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My wife and I went here for our 5th wedding anniversary, I must say that the food is outstanding. We entered the lobby with reservations for 8:30pm and made our way up to the 2nd floor where we checked in to be seated but since conventions were in town we waited 45 minutes which was not the problem. We were told by the Hostess that some of the tables were camped out and it is considered rude to ask them to make way for people waiting for tables. We had a couple of drinks which were expertly made and totally awesome.
Since we had to wait so long they gave us a high table halfway along the outer side of the restaurant, it was a beautiful view of the interior which looked like a 40's-50's style cruise ship interior.
Our waiter was very entertaining and knowledgeable about the menu.
Speaking of the menu, it is printed daily since the menu changes and some things served fresh may not be available. We got our menus and since we told them it was our anniversary, at the top it says "Happy Anniversary". We started with the small seafood tower, on it you get King crab legs, Snow crab legs, Oysters, Jumbo shrimp, and scallops. But they were out of scallops so we got more King crab legs which were awesome.
Our salads came right after and what a delicious salad it was, the best Caesar salad ever. Next we were supposed to get our entrees, but the waiter came and said they were out of the Mako shark I ordered. So I ordered the Hawaiian Ahi Tuna, YUMMY!!!.
My wife ordered the 8oz steak which melts in your mouth.
We were getting ready to order dessert when our waiter showed up with Baked Alaska. The way he set it on fire was awesome, he set it on the table and with a gravy boat of alcohol that is on fire. He pours the flaming alcohol down a butter knife and onto our dessert, and then he pours powdered Cinnamon into the fire and it looks like fireworks.
It was delicious, I think even though the waiter waited too long to tell me that he was out of Mako shark, and they were out of Scallops and no one noticed but us after it arrived at the table I give the awesome food and decor a five star full score. I will be back. Yummy food.
Everything was delicious with a rating off the charts.
So I've been here twice and for some reason I haven't yelped it yet..so here we go..
I know its a chain..typically I don't except THIS kind of greatness from chains...but wow.
Top 3 seafood restaurants I've been to, period. Crab cake is probably the best I've ever had. It's so unbelievably good. I dont have the words to accurately describe it. Just get it. Yes its a bit pricy, but its worth every penny.
I've never had a bad piece of fish here. What I say really can't do this place justice. This is by far the best seafood house in San Diego, hands down. It's really not even close. Pacifica, Crab Catcher (overrated), Jake's.....nothing is close. They have a great selection of fresh oysters which are apparently pretty cheap on happy hour. This place is pretty pricy, but its definitely worth it if you want the best seafood in town.
This restaurant is quite good only because the crab cakes are so good! There are big chucks of crab in each one. If this is your first time coming to this restaurant, please make sure you do yourself a favor and order the crab cakes. They come in appetizer and entree size.
The fish on the other hand, is a different story. I did not find it to be super duper fresh and the flavors were not there.
The other thing about this restaurant is that so many pretentious people go here.
Four stars - mostly for the service, the food was overpriced, and I don't mind a pricey restaurant if it's worth it. Our server, January, was awesome. She put together an oyster platter and each one was incredible. So 1 for the oysters.
We had 7:00 reservations and had to wait about 15 mins, but they gave us a great table, so we'll call that square.
Our entrees came out almost the instant we finished our oysters, so we were not too happy about that. We hadn't even finished our cocktails and wanted wine with our entrees, which we hadn't even ordered yet. -1
January suggested a wine to pair with both of our entrees and it was delicious, so definitely another server-oriented point. +1
DH had the scallops which were divine. Perfectly cooked and the accompaniments were delicious. +1
I had the crab stuffed Dover sole and while the flavor was great and a small sliver of the fish was perfectly cooked, the rest of the sole was overcooked (on top). The stuffing was almost all crab and delicious. +.5
We made the reservation under the guise of an anniversary, b/c you usually get a better table and service when they think it's a special night... ;) At any rate, they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on our menus and for the finale, gave us a complimentary baked Alaska, which I had never had. It was delicious, so a big +1.5 for that.
This place is absolutely, absolutely amazing! One of the best seafood places I have ever been to. There are stairs leading upstairs to the restaurant where the hostess greets you. Reservations are probably a good idea since the restaurant starts to fill up very quickly. The menu is printed daily since their inventory changes. We ordered the crab cake, clam chowder, creamed corn, mahi mahi, and the halibut.
- Crab cake: absolutely unbelievable! It is a must, must, must! The best crab cake I have ever had, to the point where all the other crabcakes I now have never seem as good. What you pay is what you get. It is expensive but filled with fresh crab and little stuffing, whereas most other restaurants are the other way around. I want some just thinking about it!
