Fishmonger's Rest & Oyster Bar
Restaurants in Durham, NC
Restaurants • Seafood Restaurants • Seafood and Fish
Restaurants in Durham, NC
Restaurants • Seafood Restaurants • Seafood and Fish
806 W Main St.,
Durham ,
NC
27701
UNITED STATES
919-682-0128
Based on 20 reviews
919-682-0128
Good Food! Good Service! Great Value!
Fishmonger's Restaurant has been a fixture of historic Brightleaf Square sine 1986 -- they must be doing something right!
919-682-0128
Downtow fun
Check out fishmongers Seafood market. This resturant is located downtown in the bright leaf district. It has an outdoor section where you can sit and eat. The food is top notch
919-682-0128
Awful service, needless wait
My party of five went to this restaurant tonight and waited 90 minutes to get our food after we ordered. The table next to us (who came 20 minutes after we did) got their food 30 minutes before us; this was not the only table that was served sooner. When our food finally arrived, we asked the waitress (who wasn't ours) why it took so long and all she could come up with was that it is a small restaurant and food is made to order. Our waitress, Melissa S, never came by in the 90 minutes to tell us it would be a while, never checked on our drinks, and basically ignored us. Unfortunately, 18% gratuity was added because we were a group of 5. I will Never come back.
919-682-0128
Slightly slow service, but generally tasty fish!
I'm always suspicious about inland seafood restaurants, but checked out Fishmonger's on a day I had a craving for fried fish. I ordered the fish and chips platter and it was perfectly breaded and piping hot, although the flavor of the beer-batter was a little flat. The fish was tasty, but it would be pushing it to call it delicious. It was nice to sit at the window and people-watch as we ate.
919-682-0128
Good seafood, great beer list.
I will admit that the service can be slow here. I always go when I'm in no hurry. However, I still really enjoy this restaurant. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. The seasonal seafood is always fresh and tasty. Blue crab season is the best!
919-682-0128
Best seafood in the triangle!
I don't understand the previous reviews. This is a 5-star restaurant in my mind. Its not fancy...just great seafood- Oysters from Louisiana and Texas and NC shrimp and Blue crabs. Great fish and other seafood too. Its the best seafood restaurant in the triangle
919-682-0128
a rare find
It is unusual to find a restaurant where every aspect of ones dining experience is poor. Usually, ambiance, food, drinks, timliness of service... is satifactory. Not the case with Fishmongers. I visited June 30, 2002; was greeted by a non-airconditioned inferno; drank tepid beer; waited fourty minutes to be served; ate oysters that an idiot teenager shucked then rinsed off with tap water; ate blue crabs that tasted as if they had been cooked two days post-mortem; was served inedible corn that must have sat in a pot of boiling water for as long as the crabs had been dead; visited an unclean restroom that contained neither toilet paper or paper towels. Finally, I sat at the bar across from the walk-in cooler which, when opened by staff members exuded a stench of decay. An unpleasant experience start to finish; a job well done by the staff/owners of Fishmongers.
919-682-0128
Good Food - Horrible service
When we arrived there were 5 other customers. We placed our order for an appetizer & meals and iced tea. Received the tea. 55 minutes later our meals arrived delivered by the cook - no appetizer. Never received refills nor did the wait person ever return to our table. As we were leaving the wait person asked how everything was. Our response was the food was great but the service was horrible, her response: "How could that be? Well, we weren't prepared for this big a crowd tonight."
919-682-0128
diamond in the rough
I have have been coming to this restuarant for years. I always receive the freshest seafood possible, both in-house and from their market. The staff are friendly, and seating is prompt. The atmosphere is great--beachy and laid-back. The cooking compliments the food and doesn't over-power it. I recommend the fish n' chips at lunch, and the homemade french fries, onion rings, and made-from-scratch banana pudding are incredible. There are several options for non-seafood eaters, from fresh veggies to the best barbeque around. Fishmonger's provides options for the health-concious (grilled, steamed, etc.) and those less calorie-concious. A grest compliment to the food is the bar. Their beer selection is one of the best in town, featuring many NC beers and microbrews--and served in a frosted mug! Definitely one of my favorite places to eat, this landmark and hidden jewel is a rare find and a must for anyone in the Triangle.
919-682-0128
MMmmmm.
Wow. Just as good as home (New England). I hate to admit it but better than my Moms. Glad I found this place. Ill be there alot til school is out! Great Oysters, Chowder and Bisque are addictive. Frogmore Stew was a real treat!
