This long-standing, low-key bar & grill offers seafood & American grub in an oceanfront setting. Based on 4 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.3 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
12431 SE 135 Ave, Ocklawaha, FL 32179
Phone: (352) 288-3100
Website: http://www.gatorjoesocala.com/
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Saturday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM–9 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
11 AM–9 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–10 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Reviews
Shasta H-I
Pros: the food was good! Cons: our waitress was a smidge inattentive, there was quite a bit of bird poop on deck dining areas (a little more power washing was needed), and some tables chairs hadn’t been wiped down from bugs the night before.
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B Robb
Had the fish basket and lemonade and both were tastey. Fish was well cooked, fries and hush puppies were spot on and the lemonade was refreshing.
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Yari Wong
It was my first time there with 3 kids. It was really busy and there was a wait for outside seating so I chose to sit inside. We had a good time and the food was delicious. I learned I like fried pickles and Gator bites 🙂 Also good items: The Alfredo with chicken and shrimp, chicken fingers with fries for kids, voodoo drink , however, I found the dirty Shirley even tastier! Our waiter was extremely busy yet she rocked it and was there when I needed her. She was pleasant and nice. She gave some advice on food and drinks. Kudos to the bar tender that was there on 5/19 around 2:30pm – 4:30pm, awesome drinks
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Steve Cooper
This place is just a lot of fun. We had originally stopped at a different restaurant and left after waiting longer than 20 minutes and no server came to serve us. We wound up finding gator joes and we were very thankful that we did. They immediately got us a table outside and it was right on the water. The waitress came right away and took our drink orders. She recognized that there were no napkins at our table and quickly got us some. I know this sounds petty and expected but when you just left a different restaurant because of poor service, you recognize the little things that make a place great. We ordered the shrimp tacos and the fish tacos. They were delicious and priced very affordably. I wish I had tried the gator tail tacos. Next time I will. The draft blue moon was even brought to me with an orange slice. The little things make this place a home run. Oh ya, there’s a beach where you can swim if you come equipped to do so. You can also dock your boat or jet skis and walk on up for dinner or a drink. Great place. We will be returning soon.
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Roni Messinger
First off our server was very good, the shrimp that I ordered on the menu it says large portion it was a tiny portion and it was $16 as an app my husband ordered a fish sandwich I think was about 12 bucks. The drinks were okay, the selection of wine is terrible. A crow came by black big beak bird came swapping down onto my husband’s plate and flew away with his fish. We told that to the server and we thought that possibly she might replace it, as good customer service, and said this is common. My bill came to 47 bucks fish sandwich, small portion of shrimp one small plastic glass of wine and one bar special for my husband. I truly can go into a nice restaurant to pay that kind of money with the tip it was over 50 bucks for not really anything. This is a poorly run establishment. When we entered the restaurant no one said hello when we left no one said thanks for coming. Oh I told you I ordered the shrimp cold peel and eat, when I got the bill I saw that I was charged for tartar sauce cocktail sauce and hot sauce each were a dollar. Wouldn’t you think that tartar sauce and cocktail sauce would be included when you order shrimp only make sense. No music this was Friday late afternoon. I don’t think I’ll be returning anytime soon
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Aubrey Watkins
Came here for the first time today because I was in town and LOVED it! Super fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, excellent service, and a nice view right on the water. Got an IPA and the gator tacos (I ate 1 Beckie I took the picture) and both were so yummy. Definitely making the trip back to come here again!
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Tristan M
Food was good…I live in a different Laketown with very good food to compare this to. It wasn’t bad by any means and might be the best food in the area. The waitress did a great job checking in and even moving a fan for some air as the AC wasn’t the greatest. Very cool atmosphere and worth coming to just for that…you don’t need to eat here to have a good time.
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Kaitlin Wohlfahrt
I ❤️ this place! It is a cool bar/restaurant with its own beach to take a dip in, on a huge lake 15 minutes from the house. Tasty food, strong drinks, good music, great atmosphere!
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Kecia Bottoms
Really cool place to go to for dinner and a good time. Eat inside or outside, and family fun at the beach at the same time!
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Restaurant Ranger (Doug Ward)
It was super crowded but we figured it would be! The apps were real good! We had fried pickles and fish nuggets. The fried pickles were excellent and one of the people in our group said they were the best they had ever had! Now 3 out of the 4 baskets we had came out for our afternoon lunch came out not warm at all and it was way to busy to try and send them back. One person in our party had the blackened grilled shrimp tacos and they came not looking blackened or grilled and no pineapple salsa as the dressing for the taco. We asked the waitress if we could get the pineapple salsa and were told that they were all out of it. We were not happy with that. If we would of known that upfront when we ordered we wouldnt of ordered it. Now i ordered the dry rub chicken wings and they came out hot and were very crispy & tasty! Very good wings! The overall experience was just good if you want more of a downhome florida feel(not the cleanest) gator joes will fullfill that experience.
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