Don't waste your money!,,,I'd really like an explanation from the manager as to why my husband and I were told that in a little while, 2 regular customers would be there and we were sitting in their spot!!! My husband asked what that was suppose to mean and our server said.. I was just told to tell you that and that they drop a lot of money when they come!!!! We debated about sitting in those seats until these regulars showed up but decided we didn't want to spend another dime in a place like that!! Ijust unbelievable and I'd really like to know how you get away with treating a customer so rudely, I'd love a response from the management . All I can say to any person thinking about going there... There are so many other great places in st Pete to go where they would never ever make a comment like that!!
(1)
Rachel W.
Great crab. Always busy. The bread they give ya is DELICIOUS. we've gone as a family every year, and the wait staff can be better or worse. Definitely worth the drive.
(4)
George B.
A friend who is a local suggested this place It was great! The staff is very friendly and the food was excellent and served promptly. Best of all it was very reasonable. This seems to be a local hangout for good reason. I was there for happy hour at the bar and I had three drinks and it was less than $9. Highly recommend this if you're going to eat in St Pete.
(5)
John N.
Not impressed typical tourist food too much money to little food no taste I wouldn't recommend Billy's.
(1)
Megan A.
We actually went here on a recommendation of a local. I was a bit nervous after reading the reviews on Yelp on our way over. I should have followed the reviews and found somewhere else to eat. The service was meh and the food wasn't good at all. Way over priced and not the quality you would expect from a place right on the water.
(2)
Theresa H.
We went to Billy's, on a busy Saturday night. Despite being busy, we were welcomed and quickly seated in a booth next to the window. We watched a spectacular sunset and had a great view of the water. Our server wasn't the fastest but he was great and we could see that he was busy. Our food was excellent. We loved the Calamari! My grouper dinner was so big that I had plenty to take home. Yes, we would go there again.
(5)
John R.
Been going to Billy's for the last year or two. Great atmosphere and the roof top bar is great for sunsets and live music! Billy's is not known for having the best seafood around but it is not bad. Most of the time when we go there we end up on roof top bar having a few drinks listening to music and eating a few appetizers. Definitely worth stopping by to check it out
(3)
Rob R.
Cool location. Service was good, but I was not impressed with the fried shrimp nor conch fritters. Not sure about the stone crab - it didn't seem to have much flavor. The grouper sandwich was pretty good, but probably not worth a trip.
(2)
Kelly W.
Found this place indirectly through yelp. We were headed to another place in front if this one, but noticed that this place is directly on the water so opted here. We headed straight up to their open air loft bar and settled in with a couple if drinks and the view. We ordered some peel n eats, 50 cent oysters and the smoked fish dip. All of which were good-the oysters were big and fresh and melted in my mouth. The shrimp were a bit dinky but seasoned well and only $8. The smoked dip was good but it was a pain having to open up each cracker wrapped in plastic. Out bartenders were nice and attentive, but the date on my Sam Adams beer had passed 3 months. Overall a solid place to get some very reasonably priced seafood with a view.
(3)
Kelley K.
What is happening with Billy's? I used to go there a lot back in 2010, then moved away. I'm planning a trip back this year and was stunned to see a spate of bad reviews. I notice they all seemed to be from 2012-on. Did Billy's change hands? When I went, we got amazing $1.99 Margaritas and they sometimes had a $.99 fried fish lunch. That's right, 99 cents! And it was good. Often we'd go for happy hour and always enjoyed the atmosphere, drinks and lively crowd. My personal reason for only 4 stars is that I never found staff to be friendly. Like so many other beach places we go, staff make no effort to engage you. Your order is taken and your food/drink delivered, and that's it. A "Hi, how ya doing today" would go a long way. We went there easily 3-4 times a week, and not one staffer ever asked our names. And since we went in off season, it was obvious we we lived there, and weren't tourists. I would think they'd want to keep us coming back as regulars, but nope, I guess not. It's weird when you see the same bartender 3-4 times a week and they always look at you live you've never been there before. Other than that, I enjoyed Billy's but I'm nervous to try them now, after all the recent negative reviews.
(4)
Jan S.
Food is decent, good variety, reasonable prices and lots of different entertainment. Piano bar, rock, country all in different rooms, dancing, drinking, good views, easy parking. Hard to find a decent place to dance anymore as a couple. Check this place out.
(3)
Burr C.
Awful - just avoid. This is a convenient location with terrible food. Bar drinks are in tiny water glasses and the bartender had limited knowledge of drink recipes. The stone crab (their specialty) was overcooked and over priced. The vegetables were frozen and not fresh (I could taste the freezer burn). The kids chicken fingers were awful - my nephew wouldn't finish them. If I was the owner - I'd be embarrassed. Just keep driving and go elsewhere. This needs a visit from Gordon Ramsey.
(1)
Stephanie T.
We just ordered appetizers and it took so long to get them that we didn't order anything else...the gator bites were horrible by the way but the waitress was super nice.
(1)
michael s.
Sitting on the inter-coastal, Billy's is a slice of old Florida. The building is a rambling structure with a pseudo Victorian cupola. The staff is friendly and efficient; our waiter, Phil, was very informative about the menu and how Stone crab were harvested. We had the early bird special, my friend opting for crab stuffed Mahi Hahi and I, the seafood combo plate consisting of fried sea bass, scallops and six u-peel 'em shrimp. I also had six raw oysters and a cup of the 1958 Navy bean soup. Everything was pretty good..my frien's Mahi was a bit dry. But the best thing was the gigantic stone Crab claw, served warm with drawn butter. The butter wasn't real and to be honest, the crab meat was so sweet it didn't need anything on it. All in all, a very nice dining experience.
(4)
Stephanie N.
This place wasn't terrible but it was certainly not the best. I went here for the 50 cent oysters which were pretty good but the service lacking. My friend had the fried clams but had to send them back since it was basically fried dough. We saw our waiter grab some of the fried clams to try and say that there was nothing wrong with them under his breath. Anyway, our server seemed in his own world and just dazed the entire time. They didn't even have a drink menu! Overall, my experience was MEH.
(2)
Fritz E.
Seems like every other seafood restaurant - fried this, blackened that... Service was slow especially for a restaurant without much of a crowd at 1pm on a Sunday. The lobster meal seemed to lack, well, sides to actually make it a meal. Fresh oysters during happy hour seem like a deal at 50 cents each. Fried calamari was skimpy. The seafood platter seemed like the best deal with a great amount of food. The water view is nice but I might think twice about making a long drive just to eat here...if I lived in the area, I'd probably head there often for a beer & a dozen oyster while talking to people at the bar. The Margaritas are mix based and so so - just order tequila straight
(2)
Jennifer M.
I'm sure this won't be a fair review since I only had two beers here, which were served in plastic cups...but they did offer me a koozie, which was a nice gesture. The roof top bar offered a nice view of the water and sunset and the two man band sang a bunch of cool songs. I'm told the food is very good, but on a Tuesday night I didn't see anyone dining there. Worth checking out if you like seafood. As a vegetarian, the menu stumped me and I would have been left with a house salad and onion rings, so I passed altogether.
(3)
Antoinette S.
I LOVE BILLYS I've been to St Pete Beach about 8 times now and every time Billy's has been the destination restaurant. It never disappoints. The grouper is great no matter how you order it and the ambiance is even better. Billy's is a 3 story seafood establishment off the beaten path on a lagoon. If you're coming with the family you can sit quietly outdoors or indoors and get friendly service. If you're looking to get rowdy, you can sit at the rooftop bar and listen to accoustic covers or you can join the senior citizens on the first floor and bump and grind on the dance floor to live covers of Bruno Mars and Robin Thicke. The views are incredible. Great views of the water and sunset. There's also boat tours and a few docks where you can see some exotic birds and catch a glimpse of the manatees. If you're visiting Florida or looking to entertain guests, Billy's is the go to
(5)
Jack S.
The location is supurb, right by the house, food was good, portions fair and good service. No more. I thought I'd give them yet another unearned chance. Big mistake, I asked for it and feel like a royal chump. Please, no one make this mistake too, I loved the Billy's of old but the portions, staffing (not all, some are good) and meals are crap. Sea bass wasn't sea bass before and now they stopped misrepresentating it, that's an improvement. Blackened grouper or carp was ctap. Never again. We had to ask for napkins, plates for our oyster shells...got one for the table..and finally got some beholden bread. Made up for the dry crap chicken breast to for my wife.
(1)
Jason G.
We stopped into Billy's for a late lunch after a day at the beach. Our waiter, Stephen, was so lively and attentive. We had excellent service. Everything was fresh and well cooked. The prices were very fair. We will definitely come back here if we're in the area again.
(5)
Warren R.
Made a trip here for lunch the other day, and I have to say, I was expecting more. It's located in Tierra Verde, on the water, naturally my expectations were lofty. The best thing about the atmosphere was that I could see the water from the window at my booth. Other than that, the building is a little run down, outdated, and not as clean as I would like. We started out with the bang bang grouper nuggets, and they were pretty tasty. I ordered off of their early dining menu (11:30 am - 6:00 pm) and went with Billy's Famous Shore Platter which consisted of sea bass, sea scallops, and peel and eat shrimp. You can choose broiled, blackened, or fried, I went with blackened. I had coleslaw and greens as my sides. The sea scallops were tasty, the peel and eat shrimp were fine, and the sea bass left much to be desired. The greens and coleslaw were both fine. For $11.95 the amount of food was a great value. I'm happy with the view, and the value. They serve up some average seafood and the interior needs a facelift. I guess I'm the most disappointed in the amount of potential this place has, and I feel they're squandering it.
(3)
Lori L.
