Good seafood, excellent services, great views, nice atmospher, I hope I can visit again someday.

We love this spot on the water. Great place to come by boat or car. The outdoor space is nice. Indoor and outdoor seating options. The staff is great. Megan did a great job for us! Love the food! Complimentary hushpuppies when you are seated that are delicious! Everything is good here! You can't beat some fresh seafood! You must end with the skillet cookie with biscoff ice cream!!! It is soooo good! You need to check this place out! read more

See all

Service was the highlight! Emma was outstanding! Timing, attitude, helpfulness all exceeded expectations. She is an ace and I will request her upon our return! Food was good however last time I had the shrimp salad there were medium sized shrimp, this time popcorn shrimp was added instead which detracted from the salad in my opinion. That said Rusty's does put out a good product and can be counted on to do that. Ambiance/Setting is good albeit busy and noisy which is expected since it was busy. When it cools down we will request a table on the porch overlooking the canal. Overall however this is one of our go to places. Very consistent. read more

The moment our waitress walked over with warm hush puppies instead of bread or chips, it was a winner. The entire area is beautiful, and the setup of the restaurant makes the most of it. There is plenty of seating both inside and outside, but the outdoor space is where this place really shines. There's a large seating area by the water where boats dock in and out, live music on most nights and multiple out door bars when inside gets too crowded. The picture of a relaxed dinning atmosphere. The food is delicious. Nothing over the top but well portioned and flavorful. Especially for their pricing. I loved the stacked tuna tartare. Fresh and balanced toped with a delicious mango pickle salsa. Good food, service, and fair pricing. If you are in the area, this is definitely a must visit. read more

See all

Visiting the area, 6 of us went. The patio seating was great. The open air, water view ambiance was perfect! All enjoyed the complimentary hush puppies, they were hot, crisp, pillows. Ihad the grouper dinner w/ 2 sides which was good, sadly I ordered blackened but server mistakenly ordered grilled, so it was a bit bland. The coleslaw was the star, it was cold, crisp and had a delicious dressing,. Service by Tereza was ok considering my food was wrong she did offer to give me the seasoning to sprinkle on. We'd probably come back. read more

Rusty Bellies - Grouper dinner with asparagus and coleslaw. - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

See all

Everyone here was EXTREMELY nice! I met the MGR who was very pleasant. My waitress, Autumn was amazing ! The star of the show was the nightly special which this night the Pistachio crusted Alaskan black cod over asparagus and jasmine rice with a Thai inspired coconut broth topped with sesame seeds, pistachios, and toasted coconut. So good! I will definitely return! read more

See all

Another restaurant messed up our reservations so our party of 8 went to Rusty Bellies- we are so glad we did! Our waitress, Galyna, was so attentive. The restaurant was buzzing- inside and outside- however service was impeccable and the food was fantastic. AYCE hush puppies blew my mind! Cajun Alfredo was delicious with the blackened chicken. 4 in our party enjoyed the Grouper Sandwich. When there is a birthday they ask the entire restaurant to sing along- we sang 6 times! We will be back! Nothing negative to report at all- they really salvaged our night! read more

See all

If you come to Tarpon Springs and don't come here you are wrong, the food, the service, the location all on point! Here is a hint, come in on the bar side and its open seating, we went in front and it was a 45 min wait, we found the bar and it was wide open. The food is absolutely amazing, the shrimp and grouper are locally caught and the best i have ever had. Service is great, we sat at bar twice and table once. All excellent. Do yourself a favor and go here! read more

We have been to Rusty Bellies numerous times and it's our favorite seafood place... Always great food and service! I had the fresh Pumpkin Swordfish entree, it was fantastic! (not pumpkin spiced they don't know the color until they clean it)... We love the casual waterfront vibe too! read more

Rusty Bellies - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

After an 11 month hiatus I came back to Rusty Bellies and it did NOT disappoint. Checked in with the hostess and asked how long the wait was for outdoor seating, and she said 20-30 mins. 10 mins later, I was being seated at the table by the water at the Sponge Docks. You get complimentary Hush Puppies to snack on while you figure out what you would like to order, I had a Crab Bisque to start and it was sooooo delicious! Thick and creamy, all the things! I had the Chef Special Sea-bass, Clam Chowder Risotto, and Sea Scallops. This was SUCH A DELICIOUS MEAL! Everything was cooked to perfection. The vibe is laid back and chill while you take in views of boats, leaving and coming back from the gulf. All-In-All great food, great service, great views and I won't wait as long to come back, but I have a food bucket list I'm working on lol! read more

