My wife and I took a visiting sensei Japan and associate from Japan to dinner and despite the fact that we didn't get there till about an hour before closing the service was good and the food even better. We started out with calimari and raw oyster appetizer, both which were great. I had the tamari tuna which was perfectly brazed on the outside but raw on the inside just the way it is supposed to be done. My Japanese friends each had lobster and they thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife had another fish ( I forget it if was salmon or something else) and she enjoyed her meal as well. We had drinks and talked to past closing (without realizing it) but the service staff was not pushy or upset about it. The only thing I wish they had was some good sake to go with the tuna. All in all it was a very good meal, probably the best seafood I have had in the RTP area and we will definitely go again some time.
(4)
Laura W.
I got the impression from eating at Squid's that it is suffering from an identity crisis - it appeared to attempt a down-east NC fresh seafood restaurant, while at the same time striving for something more upscale and less authentic. The food was average.
(2)
Marinna M.
Mom's favorite for oysters. Mine for squid rings. Still great after all these years.
(4)
William J.
Oh, man, I completely forgot about this place. What's up with that? I mean, I suppose it makes sense, being as tucked away as it is (it's not often you see a roadside restaurant with no apparent road to get there). I've eaten here only a couple of times. The food has mostly been good, though nothing incredible. They do an excellent job with their crab, though, particularly the crab cakes. I believe it was also a crab ravioli that my mom ordered that was delicious also. The fish and the shrimp barely reached par but... yeah, go for the crab. As Chapel Hill restaurants go this one is really popular with the non-college set, so be prepared to deal with noisy kids and such.
(3)
Jake S.
Squid's is a rare inland North Carolina restaurant offering fresh, not all fried seafood. Nestled just off of the busy 15-501 in Chapel Hill, Squid's is a bit off of the beaten path as far as Chapel Hill restaurants go, but is definitely worth trying. Squid's offers a great variety of fish. I really enjoy their Japanese inspired tuna dish. They have some great rotating specials that are fun and inventive. The restaurant also has a great, lively bar area that attracts an older crowd, but stays busy. The place is upscale and stays quite busy. Service is very good and you'd be hard-pressed to find better seafood in Chapel Hill.
(4)
Henry S.
Having lived on some sort of coast all of my life except for my tenure in college, I've always had a ton of great seafood places at my disposal. In the Raleigh/Durham area, good seafood is hard to find though, and someone suggested Squid's to me. I went with high hopes, but left slightly underwhelmed. I guess being one of the only options for seafood in the area wins Squid's points, but overall I wasn't that impressed by the food. I probably could have bought the crab and steamed it myself and had just as good of a meal. On the bright side, the staff was great and the location is kind of cool, but Squid's was not the most impressive seafood I've had.
(3)
Steve G.
So I honestly wish zero stars was an option. I went here with my wife and our 2 daughters, ages sixteen and twenty two. The place was not that busy, yet they couldn't seem to find time to so much as refill our waters. After about twenty minutes of neglect, I finally asked for a manager. The manager, Tom Herzog, was to put it bluntly, an idiot, who didn't really fix the problem but made excuses and seemed to get irritated that I was politely asking for better service. NONE of the vegetables were fresh, the shrimp was not deveined, the chicken was overcooked, the mahi tasted like it was microwaved, and the tilapia tasted like it came out of a tv dinner box...To top it all off, at the end of our extraordinarily overpriced sub-par meal, as my two daughters were waiting outside by the car, they were sexually harassed by two Hispanic men that worked in the kitchen that were outside smoking and drinking beers during their shift, and they decided to shout lewd and sexually inappropriate things at my children, one of which is A MINOR. Are these people serious?????? I went inside and complained to the manager, Tom Herzog, and his solution was going in the back for five minutes, coming out and saying, "Yeah so I talked to the employees and they said they're sorry, and that it was a misunderstanding. This won't happen again, I hope you guys have a good night" SERIOUSLY??????? I am absolutely appalled and I am NEVER going here again. They need to close this place down, a few months back there was a supposed sexual harassment scandal within the business and I saw a young man protesting outside of the restaurant with a sign that read: "DO NOT EAT HERE- THEY SEXUALLY HARASS WOMEN!" Initially I thought it was just a disgruntled customer or spouse of an employee. Now I understand that this is a scummy establishment with bad food and ZERO respect for its customers and employees. Never again. I do not go spend my hard earned money for my children to be made uncomfortable. These people make me sick.
(1)
Steve S.
Very pleasant dinner, attentive staff, excellent seafood. We'll be back.
(4)
Stephanie W.
I'm in town on business, and my colleagues brought me to Squids for dinner. The appetizers were good (hush puppies, buffalo shrimp & calamari), my wine was excellent (Chardonney) and the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia with veggies knocked my socks off. There was probably an entire stick of butter in my dish - but the fish was moist and fresh, the vegetables seemed to be straight from the farm, and the service was wonderful. I was very impressed!
(4)
Andrew B.
When I first came to the triangle, around 12 years ago, Squid's was the place to go for good seafood that doesn't come out of a fryer (although they have excellent fried seafood). Their consistency over the years boggles my mind. If you are looking for great seafood in the Triangle, this is your best bet, outside of a drive to the coast. Their specials are excellent and I'm a fan of the Trout Modena. Jamie is always available if you have any questions or concerns and makes a point to take care of his customers.
(5)
Lee H.
Last 3 dinners, I tried three different entrees and wasn't let down. Good crab cakes. On occasion you might have to wait for seating during peak hours, but we've found the waits here to be comparatively short.
(4)
Kaitlyn L.
i've had dinner here once and the food was forgettable. however the happy hour oysters are splendid!
(5)
Lisa W.
I'm from Seattle (the mecca for great salmon/seafood) and have found it really hard to find some great seafood here in the Chapel Hill area that isn't deep fried beyond recognition but was pleasantly surprised at Squids. The menu, while including some fried options, has a great selection of sophisticated yet unpretentious dishes that will cater to anyone looking for spot on seafood. I had the Tamari Tuna that was impeccably grilled to a med rare, the asian slaw was light and super flavorful and the basmati rice done to perfection. A nice glass of wine and I was in my happy place! My dinner companion had the grilled shrimp with lemon risotto cake that was flawless as well. Finally a restaurant that has restored my faith in NC seafood. I was beginning to wonder if all the talk about a coastline was just a rumor. Service was friendly, fast and not overbearing and the prices are what I would expect for a nice dinner .... oh and did I mention casual dinning atmosphere. I love that I can eat well in my comfortable shoes ... woo hooo.
(5)
Caroline Z.
I'm not a big seafood person, but Squid's has always been popular with my friends when they were having shrimp or crab cake cravings. It's a nice, notch-above casual seafood place; we don't have too many others like this in Chapel Hill. If you're craving the fried stuff (with the obligatory fries and cole slaw) they have it, but if you were leaning more towards seafood pasta or grilled/seared dishes, you can give your arteries a break and get those kinds of meals as well. Plus, if you're like me and you don't really like fish, I know of at least 1 pasta dish on the menu that they'll make for you with chicken instead. This is a pretty popular place, so chances are you'll spend some time waiting in the bar area, which is not such a bad place to be either, come to think of it - a fair amount of beer and wine to pick from. Win-win situation.
(4)
Kyle P.
If your in the mood for fried seafood in the triangle area, this is the place for you. Wonderful squid rings, and great crab cakes. However it can get quite crowded during peak dinner times, and they do not take reservations so either come early or late.
(4)
Tori H.
Overrrrrpriced! The service was very good and deserving of a star. Shrimp and fries were $13 and I could have had better shrimp from a frozen TV dinner. Fries were like McDonalds. My husbands tilapia was decent but small and like $15. Ridiculously priced. I know what you're thinking.. "hey that's not fair, you had shrimp, nothing special" well uh, let me tell you, I've had some epic tasting shrimp. The stuff you get in the grocery store may even be deveined - this is not. GAG. Yum shrimp poop!!!
(1)
Jamie S.
Head to the front area of the bar (by the windows), order a peck of oysters with tabasco, lemon wedges, and melted butter...and enjoy. Some steamed items are only available at the bar... Steamed oysters and clams done as you order them and served fast. It's a great place to just hang out and place orders things in the direction your hunger and interests take you. The staff here is seriously talented on the steamer. If you like fresh steamed seafood, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Justin N.
I think Squid's is the best seafood dining experience in Chapel Hill. It is no wonder why this place is so popular always has a crowd. The food is wonderful. The service is great. They even have great desserts and coffee; if you have saved any room for that. If you love seafood and want a great dining experience, check out Squid's. It's also a good environment for both dates and families.
We went to Squids on Memorial Day. My In-Laws were treating my 7 year old son to a Lobster dinner. He earned for doing so well in school. On Monday nights they have a lobster dinner special 25% off. Everyone enjoyed there dinner. I had a steak at a seafood place. But they steak was cooked great, perfect medium rare, seasoned very nicely. The free basket of hush puppies are always a hit. We will return again! Nice family run place that has not changed in the last 10 years. Same great food, nice cordial staff, clean restaurant and very reasonable prices. We live over an hour away otherwise we would go at least once a month or more.
(4)
Sean S.
Came 15 minutes before they closed. No issue, waitress was very polite and the food was excellent. My girlfriend had a martini that wasn't very good but nevertheless this is a solid sea food place that any seafood lover should try in Chapel Hill.
(4)
Lisa T.
Great experience!!! Oysters were amazing, and 1/2 off!! Can't beat that. They were large in size and came with all the bells and whistles (ie: crackers, horsey,cocktail,hot sauce). Service was wonderful. Truly a seafood must!!! My only recommendation for them.... Branch out make a little seafood market if you get your stuff fresh. That's really what I went there thinking it was. A market. LOL. A pleasant surprise.
(4)
Adam S.
We were here staying at a nearby inn and decided to try a Squid's on the recommendation of the front desk clerk. We were pleasantly surprised. My wife had crab cakes which were perfectly seasoned. I had the fried shrimp and scallops combo. I've never had fried scallops cooked so perfectly they are usually at least a little bit chewy but here even though they were battered and deep fried they were still melt in your mouth. Fantastic server as well who was always there when we needed her but didnt hover. Great!
(5)
Mary M.
My husband, who is VERY particular about his food, and I have gone four times now, and each time have been very pleased with our dinners. This time around we shared the fried oyster caesar salad and my husband was thrilled with the quality of both the oysters and the freshness of the romaine lettuce. I had a wonderful 1-1/2 lb. lobster ($37), and my husband had the grouper special ($27) - both great, and on the higher side price-wise. Most dinner are ~$18. I'm not a fan of potatoes with fish, so I substituted the basmati rice, which was super. Veggies are fresh and well prepared with some crunch, which is how I like them. Wine list is good - all the wines have been perfect with our meals. Many are under $25/bottle. Past dinners we have had the crab cakes - one was sufficient, pan seared salmon, tilapia filet, fried shrimp- all have been excellent. The bar area, which opens at 4pm, looks like a lot of fun and we plan to come for a few drinks and some appetizers. It is very obvious that the owner's care a great deal about the food, service, cleanliness, etc. as everything is done well, with attention to detail. Kudos to the kitchen and wait staff for making each time a great dining experience! My only wish is that they were open for lunch on the weekends.....
(4)
Heather H.
perfectly fine seafood restaurant. crowd was comprised mostly of families and older folks. nice selection in menu.
