Circles Waterfront Restaurant

We had an amazing experience at Circles Waterfront Restaurant and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible server Zippy! From the moment we sat down, he was warm, attentive, and full of fantastic recommendations! His personality just lit up the room! Based on his suggestion we tried the Crack is Whack Shrimp and WOW. It completely lived up to the name! The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the sauce... absolutely addictive. I couldn’t stop talking about how good it was, and without even asking, Zippy brought me a whole cup of the sauce to enjoy. That’s next-level service! The food, the view, and especially the service made this a 10/10 dining experience. If you’re heading to Circles definitely ask for Zippy! He’ll take great care of you.

Was recommended as a good local place for dinner. 100% agree. Food was excellent and the view of the bay was fantastic. Great ending to our Florida trip.

Our lunch was delicious! Our service even better. Thanks to Tonya who was so personable and attentive. We will be back.

This restaurant is the ultimate outdoor spot. We drove 45 mins to try it and it was worth the trip. Good was amazing atmosphere was so nice, fun vibes and great service.

Food was good. I ordered the surf & turf, margarita and chocolate dessert. I loved all of it. Nice place too!

Brianna Meyer

My boyfriend and I enjoyed a relaxing mid-day meal here and absolutely loved it. The drinks were great and the food was even better! We tried the highly recommended shrimp appetizer—definitely did not disappoint. He ordered the grouper and scallops and said it was one of the best meals he’s had in Florida (and he recently moved from New York). I had the ahi tuna, and the ponzu sauce was so delicious. The views are beautiful—it’s hard to find a spot with both great food and a great view, but this place absolutely delivers. Service was friendly and attentive, and overall it was such a wonderful afternoon experience. We just moved to the area and will definitely be back!

Virginia D

Lunch at Circles Waterfront Restaurant in Apollo Beach felt like a little coastal escape. Sitting right on the water, the laid-back vibe and breezy views set the tone for a relaxed, sunshine-soaked afternoon. We shared a spread that hit all the right notes. The Baja Fish Tacos were fresh and flavorful, with perfectly cooked fish, bright toppings, and just the right balance of crunch and zest. The Cajun Sea Scallops were tender and beautifully seasoned—rich, and cooked just right. And the Grouper Bites were a table favorite: light, crispy, and unmistakably fresh, perfect for sharing and dipping while watching the boats in the marina. It was the kind of lunch that makes you slow down, savor every bite, and appreciate good food in a great setting—classic Florida waterfront dining done right. 🌊🐟

Susan Russell

This hidden gem is amazing to visit. It was a chilly day when we visited but we ate on the enclosed patio for a relaxing meal. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back when it's warmer to enjoy the water view cafe there.

Sandra Webb

Great food. We shared each other’s food and the Crack is Whack Shrimp, Grouper Bites and crab cakes. Everything was delicious. We also had great martinis (with a graham cracker crust on the rim). We will definitely return because the food and service were great. And the ambiance was lovely and ALL the staff were welcoming. Try them and you won’t be disappointed.

Kiley Coggiola

We had an amazing experience at Circles Waterfront Restaurant and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible server Zippy! From the moment we sat down, he was warm, attentive, and full of fantastic recommendations! His personality just lit up the room! Based on his suggestion we tried the Crack is Whack Shrimp and WOW. It completely lived up to the name! The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the sauce... absolutely addictive. I couldn’t stop talking about how good it was, and without even asking, Zippy brought me a whole cup of the sauce to enjoy. That’s next-level service! The food, the view, and especially the service made this a 10/10 dining experience. If you’re heading to Circles definitely ask for Zippy! He’ll take great care of you.

Brian Sarcinelli

Was recommended as a good local place for dinner. 100% agree. Food was excellent and the view of the bay was fantastic. Great ending to our Florida trip.

Kevin Ellison

We love Circles! They have a nice restaurant or you can chill at the tiki bar. Their huge drink menu combined with their wonderful fresh seafood is a perfect place for a casual afternoon hangout or a nice meal with family or friends. The surf and turf is our favorite, but the grouper sandwich is pretty amazing as well!

Dywanne Harris docccwayne_reviews Instagram

The food is delicious ,we also had wonderful service, my wife and I visited Orlando and drove to Apollo to visit her brother and he took us to this restaurant and we had a great time,nice views also and very clean restrooms, very nice staff, if you are in the area check them out

You Are First

Excellent food. My family and I love to go here. My daughter loves their kids burger. The crab blt is spectacular. Their scallops with bacon and crack is whack shrimp are delicious appetizers. Until next time. ✌🏼 And yes, we keep going back.

Kasey Trombley

This restaurant is the ultimate outdoor spot. We drove 45 mins to try it and it was worth the trip. Good was amazing atmosphere was so nice, fun vibes and great service.

Petiteweekender

Circles is a great place for dinner. I went with a group of 9. Our server was Renee who was excellent! They have interior and exterior seating. They only take walk ins, no reservations available. All the food was exceptional! We tried calamari, scallops, salmon and pasta. The desserts were yummy! My favorite is the crème brûlée. Go outside for sunset views on the water!

Tee Scriven

Very beautiful waterfront if you're looking for a nice outdoor dining experience! They have the BEST crabcakes I've tasted yet, no extra filling just crabmeat and a very zesty sauce that compliments the appetizer . Overall from shrimp scampi, fried chicken filets (buttermilk) , salmon 😋 was DELICIOUS, AND the bikini dropper drink 🍸 was amazing 👏 🤩

Mark Nusekabel

Good food, friendly service, nice waterfront atmosphere. We came for lunch, got the crusted parmesan grouper and surf and turf lunches, and tiramisu dessert, and everything was good!

William Jesse

My wife and I enjoyed the atmosphere and food and service of course. It was our first time having been there. Will go more often now.

Kaitlyn Holloway

I’ve been here almost 5 times by now and I’ve never been let down. The seafood princess grouper and Parmesan crusted grouper is always one of my favorite dishes to get from there. The atmosphere and vibes here are amazing, especially the outdoor seating.

Deirdre Smith

Listen this restaurant is top tier. We got there just before they closed and the hospitality was as if we walked in in in the middle of the day! Everyone was so nice and we felt so comfortable there. The food was really good I had the crab cakes and they were full of crab meat. The spinach dip was amazing as well as the grouper bites.

We had a great dinner at Circles, and I have to give a big thank you to Kortney B. She really made our night. From the start, she was friendly, professional, and incredibly attentive without ever being overbearing. She suggested some excellent drinks honestly, some of the best we’ve had and everything she recommended was spot on. Her attitude and attention to detail made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. Service like that is the reason we’ll be coming back. Kortney truly made our dinner stand out.

We had such a fun night at Circles Waterfront Restaurant in Apollo Beach! From the moment we arrived, the vibe was lively and relaxed, and the waterfront view was absolutely amazing you really can’t beat dinner with that kind of scenery. Our waitress, Kaitlin, was attentive, funny, and made the whole experience even better. She checked on us often without being overbearing and kept us laughing throughout the night. The drinks were fantastic! The Tiramisu Martini and the Cow’s Banana were both perfectly made and absolutely delicious definitely worth ordering again. For appetizers, we had the Crack Is Whack Shrimp and the Spinach-Artichoke Dip. Both were delicious. The dip was creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor the only small note is that I wish the cheese on top had been a little more melty. The shrimp, though, was outstanding, tossed in a great homemade spicy sauce that had just the right kick. For dinner, the Nod to PDQ sandwich was crispy and flavorful, and the slaw on top really made the whole sandwich come together perfectly. The grouper and Seafood Princess were just okay unfortunately, they had a slightly fishy smell when brought out, which took away from the experience a bit. Overall, we had a great evening with wonderful service, great drinks, and a beautiful waterfront atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back especially for those martinis and that view!

Valerie Walters

Had a weird after taste. Previous visit was light flavorful. Must say I was disappointed. Almost burnt. Every restaurant has a miss once in awhile. My waiter Cory was nice.

Nadine Fredrick

We sat outside on the patio. They provided overhead heaters for when the weather got chilly. The calamari was good. I had the cod sandwich, which was very good. It was a nicepiece of fish, very flakey & moist. I really liked the coleslaw slaw. The spicy Groupon was more sweet than spicy, so if you're looking for more heat, let the server know. The Mahi was good, but the rice was cold. So reason for the 4 stars.

We chose this restaurant based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, but unfortunately, we won’t be returning due to consistently poor service. To start on a positive note, the lounge area was excellent while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. The seating was spacious, we were able to order drinks comfortably, and the lounge waitress was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. That part of the experience set expectations high. However, once we were seated in the main dining area, the experience took a sharp turn. The waitress assigned to our table was flat-out unfriendly from the start and remained that way for the entire evening. In addition, the hostess staff made the night particularly off-putting. When another person from our party arrived, it somehow turned into a whole ordeal — despite there being nine open tables and no wait. Two employees unnecessarily escalated the situation, creating tension that completely killed the vibe. We ultimately left earlier than planned because of the staff’s behavior. The food itself was genuinely tasty, and the menu offered a wide selection of appealing options. Unfortunately, good food alone isn’t enough to make up for service that makes guests feel unwelcome. Paying premium prices for drinks and a meal meant to be enjoyed with friends and family, only to receive consistently crappy service, is simply not acceptable. We will not be coming back, nor would we recommend this location to others.

Mylissa K.

We chose this restaurant based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, but unfortunately, we won’t be returning due to consistently poor service. To start on a positive note, the lounge area was excellent while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. The seating was spacious, we were able to order drinks comfortably, and the lounge waitress was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. That part of the experience set expectations high. However, once we were seated in the main dining area, the experience took a sharp turn. The waitress assigned to our table was flat-out unfriendly from the start and remained that way for the entire evening. In addition, the hostess staff made the night particularly off-putting. When another person from our party arrived, it somehow turned into a whole ordeal — despite there being nine open tables and no wait. Two employees unnecessarily escalated the situation, creating tension that completely killed the vibe. We ultimately left earlier than planned because of the staff’s behavior. The food itself was genuinely tasty, and the menu offered a wide selection of appealing options. Unfortunately, good food alone isn’t enough to make up for service that makes guests feel unwelcome. Paying premium prices for drinks and a meal meant to be enjoyed with friends and family, only to receive consistently crappy service, is simply not acceptable. We will not be coming back, nor would we recommend this location to others.

We arrived at 6pm and were directed to the waiting lounge. It was a nice atmosphere, altho the music was a little loud. We got nice drinks and were moved to our table by the water at about 7:15. That setting was also very nice. We had a nice waiter who brought us more drinks and took our order at about 7:45. 5 of us ordered the parmesan grouper with scallops, and my husband ordered fettuccine alfredo. We also ordered the chicken bomb appetizer. That’s where it went really downhill. We were never offered any bread, and our appetizer never came in a timely fashion. After many questions and evidently a report to the manager, we got the 5 fish and scallop dinner at about 8:45. My husband’s dinner came about 40 minutes after that. When we were all finishing up, our appetizer came. Our fish was overcooked, the orzo was okay, and we were only given 2 scallops for $38.00. We were finished before my husband’s fettuccine came. He said it was okay- nothing special. We were never offered a comp on the appetizer or anything else for our trouble. So, we had been at Circles for approximately 3&1/2 hours. It was the longest I have ever waited for a meal. The food was expensive and mediocre. The only thing that saved the night was that the weather was beautiful and we got to socialize with dear friends. The waiter was a really nice guy who was dealing with an inept kitchen. All in all, we all agreed that we would not be going back.- Nancy

5:45 on a Thursday 9/18/2025 - half empty - hostess led us to the first table next to the hostess station and the door to the patio where it was too hot to eat outside. We asked to sit further in , away from these high traffic areas. Hostess said no , had to keep her server table rotation. I asserted that we wouldn’t sit at that table and hostess slapped the menus on the table and said “enjoy”, then zipped out of sight . On the way out she denied saying that but did not offer to resolve the dissatisfaction. Attitude was NOT welcoming . Actually kinda rude. We left and had a very nice dinner at The Vineyard, down the road on Apollo Beach Blvd. Photos are from The Vineyard - which in addition to great food has consistently friendly service. We live here and have eaten here many times. something is not right at Circles. Maybe not what it has been? Anyway, why spend $$$ when from the start you are treated poorly? To the servers at Circles - your hostess cost you a nice tip on a light evening. Maybe it’s a fluke but I would keep an eye on her.

William Drake

5:45 on a Thursday 9/18/2025 - half empty - hostess led us to the first table next to the hostess station and the door to the patio where it was too hot to eat outside. We asked to sit further in , away from these high traffic areas. Hostess said no , had to keep her server table rotation. I asserted that we wouldn’t sit at that table and hostess slapped the menus on the table and said “enjoy”, then zipped out of sight . On the way out she denied saying that but did not offer to resolve the dissatisfaction. Attitude was NOT welcoming . Actually kinda rude. We left and had a very nice dinner at The Vineyard, down the road on Apollo Beach Blvd. Photos are from The Vineyard - which in addition to great food has consistently friendly service. We live here and have eaten here many times. something is not right at Circles. Maybe not what it has been? Anyway, why spend $$$ when from the start you are treated poorly? To the servers at Circles - your hostess cost you a nice tip on a light evening. Maybe it’s a fluke but I would keep an eye on her.