Love how adorable the setting here is. All the different nooks with different items to look at. Very eclectic. DH & I came for dinner on a Friday night. We had about a 30 minute wait for first available table. We sat at the bar & each had a drink. The drinks were good, but nothing special. We were seated outside in a screened in porch. It wasn't bad at first as they had fans on, but then the air outside settled & it became hot. Next time we'll know to eat inside or wait for a cooler night. DH ordered the Blackened Scamp with Smashed Parsley Potatoes and Black Eyed Peas. He was extremely happy with his meal. He said the Scamp was cooked to perfection and seasoning was a compliment to the flavor of the fish. The mashed and peas were delicious too. His plate was clean when he was done. For me, I was happy with my selection of seared Tile fish. I had never heard of Tile fish so I didn't know what to expect. It was wonderful. Flaky and seasoned just right. My sides were the Smashed Parsley Potatoes and Garlicky Green Beans. Both we delicious. We were both happy with everything and we're looking forward to coming back to try other menu items. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seared Tile Fish with Garlicky Green Beans & Smashed Parsley Potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Food was hot, fresh and very good Service was quick, typical busy dinner crowd. Food came out in a reasonable timeframe Place was very clean & a unique dining experience. read more

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We were really looking forward to dining at Owen's Fish Camp, but unfortunately our experience was incredibly disappointing. Our party of 10 waited nearly two hours for the only table that could accommodate us. We understood the wait and didn't expect special treatment, but what was frustrating was the complete lack of communication or problem-solving from the staff while much of the inside dining area appeared to be sitting empty. Once we were finally seated, things only got worse. We waited another 30 minutes without a single server acknowledging our table. No one greeted us, brought water, or even let us know someone would be with us shortly. After going back to the hostess stand to ask if someone could please assist us, we still received no service. After waiting over two and a half hours between the wait for a table and the lack of service, our entire party made the difficult decision to leave without eating. We understand that restaurants have busy nights, and delays happen. What was most disappointing wasn't the wait itself, it was the lack of communication, urgency, and customer service. We hope management takes this feedback seriously because no guests should have this experience. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We visited Owens Fish Camp during our trip to Sarasota, Florida. We found the restaurant on Yelp and decided to give it a try. Even without a reservation, we only waited about 15 minutes before being seated. The restaurant feels like someone's cozy house, which gives it a unique charm. I especially loved the huge tree and the statue in front of the house--they created a very relaxing and laid-back atmosphere. We started with the Wicked Good New England Clam Chowder ($10.99), which was rich and flavorful. The Spicy Jambalaya with Shrimp, Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish & Dirty Rice ($27.99) was excellent and was my favorite dish. It also came with two side dishes of your choice, including grits, potatoes, greens, beans, fries, and more. We also ordered the Snapper ($38.99), which was fresh and delicious, and the Scamp ($41.99), which was also very good. To finish our meal, we had the Key Lime Pie ($11.99), and it was absolutely delicious and give us a perfect ending to our dinner. The service was friendly and efficient, and the food arrived quickly. I really enjoyed the lively yet relaxing atmosphere. I would definitely visit Owens Fish Camp again whenever I'm in the Sarasota area. read more

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Claudia C on porch excellent server. This entire experience deserves all the 5 star reviews and happy to add mine. So many antiques! We had fresh catch snapper and scamp. Yes. But honestly the cheesy grits, green bears, black eyed Susans, and parsley potato sides...so real and good. Cool cool cool Sarasota. Hope they find my white cardigan cotton button up. Called and left a message. But no matter. GO! PS They let me know they found my new cardigan. I returned to get it and had a nice drink at the bar and incredible snails over cheesy grits. This restaurant is very cool in all the ways that matter. Atmosphere. Service. Great food and drinks. And a sense of humor on the menu! read more

