Paula's On Main

The house salad was fresh with lovely veggies and the vinaigrette was very nice! (not a fan of blue cheese tho) The perch was amazing as well as the fries. The Key Lime 🍋‍🟩 pie is a strong contender for Key West. The complimentary bread had a fabulous unexpected rosemary flavor. Delicious! Thanks for the great service and wonderful experience.

After many years living in Ft. Wayne I have heard so many great things about this place. My first time here and it did not disappoint. The food was great, service was spot on, and the atmosphere was very enjoyable. Will be back for sure.

We recently celebrated my husband‘s 40th birthday with a surprise dinner at Paula’s. It was a fantastic evening! Joe, one of Paula‘s managing partners, suggested the private room for the event. I came up with the guest list (nearly 40 people) and he ran with the rest of the details! He had clearly done this before. Honestly, it was a huge weight off my shoulders, he made the whole process extremely easy leaving room for customization - down to a personalized menu and wide selection of cocktails. The food was delicious holding up to Paula’s reputation and then some. The service was amazing, seriously down right superior and FUN! It was clear from the start, Joe not only valued, but expected the best from his staff and they delivered. If you’re looking for a place to host your next event, consider Paula’s and give Joe a call!

The wife isn't a big 'seafood' person - so she had the filet mignon - and she absolutely loved it. I had the surf & turf salad: it was largely portioned, & the steak & shrimp were large pieces & delicious. We each had a martini as well. I see why they're known for them...10/10 Wife got a piece of pumpkin cheesecake for us to share for her birthday dessert. I'm not a big fan of neither pumpkin nor cheesecake and BOY.... I was about to order my own cuz it was so darn good. Wait staff is fantastic, seating is laid out nicely & spacious. The manager even came to check on us & thank us on a very busy Friday night. Can't wait to go back on our next date night!

This was our first time. We had a great time. The food was excellent. The service was outstanding. It was a little more expensive than what I usually lay for dinner, but totally worth it. I highly recommend.

OMG!! FANTASTIC food and service. I've lived in Ft Wayne all my life and for some reason never made it here until Tuesday. We were so pleased with everything we ordered ❤️ 😀 You HAVE to get the Clam Chowder soup. It truly was the best I've ever had!!

I went to Paula's on Friday night and had a wonderful experience! Very clean atmosphere! Love the under the sea mural in the back dining room by the restrooms! The ladies restroom had a beautiful wall full of sea colored mermaid scales behind the mirror that went with the vibe perfectly! Staff is very knowledgeable and kind! I had the crab cakes and their new chicken dish and thought were both over the top! What a great addition to the menu! For dessert we got the key lime pie and chocolate peanut butter pie and oh my goodness it was heavenly! Shout out to the baker at Paula's and whoever creates the features! The crab cakes I came back for and picked up from the seafood market. It was a great addition for our family cook out and I also picked up a whole key lime pie because I was so hooked on it! It's like no other! If your ever in the downtown area, I definitely recommend stopping in to Paula's to either dine in or pick up seafood because it's just as amazing at home! Overall, had a great time and will definitely be back soon with my family!

We’ve come here for our anniversary 2 times, and we think it will become a tradition. We were sat at the “anniversary” table, that had notes from other couples talking about their lives/experiences together. We laugh, shared memories, enjoyed amazing food…We would HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone. Will definitely be back, and probably before our next anniversary!

Paula's has been a Fort Wayne mainstay for seafood for several decades. There have been ownership changes and a global pandemic in recent years, but the overall experience during our visit was essentially unchanged from what I remember when I first came here in 1994. Service was decent, although not spectacular. The restaurant was completely full the Saturday night we came, so I'm sure that slowed things down a little. I do wish they would bring back the paella dish. That's what I always used to get when I came here years ago. Noise level was a bit on the noisy side, but it was within reason.

The food here is very Midwest seafood. I got the lake perch which I typically don't have the opportunity to get outside of the Midwest. Most options are pretty greasy, the veggies were soaking in oil - which wasn't necessary. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The place has lots of tables and they are spaced out so you still get some nice privacy for conversation - the room was also pretty loud. Overall it was a decent experience and decent food, but nothing stand out.

