Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven: Fresh Catch and Smoked Meat in One Stop

What You'll Find at Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven

Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven combines two South Carolina traditions under one roof: a working seafood market and a full barbecue restaurant. The market side stocks fresh fish, shrimp, and shellfish—much of it sourced from local waters—alongside prepared seafood sides and ready-to-cook portions. The restaurant side serves smoked meats, traditional sides, and seafood plates in a casual dining space where you can eat immediately or take food home.

The dual setup means you can walk in for a pound of fresh shrimp to cook at home, stay for lunch at the counter, or order a full barbecue platter to go. The staff moves between roles—market attendants who know the catch of the day, kitchen staff who handle both the smoker and the fryer. It's the kind of place where locals know the owners by name and regulars have standing orders.

Key Takeaways

• The market sells fresh seafood daily, with shrimp and local catch available whole or portioned, plus prepared sides ready to take home.
• The restaurant serves smoked barbecue, fried seafood, and traditional sides in a casual counter-service or dine-in format.
• You can shop the market and eat at the restaurant in the same visit, or do either one separately depending on your time and appetite.
• Hours and daily specials vary by season and catch availability, so calling ahead confirms what's fresh that day.

The Seafood Market Side

The market counter displays the day's catch in ice—typically shrimp (white, pink, and tiger varieties depending on season), flounder, grouper, and whatever local boats brought in that morning. You can buy whole fish or ask the staff to fillet and portion for you. Prices reflect wholesale-to-retail markup rather than restaurant markup, making it genuinely cheaper than buying the same fish at a grocery store seafood counter.

Beyond raw fish, the market stocks prepared items: boiled shrimp, crab cakes, fried fish portions, and sides like coleslaw, hushpuppies, and mac and cheese. These are useful if you want seafood but don't want to cook, or if you're building a meal from both the market and the restaurant. The staff can tell you what came in today and what's been sitting since yesterday—information that matters for quality and price.

The Restaurant and Barbecue Menu

The restaurant side focuses on smoked meats: pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and chicken, served with cornbread, beans, slaw, and other traditional barbecue sides. Portions are generous and prices are moderate for the amount of food. The barbecue is the draw for people who come specifically to eat, rather than shop.

Seafood plates run alongside the barbecue—fried shrimp, fried fish, and sometimes crab cakes or oysters depending on what the market has in stock. The kitchen fries to order, so seafood takes a few minutes longer than grabbing a pre-made plate from the warmer. Combination plates let you mix barbecue and seafood if you can't decide, or if you're feeding people with different preferences.

Seating and Service Style

The space is casual and functional rather than decorated. There's counter seating where you can watch the kitchen work, and tables for groups. Service is order-at-counter, pay-before-eating, and staff bring food to your table or you pick it up at the counter. It's fast-casual rather than full-service restaurant, which keeps prices down and turnover quick.

During lunch hours (typically 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) the place fills with workers and families. Dinner is quieter. Weekends draw people doing weekend shopping at the market and staying for a meal. The atmosphere is working-class and unpretentious—the kind of place where you're not paying for ambiance, you're paying for food.

When to Go and What to Expect

Lunch is the busiest time, especially Friday through Sunday. If you want to avoid a wait, go mid-morning (around 10 a.m.) or mid-afternoon (around 2 p.m.). The market is open earlier than the restaurant, so you can shop for fish before the kitchen starts cooking.

Seasonal changes matter. Summer brings more shrimp and lighter fish; winter brings heartier catches and heavier barbecue traffic. Holiday weekends and summer Saturdays are packed. If you're shopping for a specific fish or a large quantity, calling ahead lets the staff hold it for you or tell you to come back when the next delivery arrives.

Pricing and Value

Market prices for fresh fish are wholesale-adjacent, making them lower than grocery store seafood counters. A pound of shrimp or a whole flounder costs less than the same item at Food Lion or Harris Teeter. Prepared market items (boiled shrimp, crab cakes) cost more than raw fish but less than restaurant plates.

Restaurant plates run $12 to $18 depending on protein and whether you add sides. Barbecue plates are on the lower end; seafood plates on the higher end. Combination plates cost slightly more than single-protein plates but feed two people or one very hungry person. There's no markup for ambiance or table service, so you're getting straightforward value.

Location and Parking

Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven sits in Blythewood, a small town northeast of Columbia. It's not on a major highway, so you need to know where you're going—GPS or a phone call to confirm the address is worth the effort. Parking is lot parking, usually available even during lunch rush. The building is modest and easy to miss if you're not looking for it.

Blythewood itself is a quiet residential area with a few other local businesses nearby. There's no cluster of restaurants or shops, so you're going to this place specifically, not stumbling into it while exploring a downtown. That's part of its character—it's a destination for people who know it, not a tourist spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy just a small amount of fish, or do I have to buy a whole pound?

You can buy smaller portions. The staff will portion fish to your needs—a few shrimp, a single fillet, half a pound. Pricing is per pound, so a quarter-pound costs a quarter of the pound price. Call ahead if you want something specific in a small amount, so they can set it aside.

Do they have oysters or crab?

Availability depends on season and what boats bring in. Oysters appear in fall and winter; crab varies. The market staff can tell you what's in stock that day. If you're looking for something specific, call ahead to confirm they have it before making the trip.

Can I order barbecue ahead for a party or event?

Many local barbecue places take catering orders, but you'll need to call Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven directly to ask about their catering options, minimum orders, and how far in advance they need notice. They're more set up for walk-in and small-group service than large events, but it's worth asking.

What are the hours?

Hours vary by day and season. The market typically opens earlier than the restaurant. Call ahead to confirm opening and closing times, especially if you're planning to visit on a weekday or outside typical lunch hours.

Is the food cooked fresh to order, or is it sitting under heat lamps?

Barbecue is smoked ahead and held warm, so it's ready quickly. Fried seafood is cooked to order, so it takes a few minutes. Prepared market items are made fresh daily but may have been prepared earlier in the morning. Ask the staff what came out of the fryer or smoker most recently if you want the hottest plate.