Captain D's — Restaurant in Fredericksburg

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Captain D’s: A Nautical Odyssey in Fried Fish (and My Soul Will Never Be the Same)

Some people seek the fountain of youth, others chase the Northern Lights—but I, a humble voyager, have discovered the shimmering golden shores of Captain D’s in Fredericksburg, VA. And friends, I have been reborn.

The moment I pulled into the parking lot, a cool sea breeze (or maybe just the AC units working overtime) whispered to me: “Heed the call of the ocean.” I strode into Captain D’s with the confidence of Poseidon himself, ready to conquer the seven seas—or at least the three-piece fish combo.

Atmosphere: This isn’t just a seafood joint. No, sir. This is a shrine to all things crispy, flaky, and battered to golden perfection. The décor? Immaculate. I felt like I was about to board a cruise liner, but without the risk of seasickness or shuffleboard injuries. The bell at the counter beckoned me like a siren’s song.

Staff: Heroes. Nay—mariners of hospitality. They welcomed me like I was the prodigal son returning from a stormy voyage. When I asked for extra tartar sauce, the cashier didn’t even blink—she just handed over a whole handful with the solemnity of a pirate captain bestowing treasure.

The Meal: Let’s talk about the fried fish. Friends, I have dined on seafood from the Chesapeake Bay to questionable gas stations near the Outer Banks, but never—NEVER—have I tasted anything like the tender, flaky, impossibly light filets at Captain D’s. Each bite transported me to a place where calories don’t count and hush puppies rain from the heavens.

I paired my fish with shrimp, fries, and (brace yourself) funnel cake. Yes, I went there. Captain D’s isn’t just dinner—it’s a festival. The hush puppies alone are worthy of sonnets. The shrimp? A revelation. I’m convinced there are ancient sea spirits in the kitchen, blessing each combo with the wisdom of Neptune.

Bonus: I witnessed a man order gumbo, take one sip, and stare off into the distance as if he was remembering a past life. This place changes people.

Summary: If you’re looking for a quiet, ordinary seafood meal, look elsewhere. But if you’re ready to set sail on a flavor adventure, confront your inner kraken, and emerge reborn in a haze of crispy, fried joy—make your pilgrimage to Captain D’s. You won’t just eat here. You’ll live here.

Anchors aweigh, Captain D’s. You are the wind beneath my tartar...

I write this as a former resident who lived around the corner and ate nearly every Sunday at this Captain Ds. This Sunday meal was by far the worst I've had from a Captain D's five years later. I sat in the drive-thru for thirty minutes with no movement. I am handicapped, so the thought of going inside was a stretch for me. I went to their website from the car and ordered our family. When I went to pick up the order, the cashier told me that I only ordered sandwiches. I told him I had ordered a meal. I received two fish sandwiches and the Lobster rolls. I sat in the drive-thru and decided to lessen the wait by ordering online. Why? To pay a fortune for three people to travel back home seventy-three miles away with sandwiches. This order was not a fast food meal around the corner. I was in town to visit my grandmother. I was treated like I didn't understand the ordering website fees and did not get what was ordered. Still, they insisted it was sandwiches only, and that is not the description given on the website or even close to the sandwich-only price. Something needs to be done, so the customer and restaurant see what was ordered and included. Twenty-four dollars for three sandwiches is not okay. Their solution is "Call the store and place an order next time." No, there will not be the next time, and it is 2022, so make the partnerships you have created work for the customer. Don't give me a solution that is easiest for you and does not correct the problem. Continuously improve your brand regardless of your position with...

After living in the area for nearly 30 years and seeing this restaurant so many times over the years and it was always packed (drivethru always seems to have a long line) I finally stopped in on a weekday for lunch and they were packed, but I was promptly taken care of. The menu looks interesting, not juts the typical fried fast food fish joint, as they had grilled options too. I opted for their spicy fish sandwich and the picture of the butterfly shrimp appealed to me, so I tried their smallest quantity of those, which was 5. Total price for everything was under $10!

Food came out quick and it was all piping hot! Looked fantastic, even the shrimp looked just like the picture! The shrimp tasted great! Definitely not the typical over-breaded fried fast food shrimp! The fish sandwich was piping hot, had to let it cool to eat it, but once I dug into it, it tasted great! Not much spice to it, for being labeled a spicy fish sandwich, but tasty none-the-less. The cole slaw wasn’t very good tho, it was bland.

The lobby could have used some attention, as the tables were in different ranges of cleanliness from crumbs to greasy or both.

Overall – Loved it and would...