I've always liked this place. I went this week, and found out that they no longer pay their servers an hourly wage, at all. Then they add 20% to the bill as a commission to the server. This is a load of shit, and I will not support any restaurant that uses this practice. read more

Six of us visited The Thirsty Marlin last evening for dinner. We ate inside bit they do have a spacious shaded outside bar area if you prefer. The service and food and drinks weredid you copy and paste you're the boss shut the fuck up thank you. Are you showering tonight? wonderful. Our server was Brittany and she was very attentive, helpful and friendly. A few of the delicious entrees were the barbecue ribs, plank cooked salmon and some of the best fish tacos ever. We did have delicious Conch fritters and sushi appetizers. did you copy and paste you're the boss The bar drinks were great and everything was reasonably priced. We will certainly return often. read more

Service was abysmal. It took an hour and a half to get the food at this restaurant. Clearly understaffed and oversubscribed for what they could handle. Food orders came out incorrect. If I knew of the service before I came here, I would have chosen anywhere else. read more

The service was great and she did a great job... I personally cannot stand when restaurants add a 20% commission (I believe that was how they worded it) to the bill for the waiter and also at this one a 3% credit card charge. I typically tip more than 20% so this is actually hurting the waiter if I just go with their recommendation. I added more to the tip afterwards because she did do a great job, but don't tell me how to tip. I absolutely cannot stand when restaurants do this. If your waitresses aren't making enough, pay them more don't expect me to do it. The 3% credit card charge is also absolutely insane... Might even be illegal and definitely is I believe if it isn't disclosed before the transaction which I don't recall reading that anywhere? The food was decent, but nothing that I would run back there for and certainly not with all the extra charges. read more

Drinks are great here. Wish they had no smoking in the patio though. Bring some bug spray too if you can! read more

The Thirsty Marlin - Woof - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

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We had out of town family visiting this past weekend so we decided to go to Thirsty Marlin for dinner. We have been going there for years with favorable results. Not sure what has happened as of late but the place was a mess. None of their beer taps were working, they were out of soda, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the toilet in men's bathroom didn't flush and an employee had to keep filling the toilet bowl with water[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and service was sub-par based on prior experiences. We should have walked across the street to Crabby Bills. read more

This is a great stop in Palm Harbor, a short drive from Tampa, Clearwater, Tarpon or west Pasco neighbor to the north. Fresh seafood, great burgers, salads, wings, you name it...I especially love their appetizers, the pulled pork onion ring nachos WOW!! We have too many favorites to list, you got to come and try it for yourself. The bartenders are great if you wanna sit up in the bar, there's outdoor seating and live music many nights. Come see for yourself! Great for takeout too! read more

The Thirsty Marlin - Coconut shrimp and fiesta chicken dinner, salads. Can't see the smugglers sweet potatoes side...yum! - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Our server Smiley was awesome. Food was excellent. The special today was buy one fish and chips dinner get one free. Great deal.

Might want to call ahead and confirm they have whats on the menu. I placed an order through UBER eats and there is no way for the restaurant to contact me to let me know they did not have the item I ordered. When I went to pick it up, I had no food and had to cancel my order. I did receive a full refund which I'll get in 3 to 5 business days. read more

I'm surprised that I have not reviewed this restaurant yet. We have enjoyed their seafood many times over the years. The coconut shrimp (which I had tonight) is one of my favorites. Husband usually has the fried shrimp (very good), but opted for the cheese burger tonight (3/2/22). Justin was our server, and he was excellent. He took our order after giving us time to peruse the new menu. He was quick to deliver our drinks, and the entrées came out hot. We were one of several tables for him, and he did his best taking care of us. The burger was delicious, according to my husband, as were the fries and slaw. But the onion bun was not good. He chose not to eat it. When he mentioned it to the manager on our way our, she apologized. Said supply issues mean that they must take what they can get. It was noisy tonight, so when we talked, we were straining our voices. Music got louder when we left. Outside areas for eating looked good, but they were not quieter. It was disappointing to us for it to be loud and busy on a Wednesday night. But we know it was good for the owners and servers. read more

