So this is an oyster bar place. I love oysters. Like truly a fan. I'd marry one if I could. Sometimes I wish I had powers so I could turn my husband into one. Just kidding.. kind of........ It's at the end corner of the plaza right by the apartments. The place is a pub/bar style with pool table, several TVs, and 2 bars. They also have a darts wall. They have oysters that are chucked right in front of you if you sit at the longer bar on the right side upon entry. There is no smoking inside and there are regular tables inside. They have oysters in a dozen, half dozen, bucket (30) and they do them Rockefeller style as well. They are absolutely delicious raw or steamed-my own preference. The owner(s) is/are wonderful! We had a minor thing happen due to something they just didn't foresee happening but they thanked us for letting them know and being kind about it and fixed things right away. If you ever have any question or issue, please just tell them and they will totally fix it right away. They are sooooo sweet and friendly. Protect them at all costs!! This place is great and the food is always very good. I ALWAYS get oysters here because it's just a great experience. I get clam chowder too which is also really good. Will be a forever customer! read more

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Don't let the outside cloud your judgement. The Thirsty Gator is celebrating its 40th year in business. It serves mainly locals and anyone that loves the Florida Gators as the inside is decorated all things Gator. I was looking for a place that served rock shrimp and oysters as I did not want to drive to the coast. I got everything I was craving and more. Lisa the bartender was welcoming and served with a smile. They are a beer and wine establishment as an FYI. Started with oysters on the half shell which came from the Chesapeake Bay and Lisa shucked them in front of me. The rock shrimp were good but would have preferred them to be deveined but that is my preference. Was wanting a little more food and ordered 6 hot garlic wings that finished the meal perfectly. After a couple of beers and friendly conversation with others at the bar it was time to leave. Will for sure go back when in the mood for seafood and bar food and to watch a game. read more

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I finally went here for the first time last night. Yes it's a dive and yes I knew that. Service by Stephanie was great and she shucked my James River, VA oysters right in front of me. They were fresh and delicious and only $21.95/dozen. She did say it would be awhile but it wasn't too long at all so I just played on the jukebox. Then I had the soft pretzels with cheese and they were scorching hot. The cheese could use some improvement but everything else was excellent. I enjoyed myself and the food and service and will be back. read more

Thirsty Gator - Soft buttery scorching hot Soft Pretzels w/ ok cheese. - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

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Great hole in the wall place to go and have a few beers and eat some great food. I was visiting and decided to go there to read and eat (alone) and ended up making friends with some of the regulars and the staff. Very welcoming and great service. read more

Awesome local pub. I've been told stories and happy they were all true. Amazing oysters and people. Go Gators!!

Worth the drive! Fun divey place with great food. Our bartender has been there for 30 years. I can see why - Seems like a great place to work. Oysters are awesome! They shuck them in front of you. Rock shrimp is really good but be prepared to crack and peel the shrimp yourself. Wings are delish! And you can order only what you want to eat ( I ordered 4) it's a lively atmosphere with lots of TVs and great people. read more

I'm totally biased. Try the wings. Any sandwich will amaze you. Voted best in 2 categories in Orlando magazine. Show up......anyone who complains about this place never worked in the business. read more

Can't believe this place lasted this long in this neighborhood! In a way I actually can since the local redneck Gator fans can make it all happen! I love the Gators and this place rules. Feels like you are trapped in the swamp when youre in here but thats expected when you step into a place called the Thirsty Gator. Drinks are super cheap and food is all straight bar food. Apparently they have good wings which i have yet to get. I love the decorating in this place cause it's very college and every single thing in here is blue and orange. Seems like nothing has really been updated since 1986. Workers seem original since day 1 and they are the nicest people!! The atmosphere here must be alot of fun during football season. KNOWN FOR THE UYSTUHS!! read more

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The wings were steaming out the kitchen! Extra flavor and just amount of sauce. BAMMM! Fries hit the spot too. Gahhhhhhhttt daaayyyyyy read more

Thirsty Gator - Hot wings and fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

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The oysters are amazing! Tim shucked the oysters himself! Rock shrimp are also a definite must. These items were fresh and delicious read more

Classic place ! Love it here - can't go wrong with the wings or the oysters. The service is the best and the treat you like family. The food is a good price and you can't go wrong with this place. It's decorated like a UF bar but even if you're not a Gator, don't worry / the food itself will outweigh everything. Just go, you won't regret it read more