- Clam Chowder: an unexpected twist as it is more broth-like; thus, very light. Filled with vegetables, clams, potatoes, and the like, it's very good too!
- Creamed corn: decent, but very close to ones I could find elsewhere. Not a bad appetizer; sweet and yummy!
- Mahi mahi and halibut: the mahi mahi has a nice kick in it due to the screaming rooster sauce. It is a more heavy dish whereas the halibut was cooked in a broth and very light, buttery, and flaky. My friend and I were actually very happy to order two types of fish that were very differently cooked. It was great to sample both to see the variety Oceanaire offers.
We ended up skipping dessert because we were so full, but I can't wait to come back again and see what they have, because I've heard their desserts are amazing as well. The service was impeccable and it's a great, cozy atmosphere.
You would think that San Diego's proximity to the ocean would mean seafood restaurants are plentiful. Sadly, that is not the case. Since we moved here, we've been trying to find good seafood, without luck.
Then, we found this place. This is the best seafood restaurant in all of San Diego! If you want fresh seafood, then check this place out. You won't be disappointed!
Locations across the country, Oceanaire is a quality seafood restaurant with old school service and decor - a real treat. Great place for a special occasion or nice evening out. Atmosphere is classy with the side tables/booths the obvious choice. The appetizers, oysters, and fries (I know) are unbelievable. For the entree, the black cod (butter fish) is hard to beat (close second to Roy's just up the street). For desert, (if its your birthday), your server will deliver a baked alaska - well.....make sure its your birthday. Enjoy.
Been here at least half a dozen times and have yet to have a bad meal.
Def. ck this place out. Well worth it.
What a great surprise to find this restaurant around the corner in Gaslamp. I can't tell you how many times I've been on either coast and been disappointed by the seafood selection.
The only thing better than the crab cakes is Eugene! Make sure you ask for him. He set us up with an oyster sampler that tasted as fresh as the ocean and melt in your mouth. Excellent Dirty Martinis, the BEST crab cakes I've ever had and a great wine to accompany. And then warm chocolate chip cookies and milk to follow. The crab cakes are fresh crab meat just held together with a smidge of egg, flour and spices I think. One of my favorites :)
This place is just about as good as it gets. The atmosphere is great and the food is top quality.
My problem with my experience, and it's really only my problem, is that there wasn't enough selection. What they did have was excellent and very well prepared and well served. The wait staff was very friendly and personable.
However they ran out of lobster tail. Between that and the brevity of the menu I had to make an effort to find something I liked.
Overall I'd still go back once in awhile but it's not the first place I would take someone in San Diego.
What a beautiful place! While in San Diego, a close friend and I decided to stop in for an app and a glass of wine - I love seafood but wasn't really ready for dinner and I had seen the Oceanaire in Orlando, but never been, so we stopped.
The ambiance was one of fine dining for fine people - we were dressed for a night out, but others were decked out in semi-formal wear. We sat at the bar, I ordered a nice red Zinfandel and perused the menu - there it was - the Grand Shellfish Platter! Pricey, but every favorite of mine was listed! About 15 minutes later, a small iceberg appeared with jumbo shrimp, snow crab, king crab, scallops, mussels, and oysters!
So good! Will be sure to visit the on in Orlando after having this excellent app!
Definitely a date night - prob more of a special occasion :)
I came here for a business dinner and the GM gave us a pvt room. The crowd was professional and the ambience was very trendy and up-dated.
The warm bread was super good.......I had 4 pieces before my meal.
I ordered the clam chowder, fillet mignon, hashbrowns and creamed corn.
The chowder was super creamy............and tasty, the fillet was perfect. The hashbrowns and creamed corn was so HUGE (Good for 4 persons) and sooooo fucking good that I ate and ate and ate 5 helpings....
Great ambience.....average service..........outstanding food!
The Award for ''BEST CRAB CAKE'' Downtown San Diego goes to my honorable friends at Oceanaire!
Thank you for recognizing and treating me like the GOD that I am every time we dine with you!
I was a little worried when Phillip left, but the new management team has certainly tickled my Pickled Herring.
Not to boast but...
I do hold the town record 3 years running for the most oysters eaten during Happy Hour.
"How many" you ask?
Sorry, I wont tell you.
But I do accept any challengers. Loser buys....
Serious contestants only please!
I warm up with 36.
Best seafood restaurant we've ever been too!! All the reviews are right that the Crab Cake is the best you'll ever have - 90% fresh crab meat!!! We were there for restaurant week so had an incredible deal but would have loved it even if it were at full price. Everything was good - apps, entree, desserts (highly recommend Key Lime Tart and Baked Alaska!!). Service is 5 stars!!
