Doc's Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar

I was somewhat skeptical on trying Docs despite the great reviews thinking it is just a place for tourists…. Boy was I wrong! Docs exceeded my expectations well beyond my dreams. I am local and a foodie and like trying different food establishments. Circumstances put us in the vicinity of Docs original Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar so we decided to give it a try. The service was excellent as the restaurant was well staffed and well trained. It was refreshing to see young servers and bus boys work together with enthusiasm and properly trained. It was like a smooth running clock ! Starting with the excellent seafood gumbo that was cooked correctly (dark roux) all the way through the huge super seafood platter. Everything I tasted was cooked perfectly. The fried oysters were hands down the best I have ever had, tender , flavorful, not overcooked and very savory. The two huge stuffed crab shells were extremely tasty and cooked to perfection. The shrimp was as good as they advertised, best around as was the fried fish filets As you can see by the pics the portions were generous. The ambience was as expected In an old established restaurant , old time , warm and inviting. Prices were reasonable for the type of food and portions especially in a tourist area. No wonder the locals like this establishment! Their new restaurant in Foley will do great if they can match their original….. We will certainly dine here again

3/26/2025: This place is a little hole in the wall locals eatery claiming to have “The Best Fried Shrimp in the Entire Civilized World”. That’s a heavy statement, so of course, I was intrigued. I can honestly say, they live up to this statement. I live in Houston, Texas where good seafood is abundant and I vacation in Pensacola, Florida every year where I have enjoyed some very tasty shrimp meals. I’ve never had fried shrimp like this! We wanted to try a little of everything, so we opted for the seafood platter and started with the fried onion rings as an appetizer. They could honestly changed their restaurant slogan to include best damn onion rings, best damn gumbo, and best damn fried shrimp! I would recommend the fried shrimp platter and skip the seafood platter. The fried crab was good, the coleslaw was good, the catfish was okay (I’m not a big fan of catfish) and the fried oysters were okay (also not a fan of fried oysters), but the shrimp takes the blue ribbon! Perfectly battered, large shrimp with tasty tartar sauce. It was delicious! The portions are large enough to split. I didn’t count, but there had to be at least 10 large onion rings in our order. They serve them with homemade ranch. We were very satisfied and full after our lunch. They have indoor and outdoor seating. One thing to note if you choose outdoor seating, do not sit by the windows that look into the interior. The door between the inside and outside slams and shakes the windows which was distracting. It didn’t ruin my lunch, but it is something to note. Parking is close by, but the parking lot is somewhat small when they are crowded. Orange Beach, Alabama is a beautiful area to visit. We made the short drive from Pensacola, Florida. They probably have several great restaurants but this one is definitely a spot you don’t want to miss!

My husband said their slogan of “Best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world” is TRUTH. He said it was amazing! We also had soft shell crab and clam strips. Don’t pass this place by!

First, our server was Sandy and she was awesome. The rest was not so good. Our boys ordered the shrimp basket from the kids menu. Neither ate them. They were rubbery and tested really greasey. My wife and I ordered the platter to share. It was $40. We got 2 fish fillers, 4 shrimp, 4 oysters, 2 stuffed crabs and 2 small red potatoes. I was shocked. We won't be back. Oh, their sign says, "Best fried shrimp in the universe." You should take that sign down.

Hard to find a place like this anymore. Most have an over commercial feel but this place feels like the restaurants in went to with my family growing up in Louisiana. Yep, no kidding, they do have the best fried shrimp in the civilized world. I had a dozen shrimp with my grilled chicken salad which, along with our waitress Sandy, were exceptional.

Pam is the sweetest waitress. She pays attention to her customers choices and goes above and beyond for service. Brings me back to diners as a kid. Food is really fresh. Fries and hush puppies are excellently seasoned. Recommend!

Food was great, my parents love the shrimp they got it both times we went! They got 1/2 pound boiled shrimp as an appetizer which I tried and it was good.. (and I don’t even like shrimp that much)😂 and they both got fried shrimp and fries. I got stuffed crab the first night with fries, the second I got a bowl of seafood gumbo! Both were delicious!