Paula's is one of, if not the best restaurants in FW (but ultra-expensive)... Haven't been to Paula's since moving back to FW... Stopped in on a Monday night and they were slammed (recommend a reservation regardless of the day of the week). The restaurant is still the same as I remember... Fresh/clean vibe with a modern feel. We were seated quickly and the service was prompt (our server was friendly and on-point). We ordered the chargrilled oysters (which were out of this world) and we both got the combination platter (almond crusted walleye, baked crab cake, and seared scallops)... The food was excellent, but "very expensive" - $230 w/ tip for two people (bottle wine, oysters, mains, and key lime pie). While the mains come with a salad (their house salad was awesome), bread, and choice of side, it's $50 a plate, which is a lot of $ for the portion size. All-in-all, Paula's was exceptional, but expect to spend a pretty penny when dining there.

Still the BEST seafood in Fort Wayne. And while it seems expensive...compared to some of the other places you get seafood in the Fort...they are really priced for the value & quality! The facility still has a lot of charm as it is an old house. The clean is always clean. The seafood market is very attractive displaying their fresh fish. And the market smells fresh without a fishy aroma. The service team is very friendly and welcoming. They worked to make sure you were served well. Our waitress was very in tune that it was our anniversary and we were not in a hurry to dine. All the mean selections are outstanding. The martinis are well made and great tasting! The crab cake appetizer was delicious. The dipping sauce was kind of a blend of tartar sauce with a hint of key lime. Very smooth, creamy and accented the outstanding seafood tastes and seasoning I. The crab cake. My wife always loves the walleye! It has just right amount of breading and crisp to go along with the very tasty fish. I always seem to get the jambalaya. I enjoy the seasoning blend and the fresh fish, crab and nicely cooked chicken & sausage. As I said...still the best seafood in FW! Give them a try!!

Great food, but... My wife and I celebrated a special birthday recently at Paula's. We had been there a couple of times before and loved it. Our reservation was for 5:30p on a Monday night and there were only a few people there when we arrived. When we were seated (in the room to the East of the bar room, we realized it was REALLY COLD! Ceiling fans were running and the AC must have been on 60 degrees. We asked to change tables further from the ceiling fans and our served obliged by turning off the fans. It was still COLD! I went to the bar room and it was more comfortable with plenty of open tables. We asked if we could move and were told that those tables we all reserved. Things were slowly getting somewhat less cold. We discussed menu options with our server and ordered drinks and dinner. I had the clam chowder (since I was cold) and my wife had the mixed salad. Both were very good! My wife ordered the combination plate with crusted walleye, a crab cake and scallops and I ordered the sesame crusted Thai grouper. Both came super fast, well before we had finished our soup and salad. Both dishes were excellent, well prepared and hot (fresh from the kitchen). The meals ranked a 5! For our special occasion (or any nice dinner out) we would have much preferred some time to linger over our soup and salad before our entrees arrived... and would have much preferred the dining room temperature to be more comforatable. I'm guessing this was just an unusual instance. Perhaps the kitchen was hot and they were trying to compensate... it was a hot summer day outside. We love Paula's and will return in hopes that the cold and rushed service was just a one-time occurance.

WOW... if you are a seafood lover I can not recommend this place enough! My meal was OUTSTANDING! I ordered a sort of seafood stew....LOADED with a huge crab claw, lobster, mussels, claims, shrimp and fish is an amazing broth! It was beautifully presented in a tilted bowl...I was so giddy when they set in down in from of me...beautiful! I sat at the bar, the bartender was delightful and honestly made the whole experience that much better. VERY friendly staff, everyone seems truly happy to be here. The ambiance is charming! HIGHLY recommend if you are in the Ft Wayne area!

So good! Definitely recommend a reservation. They were busy! Walking in, we were greeted promptly and shown to our table. You walk by the beautiful king crab legs and other offerings in the case on your way to your table. Our waitress was super all night. She quickly got our drink orders. Their drink offerings are awesome-cocktails, wine, whiskey, beer, and more. I tried a blueberry lemon drop that was delicious. We also ordered appetizers. The crab cake with jalapeno tartar sauce was amazing. The house salad with crumbled blue cheese and nuts was huge but delicious. I ordered the shrimp combo for my main dish. The almond shrimp and coconut shrimp were so good! My table mates ordered the combo, which had walleye, crab cakes, and scallops. So much delicious food...none of us could finish it! If you are in the mood for seafood definitely check out Paula's!

