Public Fish & Oyster

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1. JH

   JamesH

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Love the food, service and wonderful ambiance! Staff is really great too.

   Report
2. JB

   JimBobVA

   Washington DC

   33 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   33 reviews

   Dined on January 23, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience3

   Public Fish & Oyster is an excellent restaurant! Every single dish that hits the table, from the oysters and appetizers to the seafood and sides, is always delicious, and they keep a great, energetic-but-never-hectic, vibe going. The cordial, efficient, staff sets the standard, and everyone in our party always has a good time! Kudos to the kitchen, the waitstaff, the hosts & hostesses, the entire staff, really, you have a great restaurant!

   Report
3. LW

   LoisW

   New York Area

   14 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on January 23, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Everything we had was so good! Started with a dozen oysters- then i had the mussels , my husband had the rockfish special. All were delicious. We shared key lime pie for dessert that was excellent. Only disappointment was the coffee! We will be back for certain.

   Report
4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Jacksonville

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on January 22, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Public Fish & Oyster is our favorite place to dine in Charlottesville! Hands down the freshest and best oysters in the area. The service is always fantastic as well. I highly recommend requesting Alana as your server, she’s the best! Can not wait to return.

   Report
5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Richmond

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 20, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Lovely staff, excellent food. Will be back!

   Report
6. CV

   CVilleJim

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on January 19, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Love this place. Good service and good food

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7. v

   vadiner14

   Washington DC

   40 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   40 reviews

   Dined on January 17, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The best seafood in Charlottesville. Fresh, cold raw oysters serve properly. Great bread and desserts. Will definitely return.

   Report
8. ML

   MLE64

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on January 16, 2023

   overall2food3service2ambience1

   If you’re a fish and oyster restaurant, you shouldn’t run out of oysters or the daily fish special, especially on the same night. And we gambled on the outside dining and lost—we left way too cold. Perhaps it should be limited to months when temps are more moderate. Overall, it was not a pleasant experience. Won’t be going back.

   Report
9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on January 15, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   One of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville! The happy hour lobster rolls are the best!

   Report
10. s

    sarah

    Richmond

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food, super fresh. And the key lime pie was divine!

    Report
11. K

    Krisg

    Washington DC

    19 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    We had a disappointing night at Public. The place was loud, cold, and crowded. Our waitress was slow and not attentive. The fish of the day was ok but the portion was skimpy. My Hodgepodge dish was lacking seafood and drowned in a tasteless brown sauce. Plus it was my birthday and the waitress even asked at the start of the meal. The end came and she didn’t even offer the dessert menu. A huge disappointment of a night that ended with an expensive bill.

    Report
12. l

    louise

    Richmond

    54 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    54 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    Great food

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13. VC

    VeraC

    Washington DC

    47 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Cosmo and espresso martini on point and delicious. Clam chowder flavor was good, too many potatoes, not enough clams. Oyster fabulous. Good section. We had crab legs and crab cake Sandwich-both of which were good for this area.

    Report
14. TB

    ThomasB

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The wine selection has changed and is lacking. The waitress was not that well-versed in the wines available. Overall, I think it’s lost a few steps. What is one of my four “go to” restaurants in Charlottesville. That’s changed going forward. I would recommend to a friend with qualifications.

    Report
15. A

    Alessandra

    Richmond

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our server was fun as well as helpful and made the dinner even better

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16. O

    Outoftowner

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We were seated near the front and side door. Each time the door opened the cold air hit us. It didn’t impact the enjoyment of dinner.

    Report
17. S

    Superfoodie1

    Charlotte

    10 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall3food5service5ambience3

    It was too cold sitting outside with no heaters. Wish they would have turned them on for us. Just don’t like having to eat in my coat. Heaters should be turned on before guests get there to warm the tent up. The food was good.

    Report
18. WF

    WilliamF

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Excellent staff service. Outstanding food. Highly recommend this place.

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19. R

    Rena

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall3food5service3ambience3

    Food was reasonably priced, service was ok! If you can sit inside that’s ideal the outside was definitely cold despite heaters. Wouldn’t recommend sitting at the bar.

    Report
20. YO

    YanniO

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Had a great time. 1st dinner here for 2023!!. Megan was awesome, and a pleasure to chat with.

    Report
21. j

    jimo

    Western NC

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    PHENOMENAL AS ALWAYS!!!!

    Report
22. T

    Theo

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lobster rolls, oysters, and the mixed seafood are very delicious. Obviously I’ll come back and taste more.