Owens Fish Camp - Snails on cheesy grits w yummy bread - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I was happy to see Tate was still sitting out front, smile on his face, holding a beer with a laid back Florida vibe. We stopped in for an early dinner to celebrate Mother's Day. There was a short wait to be seated, enough time for us to go back to the courtyard and listen to some live music. I had already checked out the menu and knew what I wanted, which was helpful once we were seated in a somewhat dark dining room. They offer more than seafood, but I wanted seafood. They have a Naked Fish section where they offer a few types of fish with many preparation choices. In the end my wife and I both decided on their less expensive Camp Basket and splurged on both a Clam Chowder and a Camp Salad. The chowder was delicious. The serving size was really not large enough to share but we did, and left me wanting more. The salad was fine. The basket was larger than it first appeared with lots of thin cut fries at the bottom. The several pieces of fried oysters and shrimp were flavorful. The basket also had small bites of okra and a fillet of a lightly breaded white fish. Too much food for my wife, enough to fill me up. My plan to try a dessert faded away. Once we paid we headed back to the courtyard to listen to more music before heading out. A very good meal and a pleasant evening, who could ask for more. read more

BLUF: A long wait reveals itself to a quaint cabin serving fabulous seafood. I love Owen's Fish Camp - so much that I even bought a tshirt on my last visit. The wait is always long but the food is excellent. On my most recent trip I started with smoked fish dip before proceeding onto blackened grouper and then concluding with bourbon pecan pie. All of it was phenomenal so I don't even feel guilty about the calories! The bourbon pecan pie was the best pecan pie, maybe even the best pie, period, that I've ever had. Service was fabulous - it always is. read more

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These were some of the best fried pickles I have ever had, and top-notch fish! Great Service, awesome atmosphere! I would definitely go back! read more

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Fantastic food, speedy service, old school Florida vibe. Have to be patient and wait for a table most nights during the busy part of the year but always worth the wait. read more

Fresh seafood! Awesome service, cute decor inside the restaurant. Love this place! Always visit in Sarasota

Lovely ambiance and great food! My friends and I stopped by Owen's fish camp and enjoyed live music on the deck while we waited to be seated. Little did we know the deck is an experience in itself! We enjoyed started and drinks, while listening to live music. We ended up waiting 1.5 hours to be seated that we honestly could have just stayed on the deck and enjoyed more out there because it was awesome! Upon being seated, we ordered some mains and enjoyed the inside atmosphere. The food was delicious. I highly recommend this spot to really feel the Florida living vibes. read more

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The food, service and atmosphere were all amazing!! I forgot to take pictures of the food but it was incredible. We had the Scamp (deep water grouper) with the old bay fries and collards. Yum!! The jambalaya was delish! The kosher all beef hot dogs were so tasty! The key lime pie melted in your mouth!! Absolutely recommend!! read more

Owens Fish Camp - Key lime pie - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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My husband wanted fresh fish & I'm vegan. We were both impressed with this restaurant. He had the grouper (sorry no picture!). I had the grilled veggies with a side of succotash & fries - be sure to request dairy-free! We were both impressed with our entrees, truly delicious. The margarita was a great choice too. Hubby had the pecan pie & loved it. Very attentive service & the atmosphere makes you forget you're in the downtown area. Highly recommend! read more

Owens Fish Camp - Vegan grilled veggie platter with succotash - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Busy, cozy, personal wait service, great food. My battered fried fish was crispy and juicy. Yummy. Pricey, but the place feels swanky for a fish camp. read more

As a family of 4 or 5, this is one of the GREAT seafood restaurants in Sarasota. You can see that most of the negative reviews are from large parties that want to be seated in the restaurant. There really is no room for large parties. For smaller groups, the seafood is fresh and beautifully prepared, and the place is a Sarasota institution. You will love it! read more

Had great service at Owens tonight and got a chance to try the reservation/call ahead service through their website that sped up waiting but still allowed a drink in the backyard and appetizers. We had our favorite blackened scamp with lemon caper butter with greens and parsley potatoes. Food came out quickly and we enjoyed the evening downtown after dinner. A nice relaxed area with nearby desserts and after dinner drinks down in Sarasota. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Blackened Scamp lemon caper butter and greens and parsley potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Fun! What a fun vibe, so intimate and full of energy, feels like a family get-together. Would drive four hours again to come back here. Food was excellent, mini lobster roll starter was outstanding, best part of the meal tbh. Trout was good too, and the vegetables that came with it were particularly well-cooked too. Great service, good recommendations, fantastic outdoor space in the back. read more