(3)
John S.
Tops for seafood in the Triangle. Pig out on raw or steamed oysters at the oyster bar for half price. A chapel hill institution. Come early on weekends since it gets crowded
(4)
Matthew P.
I was there at 4 o'clock for the raw bar early opening half price or Easters on the half shell. It was a fantastic experience stop in get a snack get more than you paid for and be on my way. Next time I have to spend some more time ordering other things off the menu but I was very impressed from the start.
(4)
Vera B.
Moved from MD to NC and really missed having good seafood - especially crab cakes and raw liitleneck clams. Squid's is awesome! Don't let the name of the place scare you. . .this is a SEAFOOD restaurant, squid is just one thing on the menu. :-)
(4)
Eric H.
After a less than positive experience, Squid's reached out to us to make things right, They asked my family to come back as their guests for my father's birthday dinner. We really appreciate their efforts to keep us as their customers, and look forward to having a good meal at this restaurant. Thanks to Squid's and their manager, Tom, for caring about their customer's dining experience!
(4)
Brenda K.
Really, really good! My son had the boiled lobster, very fresh and ample size, probably weighed 1 1/2 lbs., served with butter, lemon, a bib, and a shell cracker. I'm from New England, and a fairly good judge of lobster dinner. I had the pan-fried catfish, which had a cornmeal crust, the fish was juicy, with a meaty texture and slightly sweet flavor. My only reason for not giving Squid's a five star rating were the mussels appetizer, which was on special. The mussels were served in a delicious tomato basil cream sauce, but the meat of the mussels had an unfamiliar sour and bitter taste, which surprised me because they looked so good. Could have been a one off, though I'd be wary of ordering the mussels again.
I came here for dinner with my boyfriend one night because we wanted reasonably priced oysters and Squid's has half-priced oysters from 4-6 every night. We got a dozen and a half for about 12 bucks, so if you're really into oysters, this is the place to be. You have to be seated at the bar, but that's not a huge deal and the fresh oysters are shucked right in front of you. They're pretty mild-tasting and sweet, which is what I like, so that was nice. For our entrees, we got the horseradish crusted tilapia and the tilapia filet. I really like the horseradish crusted tilapia, especially with onion cream (even though that made the crust kind of soggy), and the fish was cooked perfectly. It was flaky and tender and moist. However, the potatoes and the beans and mushrooms weren't impressive. I felt like those elements didn't add much to the dish - in fact they were kind of overly greasy. I stole a bit of my boyfriend's mashed potatoes and they were indeed fluffy and deliciously seasoned. Their entrees aren't really the cheapest ones, and I'm not sure I would come back often for those, but the oysters are amazing. I will most definitely be back for that. Service was also very friendly.
(4)
Donald H.
Tried Squids out the other night. It was the first time that I had been their and I had heard good things. After a review of the menu online I had high hopes for a great meal. I am a big oyster buff so we had a dozen for the appetizer. We ordered them steamed and the waitress said that it would take about 20 minutes. She brought them to the table and they were huge very big I was impressed. The were overlooked but in my opinion most people over cook oysters. For the entree I ordered the wood fired Mahi Mahi. The dish came paired with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The Mahi was a little overcooked as well but nothing to get upset about. It had a great flavor and the mashed potatoes were excellent. All in all it was a good experience and I will try it again.
(3)
James E.
went after a UNC bball game about 6pm-bar still packed with people. as you can see with other reviews, crowd skews older. it's just a straightforward, traditional style restaurant-nothing cutting edge going on. a little on the expensive side for fried food. fried oysters were very good, scallops just ok. crab cake was nice presentation and tasty. waitress a little pretentious and did a half hearted job of clearing table before presenting check. they offer a half price wine night and half off oysters in the bar at happy hour-that seems to be the way to play this place.
(3)
Lauren R.
Nothing was bad . . . but nothing was that good either. Food: I love seafood, and chowders are one of my favorite dishes, so I ordered a bowl for my main. It was okay - rich, creamy, but too rich and creamy in the plain cream way without seasonings or flavors in it. The boyfriend had fish, and it was pretty good, but not something that I'd go back for. I also ordered a slice of cake because they were freshly baked. I asked the waitress what she recommended and opted for the red velvet (it had a cute Christmas decoration - I posted a picture), but it was pretty bad. And it isn't often that I order cake and neither finish it nor take it home. It was dry and didn't have much flavor. Atmosphere: Felt similar to a cafeteria, only it wasn't. But it definitely had that sort of clientele and atmosphere. The inside hasn't been updated in a while. Price: Ended up being around $45 after tax and tip for a soup, entree, and piece of cake, so I felt it was a bit overpriced for the quality of the food and amount we ate.
I always thought this was a cheesy fried seafood joint, but I have been pleasantly surprised over the past year or two I've been eating there. My favorites are the horseradish crusted tilapia, shrimp cocktail (big chilled shrimp with a great cocktail sauce), bouillabaisse, crab legs, seafood fra diavolo, and oysters on the half shell. And their hush puppies are hot and delicious too. Their specialty cocktails are always great too. We've had consistently good service and food comes out fairly quickly. It's our seafood joint of choice in this area.
(4)
Rachel M.
I've lived in Chapel Hill for over 7 years and finally tried Squids. Phenomenal!!! Fresh, hot hush puppies are served the moment you sit down. They have an extensive menu with a variety of seafood options. Prices are a little steep but the quality is great. The fried oysters are some of the best I've ever had...so juicy!! Katie was our waitress and was so awesome. A great waitstaff makes such a difference! I highly recommend Squids for great seafood. I'll certainly be back!
(4)
Yvonne C.
Visited for happy hour (4-6pm) for oysters with a group of friends and it was not a disappointment. Wine bottles were half off so we split two bottles of Riesling that was tasty. The oysters were fresh and shucked right in front of us. I'm a huge fan of raw oysters and they were delicious. We did stay long enough to order dinner. Entrees were good but I was a bigger fan of the oysters.
(4)
Bill B.
Squids is a favorite of our family, as we have a pescetarian daughter and just generally love seafood. The service was great and the food equally good. Would definitely recommend to others.
(5)
Laurie V.
Comme Ci Comme Ça. Oysters: excellent Crowd: most people were over 65. Price: On Mondays, lobster is 25% off. We really had just come for an appetizer, but what the hell? Why not? Lobster: meh. The tail had the juiciest, most succulent meat. The innards were really gross. I've seen my fair share of lobster guts, but this one was full of black......goo. My friend Angie and I were sitting at the bar, so we asked the bartender, what to do with all of this black.....goo? He made a face and said "I wouldn't touch it." Service was fair- no one was extremely helpful or amiable. In fact, when we were greeted by the hostess at 4:50 PM, she said "We do not start serving for ten minutes." and would not give us a menu. Since, typically, it takes about ten minutes to decide aNyHoW, I was uncertain why our menus were omitted. Now, back to the lobster- I am no expert, but I am fairly certain this was an abnormal amount of goo. I would love to believe it was roe. But I'm fairly certain it was.....yeah....you guessed it.....bile/refuse/defecation. Mashed potatoes were good. That's pretty much all I've got.
(3)
Christopher P.
This was a great place for a couple of foodies who are not the average customers to get a great meal at an extraordinary restaurant! It's not like the average seafood restaurant with the same old boat decorations plastered all over the walls and the musty smell of old carpet. From the start, we were greeted by our server and our drinks were promptly brought to us. We shared the calamari which was excellent; not too greasy but just right. My wife had the flounder in a butternut sauce which was amazing, and I had the lobster with potatoes and veggies. You can't beat the key lime pie for dessert. Everything was on point and we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jake W.
I've been coming to Squids since I was a kid. I don't live in CH anymore, but stopped in on my last visit and it's remained as good as I remember it. I got the horseradish encrusted tilapia, which was excellent. Also had a buffalo shrimp, which was good too (big shrimp and good sauce). Their hushpuppies were always a favorite of mine.
(4)
Bob B.
I don't know why I keep trying to make this place work. What "Best Seafood" restaurant closes at 9? I don't get all the old clientele this place keeps pandering to? What about us professionals that don't eat dinner at 4:30 or 5?? We get the cold, mussy leftovers. There are plenty of nights I don't leave my office until after 7. There have been several times I have walked in the place at 8 or 8:30 and was told the kitchen is closing so order now or leave! I rarely eat dinner before 8. The times I have come and been able to get dinner, I look around and feel like I am eating dinner in a retirement home. Time to pick up the younger, professional crowd that can afford the high prices but doesn't like 3rd rate food. It's a shame this place doesn't tap into that resource. For those of you that work later too, City Kitchen serves a good, fresh dinner until 11.
(1)
Yelp H.
We had a great experience here. Squids has a nice, laid-back thing going on. We sat at a high top in the bar area. We asked our server if the bartender could make us a few sangrias, and even though it wasn't on the menu they obliged. The hush puppies were a tad on the greasy side, as was the Cajun-spiced calamari, but they were still very tasty and it didn't stop us from eating them. My husband had the lobster with mashed potatoes and veggies, all delicious, especially the potatoes. He appreciated the fact that they provided seafood scissors and not just crackers, so much so that we ended up ordering some from an online vendor for our own use when we got home. My entree was sooooo good - flounder, kale, roasted potatoes and candied pecans sitting atop a pool of butternut squash bisque. It was absolutely fantastic. We shared a piece of key lime pie for dessert, which was actually more cheesecake-like, but who cares because it was freakin' delicious. Do it...go!
(5)
Barbara B.
Boyfriend and I came here for dinner last weekend and I was simply blown away by the food. Boyfriend's not much of a dining out type of guy and I had never heard of this place so I was pretty skeptical at first. However the parking lot was completely full when we arrived so clearly that was a good sign. I had the Seafood Kebab, which was two huge sewers of pieces of shrimp, scallops, mahi mahi, tuna, and salmon served over buttered mashed potato with a side of veggies. Literally every piece of seafood was cooked to perfection - they were juicy and tender and hands down the best seafood I've ever had at a restaurant. I seriously recommend you get this. I also had the creme brulee for desert - there was a little too much sugar on top but it was a solid custard. As for service, we were seated right away at 6:30 on a Friday even though the parking lot was packed (Cars parked all up along the grass)! The price is pretty reasonable for the quality and amount of food you are getting (~$18 for most entrees except the lobster). Our server was also super friendly. I'll definitely be coming back here!!
(5)
Aimee W.
Our meal was "ok". Starters : Squid Rings (small rings, cooked perfectly but bland) Hush Puppies (fried dough? yeah, not a fan but that's just me) Mains: Seafood Kebabs - another reviewer mentioned how impressed they were with this plate so I decided to try it. Seafood was cooked perfectly; mashed potatoes were good (liked that they kept the skins were still on); veggies were barely warm and cooked in too much butter Spicy Fra Diavolo - favor was ok Pan Seared Mahi - small piece of fish, very little vegetables (comparing to kebab plate) Dessert: Creme Brulee (whenever it's on a menu, I order creme brulee. This portion was not light & creamy like I've tasted in the past. Not very flavorful IMO) Key Lime Pie (I expect the flavor to make me pucker because of the sourness - this was bland) Crowd: most people were over 65 (my husband didn't read reviews beforehand but I did & knew this but was really surprised watching everyone come in) Service : ok. We didn't mention we had to get to an event for a certain time (our fault) but waited awhile while our server chatted with the table beside us for quite some time)
(3)
Susan P.
