Market by the Bay Takeout Restaurant

Awesome seafood place. The fried oysters and shrimp are tops in the Mobile area. Located at Hwy 98 close to I-​10, it is a small restaurant with about maybe 10 tables total with the bigger dining area located across the entrance in the fish market. If you want fresh seafood cooked the way it should be cooked, Market By The Bay is your place. The gumbo is incredible, too. Authentic Gulf seafood in a casual dining setting. Best in the Eastern Shore.

Location is easy to find which restaurant is located on the main street. If you are looking for a great atmosphere restaurant, i suggest to not come here. However, they serve great seafood in big plate to fill your stomach the whole day!

Ate here while on vacation. Read the reviews and thought we’d try it out. Definitely not the cleanest or fanciest place, but not awful either. I’m not a huge fan of fried food, but the food was good. I ordered the seafood platter with crab claws. My wife ordered the grilled shrimp and it was great. Customer service was great. Very pleasant people.

The hospitality level is outstanding, all the entrées are great. There are a variety of combos to choose from. The food is all fried to perfection. The ketchup, however has a vinegar taste that you may or may not like depending on your taste. You get a large amount of food for your money. I would definitely prefer the shrimp over fish, but both are great. Overall «Market by the Bay», is a friendly, and great place to eat while your in Fairhope.

I’ve eaten here a number of times and the food is always very good and normally the wait staff is friendly. However yesterday was quite different. The hours posted on their door stated closing at 9:00. We walked in about 8:20, were looked at as though we were aliens from another planet and rudely told, «We are closed». When questioned about the posted closing time, we were informed that they were closing early. Really felt as though they just didn’t want us in their restaurant. If a restaurant has to close early then post a sign on your door and at least look as though you are closing. I’ll think long and hard before going back because I really don’t like being treated rude and I can take my business somewhere that appreciates my money and the wait staff enjoys receiving a tip. In fact, the restaurant that we went to very much appreciated our business and were very friendly. Market by the Bay lost revenue on Saturday night and has also lost my recommending them to others.

Don’t come here if you’re looking for ambience… or dieting and then subtract stars for the lack of healthy options! This is a dive that serves southern fried seafood at it’s best, staffed by friendly people that actually make you feel like they are glad you stopped by! We had the seafood platter with onion rings, gumbo, salad and soft shell crab. Plump juicy oysters, ample sized shrimp! Husband pronounced it flawless right down to the red sauce! Even the salad pleased. Fast and hot… it is SO good! You better go now before the line forms! It’s on the «America’s Best Seafood Dives» list in this month’s Coastal Living magazine so word is out!

I have eaten here more than a few times over the past couple of years and the food is a bit hit or miss. Recently, I ordered the fried shrimp dinner and It appears I ended up with what had to be half an order. On the flip side, I have ordered the Po Boy here before and received lots of nice, plump shrimp. The price is also a bit on the high side given the plastic utensils etc. I do appreciate the fact they closed in the patio and now offer more room for eat in seating.

The food was great-​the service was not! The cashier that took our order was RUDE and ruined the experience.

Decent food. Fairly expensive. The poboy was ok but the bread was too overwhelming and took away from the shrimp. Cole slaw was above average. Their blackened seafood platter was expensive and covered in some spice that apparently meant blackened. It wasn’t cooked right, didn’t taste right, and I just didn’t enjoy it. I love spicy food but this wasn’t even spicy. Just an over powering of some spice that just didn’t sit right with me…
I dunno if I’ll be back. I had better food for way less money at other places.

The grilled shrimp were smaller than my little finger and once the tails were removed quite tiny. Flavorless unless drenched in a condiment. Cole slaw was quite good. Overall kinda disappointing.

Casual dining but great food! Huge beautiful shrimp. Very tasty!

Great food and service. The Po-​boys are overflowing and the the side are great. NIce outside dining. Great place to get a good food that comes out fast.

I’m very surprised that no one has reviewed this great little restaurant! We moved to Fairhope a month ago and have been trying lots of restaurants in the area. We went to Market by the Bay last night and had a great, inexpensive meal — the combo of fried oysters and shrimp with french fries and cole slaw. The large portion of seafood was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The place was quite busy with diners inside and on the patio and lots of takeout orders. What it lacks in atmosphere, it more than makes up for in great food and friendly, fast service. If you haven’t tried it, you should!!!