Had a delicious meal with my daughter who is from NY and appreciates good food. The coconut shrimp was perfect and drinks were excellent. Service was friendly and efficient! read more

Exceptional service from Eden at Waterfront Social Café! I had such a great experience at Waterfront Social Café, and Eden was a huge part of what made it memorable. From the moment we arrived, Eden was welcoming, attentive, and incredibly professional. She checked on us at the perfect times for our group of 5, made thoughtful recommendations, and made sure everything was exactly the way we wanted it. On top of the great service, her positive energy and genuine attitude added so much to the experience. It's rare to find someone who balances friendliness and efficiency so effortlessly. The food and atmosphere were already wonderful, but Eden's service truly pushed the experience to a 5-star level. If you visit Waterfront Social Café, I highly recommend asking for her--she'll make your visit even better! read more

Actually nice staff and amazing service! Food was well cooked and tasted very yummy! Awesome place

Great fish and chips and poke bowls. Nice view. Lots of construction going on outside as unfortunately the area is building all over. Great service and nice people. read more

(Last visited 1/17/2022.) After getting done swimming in the cold waters of Crystal River hanging out with some manatees, I've worked up an appetite! Nearby to the dock where we launched is the Waterfront Social! Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on the river is this gem, with an appropriate name of course! This place felt like a tavern with a very lighthearted aura. There were lots of nautical themed things to really pound home the fact that they excel in seafood here. The grounds were beautiful and matched those of the views of the water. The restaurant felt very open with its high ceilings and wide open spaces. Service: I can't remember the young lady's name, but she was good. She took care of all 4 of us smoothly and without issue while making some great recommendations. Food: For my lunch I went with the Blackened Mahi Tacos. They are of course blackened mahi mahi served with citrus slaw, a remoulade and a lime on the side to squeeze. These were decent, but nothing crazy to write home about... as I'm writing home. Lol. They were solid. That's all. They held me over until dinner. Value: My tacos were $16.75. As y'all know seafood isn't cheap so expect to spend a little bit when you come here, but it's not a fine-dining establishment. Grab you some beers and some food and you'll be under $35.00 a person. In conclusion, this place was solid. If you ever go swimming in the Crystal River with the manatees, stop on by here whenever you're done! read more

Waterfront Social - Blackened Mahi Tacos - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

We arrived at 11 when they opened. Of course outside seating was no question. Fans are on to keep you cool. We started with the crab cake( no fillers) & fish dip. Entrees fish & chips & blackened grouper with citrus coleslaw. Chocolate cake. Not over sweet! Love the remoulade sauce. Everything is made from scratch. The way it should always be. Everything do good! Debbie was our server & she was a lot of fun. Enjoy!!! read more

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We loved the Salmon and Grouper blackened. The waitress was knowledgeable and thorough. My only issue is that the broccoli was cold. Otherwise, I enjoyed the Jasmine coconut rice and my husband enjoyed the mashed potatoes. We did speak with the server who spoke with the manager who rectified the situation for us. I give it 5 starts and highly recommend it to others! read more

Waterfront Social - A picture of the menu on their outdoor patio. - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

I had the fish & chips (fries). Overall, not bad. Our view of the bay was excellent from a table close to the water. The piece of fish was a good size, but the batter was awfully thick and heavy, and served on top of the fries. I was thinking if we go there again, I'll ask to have the fries on a separate plate from the fish........altogether just too much grease. The waitress was excellent. The tartar sauce seemed to be homemade and when mixed with ketchup was great for both the fish and the fries. My wife enjoyed her fish tacos. As is typical, the music was too loud! read more

Nice outdoor seating with great views. Ask what "market price" is before accidentally ordering a $28 sandwich though.