Being on the water definitely helps this place out with the multiple bars and views. We were on vacation visiting my Mom so we had to hit the early bird special...please shoot me now! Anyway, besides the flock of seniors clamoring for their discounted meals the food wasn't too bad. Because we arrived before 6pm my Mom made sure we ordered off the early menu (ugh!) There were a few options available. I choose the broiled mahi-mahi and my husband had the broiled shrimp. The food was decent but it was nothing that really stood out. I think it is pretty darn difficult to screw up the entrees we ordered. The salad that comes with the meal is okay but is iceberg lettuce so that takes down my rating. The $1.99 margarita isn't a bad deal but I would order something else if I ever returned. This is a restaurant that will never overwhelm you but it will provide decent food at reasonable prices. Don't expect to be blown away with any of their entrees. Personally I would come on a warm day and just have drinks on the water with a couple of appetizers.
(3)
Matt M.
I liked my lunch just fine and the rest of my party did too. My dad had oysters and enjoyed them. My wife had the chicken sandwich and enjoyed it. My son loved his buttered noodles! My mom and aunt enjoyed their fish tacos. I had a Mahi Mahi sandwich fried and dipped in Buffalo sauce. So damn good. And the piece of fish came out larger than my hand and a good 1.5" larger than the bun! I woulda given it 5 stars, but the appetizer portions were way small compared to the price. 6 shrimp for $10. Hush puppies were good, but somewhat small and we got 7 I think. Better for 2 people, not 5. The inside seemed a little dated & dirty. Maybe that's par for the course for beachside large eateries, but it could be better. Friendly staff.
(4)
Jason M.
Got the grouper bites and onion rings that were both solid. For the main dish I had a half rack of baby back ribs.... Brutal. Ribs were white underneath with a not good Bbq sauce on top. Don't pretend to do ribs if you can't. Wide had a Cuban that was average. Lots of Breyer choices in the area.
(2)
Lola S.
If you're looking for a casual place to listen to some nice music, view a great sunset and chill while eating great seafood -( clam chowder is excellent!) --- well, just head here. Prices are not fast food but then neither are the offerings and size of the meals! I have never been disappointed and everytime I get company, we head to fort Desoto then here and have a great day all the way around!
(5)
Pat B.
Took a chance and loved this place. Great casual hi top bar to watch sunset from. Live music, good drinks and fun vibe. Will be back.
(4)
Shayla M.
We went here because we saw their ad in the TBT and we loveeee stone crab. The service was pretty lack-luster. We ordered baked oysters and ahi tuna for our appetizers. The ahi was very good but the oysters not so much, there was too much going on and you couldn't taste the oyster at all. The stone crab, however, was amazing and we'll definitely go back for just that!
(3)
Customer Q.
I've had the opportunity to eat here several times with friends over the past year. Each time has been successively more disappointing. This review is based on my most recent visit. The pros: You can eat overlooking the water. The clientele is an eclectic mix that makes for interesting people-watching. The ceasar salad was quite good, and the steak fries were a nice change from the ubiquitous baked potato I see elsewhere. The cons: On a moderately busy (but not overly so) weekday evening, my party of three arrived at about 645 pm. We were seated in a darkish room practically on top of the live band, which was so loud we could not possibly speak to each other. There were empty tables in other rooms with a view of the water (our room did not have a water view). I ordered peel-and-eat shrimp. I would not say they were terrible, but I do wonder what other diners who have reviewed Billy's mean when they say "seasoning" because they were completely flavorless, and tasted neither like shrimp nor like any seasoning I know of. They were of average size. The only side they were served with was the steak fries (there were other options, but the dish only came with one side). I did not think it was worth the $11 price, even though there were 15 shrimp on the plate. The service was a bit slow and cursory, but since it was during tourist season, perhaps that is to be expected. The place seems to be a favorite with Canadians visiting St. Pete Beach during the winter. Even had the food been better, I'm not sure I would seek this place out again just because of the incredibly loud music. I'm a big fan of loud music, but 1) dinner is not the time for it; and 2) this music wasn't very good (lots of off-key singing).
(2)
Raul M.
Grouper sandwiches had soggy bread. Oyster appetizer was $10.95 and had a very small portion. Not cool
(1)
Sundi P.
Found this place while looking for another restaurant, but it was a good surprise. The food was good and we got to see the water. Food is quite pricey, but the grouper was great and the shrimp and scallops were good. We will be back. Nice place and great stop near Fort deSoto beach.
(4)
Jay T.
These reviews don't give Billy's a fair reputation! I have visited a few times and really enjoyed myself each time. They have great 360° views at the rooftop bar, they open the windows when its nice! You could literally just kill a day sitting at this bar drinking $1.99 house margaritas! I went with a group of 4 and we decided to try a little bit of everything. We ordered the Ahi tuna, dang-bang grouper, jumbo pink shrimp, and coconut shrimp. None of it disappointed! We also enjoyed the clam chowder. This was a great way to spend an afternoon lunch with great food and a few good drinks! They are always attentive and welcoming at Billy's! Go and enjoy yourself!
(5)
Tim T.
We called ahead to ask if there was a dress code, if we needed reservations and if there would be seating for sunset. Eric said no reservations but if we asked for him when we came in he would take care of us. Approximately an hour later we came in and asked for Eric. I asked if he remembered me. He said "no, you know how many calls I get, over a thousand." It made me feel embarrassed in front of my group. He acted like an arrogant jerk because he was unable to recall a call made just 45-60 minutes earlier. Clearly it must take years before this place gets a thousand calls as evidenced by the empty chairs. Our food was even worse. My sister got crab legs that were clearly bad. They smelled of ammonia. Most of our food was disappointing. The oysters were a joke, you needed a magnifying lens to see them. Final punch was our departure, Eric was sitting at the host stand, working on his fantasy football team. We paused to talk to him, he never got up or acknowledge us. Obviously he has better things to do. It was obvious this was just not a bad night for Eric, he considers this the way to run this restaurant. This restaurant must have seen better days. It was rundown, dirty and tired. So is the wait staff.
(1)
Sheli M.
Took my husband out for his birthday dinner and I encouraged him to order the king crab although it was pretty pricy. The crab came out very dry and unlike any king crab I've ever had. It was overcooked and his "loaded" baked potato came dry with butter and sour cream on the side in little plastic containers. I had the crab stuffed Mahi and the sauce was tasteless as well as the fish. I couldn't even eat it. My side salad was good as the vinigarete dressing was tasty. The service was good. I don't recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Patrick M.
Horrible! We were here for dinner I got the king crab which was very dry and almost cold to the touch. My wife got the Mahi which tasting like rubber. Would have almost had a fish sandwich from McDonald's! Over priced garbage.
(1)
Mike S.
This restaurant used to be a solid 4 star. But portions are smaller and prices higher. They changed their Lunch menu and it is very, very weak. Rooftop bar is worth 4 stars because of good bartender & View. Have been eating here for 25 years. Very disappointed.
(2)
Floyd S.
I was not impressed with the welcome or seating by the host and there seemed to be some discussion as to who my waitress/waiter would be. (Not sure what that was about) Since I got there around 6PM, I tried one of the 'Early Dining Specials'; Billy's Famous Shore Platter. All the items; the sea bass, sea scallops (broiled) & u-peel shrimp were seasoned just right and delicious. The coleslaw seemed fresh and the greens were not as seasoned but still tasty. I will return to try other entrees.
(3)
Joseph K.
Ironically it's not easy to find fresh Gulf seafood places here on the Mid Florida gulf coast. I had relatives staying 2 weeks at Fort Desoto RV camping park so this was an ideal location to meet them. The restaurant is clean with local gulf coast decor, the place is huge with many rooms and a loft bar!? Which I didn't have a chance to check out. My blackened grouper sandwich was large and satisfying with one side of your choosing, I chose coleslaw. I prefer more blackened seasoning on my filet, and the bun was just cheap white bread. The peal eat shrimp were decent sized and seasoned with herbs. key lime pie slice was good. The service at happy hour was excellent and you can't beat $2 margaritas no matter how they taste. The service and location made this place and like I said it's hard to find good fresh Florida seafood. Not the best but if in area I would come here again.
(3)
Paul L.
I've been to Billy's several times, only had terrible service once....avoid eating there from Feb to after Easter, it is just too crowded with tourists. The house salad is one of the stand out items, so is the fresh baked bread. Kind of expensive, so definitely not a place to go weekly.
(3)
Brian K.
Love the setting and the location on the inlet. We go back on every visit as there are many positives with dinner here. Salad is best around and bread is wonderful. Need to come back in crab season to see the operation at its finest. Had the blackened grouper and that was my mistake. I like it extra blackened and that works for real blackening but not with creole mix being used. It came out super salty instead. Won't make that mistake next time as no one in area seems to know how to properly blacken fish. Will certainly return next visit. We like the simple preparation...no sauces or spcial coatings.
(3)
D H.
I took friends from DC to dinner at Billy's on Friday night and the hostess took us to a table directly in front of loud live entertainment. I asked to move somewhere quieter and was met with a scowl from staff and then led to a nearly vacant dark section. I had Stone Crab claws, the mid-sized. They had a strong ammonia smell and when I asked the server to replace them, I was served some that were worse and way undersized. I told the server about this second batch and she actually took one from me, tasted it and told me it was OK ! My guests were amazed at this. I will never go back. Compared to other restaurants in the St. Pete area, Billy's doesn't deserve even one star. On the previous visit, we saw a rat running along the window sill inside the same dining area we were in on Friday. That should have been ample warning to not go back but I wanted to give them a try. My prediction is that the place will close. And it should.
(1)
Zubey L.
apps were amazing..... got the pollock fish fry... it was very good... wife got the fish stuffed with crab cakes... eh.. not very good.. the fish and the crab cakes were good.. BUT not together.. .... her drink.. not very good.. was barely any alcohol in it. probably won't be back except for apps and drinks.
(3)
Sharyn J.
Great navy bean soup and house salad. Vegetable medley was soggy and cold so I sent it back for mashed potato which were real and very good. I'm not a seafood person but hubby loves the Maine lobster and pretty good chowder.
(4)
Rob W.
I have always just loved the building and the location, but the food, not so much. They just have always seemed to under deliver every time I have been here.
(2)
Scott C.
