Life > January 17, 2008

By Caitlin Kenney | Editor-in-chief

Fish fanciers rejoice! There’s a delicious and affordable seafood restaurant in Winston-Salem that you’ve never even heard of. Here’s why: it’s not currently listed on The Student’s dining page. But don’t let Jimmy’s Seafood and Oyster Bar’s marketing flaw deter you.

Jimmy's offers a multitude of options at reasonable prices for seafood fans and landlubbers alike. (Courtesy kitchen-delights.blogspot.com)

This fun and fresh fish joint serves amazing entrees at prices you’d expect from the Macaroni Grill across the way.

Jimmy’s is anything but fancy. The atmosphere is casual, with a neon red “Live Bait” sign greeting you at the door and fishing decor draped from the walls.

The excellent service and friendly staff are definite pluses.

Our waiter was sociable, plopping down in the booth with us to chat about the entrees and keeping our sodas filled to the brim throughout the meal.

For an appetizer, we sampled the coconut shrimp ($7.25), which were huge and delicious served with an excellent dipping sauce. The she-crab soup was another winner at only $2.95 per cup.

The real stars of the menu, however, are the fresh fish dishes. Each day a different selection of fresh fish is available and can be prepared grilled, blackened or fried.

The prices vary depending on market value, but your entree will usually come in around $15-$17.

Each course also comes with a salad, side and dipping sauce.

The combination of sauces can make each meal a completely different experience.

Though everyone at my table opted for the sea bass, we all ordered different preparations and sauces and as a result, three completely different meals were presented to us.

My favorite sauce was the roasted tomato and basil, a creamy and cool combination that was perfect with spicy blackened sea bass.

Be warned, the blackened preparation is extremely spicy and not for the faint of heart. If you like your fish a bit more mild, try it grilled with the tequila lime or teriyaki ginger sauce.

The other house specialty is the oyster selection. Not an oyster fan myself, I can’t vouch for the quality but I encourage oyster aficionados to sample and report for themselves. A dozen will set you back $9.95 and special preparations abound.

If you’re like me, you may love seafood but often find yourself in a dinner group that includes a couple fish-haters.

However, Jimmy’s has several chicken, steak, pasta and salad options for those who don’t like seafood, ranging from $9.95 for a chicken dish to $19.95 for a nice steak.

If you can save some room, try the key lime pie ($4.95) for dessert. As a Florida native, I have strong opinions about good key lime pie and this one met my exacting criteria for creamy goodness.

Jimmy’s Seafood is located near Hanes Mall, on Frontis Street behind Village Tavern.

It’s open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and prices are slightly lower for lunch if budget is a real issue. Stop by soon because it won’t be long before this hidden gem becomes the talk of the town.