Backwaters at Sand Key is a fantastic spot for happy hour! The bites were fresh, flavorful, and the perfect size for sharing. Every dish we tried was well-prepared and packed with great taste. The service is always friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Between the delicious happy hour offerings, relaxed atmosphere, and outstanding staff, it's an easy place to return to again and again read more

See all

Our group of 7 got REALLY lucky on a Saturday night and had ZERO wait for an outside table. Apparently they don't take reservations for groups under eight people, but we did FINE (parking in the shopping strip lot was ANOTHER story...) Our waitress was quick, super friendly, and VERY efficient. Got all our drink, app., and dinner orders perfectly, and the only issue was what to choose on their tempting, EXTENSIVE menu. My ATTEMPT to keep to my @#$%&* diet was helped out by a WONDERFUL seafood salad, very fresh and topped off with DELICIOUS shrimp and scallops, cooked PERFECTLY. Others in my group were equally pleased with their grouper tacos, fish and chips, and burgers, etc. The one "minor" complaint from someone who ordered the grouper entree, which he said (and I sort of agree...) had less fish than the grouper tacos! Go for the tacos, problem solved!! Quick service, delicious food/great variety, BEAUTIFUL view out on the back patio... There are TONS of great choices in this area, and this is definitely one of them!! Check 'em out!! read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - Seafood salad with a view - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

I really enjoyed this restaurant! We had a big party of probably about 15 people in our two waitresses K and Sarah did not miss a beat. They were so kind impersonal and made the experience that much more enjoyable. Now onto the food, I enjoyed almost everything I tried. The coconut shrimp was tasty. The lobster bisque was delectable. The fish spread was super good. The only thing I did not enjoy were the shrimp and crab egg rolls. For my entrée I chose the salmon and made it black and blue and it was just OK. I tried the margarita and didn't love it. Sent it back! But overall from the service alone I would definitely return. The ambience is very much beachy vibes, casual, and overlooks the water. They also have a full bar and outdoor seating. read more

See all

Had a very good dinner last night across the street from our condo. Our waitress was Molly and she was great. I had the grilled grouper, it was excellent. Cooked perfectly. Delicious!!! read more

First time visiting this restaurant that is so close to me and never far away given the opportunity until finally. We went on a Sunday afternoon it was quite crowded especially outside on the deck, which by the way is spectacular the view and we could even see dolphins. Speaking of the excellent food, everything we ordered as a starter some wings in teriyaki sauce too rich and as a main course my husband ordered the New York Strip and I ordered the Salmon with majadas. Totally recommended both. The service of the waiter who served us was excellent, thank you Max N. for your attention and taking our photos. In summary, the place is perfect for couples or families very pleasant and fresh and the view of magacin. read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - Three of us ask for the Salmon and husband the NY steak - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

See all

Family vacation, first time here & all 10 of use for different things. Overall rating on food 10/10 Service 7.5/10 Ambiance was pretty because we were able to sit on the waterfront! We started with the Blacked bacon Scallops 10/10 I ordered the Fish & chips 9/10, my bf ordered the New York Strip 9/10 his only complaint "you never put butter on top of the steak, Gordon Ramsey would never do that lol" my sister and I both had the Mermaid Mojito 100/100!! This place was a great dinner spot, I was able to make a reservation by sending them an email. They were very accommodating for my 10 family members and I read more

See all

Reading the reviews before mine, talked about how the food was great, service needed work... WHELP! Our waitress Jenny was AMAZING. No complaints at all regarding service, food, or atmosphere. We were a party of 9 and our drinks were never empty, plates from appetizers taken off the table in a timely manner etc. highly recommend this restaurant. The owner came to the table too and he was very polite. There homemade chips are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend all the dishes posted below. read more

See all

We love this place except for parking! Food is awesome. I had the beef sliders soo good. Drinks are always great. We go early . read more

It is our 40th anniversary today May 3! Our waiter was Kristian V. He was very helpful and has a great personality! The food was great no complaints at all. I had ribeye with garlic mash potatoes and my husband had scallops with the same side! Everything was delicious. We shared a piece of key lime pie! We had bayside sitting! Looking at the bay while having dinner is a great experience! We will be back again! Restaurant was very spacious, and comfortable. read more