I get the feeling this place excels at their crab, but struggles at everything else--sadly I visited 2 weeks before crab season. :( The atmosphere is what it is. That's not to say it's necessarily bad, but you know how how a big chain seafood place tries to emulate that authentic crab shack feel!? Well, this is what they try to emulate. The staff was friendly enough, though I did have to ask about the specials instead of being offered them. And we weren't told it was "happy hour" and what that entailed (spoiler: weak drinks in small glasses). Somehow the kitchen "didn't get" our kids' pizza order, so we were all eating while they scrambled to whip up some kids pizzas (which turned out to be something akin to tomato sauce and cheese spread on an English muffin). The half lobster was pretty sad; it was a shell stuffed with minced crab meat (tail and claw were lobster though). And the peel & eat shrimp were warmed over with some seasoning salt spread on top well after cooking (the flavour did not go beyond the shell). All in all, I wish we had gone back to a place we already knew for our final night on vacation. :(
(1)
Liz C.
Pros: great location with beautiful views. Cons: the food. I ordered the stuffed lobster - it had a thick coating of old bay spicy seasoning crusted on the lobster and crab making it inedible. My boyfriend ordered the Chilean sea bass which was not cooked. The steak fries are not French fries but rather deep fries potato quarters. Yuck. My daughter had the snow crab which she said was very good. The salad was also good. The bahama mama drink was also awful. I rarely give a bad review. We won't be back.
(1)
Ross M.
Food was great, very fresh grouper and mahi.
(5)
Ricardo O.
Went here with my parents, everything was terrible except for the server. Almost like she was embarrassed serving us the crappy food coming out of the kitchen! The "mango salsa" on top of my wife's fish was Pace Picante with 2 small slices of mango thrown in. WAY too expensive for the low quality of food that was served. Pretty sad, this place used to be good.
(1)
Mary C.
We had a great time with friends at Billy's! My scallops were very good. I ordered a side salad and never got it. The mahi mahi was very good too. The ambiance was nice. The female hostess was very, very nice. She got us the best table to see the sunset and then part of our party got there late so we missed it - felt bad!
(4)
Nancy L.
We have been eating at Billy's for over 10 years each Christmas season when we visit Tierre Verde. The last 2 years, the quality has definitely gone down. We had the calamari, way over cooked, Maine lobster, which was ok, but the collard greens, baked potato and green beans were all poor quality and seemed to have been sitting all day in a warmer. We have fond memories with family eating there but won't be back. Service was good. Thus, the 2 stars.
(2)
Rachel C.
We went to Billy's on a Wednesday night. It was quiet and uneventful. The decor is typical seafood restaurant. Our server was friendly and knowledgable. The food was decent regarding taste, price and portion. Only downside in our average, typical dinner was that they only offer the pink sweetener and the chicken fingers ordered for the kids tasted a little fishy (I assume they fry it in the same oil as the fish).
(3)
Bryan M.
The best thing to do is sit on their rooftop bar and eat some appetizers and drink some alcohol. Between the live music and the $1.99 margaritas, you cannot go wrong here! Highly recommend this place to take a load off at the end of a long beach day!
(5)
Karen H.
This place has a little bit for everyone with several different areas of the restaurant for seating. A great view from almost anywhere. The food was ok. Nothing really jumped out at us as being delicious but the prices were reasonable and presentation was nice. I think the rooftop bar would have been the most fun if our daughter wasn't with us so we might go back and try that. Also, it seemed there was friendlier and better service in the actual restaurant but we chose the sports bar area for the open air view. Hope more people can give more reviews so if we go back we will know what to eat! Give it a try and tell us what you think!
(3)
Jenna W.
Loved the atmosphere of this place. The rooftop bar is beautiful right over the water. Everyone there seemed nice and our bartender made some great drinks. My boyfriend ordered a coconut shrimp and he loved it. I never ate but I wasn't too impressed with the menu, wasn't too much variety. But we will definitely be coming back to try more next time we are in town.
(3)
Lloyd T.
Went with a friend who had recently dined here and raved about it. Got the grouper and shrimp special luncheon, $12.95. APPALLING! I wish I had taken a photo of how small this portion of fish was -- truly, it was about 2/3 smaller than what I would have expected for the price. And it was overcooked, and honestly, I suspect it wasn't grouper. If it was, it had the life grilled out of it. If I hadn't been catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and didn't want to make a scene, I'd have sent this back for sure. I suggest you do the same if this happens to you. Oh, the shrimp? Why, glad you asked - 3, count 'em, THREE, barely medium sized shrimp, seemed frozen, and grilled to the point of being almost tough. The nerve! How did Billy's justify charging this price? Why, the tourists will be fooled when a big plate shows up which is EASILY 90 percent filled up with french fries. An aside: I recalled near the end of lunch that I actually ordered it blackened - even made a big deal of asking the waitress which she would recommend, and she said blackened - and it didn't come this way. All around, I got the impression that no one gave a crap whether you ever came back. For an appetizer we got raw oysters for 50 cents apiece. These were the most anemic oysters I've ever seen -- truly, several of them I wondered, had these scrawny things already been forked out of their shell? You get what you pay for - actually, much less, at Billy's. I lived in St. Pete for 14 years and visited this place a number of times and found it to be a bit of a tourist trap, like 90% of seafood restaurants in Tampa Bay, they figure you are a tourist and just passing through so why not screw you over. This repeat visit turned out to confirm that this attitude has not changed. OK location on the water (though you probably will be looking at a ditch or marina and not the Gulf or intracoastal).
(1)
Sarah P.
This place passes the double test! We've been here twice and will continue to eat here. The first time, we waited so long for service that we almost left. We learned that the hostess didn't bother to alert any servers. No biggie. She was the worst part of the whole evening, because after we were served, it was smooth sailing from then on. The place was comfortably busy for being so late, the seafood was excellent, and the prices were very competitive for such quality. This place doesn't come off as campy or chain-like, as the name might imply. We just brought friends back here, and we are so glad we did. Prompt service, busy but not crowded, friendly, great food with smart portions (not huge; not tiny), and really great prices. Market price for a whole maine lobster was 9.95, and the vodka with tonic was just right. Thank you so much for a consistently great experience! UPDATE: I can understand why some people hate this place. If you're seated in the walkway area, you will smell the kitchen and sit under mold-riddled curtains. The kitchen piled ice on TOP of the oysters...what? Has the prep worker ever eaten one? Service is interesting, in that the last time we went, we didn't know which of the two people was actually assigned to our table. The mashed potatoes are not fresh (nor often hot), and one time I suspected I was given a less-than-fresh lobster. We believe that the worst visit was a result of early-bird syndrome: throw the oldies some leftovers from last night. Maybe. BUT, we figured out that if we visit at night, we will be treated to dancing drunken seniors and the CHEAPEST seafood meal around. I always get the whole Maine lobster and 50cent oysters. It's hit and miss, but when you hit, it's wonderful!
(3)
Donna U.
Have been coming here for years. The stuffed lobster was excellent however the service was HORRIBLE. Our waiter never identified himself. We had to get up and go to the lobby board because he never explained all of the specials only the very expensive ones. Had to ask about happy hour and if there was one? Then the topper was he was complaining to another server that the tip we left 15% was awful. Well against our better judgement for such poor service. Since we are here for a month still don't think we will be returning.
(3)
Cher W.
My husband and I went there for the first time yesterday. We were told what great lobster they have and music. The service was Terrible!! Waited a half hour before a waitress even asked if we needed anything... Ordered the Main Lobster. Very very tough. Not impressed. Music was very average. Atmosphere very nice and on the water. Would not recommend if you are seeking excellent service and food...
(2)
D.j. E.
This review is for the outdoor rooftop bar and not the restaurant itself. The Venue: When I'm over in the St. Pete area, I'm always looking for a bar with the best views so I can sit and drink a few cocktails and grab a bite to eat. Billy's has the best view's by far in my opinion. The outdoor bar faces west and is a perfect venue to catch the sunset and stare out over the aqua blue waters of the gulf. The crowd has a good mix of friendly locals and the bar staff is friendly enough. The Food: The food for me is hit and miss. Sometimes the oysters are top notch, sometimes not so much. I kind of wish the food manager would hook up with an Oyster supplier that was more consistent. Other than that, they've got decent appetizers. The Music: They have live acoustic music in the evenings, which is a huge plus. It makes for a great atmosphere. All things considered, I'm a huge fan of the location and bar. I could take or leave the food portion of the equation. We'll definitely be back. I recommend you go for a few cocktails just for the vistas.
(4)
Christine G.
Yikes. Ugh. Blah. Food was really bad. Got the fish tacos which were 2 nuggets of burnt fish over brown guacamole and topped with pre-packaged cheese shreds. In a tortilla. Our server was trying their best to make us happy, but they were understaffed and the food coming out of the kitchen was awful. However, their rooftop bar is a great place to get a drink, listen to some good music and catch a beautiful sunset. Avoid the food though!!
(2)
Albert P.
We were a little concerned after reading some of the reviews but decided to try it since we were staying nearby. The food was very good and so was the service. The view was very pretty and we got a window side table to watch the sun go down. The Stone Crabs were perfectly prepared and cracked. The cooked tomatoes were very good. The key lime pie was perfect. I would recommend this restaurant.
(3)
MaryEllen S.
Great view, food and service--everything we were looking for, plus good prices. We were thrilled to find a place we liked that wasn't a chain. Will definitely go back. Want to try the rooftop and listen to some music. Not sure what happened to the reviewers who gave low rating. Would encourage them to give it another try. Just too good to rule out.
(4)
Sherry J.
1st you need to make sure you get what you ordered, no french frys in the dipping sauce. 2nd, could someone please tell them that a mango salas is made with mangos, Not chunky Red salas with a few cubes of mango. Sam's Club & Publix sell a ready made Salas that's good. The stuff they serve is beyond bad, I guess no one there had to eat it.
(1)
Jessica B.
Very good Pina Colada and the grouper sandwich was super yummy!! Outstanding service by Matt!!
