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    Public Fish & Oyster

    4.5 (630 reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Open 4:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    Public Fish & Oyster Photos

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    PUBLIC FISH & OYSTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Public Fish & Oyster

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    Apple Crumble
    Jazlene G.

    MUST get a reservation here as it is a very small restaurant, otherwise you might find yourself waiting for a spot at the bar. This is probably our favorite restaurant here in cville, and even after many years, it is still consistently amazing! We ordered a dozen raw oysters of different brine levels, and they tasted so fresh. I especially loved the oysters from Breakwaters Newport, RI. My favorite main to order here is always the Moules Frites. Tried the Classic Mariniere, and it was SO DELICIOUS OMG. The sauce was decadent, that I had to make sure to soak up every mussel and the crostinis. And idk how they do it, but their frites are perfectly seasoned and crispy! The portions for this is pretty large, and shared some with my husband too, and is worth every penny. My husband tried the Rockfish with Chimichurri, with was also very good and fresh! Loved the crispy skin with the chimicurri sauce, gave a nice crunch! But I felt the portion size was a bit on the smaller end For dessert, LOVED the Apple Crumble, not too sweet, loved the contrast of the vanilla ice cream with the warmed apples, and loved the layer of oats on top, gives really good contrast in texture

    Bar
    Chris M.

    Public Fish and Oyster is a place I go to fairly often when I'm in Charlottesville for work, and it's always a solid experience. Sitting at the bar is my favorite spot. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming. The service is friendly and attentive, the food is consistently well done, and they have a solid bourbon selection as well. Always has a great selection of oysters too.

    Crab Cake Sandwich
    Margaret J.

    Warning reservations are required and if you are late by 20 minutes, your table will be given away. Note they are known for their lobster rolls but only make a few so get there early or you will not get one. They open at 4pm. We arrived at 5:28 for a 5:15 reservation lost our table and were told that they were out of lobster rolls for the evening. So we ordered crab cake sandwiches, fried oysters, French fries, Bloody Mary and beer. We received an apology for losing our table reservation, had a very informative and friendly waiter and had a great time catching up with friends. The area was tightly packed with people and was very loud. There's not much room to move around and the temperature fluctuates between hot and cold due to overflow dining outside with heaters that come on intermittently

    Halibut
    Kathy T.

    Came here for dinner-cute place with friendly service. Some dishes were outstanding - hamachi crudo and halibut entree. Somewhat disappointed by the pan roast-shellfish in a lobster curry over rice-just didn't rise to the other dishes. Noticed many folks were having mussels with the Belgian fries. Mussels aren't my fave but those fries sure looked delicious!

    Righteous clam chowder
    Tony M.

    This is an incredibly cool place in downtown Charlottesville. It's a snug place, so don't be afraid to sit at the bar and trust that John and his co-pilot will take good care of you. You can sit out on the patio, but since it was almost 90 degrees out with 100% humidity, I wasn't entertaining that idea. Service is fantastic. You might wait a little for your food to be prepared, it's totally worth it. Your night will start of with an introduction, and from there on out, you're in for a treat. They obviously specialize in oysters, but the menu has so much more to offer, and check the board for specials (or ask John what's good). I had the clam chowder, which was absolutely on point, and went with the recommended Atlantic halibut. It was a luscious fresh piece of fish, done perfectly with a nice light buerre blanc. This is a must-stop in C'Ville, and I will definitely be stopping in again next time I'm in town.

    Smoked trout dip
    Aileen J.

    Niece J suggested going for Happy Hour on Saturday of Mother's Day weekend. With no reservation, we joined the line that formed just before they opened at 4pm. Fortunately, the 4 of us got seats at the corner of the bar, so it was easy to chat and share food. My Negroni cocktail and Niece K's Kir Royale were delightful. With 7 choices of fresh oysters on the half shell, we had a huge platter of 28 with plenty of lemon wedges, mignonette, cocktail sauce and horseradish. The smoked trout dip was a new item for me. It was very tasty on crackers with the housemade pickles. Next, we shared the lobster roll with the Belgian fries. I'm glad we chose the Connecticut Style, which was deliciously "hot and buttered". Good service, excellent fresh seafood.

    We tried three of each oyster and they were all good.
    Glenn N.

    My wife and I are in visiting our daughter and son in law. My daughter suggested public fish and oyster. We tried all of the oyster options and could not decide which ones to get more of as we lost track of the specific order. They were all pretty good. I ordered the oyster po boy. It was good but lacked seasoning in my opinion. The pickled vegetables were good and their mayo was spot on. The service was good our waitress was friendly and knew the menu well. The decor is inviting but kind of not eye catching. All in all I liked our meal

    Oysters
    Emily B.

