Owens Fish Camp

Fairly bland, somewhat overcooked, kind of overpriced

Best meal we’ve had this trip! There was 1.5 hour wait on a Tuesday night, but it was worth it. There’s a cool outdoor area where you can wait for your table. EAT HERE, THIS PLACE IS GREAT!!!

WOW!!! Owens Fish Camp had me at hello!!! The atmosphere and ambiance is amazing!!! We were quoted a 30 minute wait time and I gave the hostess my cell number so that I could receive a text when my table was ready (that was a first!). While we waited we sat outside in what I call the backyard. It was adorned with all types of tree foliage and antique furniture. But don’t worry about the mosquitos, OFF insect repellent was bountiful.
After 31 minutes our table was ready. We sat out on the front patio with a great view for people watching. I had the hot crab dip as an app. CHEESY!!! And DELISH!!! This is not for those suffering from lactose intolerance!!! My son and I share the camp basket (fried fish, fried shrimp and fried oysters). There was a delightful surprise of fried okra in the basket!!! This country girl was HAPPY!!! Overall good was awesome, just beware, there’s no free refill on sodas. Although they make it up by giving it to you in the old school glass soda bottles. How cute! Hope this review helps! Happy eating!!!

Love this place! This is the one restaurant I make sure I come to every time I visit Sarasota. And each time I always order the scallops with pulled pork, succotash and grits. It is amazing. This restaurant experience is unlike any other. The back porch area makes it easy to wait for your table while you order a drink from the bar. Only wish we had an Owen’s Fish Camp at home!

I absolutely loved this place food was AMAZING! Service was great, loved the décor and the backyard setting was so cozy and charming. Surprisingly the price was not bad at all! I would say very reasonable for an amazing experience

I can say honestly, I was scared when I pulled up to the place, thought I was on a back street at some dump. Really weird statue as you enter the establishment. I thought… what the hell am I in for, the best meal ever… really. I went with blackened Florida scamp with the brown butter ssuce, with garlicky green beans and the smashed parsley potatoes, WOW!

Good seafood is plentiful in this area, but Owens is as good as it gets.
Owens has become a staple for myself and my girlfriend for whenever we head to Sarasota. The seafood is fresh, and you can get quality basics (shrimp, fried fish, etc.) or some of the more funky options (the mahi mahi sandwich with bacon and jam is excellent).
What really makes Owens special in my mind, however, is the ambiance. It is decorated to feel a little campy, but the restaurant is wonderfully incorporated into the beautiful trees growing around the building. Step out back and you’ll find yourself in a really neat outdoor area with benches, live music, a cornhole court and fish being cooked on a grill.
The wait can get a little long (which is a good thing), so plan accordingly and expect to wait some. But if you do have to wait, grab a drink at the bar, head out back, and enjoy all the going ons at this fish camp.

Wowza! When at the beach in Lido, we were looking for something less commercialized so we drove just 3 miles into town. Owen’s Fish House did not disappoint. We were told the wait was approx 1 ½ hours. My tummy was talking to me but no worries, we were told to go enjoy the back courtyard area where they were serving drinks and appetizers. There was also a live band to keep us company. The courtyard was so fun and inviting. I could have stayed there all evening. The appetizers consisted of grilled smoked oysters and fresh smoked fish spread. After just about an hour (it went by so quickly) my phone received the exciting text, «your table is ready».
I loved the menu, oysters, fried seafood baskets, collards greens, shrimp and grits. oh the shrimp and grits were by far the best I have ever had the pleasure to eat. Of course there was no room left for dessert but options included fried blackberry pie, Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.
The prices are reasonable, the food is delish and the atmosphere is the BEST. I already can’t wait to return. I may make a special 1 hour trip south the to return!

What an eclectic place to visit, eat and be merry. Great food, drink and vibe. Totally unique to downtown Sarasota. A must visit. Come early as the waits can be long — but not to worry grab a drink in the backyard and chill.