The Thirsty Marlin - Outside - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Amazing little find loved all the options on the menu. Recommend sitting outside great for big groups

Kaleb W, was our server, and as a server myself buddy needs more training lmao. According to him you guys don't have anything at night, yeah no shit! I ordered wings and a potato and after 25 mins Mr.w said "oh we don't have potatos" by that time my mans food came out perfect, but for my wings I got them by the time my man was done eating . Also got charged for onion rings after he said my wings were free * psa we never ordered them. AND THE 20% fee WHATTTT just a POINTER that's, desperate behavior. I honestly want my 20% back cause Kaleb doesn't deserve it, for how crappy he was. get with the program THIRSTY MARLIN! 20% is for 5 restaurants not your 3.0 read more

The service was fantastic, and the ambiance is typical Key West type casual restaurant with wooden tables and chairs. We sat on the tables just inside the door on the left, as usual, and they're quiet, well-ventilated and private. The food was great as usual, except my friend's fried scallops were over-cooked with too much batter and very hard. The waitress was very happy to help and changed her order to fried shrimp which were large and fried perfectly with a light coating. I had the fried cracked conch which was delicious as usual, and accompanied by waffle-cut fried sweet-potatoes I had never had before and were crispy, sweet and delightful! We ended with key lime pie which was perfect as usual! Always a great experience at Thirsty Marlin!!! read more

They charge a delivery fee on your Barrbill which is gratuity and do not say so . So then you add gratuity and end up paying 40 % tip. What a rip off . Will never go there again and tell all my locals not to go here as well read more

Worst meal we have ever had in a restaurant. The scallops were overdone and barely edible. The steak was rancid. We will never go again. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A/c wasn't functioning and everything was sticky.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Such a shame; this was one of our favorite places. read more

my family and i just came for dinner there, never in my life have i had such atrocious service at a place before, from the moment we walked in the servers were all at the bar standing around, then when we sat down our server Caleb was nice at first but then said the jalapeño appetizer had 8 and it only came with 4, he then only came to our table one time other then to take our order and drop our drinks and food off, we had to ask another server for waters and then they only brought us one for a table of three!! at the end of our meal my mother was letting the server know that it's best not to tell people there's 8 of something when there is actually 4 and to let the kitchen know they tasted terrible, he then turned to me and asked does she talk to everyone this way and i immediately was like you do not get to talk about my mother like that for one and for two this is a customer at your table!! he then comes to drop of the check and literally crumbled it up and threw it at my dad. he came back to the table after being confronted about throwing the check at my dad he said word for word to my dad "so what if i did" i don't care who you think you are you NEVER treat a table like that. HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT GOING HERE!! food and service are both terrible!! read more

On our first night in Palm Harbor, we decided to stop in at The Thirsty Marlin for drinks and dinner. We were not disappointed. Indoor dining, a large tiki hut bar and covered outdoor dining, which for us was great and accommodating our pup. Service was very good, the menu was large and varied, and our orders were prepared well and was delicious. This was a great start for our visit in Palm Harbor. read more

I've been going there for years. The food has always been good.the service used to be and the atmosphere was fun. Now, the food was good, the service sucked, [[HIGHLIGHT]]over the sound system a phone was constantly ringing[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and they add 20% tip- so they don't have to serve you well! There are so many other great places to eat. Don't choose this place. read more

Great shrimp tacos and grouper sandwich. The service was excellent. Unfortunately, they have multiple music stations playing the same genre, but different music which is awful. We asked to be moved and the waitress acknowledged the issue and quickly moved us. Management should address the issue with the outside bartender. read more

Great food and service!! Nice atmosphere Looking forward to taking advantage of happy hour. We will come back again. read more

