Great Food and good service. This is our 2nd visit on vacation. Plan on coming back again next year.

Finally stopped into the newest steak place in Orange Beach the expectations were high but my recent visit was a bit underwhelming. The venue is nice, the service good, but the food was just okay. Located right on Canal Road, this spot sits in the building that used to house a favorite local breakfast joint before transitioning into this casual steak and seafood concept. The name BOLO actually stands for "Bear on the Lookout," which ties into their sister restaurant over at Bear Point Harbor. When you pull up, you will find plenty of easy, dedicated parking right out front. Inside, they have completely transformed the space into a cozy, casual vibe with dim lighting, rustic wood accents, comfortable booth seating, and a nice indoor bar area. Most reviews online have been generally solid, averaging around four stars, with folks usually praising the upscale atmosphere and friendly staff. The crowd favorites on the menu typically include their hand-cut ribeye steaks, the prime rib, broiled oysters, and their unique collard green grilled cheese small plate. I tried a wide variety of their offerings, the bread was just okay, coconut shrimp was very disappointing, the chopped salad was quite good, the wings were different and not bad but not great, my friend's prime rib steak sandwich was fair, but the fries were not good. Unfortunately my ribeye was average at best but that's where the underwhelming really hit home. The place was pretty empty, and it might because of the food, but the same folks that own this previously had an extra special breakfast spot here and I had my hopes that this would just special. I will go back again down the road and give them a try and hope that they improve their food. read more

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It is permanently closed what a disappointment . Let us know you are closed. I already had plans for dinner I put it in the GPS map and it said permanently closed read more

From start to finish, everything was delicious. The smoked old fashioned at the table, the chopped salad with green goddess dressing, the fresh catch ! My husband got the prime rib sandwich and son got the smash burger. Was incredible. We will definitely be back! read more

Bolo Steak & Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

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entered through the main door as requested to be seated by the hostess. when we entered, the dining area looked empty. when the hostess returned to her stand she asked if we had a reservation which we did not. this was puzzling because the placed looked empty. i guessed we looked puzzled because she informed us that her manager told her not to accept any more table request. she said that we would need to be put on a wait list except, get this, she didn't know how long the wait would be. needless to say, my opinion on this leads to an underprepared staff from the manager down to the hostess . my husband asked can give us an approximate time to which she replied no. too many great options available for this . read more

The food was fantastic, adorable place and service was top notch. Our server was so attentive and friendly! We had several appetizers and entrees, all of which were delicious. The crabcake was a favorite, as well as their steaks! We will definitely be back. read more

Bolo Steak & Seafood - Crabcake - Seafood Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

Prime Rib special on Thursdays is the best deal in Orange Beach. Someone really knows how to cook great prime rib. Nice decor and great staff read more

I want to start out by saying this restaurant is fairly new. Maybe less than 6 months in business. I really wanted this place to be fantastic. This area needs some good steak places. First all the great things this place did right! The atmosphere was very nice for a romantic or casual night out. Restaurant has some charm to it . The server was very help and even offer us a option that wasn't on the menu. Service was great. However, the two biggest disappointments was lack of good food options on the menu (which they just re-did their menu) and the bar drinks were terrible. My wife order a Lemon drop martini and we sent it back because it was so bad. The beer they brought out had 2" of foam on top. (This is a no no for beer drinker) We got Buffalo wings and they tasted like they had hot sauce rub on them. They also left the small wing part on (who does that?) The ribeye sandwich would have been good if they hadn't included gravy on top of it. The gravy was not good at all. The manager was very nice and did adjust our ticket for some of the issues. We will try them again later because we do like the location and the service. But we will give them time to change out their menu some! Also, it would have been nice to see some more option a little more budget friendly on the menu. Hopefully they will get things turned around. I would give them a try because the atmosphere and service is great! read more

