Service was incredible by waitress Melissa. She was amazing! Parking was brutal. Wait was over an hour at 4:45 but was promptly an hour like we were told. Food is almost exclusively fried and we thought it tasted like any other fried food you can get anywhere--while good, not unique or special in any way. Personally thought their minorcan clam chowder was the best of the 4 places I tried in the area. read more

Great food great service and reasonable!! You may need to wait if you do not get there early. read more

Best fried shrimp in St. Augustine. Must have cash, they do have an ATM inside in case. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

outstanding, very light tempura battered large shrimp. 12 went down so easy. it was busy but food came out fast, honestly everybody was having the first shrimp, except one person and they must have had a shellfish allergy. service was so fast that i bet they just make the shrimp from open to close. i wish the tempura had a teeny more seasoning, maybe even salt but still some of the best shrimp ever. the dipping sauce was a mayo/ketchup mix but thus have a dital pepper sauce to spice it up. hush puppies were also good perfectly cooked would be nice to have those little bits of onion but the just my preference. i would eat here once a week if i could. super friendly service. it can be crowded but there is a pub two doors down as well as an antique shop next door to kill some time. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - fired shrimp (fries under the shrimp) - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

If you like SHRIMP and have never been to Osteens, you are being deprived of THE BEST shrimp on the planet. The food and service are always top-notch. The atmosphere is just 1 room with tables and chairs, just basic, but you ain't eating here for the atmosphere. The sides are always great and have never had a bad meal in this place. We drive over an hour, just to eat here. Make sure you check their hours, get there early, and BRING CASH... No credit cards accepted. read more

As per norm! 10/10. Great place. Lunch every Saturday. Best shrimp in St Augustine read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - 12 shrimp 2 sides - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Food was great, had the broiled sea scallops along with sides of green beans and rice with gravy. Also did a small order of fried oysters. Oysters served with tartar sauce which was not needed. Friendly waitresses and they were busy. read more

If down in St. Augustine and wanting some great shrimp, fish and sides, you must go to O'Steen's! I visited this restaurant while on holiday and it is the best restaurant so far on this trip! I ordered the tilapia which came with a hush puppy and two sides. I ordered macaroni salad which was was super creamy and some of the best I've ever had and yellow squash, which was alright as my sides. Restaurant was very busy but we were seated, served and on our way in no time. The waitress and staff were super nice, refilled our drinks often and took great care of us. I left a good tip for her! Atmosphere is casual and like many other restaurants but the food is high class in my book. Restaurant and table was neat and clean also. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Tilapia with macaroni salad and squash. I highly recommend it! - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Food and service was exceptional. The double order of shrimp hit the spot. This is an old restaurant that knows how to do it right. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - A double order of shrimp. - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Great restaurant for the tourist crowd. Just beware that you will wait outside for quite some time before being seated inside. But it's well worth the wait. I suggest pregaming in the parking lot since no alcohol is served inside. Go for the shrimp and choose two sides which aren't your run of the mill either. Waitresses were attentive almost motherly and that made the dining experience even better. It's cash only so make sure to pick up beer and cash from Publix before heading over to put your name on the list. read more

This place has the absolute best fried shrimp I've ever had. It's a local seafood & choice of veggies and side. Nothing fancy but incredible. Of course there's a wait but always worth it. read more

Oh em gee the hype is so real! Got here around lunchtime on a Friday. Waited in line for about 40 min for two people. Once seated the service was fast and everyone was SO nice! Sweet tea is delicious (I got 70/30) and the shrimp was amazing! Lightly battered, not too salty and super fresh. Clam strips were also very good. Both dishes came with two sides: zucchini casserole, pickled beets, pickle cucumbers and cole slaw. I'd say the cole slaw was the more boring side since it was pretty bland. Beets and cucumbers were great. Will definitely come back! read more

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My wife and I visited O'steen's Restaurant during a recent trip to St. Augustine. It was approximately a 30-minute wait for two people around 3:30pm on a Friday. I ordered the Fried Shrimp with sides of Pickled Beets and Sweet Potato Casserole. The shrimp were tender with a light airy breading and paired with a lightly spicy cocktail sauce for dipping. The beets were soft and lightly sweet and the sweet potato casserole was creamy and lightly sweet. Keep in mind this restaurant is cash only and parking is limited. Overall, we had a nice experience. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Fried Shrimp with Pickled Beets and Sweet Potato Casserole - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

This place is by far my favorite restaurant of all time. I would eat here everyday if I could! The wait is worth it!