I wasn't aware that this is the only Oceanaire on the West Coast so if you're in San Diego, you better take advantage, we certainly will next time we're there!
My husband took me to Oceanaire this weekend for my birthday!! It was our first trip and it definitely not be our last.
The place it self is amazing. I felt as if I had gone back in time and was in the dining room on a cruise liner. We ordered the crab cake, which ROCKED!! Oh so good!!! My husband who isn't a big fish eater branched out and went for the black & blue mako shark. He loved it. I had the kid dynamite, which was a blue crab crusted mahi mahi..YUMM!!! Both recommendations of our AWESOME waiter Ishmael. We also got the hashbrown ala oceanaire, which was well more than we could make a decent dent in, even though we got the small order. For the finale the baked alaska!!
I cant say enough great things about this place. The overall service, atmospehere,and food were all great.
I just sure hope on our next visit "Mark from the Marriott" isn't sitting in the booth next to us. Since we weren't "Mark" we didn't all the schmoozing from the 3 managers that were constantly stopping by his table. Kind of made me feel less important...but I guess I must be since I am not "mark". Oh well...........
I have not had dinner here but the wife and I go to the bar for happy hour to pig out on oysters. They are very fresh and tasty and there is always a good selection. The french fries are great and the starter plate of pickled fish and veg is nice. We had one other dish here and that was nothing to write home about...but if you like oysters, you cannot beat the $1 happy hour.
Came here thanks to restaurant week and I'm glad I did. This is a very nice restaurant and I understand why folks would come here to drop some $$$ on seafood. I would say that it definitely is worth the the coin but should be saved for a special occasion. The service was wonderful and couldn't be any happier with our server. I wish I could remember her name but that's my bad.
As for the food I have to agree that the crab cake was prolly the best I ever had. It was more like a pile of crab shaped like a cake. For my second dish I had the Kid dynamite. I was thinking that it might be sushi like with a dynamite sauce but this piece of fish had a nice kick to it. For dessert I had the cheesecake and was pretty good by then.
Wow is all I have to say about this place. Originally I had no intention of reviewing as Oceanaire already has many rave reviews and we did go for restaurant week. I think it is best not to judge a place based on their performance during restaurant week but WOW!!!
Our service was fantastic. We brought three bottles of our own vino (nice bottles) and opted to pay the corkage fee. We wanted to save money and enjoy some stellar wine. The corkage was $20.00 a bottle and our waiter was very gracious about icing our white wine and providing fresh stemware for each bottle.
The food was amazing. There were many more options available for restaurant week than were listed on the restaurant week menu. Literally more than half of the menu was available for the 40.00/3 course meal option. I am not a fish eater and I ordered the sirloin and was crazy impressed. The crab cake was just as fabulous as everyone proclaims and the dessert portions are huge. At our table we had three orders of cheesecake, a hot fudge sundae and the espresso chocolate mousse, all decadent (although the cheesecake is crustless) and all in huge portions.
You feel like you are on a high class cruise while dining in this restaurant. Everything about the room is plush, warm and inviting. The bathrooms are clean and offer actual terrycloth towels for drying your hands. They provide mouthwash and hair spray in the ladies room and lack the annoying tip hungry attendant that is getting so prevalent at downtown bars and eateries.
Oceanaire is quite spendy without the restaurant week specials but I think it is totally worth it. Hope to be back soon!
I honestly think this place is out of my league. Mainly because:
1) i don't drink wine/alcohol with meals. thats for parties.
2) i'm not in my mid 30s with a nice career
3) my income in one month equals what some of these people bank in a week.
*The only reason I fit in was because I dressed nice...with a tie!!! What now?!?
With that said, this place is super awesome. EAT THE CRAB CAKE. Even though you only get one for $15, its an awesome way to spend that much money on one little piece of deliciousness.
The place was packed on a friday night, like most of downtown is, but my waiter was awesome and very knowledgeable. My girl had the red snapper, very good in curry sauce, and I ordered the fried dish which had fried scallops, oysters, shrimp, and fish. There were so many fries on my plate that I didn't even eat them all and I always eat my food so that was an epic fail for my standards.
I got a free Flaming Alaskan, chocolate cake with strawberry ice cream in some kind of whipped cream thing lit on FIRE with alcohol, because it was my anniversary. Had a lot of alcohol on it so we got a nice little buzz going on.
You get what you pay for. Yes, this place is kind of on the expensive side but it has amazing food, great ambiance, and top of the line service. The waiter could tell we were the youngest couple there but treated us as well as he would a CEO and that tells you something.
