Prob more like 4.5, but all in all a really great experience. The interior is divey in a really fun way. Plenty of space. Fun decor. Server was really nice and on top of things. I ordered a steak, broccoli and salad. The steak was a perfectly medium rare, very nicely seasoned and delicious! Broccoli was just steamed broccoli, but was still nice and crisp. Salad was small and the dressing was pretty bad. Asked for a different one and it wasn't much better. Very clearly food service bottled stuff. But really, that was the only glitch. Would for sure come back here if I'm in Sumter again. read more

Palmetto Oyster House - Delicious steak with blue cheese topping. - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

So we were in town for the holidays, visiting family, and popped into Palmetto Oyster House for dinner - and wow, were we surprised! First off, the crab cakes were loaded with fresh crab, perfectly seasoned, and had this amazing crispy outside. Seriously, some of the best crab cakes ever! The New Orleans shrimp were awesome too - that authentic spicy kick with great herbs and spices, every bite was perfect We also got the Mahi Mahi Club, and it was a solid choice. The fish was grilled just right, and with the fresh veggies, it was super filling Even the sides were great - the coleslaw had a nice tang, the fries were crispy (though a little salty), and the hushpuppies were sweet with real corn in them. Overall, Palmetto Oyster House was fantastic - great food, great quality, and that chill Southern vibe. Definitely check it out if you're craving some amazing seafood! read more

See all

Palmetto Oyster House was an absolute miss tonight. STARTER: Ordered 1/2 Bucket of steamed oysters. I figured this should be something they do well since it's in their name! They smelled strongly brackish. The SMALLEST oysters I'd ever had in my life, anywhere! Some where literally smaller than my thumbnail. One still had mud in it. I would NOT recommend. ENTRÉ: Crab (1/2 cluster) & Shrimp (10 count) Seafood Boil that came with red potatoes, corn cob & a few slices of smoked sausage. Red Flag-- it came served with melted butter, butter & cocktail sauce. The Seafood Boil tasted like it was cooked exactly that way, boiled in plain water. There was a light dusting of Old Bay on two or three of the Shrimp, but otherwise, you could tell it was cooked without any seasoning. COCKTAIL: ordered a Wesmark Paradise based on waitstaff's recommendation. This was the one good thing about tonight's dinner. It tasted very light, refreshing & fruity. I doubt there was much alcohol in it though. But, given how everything else came out for dinner, this cocktail was the saving grace. All the waitstaff seemed low-key, like whatever, we're here. Looked like it's good for families & groups to meet up. Decorations were cute. read more

See all

The crab cakes were overcooked dough balls without even a hint of crab flavor, the blackened swordfish was under seasoned (pale) overcooked and flavorless, the oysters were tough and rubbery...horrible meals. Service was mediocre. read more

There is plenty of seating. The bar area is quiet happy and local. The kitchen does a great job. You won't be upset with food. read more

Food & Service are top notch! Really love the laidback, coastal vibe! The fried oyster & shrimp basket was just as good as any seafood at the coast! Very fresh seafood! read more

I love this place and would give a 5, but one time we were sat at a both near the prep station and the light in our face was so bright. I unscrewed the bulb and was admonished by one of the servers. It turns out they rely on this ambiance-killing incandescent bulb for lighting the entire prep area. My girlfriend is very light sensitive and they offered no sensitivity to our needs. I felt like I was being corrected by this overwieght bully. I'll just never be seated in that area again. read more

Hidden gem of a seafood spot off of the main road in Sumter. Greatl drinks, great appetizers and entrees and possibly the most knowledgeable wait staff I've ever encountered. They have an array of seafood and steak dishes that can incorporate a cajun/New Orleans taste. I will be back to try more of the menu. read more

See all

We had the bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp and they were delicious. William,our waiter, was so knowledgeable and helpful. He truly is a star. The restaurant decor was perfect for an oyster house. I would highly recommend. read more

Absolutely delicious meal. Very fresh, you could tell oil used for deep frying was very clean. Pleasant atmosphere and friendly service. Highly recommended!! read more

This place was a really pleasant surprise for my family and I. Moved to the area just under a year ago and I'd say the food scene has been underwhelming at best, but I have been following this page on IG for a while and decided to try it out! I am so glad I did because not only was the food amazing the atmosphere was fun and inviting. The service was fast and friendly and the place was clean. The location was good too, away from the busy traffic and downtown area. All of our food was super tasty, our only complaint was the buffalo cauliflower was a bit pricey for the amount we got. It was delish though! I'll definitely be back soon read more

Palmetto Oyster House - 1/2 grouper Ruben and 1/2 lobster grilled cheese and a side of potato salad. Swapped sandwiches so we could try both! Both were really good! - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

This place is as clean as a whistle! Young staff and learning the ropes but friendly. I had blackened grouper which I thought was prepared perfectly. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. Stopped here while transient at Shaw AFB. read more