Been eating at Osteen's for years -- every vacation to St. Augustine is not complete unless you've eaten these fabulous fried shrimp and met the friendly staff who work here. Yep, they are cash only. Get over it and read the sign outside! It's a smallish, cozy spot, so don't plan on a lot of romance...but the food can't be beat!! read more

We have been to O'Steen's at least a dozen times over the years, it is an old fashioned squeeze in, sit down, no frills type of restaurant. I use a wheelchair and still they could fir me in. There is always a line, but try the food, and you will soon see why. The breading on the fried food does not fall off, and very rarely is that seafood overcooked, which is a sin against God in my book. Try their shrimp they are some of the best I've ever had. Their cocktail sauce could use a little more horseradish, but if you ask they will supply. Come in sit down talk to folks at the next table, make friends enjoy life. read more

The food was amazing and the portions were huge. The service was outstanding. One of the best seafood restaurants I have been to.

We passed by the restaurant as we were headed to our hotel just down the block and decided to give it a try. A few important things to know: You WILL WAIT! - They seem to be really popular with locals and tourists. Be sure to put your name on the list where everyone seems to be picking up takeout. The good news is you can sit around waiting, wander through the antique mall next door or wait at the bar. Just know that "the bar' is the pub down the block, the drinks are great, and O'Steen's calls the bartender there when your table is ready. The other thing to know is that they are CASH ONLY. They do have an ATM inside if you need it. It's 2022, and usually, an all-cash restaurant would be annoying. But they've made it 50+ years doing it this way, so why bother changing? The place is tiny inside, and you feel like you stepped backing time. The servers are fast and friendly, and the food lives up to its reputation. There are a few non-seafood dishes on the menu if you must but go for the Fried Shrimp. When you pull the restaurant up on Google maps, it literally says "bustling spot known for Fried Shrimp' right on the map. My husband had the St. Augustine Fried Shimp platter. It comes with nine sweet, plump, Jumbo Shrimp, Hushpuppies, and two sides. He opted for French Fries and Squash Casserole. I chose Seafood Platter - Fish, Oysters, Scallops, Shrimp, and Deviled Crab Patty (no substitutions, please!) I also went for the Fries and Squash Casserole. So, you might be thinking to yourself, "what's so special about these Shrimp?' We're not sure what makes them so amazing - BUT THEY ARE! The Shrimp are butterflied, nearly to the point of being split in half. They are dipped in a batter that cooks up light and crispy. They are genuinely nothing fancy, just sweet, crisp, and excellent. All of the seafood on my platter was delicious, well cooked, and plenty of it. The Hushpuppies were delicious, the Fries were good, and the Squash Casserole was good southern home cooking. And, save room for dessert. The Coconut Cream Pie looks amazing, and we wish we had saved room! You don't want to miss this place when you come to St. Augustine! read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Seafood Platter with Hush Puppies, Squash Casserole and Fries - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Fried shrimp were excellent, tender and cooked to perfection. The sauces were very good. Wait staff friendly and welcoming.

I've always wanted to come visit this spot that people have been talking about in St. Augustine. The only thing you have to remember, this restaurant receives CASH ONLY. This restaurant may have a wait but the wait is WORTH IT. The spot can be small but definitely a history staple of their accomplishments of awards on their walls for the fresh seafood they make. Their top dish they are known for is their BUTTERFLY SHRIMP! The waitress was helping me decide to eat and made me feel very welcome as a first timer! With her assistance, I chose the 12-count shrimp with the 2 sides of fries and sweet potato casserole. Each dish came with HUSH PUPPIES. The secret of their dish for the shrimp is their "secret pink sauce." I will say, it is WAY better than tartar sauce. Trust me on this, you will NOT be disappointed Can't wait to bring my parents here as they are visiting from Chicago! read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - 12-count Shrimp w/ Fries, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Hush Puppies - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Shrimp always great. Good service. Always busy but a go to if in st Augustine and worth the wait

