Willies Fish & Chips in Wangaratta

I need to start by saying that prior to this past year, my last visit to Fat Willies had been over 15 years ago. I hadnt been back because it was so hard to find parking back then. Not because the parking lot is small, but because they have a huge local following. I mean, people have always lined up before they open just to get a seat. I remember parking across from the restaurant on Front St in the grassy area which is considered their overflow parking. So, if you dont find a space on their lot you can park across the street. Everyone else does it.Anyway, this is what I would describe as a true hidden gem. Its tucked away behind the CSX railroad track near the intersection of Valrico Rd and Front St. You wont see it from the road but the locals know exactly where it is. Everyone who lives in Valrico knows about this place and the community has actually supported them through a few ups and downs in a period of over 45 years. Yes, this place has survived a lot. They had to close briefly during COVID-19 but were able to reopen (and thank goodness for that). This is the type of Old Florida staple that should be preserved at all cost. I mean, its literally a historical site for this town. It once housed the General Store and Post Office back in the early 1900s. You can read about this history on their website. There are also some very cool articles about Bill "Willie" Robinson and how his family and staff have kept his legacy going through thick and thin. A South Tampa Magazine article titled "Fat Willies Fish Shack" from 2014 which talks about how he modeled his restaurant after a North Carolina staple called Jack Linebergers Fish Camp. There was also a great Fox 13 news story that was televised in June called "Former employees preserving legacy of Fat Willies Fish Camp" that highlights the loyalty and dedication of the employees who are basically their own family. You cant get better than this folks. Who wouldnt want to visit this restaurant after reading about the history?Lets talk about the food! I love it! Ive had the fried oyster and fried catfish basket which comes with a side (Grits or French Fries), hush puppies, and their homemade slaw. Ive also had the gator bites appetizer. All have been wonderful. They know how to do a fish fry. I mean they learned from the best and have been doing this for years. Ive also sampled the fried onion rings as well. All of these items are standouts. Especially that fried catfish. Make sure you ask for lemon wedges to go along with the catfish. It doesnt need it, but it actually elevated the flavor even more. I cant stop thinking about that crispy and light cornmeal batter with the lemon. I was also impressed with how the fish stayed tender inside of that crispy layer. The best Ive tasted in the Tampa Bay area so far. Oh and the grits were also really good. The onion rings were also lightly battered and fried to perfection. They have blackened and grilled fish offerings that are also very popular. I brought the leftovers home to my husband who is not a seafood lover. He surprisingly liked the catfish.Also, everyone is friendly and helpful (staff, owner, family members, and local patrons). Its a true family run business. A true reflection of Willies values and personality. Just go try it for yourself.

Quiet, friendly place. Limited menu but fresh abs tray. Brenda is wonderful with her smile. Well come back again.

I’m sorry, I really wanted to love this as much as everyone else but we just weren’t impressed. It’s average fried seafood. I LOVE our local Gulf grouper. So considering all the amazing reviews I thought this would be amazing. Nope. Sadly it was the flabbiest, thinnest, greasy fried fish I’ve ever had. I brought three other family members and their reaction was the same - just meh. The shrimp could have been from Costco. The hush puppies were nothing special. And the French fries were food-service grade like you’d get at at high school cafeteria. Perhaps they are just too far from the water.

Geat food & great service. Love these hole in the wall places. You can normally have the best food & service!!

Love the fried catfish dinner. Ended the meal with zesty key lime pie. Yum!

Weve been coming there since 1975 when the kids were little too we had my sons 50th birthday yesterday there It was wonderful our waitress was Denise the food was great Weve Treated very good like to Thank Fat willies that surroundings were wonderfulAnd thank all the people in there did the cooking too.

Delicious! Blackened, fried or grilled, the flavorful variety of fish is amazing! Thursday’s are a special treat of all you can eat fried catfish, cod, grouper…with grits or fries and coleslaw!😋 The service is wonderful too! Sweet southern home style atmosphere, and of course the sweet tea is great!A must try, you won’t regret it!

