The Wharf Express

My spouse and I visited yesterday for an early lunch. It wasn’t busy at all but as noon approached more patrons arrived; many for take out orders, I opted for a starter of fried blue crab claws and a ‘petite’ bowl or red beans and rice; while my spouse got an oyster po-​boy. We also ordered a side of the hush puppies. Everything arrived soon and was freshly prepared. I could have made a meal out of the crab claws, but at $ 8.99 for four ounces I decided not. The red beans and rice was tasty with some great blackened shrimp, also with small bits of Andouille sausage and what appeared to be Louisiana hot sauce. In addition to rice it also had orzo in it; which I found a bit odd. My wife’s po-​boy was spot on with crispy bread, fresh veggies and of course some great fried oysters — but I thought a few more would have been better. Lastly, the side of hushpuppies (a bunch of them) were good, but could have been better with chopped onions and maybe some sliced fresh Serrano peppers in the batter and not been even a hint of sweetness — which does NOT belong in any cornbread product. Overall I would recommend this place. Next time we are coming for dinner and having a fried fish and seafood feast (aka Panacea platter (s).

Love the food and the service here! Both are always consistently good. I recommend their blue crab claws and crab cakes.

Food poisoning 3-​13-​2014 from the wharf tacos. We are miserable.

This place is truly 1 of a kind — where you can have a complete fresh seafood meal for around 10 dollars. What a great concept. We had blackened mullet and bacon wrapped shrimp and both were made to perfection. We had to try the mullet because they were jumping all over the place during our Everglades tour … there were quite a few bones but it was very tasty. The loaded grits and hush puppies were also fantastic.
This is a new chain … they now have 6 locations and I can just know the next time I come to Florida they will be all over the place.

Very good food and great service! Be sure to get hush puppies with your order!

Excellent place to eat while in Tallahassee!

Not the worst seafood I’ve ever eaten, but only slightly better than Captain D’s. Good for a quick bite and serves adequate, but not ample portions.
Substituting fish on the Panacea Platter (rather than mullet) seemed to be far too complicated, but refills were offered on drinks and an inquiry was made into our satisfaction.

A quick seafood must in Tallahassee. Fresh and delicious. Yum hard to get a table at lunch.

So anybody who’s lived in Tallahassee long enough remembers The Wharf — the old 5-​star bastion down Apalachee Parkway (and later, Thomasville Road) that served up some of the best seafood in the area. They resurrected the old brand in the form of a take-​out joint christened The Wharf Express. They’ve recently expanded from their closet-​sized establishment further up Mahan to a new spot in the Lafayette Plaza near Publix at Mahan and Capital Circle.
Walking in, you’ll notice that it’s still a take-​out place at heart. You order your meal and if you feel so inclined, can sit down and have your food delivered to you at the table — or just take it out and go home. The interior décor leaves a whole lot to be desired but chances are you likely don’t care. If you’re at The Wharf Express you’re there for some proper Southern-​style seafood.
I decided to go with that old standby, the catfish. You have the option of having it grilled, broiled, or fried and it comes with hush puppies and 2 sides. Naturally I went for the fried fish, cheese grits, garlic green beans, and the ever-​so-​important hush puppies. The catfish came out light and flaky with a crispy but not overbearing crust. Paired up with some hot sauce and the perfectly creamy cheese grits I was taken back to those days down at their first restaurant down the Parkway as a kid. The garlic green beans packed a garlic punch but were well cooked and delicious, and the hush puppies were crunchy and well seasoned.
It’s good, cheap take-​out seafood on the East side of town.