Owen's Fish Camp - Lakewood Ranch — Restaurant in Florida

Owen’s Fish Camp – Lakewood Ranch, FL

I wanted to love this place—I really did. I was visiting from Illinois and had heard glowing reviews about the downtown Sarasota location. Since the Lakewood Ranch location was just a few blocks from my hotel, I figured this would be the perfect chance to try it.

Upon arrival, I was immediately taken by the exterior. The restaurant looked like a grand Southern home, complete with a wide front porch and several oversized rocking chairs. The grounds were pristine, with a lush green landscape and what appeared to be a pond encircling the building. The real standout was the mini putt-putt golf area—charming and unexpected, adding a playful touch to the scenic setting.

The patrons and staff were friendly and welcoming. As out-of-state visitors, we were given plenty of menu suggestions, which only heightened my excitement. I’d been craving some authentic Florida seafood and Southern comfort dishes.

Our party of seven was seated promptly by one of the kindest hostesses I’ve ever encountered.

The restaurant itself is truly an experience—decorated in classic Southern fashion with eclectic items scattered throughout. It’s spacious, with an expansive back porch that I would’ve loved to sit on had the weather not been so brutally humid. The view from the back is stunning, but that Florida heat was simply too much.

Our server, Elizabeth, was phenomenal. She kept a warm smile throughout and was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. If you go, request her—you won’t regret it.

I ordered the fried catfish with yellow cheese grits, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes. My cousin had raved about the greens, so I was eager to try them.

Unfortunately, they didn’t land well with me. While the greens were clearly fresh and finely chopped, they were overwhelmed with vinegar—so much so that I couldn’t taste the greens themselves. I tried balancing the flavor with hot sauce, but it didn’t help. Without that heavy-handed vinegar, I believe they would’ve been delicious.

The fried green tomatoes were a miss too—soggy in texture and lacking any real flavor. Even the accompanying sauce couldn’t save them. I usually love fried green tomatoes, but these fell flat.

Now, the grits? Oh. My. God. They were some of the best I’ve ever had in my life. My mother is an exceptional cook—her dishes have been celebrated by hundreds—but I’ve never tasted grits like these. The consistency was perfect, and the flavor was masterfully balanced. Every bite was heaven. I found myself wishing for more.

The clam chowder was decent—nothing extraordinary, but not bad. It came in a wide bowl, which I appreciated. The flavor was better than most and had a homemade touch, not something out of a can. Still, it didn’t quite blow me away.

The highlight of the meal was the catfish. It was everything I hoped it would be—crispy, well-seasoned, flavorful, and fresh. Absolutely delicious. I just wish there had been more of it. I was expecting a hearty portion, but was only served one medium-sized fillet. I could’ve easily eaten more, especially if they’d offered an “all-you-can-eat” option. It left me wanting.

Would I return to this location? I’m not sure—it’s honestly up in the air.

But the next time I’m in Sarasota, I will be visiting their downtown location. Everyone I spoke to insists it’s the better experience....

I have been in Lakewood Ranch for a few years. I am so happy I found my way to Owen's Fish Camp.

I dropped in for my third visit in as many weeks. Today, I was alone and stopped at the bar for a bowl of yummy gumbo and a great Key Lime pie.

For the third time, everything is on point. The Bartender Alex was quick to greet me. She introduced herself. She asked my name. Wow, I felt like a person! She suggested a few items but told her I knew exactly what I wanted. She made a killer drink. The gumbo was served piping hot and quickly. The Key Lime Pie was on point too.

I just cannot say enough great things about this new establishment in our area. If you are looking for quality seafood. Friendly wait staff and an all-around fantastic experience. I highly encourage you drop by Owen's. Do get there early as they do not accept Reservations. It gets busy fast.

There is an outside area too. Go enjoy a few appetizers and listen to some music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Picnic tables and a small shack that serves beverages and some appetizers. The fish dip and crackers is amazing!

May 10, 2024: Decided to go get another bowl of Gumbo. Yes, it is THAT GOOD!!! Well, I was greeted as soon as I walked through the door by their friendly hostesses. I went to the bar after washing my hands in their very clean and maintained restroom. As soon as I sat down, I was greeted, once again by Alex, the strawberry blonde behind the counter. She said, welcome back, its Dale, right? WOW!!! For her to remember my name and be just as gracious as she was a month ago just BLEW ME AWAY!

I can't say enough good about this place. The staff is very welcoming and the food always on point. I got the Gumbo again and just a glass of water. It is a great dish. Anyways, if you stop in and visit the bar, say hi to Alex. She is a great staff member and PERSON. I also had the joy of meeting the GM Kristina. What a treat. She took the time to listen to my compliment and was genuinely happy I took the time to compliment her bartender.

I can't think of any better restaurant, service wise, that I would want to go to. If you do go, and have great service, ask to speak with the MGT. Let them know they are doing...

We’ve been big fans of the original location for years and finally made it here with another couple last Saturday @5PM.

The hostess was pleasant and warmly greeted us on our arrival. I was surprised we had a 45 minute wait for a table so we retreated to the bar for a cocktail. Just a reminder there are no reservations at Owens Fish Camp.

We thought the bar was great. The stools have backs and there’s plenty of room. We ordered a couple of old fashions and asked for Buffalo trace. Drinks were well-made albeit a bit pricey.

The bar and main dining room are situated in one large room with the kitchen along one of the walls. The Room is decorated really nice. However, the noise level is quite loud and it could be difficult to have a conversation at a table or a booth. We would’ve liked to sat outside, which had tables and chairs and also some picnic benches but due to the wait we took what was available.

We ended up being seated at a booth adjacent to where they were preparing the food. It was kinda of nice to see how the food looked as it came out of the kitchen.

For appetizers, we ordered the deviled eggs and the sourdough bread. The eggs were good but maybe just a bit too much fluffy filling. The large slices of grilled sourdough bread went well with the tomato based spread. Both were good for sharing.

For entrees we got

Snapper Fish of the day special blackened with dirty rice and brussel sprouts was cooked perfect. It was also a nice size fillet. Sprouts were good.

Shrimp and grits one of their main stays on the menu was good but sauce overpowered the grits portion making it almost soupy.

Half rack of ribs were tender and juicy. Totally devoured along with the old bay seasoned fries

Seared tuna which was cooked perfectly.

We split peach cobbler for desert. It was ok and I’d get the bourbon pecan pie next time.

Our waitress did a nice job. She was attentive and knowledgeable. She checked up on us regularly, but was not overbearing.

We did not get the chance to check out the outdoor seating area or the outdoor area. It looked nice and hopefully will be able to do that next...