The communities that make up Georgia’s Golden Isles are a treasure trove of coastal culinary treasures – especially those of the edible variety. From upscale eateries to unassuming island shacks, the barrier islands of St. Simons Island (SSI), Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island — plus Brunswick to the west — host an array of tempting treats and the freshest seafood around.
It’s no wonder that the region known for tasty events like the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival and the Saint Simons Land Trust Oyster Roast would also be home to the most innovative coastal menus.
St. Simons Island, the largest of the Golden Isles cluster, is the ideal place to find the best of Southern Georgia’s coastal cuisine. What’s even better than eating seafood at the beach? Eating seafood at the beach from one of St. Simon’s waterfront restaurants or enjoying a tasty lunch with friends and family.
Whether you want to get something to go to eat in the comfort of your vacation rental or dine out for a special occasion like a family birthday dinner, these are the 18 top seafood restaurants on St. Simons Island.
1. Barbara Jean’s
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- Address: 214 Mallery Street, St Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11 am – 8.30 pm Sunday to Thursday / 11 am – 9.30 pm Friday & Saturday
Barbara Jean’s is a family-run restaurant that opened in 1998 and has consistently served excellent food ever since.
Specializing in seafood and from-scratch southern favorites, this homey eatery is best known for its legendary crab cakes. However, don’t overlook the She Crab Soup, the “Chocolate Stuff” dessert, the juicy shrimp, and the famous homemade Barbara Jean bread.
If there are non-seafood eaters in your group, don’t worry! Meaty treats like the chicken fingers in buffalo sauce should go down well with them.
2. Bennie’s Red Barn
- Address: 5514 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Monday to Thursday & Sunday / 5 pm – 9.30 pm Friday & Saturday
Be sure to stop by this longstanding institution housed in a classic rustic barn. Serving steaks, seafood, pasta, and Southern Sunday Brunch, Bennie’s Red Barn is the oldest privately owned restaurant on the island and is popular for its excellent service.
Fresh, local seafood is supplied daily, so grab a plate of fried shrimp and oysters and settle in for a meal to remember. Adjacent to the Barn, The Club @ Bennie’s is an indoor/outdoor establishment offering cocktails and good times.
3. Catch 228
- Address: 228 Redfern Village #100, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 4 pm – 10 pm Monday to Thursday / 11 am – 10 pm Friday to Sunday
Soak up the casual island vibes while feasting on delicious seafood classics and shellfish favorites like crab legs and crab cakes. Menu highlights at Catch 228 include raw, steamed, and baked oysters. The great food is only topped by the friendly service, plus the full bar on-site featuring live music that everybody in your group is guaranteed to enjoy!
4. Gnat’s Landing
- Address: 310 Redfern Village, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11.30 am – 9 pm Sunday to Thursday / 11.30 am – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
This “Flip-Flop Friendly” spot serves up tasty seafood platters, sandwiches, and more in a casual island style with live music and a full bar.
Standout options at Gnat’s Landing that are craved by locals and tourists alike include their famous fried pickles and the “$8,000 Margarita” (and no, that’s not the price tag, but the estimated amount the original owner spent in researching and sourcing the perfect margarita). Expect live music on most Sunday nights!
5. Coastal Kitchen
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- Address: 102 Marina Drive, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11 am – 9 pm Monday to Friday / 10 am – 3 pm & 4 pm – 9 pm Saturday / 11 am – 3 pm & 4 pm – 9 pm Sunday
Coastal Kitchen overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Simons Sound for memorable meals with picturesque views. This casual waterfront eatery holds claim to being St. Simons Island’s only “dock to table” restaurant. You can even bring your own catches for cleaning and cooking!
Expect a unique, fresh, and yummy surf ‘n’ turf menu, raw bar, and live music. Brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays, accompanied by live entertainment.
6. The Crab Trap
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- Address: 1209 Ocean Blvd, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9 pm daily
This unassuming canteen and bar has been beloved by locals and tourists alike for more than 35 years. The team at The Crab Trap serves up delicious, locally sourced shrimp, scallops, oysters, and fish alongside coastal comfort favorites like battered fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, and cheese grits — as well as world-famous crab soup.
The full bar at this fantastic St. Simons restaurant boasts specialty margaritas and the famous “Blue Crab” cocktail, and you’ll enjoy great service whether you pop in for a quick drink or a full feast.
7. Crabdaddy’s Seafood Grill
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- Address: 1217 Ocean Blvd, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9.30 pm daily
Savor the catch-of-the-day at this longstanding St. Simons Island favorite. Once named Elegant Island Living’s Best Dinner, Desserts, Seafood, Place to Take Visitors, and Best Overall Restaurant, you know you’re going to get great quality food here.
Crabdaddy’s is famous for its delicious blackened shrimp and grits and fresh catches with signature cream sauces, but we’re certain you’ll enjoy whichever plates you order.
8. The Half Shell
- Address: 504 Beachview Drive, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9.30 pm Monday to Thursday / 11.30 am – 10 pm Friday to Sunday
The Half Shell is a popular hot spot on the Village Pier, serving up contemporary American-coastal cuisine amid a casual, nautical atmosphere. Patio seating is available if you’d like to enjoy the sun while you eat lunch. Tasty highlights include the crab cake BLT, oysters baked and served warm with a cheese crust, and BBQ shrimp and grits.