Well, where to start? My wife and I were traveling on business. She wants seafood. We give this a try. First, my dish. Bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp. Got red potatoes and salad for my 2 sides. Highlight of the dish? Red potatoes. Pretty much says it all. I never knew they made imitation scallops, but these were horrible. When cut open, they looked like a ground up white fish ball. Shrimp? Basic, nothing more. Salad? Small, and nothing to really rave about. Wife had blackened grouper. Not bad. Sides, corn on the cob. Blah! Salad, again small. Service? Actually the best part. Would I go back? Nope. Food not worth it. read more

We ate dinner twice here and it was great. Mahi mahi was very well made. If you are in Sumter I would definitely recommend this place

The food was great! We had shrimp tacos and the seafood platter. Service was wonderful and the atmosphere was really cool! read more

Palmetto Oyster House - Restaurant outside front - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

Took my family here for the first time. The food was overall pretty good. We really enjoyed the boil with the crab legs. My companion tried the steak... that was a no! I will definitely come back and try other things on the menu! read more

This was my first time here! I had the oyster Rockefeller which was really good. They use a beer cheese which I was skeptical about at first but it was really tasty! I also had a side of fries which was smaller than I expected. Our waiter, Anthony, was very friendly and attentive ! I plan to go back and try some other things on the menu. (They has a special going last night- a lb of Crab Legs for $8.99) read more

Palmetto Oyster House - Oyster Rockefeller - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

I had the seafood platter (they have another name for it) of shrimp, oysters, and tilapia. It was all good but 2 of the 6 oysters were tiny like crumbs. The cheese dip appetizer was the liquid fake cheese like you get at ball games so I didn't care for that. The price was decent so I gave them 4 stars. read more

Great service! The food was good. Maybe next time we'll try the oysters. Our bill came out to be about $200+, and we had five people and a baby. Support local. read more

See all

The Place: Chill relaxed vibe, with a bar in the back, but feels like a regular low key dinner spot. The Food: Mostly good, not surprisingly a lot of fried options but plenty on the menu for everyone, and great beer selections. The Staff: Absolutely super nice, the younger staff seem a little afraid of people but their seasoned waitstaff is on point, and that's always appreciated. 100% Try it. read more

Really busy but friendly environment. As we entered we were greeted and unfortunately there were no tables available either inside or out. The hostess was. Ice enough to send us to the bar, where they have full service. I ordered the fried shrimp, crab balls and fish, and it was cooked to perfection. The cole slaw was also really good. The shrimp were really plump and fresh, and the fish felt super flaky and soft. The server was extremely friendly and accurate. Nice music to go along also. A great place to go have seafood in Sumter. read more

Palmetto Oyster House - people sitting at the bar - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

See all

Irene is/was a great server, but the quality and execution is lack luster. We understood the changes required during heavy COVID, but things still seem throw-away. Do not recommend read more

Great service and food. Had the grouper, it was excellent. Young lady that served us was very friendly and attentive. Just a great restaurant with a home feeling about it. Would certainly go again when in town. read more

I was told this restaurant was awesome. My friend was very disappointed because the shrimp tacos were lukewarm when received. I ordered the creole shrimp tacos. I had to send it back the sauce was cold but the presentation was perfect. All meals come with some homemade chips. The kids meal had medium shrimp but only got like 5-6 shrimp and a ton of chips. Our waitress was really good but I felt she could have been more attentive with our drinks. I was told to order the oysters...def will order that next time. read more

Received a RAW piece of fish and a less than rare piece of steak (ordered medium). Steak had to be sent back a second time cause it was still too rare. It's very hard to severely undercook fish. After all that, nothing knocked off the bill, no manager to say sorry either. Quality has gone down recently. read more

This place does not look like much on the outside, but i feel it's a hidden gem. The food is slightly pricey but, the food is absolutely amazing. The chefs have some real skill. The menu specialties change and provide a good variety. The wait staff are friendly, owner is a really friendly person. Highly recommend the server Christian, he is an old school pro waiter. read more

Palmetto Oyster House - Grilled New York Strip with seafood etouffee, Sautéed broccoli & home made potato Salad. - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

My favorite place for a ribeye and their grilled topless oysters are a favorite of mine! Staff works and not a lot of standing around! Love the atmosphere of this joint!! read more

Niceeee. I love how this place isn't too far from my dad's place. The food and the atmosphere is amazing. Parking - it's a little crowded. I would come right whenever it opens but be careful you don't get blocked in. Inside: you walk in and it's a little dark, but its fitting. There's a bar towards the back by the bathrooms and they have a seating area that can hold a good amount of people. Outside: they have corn hole and some outside seating. Food: hands down everything we ordered wells pretty darn yummy! My dad ordered a ribeye steak with fried bacon Mac&cheese and bacon wrapped scallops. The scallops were delicious, I didn't care too much for the mac&cheese. I ordered a pound of crab legs, which were amazing. They didn't need any seasonings or nothing! And the creole burger. It woulda been better if the burger wasn't a big ball of meat. Felt like I was eating a mess meatball read more

Palmetto Oyster House - 1 pound crab legs! - Seafood Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

See all

This place has the bayou feel... Staff is super sweet and attentive. The food was just ok.