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Have not been here in years. Boy have I been missing this. The backyard experience is second to none. Drinks , apps and music while you wait for your table. Helps the hour go by pretty fast and it's a great place to chill. The dinner service was great and so was the food. Had the clam chowder and gumbo and both were perfectly flavored. I had the grilled Romain salad and we also had the fried green tomatoes salads also. The dressing and flavors were perfect. Will definitely not wait years this time before returning. read more

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Always a pleasant time at Owen's. Fresh fish, good home cooking, and excellent vibes. They do not take reservations, and it can be loud so be aware of that ! read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I had been wanting to stop in at Owen's for the longest time and finally was able to on a Friday night. They don't take reservations, but thankfully we didn't have a long wait and it was just 2 of us. To kill time we popped into the shop next door which was so charming, and they even served iced cream too. Instead of my typical go-to of fish and chips, I got the grouper sandwich which was super tasty. However I still plan to try the fish and chips in the future :D The place isn't very big which adds to the charm, the staff is all very nice and accommodating, and our food came out in practically record time. It's just a great vibe all around, you almost forget you're in the heart of downtown Sarasota, and I love that Owen's is kind of hidden away off the beaten track. Can't wait to come here again in the future. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Owen's Fish Camp had such a fun, cool, friendly vibe! We loved it here! The staff were very friendly & attentive. The foods were all very delicious as well. Superb! We ordered to share: 1) oyster's rockefeller, 2) fried green tomato salad, 3) camp basket, 4) spicy jambalaya, 5) low country boil for 2, 6) Mississippi mud pie. Oyster's Rockefeller w/ crab, spinach & hollandaise - very delicious! We enjoyed it very much. Fried Green Tomato Salad w/ Country Ham Crisps, Goat Cheese, Buttermilk dressing - WOW! This is a must order! The green tomatoes were fried to perfection & when eaten w/ the salad, ham crisps, goat cheese & dressing, it was divine! Highly highly recommend this! Camp basket - The fried oysters, shrimp, grouper, fries & slaw was also very delicious! Loved the fried oysters very much. Spicy Jambalaya - Another WOW! This jambalaya was one of the best I have had so far. It was so so so delicious! The shrimp, chicken, andouille, crawfish & dirty rice all complemented each other! Highly Highly recommend this! Low Country Boil for 2 (snow crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, andouille sausage, potatoes, corn) - This boil was delicious but a bit lacking in taste. The seafood were super fresh & excellent quality. We thought there was a lot of food, could even feed 3 people. Mississippi mud pie - It was good, and I loved the crust the most. They had live music outside & a cute store next door. read more

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Great place old Florida vibe but very busy and loud , loved the gift shop friendly Staff

This was a highly recommended place so we came while on vacation. Great location, very unique establishment in its decor, just cool and very comfortable. Menu has plenty of options as well as few specials. Drinks were good and our meals were delicious. I would definitely return! read more

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Can't believe I've been coming here for so many years and haven't tried this place yet. It will now be a regular visit! The clam chowder was delicious, my toddler even loved it. The fried green tomatoes were missing the goat cheese listed on the menu but I didn't even notice until I was done eating it, it was that good. Could make that my meal next time and not share it. My kid loved the shrimp basket, toddler loved the kids fish dinner (too much batter for me), oldest loved her chicken tender basket (so much flavor). Hubs and I loved our seafood baskets, nice touch with the sprinkle of fried okra. Fries are amazing. The root beer floats for dessert were epic. Already looking forward to the next visit. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Fried green tomato salad - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Sooo Owen's Fish Camp was on my list to try when visiting Sarasota and I'm glad we made it! My mom loves seafood, so whenever she visits me, we make it a point to check out a seafood spot. Walking up, you definitely get those fish camp, local vibes. We arrived "early" and it was already packed, but luckily found some seating. Our waitress was patient and helped guide us through the menu. The decor matched the theme perfectly, and outside they had a big backyard area with live music and another bar. There's also a store connected to the restaurant with different items to browse. We truly enjoyed our food, left stuffed and sleepy! My only feedback is that the dishes were a little heavy on the sodium. The seasoning was good, but at times the salt was noticeable. It didn't ruin anything, just something that stood out. If you're in the area, this is definitely a spot not to miss! What was ordered: Oysters Rockefeller w/ Crab, Spinach & Hollandaise = delicious Hot Crab Dip = very good & loved the Ritz crackers pairing Naked Fish w/ Beans & Collards = flavorful, but a bit too salty Cornmeal Crusted Catfish w/ Spicy Collards, Grits & Brown Butter = fish fried perfectly, collards salty, but grits were spot on read more

