy hr to try the shrimp & oysters. Very relaxing dinner! read more

Came across this place and decided to try it for my birthday weekend. Reserved table for 10. Paige was our server and was AWESOME- she was knowledgeable, fun and attentive. We all enjoyed our meals and the oysters were delectable. I will definitely be back. Hidden gem!! read more

We had a great experience at Message early for dinner for 4 adults (and a one year old in the restaurant's highchair) on Christmas eve. My wife, who does not eat Seafood, liked her menu choices, so naturally I took us all back for the Mother's day brunch; where we sat on the patio and had a very enjoyable time. Message in a Bottle for a quick Po Boy or a family gathering is an excellent addition to Dunwoody. read more

This place is really good. A little hidden but worth the search. They are very welcoming. read more

Message In a Bottle - Grouper sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Dunwoody, Georgia

Been here for Brunch and Dinner. It's outstanding. the food is fresh and fairly priced. Oysters in Dunwoody? YES I was skeptical and nervous and I'm a believer. I love coming here. Drinks are great too! read more

From the moment I walked in, I received excellent service from the host to the bartender and food runner. I could just tell from the bartender (Tommy) that this place was amazing. The bisque was truly the best I ever had. Literally melted in my mouth and they weren't skimping on the meat. The Cioppino had the right amount of sauce and seafood added, big enough portion for a late night snack. The Banana Foster needs its own paragraph. OMG!!!!!! Ahhh it's so yummy and tasty. I wish I could lick the bowl. Overall, this restaurant exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to come back and try the other items. read more

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We tried Message in a Bottle for the first time last night and it was great! Not only was the food delicious, but the service is what really set them apart. Every staff member we interacted with was so kind, but most of all our waitress Triend. She went above and beyond for us, as well as the other tables she served. We will definitely be back! read more

Start I like thank Tommy the bartender for my key lime pie for my birthday dessert. He is very good knows the menu very well. I started with Oyster on half shell. Their horseradish is the best some of the hottest I ever had. Then had Crab and Lobster bisque very good. Tell the chefs is from Maryland it has old bay. Then I had the Shrimp scampi. It was delicious. Big shrimp on there. Thanks to Tommy I had key lime pie for birthday dessert. Wonderful. I will return again. On Tuesday happy hour shrimp and / or oysters. Oh yeah had espresso martini. Again thank you. read more

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Food was amazing along with attention to detail from the server up to the Chef. We had oysters and for fried platter and I must say it was crispy and not ever seasoned or oily it was perfect. Already recommended some friends and will be back. read more

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This restaurant is in this little cute plaza with other restaurants. Has its own parking. The service was very friendly. I had ordered the crabcakes which unfortunately had to send back because they were completely mushy and undercooked. I would venture to say that it was basically raw. I could not eat it so I sent it back. They did remake it. It took a long time probably about the time. It should've take them to actually cook something. The interesting thing was that one they gave me my bill first they double charged me they charge me for the one that I had returned and for the one that they had to rebook. I didn't ask them for a new one. I just asked them to cook the original one. The other interesting thing about this place was on my truck. They have those pre-programmed buttons of 20% 25% 30% tips but if you do the math the numbers don't actually align. My bill end up to be approximately $50 because I had the crabcakes and a couple of the uptown girl drinks. The pre-calculate a tip for my $50 bill was $22. If I was unable to do math I would've completely over tip them rather than tipping them the 20% that I had intended which would've been the $10 OK move it more for the trouble because of the returning of the crabcakes and end up taking them $12 which is still better than they should've been but nowhere near the $22 that they were asking for which was ridiculous and also some type of fraud because there's no way that $22 is 20% of $50 in the pre-calculated button I don't know they do this to everybody but that is definitely a problem. read more

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New spot in dunwoody village and a must try Lobster meal was excellent. Chill environment with plenty of seating and staff was good. Definitely will try other restaurants by same owner. read more

Wonderful seafood restaurant that I'll be adding to my rotation! A friend and I had lunch here; we went when it first opened, so it wasn't crowded at all. The food was delicious and the service was also top notch. I ordered the blackened grouper sandwich with extra tartar sauce and Old Bay fries. read more

There were two standouts in the meal: the blackened grouper sandwich was stellar (I will return for this alone), and the saffron rice that came with the pan seared striped bass was delicious. The latter was cooked in the Ibiza style. I wasn't blown away by the bass itself - it was outshone by its starch - but it was fine. Good quality, just not terribly flavorful. Perhaps I should've gone with salmon. The French fries were mediocre, both unseasoned and crinkle cut, which if you check my other reviews, I'll say it again - this is the second worst type of fries, and steak fries almost don't count (they're more like a baked potato than a proper French fry type). However, I grade on the best thing a place offers, and I have to tell you, the sandwich itself was phenomenal. Simple, yet it shone with great components. The bread was perfect, the spicing, whatever aioli they had in there, pickles, lettuce, whatever, it was crunchy and moist and flavorful. I had driven, so I ordered an Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade), and they got the right balance - where it's really 2/3 unsweetened iced tea - so it was refreshing without being too sugary. The waitress also kept me from running too low on the drink before bringing a refill without having to flag her down or even look up from my meal/companion. The service was excellent. The decor was extremely well thought out and executed. They had a mix of tasteful and a particular, intentional kitsch meant to evoke the sea/beach places that many people have been to elsewhere in the USA. The pricing was reasonable. It's a little hidden if you're not familiar with the shopping center, but it's a heck of a nice place. read more

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On top of having a negative experience, the manager reached out through Yelp to offer us a gift certificate to one of their other restaurants. I accepted. And crickets. And I followed up twice. Nothing. Not good management. read more

First time visit, date night with wife. Let me get the one fault out of the way, since you can already see I gave it five stars. The cocktail list is in line with the coastal theme, which makes it a little kitschy for me. High sugar beachy feel. Now for the good parts. Great ambiance... it looks the part and transports you out of Dunwoody Village. Gets loud when full but not unbearable. Becomes quite the scene on weekends. Server had "owner mentality" like it was up to her to make us happy and save the entire business. That's what you want! Food... we split the crab cakes and the fried platter that has a bit of everything. All of it was delicious. Nothing skimped. Big shrimp, big cakes, big everything. Excellent fry batter. Would order same meal again before trying other options. One suggestion.... bring in some Crystal hot sauce as an alternative to Tobasco. I'm looking forward to this being around for a while. read more

Delicious food, especially the cioppino pasta. The service was terrific even on a Friday evening.

Great new seafood spot in Dunwoody Village. Awesome dining room, good service, with a fun vibe. Everything is super fresh and the apps were all big hits with everyone at our table...we'll be back. read more

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First timer, the food was very good. I had the calamari (didn't like), had the fisherman bounty and I must say enough food for two people and very good. read more

Wonderful food experience!!! Calamari had good flavor but a little too salty for my taste. However I would order again just to make sure. The pasta was amazing!!!!!!I would definitely order this again. The atmosphere was very pleasant. I came in at sat immediately at the bar. The service along with the conversation with Andrea was very pleasant. She gave wonderful recommendations. read more

Message In a Bottle - Cioppino Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Dunwoody, Georgia

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Great food, service was top notch with a focus on the customer. They got this place just right! The ambiance- nailed it for an upscale beach seafood restaurant along the gulf. Location is great and they built something special. read more

Stephanie was amazing,, personable and informative about guiding you through the menu. We made great choices. Yummy seafood and Fish You will want to try this place. Service is great A STAPEN read more