We have been coming to Siesta Key for over 22 years. Do you know that feeling when you find a really good restaurant, with great food, excellent service and everyone wants to go back, but you don't want to tell anybody else about it for fear everyone will know and you'll never be able to get back it (especially because there's already a wait for a table each time)? So that's my review about BWFM :) read more

If you are looking for GREAT FRESH SEAFOOD Big Water is the place you want to go to. Relaxed and laid back ambiance. Service was outstanding. We ordered scallops with piccata sauce. Perfectly grilled and the most delicious piccata sauce I have ever tasted. Entrees we ordered the Hogfish Hong Kong while delicate fish with a delicious Asian sauce served with white rice and mixed fresh veggies. And Seared Tuna served with white rice and seaweed salad Both were plentiful servings. We took home a fresh key lime slice of our which we really enjoyed. read more

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We had an amazing first dinner at Big Water Fish Market! Jen was absolutely incredible and went above and beyond to accommodate our party of 12. She let us know there were only two servers that night and things might be a little backed up, but we didn't mind waiting at all, we had great company and were enjoying ourselves! From start to finish, Jen was amazing. She gave us wonderful recommendations, made sure our drinks were always full, and kept our table clean and taken care of. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, and we loved every bite! Thank you, Jen, for making our first dinner while visiting for the weekend such a wonderful experience. You were amazing, and we truly appreciate you! read more

The staff was very friendly. The place is cozy and the food was so fresh and delicious! Great place for fresh local seafood. read more

Big Water Fish Market - The crab topped grouper. 3 people in our party had it and everyone raved about it for days. - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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Found this place because of my Yelp community! It is a little hole in the wall, dive (which are often the best places!) just a couple of blocks from Siesta Key Beach. It would be completely a miss on your map. We waited for a long time for a table, well past what we were quoted. There's not a lot of tables inside and a couple of bar seats. It is very small, we almost left, and the host said he would bring us food if we wanted to go next door and grab a drink. But it was well worth the wait. The host as well as our server were so friendly, so laid-back definitely beach vibes. They talked to us about how the owner was originally from upper Northeast came down and opened up the shop and they all were friends and worked together. You felt a great sense of a family to the staff. He recommended the grouper Reuben, which, maybe to some of you sounds kind of gross, but it was literally the best fish sandwich. I think I've ever had in my life. And i grew up on and still eat a lot of seafood. It was melted cheese. The fish was fresh. It was packed with fish, just enough sauerkraut and thousand Island to give it just a hint of Reuben. The fish remained the star and the bread was incredible too! The environment as you can see from my pictures it's just what you would expect a surf shack type of place to be and you literally could walk from the beach although we did drive after being at the beach all day. Highly highly recommend 10/10! Seek this place out if you're ever in Sarasota in Siesta Key Beach, it is the best and so fresh you won't regret it. read more

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Not a ton of good food options around this area but this place is a gem. Small little fish market with a restaurant that probably seats no more than 20? A few community tables so make sure you don't mind that. Service is a little gruff but that fits the vibe of this local fish market. We got the clam chowder, the peel and eat shrimp, and split a grouper sandwich, and a few beers. The clam chowder was tasty. Good meaty and creamy flavor. Comes out piping hot. The peel and eat shrimp was fantastic. Whatever sauce they use on it, a cajun, buttery, garlicky sauce was just amazing. Definitely worth getting if you like that kind of thing. The grouper sandwich was good. It needed a little bit of salt but I can see why this is a specialty here. Tender meat, good sauce. Definitely a top seafood spot if you're looking for something less tourist-y. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Half a grouper sandwich - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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One of our regular visits each year; this strip mall seafood market and restaurant has not changed much. Casual, comfortable setting with fresh sea food. We both opted for grouper Reubens- good sized piece of fish. Our beers were good and cold. I have had their grouper Reuben for about 7 years now- the portion size has changed but the quality and taste has not. Just a few tables inside and a few outdoors. Go for the food; avoid in season traffic on Midnight Pass Rd. read more

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Super food and service at this great little joint! We had a grouper Reuben- tops! Scallops-nicely seasoned and grilled. Very attentive wait staff. Small indoor space but comfortable. We sat outside facing their parking lot but we didn't mind. We'll return! Highly recommend. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Grouper Reuben with grilled asparagus. - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

This might be the best local seafood find in Siesta Key Beach! Everything is locally sourced from two vendors and it was delicious. It is also a cool vibe, kinda divey in a shopping center and every unassuming. But the food and service speak for itself! We'll be back one more time during our vacation for sure! read more

Big Water Fish Market - Blackened tripletail, roasted potatoes and cucumber + tomato salad. - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

