Came here to Nerra for their Salt, Sea, and Lime dinner--a four-course prix fixe experience--and it…read morewas such a treat! The ceviche was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced, and the chips served alongside it were oh so good. The tortilla soup was the next course...and it was nicely spiced, comforting, and warming. The braised beef short rib tacos were great--the pickled veggies really added a punch of flavor that tied everything together beautifully. As far as the cocktails go...the winter pearita was delightful--I could have happily had a few more of those. Dessert surprised me the most. I'm usually not a tiramisu person since I'm not big on coffee, but their Mexican chocolate tiramisu won me over. The coffee flavor wasn't overpowering at all and it had almost horchata-like vibes. Overall, the menu felt incredibly thoughtful, cohesive, and delicious from start to finish. The restaurant itself is super cute and perfect for a date night. Service was fantastic as well--our server, Mikayla, was attentive, on top of everything, and made the experience even better. Would absolutely recommend.

Service was excellent. Staff was very friendly. Outdoor seating was nice as the seats inside were…read morevery close together. The band started and my friend and I had to yell at each other. We had the special drink that was yummy. Mint, strawberry and gin. The ceviche was overcooked and rough which is weird as it is ceviche. The calamari was meh. We split the shrimp and grits. It was really great and way too salty. I enjoyed the brussel sprouts.

This place never disappoints. Came here on a Sunday as a second choice but easily became one of the…read morebest meals in a long time. Plenty of seating since it's shared with all the other vendors. Being that it's in a food hall, if someone in your party doesn't particularly care of Locals, they can easily get something different. This is a huge selling point so that everyone can be happy and full. We ordered: - 4 grilled oysters - a dozen raw oysters - shrimp po boy (with generous portions of shrimp) - some huge fish, maybe snapper? - kale salad Everything about this place is so fresh. You never have to wonder how long it's sat there or if there has been enough patrons to keep the supply fresh. You know at Locals that everything is always on point. Highly recommend to anyone with a fresh seafood itch!

Oh my gosh this was soooooooo good!!! We split the calabash platter with grilled fish of the day…read more(striped bass) and fried catfish. It all tasted so fresh and cry-worthy delicious. Fries had good seasoning, tartar sauce or whatever they put in it was amazing. This is a must come!

Twice I've been to Seraphine, and twice I've had a superlative experience. If you like Louisiana…read morecuisine, this is the place for you. Divine seafood dishes? Check. Creative and fun cocktail list? Check. Varied and unique sides/salads? Check. To top off the fantastic food, the service is always perfect. Everyone knows the menu backwards and forwards, and truly love what they're serving. When you're at Seraphine, you're getting an experience. As far as specific food recs, try the shrimp & grits, Boudin sausage, Frenched chicken breast, pickle plate, and Beignets. But I have a feeling anything from their menu is stellar.

I was visiting Durham and heard great things about this restaurant so I decided to stop in. The…read moreservice was outstanding. It was a little confusing finding the restaurant and the hosts kindly walked me through how to get there. I sat at the bar and the bartenders were very attentive. They frequently checked in and made sure my water never got too low. I got the broiled oysters drogos style and they were AMAZING. There was so much parmesan cheese and the garlic butter was so good I could almost drink it. I just wish I got more bread so I could enjoy the cheese and butter more. Not that it matters too much but I was expecting charbroiled oysters on the half shell like in New Orleans, but these oysters come already shucked without the shell. The NC Catfish on the other hand was good, but not great. The catfish was crispy. The beans, rice, and pork were perfectly cooked. However, the meal tasted very bland and underseasoned, which was so surprising for a New Orleans inspired restaurant, and the pork portion was extremely small

Amazing food you gets your money's worth. They don't hold back portions in my opinion.read more

I have only been here a couple of times but each time was a good experience. The staff is always…read morefriendly and the food was great. This time I got a shrimp boil....so much great flavor! The seafood is always fresh. The restaurant is clean..that's always a plus. Oh before I forget, my husband enjoyed his oyster po boy...immensely!

