Missouri might not be the first thing you think of when talking about seafood restaurants, but there are actually quite a few quality, daily fresh, and amazingly delicious places right here where we are nowhere near any ocean.  It could be freshly caught local catfish or trout from Missouri's own ponds and lakes, but also freshly delivered ocean favorites like clams, oysters, lobster, crab and shrimp.  Special note:  while some of these restaurants DO serve sushi, this is not a list of sushi restaurants, but more generally SEAFOOD restaurants.

1. Bristol Seafood Grill, Kansas City

Bristol Seafood Grill is an upscale seafood restaurant with a chic but casual atmosphere offering simply-prepared fresh fish, premium steaks, an impressive wine cellar and handcrafted cocktails. Imaginative seafood dishes made with quality fresh ingredients set Bristol’s above the rest and their Kansas City location has been a city icon since 1980. Valet parking is also available.

Location: 51 East 14th Street

Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 10:00am-9pm

Happy hour (bar only): Sunday-Friday 4pm-6:30pm, Friday-Saturday 9pm-11pm

Brunch: Sunday 10am-2pm

Website: bristolseafoodgrill.com

2. Peacemaker Lobster & Crab, St. Louis

Acclaimed Chef Kevin Nashan guides the Cajun/Creole, Seafood and Southern cuisine at this great spot in the charming Benton Park Neighborhood. The oysters are flown in five to six days a week and beautifully displayed in a granite farm trough-turned-raw bar. Baskets overflow with plump shrimp, lobster, or blue crabs crusted in Old Bay seasoning, all accompanied by delicious sides.

Location: 1831 Sidney Street

Hours of Operation:

Open for Lunch: Monday-Friday 11-2pm

Dinner: Monday-Thursday 4:30pm-9pm, Friday-Saturday 4:30pm-10:30pm, and Sunday 1:30pm-8:30pm

Website: peacemakerstl.com

3. DeMun Oyster Bar, St. Louis

The DeMun Oyster Bar in St. Louis opened in December 2010, and is proud to have Executive Chef Ben Edison at the helm in the kitchen. They feature several different types of oysters which change daily depending on availability, and are listed on their Chalk Board each day. You can order oysters, shrimp by the piece, served raw, grilled or fried. Or try the Steamed Mussels or Clams in a garlic beurre blanc or an Asian red curry broth.

Location: 740 DE MUN AVE. CLAYTON

Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 4pm-11pm

Website: demunoysterbar.com

4. Hyde a Way Catfish Inn, Brosely

Hyde a Way Catfish Inn has been in business for over 40 years, serving a fresh down home menu. You can get all you can eat catfish fillets, catfish steaks or shrimp, along with chicken options and meals. All meals come with baked beans, coleslaw, French fries, hushpuppies, onion and lemon. They also have a children’s menu. Make sure you bring cash or your checks, because they don’t take credit or debit cards.

Location: 1180 Highway VV

Hours of Operation: Friday-Saturday 4pm-9pm, Sunday 12pm-3pm

Facebook Page: Hyde a Way Catfish Inn.

5. Wally’s Park Road Bar & Grill, Patterson

Although it may look and feel like a dive restaurant and bar, the food says otherwise. Try the crab cakes, reasonably priced at $8.99 with an amazing portion size, and served with a mouth-watering sauce. Or try the oyster po-boy, peel and eat shrimp, fried catfish, or the crazy good lobster with crab and shrimp stuffing.

Location: Hwy 143

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 12:00 pm - 1:30 am

Yelp: Wally’s Park Road Bar and Grill

6. Fuji Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse, Springfield

This award-winning, locally-owned Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar is one of the original Japanese Steakhouses serving the Springfield area. They use the Japanese cooking method "teppanyaki" (or hibachi) and prepare their delicious seafood, steak and chicken dishes right before your eyes.

Location: 2909 S. Campbell Avenue

Hours of Operation:

Lunch: Monday-Friday 11am-2pm, Saturday 11am-3pm, closed Sunday.

Dinner: Monday-Friday 4:30pm-close, Saturday 3pm-close, closed on Sunday

Early Bird Dinner Special: Every Day 4:30pm-5:45pm

Website: fujiofspringfield.com

7. Bentley’s, Lake Ozark

Bentley’s is a family business that was named after the car of the same name, evoking "refinement" and "precision." The British theme is in evidence throughout the interior décor, with dark oak in the three dining rooms surrounding the centrally located quaint bar. Attention to detail in the quality of ingredients, along with the courtesy of the staff, create a simple yet elegant experience.

Location: 3100 Bagnell Dam Blvd.