As driving by Docs, we read “The Best Fried Shrimp in the Entire Civilized World” We were intrigued, so had to check it out! After our big lunch there, pretty sure we agree! 👍 Big portions, great fried shrimp loaf on nice bread and large amount of large fried shrimp, oyster po boy, and French fries! Hushpuppies were great too! My husband says if you leave hungry there it’s your own fault! Haha 🤣 He is a big foodie and really loved the place. Everything was fried nicely and not too hard and had great flavor! Service was wonderful. Our server was very attentive and made sure we were happy and was enjoying everything. They also have bushwackers! Several different varieties. I had a s’mores one! It was great. They also have a bucket of condiment cups filled with horseradish on your table. We loved the make your own cocktail sauce by adding ketchup and will probably continue to make it this way at home also! Has somewhat of a diner feel, good for all ages. Highly recommend!!

Great service, fresh food comes out fast and hot. Always one of our favorite stops while on vacation.

The quality of food is pretty decent and service was provided in a timely manner but for $40 the two sides consisted of literally 2! Potatoes and 2! Hushpuppies. Kinda ridiculous. Thankfully there is plenty of competition.

Service was timely and cordial. Food was great. Location a little harder to get into parking lot due to street vehicle flow changes.

When visiting OBA we always love to go to Doc's great customer service and food is always delicious!! Doc's is casual and family friendly. The ambiance is a family gathering space. If you are ever in the OBA or area make sure to visit Doc's on at least one night, but you may come more than once during the week.

Below are the negative reasons we gave the restaurant three stars. Please know the waitress was on point and did an excellent job. 1. The price for the food vs. what you actually get is unbalanced. 2. The Mahi Mahi was tough to cut and hard to chew. The seasoning was not as good at other locations. 3. The glass with my alcoholic drink tasted like soap. I did get a new glass that did not taste like soap. 4. The oysters and crab cakes had no flavor. Good remarks about the restaurant. 1. Excellent service 2. Area for kids to play while we waited on food. 3. Hush puppies had great flavor. 4. There is plenty of seating with fans to circulate the air. 5. Military discount.

A 35 year old seafood place. The atmosphere is old school with no fancy designer touches or high end tables and chairs just good fried food. I had the raw oysters which were big and made my own co tail sauce at the tables from supplies in a caddy. The service was super fast and very accommodating. Everything is fried here which I'm not a fan of but French fries were good anyway. Hey it's vacation. Don't look for a discount on oysters just because it's off the beaten path. They were market price just like everywhere else. Disappointed in that, but still good. They also gave me a 10% discount for veteran status. A nice surprise!

We went to Doc's yesterday for lunch and had the $11.99 Blue Plate Special. Entree choices were popcorn shrimp, ribs or fried chicken. Both my wife and I went with the shrimp. My two sides were fried okra and mac and cheese and she chose baked beans and potato salad. The shrimp were perfectly fried and the portion was very generous for a lunch special. Lunch also included a roll and cornbread and a slice of strawberry cake. Sides and breads were very good and service was fast and friendly. Y'all check em out! I see that there's also a Doc's Seafood and Steakhouse in the area so will do further research.

Raw oysters: 1 Onion rings: 5 1 lb steamed shrimp: 3 Fried fish sandwich: 4 Grilled chicken sandwich: 3 Service: 5 Overall rating is a 3. Don't order raw oysters here. Fried chicken is also good. Stick to fried here.

Our favorite restaurant to go to while we are down at the beach. We've been stopping by for the past 10 years and it never disappoints. Fried fish and shrimp combo is hard to beat. Bushwhackers are very good as well.

Doc's is a great local place to eat. It feels like we're eating at an old fishing house. The staff was all very nice. Our server Jana was the best. We had an issue with the margarita and had to send it back (bad batch or heavy hand, either way I couldn't drink it). Jana was understanding and took it back without issue and offered to replace it with something else. They say they have "the best fried shrimp in the civilized world." I'd say it's pretty close! The fried crab claws were also amazing. The fried fish and okra was to be expected. We'd go back!

We ate there twice while in Orange Beach. Yes it's THAT good!!! The food was absolutely amazing as well as their customer service. Their motto is "best fried shrimp in the civilized world" and they're not lying!