Food was delicious. Service was pretty good too. The specials were only written on a board outside, so we had to go back and look, but overall the food was great. The shrimp and grits were delicious. read more

Ordered a blue cheese hamburger tonight medium. It looked like a left over burger that was reheated. Well done and so small that it almost fit on the bun. Very disappointed read more

Food was fantastic, management is top notch and Christian was on top of it. We will be back!!

The location is conveniently located and has a large parking lot. Upon walking in, you get a kind of seaside bar type of vibe. It's shabby and aged with lots of personality. On a Sunday evening, the wait was about 20 minutes but they allow you to wait in the bar area. It's a bit small and their drinks are limited but it's good for those who are seeking beers and a southern feel. They have two TVs, both playing some type of celebrity entertainment show. We were finally seated but on the condition that it was outside, otherwise it'd be a longer wait. It wasn't too cold so we decided to eat outside. They have what looks like outside heaters but I couldn't tell if it was decorative or broken because it wasn't being used. We ordered a 1/2 dozen grilled oysters as an appetizer and was incredibly disappointed. The oyster themselves were the size of a button and you get less because half of that button sized oyster is dried up on the shell and covered with almost burnt cheese. I think it was really ironic considering it's "Palmetto's Oyster House" and the item they're named after was a disappointment. Maybe the chilled oysters are better and offers more? For our entrees, I originally requested the "Salmon Pinwheel" which was salmon with crab meat but that wasn't available. I decided to get their lobster and mango tacos with chips and my husband got some type of Cajun or Creole hamburger. It took him longer because his original order(s) weren't available either. It took about 20-30 minutes to get our food. After it finally came, our waitress checked on us once and never came back out for another 30 minutes. On top of that, we never got refills for water or sweet tea. We actually had to go in and request our checks which was another 10 minutes before she actually came out. As for our entrees, the redeeming and highlight of the night. The lobster and mango taco (2 tacos) were seasoned great and wasn't oily. You get a whopping amount of lobster, which was surprising because most lobster tacos I've had are a bit skimpy considering it's lobster. The mangos could've been more abundant but the lobster was good enough. The chips seemed as though they were sitting out for awhile and was a bit stale, so I didn't touch them but again, the tacos were enough. My husbands hamburger was seasoned well as well. You definitely taste the creole/Cajun seasonings so it was decent. Overall, I had mixed feelings about this establishment. The service was sub par and establishment is old but the main entrees are where it's at! If you're looking to eat here, I would recommend patience, and you'll be fine. read more

See all

If I could have given this place 10 stars, I would have. Visiting my boy for the weekend and he brought us there for dinner. It was delicious. Service was excellent and we enjoyed our meal very much. Highly recommend eating here. We'll definitely be back when we visit again. A fantastic menu selection with lots of choices and specials. read more

Absolutely the worst food ever! Who puts hot dog chili on shrimp and grits?!?!? Will not go again.

Fresh Delicious Local Colorful This place earns five stars because of all of the above. I ordered a dozen raw and a half dozen grilled oysters. My co-workers ordered the fish and crab cake tacos which they also enjoyed thoroughly. I recommend the sampler appetizer--huge crab balls accompanied by delicious buffalo shrimp and crab dip. The raw oysters were huge, mild and delicious. Service was friendly and prompt. It's busy at dinner time and the number listed on here doesn't work. I couldn't call ahead to make reservations or ask about the wait BUT the wait was short and worth it. Oh! And don't miss the Key Lime pie !! read more

See all

Came here with my friend and we had such a great time! We were seated quickly in the outside area so we didn't have to wait. All the food was delicious and definitely get your moneys worth. Kenzy was our server and she was super sweet and attentive always coming by to check in on us to make sure all was going well... we left happy and full, can't wait to go back! read more

Always busy, always yummy. Great little bar area with a jukebox. Nice outdoor area, even has playground for the little ones.

One would think an establishment that calls themselves the Palmetto Oyster House would not serve rotten oysters. During my first visit, I ordered 6 oysters on a half shell. Five of the 6 were very small... the 6th one was the size of a pinky fingernail. (The nerve of them to serve that to a paying customer.) I decided to give them a 2nd visit. On this visit, I ordered a bucket of steamed oysters. When the bucket arrived, the smell was unbearable. I told my server, and he asked me if I wanted another bucket. I politely said no. My server didn't offer an apology, he just asked if I wanted to order something else. I said no, thank you, and left the establishment to NEVER again return. read more

I was very impressed by the food, they had great service and a great explanation of the food items, they also have specials everyday of fresh fish as well as desserts. I really enjoyed my food & the variety the restaurant had I will definitely be back for more! read more

See all