The food was delicious and came out very quick. Our server was very attentive and checked on us several times! read more

Waterfront Social - Shrimp Pike Bowl - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Dine on waterside classics at this ample restaurant with easy parking. Get the Rum Runner! It is authentic to the 1970s recipe dreamed up at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar on Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Our food was okay, and the service was good enough. We liked the large outdoor seating area. Just come for views and cocktails. There are decent gluten-free and dairy-free options, but nothing is marked on the menu. read more

Waterfront Social - Poke bowl with tuna - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Fried shrimp and blackened grouper were excellent. The brussels sprouts were roasted with an amazing sauce and the kitchen was happy to share the recipe. Service was perfect....friendly, efficient, and attentive, but not intrusive. It's a waterfront restaurant built in the 1950's ish. If you want white tablecloths go elsewhere, If you want great fresh food and great service on the water go to Waterfront Social. There is construction going on as they are refurbishing the waterfront. You don't see it or really hear it once you are inside. We will definitely go back. read more

Yum yum. This place was good. We sat outside. There was a roof over the patio and those plastic window things. It was raining on and off this day. The place is right on the water. We saw the sun setting over the water. It was really pretty. I ordered the shrimp pasta. It was fettuccine Alfredo with small shrimp. It was delicious. At the end of the meal, the waitress said they will be changing this dish up completely soon. They will be adding tomatoes to it (YUCK) and bigger shrimp that you'll have to cut in half. And that sucks. I vote keep this dish the same. I ordered a banana fosters cheesecake to go. It was so amazing. It is the reason I felt compelled to write this review. It was banana-y without having any banana slices in it. It had caramel sauce all over it. It had a very yummy crust. It also had whipped cream on the side, a heavy helping. It was so freaking good. The pasta and the cheesecake were amazing. Everyone else seemed to like their food too. We were with two people who moved here a few months ago. Me and my travel partner were in from out of town. It was a nice place to eat dinner. However it was a little high. It cost me about $32 before tip for just me! So I had to basically pay $40 for just a drink, entree, and dessert. Maybe that's normal. I don't usually pay! It seemed expensive to me though! Worth it but expensive. read more

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We ordered the other night and spent close to $100 on a variety of food. The food was not good, was bland, one of the people in our party got sick immediately after and lasted about 24-30 hours. The food is way overpriced. I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Excellent service by Cristina, excellent food, beautiful views- everything was wonderful. The only qualm I had was the sweetness of the drinks- I got a classic margarita with patron, and it was very good, but VERY (too) sweet. If I ordered another one, I was gonna ask for not as much sweet sour mix in it (or whatever was making it so sweet). We came in January 2023, and it was freakishly cold. They had their heaters outside as well as the wind blocks, but it was still quite chilly. We stayed outside because of the possible sunset views, which we didn't get to see unfortunately (cloudy weather). We would definitely return when we're back in the area- definitely go if you're looking for a good meal in this area! read more

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Looks super run down from the outside (especially if you see it from a boat like we did) but the food was good and so was the service and it is more than nice enough inside. We had the fish dip, gator bites and grouper bites. All good. Kids had the chicken tenders. The other kids' options were "fishy" like shrimp and some other seafood based things. So maybe call ahead if the chicken fingers won't work for you kids. It did for ours. Deserts were also good. Peanut pie and chocolate cake in our case. We are definitely coming back. read more

This is a terrific choice if you are in Crystal River. This rustic, tucked away restaurant is located in a neighborhood around the corner from the Plantation Resort. It is on the water and has indoor and outdoor seating. If you're outside, you may see some manatees. The food was delicious. The clam chowder is New England style. The grouper sandwich was great, served with homemade French fries and amazing roumulod sauce. The pork chop was a bit well done but enjoyable. The drinks had a heavy, healthy pour. The service was friendly and good. If you use your credit card, they charge a 3% convenience fee. Beware, they calculate the tip based on the total of tax and the convenience fee (boo!!!). I would have given 4 stars, but that left a bad taste in our mouth. Enjoy, but be warned. read more

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Honestly I used to love this place , the food has gotten lousy but overall it's a nice place to sit & have drinks . I hope they add some new menu items & livin up the place a little bit soon read more