This is a hole in the wall oyster dive bar. It has been here for 37 years, and the owner was the one preparing the oysters. You will easily miss the place, right off the main drag but nothing that would scream "oyster bar" unless you are a gator fan. Came in on a Sunday night, not a lot of people. Place is your typical no frills dive bar: pool table, electronic darts, and I believe they might have live music on certain days. Ordered 6 oysters from Louisiana, it was mid size version. I had them med steamed. One thing that I noticed was the oyster had a funky smell. Still went ahead and ate them. It did not taste fishy, slights salty. The cocktail shrimp was huge, firm and fresh. Complemented well with the sauce and hot sauce. Overall, a great place to hang out. My only disappointment is the oyster funky smell. I will come back and try another batch and try the other food. read more

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Worth the drive from Titusville. Always a good time. Great food and friendly service. It's a bit divey but that's how we like it. Don't change a thing! A little hidden gem in Orlando. read more

Love this place . Chill bar to grab a something to eat and watch the game !! Very chill

They really do have the best oysters around!! I had their oysters Rockefeller and they were to die for!!!! Awesome all around!

I've lived in East Orlando for 15 years, heard all the good reviews but never took the time to stop by and check Thirsty Gators out. Well, boy what a fool I've been. Hands down some of the best oyster I've ever tasted. Cold, fresh and shucked right in front of us. Not to mention some of my favorite beer selection. Plenty of tvs to watch your game on, and if you're a Gators fan you'll be at home. read more

Thirsty Gator - Bar Area - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

Best place to watch Gator sports in Orlando! Terrific wings and oysters!! Hidden gem!

As a Gator alum living in Orlando, this is a hidden gem! Immediately upon walking in you know you can get any Gator event put on TV. They also have great dart boards and a pool table to keep you entertained in between halves or until games start. The food is fantastic. This is a locally owned business by a family and the oysters are shucked by order. This means there may be a delay during a busy times but they were definitely worth the wait. The wings are EXCELLENT! We got them without any sauce and they were tender and almost fall off the bone upon touch. They don't have liquor but the beer and wine list more than makes up for it and the pricing on the food makes this worth the visit. A group of Gators will have an amazing experience here. read more

ABSOLUTELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Fantastic, family-owned spot known for its fresh oysters and laid-back, gator-themed atmosphere. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, making you feel like part of the family from the moment you walk in. They even shuck oysters right in front of you, adding a fun and interactive touch to the dining experience. With great food, top-notch service, and a unique vibe, it's an amazing place to enjoy delicious seafood and good times with friends or family. Highly recommended! They are brought fresh!! I don't go anywhere else but here for oysters! Love the owners great spot! read more

Thirsty Gator - Oysters - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

Everything about our visit was very good. Enjoyed the oysters and beer! Service was very good as usual. Always happy to return.

Been coming here for some months now, and hands down best bar for some good food, good beer, and good service. Everyone should try their fresh seafood once. Perfect rock shrimp read more

Food was very good and the service was excellent! The interior is a little old and needs some updating!

The food is outstanding, the service is excellent and the atmosphere is welcoming. Tim and his team are a lot of fun. This place is always fun to visit and highly recommended. read more

Fast service.... kind, attentive & personable staff & most importantly, FLORIDA GATORS & OAK RIDGE PIONEERS! read more

Best time I've had this year lol. Reasonably priced drinks. Super friendly bartenders. Met the owner Tim so you're helping a local family. Enjoyed the music playing. Tried the oyster roll it was excellent. Will be back to try more. Happy New Year 2025. read more

thirsty gator is by far the best, laid back, family friendly bar around . the staff have been there for years and are all awesome ...you might catch the owner Tim sitting at the corner of the bar, he's a really cool guy so don't be shy. my son begs me all the time to go here and throw darts. they have trivia nights, pool league, dart league, all around a fun place. the oysters are shucked right in front of you and they give you all of the fixings, honestly everything on the menu is good. i'm a seminole and always feel welcomed. check this place out if you're looking for a good time, good food, and great atmosphere read more