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Very odd experience. We have passed Bolo several times and decided to give it a try. The restaurant was empty so we assumed it would've been a quick seating. The hostess seemed annoyed that we didn't have a reservation and walked away for 5 mins to set up a table. When we were finally seated, no one ever came to wait on us. We left after 10 minutes with next to no one in the restaurant. I understand now why it was empty on a busy Friday night. Oh well.... read more

Such a cute restaurant with fantastic food! Great steaks, seafood, drinks and service! Please take the time to visit so we keep this little gem in business. read more

This is actually Julia's husband writing. This place was great. We came twice! The first time I had their smash burger. I was so good. The second time I had their 8 oz sirloin. It was better than most of the filets I remember over the years. Really thick. Cooked it to my order (medium rare) just to perfection. Nice crust. Highly recommended! read more

20 empty tables, says 1 1/2 hr wait, weird smell.... fine dining or shit for food? not worth the drive

WOW. An amazing experience at a newer restaurant. Absolutely spectacular steaks. The restaurant buys the beef and butchers themselves. Tender and flavorful plus cooked to perfection! We had the 8oz tenderloin and the 14oz ribeye. Sides were delicious green beans and whipped potatoes. My husband upgraded to potatoes au gratin. They were delicious with white and sweet potato and fresh parm. Our dessert was the best ever. A chocolate pistachio terrine read more

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We stopped at the bar in Bolo Steak and Seafood one afternoon with intentions to linger and eventually eat dinner. The menu had an odd assortment of choices from oysters to sandwiches to Cajun specials and heavily sauced steaks and seafood entrees. The staff was a bit perplexed as to who was assigned to what tasks on that day. The bartender was pleasant and attentive to us, but multitasking as a server, hostess, table cleaner, and she was also the only person behind the bar. A few disgruntled employees were coming and going and sharing comments with her, but not loud enough for all to hear. Due to that that type of awkward atmosphere, we finished two drinks at the bar, gave the hardworking bartender a good tip, and went elsewhere to eat. read more

We called ahead to make sure we could get a table. They had plenty open because it was still early. It was a little dark as far as lighting goes for me, but some people may enjoy that. The menu didn't have much out of the way of appetizers to offer, so we got bread bites and butter that were 'off menu'. They weren't the best thing I've ever tasted, but I'd said 7/10. Our table was small but ok, my water glass had a lipstick stain still on it, so they have to give me a clean one. The food was pricy but good. Not many complaints aside from the lighting, bread and the glass. read more

We 3 ladies decided on the recommendation of a friend to try this restaurant. Walking in, the atmosphere was serene and a treat for the eyes.. soft lighting with plenty of full length windows and the art was a treat for the eyes.. Gabe was our knowledgeable and upbeat server. He answered all our questions about drinks and food. When our drinks arrived we were all pleased, my red wine, chosen from a long list of choices, was excellent and a very nice pour! The brown sugar old fashioned was perfect .. no draft beer but plenty of selection for craft and domestic beers was available. Then our meals came.. wow!! The special; rainbow trout with spaetzl and mushrooms, prime rib poorboy and fries and filet with crispy Brussels spouts .. We ate every bite!! Finally we ordered the in house made triple chocolate torte and shared it we all said it was one of the best desserts ever!!! So go!! They have a bar that anybody would love to go to watch the game and 3 separate dining areas plus plenty of parking! read more

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We arrived relatively early (6 pm) and the place was empty. The host wasn't present and I waited 10 minutes until I was noticed. We were seated and we only asked for water to drink. The appetizers we ordered were exceptional. By 7 pm the dining area was half full (it's offseason), yet the ambiance was relaxed, quiet, and a perfect setting for an amazing meal. The only drawback was the server, she just wasn't attentive and we had to ask twice for two different items we ordered. Otherwise, despite the relatively higher prices than what's typical in the area, the meal was atypical and extraordinary. read more

The hidden gem. No tee shirts for sale, not overly touristy and no over the top beach decor. Since the new manager took over, the food has been consistently good and the service is solid. It's our once a trip stop every time we are down. read more

