"Fresh oysters and chef Sheila Lucero's sustainable seafood in landlocked Colorado, the Big Red F group's Old Town bar has made the coastless feel coastal since the 1990s."
About Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar sits on North College Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins, part of Dave Query's Big Red F Restaurant Group. The Jax name has been bringing fresh, sustainable seafood to landlocked Colorado since 1994, and executive chef Sheila Lucero leads the kitchens.
Sustainability is core to the operation: Jax restaurants were among the first in Colorado certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch, and the kitchen tracks its sourcing through Fort Collins-based FishChoice.
The Kitchen
The raw bar anchors everything, a rotating selection of oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp and handcrafted cocktails. From the kitchen, the dishes to know are the grilled Hawaiian Mahi Mahi with creamy polenta and fried brussels sprouts, herb-seared New England sea scallops with mushroom risotto, and a blue crab cacio e pepe. The menu shifts seasonally around what is landing fresh.
The Room
The room is lively and convivial, anchored by the oyster bar, with an award-winning wine list and local craft beer on tap. Happy hour, including all-night oyster and shrimp deals on certain nights, keeps it busy and energetic rather than hushed.
Best for First Date
The buzzy oyster bar makes this a fun, low-pressure first date, share a dozen and a cocktail. The quality and Old Town location also make it a dependable business lunch or a relaxed team dinner.
Not for
Not for a quiet, formal special-occasion dinner or anyone who dislikes a busy, sociable room. The energy and happy-hour crowd are part of the appeal, book somewhere calmer if you need hushed intimacy.
Frequently Asked
Who runs Jax Fish House?
It is part of Dave Query's Big Red F Restaurant Group, with executive chef Sheila Lucero overseeing the kitchens. The Jax brand dates to 1994.
Is the seafood sustainable?
Yes, Jax restaurants were among the first in Colorado certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and track sourcing through FishChoice.
What should I order?
Start at the raw bar with oysters, then the grilled Hawaiian Mahi Mahi or the seared sea scallops with mushroom risotto. The menu rotates seasonally.
Is there a happy hour?
Yes, with daily deals including all-night oyster and peel-and-eat shrimp specials on certain nights.
Where is it?
123 N College Avenue, in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado.
Reserve a Table →
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Reservations recommended; raw bar takes walk-ins.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address123 N College Ave, Fort Collins
NeighbourhoodOld Town
CuisineSeafood / Oyster bar
PriceEntrées roughly $26, $42; oysters market price
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingDining room + oyster bar
ReservationRecommended