Walked in with 2 kiddos at 5:30 we were seated right away food and service were great. Casual dinner spot would go again the cocktails and deserts were solid. read more

What a great place!!!! It feels like a local bar and eatery with excellent seafood selections, daily specials with reasonable prices. Service is pretty quick so if you're in a rush you can get out to your next adventure or hang out and have some beverages of your choice! Highly recommended!!! read more

(4) ~ very good overall food & service (inside & outside seating) MENU: ** Cheeseburger = (4.25) Very tasty ** French Fries = (4.15) Very good ** Key Lime Pie = (4.15) Very tasty ** Water (tap) = (4) very good * Smoked Fish Spread = (3.75) Good *** Buffalo Grouper Nuggets = Next time... read more

Such a wonderful place to eat and spend time with the family. The staff is SOOO friendly and made our dining experience so enjoyable. I was traveling with a family member who has a slew of allergies and they were so accommodating. They truly went above and beyond. The food was delicious and the drinks were amazing. We even ended our evening with a visit from a playful dolphin. read more

We still love this place!!! Michelle and staff are stellar! Food is fabulous! Check it out! Also... the fancy holiday drink aka Spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned will blow your mind! read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

See all

Amazing service; friendly staff and guests! The manager came by to say hi because he saw our little one and we also had a lovely chat with the table behind us. Feels like a neighborhood favorite spot for casual seafood right by the water. We waited less than 5 mins for a spot outside instead of indoors which was a bit louder/lively. Their menu has stars on their most popular dishes. For dinner, we ordered their fried calamari as an app, fish n chips and blackened mahi as mains, and a cup of lobster bisque. I'd come back for the fries alone; really nicely battered. We came back the next day for some key lime pie to-go and a bunch of their staff remembered us and have us a warm welcome. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

See all

Listen.... One of my rare 5 stars...I've been coming to this place since 2004. This is Florida .... Sitting on the dock ... drinking, eating grouper... watching sailboats ... with some of the best bisque if ever had....sure they have some menu items that cater to local snow birds... but I would recommend saying on the seafood side. Service was great, great vibe... exactly what I expect from Florida... Grouper A Bisque A Nashville hot chicken C Drinks A read more

See all

Rick was absolutely amazing! He made the experience from start to finish. He was wearing some birthday attire and we made sure to acknowledge his birthday. food was amazing as well, really great atmosphere and staffing. Thank you for a really wonderful lunch! Bathrooms were very clean and very beautiful as well. Also, the mashed potatoes (not pictured)- Really great! read more

See all

Waterfront dining. In the shopping center with The Columbia, among other businesses. Dined inside and it was not busy. Quiet, comfortable. Enjoyed some french onion soup,calamari, house salad, grouper nuggets and peel and eat shrimp off of the "Happier Hour" menu. Next time I will go with more of an appetite. Tasted very fresh, light and flavorful! Max was our server. He was on top of everything! Be back soon. read more

See all

Sit on that back patio and enjoy the bay. Great views, right on the water. Great service. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Food was delicious. We will definitely come back next year. read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - White sangria Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

See all

We've been there a few times both eating inside and outback with the view of the water. Service has been good and great variety on the menu. The food is always been great! read more

I have never been so impressed with a staff member, Crystal, in my restaurant experience. she understood that my husband was handicapped (COPD, PORTABLE OXYGEN, COLLAPSED LUNG) and went out of her way to make us comfortable. The food was phenomenal, staff was great and it is worth your while to enjoy the cuisine. AGAIN, THANK YOU Crystal read more

Yes- especially the breakfast Buffett - everything you love done right - great service and overlooking the bay

Super fresh seafood, beautiful view, and friendly vibe. Cocktails and food are delicious! Staff is friendly.