Husband and I went about 5 PM, we skipped lunch and were hungry. I had read some of the yelp reviews and saw it was bland and a spot for older people, but Husband wanted to check it out anyway. Ambience: It was all old people and children, which is not a good sign in my book. I almost said something about leaving and I have left restaurants for this reason before, but Husband wanted to check it out since a coworker recommended it. I was about to joke about the senior citizen discount when a group celebrating grammy's 90th sat down next to us. Service: Water always full, waitress knew the menu. When we asked the difference between the large and small appetizer size, she didn't explain it very well. She had infinite patience with the indecisive and special order birthday table and was good at balancing her attention between tables. Food: They brought out a basket of hush puppies that we both decided were the best part of the meal. Got the squid rings (calamari in any other restaurant) in their cajun style. We got the large, but it seemed small to us. One of the dipping sauces was really sour and un-edible. For a place with cloth napkins, glass drink ware and fancy cocktails, it was odd that they served the squid rings and hushpuppies in little plastic baskets with parchment paper on the bottom. I ordered the tuna special rare. It was served on a bed of seaweed salad and cucumber with sesame seeds. It looked nice, like something you'd get from a sushi place. It was very small and nothing special. The tuna was almost tasteless, maybe it had been frozen. Husband got the tilapia. I know I sampled it, but can't remember anything about it. The portions were small for us as we were both still hungry and asked a 2nd round of hush puppies after the meal.
(3)
Bruce R.
For a seafood restaurant, I definitely recommend the steak. I ordered it medium well, and it was awesome. The steak sliced very easily and was very juicy. The spices and oil they incorporate with the steak make the flavor amazing. Service was great.
(5)
Monica M.
3 1/2 stars. The staff at this joint REALLY know how to work a steamer. The crab was steamed to perfection, the vegetables were really effing good, and the peel and eat shrimp? Well, I kept neglecting them in favor of side dishes and oysters, and whenever I remembered they were in a basket, they were STILL pleasantly warm. That has to be the most notable part of it - I rarely have an experience where the dish holds its heat appropriately. The service was also a hit - our waitress did a great job of getting to us at the right time, recommending one dish over the other, and telling me enough about the bloody mary to make me drool and say, "Yes Please!" The lack of the full 4 stars however have to do with the atmosphere in the dining room. This main room TOTALLY reminded me of a cafeteria style dining room, but I think sitting outside or at the bar would have been nice. I think that might be a fall activity so I can get some more of that shrimp and oyster action. There was a group there that was having a grand ole time, so I think its safe to say this place is good for groups.
(3)
Andrew D.
You know those Red Lobster commercials where they make it look like a real seafood restaurant, and they crack the crab legs and juice goes everywhere? And the waitstaff appears literate and smiles? That's what Squid's is - the restaurant that Red Lobster pretends to be in commercials. I am biased because I love raw oysters, and eating them at the bar is awesome. Also, did you know that oysters and stout is an awesome combination? Just sayin'.
(4)
Eugenio S.
Food was average, wine was warm and the waitress was very rude. Agree we were a large party and later than usual, but still no need for the attitude. The bar looks nice though and maybe the rest of the staff is friendlier... But still wouldn't go back.
(2)
Jill S.
Went here with my daughter, her 19 month old son, a friend from her time working on her PhD. at UNC, and her husband. This is the best seafood I've ever had at an inland restaurant! My daughter's friend had the crabcake which was all crab; I don't know how it held together! My daughter had the seared ahi, which was as good as anything I've had in Hawaii. Having had some unpleasant experiences with inland seafood restaurants I played it safe by ordering tilapia, which is hard to ruin. It was heavenly. Next time I'm in Chapel Hill I'll make sure to take my husband here, who had to miss this trip!
(5)
Rob W.
I like this place. They have all the traditional fried favorites and also offer lighter more modern seafood presentations. A nice wine list and good service. It is very pleasant inside and this is a popular choice in town.
(4)
Wendy W.
I am so happy that I finally tried this long established restaurant. Sat at the very large bar and enjoyed a half peck of steamed oysters. Service was fast and great value for the money. I thought I had tried every hushpuppy recipe out there but they have a new one--almost like a funnel cake and served with chocolate syrup. Seriously! Oysters were shucked and arranged in shell and quickly delivered. Wine prices very affordable with a pretty good selection. I hear the 4-6 half price oysters are a big hit, so will have to find time to come for that. If you are looking for oysters in the area, this is the place to go. Delicious and very large. Good value.
(5)
Leland T.
My fiancee and I had always made fun of this place because it was near a K&W cafeteria and it was always packed at 5 PM. In other words, we would laugh and joke that this was an old people restaurant, that they wouldn't take reservations at 7:30. Man were we wrong. This place was fantastic. The fish has been cooked to perfection both times we have gone. Some of the best food I have had in Chapel Hill. Even their Salmon is inventive. Now we know that the place was packed at 5PM because its fantastic.
(5)
Natalie W.
Happy hour for oysters! My husband and I have come several times from the Greensboro area and have never left unhappy. We've had the oysters on the half-shell, snow crab legs and calamari. All were divine! We're in our 20s, but as another reviewer said the crowd is mostly made up of 50-70-year olds.
(5)
Linda S.
The Recession must be over. At least at Squids in Chapel Hill. They must be so overrun with customers seeking their moderately competent food that they do not feel the need to offer hospitality or even a modicum of friendliness Twice now I have been refused seating until my whole party of two ( parking the car in their small under capacity parking lot) was present. Hmm...okay because two is better than one - oh, except when you have empty tables and no one waiting. Okay I could except that. But then other parties who were not complete got seated. "Oh, the MAJORITY of your party....." Really. There are many more hospitable restaurants where I'll be dropping my money.
(2)
M R.
This is not a young person's place. Surveying the room the average age is likely about 68. In general the service was alright, but out meal took almost 2 hours because it was so drawn out. If it cost 1/3 less I would have given it 3 stars, but there is such better quality and value out there to be had.
(2)
Ekim E.
This place, in my opinion, is not worth the money. Granted I did not try their oysters or crab cakes, which I believe they are famous for. The place feels like a pizza hut turned into a restaurant. The ambiance is definitely not the best out there, so I wouldn't recommend bringing a date to this place. If you're a fan of paying a lot of money for average food though, you're at the right restaurant. I ordered the genovese shrimp and scallops. It was OK. I've definitely had much better scallops for the same price at a nicer restaurant. The sauce was kind of weird, I didn't like it at first but then got used to it. I ordered the dish with vegetables and there were plenty and o many different kinds (broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms). Also, the lobster bisque was not bad but again nothing special. It also was not that hot. The hushpuppies, like everyone has pointed out, were quite good. My waitress almost never refilled my water even though the place wasn't that busy (I got there at 5). She was really friendly and helpful though about the menu! Also as a side note, even though they advertise their various seafood options as available as fried, you can get any of them grilled or in any other way you want them prepared for the exact same price. Overall Squids is way overpriced for the amount and quality of food you get. Also the place is packed with old people, I have no idea why.
(3)
steven s.
The meal was not very good- first the waiter spilled a beer on my guest and we used five of the 8 napkins on table to clean it up- well I had to ask 3 times afterwards for napkin replacements-- many shells in the fried oysters-- Tilapia catch of the day when we are in nc ( u know the coast) get serious--- Oh yeah not one ice tea refill the whole $200 meal--- and seriously a classy rest or waiter would have at least given us a complimentary beer to make up for the one he spilled. This place has been around for many years - i am behooved to understand why.
(1)
Neil S.
We enjoyed it. Special night out so the prices didn't bother us but we won't come back a lot. We were early on a Saturday night. Killed a little time at the bar; oysters were good, sweet old-fashioneds a little off but not bad. I liked the look and activity at the bar. Then into the dining room which is attractively decorated and enjoyable. As others have said the hush puppies were unusually good, if greasy. My wife had the popcorn shrimp and declares it was good. I had the Trout Modena (thanks to a previous reviewer) and really enjoyed it. Nice mixture of flavors. Key lime pie was also commendable, not outstanding. Servers were pleasant and pretty prompt. An enjoyable experience, good but not outstanding food. I'd give 3.5 if I could.
(3)
Harriet E.
Soft shelled crabs. OMG. Soft shelled crabs. This was worth flying across the country for.
(5)
Emily S.
I went here last weekend because I wanted Red Lobster but the Durham Red Lobster is horrible. I think I've found a good place to go for seafood. The service was *perfect*. Absolutely outstanding, awesomely perfect. The atmosphere... well it was a Saturday night and I think we were the only young couple. Lots of older couples who looked to be around retiree age and lots of families. They food was pretty good. They lost a star because there were some minor problems with the meal, nothing huge but enough to drop the rating. The hushpuppies were delicious, they were brought out pretty much right after we sat down. We ordered the Spicy Buffalo Shrimp as an appetizer, They were delicious, except 1 and a half of the shrimp hadn't been deveined. Peter got the Grilled Trout Modena and it was wonderful, no complaints with that dish. I got the crab cakes. They were delicious and very crabby, not much filler. I did find a few bits of shell which is totally off putting. Also, randomly, in my mixed veggies one piece of cauliflower was ice cold. The veggies were delicious, but that one piece was so weird. I loved the mashed potatoes, and the lemon butter sauce was my favorite part of the whole meal. Overall, good stuff. Just needs some work on quality control. I'd guess it's better when it isn't as busy.
(4)
Pei K.
The address for this place is slightly off. It was a little farther away from I-40 than this map shows. Sadly, this meant that I was unable to check in here, which is pretty much the only positive thing I would've taken away from my visit. My parents brought me here and the first thing we noticed was how old the crowd was. The place was pretty packed for a Wednesday evening, but the vibe was that of a post-church Sunday afternoon pie house. It was nice enough, but also incredibly unexciting. Every table gets a complimentary basket of hush puppies (the only good thing I ate at this place). We missed the happy hour window, so we had to pay full price for the appetizers we ordered. Instead of an entree, my mom had a half plate of clams and a half plate of oysters. I can't remember which, but one was slightly too salty and the other was decent. My dad had the rib-eye steak, which was really good (along with the potato/green bean/onion mish-mash of a side). I ordered the popcorn shrimp and fries and was hugely disappointed. My fries were tasteless and my popcorn shrimp was way too salty and soggy (soggy straight out of the deep fryer? giant fail). I don't ever skimp on my salt and yet this was still too salty for me. I tried to eat as much as I could, but I just stopped eating after a few bites and then we ended up sending it back (which I've only ever done maybe two other occasions in my entire life). All the staff were very nice and our waitress, after she got over the initial shock of our (very gentle) complaint about the shrimp, was very gracious and took the charge off our ticket. I definitely won't be coming here again.
(2)
Chad N.
Being from the Midwest and not having the availability of a lot of fresh seafood I thought the flavors of the crab legs and the oysters was incredible. The service was great and our waiter was very helpful since we had never eaten oysters before. Best food I had on our trip in NC.
(5)
Henry F.
Title says it all. This place is amazing, and everything is great! I have eaten at Squid's more than 100 times in my nearly 6 years in Chapel Hill, and have tried nearly everything on the menu, and have never once been even slightly disappointed. From the hush puppies you get when you sit down, to the Spicy Fra Diavolo, to the Seafood Chowder, to the Lobster and Grilled Salmon, and the oyster bar, everything is delicious. The dining experience is nice, casual but upscale, entrees prob avg $15-$18 per but is well worth it and evenly matched, if not cheaper, to the competition of this caliber. And for being nearly 2.5 hrs from the coast the seafood is always fresh. As with all the restaurants in the Chapel Hill Rest. Group, this is a guaranteed great dining experience.