Quick, simple. Food is decent and the staff is pleasant enough. If you're looking for the barest boiled seafood with nothing more than a touch of old bay this place will do.

This is a local business that appeared to have been in this location for a very long time. The building was small and quaint but had an awesome vibe to it. Our server was very helpful with answers to our questions. The food though was the very best part. The baked seafood platter had the perfect amount of seasoning and so much food. The fried crab cakes with fried fish was also some of the best I've ever had anywhere. The Cole slaw seemed to have been made from scratch as it had a very distinct taste and sweet side to it. The experience was a great one. Will be back.

Great food! Great service! Get there early for plenty of seating for larger families. Fun souvenir cups for the kids too.

Solid fried seafood, lively atmosphere, and quality service. What you would expect for a fried seafood experience.

Don't miss out on this gem! Fried shrimp really is the best! Fries were crispy and Cole slaw was tasty! Had that local feel, little gift shop. Place was packed! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. You even get to mix your own cocktail sauce! Cheesecake looked good in the cooler but we were so stuffed from lunch there was just no room! They also have a good kids menu.

Service was excellent. Fried shrimp was as good as promised. I don't know that the sides were worth the long wait. My husband ordered fried filet and it vaguely resembled catfish so we inquired and the poor serve mostly whispered "It's swai". Lol! I think it just boiled down to being a tourist trap. It was definitely fun to try though! Staff was super sweet!

Before we embarked on a family vacation in Orange Beach, the nice lady at the rental car place recommended Doc's as a great seafood restaurant. After a day at the beach, we ventured out to Doc's. The place was crowded on a Tuesday night. The building is small with limited seating. Our waitress was a little scatterbrained but took care of us with a smile. Doc's is primarily a fried seafood establishment. All platters are served with large portions. The world-famous fried shrimp was on point; large shrimp, not overly breaded. The crab cakes and baked fish were not that good. The cole slaw was really good along with the fried okra. All of us got a take home box.

Always have the best fried shrimp there when visiting the area. Great home cooked food! Laid back atmosphere. It's always busy, but carry out is smooth!

Food was so good!!! Service was incredible! Very nice and open area, very cool inside. Honey butter with rolls to start and got the yellowfin tuna creole dish. So good and huge piece of fish! Will be returning.

Walked in right around noon and got a table immediately. The staff were incredibly friendly, fast and accommodating. The food was good and our waitress (Emma M.) checked on us, but didn't over do it. I rarely ever give 5 stars but I had a great experience here. I got the type of service that use to exist, but is the exception as opposed to the rule in today's dining out culture.

Food was top notch! Hands down some of the best seafood we've ever had. Recommend the crab cakes and any of the shrimp options. Amazingly kind and friendly staff! Seems this is a staple for both visitors and locals!

Fried shrimp and stuffed crab was great! Staff was really kind and helpful. Super casual, felt like i was really right on the doc!

Fried shrimp great. Outside porch is bearable with fans. No water view. Wait staff are good once they start working the table.

Good food and service both, price was reasonable for the area, I had the fried shrimp and oysters which were good, but the Gumbo was worth the whole trip. Doc's is a must stop for anyone making a trip to Gulf Shores area.

Dined for late lunch on a Monday and luckily missed spring break crowds. The restaurant was full but no wait, and I was immediately seated at the back of the second dining room. The hostess took my drink order and my server, Mary, appeared shortly with a glass of tea and a small refill pitcher. I was there for the "best" fried shrimp, so ordered quickly. In the meantime, Mary brought horseradish cups and tartar. She gently asked if i knew how to make cocktail sauce -- I wasn't bothered since the restaurant was full of mostly winter visitors. Food arrived hot, fresh and quickly! I enjoyed my baker's dozen and the neighboring table's inquisitive toe-dip into southern seafood. My only regret was this was a working lunch so no Bushwhacker -- this time! I will return! Is this my favorite fried shrimp on the island much less the "entire civilized world?" No. The fries could have cooked a tad longer and the slaw not for me -- but the shrimp were yummy and mostly well cooked. (#13 was rubbery.) With tip my lunch was over $30 -- and that's an expensive lunch with no alcohol! I enjoyed my table and the restaurant was cool and sea shack kitschy. I will review my favorite fried shrimp later, but they aren't open for lunch. This restaurant often has astronomical waits. If so, I might consider alternatives.

