Blue Water Bay Restaurant

This restaurant is a nice hole-​in-​the wall local seafood restaurant. My family stopped on our way back from Gainesville. We noticed that it was an ecletic mixture of decorating inside, but the service was wonderful, and we were appreciative of our server, who stayed busy the whole time with running the dining area but gave attentive service to each customer. The seafood was fresh and also unique in that there seemed to be a Cuban or Spanish influence on the food. I also recommend ordering the blood orange pie, which is delicious!

A truly great restaurant in a small (microscopic!) town. I have read some of these reviews and must say, the person who said everything is fried just didn’t open the menu. Most every dish is available fried, grilled, or blackened. And the person who complained about service or the attitude of the wait staff has not been to the same restaurant I have been to. The staff is friendly, outgoing, attentive, and pleased to serve. The seafood buffet is amazing on Friday and Saturday nights. Well worth checking out!

Most of the food is excellent, the service, not so much. A few months ago I ordered take-​out for dinner. The online menu clearly states «Entrees Served with Sautéed Veggies & Choice of 1: Potato of the Day, Black Beans & Rice, Herb Pasta, Rice Pilaf, French Fries, Red Beans and Rice Garlic Bread $ 2.00. When I ordered I specified I wanted the veggies and the sides we chose. When I got home there were NO veggies. An oversight? Perhaps. I called and the same girl who took my order answered. I told her there were no veggies. «Do you want them?» Um, «YES!» And I actually went back there to get them. Keep in mind, this in not a cheap restaurant. After stating my purpose, a woman came up to me, stuck a menu in my face and said, «It doesn’t say veggies are included on this!» «It said so online.» «Well, you can’t rely on that.» Really? Wow. I waited and got my veggies, but am hesitant to go back anytime soon. The fish was very bland and dry, but those veggies were worth the wait. Still, what a poor way to treat someone who made two trips to the restaurant, and WHY is the online menu wrong (still!)?

Ok so I use to live in this area back in the 90’s I loved Blue Water Bay back then, The food was great The Bartender was fun, The staff would go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. I use to love meeting up with friends for a few drinks and a bite. Since then I have moved to Vegas and have found myself missing those days of genuinely great customer service. Because lets face it the customer service in Vegas is a total crap shoot. I was Soooooooooooooooo Surprised to come back to visit friends and find the Bay still there with the same fabulous customer service the menu has changed a bit but the food is still wonderful. Yes the service is a little slow but if that’s the only thing to bitch about Pffft ok. There is something to be said about a restaurant that stays open as long as the Bay has and still draws a crowd. Keep it up Blue Water Bay. TY for the memories I have the best restaurants in the world here in Vegas and still CRAVE the BAY.

Food is decent. Nothing really amazing. The sour orange pie is definitely worth getting. I think it was featured on food network or travel channel once. I like the place and think it’s fun to take a drive out to Melrose from Gainesville to grab a bite here.

Definitely as good as it gets. a small unassuming restaurant in the middle of nowhere that has one of the best seafood-​centric buffets I’ve ever had.
At $ 25 a head, it’s a great value as well. Some of the best fried shrimp and smoked salmon I’ve ever tasted. The rest of the offerings were equally good.
Service was quick and polite. If there was one thing to improve it would be the elbow room, since those highback chairs are pretty big, but that’s about it.
Great place!

What a treat! Ordered the fried shrimp, black beans and rice with mango slaw. All delicious! Service was supurb. Thanks Jeff!

Lived out here over 20 years& have eaten here several time, but Not after 3 poor meals; I expect better for the price. Their buffets are good & fresh. It was better when they reopened after the fire& had a great chef to help with the herbs & spices; but since he’s gone, the quality has gone down. I love cooking& perhaps am a food snob. We enjoy Gator bait across the street & that’s a sports bar with sports bar food

Not sure if I left a review or not but I won’t visit this place again. They served me bad fish 3 weeks ago. I didn’t get sick but it made my hands smell horrible for hours. Service was fast, waitress was a little favoriteable when it comes to her own. My side dishes were good.