If you do not go to Owen’s you are missing out! You cannot make reservations but DO NOT worry, the «wait» will not seem like a wait at all.
Wander outside and you will find grilled oysters on the fire pit, corn hole, a tire swing and fun eclectic music (check the schedule for that, I do not know if it every night). If you choose not to wait for a table inside they allow you to eat outside. It is a little more self-​service but the atmosphere makes up for it.
This place is FUN! and the food is quite delicious.

Items Selected:
Boiled Hot Roadside Peanuts
Smoked Fish Spread, Saltine Crackers
Fried Green Tomato Salad, Goat Cheese, Country Ham
Pan Seared Kitty Mitchell, Garlic Hollandaise, My Way or The Highway Cheesy Grits, Smashed Parsley Potatoes
Bourbon Pecan Pie, Fresh Cream
Key Lime Bar, Fresh Whipped Cream
Fried Black Cherry Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream
Having spent a fair amount of time in Florida as a child, trips to Disneyworld or visiting family often filling the week of Spring Break, it was finally with a mature palate that a return was made to one of the State’s many Fish «Camps» or «Houses,» Owen’s of Sarasota proving more than worthy its region-​wide acclaim.
Set a few miles from the ocean, an old home and shed overgrown in palms as well as mangroves converted to a restaurant some several years ago, Owen’s Fish Camp has made its way to the top of several local dining lists by way of its strong ties with local fishermen plus a focus on sustainability, not everything on the menu hauled in from Florida waters but the daily selection of «Naked Fish» offering a bounty of options that were still swimming that morning, the decision of how to cook them left for those lucky enough to land a seat to explore.
Undoubtedly sort of a «big deal,» the 4pm opening often sporting a small line while those arriving past 5:30pm are likely to be greeted by a wait, seating as well as service inside of one of four dining areas is cozy with plenty of Southern Hospitality, the staff appearing to be all female and dressed in torn-​off shorts with tight T-​shirts that seem to target the male audience, though the majority of the diners are old enough to be their Granddads.
Tucked into a small two-​top along a center wall with a window open to the patio outdoors, it was after a brief review of the placemat menu along with a few specials that an order was decided and beginning with two «jars» also offered for those out-​back waiting for a table while listening to Bluegrass the Roadside Peanuts were as irresistible as memory had suggested, the smoked fish spread as creamy as it was well balanced and one of the very few situations in which Saltine Crackers should ever be served in a dining establishment.
A bit underwhelmed by Fried Green Tomatoes, the flavorless breading too loosely adherent while the typical acidity of each round was lost somewhere in the cheese and country ham, a $ 30 entrée of Pan Seared Kitty Mitchell was undoubtedly a far more memorable investment as the «Calico Grouper» came across clean with a buttery finish, the garlic hollandaise not particularly useful as a condiment while Cheesy Grits and Crispy smashed Potatoes were each well conceived side dishes.
Perhaps not a place many might think of for dessert, a damned shame since the pastry Chefs are actually turning out some Southern Classics that compare favorably with the best between Miami and Tampa Bay, those looking to end on a sweet note are encouraged to check out the reference standard Key Lime Pie that can be eaten with or without housemade whipped cream depending on the diner’s idea of «tradition,» an equally impressive flavor found in the Fried Pie with outsourced Vanilla Ice Cream while the Bourbon Pecan Pie might just be the best thing on the whole menu as boozy notes are balanced by Fresh Cream and sweetness atop an all butter crust with plenty of toasted nuts on top.

I ordered Lobster Cobb salad which was fresh and delightful! My friend Sylvie ordered the fish tacos which looked super good!
Floor and walls might need a washing.

