Harpoon Larry's Fish House & Oyster Bar

Busy on an Easter, but very professional staff handling these crowds - NO PROBLEM! Food is higher levels of tasty. Especially enjoyed a cheesy seafood pizza, shrimp n grits with sausage, crab dip, large portions of fresh grilled seafood. I was sharing, no complaints from anyone!

Food is great. First visit wife had fried oysters. I had the harpoon with a side of lobster tacos. The harpoon was excellent. If you want to taste lobster don't get the lobster tacos. They were very good and good amount of lobster but the mild lobster taste was covered up by the hot sauce. Second visit wife made another run at the oysters and I had pan Seafood spaghetti. We will be back.

This was first time to the restaurant with our family. We came from SC to visit. The wait time was about 40 minutes, but we got seated in 25. The waiter was very attentive and help to make the best choice on the menu for our taste requirements. I would highly recommended you visit this restaurant. You won't be disappointed.

I was in the area I had a taste for seafood Harpoon Larry’s did not disappoint. The food was fresh and delicious, the presentation of the food was excellent and my waitress was very helpful she did an excellent job serving us, the atmosphere was awesome. They had plenty of choices to choose from and the prices were affordable, they also have plenty of parking space. I don’t come to Newport News often but now I have a reason to.

Fresh, tasty, and filling! 🦪🐟 The fish was perfectly seasoned, oysters were super fresh, and that creamy dip with pita hit the spot. Definitely a solid seafood stop

I definitely recommend. Harpoon Larry's is a casual seafood spot that delivers a reliably enjoyable dining experience. It’s a great option for a relaxed meal with friends or family. The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious, reminiscent of a classic beachside eatery. The menu focuses on fresh catches, with a solid selection of seafood staples. Their fish dishes are particularly noteworthy-my favorite in the grilled mahi or fish of the day. Service is generally attentive and efficient, although it can get a bit busy during peak hours. Prices are reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. While it's not aiming for fine dining, Harpoon Larry's consistently provides good food, a pleasant atmosphere, and a satisfying meal, making it a solid choice for a casual seafood craving. A dependable and enjoyable place to visit if you like seafood.

Introduced to this Great local seafood restaurant by my cousin who's a BIG Fan. Had multiple appetizers and ALL were top shelf. Then there was the stuffed flounder...followed by homemade key lime pie.. 🤤aaaaahhhh!!!

First time and I do understand the attraction for Newport News locals who love this seafood joint. By the way it's not a chain restaurant. I met up with a group and the staff efficiently set us up in the patio which is like a private room. Waters were on the table just after arrival. Our waiter was amazing and on top of drink and app orders immediately. The men's room located to the side of the bar was tidy with proper supplies, Drinks and apps flowed within 10 minutes.,I got shrimp cocktail which was pretty good. The shrimp size impressive. I ordered a salad and added salmon on top. In less than 25 minutes entrees pushed out at the same time. My fish looked great and proved tasty. The prices are affordable for seafood in my opinion. The bill was closed out quickly and got our group back to our event. I would return.

Ordered rockfish with mashed potato It tasted so yummy. Service was great also, Parks was my waiter. Would recommend

First time and I do understand the attraction for Newport News locals who love this seafood joint. By the way it's not a chain restaurant. I met up with a group and the staff efficiently set us up in the patio which is like a private room. Waters were on the table just after arrival. Our waiter was amazing and on top of drink and app orders immediately. The men's room located to the side of the bar was tidy with proper supplies, Drinks and apps flowed within 10 minutes.,I got shrimp cocktail which was pretty good. The shrimp size impressive. I ordered a salad and added salmon on top. In less than 25 minutes entrees pushed out at the same time. My fish looked great and proved tasty. The prices are affordable for seafood in my opinion. The bill was closed out quickly and got our group back to our event. I would return.

A friend of mine recommended this spot while down in Newport News, VA as a good seafood spot! We ended up waiting about 20 minutes for a table on Friday night, so prepare to wait on the weekends. It was super busy, but its a laid back restaurant for families, friends, or even date night! The service was fast and accurate, I appreciated the waiting staff. We ordered a crab dip for an appetizer and had some models beers and soda as our drinks of choice for the evening. For our main helping, my husband ordered the skillet pasta and I had the crab quesadilla. Both were decent plates, but they didn't quite hit the spot we thought they would. The pasta was a bit bland and the quesadilla was stuffed with bacon and crab, but not as much cheese. The total bill came out to $99, which we felt was a bit much for the meal we had. It's good, but there are other spots where that amount takes you alot further. Quality: 4/5 Customer service: 5/5 Value for cost: 3.75/5

Very pricey for 5 of us to eat it was $245. Hush puppies are so good. We loved the scallops and shrimp. I got the flounder stuffed with crab meat. Sweet potato fries were excellent. The filet mignon we ordered medium rare and it was RAW. So I rate all the seafood above and beyond. The tarter tasted really good and the chipotle sauce they served with my meal. The hush puppies......Now those hush puppies were AMAZING! Loved everything except that steak..... what a shame The little salad that came on the plate as this most delicious lemon vinaigrette.