French fries were cold. Chicken sandwich was ok. Chicken parmigiana sandwich bland ,sauce for the sandwich had no flavor. The Philly sandwich need a gravy or sauce. Was very noisy when servers were moving chairs and tables. Metal chair uncomfortable. Won't be going back read more

you would think they would have oysters or scallops. guess the local burger will have to do... My 12 year old Border Collierspent the time in the car. they said they had an "issue" with a dog. my guess babies are next read more

The food was terrible and very overpriced. Also, how could the catch of the day in Florida be salmon? If this was a diner, I could have excused the food quality, but it was pricey. On the bright side it's right on the water and we saw a great sunset. read more

This place was pretty awesome. Live music by "The Muds" in front of the Chrystal River with some phenomenal grouper Sammie's? What could be better? Our host was gracious. This is one of the best venues in town. Full bar with some good drinks on tap but we decided against any given we still had a long drive south. Really enjoyed it here. read more

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The service, food and view were great! Would eat here again. I had a tuna poke bowl, super fresh ingredients. My daughter had the kids smash burger and it was good size, yummy and fries were good too. read more

Ambiance is nice because it's by the bay. Little on the pricey side ($13 for a drink, $10 for a salad) but the drinks were good and the salad was a large portion and the view was enjoyable! read more

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Awesome service. My swordfish was cooked to order, not too well done. Very casual and on the water. Loved it!

We stopped by after passing this place on the water tour during a manatee snorkel boat trip. We snagged a high top table outside at the tiki bar, and we loved the view. The service was great, and the food was pretty good. The Mahi tacos came with a generous piece of Mahi in each of the three tacos, and the aioli was great. My husband enjoyed his burger and onion rings, as well. There was live music closer to the main restaurant, which was a nice touch. I could see coming by to just enjoy a few drinks and music, as well. read more

Waterfront Social - Double Smash Burger - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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This place is a disaster. John taffner should save it. Even though The tiki bar was renovated it looks so unprofessional with plastic shelves storing liquor to go containers and syrups out for everyone to see. The lighting in the main dining room is bright white ATROCIOUS. Like they are TRYING to give people migraines. No ambiance. Literally NOONE looks good in this lighting. Ever heard of warm white bulbs? The chairs are incredibly uncomfortable, as if they are TRYING to get people to leave, and the whole place smells like a deep fryer and fish. Pasta was awful and the chicken was slimy and disgusting. No thanks, won't be back. read more

Fish and chips. Served in a bowl. Fish was on top of fries. Greasy. Asked for new fries as they were the paper towel for the greasy fish to drain upon. Fish was well done. The actual fish was fresh a nice touch. I would never order again. We didn't enjoy it for $20. I also thought the atmosphere was pleasant but the outside concrete floor needs to be power washed. I found it dirty. I'm a local. I will go elsewhere next time. To dirty for my liking. read more

We had a lovely server today at Waterfront Social and she made our visit so nice. Super attentive, never an empty glass, and just a kind person. The Bloody Mary was spot on. I asked for it spicy and they nailed the balance of flavors. Sitting outside is always a treat but today was super windy so the plastic was down. Good thing! read more

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What a great little Tiki Patio on the water at Kings Bay, Crystal River!! Great service, great food, cold beer, fun vibe and beautiful sunset! Will definitely be back! Don't miss it after a day of paddleboarding with the manatees! read more

Waterfront Social - Don't miss the Tiki Bar Patio at the very back on the water!! - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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This is another great place for the view and their fried shrimp. You can even stop by in your boat; they have an entrance to tie off your small boat. read more

Waterfront Social is exactly the type of place we look for when we want to eat seafood on the water. It's casual but feels nice and the patio seating is gorgeous. You can walk down to the dock after eating and they have lounge seating. The food is fresh and everything we have tried is delicious. Great menu! I feel that it's reasonably priced for the location and fresh seafood. read more

