Alegria’s Seafood

Décor — Cozy like any other Mexican joint.
Service — Good and Courteous but a little late
Food — Impressive. Chips were warm and fresh. Salsa was fresh and good.
So was the guacamole.
We order shrimp tacos and Grilled Snapper Nayarit style.
It was tasty and appetizing. The Nayarit sauce is flavourful.
The order was for a small snapper, but it was still a lot of food for one.
Overall good food. Will try again the Nayarit cuisine at the place.

I really like the squid thing I ordered. It was drenched in seafood and white sauce. I’ll be coming back soon!

This is a so good Mexican restaurant! The seafood is so great! I love the fish and shrimp with their self made source on it. If you wanna try a tropical seafood dinner, I highly recommend this place!

They have an incredible creative seafood menu and very good prices. The whole red snapper I had was 12.99 and came with fries, salad, rice, and garlic bread. The fish could pass for something at a fine restaurant but the rice was clearly the quick cook kind and salad while very good used ice burg lettuce. No complaints for the price. If they has used fancier greens and jasmine rice, this plate could be served at a high end restaurant for 30.00. The margarita was great too with Patron silver tequila for 9.99 (14 ounces). Décor and ambiance was a lot of fun. Family friendly. Very nice and friendly staff. Octopus is their speciality and they have oysters too. Prices in general very reasonable but also have some stuff at market price so don’t know what those would have cost. I would definitely go back to try other items!

I am from Texas and I love Mexican and seafood usually separately… I have now mixed the two with this perfect little gem. The guac rivals my own homemade the wait staff is awesome the price is right and I truly hope they survive… I will take this over cucos and lacasita any day… personalized service just wonderful I can’t rave enough and my order was even messed up. I ordered shrimp taco and steak taco and they brought two shrimp but everything was so good and fresh. definitely will be back.

Wonderful experience at this unusual Mexican fare. Not your everyday Mexican food. Very savory. The place is festive and you feel like you are on vacation in Mexico. We had Ostiones especiales for an appetizer (half doz was more than enough for the two of us) then had Caldos (broth) filled with seafood. Next time bring a bib because we made a mess! Worth every delicious mouthful. Too full for anything else. Our waiter Ivan was great and the owner was so friendly. We will for sure come back. So much more to try

Can’t recommend this place enough. Best food I’ve had in Columbus in such a long time, we’ll be back soon mainly because I can’t wait to try another item on the menu.

Visiting Ohio, I was craving some authentic Mexican seafood, after reading the reviews, I thought it was worth the 30 minute drive from where I was staying. It was worth it, the food is delicious, authentic and they are super friendly. Highly recommended.

Very authentic Mexican seafood the way it’s supposed to be. Excellent meal. Fun, casual atmosphere. Great service. And a good price. What else is there? Good food, good service and good price. We will definitely be back.

Alegria’s had a lot of ups and downs for me, so I’d have to put it right around average. First off, the service is not the greatest in the world. I’m not sure if the guys working are new, but they’re pretty slow, and they forgot a some things on my order (and apparently on the people behind us as well). It’s not a huge restaurant, and there weren’t a whole lot of people in there, so I think they could really step it up.
We started off with the ceviche, which my girlfriend really liked, chips and guac, and the cheese empanadas. I really loved the guacamole here. You can tell it’s made fresh with onions, tomatoes, and a whole lot of cilantro, and the chips that come with it were great too. The cheese empanadas were also tasty, but I think that had to do more with the delicious sauce that came with it. It was hard to tell what all was in it, but it looked mayo based and had a bit of a kick. The empanadas are pretty heavy so beware getting a large entrée.
For my entrée, I had to try the huge red snapper, Nayarit style. I’d probably suggest going with the smaller portion if you’ve had some appetizers, because this thing’s a monster, and it comes with fries and rice as well. I’m kind of torn on this. I really liked the Nayarit sauce that came with it, but the fish was a bit dry to me. The outside felt completely dried out while the inside was a bit more moist. The flavor was decent, but I think a bit more sauce would have helped, since the fish is pretty mild. If I were to get it again, I might try one of the hotter sauces.
My girlfriend had the chorizo tacos, and those were really great! I really enjoyed the seasonings mixed in with the chorizo, a bit cinnamon-​y, which is just how I like it.
Overall, I’d probably try this place again if I was in the area, but it’s a bit out of the way for me. They offer a lot more than just fish, so if you’re not sure if you want seafood, don’t hesitate to check them out. It’s a solid choice for more authentic Mexican in the area.