The food is always good and quick! Service is excellent. Just bring cash-they don't take cards. Order the shrimp!!! read more

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We received a recommendation to try O'Steen's Restaurant while we were on the Old Town Trolley. We greatly appreciate the recommendation. Our family had the St. Augustine fried shrimp with fries and coleslaw and also the hamburger steak and grilled onions with rice and gravy and baby carrots. The food was delicious. Ultimately, we chose takeout because the wait was long. However the food was so good and still hot when we returned to our condo. The takeout location to order from was easy and I was greeted by a friendly and polite employee who graciously assisted me with my order. I look forward to returning next time I visit St. Augustine. read more

This place is wonderful! The fried shrimp was delicious! Service was fantastic! Highly recommend!

Best seafood on the beach. Prepare for a wait but it is worth the wait. Be sure to try the coconut pie!!!

Best (lightly) fried shrimp I've ever had. Had sweet potatoes + hush puppies- both excellent. Small restaurant but has some additional outside tables. read more

Arrived on a Tuesday night at 7pm. 10 minute wait wasn't too bad. Very low key and unpretentious interior. Server was very friendly and sincere. I ordered the seafood platter. All entrees come with hush puppies and choice of two sides. The options for sides could have been better but the Mac salad was fantastic. The seafood platter was good, not great. Nothing about it really stood out. Batter was kind of bland but had a good crunch. Very large portions. All in all, I would return, and try out different menu items. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Seafood Platter with hush puppies, Mac salad, and rice with gravy. - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

If you are visiting St. Augustine you must make a point to stop here! The place is small, has a quaint diner feel inside, and can have long wait times, so consider going at off hours. The shrimp is amazing, lightly breaded and worth going back for. In fact, we ate here 4 times in our 2 week visit! We also tried the broiled scallops and fried crab cakes, both excellent. Oh and don't forget the hush puppies, huge and crispy and possibly the best I ever had. They rotate the homemade sides every day so there is always something new to try. The service was top notch each time. It's easy to see why this small restaurant has been in business for over 50 years. It's cash only business though so plan ahead. read more

Great food, service and very reasonable pricing. Local favorite that I am glad we found out about. Will definitely visit again when in the area. read more

O'Steens has the absolute best fried shrimp in the Southeast. Period. My wife and I have been coming here for decades, less since we moved. But, if we get to Jacksonville, we will get to O'Steens. Service is always good, the fried shrimp is unparalleled and that's why we come. Order extra shrimp and take some home. You'll be glad you did. read more

Second visit!! Simply delicious! This restaurant takes you back to 'the good old days!' Local folks, small in a cozy way, comfortable dining area. Fresh food! Great service. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Menu so I can remember where it is!!! - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Clam chowder and fried shrimp delicious! Can't wait to go back. The key lime pie was good too! read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Key lime pie from Osteen's St Augustine - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

This place was great. Cash only. I got the Blackened Fish of the day and it was really good. The Hushpuppies and Fried Shrimp were great as well. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Double order of Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The best fried shrimp ever. I've been going to O'steen's since I was a baby, and it gets better every-time!!! I will never come to St. Augustine without going to O'steen's. Hint: If you want to avoid a long wait, get it to-go!! It tastes just as good. Also, I tried the corn fritters for the first time this week, and they were amazing! Highly recommend. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Fried shrimp, fries, corn fritters, hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

If you're feeling like fried chicken or fish it's delicious! Large portions and served up nice and hot. Our to go order was perfect and still steaming hot when we got home with it read more