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar in Durham sits in a shopping center where the parking is posted as…read moreone-hour, but if you're a customer, you can stay longer without issue. That's the first thing you notice--plenty of parking. I had no trouble finding a spot on two separate visits this week. Inside, it's a cozy setup with a bar, table seating, and an outdoor patio area. It has that laid-back oyster shack feel. The patio looks like it could be dog-friendly, though I didn't confirm. The place is clean, and the staff are genuinely friendly across the board--welcoming without being overbearing. Food-wise, it delivers. On my first visit, I had steamed clams and steamed Gulf shrimp. Both were phenomenal. The clams were sweet and perfectly cooked, and the shrimp was just as impressive--simple, fresh, and done right. Second visit, I went a different route and ordered a hamburger--yes, at a seafood spot. Running keto, I skipped the bun, and it turned out to be a great call. Cooked exactly to order and full of flavor, it held its own against the seafood. Whether you're coming in for oysters on the half shell, fresh seafood, or even a solid burger, this place covers it. Make sure to check the chalkboard specials--that's really where the menu shines, with daily deals that are worth the visit.

We were greeted warmly by Renee as soon as we walked in. She told us to sit wherever we'd like. We…read morechose a high top. There's bar seating and a main seating area with about 8 tables. It's small, but comfortable and inviting. Renee single handedly with ease and a smile served 6 tables while I was there. She never seemed rushed or overwhelmed. We started with the Happy Hour special (4pm - 6pm) raw oysters (or steamed) for $1.50 each. They were good. We then ordered our entrees. I had the Fried combo with oysters, shrimp and fries...absolutely delicious and fried perfectly. My daughter had the Lobster Roll and fries. She said it was really good and was pleasantly surprised. We had a great dinner and loved the service Renee provided!

If I could, I would give that restaurant a 10! The food was delicious, and the waiter was…read moreexcellent! In fact, everyone working there was so friendly and kind. Everyone working there should be given a raise! The ambiance was wonderful as well.

Awful hospitality. Had a group of 14, that was pre-planned and they treated us awful. We left…read morebefore we even ordered. We were seated right beside the music intentionally so it was impossible to hear. So so rude!

"Fresh local seafood"…read more I've come here a few times, so I was surprised to see I hadn't reviewed it! Saltbox started as a little shack near downtown but now occupies the place previously held by Shrimp Boats on 15-501 business between Guglhupf and Q-Shack. There are some outdoor picnic tables and several tables inside. I came most recently on a Saturday at 6:30pm. All the seafood here is super fresh, so the menu varies over time. I was excited this time to get crabcakes or scallops, but sadly, they ran out earlier in the day. Hence, I ended up with soft shelled crab platter (with potatoes and slaw), and one dining partner had a shrimp sandwich with the honey tots. The soft shelled crab was maybe the best I'd had, even though it looked a little odd-- super red and "squished". But it was VERY soft and flavorful. The potatoes and slaw were both excellent-- I liked the onions and peppers fried in with the potatoes, and the slaw was a nice vinegary rather than creamy slaw. I had one of my friend's tots, and WOW, those are good-- I'd get that next time. They loved their shrimp too-- I may go for that next time. Service was good-- we checked on our order at one point (see below), and the fellow remembered the name as well as being apologetic for the delay! The only negative-- it was maybe an hour from when we arrived 'til I got my platter. Some of that was the line, but a lot of it was just they were really busy and had a lot of orders (both dine-in and carry out). I probably wouldn't come again at that time of day, given the fewer options and long wait time. Still, EXCELLENT fresh fried seafood. Happy to give it 5 stars.

Really solid experience. The food was fresh, flavorful, and just overall delicious. What stood out…read moremost was the service. The cashier was tied up for a moment, but the chef stepped in, asked what I was ordering, and got started right away. That kind of awareness and teamwork goes a long way. I didn't dine in this time, but the space looked clean and really inviting. Definitely planning to sit down next time. Would come back for both the food and the service.

Squid's is a long-established restaurant in Chapel Hill, and while it has been on my list of…read morerestaurants to visit, I'm glad I finally got the chance to try the seafood dishes. I ordered the Spicy Fra Diavolo which is a spicy tomato sauce/parmesan linguini pasta topped with calamari and shrimp. I also tried the fried seafood combination of local catfish and shrimp. The fried seafood combo was cooked to perfection. The catfish tasted fresh, without any of the fishy taste that catfish can sometimes have. The batter was crisp, while the fish stayed tender and juicy. The shrimp used for the fry were large and tasty. The pasta was the highlight of the meal, as generous heaps of shrimp and calamari paired well with the balanced flavor of the white/red sauce blend. I look forward to my next visit to Squid's. Pros: Large portions at reasonable prices. Fresh seafood cooked well with pasta and as a batter fry. Cons: None

