Nate (Nate T.
Google
⭐⭐½ to ⭐⭐⭐—Waterman’s Surfside Grille
Overall, I’d place Waterman’s Surfside Grille in the 2.5 to 3-star range, depending on expectations.
The Good:
Let’s start with the positives. Our server was top-notch—attentive, personable, and clearly enjoyed what he was doing. Drinks stayed full, questions were answered without hesitation, and check-ins were frequent but never overbearing. That level of service really stood out. He made us laugh and we enjoyed our encounters with him.
The host team at the front door was friendly and professional. Nothing extraordinary, but they were organized and had things under control.
The atmosphere was eclectic and kind of neat. The place was very busy, which is usually a good sign and definitely added to the energy.
The Food (Where It Gets Mixed):
We started with the “She Crab Soup”, which is advertised as a signature bisque with lump crab meat. Flavor-wise, it was very good—rich and tasty—but surprisingly light on actual crab. We found maybe one mediocre piece of crab, which was a letdown given the description. Great flavor, just wished there was more crab throughout.
I ordered the “fried seafood platter” with white fish, sea scallops, jumbo shrimp, crab cakes, hush puppies, fries, coleslaw, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauce.
• The fish was excellent—crispy outside, moist inside, and well cooked.
• The scallops were just slightly undercooked with a kiss of translucence in the center.
• The jumbo shrimp were overcooked and rubbery.
• The crab cakes were okay, nothing memorable.
• The tartar sauce was underwhelming.
Overall, the food gave off a bit of an “upscale fast-food” feel—by upscale, I mean some components didn’t seem frozen, but it still lacked the refinement I expected from an oceanfront seafood restaurant. Being right on the beach, I honestly hoped for more.
My wife ordered a “just seafood” dish and experienced the same issue: the shrimp were overcooked and rubbery. Her vegetables were overly soft, and the potatoes were unimpressive—almost paste-like in texture.
Cocktails:
We ordered cocktails as well. My wife chose one of their signature drinks, which met her expectations. I went with a classic Old Fashioned, but what arrived was their own “signature” version instead. It appeared to be a pre-mixed cocktail poured over tiny ice cubes—almost Sonic-style ice—which quickly diluted the drink. It tasted fine, but it wasn’t the classic Old Fashioned I expected with a proper cherry, orange peel, bitters, and sugar cube. Not bad—just unexpected.
Parking:
Parking is worth mentioning. There was no available street parking near the restaurant, and the spots directly out front were valet-only. We ended up parking down the street in public access parking, so plan accordingly.
Would We Return?
If we’re in the area again, probably—but it wouldn’t be our first choice. Now that we know what to expect, it could work if nothing else nearby is appealing. That said, I’d be more inclined to try a different restaurant before returning.