What an experience. By myself on business. Bar was full, or so I thought! Danny cleared a spot and had me seated in less than a minute. Which is also why, unfortunately I don't have pictures. This place is so on point with service. Danny making the drinks and his oyster shucker getting it done quickly to the back of the house bringing out my lobster bisque. Oysters were spot on. But the bisque. One of the best flavors. To Danny's credit I asked about the clam chowder or the bisque. He said they were both great but very different. Off his description I chose the bisque. OMG! With my issues I need to be safe and this was so good. The food, the environment, but most importantly the service was great. If you are here, sit at the bar and hope that Danny's there and in charge. He gets it. read more

Small restaurant with ample sitting outside. We did not have reservations but able to get outdoor seating. It is under a tent with fan blowing for hot weather. I got the clam chowder to start. I was not use to the sourness of the chowder. It was like someone squeezed too much lemon into the chowder. Not a lot of clams either. I would not say that is a New England Calm Chowder. For entrees, we got the Rockfish and fried oyster Po' Boy. The only miss on the Rockfish is the corn. They were not sweet at all so do not match well with the clams. The fried oysters Po' Boy has a generous portion of oyster and fries. The dipping sauce was really good with the fries. Only miss is the pickle onions is really sour. To end the night, we had the key lime pie. It is a good ending to the night. Interestingly, I had sour tasting in all my food. read more

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Like an expensive dive bar! We sat at the bar where the oyster shucker presented the oysters so our whole visit the servers were reaching over our heads so didn't like that at all , although our server Eric was great and informative and fun. We also had the shrimp pasta which was DELICIOUS and Tuna Crudo which was also really good with a slight kick read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Shrimp pasta - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Public Fish & Oyster is a very vibrant , cozy and welcoming restaurant. The staff is very professional and friendly; the food is excellent. I highly recommend reservations. read more

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MUST get a reservation here as it is a very small restaurant, otherwise you might find yourself waiting for a spot at the bar. This is probably our favorite restaurant here in cville, and even after many years, it is still consistently amazing! We ordered a dozen raw oysters of different brine levels, and they tasted so fresh. I especially loved the oysters from Breakwaters Newport, RI. My favorite main to order here is always the Moules Frites. Tried the Classic Mariniere, and it was SO DELICIOUS OMG. The sauce was decadent, that I had to make sure to soak up every mussel and the crostinis. And idk how they do it, but their frites are perfectly seasoned and crispy! The portions for this is pretty large, and shared some with my husband too, and is worth every penny. My husband tried the Rockfish with Chimichurri, with was also very good and fresh! Loved the crispy skin with the chimicurri sauce, gave a nice crunch! But I felt the portion size was a bit on the smaller end For dessert, LOVED the Apple Crumble, not too sweet, loved the contrast of the vanilla ice cream with the warmed apples, and loved the layer of oats on top, gives really good contrast in texture read more

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Oh where to start ..... Husband and I went to Public Fish and Oyster in Charlottesville, VA a couple weeks ago for dinner. Restaurant was not too crowded when we got there. Wanted to sit at the bar for Happy Hour but there were not enough seats left, so we opted for a table, which was a small two seat table back by the kitchen. Andre was our server. He was VERY CLEAR at explaining everything he said. He was quick to press us to order, so we ordered a couple cocktails, which were expensive and just okay. After Andre came back a couple times to urge us to order, we ordered the, what I thought was a 1/2 pound colossal U12 shrimp that was on the happy hour. I did not realize the shrimp I ordered from the menu was NOT the same shrimp on the happy hour board, even though Andre questioned me a couple times that I indeed was ordering the shrimp appetizer on the menu, he did not tell me that there was TWO different shrimp appetizers. The shrimp I received was hot and hammered. We ate the shrimp anyway, since we were going to have to pay the $20. The restaurant got very crowded and they have so many tables crammed into the bar area, that every time someone walked by our table, either my husband, me or our table was bumped. At that point we decided to hurry and order some wine and our dinners. We had the grouper and scallops. Even though Andre sternly stated they were 8 oz portions, they seemed small and overcooked. We finished our dinner and wine and asked for our check. What a surprise to see that they added a 3 percent charge to our bill ($4.05) for the employees that work in the back/kitchen! As you can see on the bottom of our bill, You have the option to not pay the fee, but who wants to look like a shity person and not pay the fee ‍ For the money we spent, being crammed into a table, the food being mediocre and that Andre was such a loudmouth, we were sorry we chose to dine at this restaurant. We will never be back! read more

