Bustin' A Gut Maryland Style Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Rocky Mount

Constructive feedback with love.

Being a D.C. native I was excited to try this restaurant.

Ambiance/Decor - 10/10 The bright colors were inviting and seating wasn't crammed. The bar area was well arranged and esthetically pleasing.

They have you stand in line reviewing your menu then place your order and get assigned a table. This doesn't seem like a sustainable ordering method if traffic picks up. I'd recommend investing in staff to seat patrons and take their orders. At one point I looked up and 6 people were waiting to order and be seated.

Customer service - 9/10 Angel was kind and patient, she was happy to answer all my menu questions happily.

Th pineapple in my mimosa had fermented and had a vinegar taste. Once I alerted her she immediately apologized and offered me another drink, I declined because I'd finished mine and didn't want another so she gave me a slice of carrot cake, that was thoughtful. The hostess taking orders and assigning tables was also very friendly and kind and also apologized profusely when she overheard the situation.

Someone from the back came out front to communicate to the staff regarding what food items had sold out. It was great to see this type of real time communication rather than having customers disappointed after ordering.

Food - 2/10

I ordered the shrimp and flounder combo with seasoned fries and 6 lemon pepper wings. I was told that my meal came with 2 fillets and 6 jumbo shrimp. I received 2 fillets, 4 jumbo shrimp, and 3 salad shrimp. This really scuffs my Timberlands because it's willful deceit and the person that plated my food knew full well that they didn't provide me with what I ordered and paid for. In fairness I was offered a complimentary dinner to compensate for this however, I remain a bit skeptical at this time but appreciate the response and recovery.

The hush puppies don't have any flavor and taste like a low quality frozen variety. The fries were standard crinkle cut fries and weren't seasoned as requested (and printed on my receipt). I recommend sourcing for a new vendor because $25.99 is a hefty price to pay for such a low quality meal when there are many other options. The fish had to have been previously frozen as it wasn't firm but appeared slightly water logged. I recommend at the least, providing some honey butter for the hush puppies if you're going to stick with supplier and maybe coming up with a signature seasoning blend if you'll continue to serve up those same fries.

The wings were almost $12.00 for 6 wings and they were drumettes, this averages out to be nearly $2 per drumettes or $4 for each whole chicken wings. I recommend reviewing this pricin if you want to sustain this restaurant long term. The texture and flavor were really good and I'd recommend the lemon pepper wings if you're good with the pricing. The coleslaw was tasty, nothing fancy and it reminded me of KFC but it was what I enjoyed the most from my seafood platter.

The take out containers are plastic without ventilation which is problematic. My containers were completely fogged up by the time I made it home (7 minute drive) and my food was soggy from the steam. I would recommend sourcing a more reasonable take out container that has ventilation holes or is made of another material. Plastic is ok for customers who are taking out leftovers that have already cooled to room temperature but not for straight take out orders.

The drink I purchased was marketed as a mimosa but it was actually a mixed drink with Malibu rum, which I didn't mind since I'm not a huge fan of mimosas. The drink was good although a bit syrupy and heavy. I recommend adding in sprite to lighten it up and break up the heavy sugars from the juice and syrup.

Overall, this spot has huge potential as they're always growing pains with new businesses. The energy and the vibes were good. On a daily basis I'm paid large sums to conduct these types of deep dives and recommend courses of corrective action so I hope this is taken with the care and concern...

I recently visited Bustin' A Gut, a new seafood spot, and here are my thoughts from a first-timer's perspective.

First Impressions The warm welcome from the associates gives the vibe of a fresh, growing restaurant. It’s nice to see new energy and enthusiasm as you walk in.

Ordering Experience The workflow is a bit unconventional: both dine-in and to-go customers share the same line. There isn’t traditional table service, so you order in line after picking up a menu, then find a table yourself and return to place your order. It requires a bit of coordination, especially if you’re dining with a partner. One person can secure a table while the other places the order. Payment is collected upfront, which streamlines the process once you’ve decided on your items. There’s a handy board featuring daily specials and menu options, making it easy to spot what’s available and plan your meal.

Menu Highlights Notable options include crab, steamed broccoli, mac and cheese, and candied yams. The variety is appealing, and it’s clear they’re aiming to offer comforting, crowd-pleasing sides along with seafood stars.

Service and Atmosphere As a new establishment, the concept of self-seating and ordering in line may feel a bit confusing at first, but it becomes more intuitive with a little practice. Adding a few more tables and introducing a traditional waitstaff could help smooth the experience, especially during peak times, and make the restaurant feel more polished. It could also enhance the overall flow for larger groups.

Food Quality The seafood was generally well-prepared and flavorful. The fries were a standout, and the steamed broccoli complemented the meal nicely. A minor note: the crab legs arrived warm but not hot, and there wasn’t butter on the side for dipping—only a spread on the crab legs themselves. A separate butter dip would elevate the crab experience for sure.

Takeaways Bustin' A Gut has potential, especially with its bold flavors and welcoming staff. A few operational tweaks—like clearer signage for the ordering flow, more table availability, and traditional waitstaff—could significantly improve the dining experience. If you’re patient with the current system, you’ll likely enjoy the solid seafood options and...

We went this past Saturday (9/13/25) First let me start by saying that this is a very nice establishment. My daughters and I decided to try this since we had heard so many good reviews on TikTok and Facebook. My first impression was thrown off because you have to wait in line to order and pay before sitting down. My total was almost $90. That's fine because It was 3 of us and crab legs was in our order. There was a birthday party of a nice size so I expected to wait a little for our food. An hour went by and no one said anything, but we were still waiting on the party. What got our attention was that there were people coming in and ordering & receiving their food. After 1.5 hours of waiting, we decided to ask about our order. The waitress asked for our ticket and we found out that our order was never put in. I then asked for a refund. Well getting that was a wait too!!! She was on the phone with someone about POS. Once again I was asked to wait. So much that I finally decided after speaking with the co-owner (who offered us cheesecake for our troubles) assured us that we would have our food in 10 minutes. 20 mins later my daughters' food was delivered to the table. One of the orders was not correct but because it had the main dish she agreed to keep it. Now we are 2.5 hours in, MY FOOD, still hadn't come to the table. We asked the lady that was bringing food out if mine was coming out next. Once again, my order had not been placed!!!! At this time I am over it and I am a very patient woman. I asked her to bring my food in a take out box. We left, very disappointed. I'm sure I'm leaving something out but know that I wanted this to be a great experience so bad. None of us could rave about the food we got. It was okay and the presentation looked great, however, it was just okay......The service though especially communication.....sheesh!! I really hope they can improve on their customer service...