(4)
Katie H.
Billy's isn't fancy. It's an old wooden building on the Intercoastal with decor you might call "rustic" and servers who often seem better suited to working at a 24-7 truckstop. But what Billy's does have is great seafood. For the past two 4th of July weekends, my husband and I have gone to Tampa to see family, and after a great meal at Billy's last year, we insisted on coming back for our final lunch this year. It was just as good as I remembered. We started with the u-peel shrimp and a round of $1.99 margaritas. Then I went for the pound of snow crab - so sweet and succulent I didn't even need butter - while husband had the fried seabass (which he said wasn't as good as the crab). For an appetizer, 8 drinks, 2 pounds of crab the fried seabass and grouper sliders (all served with sides and salads) our part of four spent about $80, so Billy's is quite affordable as well. See you next year, Billy's!
(4)
Windsor H.
Excellent! We dined on a Friday night and food and service were both top notch. Super fresh fish (grouper and red snapper) sides, soups and salads were very good. I was in the seafood restaurant business and with a major seafood distributor and the meal tonight equals some of the best I've had. We will go back several times.
(5)
Rebecca H.
Billy's is fantastic Florida local restaurant. The food is great, as is the location, you can view the water while eating. The place is bursting with Florida charm (aka brightly colored decorations and fake fish hanging everywhere). The food is outstanding, this time we had the grouper and the Alaskan king crab, both were perfect. Billy's is worth seeing for the uniqueness and worth staying for the food.
(4)
Ian Y.
We stopped by this restaurant while on our way to Fort De Soto Park. It's "hidden" behind a strip mall/office building but it's a very quiet area. It was Sunday lunch and the place was relatively quiet, which was nice because the surrounding area was also peaceful. We had "one-pound: grouper sandwich, fried oysters among few items. I'm really not a fan of fried seafood but that's how it's being served in most restaurants around the area anyway, so there's no escape from that. At times it's hard to tell if the seafood is fresh all not after deep fried. Things came out OK and the price was reasonable. It's not stone crab season but I'd love to give it another shot next time I visit the area.
(3)
Lana A.
Location, atmosphere and service here are okay. Our party had mixed reviews about the food, though, resulting in the compromise of three stars instead of a lower or higher number. Kids meals are on the pricey side and do not include a beverage. The $1.99 margaritas are small and light on alcohol but otherwise okay. The fresh snapper was good and an order of (bay) scallops was okay, though the portions for both seemed small for the price. The shore platter got a "so-so" review. Another diner who ordered grouper reported that it tasted suspiciously like another fish variety and not real grouper. Everyone at the table thought the sides were rather lackluster, bordering on mediocre. We all thought it kind of chintzy for several pricey entrees not having anything but potato chips as a side unless we paid an upcharge for fries or slaw. We never were served any bread, so can't comment on that. In summary, if we were in the area again we'd probably look for a better place to spend our $$$.
(3)
barbara j.
Terrible food. Billy's should be ashamed to serve such slop to their guests. One star is way too many for this dump.
(1)
J D.
Every time I'm here and it's Stone Crab season, I come with relatives. Fun atmosphere and crab worth waiting for. Salads just ok, and coleslaw also. Nice fresh brown bread a good touch. Their fried stuff (ubiquitous in the Fla area) is fine. A very nice variety of fresh fish also. I always look forward to coming back each year!
(4)
Virginia G.
This place has been horrible since it's inception. )Perhaps because the founder was a raging alcoholic when he opened it.) Definitely a place for tourists. Too bad it's as bad as it is cause it could be a really nice spot. Seafood is subpar and tastes frozen , crab sticks to the shells, and of course is horribly over priced.
(2)
Evan D.
Had dinner on 8/8 which unfortunately was out of Stone Crab season. They do have a nightly all-you-can-eat steamed (shell on) shrimp served hot or cold which was appx $13 including salad and a side. Two of us got that and really enjoyed it, each round of shrimp looked to be about 1/2 lb and seasoned with something close to Old Bay. My girl got the broiled sea scallops (appx 8 of them) which were cooked perfectly and dressed with butter and the shrimp seasoning. I opted for the snow crab special which was appx $18 and included 2 lbs of steamed legs. This had to have been more than 2 lbs as I got somewhere around 6-8 full clusters of legs which were cooked PERFECTLY. Had maybe 2-3 legs total that stuck to the inside of the shell and only rarely dipped it into the melted butter (I would recommend their using the tea light holders that keep the butter warm and melted). Eventually the gf finished her dinner and assisted me in finishing off the plate. They also served $1.99 margaritas which everyone but me (DD) seemed to enjoy. Also one of the few restaurants that I've seen serve Florida Lobster in season. Full recommendation and I'll be heading back when the stone crabs do.
(5)
G S.
I've been to Billy's a few times. The last time I was there, I ordered crab cakes and they deep fried them. Anyone with any brains knows you shouldn't deep fry crab cakes. The crab cakes came out almost black and soaked with grease, It took forever (about three beers worth) to get our food and there weren't very many people there. Otherwise every time I've been there, the food was OK, but nothing to write home about. It's also a cougar hangout.
(2)
Steve R.
The clam chowder was the best I have had in FL. Had the grouper combo and it was just ok. Too much seasoning. Everyone else loved the stone crab claws! Very good service by a friendly and knowledgeable waitress (Jackie).
(3)
Suzanne S.
Not impressed. I was looking for a place to enjoy fresh Florida seafood. The stone crab claws were bland and the service was poor. Its really a shame because the location is nice. I can't recommend and I will not be back.
(1)
Whitney I.
Good service, great view, terrific food. Went here for lunch with the grandparents. I'm not usually one who likes seafood, but I got the stone crab and it was so good! I loved the fact that de-clawing the crab didn't kill it either--they get released and the claw grows back. The vibe and decor of the place seemed your typical nautical theme, but not tacky. Good place for lunch.
(4)
Norma F.
I have been to Billy's 3 or 4 times and have enjoyed to food each time. This trip I was so disappointed, the stone crab was stringy and expensive, the shrimp, scallop and grouper was tasteless. Everyone at the table felt the same way.
(1)
Todd H.
nice setting and nice restaurant but fish was dry and mash potatoes room temperature. Furniture could use de-greasing . Staff and service well done. Other people were happy with their stone crab and shrimp. Whatever you get make sure its fresh cooked right then.
(3)
Kim G.
I was exited to try this place but disappointed. My grouper was not cooked thoroughly and the crab cakes were fried and all filling, no meat.
(1)
Francisco S.
Great service however the food was so so. As an appetizer we had the fried calamari and it was very good however we had the lobster platter as second and it was overcooked with a terrible non fresh yellow rice side. The atmosphere is cool and the waitress was very attentive. Perhaps it was a bad night in the kitchen but I won't try to figure it out going for the second time :(
(2)
Kimmy S.
So, my bff & i decided to do a "tour" of places we rarely go and Billy's came to mind. I'd been here several years before, on more than one occasion, and always had good food and a good time. But the crowd seemed to be much older to me then, (well, I'm MUCH older now!), and I just "wasn't that into it". We hit the rooftop deck first, mainly because we were making a quick stop, and were pleasantly surprised to find awesome live music and a packed bar. The bar staff was friendly and quick to serve us and the crowd was lively and fun. The view can't be beat (YES, THERE ARE OTHER PLACES BESIDES CADDY'S TO GO FOR SUNSET) and the digs comfy and clean. I'll be going back soon. In fact, I'll make Billy's a staple from now on. Yeah, I may be kissin' 50 soon, but I still wanna have fun. Billy's offers a laid back, Florida atmosphere, with light hearted patrons who appreciate a gorgeous location, as well as good service and loads of fun. By the way, the food, I was told, is better than ever and I believe it! From the looks of what was being served, I betcha I could eat my way through the menu in a New York minute. Believe me, I WILL be eating here very soon!
(4)
Jorge G.
What a great place to finish a weeekend in theTampa St. Pete area. We found this place by accident. It has great food and is fairly priced. The view is beautiful. The house specialty is the Stone Crab (of course) but they also serve fresh grouper caught by local fishermen, also all shrimp they serve is caught not farm raised. I think you can;t go wrong if you want a typical Florida seafood place. I will difenitley come back when I go back to St. Petersburg,
(4)
chili d.
A mickey D's Filet O' fish is better......than the tiny, TERRIBLE, $20 grouper I had, it was dry as a bone... im not one to complain and yes I ate the whole TINY piece because I was starving after waiting so long for my food after being seated...after being seated about 18 inches from the people next to us that is.. I noticed the waitress (who was actually fairly nice) never asked "how was the food" or "did you enjoy the fish?" I think after reading the 2 to 1 good/bad reviews that they must have friends and employees posting to try and keep some business. the lot was fairly full so I don't know if maybe the burgers, chicken or something are good... im wary of the good reviews here on "yelp" cuz if you look on other "advisor" sites you see plenty of bad....be warned I spent $70 on a meal that was not worth $10. yuck.
(1)
Dennis M.
Damn good! I got the early bird fish fry with cajun shrimp and scallops and did not complain once about anything! the service was great and the boat ride was a trip. Im from NorCali and we dont have anything like that out here. Get there early for the the fish fry dinner and it will fill you up! Peace
(5)
Betsy P.
I've been going to Billy's forever. My grandfather was a snow bird and this was his favorite place in later years. Melissa was always so sweet to him and our family, even when he was cantankerous about his Jack Daniel's. We went back in the low season, but it was STONE CRAB SEASON! So it was wonderful. The salad is awesome, we always look foward to that, the molasses bread with honey butter, the view, and the atmosphere. This time, we also had a blast with the staff and enjoyed the crow's nest bar upstairs. One of our servers forgot an appetizer, but he did bring some key lime pie as a make-good. And I love key lime pie. Didn't give it 5 stars because one of the two nights we went there, one of the bartenders was kind of annoying and insulted one of my family members, but the rest of the staff was great.
(4)
Steve B.