Another fabulous meal at Bolo. The food was excellent, the service was wonderful and the ambiance soothing. This is by far my favorite restaurant in Orange Beach. read more

What a delightful experience. The food was excellent and the service couldn't be better. We were especially impressed with the presentation. The oysters were served on a bed of salt, very classy. They had great music playing, perfect for the atmosphere. I highly recommend it. We have been locals for the past 23 years and this was one of our best dinners out in the area. read more

Made a reservation online and the system was a tad confusing for someone who's never been before as you pick from one of many locations (e.g., Dining Room 1 or 2, Bar, etc.) How would I know which is better, worse? I had to delay the reservation based on bad traffic, and they were very accommodating. We were seated quickly but this is where they lost a star. We sat for probably 10 minutes with no one talking to us while I could clearly see servers either walking around or chit chatting with their teenage friends. Finally had to ask for help then things got back on track with friendly support. My classic Old Fashioned was clearly watered down, which was shocking. Never had that happen before. We ordered the Pork belly appy then the ribeye, seafood rice and seafood Mac n cheese. Portion sizes were generous. The flavors were fine but not up to the prices. read more

My husband and I tried a new restaurant called BOLO on Canal Road. They were advertising prime rib night on Thursday night. The restaurant is tastefully decorated, and the drinks were well apportioned. The service was extraordinary. The young lady's name was Leslie. We had crab stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer which were out of this world. The prime rib was perfectly cooked, medium to medium rare. The green beans and mashed potatoes which accompanied the meal were perfectly seasoned and extremely tasty as well. And last of all, the crème brûlée for dessert had fresh blueberries on top of it and was first-class! We could not stop talking about how great this meal was last night! Please try this place, as it is new, and we would love to see it stick around! read more

Not a place that we will eat at again. The steak was tough, the lobster tails were small and charred. Lobster did not come with butter and our side vegetable came half way through our meal. For as slow as the resturant was the service was slacking . read more

Greeting and seating was great! Service was a little slow. Need more lighting inside. Food was pretty good. ( steaks over cooked a little, Cheesecake very questionable ) Tad bit over priced for the quality of food. This place does have potential. read more

This IS a hidden gem! Service, food quality/preparation, flavor, atmosphere, value...all of it was amazing. Our server, Stephanie, was incredible. She was very friendly, genuine, knew the menus, and was attentive without being the center of attention. The crab hush puppies are a must! The filet was cooked perfectly. Just the right amount of seasoning without overpowering the steak. Brussels sprouts were amazing. The mashed potatoes were mashed potatoes. Very tasty but nothing write home about. And the deserts...holy cow, they were good! And to top it all off, we were able to meet the chef and offer our complements. Get your friends and/or family together and go support this incredible restaurant! read more

Bolo Steak & Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

Trying to be upscale. Amicable staff. The food is decent but overpriced I miss the breakfast restaurant OSO EARLY. Much better atmosphere. read more

Food and service were both excellent. We have dined at this place about once every 2-3 months. It is consistently great! Steaks and cocktails are particularly well prepared, fresh, and hit a top mark for taste. read more

Absolutely AMAZING food and INCREDIBLE service. Went here for a nice date night and the everything was cooked to perfection with tons of flavor (especially the filets). Our waitress was also very knowledgable on my date's allergy restrictions (gluten intolerance). Highly recommend the crab cakes for a starter and the cheesecake or the creme brûlée for a dessert. Big shoutout to Bolo and our waitress Stella for a great atmosphere, amazing food, and even better service. Will definitely be back when we're back in town! read more

Bolo Steak & Seafood - Filet w/ Mashed Potatoes & Asparagus - Seafood Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

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This awesome place is just a little of the beaten path for tourist but is worth the 5 extra minutes to get there. The restaurant is themed classier than most other restaurants in the area. We interacted with several staff during our diner and all were great. That leads me to the food. We both had steak dinners and they were incredible and priced very reasonable. We will definitely be back when are back in town. read more