We had this place recommended by Derrick and Shawnasi of NCMemorymakers to us and it did not disappoint! An old school restaurant/market with fresh and delicious food and down home service yo match. It felt like a step back in time...great ambiance! The Mahi-mahi Sandwich was delicious and a good sized portion and the Tator Tots were awesome! The Fresh Fish Platter I ordered up with Blackened Cobia, Red Potatoes, and the Keylime Coleslaw...everything was fantastic! I'd never tried Cobia before but it may be my favorite fish now! The potatoes were very creamy and the Coleslaw had a sweet hint of Keylime to them. I hope that we get a chance to get back in the area as we'll definitely be planning on another visit to Big Water Fish Market! read more

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Great fresh fish in the perfect small beach atmosphere. My family and I have been ordering from Big Water Fish Market every year during our annual trip to Siesta Key. It's a small, quaint fish market tucked in an unassuming shopping center in the slower, south side of Siesta Key. They have a few tables and chairs inside but fill up very quickly every night. We've only ever ordered takeout since our condo is within walking distance. Although they are always busy (and often sell out), they are still friendly and happy to help everyone, whether dining in or taking out. We absolutely love the conch fritters, clam chowder, and lobster rolls (on the days they have them). Our last visit, they were so busy they couldn't accommodate any more cooked food that night, so we ventured out and tried the tuna poke, conch salad, seaweed salad, and shrimp cocktail. The tuna poke, seaweed salad, and conch salad were good, but the shrimp cocktail was by far our favorite that night! It's lightly seasoned and the cocktail sauce complimented it perfectly. If you ever get the opportunity to try this place, definitely do it! I almost never order seafood to go, but this place is by far worth it. And try to get there early enough to get some of their amazing conch fritters (they may call them conch cakes too). read more

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The service was outstanding--very laidback and nice to chat with, while still being super attentive. We were seated at the front bar, which somehow still felt very cozy. The staff clearly work together to give customers the best experience, which was really nice to see. The décor was fun and eclectic. We didn't get drinks, but they had a good assortment of local brews. The food also came out pretty quickly considering how busy they were. We started with the smoked mahi dip, which they also sell in containers to take home. It was delicious--very flavorful without being overly fishy. The pickled onions served with it were great as well: flavorful but not overwhelmingly vinegary. I got the po' boy with soft shell crab, and it was huge. I loved all the veggies on it, though I do wish it came with a bit more sauce. The French fries were crunchy on the outside and soft inside--perfectly cooked. My mom got the pompano Cubano, which ended up being both of our favorite item. It was incredibly flavorful, and the sauces, spicy pickles, and veggies made it taste really fresh and overall delicious. The hush puppies were a bit too sweet for her, but perfect to me. They had the best texture of any hush puppies I've had--crispy on the outside while still soft inside. We did hear that during season they don't offer carryout after 4 p.m., which is totally understandable, but just an FYI. Overall, everything was amazing and we will definitely be going back. read more

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Big Water Fish Market was one of several seafood restaurants we visited this year on our beach vacation. Good food, good service and great ambiance. read more

The Big Water Fish Market was definitely a gem on our trip to Siesta Key. We went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and my family was a bit concerned at the appearance of the strip mall but like they say- never judge a book by it's cover because Big Water Fish Market had some of the best seafood in the area! Although the restaurant is small, when we arrived there weren't that many people there and we were promptly seated. We started with the Smoked Mahi Dip served over greens and crackers. It was AMAZING. So fresh and flavorful. We also tried the Fried Fish Nugs - a battered snapper with tartar sauce. It was delicious!!!!! For my course I went with The O.G. Grouper sandwich and again it was amazing quality and taste. Finally, our table shared the whole key lime pie and it was another delicacy. Just the right way to end our meal. One small drawback that because the restaurant was small we felt kinda rushed to finish our meal we supposed to be able to turn around the table. If possible expanding this location would help with that but because the food was amazing it is still worthy of 5 stars. read more

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Do not hesitate to come to big water for the greatest fish taco you'll ever have. Also had A dozen shrimp cocktail with a beautifully made homemade cocktail sauce that was just the right amount of spice. Incredibly fresh and very fairly priced. A small dining area but a family feel. The service was friendly and quick. We actually went there twice over the weekend that we were in town; and we will be back when we come back to the siesta key area. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Shrimp cocktail - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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Hands down the best food and service we had all week on Siesta Key. So much that we had to visit again before heading home. Make sure to order the peel and eat shrimp.. the butter sauce is to die for. Don't let the wait fool you.. just grab a beer and enjoy yourself. read more

Whether youre stopping in for a meal or to pick up something to cook at home you will not be disappointed. The menu is large and though there is not a lot of seating it is worth the wait. Everything was cooked perfectly and had incredible flavor. We opted to eat in but I would imagine anything you took home to cook would be just as delicious. Would absolutely visit again. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Lobster bisque and clam chowder - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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The most insane meal ever. If you are in siesta key, run to here Food amazing. Service amazing. The seafood was the freshest I've ever had. read more

