They need more places like this in the surburbs! :-( This place smells of fried and raw fish upon walking in and you will most likely leave out smelling just like fish but who cares because their Fish is the Best in Columbia! Better than Mr. Brown's for all you Columbia folks who know of this place. I always get the croaker and the whiting and you get plenty and more for the money and the fish is forever fresh! Hushpuppies are awesome here as well! read more

We don't go there anymore. Poor parking area. They sold us some bad seafood. That is not good. That is bad business. As you know, you have to be careful with seafood. It seems, they only care about selling, not the quality of the product. read more

The customer service here SUCKS! This is one business that doesn't have to worry about me again and I just relocated here.

I visited this dump years ago when I worked for the County. We stopped in for lunch. Well, the cashier/order taker was rude - and I'm not the type to be getting rude with; especially when I'm going to spend money. I didn't spend any money there. I got kind of heated and yelled at the rude clown behind the counter and walked out. My supervisor teased that "I might be going to jail." LOL for speaking my mind? That's the problem; people let stupid fools walk all over them without so much as a squeak, then wonder why service is getting so bad. I vowed to never set foot in the place again; and that was twelve years ago. read more

As of today this will no longer be a place that I am willing to spend my money. There was a worker (idiot) at the front desk who decided that instead of using a glove to pick up the shrimp we ordered he would use his WHOLE hand. This imbecile literally looked at us and said "well it still has the shell on it, so it should be ok"! I am definitely appalled, and disappointed because this is never been an issue for workers to use a glove before whenever we've come. If you want long lines, disrespectful attitudes, and impractical hygiene practices then spend your money here. If not i suggest you go to a different place! read more

This place kinda looks like a hole in the wall, but they have fresh oysters in the shell. We got a 1/2 busshell for $44. People were really nice to us and gave us advice on cooking our seafood. read more

Been going th Clifton's for years. This is my go to for oysters. I have also had a lot if cooked orders its always fresh and good. They have messed up on a few orders like forgetting the spoon and fork or forgetting. your cold slaw but this happen when there were very busy. These are things I can over look. read more

The fried shrimp is so good and fresh. The hush puppies are amazing, even the fries were delicious and were not greasy.

I have been getting oysters here for 15 years they are always great. Now for there cooked orders. I never had a bad experience, everthing is cooked to perfection. There are expensive restaurant in town that have as good of food as the cook. read more

My family has shopped here for years! The fish is always great, fresh, and at extremely competitive prices. Friendly staff and wonderful all around read more

I am visiting with family here in Columbia. We went to Clifton Seafood today and it was total chaos, basically an absolute nightmare is probably the best way I can describe the ordeal. The system they have, well let's just put it this way, they don't have one. It is a kind of like every man for themselves. There is suppose to be a line for cooked to order food and another to purchase raw food. Where and exactly the begins for the raw food, the jury is still out in that one. There really isn't one at all. The young lady working behind the counter with cornrows was EXTREMELY RUDE AND ARGUMENTATIVE, TO INCLUDE WITH THE OWNERS. Her attitude was of such, that you could tell that was the norm. Needless to say, we survived the chaos, although we were almost one of the last ones to leave having purchase raw fish to be cleaned. Customer service was definitely lacking in this establishment, if I lived here, it would not be a place where I would frequent and spend my resources. read more

This is the only place in Columbia for live seafood. However, the service is horrible! No one follows the sign that reads five people in the store at a time. Even if you call your order in, you're still going to wait long as they are never organized. I wish this city had more seafood market choices, because Clifton's Seafood should be closed! read more

WhoCliftons is where we have been going for years i never had a bad experience until yesterday i ordered red snapper i tryed calling them yesterday after i got home but i know they be busy so i called and i explaining what was wrong with my fish and whoever answered the telephone he talking about you can come in next week i said. Wanted fish yesterday i told him i could bring and let him see because was not good it hard and dry i always buy red snapper who ever. But then he acted like he didn't care one way are the other but that's okay read more