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23. MB

    MartyB

    New York Area

    66 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    66 reviews

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience2

    As usual excellent. If you are a raw oyster fan this is the place. That's just for starters. The rock fish special was ideal. We got lucky the weather cooperated and we ate outside. Terrific. Inside is rustic but comfortable with a terrific selection of beers if that's your thing plus you can watch the oyster shocker do his thing. If you happen to be in Charlottesville and are looking for great food, this is the place. Everything is locally sourced except the oysters of course. Oh, and I forgot too mention the mussels also not to miss and usually shareable. Sounds like more than one night of dining and that's probably true so stay an extra night and enjoy. Oh, great wine list

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24. M

    Michael

    Raleigh

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 31, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Four of us celebrated New Year's Eve at PF&O with an excellent meal and service that matched. Started off with clam chowder and oysters on the half shell (superb). Entrees included red fish, snow crab legs, PEI mussels and lobster roll. All were extremely well prepared. Our server and the kitchen easily accommodated my wife's food allergies with tweaks to her order. Our wait for our entrees was slightly longer than normal (on a very busy night) and the hostess brought our table a large shrimp cocktail to share to tide us over. (An extremely nice touch). This was our first visit to PF&O and it has already earned a place as one of our very favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. If you are looking for great seafood, a fun environment and top-notch friendly service PF&O delivers!

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25. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 31, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing food, drinks and service! Highly recommend for a special occasion dinner.

    Report
26. T

    Tucca7

    Richmond

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 31, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our first visit. Excellent food choices from the appetizers to the entrees. Loved the oyster choices. Food was very good and our waitress was great. Definitely will be going there again.

    Report
27. JM

    JMUgrad

    Richmond

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Phenomenal food, excellent array of oysters, extensive wine list. Definitely won’t disappoint!

    Report
28. CC

    CruisingChick

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Great service and ambience. Mussels, crab cakes, crab legs and oysters were very good. My husband said his oyster po boy was just okay. Overall it was very good and would go back.

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29. YO

    YanniO

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Thanks Erin, awesome service! Thanks John for happy hour kick offs!!

    Report
30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 21, 2022

    overall5food5service3ambience5

    Service was slow but very nice if you weren’t I’m a hurry

    Report
31. CT

    CvilleTownie

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great selection of fresh oysters and nice happy hour pricing

    Report
32. JM

    JohnM

    Las Vegas

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    PFO never disappoints. We go 3-4 times a year and they always recognize us when we walk in. The staff is terrific and the food incredible. We always feel we are the only people being served even when it is a packed house. We will keep coming back!

    Report
33. RH

    RobertH

    Houston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Love love love this place! Best seafood in Charlottesville. Great atmosphere. Friendly fun staff!

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34. GW

    GWR1

    Washington DC

    51 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    51 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    We have dined here several times over the past decade and have considered this our go to for C-Ville. We will likely look for other options after this last visit. Quality of oysters subpar. No fresh fish options on the menu. Menu has become pedestrian. We have previously ranked this best in town more than once, but no longer.

    Report
35. O

    Oscar

    Richmond

    24 reviews

    4.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on December 16, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Good dinner but lose the polystyrene to go containers. The food was quite good, and the service was excellent. It was a bit noisy on the patio, but we still enjoyed dinner. Given the high prices, I’d hope the owner could afford to use recyclable to go containers instead of the cheap, environmentally toxic, non-recyclable polystyrene. I was surprised and disappointed. C’mon Public Oyster House. You can do better.

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36. MS

    MichaelS

    Richmond

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    This is our first visit to Public Fish & Oyster based upon reviews. My wife and I arrived at 4:15 for an early dinner prior to concert at JPJ arena. We were seated promptly, perused the menu and decided to order the crab cake duets for each of us. As an appetizer, I had a bowl of New England clam chowder, which was hearty and served hot, the way I like it. My wife started with a small garden salad, which was ample. When our main dish arrived, there were two large crab cakes and two vegetables on the dish. Needless to say, the crab cakes were delicious...just lump crab meat, no fillers! And the meal was served hot! If we are ever in this area again, would come back.

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37. E

    Eddie

    Central Coast

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 12, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Superb experience Oysters were fabulous. All 3 mains were Michelin star quality. And superb service.

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38. RD

    RobD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The server and the bartender were fabulous and the food was outstanding

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39. PB

    PaulB

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Service was great even though the place was packed. The oysters were perfect. Other dishes were also very good. It is a small place so make sure you have a reservation.

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40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 4, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Best crab cakes I’ve had! Loved our experience and everything we had

    Report