I walked to JJ's from the Pilot and it was not open. I was disappointed because there is no good restaurants around this exit.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
ruthyurikoc
We went in for lunch during the week...was warned not to go by another waiter in the area. We decided to go anyway...the food was inedible and the mussels smelled fishy :-( I'm very sorry to say, cannot not recommend this restaurant.
Leah Rett
They say online they are open until 6 they were closed before 5!
Jennifer G
Place was night-and-day different than any photo on their website or social media…to the point you almost couldn’t recognize it. Parking lot and front porch (first impression) was dirty and almost looked abandoned. Call a landscaper stat! Upon entry you have to stop at a hostess stand that says “wait to be seated,” but it’s also 5 feet from the bar. The bar had 2 people, and yet the bartender went out of her way to not greet you, make eye contact, or even acknowledge there was another soul on the property; yet, she wasn’t busy or doing anything. She legit worked harder to purposely ignore people than to actually make eye contact. After and awkwardly long pause of an employee/bartender ignoring us for five minutes in a vastly empty restaurant/bar a server ran from the back and sat us in the bar. That server was friendly and tried to make amends. Food was lack luster. We had to send the Clam bisque back because it was room temperature at best and had the same constancy as water. The seller we apologized and said that she didn’t even recognize it. Crab legs were way over cooked to the point they were rubber. You couldn’t even hope to crack a shell because they were beyond cooked. Also, during this time an older disabled lady came in and also had the same awkward awful wait at the empty hostess stand with only the bartender and newly their manager who was there with her counting receipts. Neither one said hello or could even bother with eye contact. It got so awkward that I was about ready to get out of my seat to find an employee before the bartender FINALLY walked out and seated her. Do yourself a favor and avoid the mediocre food and nonexistent customer service and go elsewhere.
847darlenet
Great food, fast service and very good price. Ate traveling down to Florida and stopped again on way back to Georgia. Very friendly. Best cheese grits. Fried s little to long. Especially okra. It was hard. But we’ll with the stop.
LynneOcala
The entire restaurant looked like it needed a deep cleaning. There were hand prints on the front window and other rather large spots. We were seated and our table was sticky. We got it cleaned, no problem. I ordered the double lobster tails. One was fine, the other was mushy and pasty. It was replaced. The food was tasty, however the cleanliness of the place is questionable.
Dylan Peel
Not open during advertised hours. Do not rely on eating here
Doris Foster
Quick service and a nice place to sit and eat great food.
Nancy B
Worst Shrimp we ever ate. Totally overcooked. You’d think that 30+ year old seafood restaurant in Florida would know how to cook them, apparently not. Fortunately, the other couple with us enjoyed their catfish.
donv667
I ordered the senior three item platter, I chose scallops, shrimp, pollock. I came with two sides, plus slaw. Two or three hush puppies. It was all I could eat. It arrived hot and the waitress was a riot,
We were visiting Ocala and found Sam's St. John's Seafood when in need of lunch. Maybe we wish we hadn't in the end. It appeared to us to be nothing special, not friendly, not very clean and not worth returning to if ever nearby again. We'll pass.
sjpunkin
We have been going to Sam's for many years and at times traveling 40+ miles to get there. We have only eaten the flounder and oyster dinners but the quality, serving size and taste of both have always been outstanding. Yes, it is fried food but not greasy. We have eaten in many restaurants all over the US and Sam's rates up in the top of all of them. If you are looking for a fancy/up class restaurant, Sam's is NOT the place for you but for good food and service it is great. One more thing, there is Peanut Butter that compares!!!!!!!!! We are going there for lunch today. Ken
jesus torres
Hours posted are incorrect. Sign says open thu-sat 11am-6pm.
IreneW653
The staff us great, the food is incredible. What ever happened to the Blooming Onion?? The small one isn't the same, but good.