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Wow what a fun surprise. We stopped in at 4:30 on a Monday and lucky to get a bar table. Places was packed. Great service, cocktails and food. DO NOT pass on the garlic snails ! A top 5 food I have ever had in my life. Blackened grouper was cooked to perfection. Love this place. read more

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I'm sad to write this review because our family has loved coming to Owens through the years. But this most recent visit will be our last. Through the years, our "party size" has grown to four adults and four children. We are from Ohio, we visit in July when there was record heat, and we really prefer to eat inside. We know the drill. The restaurant will get busy and there will be a wait, so to eat inside we have learned to go on a less crowded night and get there at opening. This has worked for years. This year we walked in on a Sunday afternoon at 4:07, walked straight to the hostess stand and were so thrilled to see no wait and the indoor seating only half full. There was a great option, two four-tops along a banquette, which we asked if we could be seated at. We asked to be seated and were told that it was a "Policy" that groups/families of more than 8 MUST be separated inside the restaurant and that we were welcome to sit as a party of 8 outside. We saw other pairings of two tables near each other and pointed them out and were told "No, the tables must be in separate areas of the restaurant." When we questioned the logic of this, we were told the policy was to not "overwhelm the kitchen." We did get frustrated and question the logic of this arbitrary policy, after all, the restaurant was not full, it was quite early, and there were no other parties waiting. How did a table of eight outside not "overwhelm the kitchen" while the same party seated inside would? We pointed out all of this and were met with stone faces that just kept repeating "policy" to us. The website currently states, ​​in all caps, "WE KINDLY SEAT GROUPS OF UP TO 8 PEOPLE." But at Owen's, the customer, and their own website, is not respected. There is apparently an impromptu policy that cancels out all kindness to families, consideration for the current moment, and customer satisfaction. I was so flustered, as I have never been treated so rudely at an establishment. Through this discriminatory practice towards families, it was clear to us that Owen's didn't care whether they had our business or not. In the end, we did end up taking the outside table. Why? I don't really know, but once you've expectantly dressed everyone for dinner, loaded up the family, driven downtown, and paid for parking I guess you feel a little stuck. Our party spent close to $500 on food and drinks. Our waitress was sweet, but she did charge us adult prices for my kids' fish and chips which they ordered from the kids' menu, which just felt like icing on the cake. In the time we were dining, there never was a wait and the restaurant didn't fill up to capacity. Were we comfortable on the porch? No. It was 96 degrees, stewing in sweat is no one's idea of a good time. Was the food good? Sure, but it was tainted with the frustration of the experience and just generally less enjoyable because of how uncomfortable we were.. In the end it felt like Owen's is just not a place for families. It felt like they saw that we had kids and made a certain judgment call and instituted an arbitrary policy to keep us outside. Just know that at Owen's, your family will not be welcome. read more

Nah, still five stars. I've been here over a year ago and the place is just getting better. Great ambience, awesome waitresses, top notch food. Grouper was the best, of course. Oyster shooter was delicious. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Murph's Famous Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I can not say enough about Owen's. First and foremost the team they have there is amazing. We ordered some apps while we waited for our table outside in the court yard. Our table was ready quicker than they quoted and our apps were not ready yet si they brought them into our table for us even though it wasn't their norm. Our server at the table even brought me a sample of the side dish I wanted just to make sure i liked it before ordering! The food was just as a amazing, the grilled sea Food apps from outside were perfection and the fresh fish was packed with flavor! I could eat there everyday! read more