During our 3 day stay we ate her twice. Each time we opted not to eat in the dining room and ate in the garden. This place gets packed be prepared to wait or show up at 5pm when they open.
A little bit about the system. You can order from the bar and they will let you eat in the garden. The garden serves as an outside bar/​waiting room. You do not have to wait for a table inside. It’s a little strange because you are eating with people who are waiting for a table. But it works. It feels like you are eating in some real cool backyard.
Overall just a very memorable experience. I would recommend if you are visiting Sarasota, FL
Pros
2 mini lobster rolls — Unlike Lobster rolls in the Northeast they add a little more to the base mixture. So expect something a little different.
Fried Green Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese, Country Ham
Fried blackberry pie — Simply the best. Not too sweet and never greasy
Weekend they grill oysters that you can purchase in the garden
Cons
None

Holy Sarasota…
As we all know Sarasota is already saturated in good foodie places. As hard as it is to decide on a place, I HIGHLY recommend stopping by Owens Fish Camp.
Finding this place is quite… random. Owens still in the downtown area, but in an apartment and housing area. It’s tucked away in a little corner, quite literally playing hide and seek with ya. When we were looking for it, we drove by the place at least three times before finding it. There’s plenty of parking around the area so don’t stress too much about that.
The atmosphere is probably the best part of the of Owens. You get surrounded by a bombardment of decorations that transports you to basically the shrimp docks. If you’re planning on eating inside, make a reservation. This place gets packed! It was a Sunday night and the wait was well over 40 minutes long.
If you’re like me and are spontaneous with your meals throughout the day, I would recommend going to the outside patio. You order straight from the bar, but there’s no service. By no service I mean they don’t even give you forks or knives and they don’t call your name when you food is ready. You literally have to check to see if it’s ready every time you hear them ring that infamous bell. But it’s well worth going outside to eat.
I would HIGHLY, but seriously, recommend eating outside. What are the perks you ask?
1. You don’t have to wait for a table. Saves you time.
2. You don’t have to tip since your not being served; everything is brought to a window and you pick it up. Saves you money.
3. You get to immerse yourself in a beautifully crafted outdoor patio that reminds you of the set from Parenthood and you have live music. Saves you from a boring conversation.
Truly, what else can you ask for?
The food itself was goooooood. We ordered the mussel and clam pasta and the jambalaya. Both were very well-​seasoned and delicious. I would really recommend the pasta if you’re looking for a filling meal and if you’re a heavy seafood lover!
ONLY downside was the blonde bartender who gave us attitude for every single little thing. She even rolled her eyes at us once… like seriously?
tl;dr — So far one of my favorite places in Florida. If you’re looking for some superior dining, immersive experience, and all-​around fun night, stop by Owens!

Another great experience at the Fish Camp! Had my wife with me this time and we went on a Friday night. Long wait but worth it — and they had live music, appetizers, and beer and wine available in the courtyard while waiting for our table. Great atmosphere and a truly enjoyable experience — before we even got a table!
Dinner was spectacular, too. My wife had soft shell crab as an entrée and it was outstanding. I had triple tail snapper, seared, and it was a beautiful piece of fish that was cooked to perfection. The sides were all good, but the grits stole the side-​show — amazingly creamy. Meal came out quickly and the service was impeccable. This has become one of my favorite restaurants anywhere!

This place is a staple in sarasota! I have been a few times! I have always liked the décor and the ambience. The people are also pretty nice. However, I wish I could give this 3.5 stars, because the food is sometimes lacking. Since I like the rest of the restaurant so much, I went ahead and went for 4 stars (definitely isn’t a 3 star restaurant)
Likes: They have a great backyard area with live music and grilled appetizers where you can sit and wait for your table. The staff is very friendly. Cheap beer. REALLY cute ambience and décor.
Dislikes: Usually have to wait a long time for a table. Not many vegetarian options for guests who don’t eat seafood. The pecan crusted trout main menu item (when I got this dish the fish had a super soggy crust and didn’t have much flavor) and some other items are sometimes not as tasty as others.

Lists are easier, right?
–Food was excellent. It’s that simple. You really can’t go wrong with anything. We had deviled eggs, lobster rolls, snapper, and mussels/​clams.
–Backyard area was awesome to enjoy while we waited for a table. They had a bluegrass band out there jamming too.
–We asked our waitress, Brittany, for suggestions on area nightlife. We ran into her later on and she had us do tequila shots. Uhhh if her boss is reading this I’ll also say she did a great job and she deserves a bonus.