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Very nice place! Small and quaint. Food, service and drinks were awesome. The lobster roll was delicious and the oysters were amazing. Great service, our server was very attentive and made excellent suggestions. Definitely will return. read more

Food was fantastic and service was friendly. The table next to us had some feedback and the owner came immediately out to speak with them. We will be back! read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Connecticut Lobster roll - as a New Englander, this was FANTASTIC - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I absolutely love dining at public fishing and oyster whenever I can it's always a disappointment though that they're only open for dinner but that's more my problem than the restaurants. They're happy hour oyster is the best deal in town and the oysters are always fresh. I have no complaints with the raw bar always very pleased with it when I order it. The main dishes are great. I've never had a bad meal here. The seafood is fresh and the meals and recipes are inventive. I cannot say enough good things about this place as it is pretty much one of the only places I can get good quality seafood from a restaurant in town. read more

Public Fish and Oyster is a place I go to fairly often when I'm in Charlottesville for work, and it's always a solid experience. Sitting at the bar is my favorite spot. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming. The service is friendly and attentive, the food is consistently well done, and they have a solid bourbon selection as well. Always has a great selection of oysters too. read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Bar - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came here for dinner-cute place with friendly service. Some dishes were outstanding - hamachi crudo and halibut entree. Somewhat disappointed by the pan roast-shellfish in a lobster curry over rice-just didn't rise to the other dishes. Noticed many folks were having mussels with the Belgian fries. Mussels aren't my fave but those fries sure looked delicious! read more

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Warning reservations are required and if you are late by 20 minutes, your table will be given away. Note they are known for their lobster rolls but only make a few so get there early or you will not get one. They open at 4pm. We arrived at 5:28 for a 5:15 reservation lost our table and were told that they were out of lobster rolls for the evening. So we ordered crab cake sandwiches, fried oysters, French fries, Bloody Mary and beer. We received an apology for losing our table reservation, had a very informative and friendly waiter and had a great time catching up with friends. The area was tightly packed with people and was very loud. There's not much room to move around and the temperature fluctuates between hot and cold due to overflow dining outside with heaters that come on intermittently read more

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This is an incredibly cool place in downtown Charlottesville. It's a snug place, so don't be afraid to sit at the bar and trust that John and his co-pilot will take good care of you. You can sit out on the patio, but since it was almost 90 degrees out with 100% humidity, I wasn't entertaining that idea. Service is fantastic. You might wait a little for your food to be prepared, it's totally worth it. Your night will start of with an introduction, and from there on out, you're in for a treat. They obviously specialize in oysters, but the menu has so much more to offer, and check the board for specials (or ask John what's good). I had the clam chowder, which was absolutely on point, and went with the recommended Atlantic halibut. It was a luscious fresh piece of fish, done perfectly with a nice light buerre blanc. This is a must-stop in C'Ville, and I will definitely be stopping in again next time I'm in town. read more

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Niece J suggested going for Happy Hour on Saturday of Mother's Day weekend. With no reservation, we joined the line that formed just before they opened at 4pm. Fortunately, the 4 of us got seats at the corner of the bar, so it was easy to chat and share food. My Negroni cocktail and Niece K's Kir Royale were delightful. With 7 choices of fresh oysters on the half shell, we had a huge platter of 28 with plenty of lemon wedges, mignonette, cocktail sauce and horseradish. The smoked trout dip was a new item for me. It was very tasty on crackers with the housemade pickles. Next, we shared the lobster roll with the Belgian fries. I'm glad we chose the Connecticut Style, which was deliciously "hot and buttered". Good service, excellent fresh seafood. read more

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My wife and I are in visiting our daughter and son in law. My daughter suggested public fish and oyster. We tried all of the oyster options and could not decide which ones to get more of as we lost track of the specific order. They were all pretty good. I ordered the oyster po boy. It was good but lacked seasoning in my opinion. The pickled vegetables were good and their mayo was spot on. The service was good our waitress was friendly and knew the menu well. The decor is inviting but kind of not eye catching. All in all I liked our meal read more

