Blue Water Bay Restaurant Gainesville, FL - Downtown Location

Blue Water Bay Seafood has gained a great deal of popularity in the quaint and charming small town of Melrose, FL since it's re-establishment in 2003. Gainesvillians have no trouble driving the approximately 30 minute plus trek to the Melrose location - which seems to be pretty packed on a consistent basis despite the town's modest population.

Blue Water Bay is know for fresh and deliciously prepared seafood but their Friday and Saturday seafood buffet is really their largest beacon, in my opinion. They proudly advertise sourcing locally grown produce, where available. This location also offers a Sunday brunch menu.

I've unfortunately never had the occassion to eat at their Melrose location but I have driven past it several times. Each time, the parking lot is packed. However, Blue Water Bay recently opened up a downtown Gainesville location in the old Sovereign space at 12 SE Second Ave. I waited with baited breath (get it? haha) for this location to finally open. We dined in about 3 days after they opened. We sampled fried oysters, fish & chips and their fried grouper bites. Everything was absolutely delicious. The oysters were not as potent as I usually like but they were undoubtedly fresh. My favorite type of oyster is large, plump, strongly flavored and fried with a very thin layer of batter so as not to overshadow the oyster itself. The best fried oysters I ever had were in Charleston, SC and they were presented in a black pepper batter, which I loved through and through. I haven't found any in Gainesville that have really wowed me but I haven't tried every restaurant that offers them either. I've had them twice from Harry's, located around the corner from BWB, and the first time they were large, delicious and a great sized portion for the price. The second time I had them they were small in size and portion. I was disappointed with the consistency discrepancy.

One thing I can say for Blue Water Bay is that it is consistent: consistently good food, great service and generous portions. We have dined in 3 times now and plan on many more. We love to go during their happy hour (5- 7 p.m., not sure if there are any days in which Happy Hour is not offered). They also carry the locally brewed Swamphead beer and the Midnight Oil is HIGHLY recommended as a must try if you like stouts or porters. It is rich, thick and full bodied. Beer is served in a frosty chilled glass. I enjoy a Bombay and Tonic with extra lime during dinner and one of the Milky Way martinis as a postprandial libation.

After trying the fish and chips, we simply can't seem to diversify our routine! Thick delicate whitefish is presented enrobed in a light batter, fried to golden brown and not even remotely greasy. The portion is very generous and with 2 sides flanking the fish, you definitely won't leave hungry! Fries are one of the mandated sides but for an extra $1.00, you may upgrade to any of the other offerings. I enjoy the onion strings, which can be a little greasy (the first time I had them they weren't, the second time they were slightly).

The coolest thing about BWB, in my opinion, is that they offer a gluten free batter! What's more is that it is absolutely delicious. I don't often eat products containing wheat and I greatly appreciate this option. I really wish more restaurants would offer a gluten free option as there are a lot of gluten intolerant individuals and those who prefer to simply not consume wheat products. Our first waitress informed us of this option on our first visit and she said it was so good that she actually preferred it to the regular batter. I think I prefer the regular batter a little more for the taste but that is not to say that the gluten free option isn't absolutely delicious! I will continue to order the gluten free batter as long as it is offered, which I did on my 3rd visit as well.

On our second visit we had a petite waitress named Christina. She was one of the best servers I've ever had and was the sweetest and most helpful. On our 3rd visit I didn't see her until half way trhough our meal and she came over to say hello, at which point we shook hands for a formal introduction. It's these types of servers that keep me coming back to an establishment, aside from the food of course. If you'd like to have Christina serve you, ask for the short haired Christina since she let me know there are 2 Christina's at BWB (I have never met the other Christina so she may be a gem too. All of our servers have been top notch, kind and very efficient. No complaints at all on the service).

All in all, I have high praise for BWB. I really have enjoyed my experience here. I only have one small bone to pick. The atmosphere is gorgeous - exposed brick and beams, dark polished wide plank floors, booths and tables and an attractive horseshoe shaped bar. The restaurant is very large and open and they lovingly restored the interior to include some of the charachter of The Soverign. They also have large flat screens mounted in several locations. This is a pretty common addition to restaurants nowadays. Each time we go in there, a DVD of some live musician is playing. There is something about it that I find annoying. It's not just a matter of taste, though admittedly it isn't my kind of music. I just think it's bland and doesn't add to the atmosphere at all. The lighting is very dim and cozy and the concerts themselves are pretty dark. It is almost depressing and it also makes me kind of anxious. In otherwords, it's not relaxing at all. Of course no one consulted me on my opinion and to be fair, we did notice another patron very excited the the John Mayer concert was going to be REPLAYED (he asked what was next when the credits for that concert were rolling). Different strokes. Some people will love that kind of thing. My significant other and I discussed that we felt an underwater dive showing tropical fish, reefs, anything under the ocean would not only be visually pleasing and soothing but may have some other subliminal effects on the patrons. I think watching something like this would set the customers at ease and the water theme not only meshes completely with the restaurant but may subliminally encourage more drink sales. Water = thirsty. Watching musicians strum a guitar ferociously and contort their faces during passionate singing just isn't relaxing and I think this is why I get kind of anxious with that going on in the background. This sentiment is coming from someone who listens to heavy metal and really hard music but I feel there is a time and place for that. My significant other and I also thought if they want to have the music (which is set so low that you can only hear it when near the screen which makes the visuals that much more preposterous since you can barely hear anything!), just have something playing over the speakers and have the underwater visuals going in tandem.

The fact that that is my only criticism of BWB should signify that there is nothing to disuade you from trying this awesome establishment. The food is very satisfying, as mentioned previously. This location also has catering options! While BWB is not open for lunch at this time, the waitress told me if you have a larger party that you'd like to bring there for lunch, you can call in advance and they will open the restaurant just for you. How cool is that? I do hope they will be open for lunch at some point in the future, at least on the weekend.

Have you tried Blue Water Bay? If so, what did you get and how was your experience?

Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Classic Properties Realty Services in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to GainesvillePro@yahoo.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).