Bubba Gumbo’s: Tybee’s Best Fresh Seafood

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On a Monday afternoon in April, a man walks through the door of a local seafood restaurant on Tybee Island, Georgia. He waives his hand in the air and exclaims, “Hi, Caitlin.” The man proceeds to sit down at the bar. At that moment… I am sold on the place without ever taking a bite of food. To me, food is more than a meal or nourishment, and on this Monday afternoon, Bubba Gumbo’s is exactly what I believe food should be, unity and community.

Bubba Gumbo’s on Tybee Island

Bubba Gumbo’s is located on Tybee Island, about a mile on the right after you pass the entrance to Fort Pulaski. It is a little difficult to locate, but don’t give up on finding it, that is part of the restaurant’s charm. The locals definitely know where Bubba Gumbo’s is located and once tourists find it, they will never forget.

Why Bubba Gumbo’s?

Besides the atmosphere at Bubba Gumbo’s, the restaurant’s claim to fame is the freshness of their food. Owner, Caitlin Burns, and executive chef, Gordon Card, pride themselves on bringing quality seafood to each person who dines at the establishment.

While talking with the two, it became very apparent that no shortcuts are taken in food preparation. You will find that your seafood was swimming in the ocean a few hours before you dine. It is common to see Caitlin or Gordon outside cleaning the fish as it comes off the boat. If you see a cut of fish you like as they are cleaning it, ask them to cook it for your dinner.

When asked what makes Bubba Gumbo’s so unique, Caitlin explained how the vibrant ecosystem of the island is right at her fingertips and how she wants to share that experience with others. Quality for each customer is her first priority. Caitlin further commented on her beliefs about the food, and her words were so impactful. She simply stated that serving fresh seafood is a dying art that she wants to preserve. Caitlin told us that a lot of folks in the seafood industry buy frozen to cut costs, but there is nothing like freshness in the seafood that you are served. As I ate a bite of swordfish that had been swimming in the ocean a few hours before, I could not have agreed more.

Our Visit

Sean, Jackson, Lucy, and I asked our friends who were vacationing with us if they would like to join us for dinner at Bubba Gumbo’s. They agreed, although their family did not eat seafood. Once we looked up the menu to see that there were alternatives to seafood, they were ready to go. However, the neatest thing happened while we were at Bubba Gumbo’s… with a little prodding, our friends began trying the seafood dishes that were prepared, and they loved them!

One of our friends actually told Chef Gordon that this was the first seafood he ever liked in his entire life. Gordon told our friend that, “If you think you don’t like seafood, it means that you haven’t had it prepared right.” Our friend agreed, and several times on our trip, he commented on how amazing the seafood was and how he couldn’t wait to dine at Bubba Gumbo’s again. Food is about the experience. You may like the food, you may not, and you may surprise yourself. Nevertheless, the opportunity to try new foods is an education set right before you.

The seafood choices at Bubba Gumbo’s are as diverse as the ecosystem that lies outside its door. The restaurant has the typical fried cuisine that we all love, as well as dishes with lovely lavishness, such as Coquille St. Jacques. I thought it kind of funny because the restaurant exemplifies what I would like to be as a human, as downhome as can be with a little touch of gourmet.

The Cuisine

For all the charm of the restaurant, their food is spectacular. I also want to note… don’t skip an item just because it sounds too fancy or because you don’t understand what it is. Ask your servers to describe particular menu items and take some chances. I want to mention a few of the items that we had an opportunity to sample.

Fried Dishes

Bubba Gumbo’s can prepare your seafood fried if desired. Jackson and Lucy tore up some flounder, shrimp, and fries.

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Coquille St. Jacques

One of the specials of the day was Coquille St. Jacques. This is a dish made of scallops with a Parmesan cream sauce served with flatbread. It is now one of my favorites!

Crab Cakes

Bubba Gumbo’s crab cake is simply delicious with a mixture of blue crab and veggies breaded to perfection. 

Hush Puppies

A basket of hush puppies is sure to please adults and children alike. Top them off with Bubba Gumbo’s signature honey butter and you will be fighting for the last puppy.

Grilled Seafood

The swordfish, broccoli, and corn are unbelievable.

Gumbo

Their gumbo is authentic. A gentleman from New Orleans taught Caitlin’s dad how to make genuine gumbo years ago, and the recipe lives on. The roux is the perfect color of brown and the shrimp and andouille sausage are mouth-watering.

Low Country Boil

Generous portions are served of the low country boil. The seasoning has a mild spice and it is all boiled perfectly. There is nothing like taking a bite of juicy corn and potatoes, along with fresh shrimp and sausage, to make you eat every last bite.

For those who don’t care for seafood…

I do have to say that even though our friends are seafood converts, they did comment that the burgers were excellent.

The Story of Bubba Gumbo’s

Chef Caitlin

Bubba Gumbo’s initially opened in 1997 by Caitlin’s father, and he ran the restaurant until 2003. Caitlin explained that her dad actually owns the marina where Bubba Gumbo’s is located and that through the years, he has owned a host of restaurants in Georgia. This naturally led Caitlin, who was born and raised on Tybee, to grow up in the restaurant industry, and specifically at Bubba Gumbos. In 2015, after a 10-year hiatus to Atlanta, Caitlin and her brother returned home and reopened the doors to Bubba Gumbos. It has been open for four years, and while tourism is increasing, Caitlin’s commitment to quality and local sourcing is steadfast.

Chef Gordon

Chef Gordon was born in Canada and grew up in Scotland, where his parents owned a café. Gordon crossed the pond to attend university in North Carolina. At one point, he visited Savannah and Tybee Island on vacation. According to Gordon, what was supposed to be a vacation has turned into eight years of Tybee Island life. Gordon has served as the executive chef at Bubba Gumbos for the last three years. When asked what drew him to Tybee and to never leave, Gordon told us that he loves the island lifestyle and the fact that he has access to food drawn right from the ocean. Gordon’s parents have since closed their café in Scotland and migrated to Savannah as well.

Bubba Gumbo’s Fresh Seafood Co-Op

Caitlin and Gordon partnered in the island’s only fresh seafood market in the summer of 2019. Not only can you eat at Bubba Gumbo’s, but you can also bring the freshness home. This is yet another step in preserving the dying art of serving fresh seafood.

Whether you are looking for the most amazing seafood that you will ever put in your mouth or a friendly conversation at a place where everybody knows your name, definitely give Bubba Gumbo’s a try. I love that Caitlin from Tybee Island and Gordon from Scotland met Brandi and Sean from Atlanta, and all of us were able to truly appreciate the food that was laid before our family.

If you are out towards the Georgia barrier islands, stop by Bubba Gumbo’s on Tybee Island. You will have an exceptional meal with exceptional freshness!

Interested in visiting Tybee Island or nearby Savannah? Check out Trip Advisor for fantastic lodging deals in the area!

Tybee and Savannah are great places to vacation. Read our article on the Charm of Savannah HERE!

What is your favorite seafood dish? We would love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comment section below!