Oh snap – per!
Oh what a cheesy pun. I believe I have a right to be super skeptical about a strip mall seafood restaurant, next to a dollar theater, in the heart of landlocked Ohio. But damn!!! They really delivered!
The service was lovely. My server seemed a little awkward and nervous but he was genuine and made some great recommendations. He was also incredibly likable and accommodating!
«Want some Free ceviche?»
«Huh?»
“Would you like some Free ceviche?”
«Free?»
“Yes, it’s complimentary.”
«Hellz yeah!»
I got the small snapper plate, Nayarit per my servers recommendations. I don’t know if the cook liked me, or they hooked me up with extra but I got 2 snappers! The Nayarit sauce is super savory and not what I expected. The best way I can describe it is Mexican soul food.
The fish came out eyeballs and all. I have had my fair share of exotic eats but I had no idea what to do with the fish. I was determined and wasn’t going to ask for help. I got a mouth full of fin and bones on my first bite… But I figured it out and it was surprisingly easy to eat, with the tender meat sliding right off the side!
I recommend a side plate, extra napkins, and an organized plan of attack whilst attempting the snapper!
Easily one of the better places I have tried this year!

Round two was just as amazing as our first visit. Anything prepared «Nayarit» style is amazing! My husband and I sat there in awe at the portions of fresh seafood that they serve you. Its truly exceptional for the prices.
The owners (husband and wife) both made it a point to stop by our table to see how everything was. They are very kind and genuine. I can tell that they are putting their heart and soul into the success of their restaurant.
Alegria’s Seafood is on my top 10 favorite places to eat in Columbus.
Believe the hype people… And go to Allegria’s Seafood… now!

My husband and I visited Alegria’s Seafood on a Saturday night due to the many positive reviews here. There were several tables occupied, but they were not busy at all. We were seated immediately and had the choice of booth or table.
We enjoyed the chips and salsa while looking over the menu. The salsa was very fresh and just a little spicy. My husband quickly settled on the blackened salmon because he liked the picture in the menu. I was a little overwhelmed with all the choices. I chose the Pina Rellena because it came with a variety of seafood and I love pineapple.
The food came out in a timely manner. My husband enjoyed his salmon, but didn’t eat all of his vegetables. I ate all of the yellow squash on his plate and thought it was great. I got a huge pineapple filled with piping hot cream sauce and seafood that was generously covered in cheese. All of the seafood was great. My favorite was the octopus. It came with fries, rice, and a salad – I really only ate two fries and the fresh fruit off of the salad because I was full from the seafood. I wish the sauce had been less liquidy and that I had more pineapple on the side, but I really enjoyed my meal. I look forward to returning and trying more things off the menu.

I’m not a seafood person at all, but I really enjoyed Alegria’s. I can’t speak to any «authenticity» of the food because I haven’t been to the regions they hail from, but I can say that everything I ate tasted really great and they have some non-​seafood options that looked really tasty.
I had a steak dish with rice and beans – they were not refried beans, which surprised me, but they were tasty. almost like spicy barbecue beans. The rice was seriously awesome. (I know, usually you don’t rave about rice, right? But I could have eaten more of it for sure.) The steak was good and slathered in a spicy salsa. The dish came with a side of guacamole and corn tortilla quesadillas.
My husband had a mixed seafood dish that he liked a lot (I didn’t try it because, yeah, no seafood.)
I do wish, for the price point, that the salsa they serve initially was a little better. (I know, it’s a weird thing to nitpick but… it’s the first thing you eat and I would love to see better salsas overall in Mexican restaurants). My food was great but the cut of steak was around the same grade as carne asada, so $ 15-​ish is a tiny bit steep for the dish. The price point is just a little higher than I would want to pay on the regular for Mexican food, but don’t make a mistake – the food is delish and I think it’s worth it, we’re just frugal and don’t often pay that much to eat out.
Plus, also, since they have a lot of seafood and that’s expensive to stock, I get it. However, since I don’t eat that, I can’t speak to the quality of it.
I also really liked the service. I could tell our server was a little new to serving, but he was really attentive and did a good job. The person who brought out our food seemed like she might be a manager or owner and she was fantastic. Everyone was nice and made the experience special.
I definitely will be back (my husband will probably insist) and I am looking forward to it. It also looks like they deliver through Skip the Dishes!