Public Fish & Oyster - We tried three of each oyster and they were all good. - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Wonderful service and food as per usual! One of my favorite intimate dining experiences in charlottesville. Our waiter, Alex, was wonderful and seemed to be a seafood master. We got plenty of help in picking out our main courses. The fried oysters continue to be my favorite on the menu. Perfectly lightly battered and served in creamy white sauce paired with a spicy red sauce for dipping. Oyster selection is exquisite with many offerings across the east coast. My favorites tend to be the most briny but the flavor profiles are all worthwhile. This is the best place to get a sample of everything! Thank you Alex and Public Oyster Bar! read more

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Came here for date night and had such a lovely time. The service and overall atmosphere of this restaurant really stands out for me. We made a reservation before coming, arrived 15 minutes early, and were greeted and sat right away. Our server, Andre, was very pleasant, helpful, and patient as we navigated our first time there. It wasn't until the end of the night when I realized how busy the place had been the entire time because of how smooth the staff runs. We ordered a michelada, the Neptunes Tower, and a linguine dish with shrimp, peas, and asparagus that I can't remember the name of. The oysters were fresh and pretty good. The tower comes with only mildly briny ones, while we usually prefer higher brine, so I'll have to give the others a try before giving a hard review on those. The one and only critique of the night is that they could have been shucked better. The crab legs were perfect and easy to crack. Shrimp was also perfectly cooked. The pasta dish was spectacular. The crudo was heavenly and probably the best I've ever had. Can't wait to come back!! read more

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--------Food was good but there were too many tables packed into an already small space--------

Had a variety of oysters per the waitress' recommendations. They were so delicious and fresh! They have happy hr deals and the oysters were around $2 each. Definitely need a reservation, especially on the weekends. It's a nice date spot close to the corner with outside seating available read more

Public Fish & Oyster - oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We go for the happy hour to get the lobster rolls. Service and covered outdoor seating are superb but the prices are so high I don't think we'll be back very long time ($40+ with restaurant tax for a lobster roll and French fries) read more

It's a small place that maximizes their seating. I guess it can't hold more than 50 people. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Our waitress Alexis was able to guide us through each selection. I wasn't looking for a full meal, maybe just shareables. We started we a dozen raw oysters, which were excellent. We then moved on to an order of mussels (Belgian style) which came with toasted bread and fries. We chose the tomato based lobster sauce that had a little heat. My wife then got a bowl of clam chowder, which was really good. Light broth. I selected the smoked trout dip. The pickled veggies really made this dish. Nice joint, I would recommend reservations. read more

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Everything was so good and service was on point perfect!! Food was delicious and everyone was very happy with Oysters, salads, fresh fish! It is very busy and noisy after 7 pm when we arrived but good vibes. Happy diners and lots of laughter!! read more

Awesome food. Loved the bartender's knowledge of the menu items. I ordered some type of local trout and it was phenomenal.

WOW! The hype is real! Manager fit us in when our res did not show up! I mean it was packed and she made it happen. Literally why I am writing this review! John behind the bar is you're go to guy! He asked our names and then remembered them throughout the whole night (2hrs on a sat night)! Ordered the Mussels in white sauce-which was light & huge-yum. 12 raw oysters-4 different kinds, loved all 8 options! Had the special-trust the chef or John. We had the crab cakes which were delicious-as expected! The main room or bar is ideal but the covered patio is worth the wait! Oh yeah, and the free fries they brought us-delicious! read more

Best seafood I've had ever! Loved the happy hour oysters, warm lobster rolls, curry moulles frites, and cocktails. Chef's kiss! read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Cozy nook! - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This is a very lively, fun seafood & oyster bar with a full ambitious menu. Everything about the restaurant was outstanding except for one thing. When the main courses arrived my date and I found them to be too heavily seasoned. Ultimately had remove the seared portion of my halibut to be able eat it. Service was outstanding. Definitely would return for the oysters. read more

A gem in Charlottesville. Food is high quality and delicious. Portions are plentiful. Seafood is fresh. Hard to get a table without reservation so don't go on a whim. Worth the effort to find parking. Try the early menu if you get a chance. read more