For a bunch of one-note fried food it’s way overpriced. $9.25 for a tiny plate of fried pickles and $18.25 for catfish… literally the cheapest fish around. I’ve paid $15 for all-you-can-eat catfish. And our waitress was completely annoyed that we ordered dessert after she dropped off our bill without even offering. The food wasn’t bad but the service and prices were terrible.

The food is awesome prepare fresh everyday. Great customer servgreat customer service everyone is really nice. I love this place...😊

Grouper, hush puppies & tarter sauce was amazing! The burger left MUCH to be desired. Was def a prepackaged frozen patty, better off just removing it from the menu. I dont think the pricing matches the quality. Room for improvement for sure.In response to owners comment: I provided constructive criticism & left out a few nasty details to be nice. Obviously if you offer a burger at a seafood place youll still want to maintain consistent quality of the rest of your menu. Most mature owners simply thank their patrons for the feedback. This response guarantees I wont return. I was advised from a neighbor not to waste my family dinner night out on this place. Best of luck coasting on the past reputation of a landmark.

Always fresh delicious seafood here. I have eaten here since I was a kid and continue to enjoy it as an adult. Support local businesses! We got fried crawfish as an appetizer and they were so good. I ate fried catfish with fries, hushpuppies and coleslaw. My son got fried Gator bites with fries and hushpuppies. Mmmmmmmm, it was all so yummy 😋 The service was friendly and fast which added to our delightful visit.

I got the catfish, grouper, gater and the kajin hushpuppies. Catfish was very delicious and would recommend for fish lovers, it was flaky and melted in your mouth. Grouper was like your typical fish stick but very rich and flavorful. The gator was a lot like a chicken nugget but more flavorful and chewer. The kajin hushpuppies were very good. And fries were just regular fries. But the customer service was amazing when my iced tea was empty they shot right over and I didnt even have to ask.

Due to moving from the area I havent been in about 9 years. New owners are doing a fine job and when able will dine there again soon. Gator bites and catfish were outstanding.

We had a great meal here. Love the NC roots and the hush puppies are a great representation of those roots. Wonderful staff. Will return.

The building is old and run down but dont let that deter you. If you enjoy seafood, youll be pleased. Limited menu. No fancy dishes. My menu favorites are: Gator bites, Grouper, hush puppies, and the Mahi.

Absolutely love this place, the food is delicious, staff is friendly and very helpful. My husband and I was celebrating our 20th anniversary and our waitress took a picture of us.

Staff was very friendly and the food was delicious! Portions were normal sized and the fried Grouper was so good I wanted more. Thankfully the hush puppies, cole slaw and fries were also perfect and filled in the cracks nicely. Had a few bites of my boys fried catfish and it was excellent. Will definitely be back!

Small town fish camp. Fresh fish caught and brought in and cooked daily. Everyone is nice and friendly food is made to order so it can take some time but still great. Gives me an old country vibe

Fresh food with great service!! We had the fried & Blacken Grouper. Great hush puppy and gator bites!Julio Del Rio Century 21 Affiliated

If youre looking for southern fried seafood? Youve found it! This is a well established staple in the community. We ordered 2 kids fish meals, one seafood combo, hush puppies and crawfish. Everything was fried just right and not to heavy on the batter. Well be ordering from Fat Willies again!They offer alternatives to fried if youre looking for healthier options. Enjoy!

Just as GREAT as the reviews! Large portions of fried oysters and shrimp. The wife and I split the 2 item plate and still took a few home. Amazing fresh onion rings in a light shifted flour coating. Fish camp style so paper plates and plastic cups.Wait staff were friendly and prompt. They never stopped. When a table left they immediately cleared the table so you don t have to stare at dirty dishes like you do at our local Applebees.Nice tropical view out the large dining room windows!!!

It took 15 minutes for them to wait on us, a mix up with waiters I think but once we ordered things were great , food was great !The waiter asked frequently if we needed anything. Everyone was pleasant.

Mom said best onion rings around. Blackened grouper was delish and the grits are outstanding! A good time was had by all.

I absolutely love this place. The building is about a hundred years old but they have been able to keep it up pretty well. The food is incredible here. They have one steak on the menu and it is surprisingly incredible, too. The fish are fresh. I love the gator bites, also, and the fries are fresh cut. They are only open a few days a week, so check the availability online. At least right now, they have an all you can eat lunch on Sundays.

The food is fresh, delicious and plentiful but they are struggling with staffing and building issues.There is an unusual dynamic there as the previous owner is still working there and she sets the tone. While I was there, they had some sort of water drainage system backup and the kitchen staff came into the dining room with a mop and mopped up said drainage.Our server was scarce and it took a long time for our orders to come out. Other tables seated after us were getting their orders but not us. I wish them well, they certainly have stood the test of time in that location.

Great place to eat fish in a quiet space. As a diabetic, I only wish they had Vegetables with all the fried fish they sell. I would like a balanced meal ... I shared with Breaunna and she noted that she would share!

This is my favorite place for Seafood in the Brandon area. I’m basically there almost every weekend. It’s my go too place when I want a little “me time”, with great food and phenomenal service. My usual are shrimp, catfish or grouper, fried oysters, and Modelo of course.

Food was good. Hush puppies were amazing! However, our waitress seemed a bit put out...not sure what the problem was. But Id still go back.

Another great meal had at Willies tonight.Catfish dinner was so delicious as well as plentiful and onion rings are made with the lightest and crispiest of batter.

This was our first time to eat at Fat Willies. The food was good. Our server (Brendawas very nice.

Wow, very impressed by this place! The hush puppies were some of the best I have ever had. Amazing service, couldnt have really been better. The atmosphere was relaxed, all of the staff were friendly. I also loved some of the artwork! The one with the parrots was incredible! Me and my family will be back!!

Friendly place, relaxed atmosphere, and okay food. We had gotten early dinner at Fat Willies on a Friday. The diner was not busy when we got there. By the time we left, business was picking up and the parking lot was full. We tried the blackened Mahi, grilled Grouper, gator bites, fried pickles, the key lime pie, and mudslide pie. The one thing I did not like is that they ask you to pay for the food and tip when you place your order. The ladies taking our order were nice and helpful, however, the waitress forgot about our appetizers and brought them out after the rest of the food. The fried food tasted like fried food, nothing special. The fish was a little on the dry side and the dessert was underwhelming. For this type of diner/restaurant, it was a bit on the expensive side (with tip, just over $70). Was it cool to go there once, yeah. Will we be back, probably not.In response to the comment below, I am aware of the employee shortage! When we arrived, there there were at least seven employees (people that at least appeared to be employed therethat I am sure we’re getting ready for the Friday night rush. From my short time in the service industry, seven people should have been able to take care of two tables worth of guests.I do appreciate the reply, it shows you actually read the reviews and might use them to improve the perceived shortfalls that others see.

We really liked the gator bites, blackened shrimp, and fried scallops. The sides were good, too. The serving sizes were generous and the waitress was very attentive and friendly. The location is quiet and the inside was interesting to look around.

Service was excellent, they made accommodations for our large group! They divided our group between 4 servers, we had Michelle, she was awrsome! The food was good, nothing spectacular until the desserts! The mud pie was sinfully delicious!

Great food with great service! The grouper Po Boy was excellent and loved the Cajun hush puppies too!!

Lived in the area for about 4 years now but just found this little gem. Being originally from the north east Im picky about my seafood. This place did not disappoint. The hush puppies were yummy with a nice fry on them. The fries had a nice potato flavor. My Haddock was well cooked and tasted fresh. Really enjoyed the light crispy batter on the fish. The staff were friendly and engaging. I got the feeling that frequent customers are welcomed in each time at this local neighbourhood establishment. Worth a try!

With a national staff shortage, its sad that patrons penalize a business for not being able to offer tableside ordering. Yes, you order at the counter, but NO ONE asks you to leave a tip. You can leave a tip on the table after your meal, if you wish. The food here is INCREDIBLE. I never liked fried foods until I came here in July. I now stop in regularly for the Fried Catfish; Grits; Grouper; Gator Bites; Onion Rings; Key Lime Pie (made by a popular Tampa pie-maker); Fried Oysters; French Fries; & so much more! The Catfish & Grits are my FAVORITES! Fat Willies first opened in 1975. In March, it reopened w/ new owners connected to the original owners. SAME GREAT RECIPES! Open Friday thru Sunday, theres lots of space for large groups. Staff is incredibly friendly & kind. No table service just yet, but eventually. Be patient-- the owners are working hard to please everyone. I am a VERY HAPPY regular here. Check out my Yelp LOVE-- Kaitlyn S!

The restaurant is open for inhouse dining and provides sufficient space for social distancing. We heard the restaurant reopened after it previously closed due to the pandemic. Customers place food orders and pay at the front counter. They are provided a number to display on the table where servers will deliver their meals. There is a self-serve drink station containing tea, lemonade and other soft drinks. All food was served fresh and cooked to order. Fat Willies Fish Camp is a no frills family restaurant seated on a rustic setting.

The gator and gator sauce is outstanding! Best fried catfish anywhere! An authentic down home Florida family restaurant in a historic building. You need to put this one on your must try list!

Family owned and operated. We were there last night great food. Fried catfish, onion rings, gator bites, fried shrimp, fried grouper all great! If you havent been yet go check them out!In case youre wondering they are open Fri-Sun now. Google maps still hasnt approved the hours update.Fri/Sat 2pm-10pmSun 12pm-8pm

This place will always hold a special place in my heart. Great food, great service, great memories made. Quick turn around as well.

Excellent place if you really like seafood. No frills; food is served on paper plates. The hush puppies are the best around. They offer all you can eat items like catfish and shrimp. I like their grilled items best, like the Mahi Mahi. A few New Orleans style dishes available too.

If you want the very BEST snow crab, you must go to willies. Its not fancy. Its not modern. BUT the atmosphere is down home Valrico. It is very similar to a Low country style restaurant. IF you like catfish, you must try it. They have all you can eat in the beginning of the week. Lightly battered in a beautiful cornmeal batter... AND the grilled MAHI taste like steak. Its so delicious, probably the best FISH Ive ever had. Oh and soft shell crab???? well its just off the chain amazing. Youve gotta try this place. Ask for Allyson, she will take good care of you. Check the hours, closed on Sunday. oh and grab some gator bits for an appetizer.

Great place! Highly recommend the fried shrimp and the shrimp, scallop, clam platter. Save room for dessert and get the key lime pie!

This is my kind of seafood place. Quirky, family friendly, best seafood around. Prices were great. We left full and happy.

Absolutely, hands down the very best seafood pasta I have eaten in my entire life! Great staff, unique atmosphere and reasonable prices made this a fantastic evening.If you are trying to figure out where to eat in the Tampa area, it’s definitely worth the trip!

Willies is unique! I am from Wisconsin, and it reminds me of a northern supper club with a twist. We dont have seafood like they do here. Try the alligator bites; you wont be disappointed. My friend had the mahi mahi, and I had the scallops. Both good! When I come next year, want to try all you can eat, a combination of a variety of all their specials for a very reasonable price!!! Our server was exceptional as well.

Rustic,relaxed laid back atmosphere great service, nice view. The waitresses are very nice and friendly. They serve mainly seafood, from alligator to crawfish, clams, oysters, shrimp, soft shell crab, huge variety of fish and an all you can eat.

This place is a landmark in the Brandon area. Ive been going since I was a kid & it was called Fat Willies. Catfish, scallops & shrimp are my go to items. My wife loves the peel & eat shrimp & the mahi salad. My 2 year old will eat anything that isnt nailed down.

I went to Willies Seafood every time I have a guest in Florida. The service is always great, especially Mary at the time, and always felt welcome. I love the fact that it is a straight up mom and pop shop with no nonsense fancy high class nonsense, just good ol traditional yummy food. I cant say that it is the healthiest, but it is good to spoil yourself sometimes. The fried soft shell crabs are my favorite and I enjoy the gator nuggets. The bottomless seafood on certain days is great, my family really enjoyed the catfish the most. Other than that I recommend this place to all my friends and visitors, because it is a fantastic local spot that no one really knows about.