I committed the ultimate crime....We all know it sucks leaving a box of leftovers at the restaurant, but when the food is as good as it is at Paula's you'll be left mourning your loss all week long. Seriously, that's how good this place is. This place debunks any notion that you can't find quality seafood in the Midwest, let alone Fort Wayne. We started dinner with a bottle of Pinot noir (that our server let us sample before choosing!!) and an order of the mussels. The creamy tomato-based broth was perfect for dipping the lightly charred, crusty bread into. Next we ordered the lobster tail and the combo platter with sautéed vegetable. The lobster tail was prepared perfectly and the veggies were downright addicting. The combo platter was the perfect option for indecisive people like myself because it comes with a crab cake, scallops, and almond crusted walleye! The crab cake was all crab, not loaded with bread crumbs like other places, and the walleye was killer paired with the jalapeño tartar sauce! I would order it again in a heartbeat! So excited to visit Paula's again, and i can assure you I'll guard my leftovers with my life next time. RIP.

Paula's was excellent! The atmosphere is welcoming. The servers were knowledgeable and very friendly. Starting with clam chowder was perfect!! However they also have many excellent appetizers and several delicious salads. All the seafood is very fresh. Our party tried several dishes including two of the salmon offerings, perch and walleye. All of them were delicious. The creme brûlée and key lime pie were wonderful desserts.

We came in here to visit with some friends while I was in town from California. One of my friends who is a local suggested this restaurant. Also my mom grew up in fort Wayne and always remembered this place being good. We had delicious bread to start and me and my mom shared the sea bass. It was really good! My friend got the blackened salmon with the blue cheese crust and that was so good! My table mates got fish tacos and those looked so good. They also have a decent wine list. The prices are a little steep, but really good food!

The Alaskan King Crab legs are the Best here! A bit pricey but delicious. The service is always great. I also do love the almond crusted walleye. Paula's is always a go to during lent.

Get the almond crusted walleye!! Sooo good. Crab legs are also amazing!!! Love the atmosphere and the service.

Service and food were outstanding. Professional , friendly, knowledgeable server and prompt customer service.

Paula's is one of those places that as soon as your foot hits the well worn front step, you know exactly what's on the other side of the Door. Step Right into the Kitchen/Pantry/Reception to very welcoming people will get your evening started. The smells are just starting to hit your senses and you want to really inspect what is going on, but they take you back to Second Hand Comfort. I always marveled at the chair styles, tables, silverware and flatware. You just never know what you get. What you always get is fantastic service and food. Don't order anything fur or feathers...truly a waste of time. The Fish is What Paula wants to serve you, allow yourself to enjoy what has been a favorite place for our family for decades.

One of my favorite spots in Fort Wayne, I've been coming for years with my family and always have a great experience, great food, & great service! Definitely the best seafood place in Fort Wayne hands down

Phenomenal service, unique specialty dishes, hefty portions, and incredible flavors. I was stunned by this inconspicuous gem in the heart of Fort Wayne. I am a seafood kind of girl and have not had better since I moved to Indiana! They have a welcoming ambiance with a fish market display upon entry. No fishy smell, which is important if you "know" fresh fish! Can't wait to come back soon. So glad our friends recommended. It's a new favorite.

always great service and great food. I am very hickey when it comes to eating seafood, especially away from the coast.

If you want good, quality seafood in FW, this is the spot. Be prepared to get your wallet out because it is EXPENSIVE. Crab legs were about $80-$90 last time I went. I got the Char-broiled Oysters along side a Dirty Martini. Their bread is delish! Beautiful ambiance, very classy. Centralized located, near the heart of down town. Friendly and attentive staff. They are very knowledgeable of the meaning, so be sure to ask what's best!

Food and service was great. Nice atmosphere. I had bulobaise and my husband had the seafood sampler. The wedge salad was made with a half of romaine.

Third timers. 37th anniversary dinner. We love the atmosphere and the wait staff was outstanding. We shared every. Charbroiled oysters - excellent with a great crust on top. Wedge salad on romaine, a great twist that we will incorporate in our cooking. Main course was the seafood platter. Scallops, seared perfectly. Fried walleye - delicious with their jalapeño tartar sauce. Crab cake was very good. Pasta with a red pepper sauce. Complimentary crème brûlée was good. An overall great experience again!

Delicious! The service was wonderful. We had the cioppino special and the low country boil. The key lime pie was the star though - amazing.