Two stars were given for the southern attitudes of staff & the other star for the hush puppies. I called in my order at 5pm and left their establishment at 6:27pm. What are my complaints? My order was incorrect, so they offered to re do the order and let me keep the wrong order.... okay. After 20-40 minutes I decided to remind them I was still waiting on my order, immediately the cashier's face was like OMG you're still here! Oh crap! She went to the back w/o me having to say anything and came back and said three minutes: clearly the cook forgot about my order. At this point I had a hunger headache and running late to church, so I finally got the order and was too stressed to even check it. Finally got it home to dig in & the fish wasn't fried all the way! $14 in trash can. read more

I ordered takeout. When I got back home and opened the Styrofoam container the fried fish was mushy most likely due to the steam in the closed styrofoam container. I would suggest using a paper basket and a paper bag for all call in orders for fried seafood. Other than that their seafood is delicious read more

The best ocean perch and jumbo shrimp I have ever tasted. They also make their own tarter sauce which is delicious.

I am new to the SC area I visited Clifton's for the first time 10//2013 they have a good quality of seafood available, "actually the best I have seen for the small area while in SC and cooked food prices are reasonable some of the other fresh fish prices and products were pricey, but nothing less expected due to no competition in the area. I ordered a dinner special the food came out COLD, and not very tasty,.. I did not get any condiments or plastic-ware to enjoyably consume my meal. Also the lady that waited on me was a bit rude and seemed disinterested in answering my questions about the meals. Overall I will return and pay the pricey fish price vs having a cooked meal. read more

Please ignore fishy smell. The food is so good it doesn't need cocktail or tarter sauce. Service is great and the food was ready quickly even though I didn't call and order ahead. Place was very busy. read more

The fried whiting and croker were great, and worth going back. What is not worth going back is Teresa. She is a clerk who has the nastiest attitude! If you are not a male she will ignore you. I wouldn't recommend the broiled scallops. I paid 9 dollars for 6 very small scallops and they were hard and smelled rotten. Yuck! read more

Best take-out seafood in Columbia...try the hushpuppies

Whenever we come to town, we go to Clifton's to get seafood. The seafood is fresh and the prices are pretty good.

Horrible place. As others have said-total chaos and incredibly rude staff. When I finally got some gruff woman to offer help I asked what kind of salmon they had and she said "farmed." So I asked if they had wild salmon and she waved me to a huge frozen case. I again asked what kind of salmon and she barked "I dunno about that!" I muttered "but this is a fish store." She doesn't know if it's King, Sockeye, Coho? Glanced in the frozen case and it had no organization or signs. I'd have had to paw thru a giant case to maybe find mystery frozen salmon. I gave up and got salmon at Publix, which is also farmed but $2/pound less than Clifton. And they're polite at Publix. Clifton is the worst. Never again. read more

Seafood is good. The takeout is da bomb. Cliftons gets 3 stars from me because the service isn't great. For the most part, they are friendly. But the wait times are horrible. Every time I come in it takes 40-45 mins for my food. I do not understand how people who have been in business for so long cannot allocate resources to help with food orders. Had it not been for that, they would have 4 or 5 stars. read more

Eaten here from time to time fresh food fast, but this may be my last. Wanted a pint of potato salad . They just had two small sizes so wanted to charge me individually for each. This would have been two dollars more. then the clerk began arguing with me that she has to charge them individually since they didn't have a large one filled Wow great customer service NOT. nickel and dime read more

Cliftons is awesome! I've been going there for years and they are the best around. Their fish is always very fresh and the people working there are very nice. Curtis takes pride in his business and it shows! They always have a large selection od seafood and if you don't feel like cooking - they'll cook it for you! Try this place for your seafood - you can't lose! read more

Great Seafood!!! Everytime I come to Columbia I have too stop by!! I love the seafood platter .. This place is legendary.

I now live in California. I usually stop at Clifton's every time I come home. My last visit to home was my last visit to Clifton's. I actually remember when Clifton's was on Two Notch across from Kmart. I came in to buy a box of snow crab legs. The $45 box. Just enough for me. I looked at the fish while waiting for someone to ring up my order. There was a young lady behind the counter. The owner was assisting an older customer. He knew her by name. A white man walked in and the young lady behind the counter asked him if she could help him. She never said anything to me. I was thinking of purchasing catfish. I brought this to her attention. She began to argue with me. People came from the back to witness this. Yes the owner was still present. Twice I asked if my purchase of crabs was all I wanted as if spending $45 was not enough. I am sure $45 is someone's salary. One of the people who asked this ridiculous question was the owner. The truth is I earn a six figure salary and could afford more. I was insulted in many ways that day in Clifton's. Never will I ever spend my hard earned money there. read more