(5)
Patrick H.
Whenever we would drive by Squids and the place was packed, so we figured this place must be good. On a lark, a friend and I decided to try it tonight. The meal started off great. There was a basket of hot hush puppies waiting for us as soon as we sat down. Sweet and buttery, light and fluffy. They reminded me of creamed corn. Delicious. The hush puppies gave us high expectations for our main entrees. I had the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia and Dan had the Genovese Shrimp & Scallops. Let's start with Dan's dish. The over all experience was a rather bland runny pasta. The sauce was a very runny marinara-like soup (did I mention that the sauce was runny?). The scallops and shrimp were okay - nothing to write home about. The pasta was cooked well, but it needed the sauce to carry it. Lets be honest, noodles don't have a lot of flavor on their own. The only part of the dish with any real flavor were the red olives. They packed a puckering punch that was out of place with the rest of the meal. Dan was convinced that they must have been some kind of pallet cleanser, like ginger is to sushi, "except that there was nothing to cleans." My dish was a lot better but that isn't saying much. Everything was cooked technically perfect. The fish was juicy, tender, and flaky. The green beans were soft but not limp. And the Yukon potatoes were simply awesome. Aside from the buttery, oniony, deliciousness that was the potatoes, my dinner lacked balance. The Tilapia's crust had no hint of the fabled horseradish. Instead, it tasted like the breading in a crab cake. Albeit, a very tasty breading, but not one that should have been atop of this lightly flavored fish. When I took a bit of it I expected to taste crab instead of fish. It tasted incomplete. The beans were pretty flavorless. They could have used some butter and salt. And while the potatoes were awesome, I cook potatoes like these at home all the time. Possibly this is why I liked them so much. I might have rated this as a 3, but the meal was very overpriced for what it was - boring.
(2)
Michael R.
I was pleasantly surprised! This place is always packed, so in 5 years I was reluctant to try it (sounds crazy, but I don't like to wait in a line). I went and had the crab cakes and they didn't disappoint. The service was outstanding and I let my tip reflect. To see someone this young be so thoughtful about their job was refreshing. I will go back for the happy hour oyster bar. This place is less than 5 minutes from my house.
(4)
Sweet T.
Squids is near the top on our list of favorite restaurants in the area. We've got that place dialed in! The following review is based on about 25 meals there, albeit we're not adventurous with the menu. The FOOD, start to finish: the hushpuppies are usually pretty good, lighter and fluffier than most, but you didn't come here for the hushpuppies. The fried food is Really Very Consistent. We love the oysters, the shrimp (!) , the scallops (!), the popcorn shrimp. Now, the oysters will vary some because they come from different sources but 9 times out of 10, they are quite good raw, steamed or fried. We like the pasta dishes a lot, the Genovese and Fra Diavolo. As far as everything else goes, it is hard for us to say because we don't stray far from our Squids Formula. We've had some really good specials but don't remember what they were. Never had the lobster or steak. I think Squids is very good at what they do, which is fairly straight forward fish. If you want cheaper, go to Mayflower. If you want fancier, go to An or Revolution. SQUID'S FORMULA: 1) Go early for happy hour (half price oysters) or late to avoid the crowds. Squids is super popular (why?) with bluehairs and they like to eat at 6 and be in bed at 8. 2) Eat at the bar. It is more casual, you can drink your Angry Angel (excellent with fried stuff), watch the game and strike up conversations with laid back folks who like to eat at the bar. Also, you have better service because your servers are always within eye contact. 3) Get appetizers, especially fried stuff, especially shrimp or scallops. 4) Share the one entree that just feels right. 5) Did I mention the fried stuff? Just checking. THE LOCATION: is not sexy, right off 15-501, but very accessible and easy to park. Feels like a fish camp. THE DECOR: is relaxed fishy but nice. Note the monstrously phallic neon squid. DRAWBACKS: We always blow a LOT of money here because the Squids Formula allows for no variance. 2-4 beers, some oysters, a basket of shrimp, a salad and a shared entree is gonna be $60+. But you know, the Lantern costs that much for two cocktails and a couple snacks. SQUIDS SHOUTOUT: open 7 days a week so you'll never have that "Aw, shit- It's Monday" moment.
(4)
Christina G.
I've just never been much of a fan of this place; I know it's one of the better places to get seafood in the area, but somehow I must always wind up ordering the 'wrong' thing (plus the name weirds me out just a bit). I've done the calamari (which does have some pretty good dipping sauces), crab-stuffed ravioli and different fillets, but nothing quite makes the mark with me. It's kind of cute on the inside; lots of hardwood, fish, nautical-themed stuff (but in more of an upscale way than a "Joe's Crab Shack" way). The main room is a dining room, and the restaurant opens up to the left where there's a bar area. Pretty good space for a bar with some tables scattered in and TVs -- I've watched a game or two here, and it's definitely off the beaten path enough that it's not crowded for that sort of thing. They have some patio seating on their deck, too.
(3)
Jim N.
Had dinner last night with a neighborhood group of 10 and it was fantastic! Collectively, we had salad, wine, flounder, oysters, trout, a nice Fra Diavolo dish, shrimp, salmon, and coffee. Great service; great food....best oysters I've had in years!....and quite reasonable prices. Everyone left with smiles....really glad we went back and with this outstanding experience, we're now committed fans!
Amazingly popular and busy seafood restaurant offering consistently mediocre food, though thankfully they lean away from Southern Fried and offer most items steamed or broiled. Squid's is part of the 518, 411 West, and Spanky's group of restaurants, all of which do what they do consistently and solidly if not spectacularly. Squid's offers a good variety of seafood, and a few non-seafood items. The dining room with its rows of packed tables gets crowded early with the senior-set and families, and depending where you are seated, it can be loud and you can be uncomfortably close to other diners. The market is ok though small with inconsistent offerings, though you can custom order items a few days ahead of time and they'll get them for you, which is nice, though I prefer Tom Robinson's Seafood in Carrboro. If you just have to dine in a place that offers mostly seafood in Chapel Hill, well, here ya go. But pretty much every decent restaurant in the area offers a variety of seafood dishes now, and almost of all them do it better than Squid's.
(3)
Brett A.
This place is awesome! Great place to take a date. It's fairly pricey but the food is totally worth it. The hush puppies are amazing too!
(5)
Robert G.
The hushpuppies were excellent which is good because the small portions of fish won't fill you up. The crab cake was one of the best I ever had. If I lived in Chapel Hill I'd be looking for a better seafood restaurant.
(3)
Matt D.
When I go to squids every so often, I usually get Calamari and the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia. A lot of the items on the menu are overpriced so that's a little bit of an annoyance. I must say though that the Hush Puppies are the best I've had since living here, and one time about 2 years ago they even offered me and my family some fudge? Lol, it was a pretty weird experience. All I know is that I enjoy this place, but their food is slightly overpriced and bland in many dishes.
(3)
James A. S.
Have eaten at Squids a lot of times. Tonight was not a good night for our waitress. Got things mixed up, including the bill. Took 25 minutes to get my beer, which I had ordered twice. Her attitude was horrible. Food was great, as always.
(2)
Hoa N.
Came here for a birthday party on a Saturday night. This restaurant was packed. It was very crowded and I saw a lot of people waiting outside. I would recommend you called and made a reservation otherwise the wait can be a little bit long. The service okie.. not spectacular but it's okie. It's not bad. There were mistakes but they were received positively and corrected later on. The food: hum... the portion is big I have to say. All the dish came out on huge plates except if you call for the small plate. The regular salad was also huge. I called for a small salad. I guess dressing is not one of the restaurant expertise, so I'm not quite impress with it. The quality of the vegetable was not bad but it didn't give me a feeling that it was fresh either. I called for one of the special : salmon I think. It was a small plate. The salmon was nicely done but the noodle was a little bit stiffer and dryer than I expected. It's nicely blended with the olive oil though. So the dish was small enough for fill me up because I knew the big plate would be too much. Definitely not a romantic dinner! It's too loud to be called so. You can come here with a group of friends just to eat or hang out. Although the food was expensive I would say. Expensive, but it's not too terribly expensive. So come prepared with a nice wallet. The hush puppies were good! :) You might want to put your best dress at home because some lingering fry air circulated around the restaurant. They have a big parking lot in the front and back to accommodate ... many cars :)
(3)
Liwei Y.
For a seafood place, I thought that this place could have done better. I thought this place would be more upscale, but it's more like a diner. There are also lots of old people here (people who look like they are over 50) so I felt like I didn't fit in with the crowd that usually comes here.
(2)
Scott S.
Ordered tilapia and raw tuna. The seafood tasted fresh and average size portions. The tilapia was somewhat oily and the cooked vegetables were bland. The service was good.
(3)
Adrienne E.
Maybe it's because I've got a serious weakness for fried seafood, but Squid's is one of my favorite places to go for a casual but nice dinner in Chapel Hill. I've tried most of the menu at one point or another, but I really just love the crab cakes and popcorn shrimp. The calamari appetizer is above average, and the one time I had the lobster it was heavenly. Squid's does get very crowded at peak dining times, so maybe that's why the service hasn't been as consistent as the food. The last time I was there we were seated next to some little kids that were tossing food at each other, and I'm pretty sure that our waiter completely forgot about us. Other times I've been and the service was great.
(4)
Chris W.
Average, place had a touch of a diner feel which isn't what we were going for. Oysters were fresh but lacked flavor and presentation was boring. 1/2 price during happy hour which is the only time you should shell out the cash. (get the pun?) Snow Crab Legs appetizer was more than plenty for a meal. Stay away from the fried fish selection, not much to rave about.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner 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 : Yes
Mike W.
My wife and I took a visiting sensei Japan and associate from Japan to dinner and despite the fact that we didn't get there till about an hour before closing the service was good and the food even better. We started out with calimari and raw oyster appetizer, both which were great. I had the tamari tuna which was perfectly brazed on the outside but raw on the inside just the way it is supposed to be done. My Japanese friends each had lobster and they thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife had another fish ( I forget it if was salmon or something else) and she enjoyed her meal as well. We had drinks and talked to past closing (without realizing it) but the service staff was not pushy or upset about it. The only thing I wish they had was some good sake to go with the tuna. All in all it was a very good meal, probably the best seafood I have had in the RTP area and we will definitely go again some time.
(4)Laura W.
I got the impression from eating at Squid's that it is suffering from an identity crisis - it appeared to attempt a down-east NC fresh seafood restaurant, while at the same time striving for something more upscale and less authentic. The food was average.
(2)Marinna M.
Mom's favorite for oysters. Mine for squid rings. Still great after all these years.
(4)William J.
Oh, man, I completely forgot about this place. What's up with that? I mean, I suppose it makes sense, being as tucked away as it is (it's not often you see a roadside restaurant with no apparent road to get there). I've eaten here only a couple of times. The food has mostly been good, though nothing incredible. They do an excellent job with their crab, though, particularly the crab cakes. I believe it was also a crab ravioli that my mom ordered that was delicious also. The fish and the shrimp barely reached par but... yeah, go for the crab. As Chapel Hill restaurants go this one is really popular with the non-college set, so be prepared to deal with noisy kids and such.