Wonderful fresh and well prepared seafood in the corn belt. Lively ambience with attentive service.

Five of us recently went to Paula's for dinner. The atmosphere is nice, the bar looked great. Our service was done by Jonah, who was really good - friendly, attentive and knowledgable. We tried the clam chowder, grilled oysters and shrimp cocktail appetizers; the clam chowder was loved by all who had it and the char grilled oysters were excellent. The shrimp cocktail was a shrimp cocktail - the cocktail sauce was nice and tangy. For entrees we tried the king crab legs, crab cake, swordfish and Chilean sea bass (with 2 different sauces). They were all very very good. We also tried the Mermaid cocktail (which was awesome). It was a great meal. The only negatives are parking can get a little tight and Paul's is pricey.

We had made reservations, were seated and told of the specials. Drink orders taken and food ordered. Food was delicious and prepared accordingly

If you haven't tried this place you should!! Incredible!!! Both the food and cocktails exceeded my expectations.

Paula's never disappoints. Appetizers come in large portions / are very tasty. The restaurant itself is lively, fun, and looks like an ole fisherman's port; Nice artwork, ambiance, and friendly waiting staff. My Lamb Pops ( Chops) were amazing. They had a unique vinaigrette glaze, while being coated in crusted goat cheese / pistachio. Amazing. Whenever I'm back home in Fort Wayne, Paula's is definitely a top choice.

Lawd have mercy! Every single thing at Paula's is better than outstanding. The prices reflect the quality. Cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap! Spend the money and GO!

Horrible disappointment. This place is so expensive ($39.99 for a single crab cake and a side salad), that you expect the food and service to be exceptional. Not. The food was mediocre, the drinks were abysmal-- ice and simple syrup with minimal if any alcohol (or flavor), and the service is inattentive and mistake-ridden (at best). So sad

Great food service and drinks . It's a solid ! Seafood is the best around . I was a little disappointed in the clam chowder ,but everything else was top notch .

High quality Sea Food with great service and a wonderful venue to eat dinner. The Walleye with special Tartar Sauce is excellent. My Grandson's really enjoy the jumbo Alaskan King Crab Legs.

This place never disappoints! Service is always on top of it. Excellent food! Love the "oldness" of the building. Perfect place for a superb date night.

We seldom give 5 stars. This restaurant deserves every one. Great food. Great service. Actually, let's go back to the food. This was by far the best king crab I have ever had in the Midwest. Chowder was awesome. Oysters fresh and plump. The only slight ding was the bouillabaisse was lacking depth, even as the seafood in it was cooked perfectly. Even the shrimp, which is a true rarity. Tonight we went to another restaurant in Hammond Indiana and all we could repeatedly comment was that it wasn't Paula's. It was such a temptation to drive 3 hours...

Paula is an outstanding restaurant, by all means my favorite! If you're looking for wild caught fresh seafood. You are at the right place. The other entrées are just as marvelous. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is very knowledgeable. You can't go wrong!

One of the best! Always great food and stellar service. And a unique atmosphere with a lot of history. I try to go every time I'm in Fort Wayne.

Love the atmosphere and the food. Service was on point as well. We will definitely be back for another date night.

Excellent seafood, best we have found above Tennessee. Crab cake is almost as good as Destin Florida Crab Shack. Only place that I like key lime pie and scallops. Will definitely come back, when the bank account recovers. You have to ask for bread and butter, which is delicious when you finally get it.

Best fish in town and comparable to the seafood we found in Seattle. Peel & eat shrimp were perfectly seasoned. Seafood platter was well done, particularly the grilled sea scallops which were loaded with flavor. The capper was the king crab legs my wife ordered. Two crab legs, each one over 18 inches long and 2 inches in diameter in the main segment. One would have been a meal by itself!

Went for lunch the other day; my first time eating there. The food was phenomenal. We had calamari fish tacos and seafood salad all perfectly delicious. Will save up to go back again as soon as possible. Saving up because the food is delicious but not cheap.

If you like seafood, you should not miss this place. I have been several times for lunch and have not been disappointed. Go with the clam chowder instead of starter salad if you want a hearty bowl of goodness to warm you up on those cold Midwest days. The walleye is my go-to dish and I have had good luck with the daily special as well. Service is not always fast, but always friendly, and this is not a meal you want to rush through anyway. I think people are surprised by the prices because of the rustic decor so don't let that throw you off, this is a higher end place. Lunch is a great time to sample the menu if you don't want to pay dinner rates. Cons: If you can't stand seafood, you should not come here. This is not a "they have other things on the menu" kind of restaurant.