Small place, big flavor! The food was amazing, and the service came with a smile. We'll definitely be back! read more

Big Water Fish Market - Snowcrab - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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Great fish and chips!!! Ice cold beer! Great service!! We will be back soon. Thanks Delaney !! read more

I am writing another post because this is hands-down my favorite place in the siesta key area. Although we went in the evening and I had an extra long wair due to the place not being very big, we went to the neighboring pizza spot to have a couple drinks as we waited. This place is worth the wait! The seafood is so fresh and everything is so flavorful. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any menu item. I will be back 100 more times in the future. read more

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Wonderful service! Great food (fresh!) and very reasonable prices. We had the grilled hogfish and snapper - fantastic. Highly recommend! We will be back read more

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Fresh seafood, casual laid back service that is great for takeout as well. Always a stop when we visit Siesta Key.

What is it with hidden gems in central Florida- it's amazing. This small strip-mall restaurant should carry some serious love stars from the community and visitors to this beach front area in Sarasota's Siesta Key. We had several items and they were all top-notch. We had the calamari and poke bowl to start then the New England clam chow-dah, mahi tacos for mains and hush puppies and tater tots for sides. All excellent!!! My favorite was the Mahi Tacos with a KeyLime coleslaw and large tater tots stuffed with cheddar and bacon. The service is made to order so don't come here rushed, it's worth the wait. read more

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A Hidden Gem for Seafood Lovers! This little spot is both a café and a fresh fish market, tucked away inside a plaza. It's easy to miss at first glance, but I'm so glad I decided to eat here instead of the crowded places nearby. After reading the reviews, I realized this spot was worth my attention. I arrived around noon, and at first, the place was empty, which made me a little hesitant. But within five minutes of sitting down, a crowd showed up, and I could feel the envy as they waited for a table while I was already enjoying my meal! Since I was just passing through, I really wanted to try lobster or shrimp. I ordered the lobster roll with fries, and it did not disappoint. The lobster was crispy, fresh, and juicy, and the fries were incredibly crunchy and delicious--probably some of the best fries I've ever had! I also tried the tuna poke bowl, but unfortunately, it wasn't as enjoyable. The tuna itself was cold and fresh, but the mix of temperatures from the other ingredients--like the salad and chopped onions and peppers--was off-putting. If everything had been served cold, it would have been much better. I couldn't finish the poke bowl, but I'd still recommend the lobster roll without hesitation. Another highlight is their impressive selection of beer--it's diverse and worth checking out. Overall, I'd definitely return to this spot for the lobster roll and fries, and maybe to explore more of their menu. If you're in the area, give this hidden gem a try! read more

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Hidden gem. Mom and Pop (type) restaurant hiding in a strip mall. Limited seating but benches outside for the wait, if needed. Place was full. Many were long time returning customers. We sat next to a couple visiting from Maine. They were planning their SECOND meal here before returning home. Clam Chowder was fantastic. I had scallops and my wife had fish tacos. Everything was delicious. They talked me into desert. They only offer one, key lime pie. I very, very rarely eat that but they were pretty confident I would like it and they were right! The lime was not tart or overpowering and the crust was flaky and light. Possible the best $5.00 dessert ever. Local beers on tap. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff. It felt more like eating in someone's kitchen. We will definitely go back. Not much to look at but the quality was there. read more

Ive been coming here for years! The seafood is incredibly fresh and full of flavor, with generous portions & a variety of unique dishes. Friendly service, casual scene, and overall great atmosphere. Also they just added an array of draft beers! I'll be heading here all summer long & bringing the family along. Big Water! read more

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We were looking for a restaurant to eat after stopping last night at the beach. Most restaurants around the beach closes already. It 905pm when I saw this place while searching yelp. I am glad that they opened until 10pm on Saturday night. We came here and were told to sit anywhere we liked. We ordered tuna poke, tots, grilled scallops,grouper Oscar, and snapper sundown. All the fish here tastes very fresh. We were done by 10pm. There were two other tables left. read more

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Been enjoying amazing food and service for years here. Jennifer is an exceptional waitress. Always smiling, she makes our experience better every time. read more

Their slogan is "Our Fish is Delish" and they definitely meet that standard. Little bit of a wait to get a table but we'll worth it. Everyone knows this place rocks so they return and so do their friends. Has the fried oysters platter with the mixed vegetables. Found their prices to be very reasonable and the quality of food is superb. It's a small place so you get seated with other patrons and making new friends is part of the fun experience. Can not wait to return with other family members with whom I shared my adventure. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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The food was best I've had in Sarasota. Arrive was impeccable. Friendly staff. Ambiance, old Florida which is much better than a chain restaurant read more