We went here for dinner and the food and service was fantastic. The prices are reasonable and a perfect place for traditional seafood dishes.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jannine C.
Don't waste your money!,,,I'd really like an explanation from the manager as to why my husband and I were told that in a little while, 2 regular customers would be there and we were sitting in their spot!!! My husband asked what that was suppose to mean and our server said.. I was just told to tell you that and that they drop a lot of money when they come!!!! We debated about sitting in those seats until these regulars showed up but decided we didn't want to spend another dime in a place like that!! Ijust unbelievable and I'd really like to know how you get away with treating a customer so rudely, I'd love a response from the management . All I can say to any person thinking about going there... There are so many other great places in st Pete to go where they would never ever make a comment like that!!
(1)Rachel W.
Great crab. Always busy. The bread they give ya is DELICIOUS. we've gone as a family every year, and the wait staff can be better or worse. Definitely worth the drive.
(4)George B.
A friend who is a local suggested this place It was great! The staff is very friendly and the food was excellent and served promptly. Best of all it was very reasonable. This seems to be a local hangout for good reason. I was there for happy hour at the bar and I had three drinks and it was less than $9. Highly recommend this if you're going to eat in St Pete.
(5)John N.
Not impressed typical tourist food too much money to little food no taste I wouldn't recommend Billy's.
(1)Megan A.
We actually went here on a recommendation of a local. I was a bit nervous after reading the reviews on Yelp on our way over. I should have followed the reviews and found somewhere else to eat. The service was meh and the food wasn't good at all. Way over priced and not the quality you would expect from a place right on the water.
(2)Theresa H.
We went to Billy's, on a busy Saturday night. Despite being busy, we were welcomed and quickly seated in a booth next to the window. We watched a spectacular sunset and had a great view of the water. Our server wasn't the fastest but he was great and we could see that he was busy. Our food was excellent. We loved the Calamari! My grouper dinner was so big that I had plenty to take home. Yes, we would go there again.
(5)John R.
Been going to Billy's for the last year or two. Great atmosphere and the roof top bar is great for sunsets and live music! Billy's is not known for having the best seafood around but it is not bad. Most of the time when we go there we end up on roof top bar having a few drinks listening to music and eating a few appetizers. Definitely worth stopping by to check it out
(3)Rob R.
Cool location. Service was good, but I was not impressed with the fried shrimp nor conch fritters. Not sure about the stone crab - it didn't seem to have much flavor. The grouper sandwich was pretty good, but probably not worth a trip.
(2)Kelly W.
Found this place indirectly through yelp. We were headed to another place in front if this one, but noticed that this place is directly on the water so opted here. We headed straight up to their open air loft bar and settled in with a couple if drinks and the view. We ordered some peel n eats, 50 cent oysters and the smoked fish dip. All of which were good-the oysters were big and fresh and melted in my mouth. The shrimp were a bit dinky but seasoned well and only $8. The smoked dip was good but it was a pain having to open up each cracker wrapped in plastic. Out bartenders were nice and attentive, but the date on my Sam Adams beer had passed 3 months. Overall a solid place to get some very reasonably priced seafood with a view.
(3)Kelley K.
What is happening with Billy's? I used to go there a lot back in 2010, then moved away. I'm planning a trip back this year and was stunned to see a spate of bad reviews. I notice they all seemed to be from 2012-on. Did Billy's change hands? When I went, we got amazing $1.99 Margaritas and they sometimes had a $.99 fried fish lunch. That's right, 99 cents! And it was good. Often we'd go for happy hour and always enjoyed the atmosphere, drinks and lively crowd. My personal reason for only 4 stars is that I never found staff to be friendly. Like so many other beach places we go, staff make no effort to engage you. Your order is taken and your food/drink delivered, and that's it. A "Hi, how ya doing today" would go a long way. We went there easily 3-4 times a week, and not one staffer ever asked our names. And since we went in off season, it was obvious we we lived there, and weren't tourists. I would think they'd want to keep us coming back as regulars, but nope, I guess not. It's weird when you see the same bartender 3-4 times a week and they always look at you live you've never been there before. Other than that, I enjoyed Billy's but I'm nervous to try them now, after all the recent negative reviews.
(4)Jan S.
Food is decent, good variety, reasonable prices and lots of different entertainment. Piano bar, rock, country all in different rooms, dancing, drinking, good views, easy parking. Hard to find a decent place to dance anymore as a couple. Check this place out.
(3)Burr C.
Awful - just avoid. This is a convenient location with terrible food. Bar drinks are in tiny water glasses and the bartender had limited knowledge of drink recipes. The stone crab (their specialty) was overcooked and over priced. The vegetables were frozen and not fresh (I could taste the freezer burn). The kids chicken fingers were awful - my nephew wouldn't finish them. If I was the owner - I'd be embarrassed. Just keep driving and go elsewhere. This needs a visit from Gordon Ramsey.
(1)Stephanie T.
We just ordered appetizers and it took so long to get them that we didn't order anything else...the gator bites were horrible by the way but the waitress was super nice.
(1)michael s.
Sitting on the inter-coastal, Billy's is a slice of old Florida. The building is a rambling structure with a pseudo Victorian cupola. The staff is friendly and efficient; our waiter, Phil, was very informative about the menu and how Stone crab were harvested. We had the early bird special, my friend opting for crab stuffed Mahi Hahi and I, the seafood combo plate consisting of fried sea bass, scallops and six u-peel 'em shrimp. I also had six raw oysters and a cup of the 1958 Navy bean soup. Everything was pretty good..my frien's Mahi was a bit dry. But the best thing was the gigantic stone Crab claw, served warm with drawn butter. The butter wasn't real and to be honest, the crab meat was so sweet it didn't need anything on it. All in all, a very nice dining experience.
(4)Stephanie N.
This place wasn't terrible but it was certainly not the best. I went here for the 50 cent oysters which were pretty good but the service lacking. My friend had the fried clams but had to send them back since it was basically fried dough. We saw our waiter grab some of the fried clams to try and say that there was nothing wrong with them under his breath. Anyway, our server seemed in his own world and just dazed the entire time. They didn't even have a drink menu! Overall, my experience was MEH.
(2)Fritz E.
Seems like every other seafood restaurant - fried this, blackened that... Service was slow especially for a restaurant without much of a crowd at 1pm on a Sunday. The lobster meal seemed to lack, well, sides to actually make it a meal. Fresh oysters during happy hour seem like a deal at 50 cents each. Fried calamari was skimpy. The seafood platter seemed like the best deal with a great amount of food. The water view is nice but I might think twice about making a long drive just to eat here...if I lived in the area, I'd probably head there often for a beer & a dozen oyster while talking to people at the bar. The Margaritas are mix based and so so - just order tequila straight
(2)Jennifer M.
I'm sure this won't be a fair review since I only had two beers here, which were served in plastic cups...but they did offer me a koozie, which was a nice gesture. The roof top bar offered a nice view of the water and sunset and the two man band sang a bunch of cool songs. I'm told the food is very good, but on a Tuesday night I didn't see anyone dining there. Worth checking out if you like seafood. As a vegetarian, the menu stumped me and I would have been left with a house salad and onion rings, so I passed altogether.
(3)Antoinette S.
I LOVE BILLYS I've been to St Pete Beach about 8 times now and every time Billy's has been the destination restaurant. It never disappoints. The grouper is great no matter how you order it and the ambiance is even better. Billy's is a 3 story seafood establishment off the beaten path on a lagoon. If you're coming with the family you can sit quietly outdoors or indoors and get friendly service. If you're looking to get rowdy, you can sit at the rooftop bar and listen to accoustic covers or you can join the senior citizens on the first floor and bump and grind on the dance floor to live covers of Bruno Mars and Robin Thicke. The views are incredible. Great views of the water and sunset. There's also boat tours and a few docks where you can see some exotic birds and catch a glimpse of the manatees. If you're visiting Florida or looking to entertain guests, Billy's is the go to
(5)Jack S.
The location is supurb, right by the house, food was good, portions fair and good service. No more. I thought I'd give them yet another unearned chance. Big mistake, I asked for it and feel like a royal chump. Please, no one make this mistake too, I loved the Billy's of old but the portions, staffing (not all, some are good) and meals are crap. Sea bass wasn't sea bass before and now they stopped misrepresentating it, that's an improvement. Blackened grouper or carp was ctap. Never again. We had to ask for napkins, plates for our oyster shells...got one for the table..and finally got some beholden bread. Made up for the dry crap chicken breast to for my wife.
(1)Jason G.
We stopped into Billy's for a late lunch after a day at the beach. Our waiter, Stephen, was so lively and attentive. We had excellent service. Everything was fresh and well cooked. The prices were very fair. We will definitely come back here if we're in the area again.
(5)Warren R.
Made a trip here for lunch the other day, and I have to say, I was expecting more. It's located in Tierra Verde, on the water, naturally my expectations were lofty. The best thing about the atmosphere was that I could see the water from the window at my booth. Other than that, the building is a little run down, outdated, and not as clean as I would like. We started out with the bang bang grouper nuggets, and they were pretty tasty. I ordered off of their early dining menu (11:30 am - 6:00 pm) and went with Billy's Famous Shore Platter which consisted of sea bass, sea scallops, and peel and eat shrimp. You can choose broiled, blackened, or fried, I went with blackened. I had coleslaw and greens as my sides. The sea scallops were tasty, the peel and eat shrimp were fine, and the sea bass left much to be desired. The greens and coleslaw were both fine. For $11.95 the amount of food was a great value. I'm happy with the view, and the value. They serve up some average seafood and the interior needs a facelift. I guess I'm the most disappointed in the amount of potential this place has, and I feel they're squandering it.
(3)Lori L.