    Wonderful service and food as per usual! One of my favorite intimate dining experiences in charlottesville. Our waiter, Alex, was wonderful and seemed to be a seafood master. We got plenty of help in picking out our main courses. The fried oysters continue to be my favorite on the menu. Perfectly lightly battered and served in creamy white sauce paired with a spicy red sauce for dipping. Oyster selection is exquisite with many offerings across the east coast. My favorites tend to be the most briny but the flavor profiles are all worthwhile. This is the best place to get a sample of everything! Thank you Alex and Public Oyster Bar!

    oysters
    Kathryn C.

    Had a variety of oysters per the waitress' recommendations. They were so delicious and fresh! They have happy hr deals and the oysters were around $2 each. Definitely need a reservation, especially on the weekends. It's a nice date spot close to the corner with outside seating available

    Smoked Troup Dip with bread and pickled veggies
    Kevin S.

    It's a small place that maximizes their seating. I guess it can't hold more than 50 people. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Our waitress Alexis was able to guide us through each selection. I wasn't looking for a full meal, maybe just shareables. We started we a dozen raw oysters, which were excellent. We then moved on to an order of mussels (Belgian style) which came with toasted bread and fries. We chose the tomato based lobster sauce that had a little heat. My wife then got a bowl of clam chowder, which was really good. Light broth. I selected the smoked trout dip. The pickled veggies really made this dish. Nice joint, I would recommend reservations.

    Cozy nook!
    Chloe B.

    Best seafood I've had ever! Loved the happy hour oysters, warm lobster rolls, curry moulles frites, and cocktails. Chef's kiss!

    Maine Style lobster roll - happy hour
    Pilar G.

    One of the best restaurants in Charlottesville and by far the best happy hour! Public has outstanding service and a great ambiance both inside and outside. The severs here always go above and beyond and have impressive knowledge of the menu. Food wise, you can't make a bad choice here. This time, we enjoyed the happy hour selection of oysters and a Maine style lobster roll. I also had a nonalcoholic version of an Aperol spritz that was surprisingly delicious! Everything here was fantastic and the seafood is very very fresh!

    Raw Oysters on the Half Shell*
    Make'da J.

    Went with a friend and we had a blast. Oysters were delicious and mignonette sauce was delightful. Service was great! Cute spot. Packed.

    Raw oysters

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    3 months ago

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    16 days ago

    Food is fresh, high-quality, and prepared professionally. The atmosphere is fun and the servers and bartenders are wonderful.

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    Daniel K.

    Thanks for your review Joyce. Very much appreciate the nice words!

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    9 months ago

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    That’s so great to hear! Thank you Chloe!!

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    Aww thanks Bonnie! We will look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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    7 months ago

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    Love it!! Thanks for coming in and let’s do it again soon!!!

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    7 months ago

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    Thanks Scott! Join us again soon!

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    So glad you enjoyed Emily! Let’s do it again soon!!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - Public Fish & Oyster

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    Piers Seafood & Grill

    3.9(20 reviews)
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    I walked in expecting Mexican and I got seafood.. Pleasant surprise! I ordered the fried shrimp…read morebasket and it was FABULOUS! I've been back several times and, for the most part, I order the same thing.. don't fix what ain't broke. It's consistently fabulous. I have tried the calamari appetizer and the fried oysters. The calamari was cooked perfectly. I wasn't a fan of the oysters, just because the batter was soft and I prefer a crunchy exterior to offset the soft oyster. Looking over at the seafood boil makes me jealous. It seems to be a family owned business.. the owners seem very involved and can be seen at the front of the house. Servers are friendly and attentive. The slights: there is a mix between fine (?) dining and fast (?) food... the atmosphere is nice, and I don't mind paper on the table for a seafood joint, however, the sauces come out in plastic tubs with the lids on, and there is no salt and pepper on the table. Glass plates, plastic cups.. that kind of thing. The menu is also of two extremes.. overly reasonable to overly expensive. Give it a try! (And never critique the fried shrimp basket, because I never want it to change! :)

    The food was good - but nothing to really rave about. The portions were huge though! The shrimp…read morethat came in my Po' boy sandwich were all Jumbo sized (see pic) and the Bang-Bang Sauce was very tasty. The service was excellent, though. I took away 2 stars because of: (a) PRICES - not very affordable. and (b) ENVIRONMENT - they were playing "urban music" with a lot of bass SO FREAKING LOUD, it was downright uncomfortable. The music just did not mesh with the "Cajun" theme whatsoever. I don't really foresee me coming back unless they lower their prices AND tone down the music.