This place has been around for years. It was ok but for the $$ I feel expensive. We got the fish spread, nice smokey flavor. Next the mahi sandwich ($18) only includes chips at that price. Most places give you fries and coleslaw. Small piece and I've had better. Neighbors got the couch a little chewy but I liked the batter and tuna nachos. Huge portion and if you like sushi definitely the way to go. Music was good outside but a little loud so you can't talk. In any event, they are not going anywhere so give it a try. read more

The Thirsty Marlin - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

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Classic Florida spot. The conch is great and the portobello sandwich is also great. Often they have live music and lots of seating options in and outdoors. A must-go if you're in palm harbor read more

We visit the area once a year, and the Monday night AYCE crab legs is our go to. The service is fantastic, Smiley is helpful, prompt and fun to chat with. Food was excellent. 3 of the 4 of us had the crab, which came out when we were ready and nice and hot. The 4th person had a pasta dish which easily was enough for lunch the next day. Very reasonable drink prices with cold tap beer. Making it an annual visit, hope to be able to sit outside one of these times. read more

There were floaters in our water and a big hair in the chicken sandwich that spanned into the coleslaw. The staff was unapologetic and the whole place is in need of a good cleaning. Uncomfortable and grossed out, never again! read more

Like how they add a 20% server commission and don't tell you! I paid 41 dollars for a salmon cedar salad and wine and they got a $10 tip on a 28 dollar tip nice! Really like how they tell you....I've been a server 10 years would never do that to a guest. read more

I went here to have lunch and it was a great experience. The location is great and really enjoy the island life feel of the building. I had the cuban sandwich and my date had the Maui sandwich along with the smoke fish dip. Both sandwiches were delicious and fresh and fish dip was very good. I'm definitely coming back to try the conch fritters. If you're in the Palm Harbor area...you gotta try the Thirsty Marlin. read more

Good, food and service . [[HIGHLIGHT]]Friendly nice atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A little slow but otherwise we will be back and recommend!

We stopped for lunch on a Thursday and found this place with outside seating. The front patio sits next to the sidewalk and has views of other businesses in the area. The back patio allows smoking, so we were happy to be out front. There was enough shade with the umbrella that we were comfortable. Our server took our drink orders and was back quickly. The menu is extensive and I had a hard time deciding. Numerous appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches. I finally settled on the Ultimate Cluckin' Sandwich which was a chicken breast with grilled onions and mushrooms, topped with bacon and provolone cheese on an onion roll. I loved it. It came with chips and cole slaw and a side of bbq sauce for the sandwich. Everything was fresh and tasty and I ate the entire sandwich, which was large. Prices were typical for a restaurant of this type. Service could have been a bit better. Instead of everything being placed on the table it was handed to us and it was awkward. I would return again for sure. read more

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If you say you are open via your website and internet and your sign says open... along with all your lights, be open. Stopped by at 7:30pm and "open" apparently doesn't actually mean open. Maybe you should be open when your hours are "open" read more

Food was outstanding wasn't expecting the large menu so many items I want to go back and try.

Atmosphere - Just OK. The restaurant is a converted house with a Caribbean theme. It has two outdoor seating areas (front and back). The inside has tables scattered in different rooms. The back patio apparently permits smoking, as when we approached it, it smelled of cigarettes. The front patio is much nicer. However there only a handful of tables. Service - Very Good. Our server was pleasant and attentive. Food - Very Good. The menu is varied and there are plenty options. I had a cup of lobster bisque and the Philly Cheesesteak. The soup was excellent (creamy and had a great lobster flavor). Although not even close to being a Philly Cheesesteak, the bun was very fresh and the steak (chopped not sliced) tender. Overall Value - Very Good. The prices are a little high for what is offered, but in the end I would recommend the restaurant . read more