After my flight was cancelled, we got a hotel on Sand Key and looked for a casual lunch spot. Our hotel concierge mentioned Backwaters as an option, so we took a chance and decided to come. You seat yourself, so we sat outside next to the water (they have outdoor heaters for cooler days). Our waitress was very friendly and welcoming. We started with the 2-for-1 margaritas, which were a bit weak, but nothing to complain about. (Happy hour runs 11am-6pm.) I then opted for the blackened grouper sandwich, which was well seasoned and seemed pretty fresh. For my side, I chose the cole slaw, which is on the sweeter side. Great, fresh lettuce and tomato on the sandwich, served with homemade tartar sauce. Overall, we really enjoyed our late lunch. And you can't beat the views! read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - Outside seating view - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

See all

We were only here for drinks. Doing a bar crawl with the Birthday girl. Was greeted right away. Drinks were good. I've been here before and the food is great. Christian was great and attentive. read more

See all

Our friends invited to join them for dinner. They have frequented Backwaters and we were looking forward to trying something different. I went for the Wednesday crab cake special that features little filler. This is the way to go! Truly enjoying the crabmeat rather than the filling. It came with two cakes and two sides and I found myself comfortable after eating one of the crab cakes and all of my sides (leaving me one to enjoy for lunch tomorrow!). My husband went with the Parmesan crusted grouper. The fish was prepared perfectly and it had great flavor. (One of our friends got the full rack of ribs. He said they were cooked perfectly and he had plenty for lunch tomorrow as well!) Our server was awesome. She was engaging and had great energy without being overbearing. She was great with suggestions and accommodating to our requests. The greeter and even the valet were friendly and helped round out a great night, meal and experience. We're glad our friends introduced us to this restaurant. read more

See all

We are regulars in this restaurant when we are in the area. Great food, friendly staff, and great views on the water.

Walked in on a Friday night, waited about 5 minutes to seated. I started off with the raw oysters, they were really briney and fresh. And then I had the Captain's Platter and that was really delicious. Overall the waitress was very nice and attentive great atmosphere. Would definitely return and would recommend others do as well. read more

See all

We had a group of 4 people for dinner last evening. We called for reservations and were told they do not take reservations. We asked at what time we needed to be there to be able to get a table outside and were told 5pm so two of the four got there at 5pm and were seated. At no time were we told our entire party had to be there before having been seated. We ordered drinks and appetizers while waiting for the other 2 people. Shortly before 6 the manager came over and very rudely informed us that there was a 90 minute window for ordering food and holding up a table, and that the entire party needed to be present to be seated. We explained we were never told that and that we were eating and drinking. The manager said the waitress was new and didn't know that. (I will say our waitress was phenomenal!) A second manager came over shortly after that and again questioned when our other party would get there and kept walking by our table. We ordered drinks and appetizers for the other couple before they showed up to try to appease the managers. We were made to feel very uncomfortable. On the way out, I asked to see the manager to let her know how she made us feel. She was extremely rude, unapologetic, and in no way wanted to hear the voice of a customer who has been there at least 8 times in the last month with different groups of people. I told her I won't be back after how we were treated and she said she was sorry to hear that. That was her big apology! Just horrible! read more

A great restaurant near Clearwater Beach, Florida that is on the inter coastal with a great view. Seafood, steaks, and everything in between. read more

It has been a few months since we've been here, but rarely does it disappoint. We normally sit at the bar. However, with friends visiting from Michigan, we opted to be seated on the deck for them to get the beautiful Florida water experience. I'm glad that we did. Our one friend barely ate her lunch because of the view. A grilled Mahi Maha sandwich, tuna sandwich, two cups of lobster seafood bisque, and a bowl of onion soup were ordered. Our server, Max, was great. Food was delivered promptly, and it was all hot and tasty. Parking was always an issue at Sand Key, so it is wonderful that Backwaters offers free valet parking (so worth tipping the attendant). The newish bar menu offers a wide variety of menu items at a reasonable price. All in all. We plan to return soon. read more