If you are looking for good food, cold drinks, and friendly service then this is it. One of hardest things to manage when you are a small restaurant is food quality and wide selection of items. This spot nails both of those. The wings are baked and huge, the Gumbo if they have some is worth getting. The Oysters are always shucked in front of you. My only issue is I wish they had a liquor license haha. I was worried during covid hoping thirsty gators would continue to be open. I am glad they are and its never been better. Rock Shrimp A+ Gumbo A+ Raw Oysters A+ Wings A+ Beer Iceyyyy read more

Thirsty Gator - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

Me and my family have been going there for 25 years. We love it. All the waitresses are great. They have been there for a long time and Tim is always there to say hi. I have never had anything there that wasn't great. read more

Rock shrimp (forgot to take a pic) to die for, huge amazing oysters, and excellent meaty wings. Big assortment of beers and ICE COLD. Service was excellent and easy. Doesn't get much better than this! read more

Thirsty Gator - Raw oysters - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

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The Thirsty Gator has always been a bad boy stirs. At least, the Thirsty Gator has always been about oysters for me. This Bar is in a strip mall that has definitely seen better days. The bar itself has seen better days no, actually, I don't know if it ever seen a better day. But this rather nondescript, somewhat worn around the edges bar has always had good oysters and cold beer. The rest of the menu is pretty good, as well. But again, this bar has always been about oysters for me. If you are looking for decent oysters on the eastside of Orlando, you should really check this place out. read more

Local spot! Gators bar. Hidden away spot but don't let that fool you!The service is A+ the beer is ICE cold and the Oysters are shucked in front of you at the bar. I tried Rock shrimp for the first time tonight and I highly recommend it. Oysters are from Virginia and they are pretty big. I ordered them Raw but I feel like they would be better steamed for the type of oyster it is. Still super yummy! The pretzel came out super hot, nice airy and fluffy and comes with cheese. Lastly, we ordered their wings with medium sauce. Huge and jumbo! Only thing is that I felt like it needs more sauce. Definitely will be back read more

Great place for wings, raw oysters, better than average bar food and beers. I believe they use an air fryer so nothing is technically fried, which makes us happy. The food comes out fresh, hot and at a good pace. Family owned and operated. On this visit mom was filling in until daughter showed up for work and mom was friendly, knowledgeable and hard working. Our second visit here. One of the few places you can get Rock Shrimp in town and it was even better the second time around. They've been here as long as we can remember (1990's?) so they know what they're doing and they do it right. Mom and pop place that deserves and earned the love of Orlando and surrounding communities. read more

Worst service and people! Now I know why it is empty on a Saturday. The worst attitude from a server so we left. Have your 5 regulars

Some may prefer oysters that taste like salt water, but I don't tend to enjoy drinking 1/4 cup of salty ocean water with every bite of oyster. The inside of the place is just a typical neighborhood bar look. Nothing pretty to look at. read more

Thirsty Gator - $35 for a bucket. - Sports Bars Near Me - Winter Park, Florida

One of the best places I have ever had for oysters! They also bake their wings absolutely amazing!

Small intimate and friendly. The servers and bartender was very attentive. The oysters and rock shrimp were great!

Typical dive bar. Food was edible, not great. Service was friendly but slow. Just your average local place.

I found this place when I moved my son to Winter Park Florida. We tried the wings, oysters, and a big ass burger. The owner was there and greeted us and made us feel welcome. Very friendly place in a low key location, beer was on ice so it was nice and cold. All the food was great and every time I visit my son, we head over to the Thirsty Gator. If Florida is playing it gets busy. read more

Great seafood. Great staff. Best oysters in Orlando. Tim the owner is on site daily making sure the customers are well taken care of and the food is the best he can serve. Best little secret in Orlando! read more

A bunch of us retired air traffic controllers and tecnicians from Orlando international airport, had a small reunion at theTHIRSTY GATOR. The owner Tim is the brother of one of our controllers and has been there over 35 years. The drinks are great and the service is fantastic. But I want to tell you about the shrimp(peel n eat) and oysters. Tim gets his oysters from New Orleans and never shucks them until the actual order comes in. My shrimp were quite large and were the tastiest shrimp I have ever had in my life. That's a mighty big statement from a guy that orders peel and eat shrimp every where it's available. Jim, who was sitting next to me tried a few of my shrimp. I likewise tried a few of his oysters, and they were superb. read more