(3)Jake S.
Squid's is a rare inland North Carolina restaurant offering fresh, not all fried seafood. Nestled just off of the busy 15-501 in Chapel Hill, Squid's is a bit off of the beaten path as far as Chapel Hill restaurants go, but is definitely worth trying. Squid's offers a great variety of fish. I really enjoy their Japanese inspired tuna dish. They have some great rotating specials that are fun and inventive. The restaurant also has a great, lively bar area that attracts an older crowd, but stays busy. The place is upscale and stays quite busy. Service is very good and you'd be hard-pressed to find better seafood in Chapel Hill.
(4)Henry S.
Having lived on some sort of coast all of my life except for my tenure in college, I've always had a ton of great seafood places at my disposal. In the Raleigh/Durham area, good seafood is hard to find though, and someone suggested Squid's to me. I went with high hopes, but left slightly underwhelmed. I guess being one of the only options for seafood in the area wins Squid's points, but overall I wasn't that impressed by the food. I probably could have bought the crab and steamed it myself and had just as good of a meal. On the bright side, the staff was great and the location is kind of cool, but Squid's was not the most impressive seafood I've had.
(3)Steve G.
So I honestly wish zero stars was an option. I went here with my wife and our 2 daughters, ages sixteen and twenty two. The place was not that busy, yet they couldn't seem to find time to so much as refill our waters. After about twenty minutes of neglect, I finally asked for a manager. The manager, Tom Herzog, was to put it bluntly, an idiot, who didn't really fix the problem but made excuses and seemed to get irritated that I was politely asking for better service. NONE of the vegetables were fresh, the shrimp was not deveined, the chicken was overcooked, the mahi tasted like it was microwaved, and the tilapia tasted like it came out of a tv dinner box...To top it all off, at the end of our extraordinarily overpriced sub-par meal, as my two daughters were waiting outside by the car, they were sexually harassed by two Hispanic men that worked in the kitchen that were outside smoking and drinking beers during their shift, and they decided to shout lewd and sexually inappropriate things at my children, one of which is A MINOR. Are these people serious?????? I went inside and complained to the manager, Tom Herzog, and his solution was going in the back for five minutes, coming out and saying, "Yeah so I talked to the employees and they said they're sorry, and that it was a misunderstanding. This won't happen again, I hope you guys have a good night" SERIOUSLY??????? I am absolutely appalled and I am NEVER going here again. They need to close this place down, a few months back there was a supposed sexual harassment scandal within the business and I saw a young man protesting outside of the restaurant with a sign that read: "DO NOT EAT HERE- THEY SEXUALLY HARASS WOMEN!" Initially I thought it was just a disgruntled customer or spouse of an employee. Now I understand that this is a scummy establishment with bad food and ZERO respect for its customers and employees. Never again. I do not go spend my hard earned money for my children to be made uncomfortable. These people make me sick.
(1)Steve S.
Very pleasant dinner, attentive staff, excellent seafood. We'll be back.
(4)Stephanie W.
I'm in town on business, and my colleagues brought me to Squids for dinner. The appetizers were good (hush puppies, buffalo shrimp & calamari), my wine was excellent (Chardonney) and the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia with veggies knocked my socks off. There was probably an entire stick of butter in my dish - but the fish was moist and fresh, the vegetables seemed to be straight from the farm, and the service was wonderful. I was very impressed!
(4)Andrew B.
When I first came to the triangle, around 12 years ago, Squid's was the place to go for good seafood that doesn't come out of a fryer (although they have excellent fried seafood). Their consistency over the years boggles my mind. If you are looking for great seafood in the Triangle, this is your best bet, outside of a drive to the coast. Their specials are excellent and I'm a fan of the Trout Modena. Jamie is always available if you have any questions or concerns and makes a point to take care of his customers.
(5)Lee H.
Last 3 dinners, I tried three different entrees and wasn't let down. Good crab cakes. On occasion you might have to wait for seating during peak hours, but we've found the waits here to be comparatively short.
(4)Kaitlyn L.
i've had dinner here once and the food was forgettable. however the happy hour oysters are splendid!
(5)Lisa W.
I'm from Seattle (the mecca for great salmon/seafood) and have found it really hard to find some great seafood here in the Chapel Hill area that isn't deep fried beyond recognition but was pleasantly surprised at Squids. The menu, while including some fried options, has a great selection of sophisticated yet unpretentious dishes that will cater to anyone looking for spot on seafood. I had the Tamari Tuna that was impeccably grilled to a med rare, the asian slaw was light and super flavorful and the basmati rice done to perfection. A nice glass of wine and I was in my happy place! My dinner companion had the grilled shrimp with lemon risotto cake that was flawless as well. Finally a restaurant that has restored my faith in NC seafood. I was beginning to wonder if all the talk about a coastline was just a rumor. Service was friendly, fast and not overbearing and the prices are what I would expect for a nice dinner .... oh and did I mention casual dinning atmosphere. I love that I can eat well in my comfortable shoes ... woo hooo.
(5)Caroline Z.
I'm not a big seafood person, but Squid's has always been popular with my friends when they were having shrimp or crab cake cravings. It's a nice, notch-above casual seafood place; we don't have too many others like this in Chapel Hill. If you're craving the fried stuff (with the obligatory fries and cole slaw) they have it, but if you were leaning more towards seafood pasta or grilled/seared dishes, you can give your arteries a break and get those kinds of meals as well. Plus, if you're like me and you don't really like fish, I know of at least 1 pasta dish on the menu that they'll make for you with chicken instead. This is a pretty popular place, so chances are you'll spend some time waiting in the bar area, which is not such a bad place to be either, come to think of it - a fair amount of beer and wine to pick from. Win-win situation.
(4)Kyle P.
If your in the mood for fried seafood in the triangle area, this is the place for you. Wonderful squid rings, and great crab cakes. However it can get quite crowded during peak dinner times, and they do not take reservations so either come early or late.
(4)Tori H.
Overrrrrpriced! The service was very good and deserving of a star. Shrimp and fries were $13 and I could have had better shrimp from a frozen TV dinner. Fries were like McDonalds. My husbands tilapia was decent but small and like $15. Ridiculously priced. I know what you're thinking.. "hey that's not fair, you had shrimp, nothing special" well uh, let me tell you, I've had some epic tasting shrimp. The stuff you get in the grocery store may even be deveined - this is not. GAG. Yum shrimp poop!!!
(1)Jamie S.
Head to the front area of the bar (by the windows), order a peck of oysters with tabasco, lemon wedges, and melted butter...and enjoy. Some steamed items are only available at the bar... Steamed oysters and clams done as you order them and served fast. It's a great place to just hang out and place orders things in the direction your hunger and interests take you. The staff here is seriously talented on the steamer. If you like fresh steamed seafood, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Justin N.
I think Squid's is the best seafood dining experience in Chapel Hill. It is no wonder why this place is so popular always has a crowd. The food is wonderful. The service is great. They even have great desserts and coffee; if you have saved any room for that. If you love seafood and want a great dining experience, check out Squid's. It's also a good environment for both dates and families.
(4)Amy W.
I really enjoyed my meal at Squids tonight. The restaurant is somewhat divided into a more formal dining area and a more casual laid back bar. I sat at the bar and what a fun time we had! We watched the fresh oysters being cracked per order and they looked amazing - although I didn't order them this time around. I'll be back for them though, since they're half price for happy hour! I ordered a Moroccan salad made with home made roasted red pepper dressing and topped with goat cheese, almonds, and golden raisins. It was SO yummy. You can order half ($6.25) and full sized salads. We also munched on free, hot and fresh hush puppies as we waited for our meals. I also ordered the half pound of steamed shrimp served with cocktail and butter sauce ($9). They were fantastic. I was stuffed before I even finished them but they were so good I had to eat them all up! The portion sizes were plentiful and the prices were friendly! Some of the main entrée dishes were more pricey ($18-23) but for fresh seafood I would consider that fair. My friend and I ate for $45 including dessert (chocolate mousse silk pie with raspberry drizzle, $6)! We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came. The service was awesome!! Props to your team at Squids! I'll definitely be back and would recommend for the seafood lovers out there!
(4)Jon Z.
We went to Squids on Memorial Day. My In-Laws were treating my 7 year old son to a Lobster dinner. He earned for doing so well in school. On Monday nights they have a lobster dinner special 25% off. Everyone enjoyed there dinner. I had a steak at a seafood place. But they steak was cooked great, perfect medium rare, seasoned very nicely. The free basket of hush puppies are always a hit. We will return again! Nice family run place that has not changed in the last 10 years. Same great food, nice cordial staff, clean restaurant and very reasonable prices. We live over an hour away otherwise we would go at least once a month or more.
(4)Sean S.
Came 15 minutes before they closed. No issue, waitress was very polite and the food was excellent. My girlfriend had a martini that wasn't very good but nevertheless this is a solid sea food place that any seafood lover should try in Chapel Hill.
(4)Lisa T.
Great experience!!! Oysters were amazing, and 1/2 off!! Can't beat that. They were large in size and came with all the bells and whistles (ie: crackers, horsey,cocktail,hot sauce). Service was wonderful. Truly a seafood must!!! My only recommendation for them.... Branch out make a little seafood market if you get your stuff fresh. That's really what I went there thinking it was. A market. LOL. A pleasant surprise.
(4)Adam S.
We were here staying at a nearby inn and decided to try a Squid's on the recommendation of the front desk clerk. We were pleasantly surprised. My wife had crab cakes which were perfectly seasoned. I had the fried shrimp and scallops combo. I've never had fried scallops cooked so perfectly they are usually at least a little bit chewy but here even though they were battered and deep fried they were still melt in your mouth. Fantastic server as well who was always there when we needed her but didnt hover. Great!
(5)Mary M.
My husband, who is VERY particular about his food, and I have gone four times now, and each time have been very pleased with our dinners. This time around we shared the fried oyster caesar salad and my husband was thrilled with the quality of both the oysters and the freshness of the romaine lettuce. I had a wonderful 1-1/2 lb. lobster ($37), and my husband had the grouper special ($27) - both great, and on the higher side price-wise. Most dinner are ~$18. I'm not a fan of potatoes with fish, so I substituted the basmati rice, which was super. Veggies are fresh and well prepared with some crunch, which is how I like them. Wine list is good - all the wines have been perfect with our meals. Many are under $25/bottle. Past dinners we have had the crab cakes - one was sufficient, pan seared salmon, tilapia filet, fried shrimp- all have been excellent. The bar area, which opens at 4pm, looks like a lot of fun and we plan to come for a few drinks and some appetizers. It is very obvious that the owner's care a great deal about the food, service, cleanliness, etc. as everything is done well, with attention to detail. Kudos to the kitchen and wait staff for making each time a great dining experience! My only wish is that they were open for lunch on the weekends.....
(4)Heather H.
perfectly fine seafood restaurant. crowd was comprised mostly of families and older folks. nice selection in menu.
(3)John S.
Tops for seafood in the Triangle. Pig out on raw or steamed oysters at the oyster bar for half price. A chapel hill institution. Come early on weekends since it gets crowded
(4)Matthew P.
I was there at 4 o'clock for the raw bar early opening half price or Easters on the half shell. It was a fantastic experience stop in get a snack get more than you paid for and be on my way. Next time I have to spend some more time ordering other things off the menu but I was very impressed from the start.