The food tasted great! I would advise a reservation if you go on a weekend in the summer. The service was pretty good. It's pretty decent inside. It's exactly what you would expect.

Easy parking, we're seated with a party of 5 immediately and it was a nice crowd. The food was very tasty, my waiter who had only been there for 5 days was an absolute sweetheart, and the restrooms were clean. I definitely recommend

This is an update from the first time I went. I loved it the first time (besides the overcooked and overly salty calamari). I ordered door dash and tried the combo with the crab cakes this time. It came room temperature and wasn't as good. The crab cakes were also too salty

We've been to Harpoon Larry's twice and there's always plenty of room to sit. It has a nice laid back atmosphere to have some seafood and have a drink! Even during restaurant week, we were seated immediately! They offer a variety of fish dishes cooked in different ways to your liking, they also have shrimp dishes, oysters, and a few non-seafood options. Though the prices are a bit up there, especially for their fish dishes, the portions are extremely generous The food comes quick and they're very tasty. We've never had an issue with their staff. The last time we went, our server was a big football fan and talked a lot about it with my fiancé which he really appreciated. My fiancé and him supported two major opposing teams, but he was very personable through and through!

This is a go-to of mine. The Blackened Scallops app has succulent blackened scallops, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Paired with their Bloody Mary, my all-time fav made with Dive sauce and I'm set for great eats and drinks!

Stopped in on our way home north based on yelp recommendation. James river oyster were good nice and fresh. Broiled crab cake was meaty and seasoned well. Blackened fish taco were good size portion. Fried jalapeño on it was a nice touch. The bartender Wes was very attentive from the beginning. The decor fit the seafood theme. Liked the wall of oyster shells with personal messages. I would recommend changing the music to add to the atmosphere although I personally like alternative music.

Fabulous hush puppies. Pretty good cocktails and good service. Love the crab cakes and the shrimp and grits. There are a few options for our non-seafood eaters.

Wow wow wow, I love a great take out meal! I placed my order a little after noon on a Sunday and the wait on the website said 30 minutes and the time was pretty accurate. The staff was so friendly. I got home and all of the food was placed so nicely in the bag and looked so delicious. I loved how everything tasted and I can't wait to go back. The crab dip was a little greasy but it worked out well with the pita bread.

The food was really good. Shrimp were a little overcooked (hard to peel) but spiced just right. The oysters were excellent. Bartender was attentive and kept checking in and it's pretty good place to meet eat and hangout. Worth a stop if you're in the area

I really like it here and so I brought my whole family to experience what I liked about this place. I really talked it up! But my family wasn't as impressed and said the crab cakes were too salty. And the service wasn't as friendly as previous visits. Kinda disappointed.

Someone recommended this place and we haven't been sorry since since. It is worth getting off the highway to have yummy crab dip, fresh oysters and just a yummy homie seafood place. I have to admit I like the oyster stew better than the crab, but their crab dip is out of this world.

Everything is sooo fresh, best seafood I've had in Virginia. Oysters are deliciously salty, fried oyster delicious too. She-crab soup was devine and crabcake ambiance was very homey given all the beautiful Virginia vibes we've missed, service was sooo nice waiter was the sweetest

Staff is virtually non existent. Kitchen staff is unprofessional and can't get a single order correct. Food came out in stages . The last one of our party to get served is just now served and the rest of us have been done with our meal. Go to Watermans, or anywhere else, don't stop here. Also the rum runner is the worse rum runner I have ever tasted

If you cannot accommodate to-go orders on mother's day, then you shouldn't take them. I waited over forty five minutes for my food altogether. .When I left after waiting for 35 minutes. I was told I wouldn't be refunded. They took a nice steamy crap all over my Mother's Day. , This used to be my favorite restaurant for over 2 decades. No longer.