Being on the water definitely helps this place out with the multiple bars and views. We were on vacation visiting my Mom so we had to hit the early bird special...please shoot me now! Anyway, besides the flock of seniors clamoring for their discounted meals the food wasn't too bad. Because we arrived before 6pm my Mom made sure we ordered off the early menu (ugh!) There were a few options available. I choose the broiled mahi-mahi and my husband had the broiled shrimp. The food was decent but it was nothing that really stood out. I think it is pretty darn difficult to screw up the entrees we ordered. The salad that comes with the meal is okay but is iceberg lettuce so that takes down my rating. The $1.99 margarita isn't a bad deal but I would order something else if I ever returned. This is a restaurant that will never overwhelm you but it will provide decent food at reasonable prices. Don't expect to be blown away with any of their entrees. Personally I would come on a warm day and just have drinks on the water with a couple of appetizers.
(3)Matt M.
I liked my lunch just fine and the rest of my party did too. My dad had oysters and enjoyed them. My wife had the chicken sandwich and enjoyed it. My son loved his buttered noodles! My mom and aunt enjoyed their fish tacos. I had a Mahi Mahi sandwich fried and dipped in Buffalo sauce. So damn good. And the piece of fish came out larger than my hand and a good 1.5" larger than the bun! I woulda given it 5 stars, but the appetizer portions were way small compared to the price. 6 shrimp for $10. Hush puppies were good, but somewhat small and we got 7 I think. Better for 2 people, not 5. The inside seemed a little dated & dirty. Maybe that's par for the course for beachside large eateries, but it could be better. Friendly staff.
(4)Jason M.
Got the grouper bites and onion rings that were both solid. For the main dish I had a half rack of baby back ribs.... Brutal. Ribs were white underneath with a not good Bbq sauce on top. Don't pretend to do ribs if you can't. Wide had a Cuban that was average. Lots of Breyer choices in the area.
(2)Lola S.
If you're looking for a casual place to listen to some nice music, view a great sunset and chill while eating great seafood -( clam chowder is excellent!) --- well, just head here. Prices are not fast food but then neither are the offerings and size of the meals! I have never been disappointed and everytime I get company, we head to fort Desoto then here and have a great day all the way around!
(5)Pat B.
Took a chance and loved this place. Great casual hi top bar to watch sunset from. Live music, good drinks and fun vibe. Will be back.
(4)Shayla M.
We went here because we saw their ad in the TBT and we loveeee stone crab. The service was pretty lack-luster. We ordered baked oysters and ahi tuna for our appetizers. The ahi was very good but the oysters not so much, there was too much going on and you couldn't taste the oyster at all. The stone crab, however, was amazing and we'll definitely go back for just that!
(3)Customer Q.
I've had the opportunity to eat here several times with friends over the past year. Each time has been successively more disappointing. This review is based on my most recent visit. The pros: You can eat overlooking the water. The clientele is an eclectic mix that makes for interesting people-watching. The ceasar salad was quite good, and the steak fries were a nice change from the ubiquitous baked potato I see elsewhere. The cons: On a moderately busy (but not overly so) weekday evening, my party of three arrived at about 645 pm. We were seated in a darkish room practically on top of the live band, which was so loud we could not possibly speak to each other. There were empty tables in other rooms with a view of the water (our room did not have a water view). I ordered peel-and-eat shrimp. I would not say they were terrible, but I do wonder what other diners who have reviewed Billy's mean when they say "seasoning" because they were completely flavorless, and tasted neither like shrimp nor like any seasoning I know of. They were of average size. The only side they were served with was the steak fries (there were other options, but the dish only came with one side). I did not think it was worth the $11 price, even though there were 15 shrimp on the plate. The service was a bit slow and cursory, but since it was during tourist season, perhaps that is to be expected. The place seems to be a favorite with Canadians visiting St. Pete Beach during the winter. Even had the food been better, I'm not sure I would seek this place out again just because of the incredibly loud music. I'm a big fan of loud music, but 1) dinner is not the time for it; and 2) this music wasn't very good (lots of off-key singing).
(2)Raul M.
Grouper sandwiches had soggy bread. Oyster appetizer was $10.95 and had a very small portion. Not cool
(1)Sundi P.
Found this place while looking for another restaurant, but it was a good surprise. The food was good and we got to see the water. Food is quite pricey, but the grouper was great and the shrimp and scallops were good. We will be back. Nice place and great stop near Fort deSoto beach.
(4)Jay T.
These reviews don't give Billy's a fair reputation! I have visited a few times and really enjoyed myself each time. They have great 360° views at the rooftop bar, they open the windows when its nice! You could literally just kill a day sitting at this bar drinking $1.99 house margaritas! I went with a group of 4 and we decided to try a little bit of everything. We ordered the Ahi tuna, dang-bang grouper, jumbo pink shrimp, and coconut shrimp. None of it disappointed! We also enjoyed the clam chowder. This was a great way to spend an afternoon lunch with great food and a few good drinks! They are always attentive and welcoming at Billy's! Go and enjoy yourself!
(5)Tim T.
We called ahead to ask if there was a dress code, if we needed reservations and if there would be seating for sunset. Eric said no reservations but if we asked for him when we came in he would take care of us. Approximately an hour later we came in and asked for Eric. I asked if he remembered me. He said "no, you know how many calls I get, over a thousand." It made me feel embarrassed in front of my group. He acted like an arrogant jerk because he was unable to recall a call made just 45-60 minutes earlier. Clearly it must take years before this place gets a thousand calls as evidenced by the empty chairs. Our food was even worse. My sister got crab legs that were clearly bad. They smelled of ammonia. Most of our food was disappointing. The oysters were a joke, you needed a magnifying lens to see them. Final punch was our departure, Eric was sitting at the host stand, working on his fantasy football team. We paused to talk to him, he never got up or acknowledge us. Obviously he has better things to do. It was obvious this was just not a bad night for Eric, he considers this the way to run this restaurant. This restaurant must have seen better days. It was rundown, dirty and tired. So is the wait staff.
(1)Sheli M.
Took my husband out for his birthday dinner and I encouraged him to order the king crab although it was pretty pricy. The crab came out very dry and unlike any king crab I've ever had. It was overcooked and his "loaded" baked potato came dry with butter and sour cream on the side in little plastic containers. I had the crab stuffed Mahi and the sauce was tasteless as well as the fish. I couldn't even eat it. My side salad was good as the vinigarete dressing was tasty. The service was good. I don't recommend this restaurant.
(1)Patrick M.
Horrible! We were here for dinner I got the king crab which was very dry and almost cold to the touch. My wife got the Mahi which tasting like rubber. Would have almost had a fish sandwich from McDonald's! Over priced garbage.
(1)Mike S.
This restaurant used to be a solid 4 star. But portions are smaller and prices higher. They changed their Lunch menu and it is very, very weak. Rooftop bar is worth 4 stars because of good bartender & View. Have been eating here for 25 years. Very disappointed.
(2)Floyd S.
I was not impressed with the welcome or seating by the host and there seemed to be some discussion as to who my waitress/waiter would be. (Not sure what that was about) Since I got there around 6PM, I tried one of the 'Early Dining Specials'; Billy's Famous Shore Platter. All the items; the sea bass, sea scallops (broiled) & u-peel shrimp were seasoned just right and delicious. The coleslaw seemed fresh and the greens were not as seasoned but still tasty. I will return to try other entrees.
(3)Joseph K.
Ironically it's not easy to find fresh Gulf seafood places here on the Mid Florida gulf coast. I had relatives staying 2 weeks at Fort Desoto RV camping park so this was an ideal location to meet them. The restaurant is clean with local gulf coast decor, the place is huge with many rooms and a loft bar!? Which I didn't have a chance to check out. My blackened grouper sandwich was large and satisfying with one side of your choosing, I chose coleslaw. I prefer more blackened seasoning on my filet, and the bun was just cheap white bread. The peal eat shrimp were decent sized and seasoned with herbs. key lime pie slice was good. The service at happy hour was excellent and you can't beat $2 margaritas no matter how they taste. The service and location made this place and like I said it's hard to find good fresh Florida seafood. Not the best but if in area I would come here again.
(3)Paul L.
I've been to Billy's several times, only had terrible service once....avoid eating there from Feb to after Easter, it is just too crowded with tourists. The house salad is one of the stand out items, so is the fresh baked bread. Kind of expensive, so definitely not a place to go weekly.
(3)Brian K.
Love the setting and the location on the inlet. We go back on every visit as there are many positives with dinner here. Salad is best around and bread is wonderful. Need to come back in crab season to see the operation at its finest. Had the blackened grouper and that was my mistake. I like it extra blackened and that works for real blackening but not with creole mix being used. It came out super salty instead. Won't make that mistake next time as no one in area seems to know how to properly blacken fish. Will certainly return next visit. We like the simple preparation...no sauces or spcial coatings.
(3)D H.
I took friends from DC to dinner at Billy's on Friday night and the hostess took us to a table directly in front of loud live entertainment. I asked to move somewhere quieter and was met with a scowl from staff and then led to a nearly vacant dark section. I had Stone Crab claws, the mid-sized. They had a strong ammonia smell and when I asked the server to replace them, I was served some that were worse and way undersized. I told the server about this second batch and she actually took one from me, tasted it and told me it was OK ! My guests were amazed at this. I will never go back. Compared to other restaurants in the St. Pete area, Billy's doesn't deserve even one star. On the previous visit, we saw a rat running along the window sill inside the same dining area we were in on Friday. That should have been ample warning to not go back but I wanted to give them a try. My prediction is that the place will close. And it should.
(1)Zubey L.
apps were amazing..... got the pollock fish fry... it was very good... wife got the fish stuffed with crab cakes... eh.. not very good.. the fish and the crab cakes were good.. BUT not together.. .... her drink.. not very good.. was barely any alcohol in it. probably won't be back except for apps and drinks.
(3)Sharyn J.
Great navy bean soup and house salad. Vegetable medley was soggy and cold so I sent it back for mashed potato which were real and very good. I'm not a seafood person but hubby loves the Maine lobster and pretty good chowder.
(4)Rob W.
I have always just loved the building and the location, but the food, not so much. They just have always seemed to under deliver every time I have been here.
(2)Scott C.