I wouldn't eat here if it was the last place on earth. The portions are small for the price. The dish I ordered was a mess. Some kind of fish in a sauce and it was terrible. I didn't order fish in a sauce. I waited so long to get my meal that I just got up and left. Never going back.

The word "wow" is all I can say after my first meal here. 1. Crab cakes as an appetizer were delicious. Amazing texture and not short on crab meat. 2. I ordered the grilled swordfish with chive mashed potatoes. It was absolutely perfect. The horseradish on the side couldn't have been better either. 3. My fiancé ordered the fish and chips, which is the best fried fish I've ever had. Not your typical greasy fried fish. Service and length of wait for our food were all on par as well. 10/10 will be coming back as often as possible.

Amazing food. Awesome atmosphere. Service is amazing. It is a popular place for a reason.

Pricey food up at Paula's breaks up my billfold, pricey crab legs. Sure it taste pretty good, but cost an arm and a leg to eat here. $16.95 for a fish sandwich? Really? I mean really?

I can't believe I never reviewed this place! There's not much not to like about Paula's. I have eaten there twice and the service was outstanding every time. I used to order carryout here frequently for business meetings that were being held back at the office and the bartenders were always super friendly and helpful. The ambiance is quaint, romantic, pleasant. They do have a small area upstairs that could be considered for private dining for bigger parties. They also have a fresh fish market, which is pretty cool. Although, I wonder how fresh some of the fish can really be in land-locked Fort Wayne. The food... I have zero complaints. I have gotten the fish tacos and the fish and chips. The fish tacos, while delicious, are messy, so if you're going for a classy look, I don't recommend these. The fish & chips were BOMB! I think Paula's has the best steak fries I have ever had. I highly recommend the jalapeno tartar sauce over any of the others. I have a pretty high tolerance for heat, so it's not really spicy to me, just flavorfully delicious! When I ordered for carryout, clam chowder was always a huge hit, as is their teriyaki salmon. (Both the salad and the plate.) I do recommend reservations. Especially on a Friday/Saturday night.

Hands down my favorite lunch and dinner spot. They've got a fantastic offering of FRESH seafood and for lunch their soups and salads are fantastic. My go-to lunch salad: buffalo shrimp salad

This place blew my mind. Met at suggestion of a colleague. Glad he did. Wow. First the bread is soft and pillowy with a rosemary flavor. I try not to eat white bread but couldn't resist. I ordered the clam chowder and it was very good. My salad sealed the 5 stars. Buffalo shrimp salad. 5 big tasty spicy shrimp over a bed of lettuce and ranch dressing with celery sticks. It was amazing and I thought about it all day. Can't wait to go back. Service was great. Seafood counter looked great and very reasonably priced. I hate I had no storage to take something home. I will be back. That salad is still on my mind. Go here now.

Oh fishy fishy fishy fish! Paula's has the reputation as the best (or one of the best) seafood places in town. As you walk in, a fresh seafood market is right there; just rows and rows of raw cuts of fish, and no fishy stink. Paula's has not changed its menu much over the years, so keep an eye out on the specials for something new. I recently had Thai-inspired fish cakes that were spicy and delicious, with a bright-tasting, vinegary cucumber slaw. The dish only needed a bit more of the sriracha-inspired sauce and slaw to round out the flavors. Other classics: almond-crusted walleye, blackened salmon w. blue cheese topping, and the famous crab cakes. You get a warm basket of bread and butter before each meal; don't go overboard, as you'll want to save room for the fantastic seafood offerings. Service is professional and generally knowledgeable, and there is a large upstairs space for special events. Paula's also has a selection of old school martinis and cocktails, so you feel a bit Mad Men-ish downing your gin martini and surf n' turf against the classy, brick-walled atmosphere and wooden bar. Fish, fish, fish, fishy oh!

This place is first class. We had a large party on a Friday night and it was a breeze for them. We were offered a room to ourselves with our own bar and servers. Everyone enjoyed the food and the service was excellent. We will be returning. Don't pass this place by, call Karen and make your reservation.

CRAB. CAKES. Best I've had anywhere in the world (and I eat a lot of crab cakes and travel a lot too)