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Owen's Fish Camp quickly became my all-time favorite spot during a recent work trip to Sarasota. Food: Every dish is a love letter to Florida's coast. The shrimp and grits were creamy and flavorful, and the Cornmeal Crusted Catfish with those spicy collards? Just perfection. The fried black cherry pie for dessert was the sweetest way to end the meal. Service: The staff are genuinely friendly and attentive, making you feel welcome even during the busiest nights. They handled the packed dining room with a smile and kept everything running smoothly. Ambiance: Rustic, cozy, and effortlessly charming, the place has that "Old Florida" vibe with vintage decor and an inviting outdoor patio shaded by a sprawling banyan tree. It does get very busy, so be prepared for a wait -- but trust me, it's worth it. If you find yourself in Sarasota, make time for Owen's Fish Camp. It's a true gem that captures the spirit of the Gulf Coast in every bite and every moment. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I also had the Maryland Spiced Shrimp, Peel N Eats, 1/2 pound. Lots of Old Bay seasoning, tasted great. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Grilled Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

The original location is the place to be, the new location in LWR is "nice looking" but has no soul. The food is typically better than average and the original location atmosphere is special. Service is a mixed bag, but usually acceptable. Bar tenders are a bit rude every time. read more

Awesome food but very crowded and if your whole party isn't all there at the same time they don't seat you. Pretty challenging for a handicapped person! But hey the food is good. read more

We were excited to try Owens Fish Camp after seeing so many strong reviews, and we really wanted to love it. The atmosphere was great and the service was very good -- friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the hype. We ordered the fish basket ($24) and the fried tomato BLT sandwich. The fish itself was just okay, but the portions were surprisingly small. It came with fries and what looked like about 2 ounces of coleslaw. Honestly, this basket should have been served with a magnifying glass so I could actually find the fish. My wife's fried tomato BLT was over-sauced and lacked flavor overall. While we appreciated the atmosphere and service, the food quality and especially the portion size for the price left us disappointed. Sadly, we would not recommend this restaurant based on our experience. read more

Very cute outside stage setting with "campground" like energy. Outside is not full service so it's mostly suitable for good vibes and small bites. The best value on the outside shack menu is probably the fish dip because it comes with a whole sleeve of crackers. Parking is kinda a stressful hassle, especially if it's night/dark and you aren't familiar with the area. Everything is really tight and just not intuitive. read more

Owens Fish Camp - live music - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Excellent service & delicious fresh foods. Came here w/ my family & ordered a lot of food to share. Tried their oyster's rockefeller & it was delicious. That fried green tomato was heavenly! I would reorder that in a heartbeat. The camp basket was delicious. That spicy jambalaya was another great hit - also would reorder it. The low country boil was delicious and abundant. Mississippi mud pie was good. Love that they have live music outside & a cute store next door. read more

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Definitely feels like seafood restaurant in the rustic barn type set-up! There was a bit of a wait, but they squeezed us in! The oysters were delicious, as always! The grouper cooked really well, no overdone, it was the lemon caper sauce that made the fish's flavor pop! Seafood Cobb Salad- yumm! Very good! Fish tacos were delicious- recommend putting some tartar sauce as the blackened seasoning can provide a bit too much flavor, "herbaceous" and bit spicy (if you don't like spicy) overpowering the fish flavor. read more

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A really great experience while visiting Sarasota. Love the converted house feel to the place and since I was dining solo, decided to eat at the bar. Opted for the perl and eat shrimp and their catch of the day (black grouper-blackened). Both were excellent and super fresh. Both were straight forward options that let the quality of the product shine through. The bartender was great with recommendations and quick to refill my beer. Just a stellar place to grab a bite. read more

Owens Fish Camp - Black grouper and grits - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Owens is consistently excellent food, great portions, and a fun lively atmosphere. Always a must visit and never a bad time or a bad meal. Highly recommend. read more

Everything was wonderful !! Service and food. Sarasota Gem!! Way cute and love the atmosphere! read more

Owens Fish Camp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida