Big Ray's Fish Camp

The fried grouper sandwich is on point and just Melts in your mouth! A very large portion of fish on a slightly toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and tartar sauce. The fish was cooked perfectly and not greasy. So delicious! The onion rings were delicious as well! We were pleasantly surprised at how great everything was including service. The restaurant has very limited indoor seating, but in good weather have a seat on one of several picnic tables outside.

Big Ray's is a must try if you're looking for an unforgettable fish sandwich. The service is fast and friendly and very personable. The decor is a bit outdated but the food makes up for it.Highly Recommended! I'll be back!

tl;dr don't miss out on the blackened grouper or fried key lime pie at this popular, hole-in-the-wall seafood shackThe waters of Tampa are widely known for their abundant grouper, and the nearby Madeira Beach is the self-described "grouper capital of the world." Unsurprisingly, grouper (especially the grouper sandwich) is ubiquitous across Tampa restaurants, and few do it better than Big Ray's Fish Camp. Tampa native Nick Cruz came armed with family recipes when he opened the decidedly casual seafood joint back in 2015. He quickly received local acclaim, and the restaurant has more recently been featured on the Food Network.The original Ballast Point location is a standalone, cinder block shack, painted with a grouper-themed mural along the side. The small, square room is decorated with marine and nautical motifs, from a mounted grouper head to shabby wooden signs. Polaroids are clipped to the well-worn shiplap wall to the left, and the menu is displayed on a chalkboard across the back. Stainless steel chairs are pressed up against the mismatched wooden tables and counters. Reggae tunes blend with the sizzle from the kitchen.My family arrived for early dinner on a drizzly weekday evening, and we were the only ones there. We ordered the Blackened Grouper Sandwich, Caesar Salad with Blackened Chicken, Shrimp Po' Boy, and Fried Key Lime Pie. My hand-sized grouper filet was expertly seasoned and perfectly cooked. The homemade tartar sauce was pleasantly heavy on the pickles -- it's a shame that the flavors were somewhat drowned out by the massive sesame seed bun. The butterflied chicken breast was just as well-seasoned as the grouper, but the salad was "Caesar" only in name: it consisted of the same tomato and lettuce rings that otherwise would be used on the sandwiches, served beside a prepackaged Caesar dressing. Meanwhile, my sister loved her po' boy, which packed 8 large, lightly battered, flash-fried shrimp. The French roll was soft and chewy, in contrast to the crisp veggies and shrimp. Between our sides, the lightly battered, piping hot, pepper-forward onion rings were the clear winner. The fries, meanwhile, were mostly standard steakhouse variety, apart from the addition of parmesan. Lastly, the pie (which was frozen, battered, and fried) was enjoyably warm and crispy on the outside, but creamy and cold on the inside. The sweetened condensed milk on the side proved to be the perfectly sugary complement.Service was laid-back and friendly, but the restaurant seemed understaffed during an unexpected dinner rush right after we ordered. Additionally, each item was made-to-order, but our first entree arrived 20 minutes before the last, with nothing more than a shrug. Although seemingly geared toward takeout, at nearly $70 for everything, Big Ray's certainly isn't everyday dinner. Nonetheless, the blackened grouper and fried key lime pie are must-try dishes worthy of the hype.

Today was a nice day to take a leisurely drive down Bayshore to a favorite stop for a yummy lunch. Quaint spot where you're sure to enjoy the vibe and enjoy a beer from a local brewery.

The service is always friendly and quick. The food is absolutely delicious and flavorful. The grouper is fresh and the portion sizes are enough that I always bring home leftovers. There is plenty of outdoor seating, which is enjoyable when the weather is good. Inside of the restaurant needs help as far as cleanliness and decor. Still, the service and food are what continue bringing us back for more.

Delicious and fast service! Grouper sandwich and the shrimp always are a hit! Locations is very close to MacDill AFB, very easy to get to for a lunch break!

No frill hole in the wall with fresh seafood. Last tome we have bern here was 4 years ago. The grouper sandwich is the thing to order. We also ordered the fried snapper, conch fritters and key lime pie. The line of customers was long and continued outside the door. The owner leaves an 18 years old, first day after training all alone to do EVERYTHING! Plus ONLY one cook for all the orders. What a way to lower the over head, right?!? No respect for the young girl and the cook! Not to mention all three customers!Just wow!

We moved from Nashville to Tampa early during COVID and became hooked on fresh caught grouper. Big Ray's has some of the best grouper the Bay Area has to offer.Wither at their Interbay or Downtown location this place never fails.Fast, friendly service every time. You have to try the lobster corn dog if feeling adventurous!

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Talk about a hidden gem... this place so good! We split shrimp, fries, and the deviled crab and left so impressed. While this place may not seem like much from the outside, their seafood is seriously amazing. Our friends got fish sandwiches and the portion size is unreal. When I come back, I'm 100% coming hungry and going to order their grouper sandwich (I had major food envy). I personally wouldn't order the deviled crab again but the shrimp and fries were delicious. The price is also pretty reasonable for the quality of food. My only note is that if you're planning on eating outside, it may get a little buggy but nothing too bad. 100% recommended and would return.

All around fantastic experience! Food atmosphere was perfect. My husband wanted his grouper sandwich and I ended up discovering more fun things on the menu. counter service- delivered to your table with a smile. Can't wait to come back!