Z8829QGcarold
If the food were free, I’d still never go back. The waitress was rude, the food was awful, there’s no atmosphere, and we spent a good deal of the night in the bathroom.
I walked to JJ's from the Pilot and it was not open. I was disappointed because there is no good restaurants around this exit.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
We went in for lunch during the week...was warned not to go by another waiter in the area. We decided to go anyway...the food was inedible and the mussels smelled fishy :-( I'm very sorry to say, cannot not recommend this restaurant.
They say online they are open until 6 they were closed before 5!
Place was night-and-day different than any photo on their website or social media…to the point you almost couldn’t recognize it. Parking lot and front porch (first impression) was dirty and almost looked abandoned. Call a landscaper stat! Upon entry you have to stop at a hostess stand that says “wait to be seated,” but it’s also 5 feet from the bar. The bar had 2 people, and yet the bartender went out of her way to not greet you, make eye contact, or even acknowledge there was another soul on the property; yet, she wasn’t busy or doing anything. She legit worked harder to purposely ignore people than to actually make eye contact. After and awkwardly long pause of an employee/bartender ignoring us for five minutes in a vastly empty restaurant/bar a server ran from the back and sat us in the bar. That server was friendly and tried to make amends. Food was lack luster. We had to send the Clam bisque back because it was room temperature at best and had the same constancy as water. The seller we apologized and said that she didn’t even recognize it. Crab legs were way over cooked to the point they were rubber. You couldn’t even hope to crack a shell because they were beyond cooked. Also, during this time an older disabled lady came in and also had the same awkward awful wait at the empty hostess stand with only the bartender and newly their manager who was there with her counting receipts. Neither one said hello or could even bother with eye contact. It got so awkward that I was about ready to get out of my seat to find an employee before the bartender FINALLY walked out and seated her. Do yourself a favor and avoid the mediocre food and nonexistent customer service and go elsewhere.
Great food, fast service and very good price. Ate traveling down to Florida and stopped again on way back to Georgia. Very friendly. Best cheese grits. Fried s little to long. Especially okra. It was hard. But we’ll with the stop.
The entire restaurant looked like it needed a deep cleaning. There were hand prints on the front window and other rather large spots. We were seated and our table was sticky. We got it cleaned, no problem. I ordered the double lobster tails. One was fine, the other was mushy and pasty. It was replaced. The food was tasty, however the cleanliness of the place is questionable.
Not open during advertised hours. Do not rely on eating here
Quick service and a nice place to sit and eat great food.
Worst Shrimp we ever ate. Totally overcooked. You’d think that 30+ year old seafood restaurant in Florida would know how to cook them, apparently not. Fortunately, the other couple with us enjoyed their catfish.
I ordered the senior three item platter, I chose scallops, shrimp, pollock. I came with two sides, plus slaw. Two or three hush puppies. It was all I could eat. It arrived hot and the waitress was a riot,
Restaurantji Recommends
We were visiting Ocala and found Sam's St. John's Seafood when in need of lunch. Maybe we wish we hadn't in the end. It appeared to us to be nothing special, not friendly, not very clean and not worth returning to if ever nearby again. We'll pass.
We have been going to Sam's for many years and at times traveling 40+ miles to get there. We have only eaten the flounder and oyster dinners but the quality, serving size and taste of both have always been outstanding. Yes, it is fried food but not greasy. We have eaten in many restaurants all over the US and Sam's rates up in the top of all of them. If you are looking for a fancy/up class restaurant, Sam's is NOT the place for you but for good food and service it is great. One more thing, there is Peanut Butter that compares!!!!!!!!! We are going there for lunch today. Ken
Hours posted are incorrect. Sign says open thu-sat 11am-6pm.
The staff us great, the food is incredible. What ever happened to the Blooming Onion?? The small one isn't the same, but good.
If the food were free, I’d still never go back. The waitress was rude, the food was awful, there’s no atmosphere, and we spent a good deal of the night in the bathroom.