(4)Vera B.
Moved from MD to NC and really missed having good seafood - especially crab cakes and raw liitleneck clams. Squid's is awesome! Don't let the name of the place scare you. . .this is a SEAFOOD restaurant, squid is just one thing on the menu. :-)
(4)Eric H.
After a less than positive experience, Squid's reached out to us to make things right, They asked my family to come back as their guests for my father's birthday dinner. We really appreciate their efforts to keep us as their customers, and look forward to having a good meal at this restaurant. Thanks to Squid's and their manager, Tom, for caring about their customer's dining experience!
(4)Brenda K.
Really, really good! My son had the boiled lobster, very fresh and ample size, probably weighed 1 1/2 lbs., served with butter, lemon, a bib, and a shell cracker. I'm from New England, and a fairly good judge of lobster dinner. I had the pan-fried catfish, which had a cornmeal crust, the fish was juicy, with a meaty texture and slightly sweet flavor. My only reason for not giving Squid's a five star rating were the mussels appetizer, which was on special. The mussels were served in a delicious tomato basil cream sauce, but the meat of the mussels had an unfamiliar sour and bitter taste, which surprised me because they looked so good. Could have been a one off, though I'd be wary of ordering the mussels again.
(4)Britt B.
I have celiac disease & a gluten allergy. Received the gluten free menu & found menu items listed with mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, & Bleu cheese. Ordered broiled shrimp & scallops with a salad. Explained my allergy to the waiter. Received the salad with a piece of bread on top. Waiter attempted to remove bread from salad, then serve it anyway. After telling him how sick I will get & asked for another salad, he served another salad much later without bread. I began getting sick a few minutes after eating the meal. Asked for the manager & explained the discrepancies on the gluten free menu & I was served a salad with bread. Manager stated, "We're not perfect." He promptly ended the conversation and walked off. If you have any food allergies or sensitivities, DO NOT eat at Squid's. I am very ill now & spent $22 for an entrée & salad that made me this way.
(1)Bethany A.
I came here for dinner with my boyfriend one night because we wanted reasonably priced oysters and Squid's has half-priced oysters from 4-6 every night. We got a dozen and a half for about 12 bucks, so if you're really into oysters, this is the place to be. You have to be seated at the bar, but that's not a huge deal and the fresh oysters are shucked right in front of you. They're pretty mild-tasting and sweet, which is what I like, so that was nice. For our entrees, we got the horseradish crusted tilapia and the tilapia filet. I really like the horseradish crusted tilapia, especially with onion cream (even though that made the crust kind of soggy), and the fish was cooked perfectly. It was flaky and tender and moist. However, the potatoes and the beans and mushrooms weren't impressive. I felt like those elements didn't add much to the dish - in fact they were kind of overly greasy. I stole a bit of my boyfriend's mashed potatoes and they were indeed fluffy and deliciously seasoned. Their entrees aren't really the cheapest ones, and I'm not sure I would come back often for those, but the oysters are amazing. I will most definitely be back for that. Service was also very friendly.
(4)Donald H.
Tried Squids out the other night. It was the first time that I had been their and I had heard good things. After a review of the menu online I had high hopes for a great meal. I am a big oyster buff so we had a dozen for the appetizer. We ordered them steamed and the waitress said that it would take about 20 minutes. She brought them to the table and they were huge very big I was impressed. The were overlooked but in my opinion most people over cook oysters. For the entree I ordered the wood fired Mahi Mahi. The dish came paired with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The Mahi was a little overcooked as well but nothing to get upset about. It had a great flavor and the mashed potatoes were excellent. All in all it was a good experience and I will try it again.
(3)James E.
went after a UNC bball game about 6pm-bar still packed with people. as you can see with other reviews, crowd skews older. it's just a straightforward, traditional style restaurant-nothing cutting edge going on. a little on the expensive side for fried food. fried oysters were very good, scallops just ok. crab cake was nice presentation and tasty. waitress a little pretentious and did a half hearted job of clearing table before presenting check. they offer a half price wine night and half off oysters in the bar at happy hour-that seems to be the way to play this place.
(3)Lauren R.
Nothing was bad . . . but nothing was that good either. Food: I love seafood, and chowders are one of my favorite dishes, so I ordered a bowl for my main. It was okay - rich, creamy, but too rich and creamy in the plain cream way without seasonings or flavors in it. The boyfriend had fish, and it was pretty good, but not something that I'd go back for. I also ordered a slice of cake because they were freshly baked. I asked the waitress what she recommended and opted for the red velvet (it had a cute Christmas decoration - I posted a picture), but it was pretty bad. And it isn't often that I order cake and neither finish it nor take it home. It was dry and didn't have much flavor. Atmosphere: Felt similar to a cafeteria, only it wasn't. But it definitely had that sort of clientele and atmosphere. The inside hasn't been updated in a while. Price: Ended up being around $45 after tax and tip for a soup, entree, and piece of cake, so I felt it was a bit overpriced for the quality of the food and amount we ate.
(2)Jared W.
Solid seafood restaurant overall. I ordered the seafood Kabobs which came out as one skewer with 2 shrimp and 2 scallops and another skewer with 3 decent size filets of different fish. The scallops and shrimp were cooked perfectly, two of the pieces of fish were moist and tasty but one was way too overdone. The mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables served on the side were what you would expect (in a good way) and solid size portions. My girlfriend ordered the shrimp and scallop pasta dish which was pretty tasty as well. The waitress was slow to greet our table but other than that the service was very good!
(4)Christine H.
I always thought this was a cheesy fried seafood joint, but I have been pleasantly surprised over the past year or two I've been eating there. My favorites are the horseradish crusted tilapia, shrimp cocktail (big chilled shrimp with a great cocktail sauce), bouillabaisse, crab legs, seafood fra diavolo, and oysters on the half shell. And their hush puppies are hot and delicious too. Their specialty cocktails are always great too. We've had consistently good service and food comes out fairly quickly. It's our seafood joint of choice in this area.
(4)Rachel M.
I've lived in Chapel Hill for over 7 years and finally tried Squids. Phenomenal!!! Fresh, hot hush puppies are served the moment you sit down. They have an extensive menu with a variety of seafood options. Prices are a little steep but the quality is great. The fried oysters are some of the best I've ever had...so juicy!! Katie was our waitress and was so awesome. A great waitstaff makes such a difference! I highly recommend Squids for great seafood. I'll certainly be back!
(4)Yvonne C.
Visited for happy hour (4-6pm) for oysters with a group of friends and it was not a disappointment. Wine bottles were half off so we split two bottles of Riesling that was tasty. The oysters were fresh and shucked right in front of us. I'm a huge fan of raw oysters and they were delicious. We did stay long enough to order dinner. Entrees were good but I was a bigger fan of the oysters.
(4)Bill B.
Squids is a favorite of our family, as we have a pescetarian daughter and just generally love seafood. The service was great and the food equally good. Would definitely recommend to others.
(5)Laurie V.
Comme Ci Comme Ça. Oysters: excellent Crowd: most people were over 65. Price: On Mondays, lobster is 25% off. We really had just come for an appetizer, but what the hell? Why not? Lobster: meh. The tail had the juiciest, most succulent meat. The innards were really gross. I've seen my fair share of lobster guts, but this one was full of black......goo. My friend Angie and I were sitting at the bar, so we asked the bartender, what to do with all of this black.....goo? He made a face and said "I wouldn't touch it." Service was fair- no one was extremely helpful or amiable. In fact, when we were greeted by the hostess at 4:50 PM, she said "We do not start serving for ten minutes." and would not give us a menu. Since, typically, it takes about ten minutes to decide aNyHoW, I was uncertain why our menus were omitted. Now, back to the lobster- I am no expert, but I am fairly certain this was an abnormal amount of goo. I would love to believe it was roe. But I'm fairly certain it was.....yeah....you guessed it.....bile/refuse/defecation. Mashed potatoes were good. That's pretty much all I've got.
(3)Christopher P.
This was a great place for a couple of foodies who are not the average customers to get a great meal at an extraordinary restaurant! It's not like the average seafood restaurant with the same old boat decorations plastered all over the walls and the musty smell of old carpet. From the start, we were greeted by our server and our drinks were promptly brought to us. We shared the calamari which was excellent; not too greasy but just right. My wife had the flounder in a butternut sauce which was amazing, and I had the lobster with potatoes and veggies. You can't beat the key lime pie for dessert. Everything was on point and we will definitely be back!
(5)Jake W.
I've been coming to Squids since I was a kid. I don't live in CH anymore, but stopped in on my last visit and it's remained as good as I remember it. I got the horseradish encrusted tilapia, which was excellent. Also had a buffalo shrimp, which was good too (big shrimp and good sauce). Their hushpuppies were always a favorite of mine.
(4)Bob B.
I don't know why I keep trying to make this place work. What "Best Seafood" restaurant closes at 9? I don't get all the old clientele this place keeps pandering to? What about us professionals that don't eat dinner at 4:30 or 5?? We get the cold, mussy leftovers. There are plenty of nights I don't leave my office until after 7. There have been several times I have walked in the place at 8 or 8:30 and was told the kitchen is closing so order now or leave! I rarely eat dinner before 8. The times I have come and been able to get dinner, I look around and feel like I am eating dinner in a retirement home. Time to pick up the younger, professional crowd that can afford the high prices but doesn't like 3rd rate food. It's a shame this place doesn't tap into that resource. For those of you that work later too, City Kitchen serves a good, fresh dinner until 11.
(1)Yelp H.
We had a great experience here. Squids has a nice, laid-back thing going on. We sat at a high top in the bar area. We asked our server if the bartender could make us a few sangrias, and even though it wasn't on the menu they obliged. The hush puppies were a tad on the greasy side, as was the Cajun-spiced calamari, but they were still very tasty and it didn't stop us from eating them. My husband had the lobster with mashed potatoes and veggies, all delicious, especially the potatoes. He appreciated the fact that they provided seafood scissors and not just crackers, so much so that we ended up ordering some from an online vendor for our own use when we got home. My entree was sooooo good - flounder, kale, roasted potatoes and candied pecans sitting atop a pool of butternut squash bisque. It was absolutely fantastic. We shared a piece of key lime pie for dessert, which was actually more cheesecake-like, but who cares because it was freakin' delicious. Do it...go!
(5)Barbara B.
Boyfriend and I came here for dinner last weekend and I was simply blown away by the food. Boyfriend's not much of a dining out type of guy and I had never heard of this place so I was pretty skeptical at first. However the parking lot was completely full when we arrived so clearly that was a good sign. I had the Seafood Kebab, which was two huge sewers of pieces of shrimp, scallops, mahi mahi, tuna, and salmon served over buttered mashed potato with a side of veggies. Literally every piece of seafood was cooked to perfection - they were juicy and tender and hands down the best seafood I've ever had at a restaurant. I seriously recommend you get this. I also had the creme brulee for desert - there was a little too much sugar on top but it was a solid custard. As for service, we were seated right away at 6:30 on a Friday even though the parking lot was packed (Cars parked all up along the grass)! The price is pretty reasonable for the quality and amount of food you are getting (~$18 for most entrees except the lobster). Our server was also super friendly. I'll definitely be coming back here!!
(5)Aimee W.