See all

The food was good, but worst service ever! Honestly, the waitress seemed annoyed that we only ordered water to drink. She brought the water and soon after took our order, but we did not see her again until I had to chase her down to get to-go boxes and our bill. A different server brought our food, and no staff checked to see how our food was or if we needed a water refill (I did!). It was my wife's birthday and she presented the 10% off birthday discount code to the waitress (Tonya), who wrote it down on her order pad, but forgot to apply the discount when totaling the bill. We kept waiting to see if Tonya would come back to ask if we wanted dessert, but she never stopped by our table. I finally had to seek out her attention in order to get to-go boxes and our bill. She dropped off the boxes but didn't immediately provide the bill. After about five minutes, my wife walked to the front of the restaurant to try to get away from the noisy customers near us. I waited a few minutes, then walked to the bar area, where Tonya was just ringing up our bill. She handed me the receipt, but it was so dark that I had to go back to the table to use the light there in order to see the total. Since she had just handed me the bill, I didn't see the notation that there is a 3% credit card surcharge fee. I missed that, but I did notice that the suggested tip was based on the total, INCLUDING the tax. If you eat here, be sure to pay attention to all the fine print (*credit card surcharge, *tax included in the total determining the suggested tip, etc.). We were told the credit card surcharge was printed on the menu, but neither my wife nor I saw it. I used the handheld electronic credit card payment machine to pay the bill and provided my phone number, asking that the receipt be texted to me. However, par for the course, no text ever arrived on my phone. My wife and I both got the feeling that once we ordered water and two of the less expensive menu items ($27 Jumbo Shrimp Dinner, $15 Philly Steak sandwich) and provided the 10% discount code, that the waitress just didn't care about us. We've eaten here numerous times, but never again. Lastly, I received a text from Backwater's seeking a review less than an hour after I paid the bill. I received the text while driving home, so once I got home, I immediately gave Backwater's a 1-star rating. However, when I tried to submit it, I received another text saying, "Thank you! You already left feedback for this experience or too much time has passed." (Neither of which was true.) I believe that once a patron clicks on a 1-star rating, the restaurant does not give you an opportunity to complete your survey or submit your 1-star rating. read more

It has always been a local favorite of many and myself. Im so Happy with the people, the food, and the atmosphere You will enjoy yourself! Check out this really cool place! Awesome fun times,as always read more

Great view, great service and good food with decent quantity. Molly was an awesome server and our grouper tacos were delicious. We also enjoyed the grouper sandwich. Key lime pie was ok and could have been tarter. Overall we enjoyed our dinner and will come back. read more

Great location... on the bay with heaters on the porch.... Eat anything grouper!! Great service... quick to be seated and served! read more

Do you want a good BLT? Or a Philly Cheese ? This is the place. Best yet get a bowl of French Onion soup and split the BLT. A guy sitting next to us at the bar had wings and we finally accepted his offer of trying one. These were incredible and juicy and amazing. Big enough app to split. Doesn't break the bank and the bartender is fun! read more

Service was really good and they were very polite. It felt like they really made an effort! The crab cakes were phenomenal! The view of the back deck is awesome! read more

This place is located in a strip mall. The mall itself is nothing much and the restaurant is also not that impressive but the staff and the food make this place worth it. My steak was very good. The food is well prepared and packed with flavor. The drinks are also very good. The staff was very helpful and so friendly. They made our visit fun and we enjoyed ourselves. You should definitely come try them out. Don't miss out! We sat in the back and it was pretty windy, I couldn't see the bay. I think it would be good if we could. Not a deal breaker though. read more

Backwaters on Sand Key - tables and chairs with lights - Seafood Near Me - Clearwater Beach, Florida

See all

My wife and I visited this restaurant and it was not the first time in the last 25 years....but it will probably be the last time! After I paid I noticed on the receipt, which I had to ask for, that there was a surcharge of 3% added for the use of a Credit Card! I confronted the restaurant manager and told him that it was not mentioned when I received the check. He told me that the charge is necessary. "We haven't raised our prices in a long time" I told him that he raised his prices by 3%. The manager did not respond in a nice way and I think he has an aggression issue. read more

A dive bar restaurant who thinks they are fine dining. Burnt lump crab cakes but cold centers. Everything was under seasoned. Wife received what appeared to be frozen shrimp and scallops on a grocery store mix. Drinks were watered down. The waitress was nice but did not have proper training. We ordered raw oysters but canceled after finding out they rinse the liquor out. Waitress knew nothing about them. She had to go ask. The mind blowing check came and they started tipping at20%. Food servers have already received a raise with the crazy food pricing, we should not be forced to over tip as well. Tipping has always been 15% this new trend make me not want to eat out. read more