I went to Clifton Seafood and their were several customers waiting in line and they had two employee's helping people. I waited for a long period of time and they never said we'll be right with you or anything they just ignored me. Finally one of them came close to me and I gave her my order, but after awhile I realized she was not helping me. I realized they were ignoring me on purpose, I think they had some regular customers their and they wanted help them and were not concerned if about me. After awhile I complained about not being helped and a female who described herself as the manager got real rude with me. I told her I was leaving and she stated good I didn't want to help you anyway. read more

great seafood every time. I've been going to Clifton for a number of years and the fish is always fresh and not smelly. I usually buy for two families and every time my fish porgies or spots are out of this world. read more

Angie Mason to Clifton Seafood 11 mins · Columbia · I've only been using this place for a year, due to shortage of seafood markets in NE Columbia SC. I brought uncooked fish previously with decent results although I brought some catfish that had an odor of turning bad. I continued to use this store for my seafood purchases due to convenience only. On 01/29/2016 I had an intense craving for fried seafood. I choose to order ala-carte one half pint of oysters, scallops and two pieces of fish and allowed them to cook it. Well my $15.99 lb scallops was spoiled. I said it can't be why would they sell me cooked bad scallops, after eating the first one I bit into a second one to be sure, indeed it was spoiled. I called the store and ask for the lady who took my oder Mary. I was told she was on break, I proceed to tell my complaint to the lady I was speaking with who identify herself as mrs Clifton. She told me to bring the item in and she would give me what I want my money more seafood ect. I told her I would bring it in the next day. When I arrived the next day and asked for her she was not in. I told two employees my complaint and that I wanted my money refunded and to be compensated for my gas and time with three pieces of fish. They told me I can get some more food or my money back but not both. I said I wanted to speak to someone in authority. After waiting a few minutes a young man came out an asked me what was the problem. I said I told two of your employees what the problem is and I am sure they told you, so I don't want to repeat it third time. I told him I wanted to be compensated for my gas and time as it is a ten mile one way trip with three pieces of fish. He said he would give me my money for the spoiled scallops or some more food but not both. I told him then you've not done anything for me for customer service because I am entitled to my money back. This young who is the OWNER proceed to question me like I was on a witness stand about the scallops. Did they have an after taste ect. I told him do not question me I am the customer, I spent forty-three dollars in your business yesterday and that entitled to some respect. I explained that as long as you've been in business you should know not to sell bad seafood to the public. I came back because the scallops are bad end of story. He became loud and started telling the scallops wasn't bad. I retorted you're really silly, I can't believe you. Just give my money and I will take my complaint to the website. The other food I ate was soooo salty that if you didn't have blood pressure problems before you ate them you would be likely to have afterward. LikeCommentShare Comments Angie Mason Write a comment... Choose File read more

I have went here on many occasions to purchase their "fresh wild caught" fish. Went there yesterday and bought some that wasn't so fresh!! So, word to the wise, check your fish before you leave the store. Because when I traveled back across town to take it back the guy that cleans it had the nerve to get an attitude when I asked him did he not smell it when he was cleaning it. I just found that funny. Do Better Or I Will Take My Money Else Where. read more

I went to Clifton's last week, bought a dozen of steamed crabs; when I got home every crab had blown meat ( waste of $20). I bought a 6 piece flounder special today and the fish was tough!. Clifton is going down. I will not ever go there again! read more

Clifton's food tastes o.k. BUT if they ever leave anything off of your order, they give you a hard time. I bought $35.00 worth of seafood and sides and they left out the hush puppies. I called the next day (when I asked my grand kids how was the food, that's when I noticed) and they said come and get your hush puppies. No apology or anything. The manager said if McDonald's forget a fry I go back to get a fry. He said everyone makes mistakes, I agree. However, it is HOW the mistake is handled. How about an apology and say for your convenience of time and gas, etc. We will give a fish or something to go with the h.p. since the order was yesterday. He finally offered a whiting sandwich begrudgingly. I declined and never plan to go back there again. Hello Palmetto which has big fish - unlike this place - and better customer service. They lost me AND my family and friends as customers. They could care less since they have so much business. read more