Jean's by the Sea
Phone: (919) 617-1001
Equally enjoyable for adults and kids, Jean's "By the Sea" in Old West Durham has ample outdoor space and serves up sea food classics like ceviche, chowder, oysters and more. Take in the laid-back fish shack vibes while your kids color away on their menus.
Cuisines
- Seafood
Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Map
Google Rating
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Holy moly! This place rocks! My pics speak for themselves. Perfect experience. Interior transforms you to the beach. The staff was knowledgeable and super helpful. Bonus points were earned by serving an oyster topped michelada!
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Jean's by the Sea is the kind of place that makes you do a double take and say, wait... are we still in Durham? Tucked into Old West Durham, this brand new seafood shack feels like it was plucked straight off the Carolina coast and dropped right into the neighborhood.
From the outside, the cedar siding and big painted fish logo set the tone. Inside, it is bright, casual, and nostalgic in the best way. There are wood paneled ceilings, checkerboard floors, minty green accents, and cozy booths lining the windows. The open ordering counter gives it that classic fish camp feel, and you can see the kitchen in action. It is unfussy, charming, and very intentional. You order at the counter, grab a seat, and settle in. Ordering in is easy, with great attentive, friendly service that you would expect.
Now let's talk about the food because Jean's absolutely delivers.
The Crispy Cod Sandwich was AMAZING. Perfectly golden, perfectly seasoned, crunchy panko crust on the outside, flaky and tender inside, topped with melty cheese and piled onto a soft bun. The side of coleslaw was fresh, creamy, and balanced the richness of the sandwich beautifully. Their tartar sauce needs a standing ovation as it was also well-balanced and really enhanced the flavor of the fresh fish.
We also ordered the Calabash Platter with grilled flounder, and wow. The flounder was seasoned well and cooked perfectly with a nice char. The homemade cocktail sauce deserves its own shoutout. Tangy, punchy, and clearly made with care. The crinkle cut fries were dusted in Old Bay and fried just right, and the hushpuppies were golden, slightly sweet, and dangerously snackable.
For drinks, the Spicy Margarita was crisp and refreshing with the perfect salty/spicy rim and just enough heat. You can tell the mix was homemade and not the pre-packaged stuff! The Arnaldo Palmer with tamarind Jarritos and lemonade was such a fun, bright twist. Sweet, tart, and incredibly refreshing.
Jean's feels like a love letter to coastal fish shacks, but elevated just enough to feel fresh and exciting. It is casual, thoughtful, and absolutely delicious. This is exactly what Old West Durham needed. We will 100% be back and glad to be within walking distance of this fabulous establishment! -
Great spot for high-quality seafood with seasonal specials. The soft shell crab platter was incredible—definitely a standout. They have really nice outdoor seating, which makes it perfect for enjoying a meal and beverage “by the sea.” Service was incredible, and the atmosphere is very family-friendly. Will absolutely be back.
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Always a pleasure to drop in and eat at Jean's. Food is top notch, fresh and on point. Being from New England originally, I'm particularly picky with seafood and Jeans's does not disappoint!
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We just went lunch for new spot! The decorations and stuff are really nice! I like how they have station for plates and utensils to bus! Pretty Neat. I got shrimp roll and fries! I thought they were really yummy including fries too well seasoned with hot sauce. The hush puppies were really good honorable mention ‘Maple Butter” was really nice we thought it was frozen mayo or something but we asked the person who worked and he said it was maple butter! Really goes well with the hush puppies! We got 2x Flounder Sandwiches 1 Shrimp Roll 1 hush puppies and 1 fries it costed 54$ we thought it was solid price for little pricy spot we would definitely come back!
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