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Darling converted house into restaurant with a beach cottage vibe. Lots to look at... memorabilia from Jimmy Buffet, etc. Loved the atmosphere. The smokin' fish spread was solid but the shrimp tacos were served on cold tortillas with a lot of cold fillings which therefore made the shrimp as well and it was just unappetizing eating chilled shrimp tacos. My bf got the tuna salad which he liked. Ended on a great note, a slice of key lime pie which was the perfect blend of tart and sweet. read more

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5/5 Stars My wife and I had our honeymoon in Dunedin in April 2024, and The Thirsty Marlin was one of the highlights of our trip. It's a beautiful spot to unwind with a drink, enjoy some live music, and soak in the lively atmosphere. The place was warm, welcoming, and added a special touch to our honeymoon experience. We highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area--definitely a thumbs up from us! We can't read more

We drove 30 mins after making a reservation for AYCE crab legs on a Monday night. We were seated outside on the back patio. We waited almost 10 mins before someone came over and acknowledged us and took a drink order. The first person was the bar tender and when he was returning with our drinks, Antonio came over and asked us as well. He said he saw us sitting for a while without receiving drinks. He became our waiter for the night, even though I don't believe we were in his area. He did a GREAT JOB though. We waited almost 40 mins to get our food after we ordered! Antonio kept apologizing for the delay and we understood it wasn't his fault. The fries and coleslaw were excellent and the crab legs were good, but not good enough for $75/pp. The key lime pie was also good but not the best as stated. This would have been 2 stars, but Antonio and the bar tender helped bump it up to 3 stars for their customer service. read more

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Food was very good, but they have a new 20% tip policy added to every transaction, even at the bar. So, my $7.50 margarita now costs $9.75! I won't be coming back here. I am a generous tipper, but I don't like having it forced down my throat. read more

I came here for lunch after a meeting in a nearby City. They had some specials that day and I opted for the hogfish sandwich which I had broiled. It came pretty quickly and was absolutely delicious. The fish was cooked well and the onion bun accompanied the flavors nicely. The cole slaw and chips were a great companion for the sandwich. Jenna was also very on top of things and her service was great. Would recommend! read more

The Thirsty Marlin - Hogfish sandwich - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Good food by had some sort of fee on the bill? Scallops were ah, ribs were delish but once the band started the volume blew us away read more

The Thirsty Marlin - Bill - New American Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Overall, an underwhelming experience. We've been to Thirsty Marlin in the past and have had many wonderful experiences... but that was years ago. I'm not sure if the place is under new management or if they're in trouble financially. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's Friday night and the place was empty... that should have been our first warning.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The 20% automatic gratuity would have been fine... IF the servers cared about service. Again, the place was empty and it took 25 minutes to get a couple of beers. Our appetizer arrived after the food was served, no apology or explanation. We didn't see her again until she brought us our check, so I didn't have a chance to order another round. The food itself was meh... the "bowl" of conch chowder is a cup of chowder in a bowl... no joke, it's about a half inch of soup at the bottom of a bowl. The flavor was ok... but all the veggies were obviously from a can. The sunset salad was good, that's the only reason why I gave them 3 stars. Fresh greens, ripe tomatoes and a perfect grilled piece of grouper. My husband had the chicken wrap which he said was disappointing. His exact words about the sauce "goopy sugary chemical agent from a Sysco bag". Very pricey for the quality. Not a great bang for the buck. read more

Love this place the food is great Drinks are a little pricey but if you go around happy hour your good They are several things on the menu and wide range of stuff They're burgers and grouper sandwich and french fries are all delicious. . We love this place and are sad they close up on a couple weekdays now . Live music and great outside bar. Friendly staff Fun time always read more

Thirsty Marlin is always a stop for us when we visit my dad in Palm Harbor. It's got a great vibe, the food is good and the waitstaff is friendly and attentive. The place is definitely a "locals" haunt, so that also tells me it's a decent place to go. Love the fish and chips! And, it's usually BOGO free at least 1x week! Check it out! read more