Our meal was "ok". Starters : Squid Rings (small rings, cooked perfectly but bland) Hush Puppies (fried dough? yeah, not a fan but that's just me) Mains: Seafood Kebabs - another reviewer mentioned how impressed they were with this plate so I decided to try it. Seafood was cooked perfectly; mashed potatoes were good (liked that they kept the skins were still on); veggies were barely warm and cooked in too much butter Spicy Fra Diavolo - favor was ok Pan Seared Mahi - small piece of fish, very little vegetables (comparing to kebab plate) Dessert: Creme Brulee (whenever it's on a menu, I order creme brulee. This portion was not light & creamy like I've tasted in the past. Not very flavorful IMO) Key Lime Pie (I expect the flavor to make me pucker because of the sourness - this was bland) Crowd: most people were over 65 (my husband didn't read reviews beforehand but I did & knew this but was really surprised watching everyone come in) Service : ok. We didn't mention we had to get to an event for a certain time (our fault) but waited awhile while our server chatted with the table beside us for quite some time)
(3)Susan P.
Husband and I went about 5 PM, we skipped lunch and were hungry. I had read some of the yelp reviews and saw it was bland and a spot for older people, but Husband wanted to check it out anyway. Ambience: It was all old people and children, which is not a good sign in my book. I almost said something about leaving and I have left restaurants for this reason before, but Husband wanted to check it out since a coworker recommended it. I was about to joke about the senior citizen discount when a group celebrating grammy's 90th sat down next to us. Service: Water always full, waitress knew the menu. When we asked the difference between the large and small appetizer size, she didn't explain it very well. She had infinite patience with the indecisive and special order birthday table and was good at balancing her attention between tables. Food: They brought out a basket of hush puppies that we both decided were the best part of the meal. Got the squid rings (calamari in any other restaurant) in their cajun style. We got the large, but it seemed small to us. One of the dipping sauces was really sour and un-edible. For a place with cloth napkins, glass drink ware and fancy cocktails, it was odd that they served the squid rings and hushpuppies in little plastic baskets with parchment paper on the bottom. I ordered the tuna special rare. It was served on a bed of seaweed salad and cucumber with sesame seeds. It looked nice, like something you'd get from a sushi place. It was very small and nothing special. The tuna was almost tasteless, maybe it had been frozen. Husband got the tilapia. I know I sampled it, but can't remember anything about it. The portions were small for us as we were both still hungry and asked a 2nd round of hush puppies after the meal.
(3)Bruce R.
For a seafood restaurant, I definitely recommend the steak. I ordered it medium well, and it was awesome. The steak sliced very easily and was very juicy. The spices and oil they incorporate with the steak make the flavor amazing. Service was great.
(5)Monica M.
3 1/2 stars. The staff at this joint REALLY know how to work a steamer. The crab was steamed to perfection, the vegetables were really effing good, and the peel and eat shrimp? Well, I kept neglecting them in favor of side dishes and oysters, and whenever I remembered they were in a basket, they were STILL pleasantly warm. That has to be the most notable part of it - I rarely have an experience where the dish holds its heat appropriately. The service was also a hit - our waitress did a great job of getting to us at the right time, recommending one dish over the other, and telling me enough about the bloody mary to make me drool and say, "Yes Please!" The lack of the full 4 stars however have to do with the atmosphere in the dining room. This main room TOTALLY reminded me of a cafeteria style dining room, but I think sitting outside or at the bar would have been nice. I think that might be a fall activity so I can get some more of that shrimp and oyster action. There was a group there that was having a grand ole time, so I think its safe to say this place is good for groups.
(3)Andrew D.
You know those Red Lobster commercials where they make it look like a real seafood restaurant, and they crack the crab legs and juice goes everywhere? And the waitstaff appears literate and smiles? That's what Squid's is - the restaurant that Red Lobster pretends to be in commercials. I am biased because I love raw oysters, and eating them at the bar is awesome. Also, did you know that oysters and stout is an awesome combination? Just sayin'.
(4)Eugenio S.
Food was average, wine was warm and the waitress was very rude. Agree we were a large party and later than usual, but still no need for the attitude. The bar looks nice though and maybe the rest of the staff is friendlier... But still wouldn't go back.
(2)Jill S.
Went here with my daughter, her 19 month old son, a friend from her time working on her PhD. at UNC, and her husband. This is the best seafood I've ever had at an inland restaurant! My daughter's friend had the crabcake which was all crab; I don't know how it held together! My daughter had the seared ahi, which was as good as anything I've had in Hawaii. Having had some unpleasant experiences with inland seafood restaurants I played it safe by ordering tilapia, which is hard to ruin. It was heavenly. Next time I'm in Chapel Hill I'll make sure to take my husband here, who had to miss this trip!
(5)Rob W.
I like this place. They have all the traditional fried favorites and also offer lighter more modern seafood presentations. A nice wine list and good service. It is very pleasant inside and this is a popular choice in town.
(4)Wendy W.
I am so happy that I finally tried this long established restaurant. Sat at the very large bar and enjoyed a half peck of steamed oysters. Service was fast and great value for the money. I thought I had tried every hushpuppy recipe out there but they have a new one--almost like a funnel cake and served with chocolate syrup. Seriously! Oysters were shucked and arranged in shell and quickly delivered. Wine prices very affordable with a pretty good selection. I hear the 4-6 half price oysters are a big hit, so will have to find time to come for that. If you are looking for oysters in the area, this is the place to go. Delicious and very large. Good value.
(5)Leland T.
My fiancee and I had always made fun of this place because it was near a K&W cafeteria and it was always packed at 5 PM. In other words, we would laugh and joke that this was an old people restaurant, that they wouldn't take reservations at 7:30. Man were we wrong. This place was fantastic. The fish has been cooked to perfection both times we have gone. Some of the best food I have had in Chapel Hill. Even their Salmon is inventive. Now we know that the place was packed at 5PM because its fantastic.
(5)Natalie W.
Happy hour for oysters! My husband and I have come several times from the Greensboro area and have never left unhappy. We've had the oysters on the half-shell, snow crab legs and calamari. All were divine! We're in our 20s, but as another reviewer said the crowd is mostly made up of 50-70-year olds.
(5)Linda S.
The Recession must be over. At least at Squids in Chapel Hill. They must be so overrun with customers seeking their moderately competent food that they do not feel the need to offer hospitality or even a modicum of friendliness Twice now I have been refused seating until my whole party of two ( parking the car in their small under capacity parking lot) was present. Hmm...okay because two is better than one - oh, except when you have empty tables and no one waiting. Okay I could except that. But then other parties who were not complete got seated. "Oh, the MAJORITY of your party....." Really. There are many more hospitable restaurants where I'll be dropping my money.
(2)M R.
This is not a young person's place. Surveying the room the average age is likely about 68. In general the service was alright, but out meal took almost 2 hours because it was so drawn out. If it cost 1/3 less I would have given it 3 stars, but there is such better quality and value out there to be had.
(2)Ekim E.
This place, in my opinion, is not worth the money. Granted I did not try their oysters or crab cakes, which I believe they are famous for. The place feels like a pizza hut turned into a restaurant. The ambiance is definitely not the best out there, so I wouldn't recommend bringing a date to this place. If you're a fan of paying a lot of money for average food though, you're at the right restaurant. I ordered the genovese shrimp and scallops. It was OK. I've definitely had much better scallops for the same price at a nicer restaurant. The sauce was kind of weird, I didn't like it at first but then got used to it. I ordered the dish with vegetables and there were plenty and o many different kinds (broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms). Also, the lobster bisque was not bad but again nothing special. It also was not that hot. The hushpuppies, like everyone has pointed out, were quite good. My waitress almost never refilled my water even though the place wasn't that busy (I got there at 5). She was really friendly and helpful though about the menu! Also as a side note, even though they advertise their various seafood options as available as fried, you can get any of them grilled or in any other way you want them prepared for the exact same price. Overall Squids is way overpriced for the amount and quality of food you get. Also the place is packed with old people, I have no idea why.
(3)steven s.
The meal was not very good- first the waiter spilled a beer on my guest and we used five of the 8 napkins on table to clean it up- well I had to ask 3 times afterwards for napkin replacements-- many shells in the fried oysters-- Tilapia catch of the day when we are in nc ( u know the coast) get serious--- Oh yeah not one ice tea refill the whole $200 meal--- and seriously a classy rest or waiter would have at least given us a complimentary beer to make up for the one he spilled. This place has been around for many years - i am behooved to understand why.
(1)Neil S.
We enjoyed it. Special night out so the prices didn't bother us but we won't come back a lot. We were early on a Saturday night. Killed a little time at the bar; oysters were good, sweet old-fashioneds a little off but not bad. I liked the look and activity at the bar. Then into the dining room which is attractively decorated and enjoyable. As others have said the hush puppies were unusually good, if greasy. My wife had the popcorn shrimp and declares it was good. I had the Trout Modena (thanks to a previous reviewer) and really enjoyed it. Nice mixture of flavors. Key lime pie was also commendable, not outstanding. Servers were pleasant and pretty prompt. An enjoyable experience, good but not outstanding food. I'd give 3.5 if I could.
(3)Harriet E.
Soft shelled crabs. OMG. Soft shelled crabs. This was worth flying across the country for.
(5)Emily S.
I went here last weekend because I wanted Red Lobster but the Durham Red Lobster is horrible. I think I've found a good place to go for seafood. The service was *perfect*. Absolutely outstanding, awesomely perfect. The atmosphere... well it was a Saturday night and I think we were the only young couple. Lots of older couples who looked to be around retiree age and lots of families. They food was pretty good. They lost a star because there were some minor problems with the meal, nothing huge but enough to drop the rating. The hushpuppies were delicious, they were brought out pretty much right after we sat down. We ordered the Spicy Buffalo Shrimp as an appetizer, They were delicious, except 1 and a half of the shrimp hadn't been deveined. Peter got the Grilled Trout Modena and it was wonderful, no complaints with that dish. I got the crab cakes. They were delicious and very crabby, not much filler. I did find a few bits of shell which is totally off putting. Also, randomly, in my mixed veggies one piece of cauliflower was ice cold. The veggies were delicious, but that one piece was so weird. I loved the mashed potatoes, and the lemon butter sauce was my favorite part of the whole meal. Overall, good stuff. Just needs some work on quality control. I'd guess it's better when it isn't as busy.
(4)Pei K.
The address for this place is slightly off. It was a little farther away from I-40 than this map shows. Sadly, this meant that I was unable to check in here, which is pretty much the only positive thing I would've taken away from my visit. My parents brought me here and the first thing we noticed was how old the crowd was. The place was pretty packed for a Wednesday evening, but the vibe was that of a post-church Sunday afternoon pie house. It was nice enough, but also incredibly unexciting. Every table gets a complimentary basket of hush puppies (the only good thing I ate at this place). We missed the happy hour window, so we had to pay full price for the appetizers we ordered. Instead of an entree, my mom had a half plate of clams and a half plate of oysters. I can't remember which, but one was slightly too salty and the other was decent. My dad had the rib-eye steak, which was really good (along with the potato/green bean/onion mish-mash of a side). I ordered the popcorn shrimp and fries and was hugely disappointed. My fries were tasteless and my popcorn shrimp was way too salty and soggy (soggy straight out of the deep fryer? giant fail). I don't ever skimp on my salt and yet this was still too salty for me. I tried to eat as much as I could, but I just stopped eating after a few bites and then we ended up sending it back (which I've only ever done maybe two other occasions in my entire life). All the staff were very nice and our waitress, after she got over the initial shock of our (very gentle) complaint about the shrimp, was very gracious and took the charge off our ticket. I definitely won't be coming here again.
