Big Water Fish Market and Deli

Big Water Fish Market on Siesta Key describes itself as “the great little seafood place,” and they are not kidding. Its fish, from grouper to hogfish and much more, is hailed for its freshness.

Big Water Fish Market & Deli is both a retail fish market and a casual restaurant. So, if you are looking to buy fresh fish, spices, or sauces, you can. If you’d rather let the pros at Big Water prepare fish for you while you sit and enjoy a meal, you can do that, too.

Big Water Fish Market is so well known for fresh fish, it’s been featured in Taste of the South magazine for its grouper sandwiches.

The Big Water Restaurant Menu

Take a look at Big Water’s menu, and you’ll get a better sense of all it has to offer.

For starters, you have items like fried calamari, fried grouper bites, and steamed Florida clams. Want something a little different? There are always the fried gator bites, served with aioli and lemon.

Under soups and salads, some highlights include lobster bisque and New England clam chowder—or, as they call it, “clam chowda.”

For fresh local catches, you have a whole array of choices, including red grouper (the most common local grouper), black grouper, cobia, snapper, hogfish, and several more. Big Water helps you out by including a short description of the taste of each fish. One example: It describes snapper as “very delicate and mild with small flakes.”

Some of the chef’s specialties include items like O’Dolan’s fish-n-chips (served with your choice of fries, hush puppies, or tots), a fried oyster basket, and Dorado del sur. Dorado del sur features grilled mahi over rice, beans, and sweet plantains topped with salsa verde and pickled onions. There are a few other chef’s specialties as well. Hungry yet?

Ceviche Nachos Big Water Fish Market and Deli Siesta Key, Florida — Photo courtesy Big Water

Snapper fish entree Big Water Fish Market & Deli Siesta Key, Florida. — Photo courtesy Big Water

Fish and Chips with coleslaw Big Water Fish Market and Deli Siesta Key, Florida — Photo courtesy Big Water

Under handhelds, you’ve got items like the grouper sandwich, fish or shrimp tacos, grouper BLT, and a crab cake sandwich.

Club sandwich from Big Water Fish Market & Deli Siesta Key, Florida — Photo courtesy Big Water

Vegetarians, Big Water Fish Market has not forgotten about you. There’s a black bean veggie burger, Hong Kong veggies with rice; and rice and beans with sweet plantains.

Round out your meal with an Italian cannoli or key lime pie.

Big Water Market also features daily specials, such as ceviche nachos on Sunday and lobster roll day on Thursday.

Big Water Market and Deli keeps its atmosphere casual with local memorabilia and mounted fish hanging on its blue walls.

Big Water Fish Market is in the Crescent Beach Shopping Center, located near the south bridge in Siesta Key, Florida.

Big Water Fish Market and Deli is a retail fish market and a casual seafood restaurant and deli in Siesta Key, Florida. — Photo courtesy Big Water

Written by: Vanessa Caceres | Author Website

Vanessa Caceres is a Bradenton-based travel, food, and health freelance writer, specializing in writing about Florida. She regularly writes about Florida food and travel for Visit Florida, Edible Sarasota, Forward Florida, and other media outlets. Her work has appeared on the Today Show website, The Huffington Post, USAToday's GoEscape, and other venues.