Mediocre seafood. Mediocre cocktails. Not worth it and I would not recommend it. Not terrible but not great. Just ok

Food was exceptional, waitress was on the ball. Wait was a little long and place was warm. Would recommend arriving early.

Great historic place with southern food and charm at reasonable prices. I love how it looks old and worn down but actually is very clean. You can tell a place is cleaned regularly when the window sills are clean

Amazing!! We waited about an hour which it's the beach so expect that every where. Our waitress was awesome and was very attentive and our food was awesome. There were 5 of us and we ordered both sea food platters the super and the broiled and a plate of popcorn shrimp and and shared so we got to taste a little of everything. We were all stuffed afterwards. They're not lying about the delicious fried shrimp and the jumbo was awesome. We also ordered raw oysters as an appetizer and they were huge. You definitely get what you paid for and this place will always be a stop on my list at Orange Beach.

Food was on point especially today , the server Caitlyn M was a fun server, she has a sense of humor. We come often and always enjoy the atmosphere here. Food is always fresh . Crab claws are the bomb

Husband and I ordered the fried fish Po-Boys for lunch. Fried fish was nothing but tilapia which was tough and inedible. French fries were good.

Amazing fried seafood--platters are enough for two people. Will return when in Orange Beach.

Walked right in & seated for lunch. Menu had numerous options. Clam strips & shrimp were fantastic!! Excellent service!

The most efficient kitchen is ever seen. Food came out perfectly cooked, whether prime rib,hamburger, or seafood Staff friendly and helpful. Bushwacker delicious and very reasonably priced. My husband and I both had hamburgers crisp outside jucy inside. Buns toasted. Busy place. Ample parking.

They claim the best fried shrimp in the "Entire Civilized World" so, that's what I ordered. I haven't travelled the entire civilized, but I've gotta say that the shrimp was absolutely outstanding! The portion was beyond generous, but I wasn't leaving any behind! Perfect light coating, plump perfect fresh shrimp, and they let you mix your own cocktail sauce- which was awesome, since I like mine with lots of horseradish. My hubby had their Grouper, which he ordered blackened, and he was very pleased with his meal as well. Not a fancy place, but the service was efficient, kind and she explained the menu very well!

They are right about the shrimp, "the best fried shrimp in the civilized world." Great gumbo and onion rings. The servers are excellent! Friendly. Patient. Helpful. Go if you're in the area.

I am not a seafood fan, but Doc's was amazing. The server took great care of our large party. You must all be present to be seated. The environment is perfect for families of any size!

Nice local hangout with a diner vibe. Try the banana bushwhacker. First place we didn't have to wait to get seated.