See all

I took a ride to Tarpon. I stopped at Rusty Bellies. I hadn't been there is a couple years. I forgot how wonderful this restaurant is. I ate the ceviche app which was one of the best thing I've ever eaten. And the service at the bar by April could not have been better. I love sitting at the bar and the view of the Anclote River. Never had a bad experience at Rusty Bellies. read more

Rusty Bellies - Ceviche with mango salsa and guacamole half eaten Ceviche Stack - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

Service was pretty good considering how busy it was. It was to be expected bc of Mother's Day. We enjoyed our food. I ordered the 86 proof which is salmon and scallops and my husband ordered the chicken Alfredo. 3 stars bc the girl who took my phone number to text me when my table was ready put my number down incorrectly. I had a feeling this would happen. I know our wait was about an hour and a half and I was prepared for that. But I went back earlier to check on where we were at with another girl and found out my number was wrong. I'd already waited an hour. The other girl was like oh maybe that for someone else. I was like no that's me she put the first two numbers of my phone number wrong. If I didn't go back to check I'd be waiting for nothing. They need to be confirming phone numbers. I should have at first and I'm glad I finally did when I did. Ambiance is loud bc of big groups, again to be expected especially with the holiday. Outside would be the best place with the water view, but it was too hot for outside right now. read more

See all

My wife and I visited Rusty Bellies on a Saturday afternoon with our three young children, ages 5, 3, and 1. We were added to the Yelp waitlist quickly and told the wait would be about 20 minutes. At the deepest point, we were only fourth in line, but we watched party after party get seated ahead of us, including groups that arrived after we did. Several booths and tables that appeared large enough for our party were already taken, while we continued to wait. I checked with the hostess multiple times and made it clear that we were happy with either a table or a booth, but I was only told that we were still on the waitlist. We eventually sat in first place for about 45 minutes and weren't seated until a full hour after arriving. Our server was very friendly and attentive, and the food was still delicious, but an hour-long wait with three very young children turned what was supposed to be a special family meal into an exhausting experience. We don't go out often, and unfortunately, this left us feeling like we won't be back. read more

A fantastic local restaurant where the food is great and the service is friendly and professional. The area in the back is perfect if you have to wait for a table and have some drinks overlooking the water. read more

Rusty Bellies - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

Food was ok fish spread was Good but pretty salty I did enjoy the veggies it comes with first time I have seen that pairing. Chicken Dakota was the star of the meal my wife loved it the mahi sandwich was very dry and lacking in any flavor I took the lemon wedge out of my water to try and save it. Overall average food nice view decent service. If in the area worth a try but if you order the mahi I would try blackened fried was a no go. read more

See all

Went to Tarpon Springs on a day trip and Rusty Bellies was recommended as the place where the locals ate. Our intention was to eat at a Greek Restaurant but decided to give Rusty Bellies a try. When we entered they were fairly busy but was able to seat us right away. Our waitress greeted us and assisted us in making our selections. I ordered the Seafood Gumbo to start my meal which was very good, actually if I return I would probably order two bowls of the Gumbo for my meal. My wife ordered the Fish and Chips which was very large and also came with fries and coleslaw. She thought the coleslaw had a funny taste but I tried it and thought it was good. The fish which was cod was very large and my wife was unable to finish it. I had the Shrimp and Grits which was all right. Overall the restaurant was clean on the water and we were happy with the service and the food. The prices were fair for what we ordered. read more

See all

It was quite busy on a Saturday night at this restaurant - the host said 1 hour and 45 minute wait but only ended up being 30 minutes. They have a bar outside and you can use the seating there if you order takeout (this is a hack). They had some string lights in the beach area with an outside bar and live music, which was nice. The only con is that the price is pretty pricey for a medium sized portion. The 1/2 lb peel and eat shrimp doesn't come with anything else other than shrimp. The Cajun grouper flavor was ok. I'm not sure if the Cajun style in Florida is different than a Louisiana Cajun sauce. The grouper was very meaty though. read more

Rusty Bellies - Cajun Gulf Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

See all

Overall the food was good especially the hush puppies they were amazing. Nothing else was like a wow but it was good. We sat inside but I wish we waited for outside so if you can get outside it seemed like a better experience. Server was good and attentive. read more

See all

I don't always write a review for the same place twice, but I will today. I really like this place, and today was even better than normal. Food was great, waiter was fantastic and had a great time. Tonight we had the Signature Salmon and Snow Crab. Both were beyond good. And a shout out to Mario our waiter. You the best, thanks for the great evening. read more

Perfect menu for seafood lovers! Some local friends introduced us to Rusty Bellies while we were there for vacation. Scored a spot on the deck. HOT, but always nice sitting on the water. LOOOOOOVED the gumbo! Service and drinks were great as well. Would definitely go out of my way to come back. read more

Rusty Bellies - Cajun Gulf Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

See all

The best fried shrimp and crab legs I love the seafood store as well. Parking is a bit tough.

