New England is known for their lobster rolls, Chicago is known for fancy hot dogs and deep-dish pizza, and most of the Midwest is devoted to BBQ. But here in Citrus County, seafood is what we do best. 

Thanks to our location right along the Gulf of Mexico, our local restaurants and markets have access to a wide range of fresh seafood options that include grouper, hogfish, snapper, reef fish, mullet, and tons of local shellfish. 

If seafood is your thing, there are plenty of great options to choose from all around the Villages of Citrus Hills. Let’s check out some of our favorites! 

Seafood Seller & Café 

 For anyone looking to grab a fresh grouper sandwich on the go, you can’t do much better than the Seafood Seller & Cafe located right inside the Crystal River Mall. This simple little spot in the food court puts out some of the freshest fish in all of Citrus County. 

The grouper sandwich uses only “fresh from Florida” grouper, so that is definitely where you want to start, but the clams, shrimp, and crawfish are all good choices as well.

 Peck’s Old Port Cove 

 Another great option for fresh caught grouper is Peck’s Old Port Cove in Crystal River. We have mentioned Peck’s a few times before because of their awesome location at the end of the long and scenic Ozello Trail, but the food here is also worth noting. 

Peck’s does two things exceptionally well:  grouper and blue crab. Both are caught locally and cooked to perfection. If you go the grouper route, you should try the almond-crusted grouper or the stuffed grouper. If blue crab is your thing, make sure you try Peck’s garlic crab!

 Rocky Cola Seafood 

Another local restaurant that does garlic crab really well is Rocky Cola Seafood in Ocala. As if that wasn’t enough, they are also well known for their delicious fried rice options that include any combination of crab, shrimp, and lobster cooked into fried rice. 

Charlie’s Fish House Restaurant & Seafood Market

 One place that should be on the list of every seafood lover at the Villages of Citrus Hills is Charlie’s Fish House Restaurant & Seafood Market in Crystal River. That’s because this place pulls double duty as both a restaurant and market. 

On the restaurant side, this is the place to be if you are a fan of stone crab claws with mustard sauce and fresh mullet filets. They also offer local Florida shrimp, as well as a huge selection of seafood items from other parts of the world.

In addition to being a great restaurant, Charlie’s is also a seafood market where you will find their cases stocked with all kinds of fresh caught seafood. If you are in the mood to cook some fresh Florida grouper, mullet, or red snapper at home one evening, this is where you can find it! 

Shelly’s Seafood & Fish Market 

 Another source of fresh local seafood for those who are interested in cooking at home is Shelly’s Seafood & Fish Market in Homosassa. Here you will always find a great selection that includes grouper, snapper, mullet, hog fish, cobia, and even a few types of reef fish.

 Shelly’s also specializes in crab and shellfish, so you can get blue crab, stone crab, shrimp, lobster, clams, scallops, and oysters here too! 

With everything from fresh grouper filets to delicious stone crab claws, Citrus County offers an impressive selection of options when it comes to fresh seafood. 

Whether you are looking for a quick bite to eat, an enjoyable dinner experience, or just something different to cook at home, you can find it all through our seafood options!

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