My first stop after landing from California on work travel. It was $1 oyster Monday! Local ones were good actually. I only got 6 as it was 7pm and they ran out. Crab cakes were BOMB! I had to order a second, and got them blackened. Also got a side of fried oysters and those were even better! Good service at the bar and the ambiance was fun- people came for the seafood and it didn't disappoint

Our family stopped in here on our way to the Williamsburg outlets, and we were definitely not disappointed. We had a fantastic server and she was incredibly knowledgeable and was very helpful and choosing our selections to order for our lunch. She was fun and had the ins and outs for the menu and we were willing to try a ton of food!

Coming from the south, New Orleans, LA and I am always hesitant about seafood, haha actually food in other places but mostly seafood. This place is a place I could eat every visit to the area. The raw oysters were super fresh and full of flavor. I don't get gulf oysters so they were a little smaller than what I'm use too. My entree was an Oyster salad. Fried oysters, spinach, mixed greens, peppers, onions & goat cheese with champagne vinaigrette. I opted for ranch dressing instead of the vinaigrette. Glad I did, it was too heavy on the vinegar side for my taste. We are back in the area in April and I'm Eating here again. With or without my team!

definitely changed a little bit since last time I was here. Oysters are pretty good. Calamari came out at a great time. I did find myself having to look around for my server a couple of times .

I enjoyed this place. Food was really good. I actually went here twice while in Yorktown. The service was really good and enjoyed sitting at the oyster bar. I didn't eat the oysters this time, but had the seafood platter one night and the blackened mahi mahi tacos. Both were excellent. I loved the rustic feel of the place too.

Harpoons is a Newport News staple. They have specials everyday. Happy hour mon-fri 4-7. Many great things about this place. The food always tastes great. But do I think the portions could be bigger, yes. But it's also 2024 and nothing is cheap these days, either restaurants keep their prices somewhat the same and give you less food or raise their prices sky high. Nonetheless we got the oyster rockefeller special which is 10 for 15... any other day it's 5 for 15... flounder sandwich was huge, fried well yet the fish was still moist. Definitely add the tartar sauce and hot sauce because without, it may taste a little bland. Hush puppies were great. And lastly the oyster poboy, not an authentic poboy but still pretty good. Theirs has lettuce and an apple slaw with a drizzle of remoulade. Great rendition of a poboy. My only complaint is that they only put five fried oysters on the sandwich. Way too much bread for only five oysters and same for the shrimp poboy. Maybe if I got the shrimp it would have been a little better because of the meatiness of the shrimp. But while the oyster poboy had great flavor it tasted like I was just eating bread with apple slaw with a slight hint of oyster. Would I get the poboy again... idk I would have to add more oyster or shrimp to it. But that would also make this a 20+ sandwich. Could possibly be worth it though.

If you're looking for great seafood on the peninsula, this is your spot! This is my go to, and I grew up on the Chincoteague Bay in a waterman town that had fresh seafood delivered daily. Is it as great as that? No. But it's as close as I've had! And I'm pretty hard to impress when it comes to seafood.

Harpoon Larry's always has had great food, however on our last visit, the food was not great. It was overcooked. We've had problems with the service before, the waitstaff has made several microaggressions toward my wife and myself and in the past, the waiter has been inappropriate with us. But this week, when we spoke to the manager about the food, there was snide comment from the manager when (IAM A MAN) called me "Mam". Very disrespectful. There are plenty of other seafood restaurants around with good food but if the respect quotient is important to you, especially if you are paying for the time and food you've spent there, I recommend you try another restaurant.

We had another urge for some seafood, oysters to be exact, so My Grubbing Buddy and I headed to our favorite seafood joint, Harpoon Larry's Fish House & Oyster Bar in Newport News, Virginia. They always deliver the best tasting seafood, attentive servers, and an all-around welcoming atmosphere. We are going to try a little pescatarian this year, and this seemed like a great place to start. I began my meal with some raw oysters - 1/2 dozen of local oysters and three of the Pocahontas and Bojack varieties - but my lunch "piece de resistance" was the Holy Gumbo, with both shrimp with crab meat delicately positioned in the center of the bowl. My Grubbing Buddy had the Fresh Mussels with white sauce. Because of the change of diet this year, I'm sure that Harpoon Larry's will be one of our more frequented places.