We have been wanting to try Doc's on past visits, but were finally successful today. We arrived around 4:30 and the lot was full. Checked in with the hostess and was given a pager to let us know when an inside table was ready. The place was very crowded and busy, but our table (booth - SCORE!) was ready in just a very few minutes. Our waitress, Shandra, brought menus right away and asked for drink orders. We both ordered iced tea (unsweet). She asked if we needed lemons and I told her we would and that we would need a lot with dinner. She came back with two glasses of tea, a bowl if lemons and an entire pitcher of tea! The tea was outstanding and was an indicator of what was to come. We ordered onion rings at that time to start as we were still looking at the menu. After a few minutes, we gave our orders...fried shrimp dinner for me and grilled fish dinner for my better half. The onion rings arrived within 5 minutes. They were piping hot (burned the roof of my mouth) and absolutely delicious. You know those rings that are all breading and thin strips of onions? Well, these are not those. When you bite one, you are actually getting a substantial bite of onion, very thick and tender along with the wonderful breading. Came with two containers of ranch. These are the best o-rings I have ever had, followed by Clear Springs Restaurant in New Braunfels, Texas (if you know, you know) as a close second. Our entrees arrived shortly along with a lot of lemons, as requested, and a large squeeze bottle of very good tartar sauce. I have to explain that I have eaten a lot of fried Gulf shrimp in Texas and consider myself a fried shrimp junkie...a very discerning one, but a shrimp junkie nonetheless. I have never had jumbo fried shrimp that were completely peeled, including the tail, allowing you to eat the whole thing, much like popcorn shrimp. These shrimp were delicious shrimp, glorious shrimp, piping hot like the o-rings. That being said, I cannot agree that they are "the best shrimp in the known universe". I like butterflied shrimp with tails and a breading that is a little more restrained. Doc's were good, very good, but if the batter was a little less heavy, then I think they would move up the rankings. As far as my wife's fish went, she thought it was way under seasoned. Shandra checked on us a number of times, so all in all a great dining experience. Here is how I would rate things: STAFF- 10/10, all very friendly and nice, with a big shout out to Shandra (top flight waitress). AMBIANCE- 10/10, not a fine dining place, but a busy seafood joint in a beach town. They know how to run things and is the perfect spot when you are in shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and hungry. Paper towel rolls on the table...you will need them. TEA- 10/10, best iced tea ever, especially having our own pitcher on the table. ONION RINGS- 10/10, 5-star, whatever superlative you want to attach to these beauties. I will be dreaming about these. SHRIMP- 9/10, very good, but not the best ever (see comments above). GRILLED FISH- 5/10, lacking seasoning...chef forgot to salt??? Same issue with the new potatoes, lack of seasoning. OVERALL- 9.5/10, we will be back and highly recommend this place.

We came around 6 on a Friday and actually got seated immediately. There was quite a line by the time we left though. First of all the salted caramel bushwhacker was fantastic. I would come back for that alone. The oysters were huge! Crab cakes and shrimp were average. Good but nothing special in my opinion. Service was great and food came out super quick!

Awesome meals were had at this restaurant! It was all fresh and tasty. From the fresh fish, to the Caesar salad, to the chicken bites, and to the acclaimed " the best fried shrimp in the civilized world". The fried shrimp is worth a try! Yum. Also try the bushwhacker cocktail. It's more like a dessert so I would suggest it after dinner. Add a Bacardi 151 floater and it'll kick it up a notch. Check em out!

Hands down the best Bushwacker in the area. It was so yummy!! I don't eat much fried food, but the Popcorn Shrimp was good. My husband had the Fried Chicken (no pic) was really good! Staff was friendly! Definitely a low key vibe!

Great place to eat when you're down south by the beach. Large portions, really great food and cool atmosphere to set with your family for supper.

So far so great! Big plump delicious oysters from local catcher. You get a free bowl of gumbo with the fish platters. I would have paid for it anyway, it was that good!service is quick and attentive. We ordered the baked seafood platter and of course had to get the best fried shrimp in the civilized world. We arrived just about 11:30. Only a couple other tables. By the time it hit n, every table was filled. I expected the fried shrimp to be bigger, but they were very tasty. The Grilled platter was excellent. The shrimp were a lot more tasty than the fried.

Delicious food!!! Known for their fried shrimp. The gumbo was the star though!!! It was so good, wish we had more! The mango colada was really good too! Did the mini sampler platter. Nothing mini about it!! Lots of food. Sauce was yummy too. Crab cake, shrimp, fish, fries, hush puppies, all very good.

Food was delicious, service was top notch. Nothing but good reviews here. Excellent wait staff! Been coming here many yrs and never disappointed!

Friendly service but the food is only mediocre along with small portions for the price. May try the other location next time.

I read a few reviews that said best onion rings ever. When you read something like that, you have to verify. Believe it or not they were right! Awesome onion rings!! The rest of the food was really good as well. I would not hesitate to go back!

Arrived about 8 and they close at 9 so I'm sure they were ready to leave. Mattie was our server and she was great, Nice atmosphere and the SEC baseball game was on which was perfect. We ordered appetizers first and then dinner a little later. Appetizers arrived along with the food about 2 minutes after we ordered the meal. Would like to have enjoyed the appetizers and cocktails prior to the meal arriving. Sure it was already cooked before we ordered but as I mentioned we arrived an hour before closing. Hush puppies were fantastic along with the steamed oysters. Fried fish and shrimp would probably be better if not pre cooked. Will go back