Doc’s Seafood Shack — Restaurant in Foley

The food's pretty good, and the service is good, although it's still new and there appear to be a lot of kinks that need working out. My big problem with this restaurant is that the prices are kind of insanely high for what you get.

Is it really the best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world, as they advertise? No. But it's among the best in Baldwin County, so if you're a fried shrimp afficianado you'll probably think it's worth it. For everyone else, there are better deals to be had elsewhere.

If you've visited the two Doc's in Orange Beach you probably know what to expect: tons of fried food, a local laid back atmosphere and tourist prices. This location is shiny-new and still super clean, and features a nice bar area and a salad bar with extras like a delightfully rich chicken salad and pasta and potato salads, too. There's also a small gift shop in front, and plenty of benches outside for what we all know will be a crazy long wait for a table come summer.

On my first visit to this location I sprang for the Doc's Grill Seafood Platter, which is currently $40. For this price I got two skewers of shrimp - one grilled and one boiled- plus two fish filets, two crabcakes with remoulade, two hushpuppies, a small plastic cup of coleslaw and a baked potato. Crinkle cut fries are the only other option, sadly. There was apparently also supposed to a "free cup of gumbo included" but I didn't realize it was missing until I checked my copy of the menu later. Oh well.

Assuming the gumbo would have been a standard cup, I'd say it is only an average value for the money. It's a lot of food but it's also not specified if it's actual local shrimp and fish. It seems like it's just generic whitefish from who knows where. Could be from Bon Secour, could be from Vietnam. Who knows. The baked potato was kind of small, and the hushpuppies were right off the back of the Sysco truck, not house-made at all, which should be a crime on the Gulf Coast.

Honestly, out of everything on the platter, the crabcakes were the best. They were at least 50% crab meat, and it was good lump crab. The remoulade sauce was tangy and peppery but not ovewhelming.

One of my dining partners ordered a fried fish plate of some sort but what came out was a much more expensive pick-2 fish and shrimp platter. Our server, who was really great, took care of the issue but it does highlight that there seems to be some issues with their fancy digital ordering devices.

So, ordering issues aside, the service was good and the food was good, so why only three stars? Well, for one thing, this place is Noisy with a capital-N. There's nothing to absord the chatter of patrons so it's like being in a big sports bar on game day, and this was on a not-particularly-busy weekday afternoon before the dinner rush. I can only imagine the cacophony during Peak Tourist Trap Season. Second, two platters (with one partially comp'd due to the mistake) and shrimp loaf po-boy were somehow nearly $120 before tip. Yikes. Factor in the order goofs and the missing gumbo and this definitely didn't leave a good impression on me... Especially since earlier in the week I'd had a much better meal for nearly $20 less across the way at Wolf Bay. Then today I had an even BETTER meal of paneed grouper at DeSoto's, yet paid less and got actual Gulf caught fish.

So, is it worth it? Maybe. If you're a fan of fried shrimp, the "Baker's Dozen" shrimp platter is just $25.99 and is probably worth it. But everything else seems prices in the stratosphere for...

We came with a party of 6 just before 4:00, we were seated right away, but there was some mix up with a shift change. The host went and found us a server after sitting there for a good ten minutes. The host said the day server Megan would be right over. My sister has a medical card with listed deadly food allergies. Megan listened to everything my sister had to say, read the card, and had incredible food knowledge all the way down to the what they used on the flat top, to grease it, and what ingredients came in what dish, and made great recommendations based on her allergies. We have never had a server that could do this before. Megan was so professional regarding these allergies. Our food was hot and fresh, and very tasty. Prices are high considering this location isn’t on the beach. But for the service we received at this location today, we will gladly pay the higher beach prices. The salad bar was clean and fully stocked. The gumbo was a little watery, we are used to seeing a thicker style gumbo, but it has great flavor. Everything was absolutely wonderful with our visit, we are locals and we will be back with more friends for sure! Please thank Megan for taking such great care of us and staying longer than she was supposed to!!...

Hi! We were coming from Mobile, Al to eat there today. My aunt lives 5 mins from There. We ate there on the second day of opening and it was absolutely wonderful and we praised everyone there. So friendly and the food was wonderful. Today we were running behind and my aunt got there at 1:30 requesting a table as we were in traffic, but going to be there at 1:55. The woman working the front counter named Lisa was so rude to my aunt as she was explaining she could go on and order our food as I wanted the blackeyed peas and country fried steak so bad. Lisa was rude and I quote “if they want they lunch specials, they better get here within 33 mins. We came in when we got there and were seated after explaining it to Lisa and she was rude to all of us. The waitress said lunch ends at 2pm well It was 1:58. I have never been treated so rudely. Our bill last nite was like a hundred bucks as we all had appetizers and salad bars and a to go order. I am extremely disappointed and disgusted with being treated like this. I felt like this place was family oriented and just nice as all get out the first time we were there, but after Lisa and her rude attitude we will...