Stopped by Harpoon Larry's again. The service and food was amazing We got House oysters, Rockefeller & She crab soup

This place gets 5 stars from me! It was an amazing experience. Our server was also amazing. I'm not from the area but visited here for the first time and it has become my favorite place to visit when I'm in town. The parking lot is a nice size but beware it is packed. We were able to find a spot in the front. Upon arrival we placed our name on the waiting list and sat for about 10 minutes before being seated. The establishment is a nice size. It was already packed. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves which is always a great sign. We ordered drinks and oysters to start. We ordered a dozen fresh oysters. They were delicious. For our meals, we ordered the shrimp and grits and then Harpoons combo. Everything was fresh, hot, and made to order. No complaints whatsoever. I can't wait to return!

the stuffed shrimp was burnt, and the chicken quesadilla we ordered with lettuce and no onions had onions with no lettuce. our waitress didn't check up on us either. and never asked us if we wanted any refills. i don't recommend this place. it was not a good experience at all.

I motored to Newport mainly b/c I wanted to take my new-ish EV for a spin, her 1st medium range trip. While charging her up nearby, YELPers led me to this place and I appreciate that. Eating alone at bar, me on a hot August day. Therefore, Oyster Po' Boy for lunch for me. It was VG, in fact excellent. Being a Lone Ranger on this trip, I selected to eat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and it was interesting watching him work. This bartender was doing a lot of stuff, IMHO. He took my food order, fixed some seafood for other orders while keeping a running conversation going with me and a few waitresses. I leaned that bartenders do more than tend the bar. My receipt (photo attached) says the bartender was AM R. I suppose that makes me, "Lady".

I ate here for the second time because there are a few meals I've been wanting to try. I chose to get the shrimp and grits which were pretty damn good. There were 5 pieces of tasty jumbo shrimp. The grits were nice and creamy. I wish the meal came with more shrimps because I had so much of the grits left over that I had to eat it with something else.

Large menu, tables have seen better days but didn't hinder the experience. Fast service, and good environment. The food was cooked exactly as requested. Good place for family dining. Recommended!

The blacken salmon and mash potatoes was so good. The server was amazing and the outdoor seating area was such a vibe.

I've eaten here with a friend, and have also ordered takeout. The restaurant is spacious and clean with wooden booths. Harpoon Larry's offers specials on certain days, so check them out online. A pound of Steamed shrimp for the price of a half pound of shrimp is a great deal on Thursdays. They are fresh, plump, sweet, and great with melted butter for dipping. I would recommend the bowl for the she crab soup and clamp chowder. I hate to be redundant, but it was fresh, and the cream in both bowls were absolutely delightful. The soft potatoes, and topping of crushed bacon in my clam chowder elevated my food dance lol. For takeaway, I opted for the mahi mahi tacos which came with mango salsa, honey cilantro sauce, and fried jalapeño. Larry does offer sides that will not disappoint IMO. I had to have their sweet potato fries. The pictures does not do it justice, but I promise you it's crispy, battered, and just the right amount of sweet potato meat. The mahi tacos were meaty and firm. For my better half it was the crab cake sandwich with a side of mashed potato. Ok don't judge me guys, but I ate his too! He wasn't feeling well, and this could not go to waste. No fillers guys all fresh crab meat and great! The tartar sauce was on the side, and the mashed potatoes were good. Now for the oyster stew. Oh my goodness my heart says my cholesterol is rising with every creamy bite I take. Fresh oysters in such delectable sauce mixed in with bacon, and moist potatoes rounds. I cannot rave enough about this. Oh and to end the meal with something sweet, we had to order Larry's slice of key lime pie. Buttery crust with the tangy flavor of the lime. Just wonderful. Overall, just amazing and we will come back!!! Support local businesses:)

We started with Larry's Crab Dip, which had a decent amount of real lump crab and an okay flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the crab cake, shrimp Po'Boy, and the Harpoon (fried crab cake, shrimp, scallops, and flounder). The crab cake had a decent amount of real lump crab and not a lot of breadcrumbs for the filling, and I felt the taste was okay. I didn't taste the Po'Boy, but I was told it was good. However, the shrimp, scallops, and flounder were just okay; I wasn't a fan of the seasoning, and the seafood wasn't fresh. I did enjoy the hush puppies. This was my first time at this restaurant. I thought the service was okay, but my lunch companions have been a few times and said the service is usually better.

Service: 10s ACROSS the board!!!! EXCELLENT! Hence, 3 stars. Food: Not so much. HARPOON'S is good for bar food: crab dip, fries, wings & drinks. The main shebang, NO! Crab cake tastes fishy (big tho) vs crabby. Fish (flounder) is OVERfried & you can tell it was frozen. Fries & drinks are good. Oyster Shooters are clean and fresh. Salmon (broiled) good. Other sides (garlic mashed, steamed veggies, etc.), hard pass.

Food was awesome; crab, scallops, shrimp, flounder - all very good. Place was busy and service suffered because of it. Ambiance was fun and had a local vibe, which we really enjoyed.