We had a great experience here. We went for our wedding anniversary since we love seafood. The oysters were delicious and then we had the salad and mussels! 10/10 recommend. John made the experience memorable! read more

Food and service were outstanding. Oysters were super fresh--some of the best I've ever had. Also, love the low-key vibe. Definitely worth visiting! read more

One of the best restaurants in Charlottesville and by far the best happy hour! Public has outstanding service and a great ambiance both inside and outside. The severs here always go above and beyond and have impressive knowledge of the menu. Food wise, you can't make a bad choice here. This time, we enjoyed the happy hour selection of oysters and a Maine style lobster roll. I also had a nonalcoholic version of an Aperol spritz that was surprisingly delicious! Everything here was fantastic and the seafood is very very fresh! read more

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Went with a friend and we had a blast. Oysters were delicious and mignonette sauce was delightful. Service was great! Cute spot. Packed. read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Raw Oysters on the Half Shell* - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A hot evening for for a patio dinner at the public; hadn't been there since pre-Covid. What a lot of missed opportunities for great fish all these years. This remains the clear lead in town for seafood. Scallops were awesome. (And dining partners equally effusive about their dishes). A dozen oysters, graded by salt and brine, perfect and distinctive. The oil cake, a subtle lemon and smooth (?oil) texture/ very nice. And a very energetic seasoned waiter who led us solidly into choices, we just said 'yes.' It's a splurge, but you'll eat super seafood on the high end. Excellent. read more

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Eat at the bar. John is the best server I have met in a while Enthusiastic and on top of things without being overbearing And the food was great too read more

Great service and delicious food! The New York strip was incredible! We sat on the patio which was very nice. read more

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Good food. Too loud. Couldn't have conversation with our friends. Don't try to sneak additional fees on my credit card. Kitchen appreciation fee !! Really? I should have been informed. read more

Love this addition to downtown Charlottesville! It makes me feel like I'm at an oyster bar in Charleston! The food and service was wonderful, however this place is really cramped. The tables are a tad too small for their dishes/plates and there's 1-2 too many tables crammed into the space because it was really hard to maneuver around, even servers were having to take turns walking up and down between the tables. Really enjoyed the food, but wish we had more space to be comfortable! read more

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Had stop over here overnight after visiting Monticello. Sounded like the tastiest restaurant in the area. Restaurant was crowded and they were taking reservations but they did not have that option for a solo diner. I finally found a seat at the counter. I had a pan roast with a variety of seafood. Very good with the bread, and John got me more bread. We talked about oysters and he said he liked East Coast oysters. That would seem natural. They are good but my preference are Pacific NW and Japanese oysters. read more

Public Fish & Oyster - Pro Pan Roast - Seafood Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Jacob is the ultimate shucker exttradinaore and Danny the bartender is a class act! Love this space almost as much as Monticello!

This is hands down the best spot for a special celebration, especially if you love quality, fresh seafood. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. The staff made us feel like valued guests rather than just customers. Now for the food! WOW. Plated beautifully, bursting with fresh flavor and no over the top seasonings. We selected the calamari, ceviche, oysters Rockefeller and fried oysters as starters for our table. The calamari with pickled vegetables seemed odd, but man what a killer combo, it was amazing! The ceviche was also a highlight on the tastebuds. And the serving sizes were large enough for our table of 4 to share easily. The main entrees we ordered were Rockfish and lobster roll. Super good and cooked to perfection! Dessert: keylime pie (get it, you won't be disappointed) Olive Oil cake and the chocolate pot. All exceptional and served with housemaid whipped cream. The ambiance is cozy yet casual and fun. You can tell this place is run with love and pride, and it shows in every detail. We'll definitely be back and recommending this gem to everyone we know. If you love fresh seafood and top-tier service, do yourself a favor and check this spot out. read more

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Came in last night for Happy Hour. Nice host, attentive server. Fabulous oysters on half shell and the lobster roll was generous and so yummy! But I was disappointed with the "Belgian fries", as I have been in past Public visits. Belgian fries are twice cooked so they're crispy on the outside and "fluffy" on the inside but these were limp. The owner is quite right in his review follow-ups..... I should have said something while there. Next time I will speak up. In any case I will most definitely keep going to this fun spot!! read more