This place is terrific! It's super busy, so make a reservation unless you want to wait. There are plenty of spots outside to sit and wait, and a bar around the back, so you have options. The food is just plain good. You get hush puppies at the table. Crispy in the outside and soft on the inside. So good! We chose the ceviche stack, which was honestly terrific; big enough for 4 to share. For dinner, I had the 86 Proof with salmon, scallops wrapped in bacon, rice and green beans with a bourbon-based sauce. Also just delicious! My husband got the fried shrimp with fries and cole slaw. He shared a shrimp with me, and it was delicious. So fresh. I'd recommend eating here if you're in the area. Portions are very generous. What a great spot! read more

See all

We sat on the back porch and with it being covered it was very enjoyable. Our waitress was very thorough, prompt, and kind. We had the group and mahi sandwich and both were delicious. The hushpuppies were a nice touch. The inside was clean and I would definitely go back. read more

See all

Some friends took us here to dine while visiting this area of Florida. A very busy restaurant so reservations are highly recommended. We sat at a table that provided a partial water view along the Anclote River which was nice since the sun was setting. Fresh seafood is what is going on here so here is what we ordered: 1. Crab Bisque with blue crab - Loved it! 2. Mahi Piccante - So fresh the Mahi was and just delicious 3. Sesame Ginger Ahi Tuna - Very tasty 4. Pesto Pasta with garlic toast - Filling and great flavor Service was friendly and helpful. The vibe was talkative and enthusiastic. Parking is either on the street or nearby in a parking lot. Outside seating is available and there is an available bar too. Overall we had a very good time here and I would definitely dine here again when visiting Tarpon Springs. read more

See all

Our server Louie was so great! We have great food and a great time! They were so kind to keep our birthday cake in the fridge until we were ready for it! We will be back! read more

See all

What an awesome little gem tucked at the end of the sponge docks! As I was alone I sat at the outside bar. Bartender was awesome ... friendly and welcoming. I ordered mahi piccata with veggies and rice. Beer on tap from local brewery. The food was amazing, piccata was lemony and loaded with briny capers. Didn't have quite enough so they gladly brought me a side of sauce! The mahi was so from and tasty! Nothing fishy here! Oh and let's not forget the complementary hush puppies they gave me as soon as I sat down. read more

Rusty Bellies - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

See all

25 min wait , not to bad. Fish and coleslaw terrible better at DQ. Jambalaya was excellent!. Service on time and polite. read more

Our meals were delicious--bbq, poke bowl, scallops. However, I would not recommend the ceviche. It was very avocado and tomato forward. Super fun atmosphere. Servers were great. Recommend! read more

Rusty Bellies - Poke bowl--the small version. Plenty of food here. Could not finish - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

We had a very nice, scenic and tasty lunch. @Peter picked the place and we arrived around 11:15am on a winter weekday. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze so we ate outside. My steak salad came with crunchy eggs which turned out to be deep fried soft boiled eggs! Wow! Interesting and tasty! The excellent waiter didn't ask how I wanted the steak so I figured it might be well done. It was. Oh well. Lesson learned... when at a seafood restaurant, order seafood! We could see pelicans hanging out and a boat or two went by. It was very relaxing and unhurried. Parking on site is limited but that's ok. There is street parking nearby. Life is good with a relaxing Florida waterfront lunch in winter! read more

Rusty Bellies - Eek! - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

The food was great. The service was excellent. We sat outside by the water and had a wonderful time. read more

Rusty Bellies - Outside dining - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