Waterfront Social - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Yesterday (Saturday) I called with a small wedding party (5 total) and although the hostess Tammy said that they only reserved for parties of 10 or more, she kept an eye out for a nice waterfront table for the bride and groom in our party. Tammy did NOT disappoint. It was beautiful! Then we had a phenomenal server named Trevor whom was spot on with his recommendations so we all ordered what he suggested. Wow. The crab cake appetizer was pure shredded crab meat with little filler, unlike all the overly-breaded crab cakes in this area. My blackened grouper was cooked to perfection and was a larger portion that I've seen offered at other area seafood restaurants. The mashed potatoes were perfect and I loved the slaw made with a citrus dressing perfect for seafood. The bride was thrilled with her fried fish dish, the groom loved his mahi mahi tacos and my husband noshed on the double smash burger. The gator bites appetizer were also delicious, not too chewy but just right. I thought that the groom would lick the plate clean when he had the Reeses peanut butter pie. LOL The food all came out at a perfect pace. Excellent service and stellar food! A+ all around and a special thanks to Tammy for making this newly married couple happy with the table location and for Trevor for "wait staff" excellence on how he took care of our small party. We'll be back again soon! read more

Nice View But It Was Covered Up. It Was Also Very Empty. The Grouper Bites Were Very Nice. They Were Very Tender And FThe Lenonade Was Very Meh. The Gator Bites With The Sauce Was The Best Thing Here. The Gator Bites Were Tender, Warm, Crispy. And It's Sauce Was Sweet And Spicy With Some Mayo Flavor. The Clam Chowder Was The Best I've Ever Had. Mainly Because It Was My First. That Crab Cake Had That Iconic Crab Cake Flavor But It Was Also Very Delicate And Soft. The Chocolate Cake Is Nice And Moist, Flavorful, And Very Chocolatey. read more

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We came here for dinner without a reservation and was able to get our party of 4 in with no wait. We were seated outside on the back patio and had our choice between a few tables. We were right on the water, but there was a large pole blocking our view. No big deal, we went right next door to their affiliated location's deck for a nice picture. Our server was with us quickly and got our drink order. The kids menu had some great options that my kids loved. I got the peel and eat shrimp and they were excellent. The seasoning was just the right amount, not too spicy where it overtakes the flavor of the shrimp. We did not feel rushed and enjoyed our table for some time as the sun set. read more

Nice outdoor seating, friendly service and great selection. Right on the river and has a nice small gift shop read more

Waterfront Social - Crabmeat stuffed chicken - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Very good and yummy food, price was moderate for the portion sizes, the service was very nice and they got our food out rather quick. The ambiance was very rustic and sea themed and was also pretty good. 9/10! read more

Stopped in on a beautiful Saturday evening for dinner. We both had the double smash burger with fries. The burgers were excellent - juicy and flavorful! For a nice add touch they toast the bun. Some other reviewers complained about the American cheese but you can also get cheddar or Swiss. We also had dessert - key lime pie and peanut butter pie. Both were very good. The outdoor area has a beautiful view of the Crystal River. There appears to be some sea wall reconstruction and some issues with the "tiki bar" area. The reason for four stars is for two reasons - the place looks a little run down and could definitely use some sprucing up and the price of the food - $15 for smash burger and fries...seems a little steep to me. I'd come back but maybe split a dinner next time. read more

Waterfront Social - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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The food here was great the service was very good just a little slow but it was very busy considering most restaurants were closed on a Monday. Great view from outside. Inside was nothing special. I got the fish tacos and they had to be one of the best ever. read more

Waterfront Social - Blackened mahi mahi - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Stopped by last weekend and decided to sit at the Tiki bar area and I'm glad I did. Let me start by saying THEY HAVE SWEET TEA! Thank you!!! Service was on point and I gave her a proper cash tip because of it. I ordered the house salad that has caramelized onions with a lemon dressing that is so good I came back and ordered it again. Grouper bites were cooked perfect and come with a dipping sauce. I really like this place! read more

Waterfront Social - Sweet tea! You read right... House salad is addicting! Grouper bites cooked perfect. - Bars Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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