919-682-0128
One hour, no food
Fishmongers gave me my worst experience in dining out thus far. It took about fifteen minutes before anyone asked for our drink order or brought us menus, and another fifteen to get the drinks--which ended up being wrong, but no one ever came back to our table to check on us. As soon as a couple walked in and sat next to us, we told them they should leave before they could even get a chance to order, and others around mirrored our comments to them. After a little over an hour, we decided to leave. As we were walking out, our "waiter" had the nerve to tell us that it was all right because he hadn't put our food order in yet. The service is TERRIBLE. With such a great location, you would think that the owners would have a little more pride in serving their customers.
919-682-0128
great seafood house
I love this place. I love seafood and they do a great job in that department. Don't go here expecting the kind of service you gety from a chain. It simply isn't that kind of place. Go here to sit and drink a good beer and talk to your friends while your waiting for some really fresh seafood at a good price.
919-682-0128
The Best Seafood! Service? It's like home!"
(UPDATE 2010: Still the best place for seafood!) This is a great place to eat by yourself or with close friends. They use brown paper tablecloths, and newspapers stay scattered on a table for diners to read. If you sit at the bar you can watch TV and even use the remote (kinda like home, huh?). You don't get pampered or blown away by the decor, which hasn't changed any in 20 years.
919-682-0128
awesome seafood
this place isn't about looks...it's all about the food. the seafood is fresh...i personally love the raw oysters with a pint of beer.. i came here with my family from out of town. my mom (who lives in hawaii) couldn't get enough of the seafood. she loved it here... our waiter was a real friendly, casual guy..recommending different specials/local beers...making the experience that much more enjoyable...
919-682-0128
BETTER THAN MARYLAND!!!
BETTER THAN MARYLAND!!! Yeah, I said it. The food is delicious, and it's a fun place you can bring your family OR your buddies! Leave your sunday best at home, you'll feel a little out of place. Come as you are, have a great time, and don't waste money on fancy dining when you could pay less and get the best seafood around. I'm hooked!
919-682-0128
Awful service
My party of five went to this restaurant tonight and waited 90 minutes to get our food after we ordered. The table next to us (who came 20 minutes after we did) got their food 30 minutes before us; this was not the only table that was served sooner. When our food finally arrived, we asked the waitress (who wasn't ours) why it took so long and all she could come up with was that it is a "small restaurant" and "food is made to order". Our waitress, "Melissa S", never came by in the 90 minutes to tell us it would be a while, never checked on our drinks, and basically ignored us. Unfortunately, 18% gratuity was added because we were a group of 5. I will be calling the manager in the morning.
919-682-0128
Appalling service
This was the worst service I have had in quite awhile. Drink and food orders were taken in a relatively prompt manner; this was not in any way indicative of the speed with which the food was brought. I suspect that my party's order was not put in until one of us asked the waitress when we should expect it to arrive (after waiting 45 minutes with no interaction from her). Another 20 minutes later, one person's food arrived (raw oysters and clams). The rest of the food arrived several minutes later. When we asked the server why it took so long for our food to arrive, she responded that it was typical for food to take that long to prepare on such a busy night, that the food was made to order, and that sometimes the cooks prepared smaller orders before larger ones like our party (of 5). Only after she provided these excuses did she state that she was sorry for the wait. Our food was ok-- nothing that would ever merit such a wait and such poor service. I will never go to this restaurant again, and I recommend that you avoid it as well.
919-682-0128
Great fish, disappointing sides
Service: Very good. Not the fastest place in the world, but our waitress was relatively knowledgeable and helped us choose our entrees. She was also able to supply chocolate milk for our 5 year old, which was appreciated. No issues with substituting broccoli for fries (I have the one 5 year old in the world that hates french fries)
919-682-0128
a favorite; can't be beat
You just can't make a food and beverage run downtown Durham without spending some time at Fishmonger's. We spend a LOT of time up and down the Carolina coast and assure you, fresher seafood can't be found unless you reel it in yourself; and you'd be hard pressed to find a better variety. A super casual atmosphere in vintage building with fun quirky pieces (barstools from tractor seats, picnic tables...) makes you glad to say "yeah, this is my town". Roll up your sleeves and throw back the oysters and beer! Fried jalapenos a must! Seasonal vegetables with a nice simple southern touch. Good food, good people, good price.
919-682-0128
Hurry to Fishmonger's, it's that GOOD!
Family friendly (beachy decor with picnic tables) serving delicious seafood. The sauteed scallops are out-of-this-world. Our succulent Blue Point oysters were complimented by icy-cold beer. Fried green tomatoes and homemade side dishes followed by banana pudding rounded out a memorable meal. Certified Angus ribeye steaks and barbeque ribs satisfied the land-lubbers with us.Worldwide > United States > Durham, NC > Restaurants