We’ve been here several times, and each time we agreed that the food was okay but we felt like it was too expensive for the overall ordinary experience.

A little gem in Melrose! Went there for the first time on our way to Brown’s Farm with my parents. The service and food were excellent! Mom had their creole fish over rice with fresh veggies, dad had their lobster bisque soup and fresh bread, and I had their grouper sliders with mango slaw and fries. Everything was cooked to perfection! I had a sample of mom’s veggies and they were cooked just right-​not too soggy or half raw. The grouper was grilled with just the right amount of seasoning. Can’t wait to go back again and to try their seafood buffet. They provide that on Friday and Saturday nights for dinner.
P. S. I know that it’s weird that I add this thought, but if you go to the bathroom, they have a sani-​door. Just wave your hand across the sensor on your way out, so your hands stay clean after you wash them. I thought this was cool, because I wouldn’t want to touch the door if someone didn’t wash their hands and it saves from having to hope the paper towel I use to open the door makes it in the trash.

I’ve visited Blue Water Bay Restaurant a few weeks ago while on vacation, and found out that the customer service was exceptional, the food very tasty and the cost of my dinner was also reasonable for a meal that lasted me the entire evening

Local place best left to the locals. The bar side with live music was full and people seemed happy. The art on the walls for sale was nice to view. The service was amazing. The food however was awful. Fish sliders were served one okay, one burnt and one with bad fish. The steak was properly cooked but nothing special. Baked potato tasted reheated in a microwave. The cake tasted like it was previously frozen and old. The coffee was fresh. I hear you can buy wine by the case. I should have ordered wine.

Found this gem while driving from Tampa up to Jekyll Island. Our Server Sam was awesome. Extremely knowledgeable about the menu. The oysters were excellent and you have to try the gator sausage! As a bit of a wine snob it was nice to see their great selections. Definitely will be back

If you love to eat, this is the place for you! All you can eat buffet with a good variety of food! Seafood, chicken, pork, potatoes, salads, beer and a full bar!

The food is ok, I wish they would add new things to their menu, it seems to not change, we had not been there in 2years & went back recently and it was the same.
Maybe a couple of new appetizers, but overall the same.
The service at the bar starts off good and it slows down to the point you feel forgotten.

We go for the Saturday night buffet and lunch. Always 100+! Can’t beat the food and service. Wonderful desserts too!

This is a FANTASTIC gem hidden at the bottom of lake Santa Fe near Melrose FL. (Go East from Gainesville :) patronized by locals and lake house owners this place puts out some GREAT seafood. Dinner is awesome but the Sunday Brunch is the BOMB. I put the brunch menu below. Very creative Chef that has very flavorful and very fresh dishes. They also cater and put out a spread! We go there to fish and I never would have guessed there was such a laid back yet fine dining establishment 20 miles from Gainesville! If you are near Gainesville make the trip, you won’t regret it, but remember it’s casual Fine Dining. The Bar is awesome as well. Great staff, great food, great atmosphere!

Blue Water Bay is hands down my favorite restaurant. My wife and I head here whenever possible and definitely make reservations for special occassions.
The food is top quality, with an emphasis on using real ingredients, local when possible.
Desserts are top notch and this is truly a hidden gem. I’ve travelled a lot, and my favorite restaurant is a fine dining gourmet place in… Melrose, FL.
Without hesitation, head there with your favorite friends.

So I’ve lived in Gainesville for the past 17 years. I know I know and I’ve never been to Blue Water Bay. As we all know when you ask for where good seafood is you hear about this place.
So recently we were in the area and I had the chance of trying this place.
Oh so disappointing. Everything is FRIED ?? why why why. no ability to get blackened or broiled.
The service was just ok, nothing great, but very pleasant.
The food is just ok, I’m giving them 2 to 3 stars here as fried seafood is not my first choice. If it is for you then this place is for you!
Atmosphere is dated, old and dark.
All in all a 2 star we’ve experienced better rating is accurate. For us it’s not worth the drive to experience this. I was expecting so much better given the cult following.