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    Smyrna - BEET SALAD bitter greens, hazelnuts, cacao nibs, kaymak, pomegranate vinaigrette

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    Went tonight with my daughter who is a total foodie! The…read moreservice was very personal with our server knowing every detail. The managing partner also came by our table very casually and friendly- I just googled their bios and its very interesting. So I wasn't sure I would like everything we ordered- I only wanted the beet salad. It was amazing!!!!!!! We also had the dip trio which I liked the hummus best with yummy bread. My daughter, her friend and her mom LOVED the calamari and said it was light and delicious. Lamb kebob was tasty. Desert chocoholic was scrumptious and the lemon granita was light and interesting with homemade cotton candy that we laughed looked like ratchet barbie hair but tasted so light. Absolutely delicious!

    SERVICE We came in for a belated Valentine's Day dinner,…read moreand the staff immediately seated us when we got int. Everyone was friendly and professional without being too formal. Our server served us waters and let us peruse the menu. Most spots will have the waiter come by and ask you how things are, and our waiter didn't come by at all after setting down the food which was interesting -- not good nor bad but probably were also busy. AMBIENCE The space felt upscale but still easygoing, which made it perfect for our Valentine's night out. There's no dress code, but most people looked like they'd put a little effort in, matching the polished but comfortable vibe. Loved the open kitchen all the way towards the back by the bookshelf area gave the room some energy without making it feel noisy. Definitely struck a great balance between date-night fancy and laid-back cool and casual. FOOD We started with the Beet Salad Ribbons and the Meze Trio. The beet salad mixed earthy ribbon-sheet beets with hazelnuts and a bright pomegranate vinaigrette that surprised me! Loved the pairing of the beets and cheese and hazelnut crunch. As a texture fan, this really hit the spot! It was colorful, fresh, and really well balanced. The Meze Trio had charred eggplant, a yogurt-goat cheese dip, and a seasonal hummus. Each had its own flavor and texture, and everything felt super fresh and well-seasoned. Favorite was the seasonal hummus. The yogurt-goat cheese dip was good but definitely sweeter than I personally perferred! The Calamari was also quite good and had decent number of chunky pieces that weren't just breading. The only small letdown was the pita bread since we had more dips than pita left. We expected refills might be complimentary, especially for a place like this, but they weren't. Not a big deal, just something that stood out in an otherwise smooth and thoughtful experience! The Manti Dumplings were a highlight too -- probably so much handwork in making these look like they do! The Sharondale mushrooms gave them a rich, savory flavor, and the pepper butter sauce added just the right touch of spice. The burger was also great -- juicy, flavorful, and paired with house fries and an amazing urfa pepper aioli. You could tell both dishes were elevated but still comforting, showing off the chef's fine-dining background in a really approachable way. For dessert, we shared the Baklava Cheesecake and a Chocolate Hazelnut special. The cheesecake was unique -- cheesecake filling sandwiched between baklava. It was delicious but not what I was expected! It was creamy and nutty with pistachio layers, and the chocolate dessert was incredibly rich without being heavy. Both were perfect finishes. We even took home the leftover goat cheese dip because it was that good. Overall, pices were a little on the higher side ($23-$29 for mains, $14 for dessert), but for the quality and thought put into every dish, it felt worth it and would come back again for a special occasion! This was definitely elevated ambience and the food was well executed in our opinion. I can see the hype! Definitely not a spot I'd frequent often but for the special days -- this is it to impress your date or family!

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    Burtons Grill & Bar

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    Such a great spot!! We came here for a graduation lunch and I can't recommend this enough! The…read morestaff was so kind and attentive. The menu had lots of really yummy options and everyone is bound to find something they like. Their spinach& artichoke dip is a borderline life changing experience - you have to get this as an appetizer. They do it like it's never been done before! The firecracker shrimp was really generous and delicious, I was really impressed. No tiny skimping shrimp here. We came for brunch on a weekend so I got the Croque Madame and it sounds like kinda a novel entree but WOWWW it's so tasty and filling, but not heavy. Loved that I could sub the side for fruit too, that was very fresh. We got a bread appetizer too which was really elegantly presented. We had a gluten free guest and they did a wonderful job providing a gluten free plate to her as well. That thoughtfulness was appreciated

    I'm only in town about once every 3 months but when I am, I make a point to eat here every visit. I…read moreusually try to go before 6p and ask for a bar table which has quicker service to get seating (IMO). The Bread Service is a perfect start. Comes out fast and has multiple spreads. I tried the Bang bang broccoli this time - a seasonal Bar bite - it was more of an asian ginger flavor w/ fried broccoli - it was not my favorite but I could see how people would love it. Ended up ordering the Short Rib grilled cheese (see pics) - very flavorful sandwich w/ a hearty portion of short ribs & 3 kinds of cheese on a sourdough. Definitely worth a shot. On top of this amazing food, the service was quick and on point. Although I am older, I have a baby face and am sometimes over looked for good service - so it's important to me that all customers are treated equally. William D. (Name on receipt) did a fantastic job on making me feel like I belonged there. Perfect dinner experience

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    Public Fish & Oyster - seafood - Updated May 2026

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