9. Delaney’s Bistro
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- Address: 3415 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11 am – 2 pm & 5.30 pm – 10 pm Tuesday to Saturday
Residents have been coming to this New American restaurant offering local seafood, prime steaks, and an enticing selection of tapas for more than 20 years.
The rotating menu at Delaney’s Bistro features 15-17 specials conceived by Executive Chef Tom Delaney based on locally sourced ingredients, but you can always count on the famous dishes of sauteed crab cakes and peppered shrimp! The food pairs well with the extensive wine list and innovative craft cocktails.
10. ECHO St. Simons
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- Address: 101 Downing Street, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 7 am – 10 am, 11 am – 3 pm, 5 pm – 10 pm daily
The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort serves classic coastal cuisine and handcrafted cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere at ECHO St. Simons. Bask in sweeping views from indoor and outdoor seating while you enjoy an unbeatable breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The inventive, delicious food focuses on locally sourced, seasonal dishes like shrimp and grits and their stunning fried green tomato napoleon.
11. Frederica House Restaurant
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- Address: 3611 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5.30 pm – 9 pm Monday to Saturday
Delight in the modern-rustic of this log cabin eatery, featuring upscale American fare and high-quality seafood straight from the Georgia coast. Yummy highlights at Frederica House Restaurant include king crab, scallops, oysters, and fresh, hand-cut steaks that give any steakhouse a run for their money. Early-bird and happy hour specials nightly!
12. Georgia Sea Grill
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- Address: 407 Mallery Street, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9.30 pm Monday to Thursday / 5 pm – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
The Georgia Sea Grill is a locally owned casual-fine dining eatery and wine bar in Pier Village, specializing in fresh seafood and innovative, seasonal dishes. The seared scallops come highly recommended, and the bacon-poached salmon is a twist on a classic. Don’t miss the nightly piano music and specials, featuring $5 appetizers and discounted drinks.
13. Gnat’s Landing
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- Address: 310 Redfern Village, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11.30 am – 9 pm Sunday to Thursday / 11.30 am – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
A “Flip-Flop Friendly” environment serving up seafood platters, sandwiches, and more in casual island style with live music and a full bar. Standout options at Gnat’s Landing, craved by locals and tourists alike, include their famous fried pickles and the “$8,000 Margarita” (and no – that’s not the price tag, but the estimated amount the original owner spent in researching and sourcing the perfect margarita).
There’s also live music most Sunday nights!
14. The Half Shell
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- Address: 504 Beachview Drive, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9.30 pm Monday to Thursday / 11.30 am – 10 pm Friday to Sunday
The Half Shell is a local hot spot on the Village Pier, serving up contemporary American-coastal cuisine amid a casual, nautical atmosphere. Patio seating is available to take in the salty sea air. Menu highlights include the crab cake BLT and BBQ shrimp and grits.
15. Halyards Restaurant
- Address: 55 Cinema Lane, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Monday to Saturday
Halyards Restaurant is a popular go-to spot for innovative American fare in an elevated-casual grill. The outdoor lounge setting pairs perfectly with local fish and produce, plus an extensive wine and cocktail list.
Sister restaurant Tramici is just next door and offers brick-oven pizzas and pasta as well as seafood staples like mussels, salmon, and lobster rolls.
16. Iguanas Seafood Restaurant
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- Address: 303 Mallery Street, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily
Iguanas is a rustic nautical canteen in the Pier Village with open-air seating. Specializing in Wild Georgia fried shrimp harvested right off the coast, it comes hand-prepared and served in various ways, including our favorite variation: blackened shrimp. An order of the delicious scallops is also worth adding to your seafood feast.
Once voted Best Fried Shrimp by Elegant Island Living readers for five years in a row, these guys clearly know what they’re doing. Don’t forget to sweeten up your visit with a bowl or cone of complimentary soft-serve ice cream!
17. Mullet Bay Restaurant
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- Address: 512 Ocean Blvd, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 11 am – 9.30 pm daily
For a casual, intimate dining experience with a strong side of island vibes, head to Mullet Bay! Outdoor seating is available on a spacious open-air deck with a covered patio, and the service is exceptional. Daily specials, refreshing cocktails, and the most delicious fried shrimp and fish tacos around are all on the menu.
18. The Rooftop at Ocean Lodge
- Address: 935 Beachview Drive, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Thursday to Saturday / 10 am – 2 pm Sunday
Kick back and enjoy traditional coastal cuisine with a Southern twist, complemented by stunning Atlantic Ocean views on the rooftop of the Ocean Lodge. This establishment offers a full bar and classic plates like lobster ravioli and shrimp ‘n’ grits in the most beautiful setting.
Experience the Best Seafood on St. Simons Island
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fresh and tasty seafood on offer on St. Simons Island. From wild Georgia shrimp to the freshest catfish imaginable, this truly is a seafood-lover’s dream destination.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite at a spot that serves your favorite food, takeout to enjoy back at your vacation rental, or a showstopping seafood venue for your next event or celebration, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect place.