Not your typical 5 star Gourmand dining experience but 5 stars nonetheless. This place should be noted on «Top 10 Unique Dining Locations Across the Country» or something similar. The local vibe, the local flair, the local color is beyond description.
Have a drink outside in the eclectic junk yard which is oh so warm and welcoming and perfectly put together. Savor the smoky smell of the fire pit where you can get boiled peanuts, smoked oysters and «cheap wine» — yes, that’s what the sign says. This is all while listening to a band play outside. The pit master outside is a super cool old Southern Boy.
We so loved the vibe, we forego going inside the dining room when our table was finally ready — 3x we turned the hostess down. Inside is sweet too but the vibe in that courtyard was incredible. You could hear the fellow patrons all commenting on what a cool place Owens is. So unique. It makes you wonder how restaurants across America have turned into cookie cutter dining choices instead of more local places celebrating the local vibe.
When we finally ended up eating, we both had fish tacos. Me with coleslaw and my friend with Old Bay fries. Our conversation turned quiet as the food was so good. That’s a true test of the food, right? Silence… the gentleman next to us who were in the body armor business, loved their fish dishes too. Couldn’t say enough accolades about the place.
Desserts were Heaven with mounds of REAL whipped cream. Both the key lime pie and chocolate thingy with Oreo crust excellent! I’ll even go back just for dessert and that angelic whipped cream. Yes!
Loved this place Soooo much! Actually did not find on Unilocal search but thru word of mouth — met the musicians at one of the several raw food cafes in the area. Owens was such a great adventure. You have to go. Not even an option not to.
When we finally left, the wait was 1.5 hours. We arrived around 4:30 and the wait then was about 20 minutes. As I mentioned, any wait was irrelevant to us as sitting out back was a little slice of Heaven on Earth.

Owens Fish Camp is an interesting place. The quality of seafood is high. The prices are hit and miss. The wait staff is competent and reactive. The seating, scheduling, et cetera is atrocious.
We visited on 2÷6÷2016. I waited (as is normal here) for 90 minutes before a seat was available. People that arrived after us were seated before us, though reservations are not available here. There didn’t appear to be a rhyme or reason to this, but it was what it was.
A word to the wise about this location:
If there is a special listed on the chalkboards located in the business, and a price isn’t listed, it is expensive.
We ordered:
Shrimp Po Boy. (Decent)
Boiled Peanuts (Decent)
Crispy Fish Sandwich (Mediocre)
Stone Crab Special (Good)
The sandwiches and peanuts were adequate for a full meal. They came with a healthy portioned salad or french fries.
The stone crab claws sounded like a good idea. I’m a native northwester and always like to try the shellfish of other parts of the world. The waitress offered them three times before we agreed to try them, and said they came out at about a pound. I noticed the price wasn’t listed on the chalkboard, but figured they’d be of-​price with other appetizer.
I am not a spendthrift, and would have likely ordered these anyway, but when they came in ticketed at nearly $ 40 for what was significantly less than a pound (5 claws), I was disappointed.
This high volume restaurant is okay, and you can find some interesting dishes, but it isn’t worth a 90 minute wait.

If you are in Sarasota, this is a must-​go experience. They have the freshest fish around and great go-​withs but the atmosphere of an old-​time fishing camp really makes it special. I had the fried green tomato salad, blackened triple tail with brown butter hollandaise, black-​eyed peas with andouille sausage, and spicy collard greens. It was all wonderful. The rest of my party had oyster shooters, sautéed scallops with braised pork and cheesy grits, and fish and chips. Everyone seemed pretty darn satisfied!
If I had it to do over again, the only thing I’d do differently is come early. We got there at 5:30 on a Monday night, albeit over Christmas week, and still had a 30-​minute wait. People who came just a bit later had a 60−90-minute wait. Next time we’ll get there by 5:00 (they open at 4:00) so we have time to try their fried black cherry pie and pecan pie).