I get the feeling this place excels at their crab, but struggles at everything else--sadly I visited 2 weeks before crab season. :( The atmosphere is what it is. That's not to say it's necessarily bad, but you know how how a big chain seafood place tries to emulate that authentic crab shack feel!? Well, this is what they try to emulate. The staff was friendly enough, though I did have to ask about the specials instead of being offered them. And we weren't told it was "happy hour" and what that entailed (spoiler: weak drinks in small glasses). Somehow the kitchen "didn't get" our kids' pizza order, so we were all eating while they scrambled to whip up some kids pizzas (which turned out to be something akin to tomato sauce and cheese spread on an English muffin). The half lobster was pretty sad; it was a shell stuffed with minced crab meat (tail and claw were lobster though). And the peel & eat shrimp were warmed over with some seasoning salt spread on top well after cooking (the flavour did not go beyond the shell). All in all, I wish we had gone back to a place we already knew for our final night on vacation. :(
(1)Liz C.
Pros: great location with beautiful views. Cons: the food. I ordered the stuffed lobster - it had a thick coating of old bay spicy seasoning crusted on the lobster and crab making it inedible. My boyfriend ordered the Chilean sea bass which was not cooked. The steak fries are not French fries but rather deep fries potato quarters. Yuck. My daughter had the snow crab which she said was very good. The salad was also good. The bahama mama drink was also awful. I rarely give a bad review. We won't be back.
(1)Ross M.
Food was great, very fresh grouper and mahi.
(5)Ricardo O.
Went here with my parents, everything was terrible except for the server. Almost like she was embarrassed serving us the crappy food coming out of the kitchen! The "mango salsa" on top of my wife's fish was Pace Picante with 2 small slices of mango thrown in. WAY too expensive for the low quality of food that was served. Pretty sad, this place used to be good.
(1)Mary C.
We had a great time with friends at Billy's! My scallops were very good. I ordered a side salad and never got it. The mahi mahi was very good too. The ambiance was nice. The female hostess was very, very nice. She got us the best table to see the sunset and then part of our party got there late so we missed it - felt bad!
(4)Nancy L.
We have been eating at Billy's for over 10 years each Christmas season when we visit Tierre Verde. The last 2 years, the quality has definitely gone down. We had the calamari, way over cooked, Maine lobster, which was ok, but the collard greens, baked potato and green beans were all poor quality and seemed to have been sitting all day in a warmer. We have fond memories with family eating there but won't be back. Service was good. Thus, the 2 stars.
(2)Rachel C.
We went to Billy's on a Wednesday night. It was quiet and uneventful. The decor is typical seafood restaurant. Our server was friendly and knowledgable. The food was decent regarding taste, price and portion. Only downside in our average, typical dinner was that they only offer the pink sweetener and the chicken fingers ordered for the kids tasted a little fishy (I assume they fry it in the same oil as the fish).
(3)Bryan M.
The best thing to do is sit on their rooftop bar and eat some appetizers and drink some alcohol. Between the live music and the $1.99 margaritas, you cannot go wrong here! Highly recommend this place to take a load off at the end of a long beach day!
(5)Karen H.
This place has a little bit for everyone with several different areas of the restaurant for seating. A great view from almost anywhere. The food was ok. Nothing really jumped out at us as being delicious but the prices were reasonable and presentation was nice. I think the rooftop bar would have been the most fun if our daughter wasn't with us so we might go back and try that. Also, it seemed there was friendlier and better service in the actual restaurant but we chose the sports bar area for the open air view. Hope more people can give more reviews so if we go back we will know what to eat! Give it a try and tell us what you think!
(3)Jenna W.
Loved the atmosphere of this place. The rooftop bar is beautiful right over the water. Everyone there seemed nice and our bartender made some great drinks. My boyfriend ordered a coconut shrimp and he loved it. I never ate but I wasn't too impressed with the menu, wasn't too much variety. But we will definitely be coming back to try more next time we are in town.
(3)Lloyd T.
Went with a friend who had recently dined here and raved about it. Got the grouper and shrimp special luncheon, $12.95. APPALLING! I wish I had taken a photo of how small this portion of fish was -- truly, it was about 2/3 smaller than what I would have expected for the price. And it was overcooked, and honestly, I suspect it wasn't grouper. If it was, it had the life grilled out of it. If I hadn't been catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and didn't want to make a scene, I'd have sent this back for sure. I suggest you do the same if this happens to you. Oh, the shrimp? Why, glad you asked - 3, count 'em, THREE, barely medium sized shrimp, seemed frozen, and grilled to the point of being almost tough. The nerve! How did Billy's justify charging this price? Why, the tourists will be fooled when a big plate shows up which is EASILY 90 percent filled up with french fries. An aside: I recalled near the end of lunch that I actually ordered it blackened - even made a big deal of asking the waitress which she would recommend, and she said blackened - and it didn't come this way. All around, I got the impression that no one gave a crap whether you ever came back. For an appetizer we got raw oysters for 50 cents apiece. These were the most anemic oysters I've ever seen -- truly, several of them I wondered, had these scrawny things already been forked out of their shell? You get what you pay for - actually, much less, at Billy's. I lived in St. Pete for 14 years and visited this place a number of times and found it to be a bit of a tourist trap, like 90% of seafood restaurants in Tampa Bay, they figure you are a tourist and just passing through so why not screw you over. This repeat visit turned out to confirm that this attitude has not changed. OK location on the water (though you probably will be looking at a ditch or marina and not the Gulf or intracoastal).
(1)Sarah P.
This place passes the double test! We've been here twice and will continue to eat here. The first time, we waited so long for service that we almost left. We learned that the hostess didn't bother to alert any servers. No biggie. She was the worst part of the whole evening, because after we were served, it was smooth sailing from then on. The place was comfortably busy for being so late, the seafood was excellent, and the prices were very competitive for such quality. This place doesn't come off as campy or chain-like, as the name might imply. We just brought friends back here, and we are so glad we did. Prompt service, busy but not crowded, friendly, great food with smart portions (not huge; not tiny), and really great prices. Market price for a whole maine lobster was 9.95, and the vodka with tonic was just right. Thank you so much for a consistently great experience! UPDATE: I can understand why some people hate this place. If you're seated in the walkway area, you will smell the kitchen and sit under mold-riddled curtains. The kitchen piled ice on TOP of the oysters...what? Has the prep worker ever eaten one? Service is interesting, in that the last time we went, we didn't know which of the two people was actually assigned to our table. The mashed potatoes are not fresh (nor often hot), and one time I suspected I was given a less-than-fresh lobster. We believe that the worst visit was a result of early-bird syndrome: throw the oldies some leftovers from last night. Maybe. BUT, we figured out that if we visit at night, we will be treated to dancing drunken seniors and the CHEAPEST seafood meal around. I always get the whole Maine lobster and 50cent oysters. It's hit and miss, but when you hit, it's wonderful!
(3)Donna U.
Have been coming here for years. The stuffed lobster was excellent however the service was HORRIBLE. Our waiter never identified himself. We had to get up and go to the lobby board because he never explained all of the specials only the very expensive ones. Had to ask about happy hour and if there was one? Then the topper was he was complaining to another server that the tip we left 15% was awful. Well against our better judgement for such poor service. Since we are here for a month still don't think we will be returning.
(3)Cher W.
My husband and I went there for the first time yesterday. We were told what great lobster they have and music. The service was Terrible!! Waited a half hour before a waitress even asked if we needed anything... Ordered the Main Lobster. Very very tough. Not impressed. Music was very average. Atmosphere very nice and on the water. Would not recommend if you are seeking excellent service and food...
(2)D.j. E.
This review is for the outdoor rooftop bar and not the restaurant itself. The Venue: When I'm over in the St. Pete area, I'm always looking for a bar with the best views so I can sit and drink a few cocktails and grab a bite to eat. Billy's has the best view's by far in my opinion. The outdoor bar faces west and is a perfect venue to catch the sunset and stare out over the aqua blue waters of the gulf. The crowd has a good mix of friendly locals and the bar staff is friendly enough. The Food: The food for me is hit and miss. Sometimes the oysters are top notch, sometimes not so much. I kind of wish the food manager would hook up with an Oyster supplier that was more consistent. Other than that, they've got decent appetizers. The Music: They have live acoustic music in the evenings, which is a huge plus. It makes for a great atmosphere. All things considered, I'm a huge fan of the location and bar. I could take or leave the food portion of the equation. We'll definitely be back. I recommend you go for a few cocktails just for the vistas.
(4)Christine G.
Yikes. Ugh. Blah. Food was really bad. Got the fish tacos which were 2 nuggets of burnt fish over brown guacamole and topped with pre-packaged cheese shreds. In a tortilla. Our server was trying their best to make us happy, but they were understaffed and the food coming out of the kitchen was awful. However, their rooftop bar is a great place to get a drink, listen to some good music and catch a beautiful sunset. Avoid the food though!!
(2)Albert P.
We were a little concerned after reading some of the reviews but decided to try it since we were staying nearby. The food was very good and so was the service. The view was very pretty and we got a window side table to watch the sun go down. The Stone Crabs were perfectly prepared and cracked. The cooked tomatoes were very good. The key lime pie was perfect. I would recommend this restaurant.
(3)MaryEllen S.
Great view, food and service--everything we were looking for, plus good prices. We were thrilled to find a place we liked that wasn't a chain. Will definitely go back. Want to try the rooftop and listen to some music. Not sure what happened to the reviewers who gave low rating. Would encourage them to give it another try. Just too good to rule out.
(4)Sherry J.
1st you need to make sure you get what you ordered, no french frys in the dipping sauce. 2nd, could someone please tell them that a mango salas is made with mangos, Not chunky Red salas with a few cubes of mango. Sam's Club & Publix sell a ready made Salas that's good. The stuff they serve is beyond bad, I guess no one there had to eat it.
(1)Jessica B.
Very good Pina Colada and the grouper sandwich was super yummy!! Outstanding service by Matt!!
(4)Katie H.