I came in on a Sunday evening and was surprised to see a full house within 30 minutes of opening! I…read moreguess Squid's definitely is a staple to the Chapel Hill neighborhood for seafood fixings! My partner and I weren't feeling up for a dine-in, so we decided to do a takeout. We ordered their spicy fra diavolo which was packed to the brim with calamari rings! If you don't believe me, take a look at my picture for proof. After 10 minutes of digging through the pasta, I still managed to find 10 calamari rings, lol. No complaints here though! Just surprised at how bountiful the calamari rings were for the pasta. The sauce wasn't spicy, despite the name stating so, and was sufficient to coat each strand of pasta noodle. As for our second dish, how can we NOT get fried seafood?! So, we decided to go for their combo for any two items. We were pleasantly impressed with the size of the battered catfish. It was MASSIVE! The shrimp, on the other hand, wasn't anything special. Quite small. Not really juicy. If calamari was an option for this combo, we'd definitely go for it! Seasoning was a little salty, but the breading was nice and crispy. Not burnt tasting or oily, and complimented well with the cocktail and tartar sauce. Fries were normal, but quite small in portion. For $30, I'd imagine either a little more fries if shrimps are only 6 pieces, along with a piece of catfish. Food was pretty good! I can't speak for service because I did take out, but it seemed okay. The inside was really clean and had lots of tables! Maybe I'll bring my friends the next time they come visit here.

Three of us came here for dinner. It was my first time but the others had been here before…read more I got the calamari and oysters and potatoes and hush puppies as my sides. The oyster breading was way too thick and very crunchy. I had to ask for cocktail sauce and lemon and that took a while. Based on my meal and service I would say a 3 but the others loved their meals. One got a shrimp boil and the other a combo of shrimp and crabs. You get to choose your sauce in the bags and one chose garlic butter the other the bang bang( a combo of all the sauces. The service was slow and we had to ask for refills. It's pricey but I guess that's because it's seafood. The theme is rustic/nautical.

Wow this place was so good and insanely cheap. My top 3 favorite food is fried catfish and they…read moremade it so perfect I have zero notes. I usually like some seasoning or sauce on it but it was so good it didn't need anything. The corn was also great like I've never had Cajun sauce on my corn and it was INSANE. I can't believe this place was empty when we went tbh like it's a new go to in Raleigh. And the fact EVERYTHING WAS $30??? Cmon like it doesn't get better than that. The people were SO NICE too.

Nautical-themed The Blind Pelican has been on my bloody mary bucket list for years, so I was…read moreexcited to finally get to check them out this weekend while visiting the Raleigh area. I quickly scanned their hefty bloody mary menu and ordered the Lobstrocity, featuring veggies, shrimp, a grilled cheese sandwich and a fresh lobster tail atop a sizeable glass of the main concoction. This was definitely a meal in a glass! It was all quite delicious and filling, and I was glad I'd opted out of any of the optional add-ons like filet mignon, crab claws, or frog legs. Of course, I still had to order half a dozen raw oysters for dessert. And no, I won't be eating for the rest of the day! What made this a 5 star experience was our phenomenal server, Trevor. He was fast, friendly, and always nearby to clear empty plates or offer drink refills.

Dinner at The Blind Pelican Seafood House ended up being one of those meals where the kitchen…read moreabsolutely understood the assignment... but the service didn't quite keep pace. We started with the mojito flight, which was honestly a fun way to kick things off. The Lavender and Blood Orange were my favorites, but the Chipotle Pineapple had a surprisingly good smoky-sweet balance, and even the Desert Pear was refreshing without tasting overly syrupy. For appetizers, the fried calamari disappeared fast -- crispy, tender, and not greasy at all. The New England clam chowder was rich and comforting, and the lobster scallop bisque was probably the sleeper hit of the night. Creamy, decadent, and loaded with flavor without being overwhelmingly heavy. The Virginia oysters were... fine. Fresh enough, but they didn't really stand out compared to everything else we ordered. Now for the stars of the table: the frog legs and the COCONUT CURRY PEI MUSSELS. The frog legs were perfectly fried and surprisingly delicate, but those mussels? Easily the best dish of the night. The coconut curry broth was ridiculously good -- rich, aromatic, slightly sweet with a little heat. Still, the food itself was strong enough that I'd absolutely come back, especially for those mussels and another round of mojitos. Solid 4-star seafood spot for Holly Springs.