DELICIOUS FOOD!!! REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!
If you want fantastically prepared seafood in Columbus, come here.
The highest compliment we can pay a restaurant is «we would go back and order EXACTLY the same thing all over again.» Well, we would. It’s that good.
We will CRAVE the shrimp empanadas, and the shrimp wrapped in bacon. Both were absolutely fantastic.
The fish filet rellano — a fish filet stuffed with crab, shrimp, octopus, etc. covered in a mushroom cream sauce, was also really good.
The complimentary ceviche and chips & salsa were really good, too. As was the Tres Leches cake — very authentic and not too sweet or soggy (nice work, Melissa!).
I will admit, after reading the other reviews I was curious, and approached Allergia’s Seafood with some trepidation. But the food lived up to every positive word written in other reviews.
Sure, the location is next to a movie theatre. And yes, the ambiance and décor are a little like dining in a really nice, colorful fishbowl. And the prices aren’t taco stand cheap, because this ain’t no taco stand. This is very high quality, well prepared, well presented and served, great food.
Service was friendly and attentive. Drinks were strong and well made. The margarita is made with GOOD tequila, and plenty of fresh lime juice — definitely one of the best margaritas in the entire city (spend the extra money on the Allegria’s Margarita made with Patron).
The owners — Juan and Melissa — are really nice people and fabulous cooks.
Oh… we didn’t get the whole fish — yet — but it looked really incredible.
And… one of my best gauges of any ethnic restaurant is whether some of the fellow patrons are «experts» on the restaurant’s cuisine. Numerous of our fellow diners appeared to be of Mexican descent, and all of them ordered the whole fish.
Allegria’s Seafood is one of the most unique and best restaurants in all of Columbus.
We’ll be back… in just a few days.

Fantastic, a distinctively coastal Mexican experience. Complimentary ceviche on a large shell was outstanding, salsa had fresh cilantro — chips were a little stale.
We had whole deep fried snapper and Tilapia that did not disappoint. Grilled salmon with vegetables, great. The prawns stole the show; they cost about $ 45 but we all gorged ourselves and couldn’t finish them — they were simply outstanding.
Refried beans had a kick and were topped with Queso fresca — ver’ good. The salad that comes with the main dishes — very fresh, very good [basic veggie] ingredients and skillfully prepared. Fries were good but out of place.
Service was a little slow but communal so we always had what we needed. The menu was big but we had no trouble choosing our meal, our primary waitress was very knowledgeable.

Super tasty! Juan and Melissa have created a little gem. Don’t let the décor fool you, this place has top notch food. We had the shrimp empanadas as an appetizer and the bacon wrapped shrimp dish and stuffed filet dinner. We also had the Tres Leches cake for dessert. And last but not least, Anejo margaritas!
The best compliment I could give is that I wouldn’t change a thing, I would order it ALL again. Lots of food, great for sharing.
And many people ordered the whole fish while we were there. They looked gorgeous and were devoured.
Check this place out– and soon!