Hours of Operation: 5:00pm Monday through Saturday

Website: bentleysrestaurantmo.com

8. Boudreaux's Louisiana Seafood, St. Joseph

Boudreaux's was established in 2001 by Robert Boudreau, specializing in authentic Cajun cuisine. Unique menu creations that have become St. Joe favorites, great service, and the relaxing atmosphere make it the perfect place for a great meal. Don’t miss the Fried Alligator, juicy nuggets of alligator fried and served with a cream-style gravy. At Boudreaux’s they call it "High-Class Chicken". You also might try the Shrimp Creole, Seafood Saute or the Pescado Con Queso, a 7 oz. broiled white fish smothered in a cream and cheese based sauce with onions, bell peppers, crawfish, and choice of side. You can order online through Chow Now.

Location: 224 N 4th St.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Thurday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, closed Sunday

Website: boudreauxstjoe.com

9. Catfish Place, Arbela

Catfish Place is actually a campground located on Highway 136, 17 miles west of Kahoka, 30 miles west of Keokuk and 7 miles east of Memphis, MO. They have 95 total RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups, tent sites, and cabins to rent. Other amenities include laundry, payphone, shower houses, bathrooms and a dump station, as well as

a swimming pool, exercise room, shelter house, horseshoes, shuffleboard, pool table and more. They have five pay fishing lakes, as well as cleaning services. The restaurant serves fresh caught fish, and down home favorites. They also have locations in Nichols, IA and Chillicothe, MO.

Location: Highway 136

Website: catfishplace.com

10. Hendel's Restaurant, Florissant

This restaurant is in a 1873 building first established as a grocery and general store, and was purchased by the Hendel family in 1915. They spent the next 78 years as a specialty grocery and butcher shop until Henry and Marge Hendel retired in 1993. In November of 1994, Ed Bennett bought the historic building and created Hendel’s Restaurant. With the addition of a 700-square-foot room in 2009, and the passing of Ed Bennett that same year, Bendel’s continues to carry on and is honored to deliver quality service and exquisite cuisine to Old Town Florissant.

Location: 599 St Denis St

Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 9am-2pm, closed Monday

Website: hendelsrestaurant.com

11. Pierpont's at Union Station, Kansas City

Pierpont's at Union Station is named for railroad baron J.P. (Pierpont) Morgan and has been called "the culinary jewel" of Kansas City with food and service as memorable as the historic setting. They serve fresh seafood that arrives daily, along with perfectly aged steaks. Elegant, yet casual turn-of-the-century décor, a 30-foot-tall mahogany bar and dining room, private wine cellar rooms and banquet areas create the perfect backdrop to a quality dining experience.

Location: 30 West Pershing Road

Hours of Operation: Monday 11am-9pm, Tuesday-Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 5pm-10pm (Bar open at 4), Sunday 5pm-9pm

Website: pierponts.com

12. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Kansas City

Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar in Kansas City is the only one of the Jax family restaurants in the state of Missouri. (They have four other locations, but they are all in Colorado.) Fresh seafood is mindfully sourced and soulfully prepared, brought to your table by the quality, caring staff. The Jax Raw Bar offers as many as a dozen different types of oysters as well as clams, chilled crabs and lobsters, all flown in fresh daily.

Location: 4814 Roanoke Parkway

Hours of Operation: Saturday 10:30am-11pm, Sunday 10:30am-9pm, Monday-Thursday 4pm-10pm, Friday 2:30pm-11pm

Website: jaxfishhouse.com

13. Oceano Bistro, Clayton

Oceano Bistor’s chefs create partnerships with fisherman, farmers and food artisans to bring St. Louis' the freshest, highest quality fish. Add to this local produce, unique flavor combinations, and reasonable prices and you are sure to have a dining experience second to none. They use classical recipes and techniques combined with flavors from around the world to bring St. Louis the best that the sea has to offer in ways it has never experienced before.

Location: 44 North Brentwood Drive, Clayton

Hours of Operation:

Brunch: Monday-Saturday 11am-4pm, Sunday 10am-2pm

Dinner: Monday-Thursday 4pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 4pm-11pm, and Sunday 2pm-9pm

Website: oceanobistro.com

14. Broadway Oyster Bar, St. Louis

A local favorite serving Cajun/Creole and Seafood cuisine with a French Quarter ambiance, this restaurant has been named best Cajun/Creole cuisine numerous times by both the Riverfront Times and Sauce Magazine. Also offering the freshest and most reasonably priced seafood specials anywhere, they also host live music seven nights a week from the best local and national touring acts. Housed in a unique 1843 historic building, it features a cozy restaurant inside and open air patio that is enclosed and heated during the winter.

Location: 736 S Broadway

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 11am-3:00pm

Website: broadwayoysterbar.com

Where is your favorite place for seafood in Missouri?  Have you visited any of these places?  What was your experience?  Share in the comments below.