(2)Chad N.
Being from the Midwest and not having the availability of a lot of fresh seafood I thought the flavors of the crab legs and the oysters was incredible. The service was great and our waiter was very helpful since we had never eaten oysters before. Best food I had on our trip in NC.
(5)Henry F.
Title says it all. This place is amazing, and everything is great! I have eaten at Squid's more than 100 times in my nearly 6 years in Chapel Hill, and have tried nearly everything on the menu, and have never once been even slightly disappointed. From the hush puppies you get when you sit down, to the Spicy Fra Diavolo, to the Seafood Chowder, to the Lobster and Grilled Salmon, and the oyster bar, everything is delicious. The dining experience is nice, casual but upscale, entrees prob avg $15-$18 per but is well worth it and evenly matched, if not cheaper, to the competition of this caliber. And for being nearly 2.5 hrs from the coast the seafood is always fresh. As with all the restaurants in the Chapel Hill Rest. Group, this is a guaranteed great dining experience.
(5)Patrick H.
Whenever we would drive by Squids and the place was packed, so we figured this place must be good. On a lark, a friend and I decided to try it tonight. The meal started off great. There was a basket of hot hush puppies waiting for us as soon as we sat down. Sweet and buttery, light and fluffy. They reminded me of creamed corn. Delicious. The hush puppies gave us high expectations for our main entrees. I had the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia and Dan had the Genovese Shrimp & Scallops. Let's start with Dan's dish. The over all experience was a rather bland runny pasta. The sauce was a very runny marinara-like soup (did I mention that the sauce was runny?). The scallops and shrimp were okay - nothing to write home about. The pasta was cooked well, but it needed the sauce to carry it. Lets be honest, noodles don't have a lot of flavor on their own. The only part of the dish with any real flavor were the red olives. They packed a puckering punch that was out of place with the rest of the meal. Dan was convinced that they must have been some kind of pallet cleanser, like ginger is to sushi, "except that there was nothing to cleans." My dish was a lot better but that isn't saying much. Everything was cooked technically perfect. The fish was juicy, tender, and flaky. The green beans were soft but not limp. And the Yukon potatoes were simply awesome. Aside from the buttery, oniony, deliciousness that was the potatoes, my dinner lacked balance. The Tilapia's crust had no hint of the fabled horseradish. Instead, it tasted like the breading in a crab cake. Albeit, a very tasty breading, but not one that should have been atop of this lightly flavored fish. When I took a bit of it I expected to taste crab instead of fish. It tasted incomplete. The beans were pretty flavorless. They could have used some butter and salt. And while the potatoes were awesome, I cook potatoes like these at home all the time. Possibly this is why I liked them so much. I might have rated this as a 3, but the meal was very overpriced for what it was - boring.
(2)Michael R.
I was pleasantly surprised! This place is always packed, so in 5 years I was reluctant to try it (sounds crazy, but I don't like to wait in a line). I went and had the crab cakes and they didn't disappoint. The service was outstanding and I let my tip reflect. To see someone this young be so thoughtful about their job was refreshing. I will go back for the happy hour oyster bar. This place is less than 5 minutes from my house.
(4)Sweet T.
Squids is near the top on our list of favorite restaurants in the area. We've got that place dialed in! The following review is based on about 25 meals there, albeit we're not adventurous with the menu. The FOOD, start to finish: the hushpuppies are usually pretty good, lighter and fluffier than most, but you didn't come here for the hushpuppies. The fried food is Really Very Consistent. We love the oysters, the shrimp (!) , the scallops (!), the popcorn shrimp. Now, the oysters will vary some because they come from different sources but 9 times out of 10, they are quite good raw, steamed or fried. We like the pasta dishes a lot, the Genovese and Fra Diavolo. As far as everything else goes, it is hard for us to say because we don't stray far from our Squids Formula. We've had some really good specials but don't remember what they were. Never had the lobster or steak. I think Squids is very good at what they do, which is fairly straight forward fish. If you want cheaper, go to Mayflower. If you want fancier, go to An or Revolution. SQUID'S FORMULA: 1) Go early for happy hour (half price oysters) or late to avoid the crowds. Squids is super popular (why?) with bluehairs and they like to eat at 6 and be in bed at 8. 2) Eat at the bar. It is more casual, you can drink your Angry Angel (excellent with fried stuff), watch the game and strike up conversations with laid back folks who like to eat at the bar. Also, you have better service because your servers are always within eye contact. 3) Get appetizers, especially fried stuff, especially shrimp or scallops. 4) Share the one entree that just feels right. 5) Did I mention the fried stuff? Just checking. THE LOCATION: is not sexy, right off 15-501, but very accessible and easy to park. Feels like a fish camp. THE DECOR: is relaxed fishy but nice. Note the monstrously phallic neon squid. DRAWBACKS: We always blow a LOT of money here because the Squids Formula allows for no variance. 2-4 beers, some oysters, a basket of shrimp, a salad and a shared entree is gonna be $60+. But you know, the Lantern costs that much for two cocktails and a couple snacks. SQUIDS SHOUTOUT: open 7 days a week so you'll never have that "Aw, shit- It's Monday" moment.
(4)Christina G.
I've just never been much of a fan of this place; I know it's one of the better places to get seafood in the area, but somehow I must always wind up ordering the 'wrong' thing (plus the name weirds me out just a bit). I've done the calamari (which does have some pretty good dipping sauces), crab-stuffed ravioli and different fillets, but nothing quite makes the mark with me. It's kind of cute on the inside; lots of hardwood, fish, nautical-themed stuff (but in more of an upscale way than a "Joe's Crab Shack" way). The main room is a dining room, and the restaurant opens up to the left where there's a bar area. Pretty good space for a bar with some tables scattered in and TVs -- I've watched a game or two here, and it's definitely off the beaten path enough that it's not crowded for that sort of thing. They have some patio seating on their deck, too.
(3)Jim N.
Had dinner last night with a neighborhood group of 10 and it was fantastic! Collectively, we had salad, wine, flounder, oysters, trout, a nice Fra Diavolo dish, shrimp, salmon, and coffee. Great service; great food....best oysters I've had in years!....and quite reasonable prices. Everyone left with smiles....really glad we went back and with this outstanding experience, we're now committed fans!
(4)Tracey B.
I was visiting Durham for business and found Squid's thru yelp and decided to check it out. One of my best decisions! While is it a little far from downtown, it is an easy and quick ride down 15 and well worth the trip! The atmosphere looks like it belongs right on the wharf in a seaside town and the food is amazing! Fresh delicious hush puppies are delivered to you when the waiter comes to the table. And the fresh catch entrees are cooked to perfection! I got the salmon with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. The salmon was perfectly done and so flavorful. The mashed potatoes were light and fluffy and the sautéed vegetables (which can be easily over cooked) were absolutely delicious! The wine selection is also very good and the wait staff is happy to make suggestions on pairings. I would recommend the restaurant to everyone!! And will definitely be going again my next trip to Durham!
(5)Owen S.
Amazingly popular and busy seafood restaurant offering consistently mediocre food, though thankfully they lean away from Southern Fried and offer most items steamed or broiled. Squid's is part of the 518, 411 West, and Spanky's group of restaurants, all of which do what they do consistently and solidly if not spectacularly. Squid's offers a good variety of seafood, and a few non-seafood items. The dining room with its rows of packed tables gets crowded early with the senior-set and families, and depending where you are seated, it can be loud and you can be uncomfortably close to other diners. The market is ok though small with inconsistent offerings, though you can custom order items a few days ahead of time and they'll get them for you, which is nice, though I prefer Tom Robinson's Seafood in Carrboro. If you just have to dine in a place that offers mostly seafood in Chapel Hill, well, here ya go. But pretty much every decent restaurant in the area offers a variety of seafood dishes now, and almost of all them do it better than Squid's.
(3)Brett A.
This place is awesome! Great place to take a date. It's fairly pricey but the food is totally worth it. The hush puppies are amazing too!
(5)Robert G.
The hushpuppies were excellent which is good because the small portions of fish won't fill you up. The crab cake was one of the best I ever had. If I lived in Chapel Hill I'd be looking for a better seafood restaurant.
(3)Matt D.
When I go to squids every so often, I usually get Calamari and the Horseradish Crusted Tilapia. A lot of the items on the menu are overpriced so that's a little bit of an annoyance. I must say though that the Hush Puppies are the best I've had since living here, and one time about 2 years ago they even offered me and my family some fudge? Lol, it was a pretty weird experience. All I know is that I enjoy this place, but their food is slightly overpriced and bland in many dishes.
(3)James A. S.
Have eaten at Squids a lot of times. Tonight was not a good night for our waitress. Got things mixed up, including the bill. Took 25 minutes to get my beer, which I had ordered twice. Her attitude was horrible. Food was great, as always.
(2)Hoa N.
Came here for a birthday party on a Saturday night. This restaurant was packed. It was very crowded and I saw a lot of people waiting outside. I would recommend you called and made a reservation otherwise the wait can be a little bit long. The service okie.. not spectacular but it's okie. It's not bad. There were mistakes but they were received positively and corrected later on. The food: hum... the portion is big I have to say. All the dish came out on huge plates except if you call for the small plate. The regular salad was also huge. I called for a small salad. I guess dressing is not one of the restaurant expertise, so I'm not quite impress with it. The quality of the vegetable was not bad but it didn't give me a feeling that it was fresh either. I called for one of the special : salmon I think. It was a small plate. The salmon was nicely done but the noodle was a little bit stiffer and dryer than I expected. It's nicely blended with the olive oil though. So the dish was small enough for fill me up because I knew the big plate would be too much. Definitely not a romantic dinner! It's too loud to be called so. You can come here with a group of friends just to eat or hang out. Although the food was expensive I would say. Expensive, but it's not too terribly expensive. So come prepared with a nice wallet. The hush puppies were good! :) You might want to put your best dress at home because some lingering fry air circulated around the restaurant. They have a big parking lot in the front and back to accommodate ... many cars :)
(3)Liwei Y.
For a seafood place, I thought that this place could have done better. I thought this place would be more upscale, but it's more like a diner. There are also lots of old people here (people who look like they are over 50) so I felt like I didn't fit in with the crowd that usually comes here.
(2)Scott S.
Ordered tilapia and raw tuna. The seafood tasted fresh and average size portions. The tilapia was somewhat oily and the cooked vegetables were bland. The service was good.
(3)Adrienne E.
Maybe it's because I've got a serious weakness for fried seafood, but Squid's is one of my favorite places to go for a casual but nice dinner in Chapel Hill. I've tried most of the menu at one point or another, but I really just love the crab cakes and popcorn shrimp. The calamari appetizer is above average, and the one time I had the lobster it was heavenly. Squid's does get very crowded at peak dining times, so maybe that's why the service hasn't been as consistent as the food. The last time I was there we were seated next to some little kids that were tossing food at each other, and I'm pretty sure that our waiter completely forgot about us. Other times I've been and the service was great.
(4)Chris W.
Average, place had a touch of a diner feel which isn't what we were going for. Oysters were fresh but lacked flavor and presentation was boring. 1/2 price during happy hour which is the only time you should shell out the cash. (get the pun?) Snow Crab Legs appetizer was more than plenty for a meal. Stay away from the fried fish selection, not much to rave about.
(3)