The Crab Nachos' were amazing! We also had the Lobster Taco special which was also VERY GOOD.

Excellent service and seafood with a variety of locally sourced oysters and some from out of the area. Great beer and drinks selection.

Well, let me begin by saying this place is very popular. You get that impression immediately when you are waiting in the parking lot for a space to open to park your car. Then, it continues when you go inside, where your impressions are confirmed with a large restaurant that is packed from one end to the other. Even every seat at the bar is taken. And the atmosphere is pretty vibrant. You can sense the joy among the crowd. And then you ask yourself ... is the food really that good? And the is answer is ... Yes. Yes it is. When we finally sat down, we were pleased to find a pretty abundant menu. We started with a calamari appetizer which was quite good. The calamari were tender and not overly battered. Then my son and I had to try the Shrimp Po Boy (one of my favorites), and it it was spot on! The shrimp were cooked perfectly ... and they were laid on a bed of slaw with sliced tomatoes, all nestled in a soft roll. One of the better Po Boys I have had in a while. I am definitely looking forward to coming again. PLEASE NOTE: I highly recommend you make a reservation. Otherwise, you may wait up to 2 hours for a table. Enjoy!

This place is so much fun! Pretty great food! Loved the crab cakes! Service was pretty fast. The bar kept pumping out drinks so kudos to them killing it! The place is loud and fun and its great to meet up for drinks or even bring kids. Prices were very reasonable for good seafood.

I don't know why, but for some reason, I always visit Harpoon Larrys Fish House in the winter when seafood is a little out of season for this area. But here we are, revisiting this time. Maybe it's because, in the summer, this place is packed daily. Before I start this review, I want to recognize Rashard, our server, for the exceptional service he gave us. I give him five out of five stars for him. He made sure everything was right. I love the environment of the restaurant. It is undoubtedly that marina feel, and it complements their primary item, seafood. As with any place I go to, I like to experience it when it is slow; in my experience, you can get the most out of what they offer. Harpoon Larry's is a local establishment on the peninsula of Tidewater that I highly recommend to anyone visiting. Extensive menu options, plenty of seating, and a large selection. Bar options are available as well. I have highlighted this place positively in previous reviews, so please read them. Good service, good food, pleasant environment for whatever the occasion may be. Recommend you experience all the specials cause they consistently offer these. Harpoon Larry's honors all reward options provided by your method of payment if you would like to take advantage of it. For your travelers, it is located close to I-64, making it a great place to stop for a great seafood meal. Come on into Harpoon Larrys and enjoy the experience. Happy Yelping.

I was looking for a seafood place to eat at for my birthday. This place did not disappoint! The she crab soup had a wonderful cream sauce. The BBQ Shrimp were a great size and very delicate. The salad was very fresh and the seafood platter with Lobster was amazing! Worth every penny we spent. I also got a Raspberry and Lime Crush that was so tasty. The service was top notch. Highly recommend this place. We will be back!

Our server Chris didn't have to do anything amazing but he himself and that was enough for me. I really enjoyed my food. I added a side of mashed potatoes because it didn't come with sides. A lot of places struggle with a good cream sauce and I was skeptical but it truly was amazing!

If you like oysters this is the place to go. The oysters are fresh and fairly cheap compared to most places. The servers are generally pretty nice and the inside is huge. Plus theres plenty of parking.

To close out Newport News Restaurant Week for us, Sophia and I headed here for some lunch. As stated in my previous review, Harpoon Larry's was one of our favorite spots to go to back in the day at their Hampton location before moving to a bigger spot near us almost 10 years ago. We've been to the new location twice, the last one being in October 2020 as part of the Yelp Adventure Challenge. This time around, with nothing to do, we stopped by for lunch. Upon entering, we both got seated right away and ordered immediately from the restaurant week menu. Both of us picked clam chowder for appetizers while Sophia ordered a flounder po-boy w/fries and I ordered Cajun Shrimp Pasta. Everything was really good. The clam chowder soup was well seasoned and thick. A lot of veggies in one small cup. And never forget to add small crackers....100% required. The pasta dish was well seasoned through and through. You can never go wrong with shrimp that taste this good. And along with a side of bread? Say no more. Sophia enjoyed her dish as well and took home leftovers. Definitely not a bad visit with great hospitality. Till next time :)

The food was amazing !!!! 10/10 the drinks were a bit on the smaller size but the food was all it had been hyped up to be . We will be back . The waitress was great and explained the food /styles very well.

Amazing Food and Amazing service! We stopped in for my husband's birthday and had a wonderful time.