Billy's isn't fancy. It's an old wooden building on the Intercoastal with decor you might call "rustic" and servers who often seem better suited to working at a 24-7 truckstop. But what Billy's does have is great seafood. For the past two 4th of July weekends, my husband and I have gone to Tampa to see family, and after a great meal at Billy's last year, we insisted on coming back for our final lunch this year. It was just as good as I remembered. We started with the u-peel shrimp and a round of $1.99 margaritas. Then I went for the pound of snow crab - so sweet and succulent I didn't even need butter - while husband had the fried seabass (which he said wasn't as good as the crab). For an appetizer, 8 drinks, 2 pounds of crab the fried seabass and grouper sliders (all served with sides and salads) our part of four spent about $80, so Billy's is quite affordable as well. See you next year, Billy's!
(4)Windsor H.
Excellent! We dined on a Friday night and food and service were both top notch. Super fresh fish (grouper and red snapper) sides, soups and salads were very good. I was in the seafood restaurant business and with a major seafood distributor and the meal tonight equals some of the best I've had. We will go back several times.
(5)Rebecca H.
Billy's is fantastic Florida local restaurant. The food is great, as is the location, you can view the water while eating. The place is bursting with Florida charm (aka brightly colored decorations and fake fish hanging everywhere). The food is outstanding, this time we had the grouper and the Alaskan king crab, both were perfect. Billy's is worth seeing for the uniqueness and worth staying for the food.
(4)Ian Y.
We stopped by this restaurant while on our way to Fort De Soto Park. It's "hidden" behind a strip mall/office building but it's a very quiet area. It was Sunday lunch and the place was relatively quiet, which was nice because the surrounding area was also peaceful. We had "one-pound: grouper sandwich, fried oysters among few items. I'm really not a fan of fried seafood but that's how it's being served in most restaurants around the area anyway, so there's no escape from that. At times it's hard to tell if the seafood is fresh all not after deep fried. Things came out OK and the price was reasonable. It's not stone crab season but I'd love to give it another shot next time I visit the area.
(3)Lana A.
Location, atmosphere and service here are okay. Our party had mixed reviews about the food, though, resulting in the compromise of three stars instead of a lower or higher number. Kids meals are on the pricey side and do not include a beverage. The $1.99 margaritas are small and light on alcohol but otherwise okay. The fresh snapper was good and an order of (bay) scallops was okay, though the portions for both seemed small for the price. The shore platter got a "so-so" review. Another diner who ordered grouper reported that it tasted suspiciously like another fish variety and not real grouper. Everyone at the table thought the sides were rather lackluster, bordering on mediocre. We all thought it kind of chintzy for several pricey entrees not having anything but potato chips as a side unless we paid an upcharge for fries or slaw. We never were served any bread, so can't comment on that. In summary, if we were in the area again we'd probably look for a better place to spend our $$$.
(3)barbara j.
Terrible food. Billy's should be ashamed to serve such slop to their guests. One star is way too many for this dump.
(1)J D.
Every time I'm here and it's Stone Crab season, I come with relatives. Fun atmosphere and crab worth waiting for. Salads just ok, and coleslaw also. Nice fresh brown bread a good touch. Their fried stuff (ubiquitous in the Fla area) is fine. A very nice variety of fresh fish also. I always look forward to coming back each year!
(4)Virginia G.
This place has been horrible since it's inception. )Perhaps because the founder was a raging alcoholic when he opened it.) Definitely a place for tourists. Too bad it's as bad as it is cause it could be a really nice spot. Seafood is subpar and tastes frozen , crab sticks to the shells, and of course is horribly over priced.
(2)Evan D.
Had dinner on 8/8 which unfortunately was out of Stone Crab season. They do have a nightly all-you-can-eat steamed (shell on) shrimp served hot or cold which was appx $13 including salad and a side. Two of us got that and really enjoyed it, each round of shrimp looked to be about 1/2 lb and seasoned with something close to Old Bay. My girl got the broiled sea scallops (appx 8 of them) which were cooked perfectly and dressed with butter and the shrimp seasoning. I opted for the snow crab special which was appx $18 and included 2 lbs of steamed legs. This had to have been more than 2 lbs as I got somewhere around 6-8 full clusters of legs which were cooked PERFECTLY. Had maybe 2-3 legs total that stuck to the inside of the shell and only rarely dipped it into the melted butter (I would recommend their using the tea light holders that keep the butter warm and melted). Eventually the gf finished her dinner and assisted me in finishing off the plate. They also served $1.99 margaritas which everyone but me (DD) seemed to enjoy. Also one of the few restaurants that I've seen serve Florida Lobster in season. Full recommendation and I'll be heading back when the stone crabs do.
(5)G S.
I've been to Billy's a few times. The last time I was there, I ordered crab cakes and they deep fried them. Anyone with any brains knows you shouldn't deep fry crab cakes. The crab cakes came out almost black and soaked with grease, It took forever (about three beers worth) to get our food and there weren't very many people there. Otherwise every time I've been there, the food was OK, but nothing to write home about. It's also a cougar hangout.
(2)Steve R.
The clam chowder was the best I have had in FL. Had the grouper combo and it was just ok. Too much seasoning. Everyone else loved the stone crab claws! Very good service by a friendly and knowledgeable waitress (Jackie).
(3)Suzanne S.
Not impressed. I was looking for a place to enjoy fresh Florida seafood. The stone crab claws were bland and the service was poor. Its really a shame because the location is nice. I can't recommend and I will not be back.
(1)Whitney I.
Good service, great view, terrific food. Went here for lunch with the grandparents. I'm not usually one who likes seafood, but I got the stone crab and it was so good! I loved the fact that de-clawing the crab didn't kill it either--they get released and the claw grows back. The vibe and decor of the place seemed your typical nautical theme, but not tacky. Good place for lunch.
(4)Norma F.
I have been to Billy's 3 or 4 times and have enjoyed to food each time. This trip I was so disappointed, the stone crab was stringy and expensive, the shrimp, scallop and grouper was tasteless. Everyone at the table felt the same way.
(1)Todd H.
nice setting and nice restaurant but fish was dry and mash potatoes room temperature. Furniture could use de-greasing . Staff and service well done. Other people were happy with their stone crab and shrimp. Whatever you get make sure its fresh cooked right then.
(3)Kim G.
I was exited to try this place but disappointed. My grouper was not cooked thoroughly and the crab cakes were fried and all filling, no meat.
(1)Francisco S.
Great service however the food was so so. As an appetizer we had the fried calamari and it was very good however we had the lobster platter as second and it was overcooked with a terrible non fresh yellow rice side. The atmosphere is cool and the waitress was very attentive. Perhaps it was a bad night in the kitchen but I won't try to figure it out going for the second time :(
(2)Kimmy S.
So, my bff & i decided to do a "tour" of places we rarely go and Billy's came to mind. I'd been here several years before, on more than one occasion, and always had good food and a good time. But the crowd seemed to be much older to me then, (well, I'm MUCH older now!), and I just "wasn't that into it". We hit the rooftop deck first, mainly because we were making a quick stop, and were pleasantly surprised to find awesome live music and a packed bar. The bar staff was friendly and quick to serve us and the crowd was lively and fun. The view can't be beat (YES, THERE ARE OTHER PLACES BESIDES CADDY'S TO GO FOR SUNSET) and the digs comfy and clean. I'll be going back soon. In fact, I'll make Billy's a staple from now on. Yeah, I may be kissin' 50 soon, but I still wanna have fun. Billy's offers a laid back, Florida atmosphere, with light hearted patrons who appreciate a gorgeous location, as well as good service and loads of fun. By the way, the food, I was told, is better than ever and I believe it! From the looks of what was being served, I betcha I could eat my way through the menu in a New York minute. Believe me, I WILL be eating here very soon!
(4)Jorge G.
What a great place to finish a weeekend in theTampa St. Pete area. We found this place by accident. It has great food and is fairly priced. The view is beautiful. The house specialty is the Stone Crab (of course) but they also serve fresh grouper caught by local fishermen, also all shrimp they serve is caught not farm raised. I think you can;t go wrong if you want a typical Florida seafood place. I will difenitley come back when I go back to St. Petersburg,
(4)chili d.
A mickey D's Filet O' fish is better......than the tiny, TERRIBLE, $20 grouper I had, it was dry as a bone... im not one to complain and yes I ate the whole TINY piece because I was starving after waiting so long for my food after being seated...after being seated about 18 inches from the people next to us that is.. I noticed the waitress (who was actually fairly nice) never asked "how was the food" or "did you enjoy the fish?" I think after reading the 2 to 1 good/bad reviews that they must have friends and employees posting to try and keep some business. the lot was fairly full so I don't know if maybe the burgers, chicken or something are good... im wary of the good reviews here on "yelp" cuz if you look on other "advisor" sites you see plenty of bad....be warned I spent $70 on a meal that was not worth $10. yuck.
(1)Dennis M.
Damn good! I got the early bird fish fry with cajun shrimp and scallops and did not complain once about anything! the service was great and the boat ride was a trip. Im from NorCali and we dont have anything like that out here. Get there early for the the fish fry dinner and it will fill you up! Peace
(5)Betsy P.
I've been going to Billy's forever. My grandfather was a snow bird and this was his favorite place in later years. Melissa was always so sweet to him and our family, even when he was cantankerous about his Jack Daniel's. We went back in the low season, but it was STONE CRAB SEASON! So it was wonderful. The salad is awesome, we always look foward to that, the molasses bread with honey butter, the view, and the atmosphere. This time, we also had a blast with the staff and enjoyed the crow's nest bar upstairs. One of our servers forgot an appetizer, but he did bring some key lime pie as a make-good. And I love key lime pie. Didn't give it 5 stars because one of the two nights we went there, one of the bartenders was kind of annoying and insulted one of my family members, but the rest of the staff was great.
(4)Steve B.
We went here for dinner and the food and service was fantastic. The prices are reasonable and a perfect place for traditional seafood dishes.
(4)