O'Steen's diner offers an old style Southern seafood menu and experience in a rather unique set up. You can plan to wait at least forty minutes for a table after you give your name to the lady at the window. Then you wait outside in the parking lot until your name is called. Signs out front say no credit cards or checks accepted. Bring cash. There is a menu posted outside and entrees run generally between $9-$17 and up. The forty minute wait is grueling but there is always a line of patient customers anticipating the fish inside. There is plenty of parking behind the building but maneuvering is difficult and unsafe with all the people standing around. We had six in our group so we waited longer. When our name was called we finally entered the tiny dining room. I estimate the dining room holds about sixty people including a small counter. The inside is decorated with starfish and other fishy objects. There were about six waitresses scurrying around waiting on tables. They quickly took drink orders. The diner does not serve alcohol. We were able to order unsweetened tea. Drinks came out quickly and our waitress kept the glasses filled through the meal. Service is a no nonsense 5 star. The menu is broad with daily lunch specials. Most guests ordered the fried shrimp. I was trying to stay away from fried today. We selected the daily shrimp salad for $9.95 which came with two sides. My daughter ordered the smaller portion of fried oysters for $8.50 and one in our group had the smaller order of fried shrimp. Each meal include two side dishes with about a dozen choices. I had the stewed okra and pickled cucumbers. The food came out quickly. Even the small portions were huge. My salad consisted of about a dozen fresh shrimp in a thick creamy sweet sour cream dressing. Very good. The sweet okra was cooked with tomatoes and cinnamon. Delicious. The pickled cucumbers were sweet and tasty. Also included was a homemade biscuit and sweet cornbread. The cornbread was delicious and light. So much food. I tasted one of the oysters and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend the fried oysters. There are restrooms on the outside of the building that needed attention. So bottom line, O'Steens serves traditional Southern seafood, mostly fried and sweet. The food is delicious and the service is great. Be prepared to wait for a table (they do not take reservations) and bring cash. read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Shrimp salad special. $9.95 - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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My family agreed this was definitely the best shrimp we have ever had! So glad to have stumbled upon this place while traveling through the area. Even at an odd time on a random day, there was a line outside and we had to wait about 20 minutes then sat at the bar. From what I understand the wait gets much longer depending on the day - which makes sense because it's pretty small inside. However IT IS WORTH IT! This was the best shrimp we have ever had. We weren't sure what to expect so I ordered the larger order of shrimp, but it was not necessary. Each shrimp here is like 2 normal shrimp. The sides change every day and we didn't have many exciting options when we went, but they were still yummy! Hush puppies were excellent! Service was excellent too - felt like southern hospitality! Definitely eat in if you can but if you're in a hurry I would probably get take out to avoid the wait. Hoping I get a chance to return soon! read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Shrimp with Cole slaw and peaches and hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

BesT Shrimp & homemade vegetables to die for. Don't forget the Moroccan Chowder Soup also‼ The best ever But you have to like spice.Also, don't forget deserts if you have room for it in yur tummy read more

O'Steen's Restaurant - Light Battered Shrimp & Veggies Homemade - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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So I need to give a bit of context here. We had flown into Orlando for a family wedding, and had to drive on the way. Trip was stressful of course, but made worse by two horrible fast food experiences on the way. Well beyond the pale of even a typical bad time at a restaurant. Waiting 50 minutes for subpar Burger King food or waiting for undercooked fries and badly made Steak and Shake burgers. My wife, my very young daughter and I were tired, stressed and looking for something to be an uplifting experience after a long trip and a long day getting unpacked and ready for the wedding. We came in late, close to closing time. The ambiance was that of a local place with some history. The waitress was cheerful, pleasant, attentive and helpful, and the food was actually edible. Good even! Honestly I must admit I don't know if the green beans I had were actually as good as they felt at that moment but actually tasting something with flavor and care at that moment almost made me ready to weep. I had fried oysters that I enjoyed a lot and my wife liked it as well. Fortunately I had gone to the ATM before our trip as they didn't take cards. No matter, I was glad to tip. Thank you, the experience was one of the highlights outside the wedding itself of the trip for me. read more

This place is an institution, down home cooking, but excellent all around. No matter what you order you will be satisfied. With their large portions you will end up bringing home lots of food. The challenge is getting seated. There usually is a long wait to get in. The trick is to show up about an hour before closing and by then the line has getting much lighter. Most definitely recommend. read more