This was our first time dinning here and we both said while leaving that would probably be the last. The waitress was Great!, the food was meh. We got the fresh catch, which was supposed to be Pompano, but to be honest it did not taste like Pomp. It was very bland and tasted like White fish, just no flavor to it at all. The garlic potatoes where cold, and the oysters were over cooked badly. The waitress was great and removed the oysters from the bill without hesitation. The appetizers came out with the dinner and not before like you would expect. Just not what we are looking for. read more

Snowy grouper special was the best fish dish I have had in years. Crab hush puppies were delicious. Chase was an attentive server and we appreciated his recommendations. Filet was cooked beautifully, rare. Give this place a try if you've never been. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. If they have shrimp toast as a special be warned that it would be spicier than anticipated.

Second time here and we brought friends with us. Server had no personality and wasn't very attentive. Food was delicious (ribeyes, indies salad, loaded potato soup) but one meal didn't come out with the others. When we inquired after the others were well into their meals, we were told the kitchen "missed it". It was just a burger patty and brussels, yet we were almost done with our food and it was delivered with no apologies and full charge on the bill. I was told that Bolo is struggling and I hope not because I think it could be too me of the best on the beach. I love the ambiance and food, but this time the service alone was enough to make someone think twice about returning. read more

Four of us dined at Bolo on a Wednesday evening. We had the most wonderful experience. Our waitress, Teegan, was so pleasant, friendly, and helpful. We did not feel rushed at all. In fact, the serving pace was perfect. The decor is very stylish and comfortable. The food was delicious. We each had something different, and we all thoroughly enjoyed what we had. You won't go wrong dining at Bolo! read more

Wow! Apps, main course and dessert fantastic! I hope this place is here for a while. I forgot to take pictures but good gracious the food is good. One of the best steaks I have ever had. The filet was cooked to perfection. read more

Had dinner there for the first time yesterday. Absolutely delicious! Perfect steak! The entire meal and service deserve an A+. Great location too! read more

Our first time here and it was amazing! We had the crawfish dip as appetizer. Seafood Mac and cheese, broccolini and Brussel sprouts. It was all delicious. The atmosphere is great and our waitress Laiken was so sweet and took great care of us! We will definitely be back! read more

Absolutely great. Had the mushroom caps stuffed with crab, farmers salad with a wonderful lemon basil vinaigrette, Swordfish on risotto, and crispy Brussels. We will be back. read more

Our family had reservations for Saturday night Memorial Day weekend. We were sat at our table immediately. Twenty minutes later, we had not seen a server. We saw the hostess and asked for water.. at least. Waited another fifteen minutes and never saw a server. My husband got up to go get drinks at the bar for our table. The one bartender was running around waiting on tables. I understand it is hard to get help these days. But this is unacceptable. Got up and left. A large table was waiting outside and there were empty tables inside. We are locals and live around the corner. We have waited to come to Bolo due to negative reviews when they first opened. It is unfortunate that my children were here and this was the option we chose for our dinner out for the weekend. They need to get it together. read more

Let's first start with how amazing our server Gabe was with his knowledge and love of being someone local to the area. We ate on 7/5 at 5:00pm with 9 people. He explained the specials and where the seafood was sourced from as you would expect from an upscale restaurant. He was patient and kind while several members of our party deliberated on what to order. Several of us ordered the filets. All were cooked as we wanted and didn't require a steak knife to cut. One person in our party had the scallops and ate every one. We also did the flank steak and French dip which were enjoyed. So what could be better? The entrance is slightly confusing. The food while very tasty, could use some elevation in presentation. And the restaurant is very warm and that's without a lot of people in it. Would love to see some seafood sides such as shrimp and lobster for a surf and turf option too. That said, consider Bolo for you next " fancy" dinner out. And, I hope Gabe is your server! read more