Seafood and Columbus often don’t jibe.
A landlocked city in a landlocked state can’t contend with the quality of the freshly netted bounty of the coastal states. It’s a shame as I love seafood. Yet I rarely go for it here, as many treks to the beaches have spoiled me.
But when a place fills an interesting niche as Alegria does it raises my interest; Mexican seafood is certainly a novel cuisine, one that is patently obvious when you think of it.
Once anchored on Perimeter Loop in Dublin, Alegrie is now docked in Carriage Place, Bethel among the sea of ethnic fare in the area. It is next to the movie theatre. It was my native voyage there and seemed from the outside to be a typical strip mall quick stop. It is actually more than that. Themed with colorful cartoon plaques hung in front of baby blue lagoon paint and matching chairs, the small space is consistent with the causal-​fast food model embarked by Chipotle. Yet it has a bar that serves drafts, mix drinks and tequilas, putting it more in line with a ‘spend some time’ causal place.
I ordered the Fileta Ralleno, a fish fillet stuffed with shrimp, octopus, scallop, crab, and clam meat with vegetables under a mushroom cream. It came with a side of Mexican style fries, and a choice of garlic bread. Served on a white flat place the meals here come in artistic placement. This dish was very good. The different tastes of the various seafood complimented each other well under the sauce, and gave each bite a diversity, a slightly or drastic different taste from the last. All of them were a pleasant surprise to my tongue and satisfied my seafood craving. Yes it still wasn’t as fresh as say Miami or Nagshead but it was superb for C-​town.
The bar has Mexican beer on tap. I came during Happy Hour and had a draft Dos XX lager for ½ off. They also had Pacifico, Modelo, and Corona Light on tap. Margaritas here look promising, though I didn’t partake.
My four star rating is bordering on 5. Some negatives: the staff was very friendly and helpful, they have a great attitude, but they are still warming up to the processes. I saw a little confusion, although it did not effect my experience at all and it will probably work itself out as they gain more experience or feel for their new surroundings. Kinks are expected. The space can get cramped, although they do have a small patio for extra room. The bar, I felt, was too cramped and gave little space for food and beer. But there is no fatal negs and the staff is hard working.
All in all I loved the place. Note: this is no cheap taco place; my dinner was $ 15.99 which I think is about right for the quality and quantity of the meal. Add the happy hour Dos XX (three 16-​ounces) with tip and I spent $ 30. So this is a date, experience, or quality food kind of place. But it is worth it.

I usually don’t write reviews based on a first visit so with that said — we’ve had dinner at Alegria twice and all I can say is that I can’t wait to go back! Ignore the fact that you are in a shopping center — once you walk in you’re in a different world. The décor, the scents, the friendly staff… and the perfectly cooked Mexican coastal seafood dishes… yes this is a rarity in Columbus.
You will not find your typical cheese heavy Mexican dishes here but what you will find is fresh seafood cooked to perfection coastal Mexican style! Our most recent meal was the epic mariscada which feeds about 4 to 6 people. It’s essentially a table size platter with fresh whole fish, stuffed lobster, shrimp 4 ways, crab legs, seafood stews, delicious mussels, scallops… and I’m sure I’m leaving some things out. It takes about an hour to prepare but every single thing on that platter was cooked to perfection.
I tend to judge seafood restaurants on how well they cook octopus and theirs just melted in my mouth. The margaritas are in a class of their own. The soup bowls are so good! The staff is always friendly and on top of things. Prices are reasonable considering the quality of seafood. And the skilled chef… he creates works of delicious art!
If you want fried and cheesy chimichangas… move on to another restaurant. If you want a great dining experience and you love fresh seafood… this is your place! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves! Happy dining!
***Update, there is a now a lunch menu with traditional items like chimichangas, enchiladas, and tacos. I’m sure the food is delicious but we come here for the fresh seafood!

Food was not only delicious, but absolutely beautifully plated and more than worth the price. We had the chilled shrimp and octopus cocktail which looked even better than the photograph in the menu, was filled to the brim with shrimps and octopus bits, topped with fresh avocado, and had a delicious and unique tasting cocktail sauce with just enough kick. Also had a mixed seafood ceviche tostada piled high with crab meat, large chunks of octopus, fresh shrimp and fish. Excellent citrus taste and the perfect consistency, generous portions of avocado and tomato.
Décor and furniture is ridiculously bright and cheerful but cohesive. Atmosphere was lovely.
Our server was quick, efficient, kind and knowledgeable of the menu. Food was very prompt, everything was explained properly. We were a little skeptical to come in because of the ambiguous window front, but wow was this a hidden gem.