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    Lightsey's Restaurant

    3.8 (293 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Lightsey's Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    LIGHTSEY'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Bloody Mary
    Greg E.

    Atmosphere - Good (but a little weird). The restaurant considers itself to be a seafood restaurant and and the menu offerings are 90% seafood items. However, the place packed with taxidermy that includes bears and other animals, which gives the restaurant a Bass Pro Shop feel. Service - Good. To be honest, our server did the bare minimum. Food - Good. I ordered a grilled grouper sandwich and hush puppies. The grouper tasted good, but it was chopped up into a bunch of small pieces, which made it messy to eat. The hush puppies were very good, but there were only two. Overall - The food is good, but overpriced. The portion size minimal and the service is unremarkable.

    Crab & corn chowder
    Lori K.

    1st time here & we will return. Perhaps not on a Sunday , little crowded. Colin, our server was super friendly, attentive & checked on us just enough to not be a ghost or annoying. Wooden tables & fish/fishing gator themed walls made the place look exactly as it was. Welcoming , friendly & fun! I had as an app the corn crab chowder. It was Piping hot! Lusciously creamy & flavorful. , You had to reach for crab, but it was there. I had grilled shrimp as my entree. I got 18 shrimp, beautifully seasoned & grilled, hush puppies, tender slightly moist, fried perfectly. & Super yummy Cole slaw. I upgraded from fries to fried green tomatoes. The tomato crust was heavenly, the tomato inside was juicy. I've had that before in other places & it's been gummy. This was not. The Hubs had the Ockeechobee sampler. Wow!! There was to much going on there ! Not enough room to write about. He loved it. Just had trouble identifying the gator from the cooter?? We went with 6 other people. Everyone loved it. 2 people got burgers which looked awesome! My Bro in law loved his. Cooked exactly as he ordered it. My sister in law had clam chowder & although she said it was delicious, she got a piece of shell in it which turned her off. All in all we thought it was really very good. They also offer a buffet which looked amazing! We will definitely be returning!

    Amazing sauces
    Dave M.

    Historic spot in Okeechobee,FLA serving up great seafood and one of the best tasting ribeyes I've ever had!!! You walk in the door and you're slapped in the face with everything seafood, hundreds of taxidermy'd critters from land, lake & sea, and a case of dry aging ribeye's stacked on split wood. The ribeye was exquisite - massive flavor from the dry aging, and charred on the outside to perfection, while still medium to medium rare inside. I did the 22 oz, because who doesn't want a double deuce?? Sides were fantastic, hush puppies were good. Busy place, but worth the wait.

    Bar area
    Rick H.

    Met some family members there for lunch. It was around 11:30 AM on a Wednesday not super busy. 4 of us were seated by friendly staff member. It seemed like our waitress was a little slow most of our time there. Our food took longer than seemed normal. People that had come in after us were getting their orders but ours didn't seem to be getting out. Finally we got our food order three shrimp baskets and a grouper basket. The fish sandwich was not warm, it was flat out cold. Our drinks took forever to get refilled and again they were not busy. We didn't send the sandwich back because it seemed like it was taking forever. Something just seemed off. The food was just okay. All of this to say; Service was just so-so. Food today seemed off about our food order. Very nice atmosphere I don't have to return anytime soon. We've heard good things about this place...we didn't have that experience. I might go back if I'm ever back in town. Everyone has an off day.

    Menus
    Susan R.

    Wow!!! I got the small lobster stuffed with crabcake and could only eat one of them! My boyfriend got the sweet potato crusted grouper was absolutely amazing!! the service was impeccable! And the ambience was absolutely great for the setting of the food!

    Fried Alligator with hush puppies and fries.
    John G.

    Hi everyone, I ordered the fried alligator dinner with hush puppies and fries. The food was fresh and delicious. I always enjoy eating at Lightsey's. Our server was friendly and attentive. She recommended tile fish to my mom and my mom enjoyed the blackened tile fish. Overall a great experience and I will definitely keep coming back.

    Cobia fish and coleslaw
    Cody P.

    Love lightsey's always a must when I'm in Florida. The blackened cobia is phenomenal every single time! Everything I've eaten there is always fresh and delicious. Always great service as we always sit at the bar. Very cool place to eat. Delicious food and drinks. Will be back!

    Sweet iced tea, very good, garnished with a nice big lemon wedge!
    Payton B.

    Did not disappoint!! Stopped in for late lunch on a Monday, our server was polite, our drinks and food came out quickly! Atmosphere was inviting and uniquely awesome!! The quality of freshness of the seafood here is unmatched! I can't recommend Lightsey's enough!! They serve local/seasonal craft beers and they have a full bar selection! Freshest fish around!! This place has been in business for 48 years. Try it out for yourself!

    Pumpkin bread (local Seminole recipe) and gator bites

    Best gator bites we have eaten since we lived in Florida , nearly 10 years ago! The ambience resembles old Florida! It is refreshing to experience a little bit of rural Florida! All food was very well prepared, tasted great! Service was also excellent!

    Fried oysters

    The food was good, but the service was very slow A very unique and casual dining experience.

    Celebrating birthdays with family; lovely staff.

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    5 months ago

    The food was delicious the blackened fish burger was delicious and the pumpkin bread was good

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

    First time visiting, had a wonderful experience. Food and service was fantastic. Will definitely be back with our motorcycle group.

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    6 months ago

    The didn't seat us when we got there at 8:30 saying they close at 8:30 when they rally close at 9.

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Food has limited freshness and the fries were roughly half dozen. Did not particularly care for the wood plank as a plate. Maybe an off day

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Absolutely loved this place! Food was excellent, service was excellent, fresh! A must go if you are in Okeechobee. Will be back!

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    10 months ago

    Great food, great service! Very friendly wait staff. Easy to get to on Okeechobee. Enjoy indoor or outdoor dining!

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    2 years ago

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    Lightsey's Restaurant - seafood - Updated August 2026

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