SOLID 5 STARS! I Chose this restaurant for my regular get together with Yelp All-Star Elite Dave W off of Yelp's top 50 places to eat in Tampa. What a great dining experience! Rusty Bellies is what retiring to Florida is all about in my opinion. Set in Tarpon Springs right on the Tarpon Bayou, you can observe the nesting birds from the upper outside balcony or the lower outside seating. Here in November the weather is cool and mild with a good breeze so sitting outside is no problem. Birds also perch on nearby pilings to scavenge any scraps of food left out or thrown to them. Even though the portions are large, the food is so good I bet these jealously watching birds often go hungry. Warning: The owners or chef has some kind of hush puppy fetish. Hush puppy's are included in almost every dish on the menu. Instead of a bread basket you get a small bag of hush puppy's. They are even included as garnish in drinks. No lie! I ordered the locally caught Cajun Gulf Grouper ($36) which came with Fingerling potatoes, green beans, and shiitake mushrooms and was topped with Cajun lump crab sauce. I expected it to be hot or spicy, but the menu described it as creamy and that's exactly what it was. I was going to order the Greek salad at $14 but our attentive and conscientious waiter, Petros, said it was a meal in itself and recommended the smaller Greek side salad ($9). He was right! To top off the meal properly I ordered the Bellies Bloody Mary ($14). The furniture of this drink included 3 slices of bacon, lime slice, 2 different stuffed green olives, a string bean, a large shrimp, and the inevitable hush puppy (I discarded the hush puppy but inhaled everything else!). The food was tasty, the atmosphere can't be beat, and the service impeccable! I am not surprised that Rusty Bellies is listed as #12 on Yelp's top 50 places to eat in the Tampa Bay Area! read more

See all

Great food, and great drinks! Sat at the outside bar and beautiful view. Had the white sangria and mussels in garlic and wine sauce.

Great food and service. Best hush puppies around. On the water is a bonus. Decor fits the area.

Rusty Bellies is our go to when hosting out of town family and friends. Ambiance and vibe is what everyone expects when thinking of Tampa! read more

Rusty Bellies - Little Poke - Seafood Near Me - Tarpon Springs, Florida

Located in Tarpon Springs, FL aka the Greek town- this was a spot that we were eying for a while and i'm glad i checked it out, their dishes is definitely on point but their service definitely needs to be worked on! We had ordered both the ceviche and garlic mussels appetizers for 4 people making it 8 plates total of the appetizer dishes, but we also were ordering the seafood mac and cheese and burger. After I realized we way over ordered ( each one of us having both the garlic mussels and the ceviche rather than just sharing) i let the waitress know within 2-3 minutes after ordering realizing my mistake right away but she told me the kitchen was already working on it.. Couldn't they just stop? Anyways i understood as i know it was my fault regardless, but the dishes didn't come out until a solid 15-20 minutes later so i know when i realized my mistake it was still very early on to cancel but it seemed like there was nothing the waitress could do about it.. i understand if the dishes came out within 5-10 but we definitely waited a while so it's just not making sense to me. Regardless of the interaction, the Garlic mussels were very filling and outstanding, very fresh and the bread is a perfect pairing with the mussels and the garlic broth at the bottom of the plate. Seafood mac and cheese was generous with the baby scallops but didn't really stand out taste wise. I would honestly come back for their garlic mussels or their grouper. read more

See all

The location was great and loved the patio. Service was friendly. Our appetizers of buffalo shrimp and fish spread were super delicious and yummy. I also love that they bring out hush puppies before the meal. My salad was good, but the egg on top seemed overly processed and the bacon had an odd texture. The salmon was fantastic. I think I'd prefer a different meal more. read more

See all

Outstanding service AND fresh seafood always! A true delight to dine there. We have been frequenting this great restaurant since it opened. Never disappointed. The shrimp both steam broiled and fried are our favorites along with their Greek salad. read more

Mario was our waiter and he was top notch. We love Rusty Bellies and it positively deserves 5 stars Food, ambiance and great service. read more

Came here while water testing boat. We only live 35 min away and def will come back. It's snowbird season so we didn't think we would get in. Happy to know they have bar outside and there were two chair not occupied. Sadly some people don't understand that chairs are not for your purses or else there would've been a little more room. Other than that the service was great. View amazing. Got ceviche the bisque and brisket sandwich. Love the hush puppies read more

See all

Relaxing spot to sit outside & overlook the Anclote River. You can dine inside as well. They have a big outdoor bar with HH 3-6 drinks only. We had a few minutes wait for a table of 5 outside. We ordered the seafood bucket to share for 2. I thought the large shrimp were cooked perfectly along with clams & muscles. I felt the crab legs were really small. Disappointed with that. Our table loved the complimentary hush puppies. Our waitress checked on us frequently & made our experience nice. read more

See all