Very good fish. Fish was fresh and tasty. We had fish nugget with key Lim Sal Blacked grill fish sandwich. read more

Big Water Fish Market - Very good fish - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

This was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Siesta Key/Sarasota!! We started with delicious raw oysters and stone crab claws. I got the tacos with tripletail, and it was truly some of the best fish I've ever had. Cooked perfectly and with nice, large chunks of fish. The toppings and tortillas were delicious, as well. My husband got the pompano cubano which he also loved. My side of coleslaw was very fresh and not overly dressed, which I very much appreciated. My husband got the stuffed tater tots side (almost like a croquettes since you had three big balls with filling). Different from what we expected, but they were also great! Just enough to not feel overly stuffed! The place itself is super cute with a casual, fish shack vibe. The service was friendly and prompt, and even though they don't take reservations, we didn't have trouble betting a table for two at about 1pm on a Saturday (the place was always full, but luckily no one ever had to wait). I was raving about this meal all weekend. We will definitely be back! read more

Big Water Fish Market - Pompano cubano with stuffed tots - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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Food was amazing! We ordered the Mahi dip and the Swordfish. We got the swordfish grilled. Unbelievable!

Jennifer was an AMAZING waitress. We eat at Big Water Fish Market every time we are in Siesta Key. I always order the grouper Reuben. They actually use sauerkraut. Some places use coleslaw. That would be a Rachel, not a Reuben . read more

Nice portions. Fresh ingredients. Friendly service. Tables for small and larger groups.

All was delicious!! I do wish they had a larger area outside to accommodate actual tables with chairs, not a high stool and lower bar type table, just doesn't fit right. But that's all I have to complain about. Everything was delicious and delivered with a smile!! The fish was fresh and served with a delicious piccata sauce and the asparagus was cooked just right. My husband had fried local shrimp and you could tell that they were fresh with a light coating and yummy dipping sauces. So tasty!! Thanks for a wonderful reasonable priced dinner!! read more

Big Water Fish Market - Hogfish piccata - Seafood Markets Near Me - Siesta Key, Florida

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This a real secret place on Siesta Key but quickly being discovered by people who love fresh fish prepared wonderfully! Great fish and great prices! They have about anything you would want! You can eat in or out on the deck! Great service too! Don't leave the island cause you won't find it any better! read more

It was an extremely long wait but worth it! Delicious food and decent pricing. Plan to wait or go mid-day.

Hidden gem near Siesta Key beach swing by for some amazing fish sandwiches and by the looks of the reviews a lot of other delicious choices. Ambience is casual. I came dressed in a bikini and cover-up and felt right at home. It was the perfect place to stop for a bite after spending the afternoon in the sun. It is a smaller shop with seating anywhere from 2-4 people per table. I'm sure they could put some tables to seat 6 if they needed to. The seating is primarily indoors. There appeared to be mostly locals hanging out at this dive. Definitely not a tourist spot which adds to its charm. It would be ok to bring children. The music levels were just right. Good enough to carry a conversation but loud enough that you could hear the lyrics. (Important, right? ) I got the grilled grouper Rachael Sandwich on a brioche bun with coleslaw, cheese, and thousand island dressing. Dee-lishhhh. I also sampled the Reuben Sandwich with Mahi. Equally delicious even without the sauerkraut (they ran out). They were able to sub it out with coleslaw which was good too. I liked how the sandwich was still warm when it came out so when you bit into it the cheese just melted into the fish and bread. I do love me a good Reuben sandwich and this version with the fish is making hungry again as I write this review. The potato salad which was a small serving looked 'watery' but it was tasty. Maybe, I'm not a potato salad aficionado but I had something different in mind when I got it so it surprised me but I was glad to dip my fish in the vinegar that remained at the bottom of the serving cup. Can't go wrong with fish and vinegar. For dessert we got their homemade key lime pie. Very indulgent and rich. It was really creamy and if you're after something that will make your taste buds salivate, this is it. The key lime is strong in this one. I am relinquishing one star for service. It was just 'ok'. That being said the service industry is difficult and maybe, it was the Veteran's Day weekend crowd that had them a bit fatigued and less responsive. I was also surprised that they did not offer any incentives for Veteran customers. It would certainly be a great way for them to garner more business for the holiday weekend. The sandwich prices were a little high in my opinion but considering the amount of fish, which was cooked to perfection by the way, was not bad. Also, the fish is fresh from the sea so the quality was top notch. I think considering inflation the prices are on par for the times sadly enough (Bidenflation FML). It is also a small business so I totally understand the price point. Just close your eyes do your taste buds a favor and dig into some good grub. Worth it. read more

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