I've been here a few times, but instead of sitting in the dining room I had a feast at the oyster bar. Very delicious! Lets commence.
Pros: The bread is ridiculously good. They do not serve it to you cold, they heat it up.
They have this little platter of veggies and herring which is to die for. I like veggies and pickled herring, however if you're afraid of trying new things pickled herring could be a little too much for you. It is terribly fishy, but oh so good.
Oysters. The oysters are to die for. They taste so briny and salty. Delicious.
Steamed mussels are delectable. I am a mussel addict, and I think the Oceanaire's are very flavorful. The best part about ordering the mussels is getting bread to sop up the remaining broth at the bottom of the plate.
French fries are just french french fries, but i really like the ones at Oceanaire. They're little shoestring ones.
Clams casino was the plate I had not tasted before. It was okay, but I believe nothing can taste bad if it has clams, bread crumbs, and bacon on top. Still, I'm more of an oysters rockefeller kind of gal.
Okay the crab cake is a little pricy, but that sucker is a beast. It is the size of a baseball ,or something like that, and it is all crab. Very little breading. It is filling and it is tasty. I love the little sauce it is served with.
I really enjoyed sitting at the bar. It's more social. You talk with other people. It's fun.
Cons: I had very few problems with this place. The cook just burnt the Clams Casino. But I forgive him/ her.
Go to the Oceanaire if you like seafood. Not just any seafood, good seafood. Whether you're sitting in the bar or in the dining room, you're bound to have fun. The Bartenders and the waiters are very friendly and they try their best to make you night memorable.
The Happy Hour here is unbelievable!!!! $1 oysters, I'm definitely one happy girl!!! The Crab Cake Slider is not on the menu, so you need to ask for it, the El Diablo Squid is amazing..... They even offer bread service at the bar!! They only offer it from 5-6pm so you need to get here early cause the place fills up FAST..... the staff are super friendly & I'm a loyal fan!
I came here for my swanky birthday dinner treat, and it did not fail to impress. Our server was very attentive and friendly, I was even given a black napkin to use, because a white one would have clashed with my black dress? Not sure, but I went with it.
For an appetizer, we ordered the oysters rockefeller, which were great, although a bit too hot at first. But, I can't really complain about my food coming out hot. That just meant I had to sit and stare at the oyster goodness until it was cool enough for me to consume.
For my meal, as per everyone's recommendation, I ordered the crabcakes. My plate came out with two cakes on it, a little smaller than a baseball each. I thought to myself, that's not very much food! Until you start to eat it, and realize that their crabcakes are 98% crab. Yum!!! I could only finish one... yay for leftovers! My date had the swordfish with cherries, nuts, and other goodness, which he adored. He was even nice enough to give me a bite, but I could tell he really wanted to to devour it all himself... boys can be nice sometimes.
Finally, we ended our meal with the complimentary Baked Alaska, because none of the other dessert items really stood out. This was the first time I've ever had a baked alaska, so I can't really compare it to anything. It wasn't one of my favorite desserts, but still fun to eat since it was on fire.
Really, I would give this restaurant 4.5 stars, as I don't think it's quite 5, but I'd rather give them that bit more, than that bit less. This is definitely a great place to come with someone special!
I really felt like I was on the Titanic when we got into the Oceanaire Room. Had to walk up a few steps...If you are not a regular to fancy food places, you will feel like a King or Queen there! A friend and I went for the first time lastnight. We were offered booth seats which were perfect! We had privacy to talk, while at the same time we were able to see the happenings in the place and view people. Not too many booth seats there (From where I could see) but we were lucky I guess. As we got there for our time, a booth had just been cleaned. The host asked if we would rather have the booth seat than where we were originally going to be seated (Hard Chairs)...Of course we said YES!.
What timing!!! WOW!
We started off with the Calamari. Perfect! Our waiter was VERY tentative to us and he recited the entire menu for the night and made many recommendations which we took him up on, and the bussers were on top of it 101%. I accidently dropped my fork on the floor and waited for the waiter to come back so that I could ask for another one, but I did not get the chance to ask for one..... Why???- a busser had already placed a new one on the table for me!!! WOW WHAT SERVICE!!! My water glass was full the entire time, and the ice in the glass kept the water icy cold... and my wine Canyon Road, was cold with just the right amount of liquior to keep me happy and not get me buzzed up to be foolish.
We ordered 12 different types of oysters each served and prepared 12 different ways. My favorite was the St. Simon, it had just the right amount of zing of salt taste in it to make my mouth go crazy! We then got our salads. I ordered the Panzanella Salad (I have this thing about me where I usually order what I cannot pronounce)- It was GREAT!!!....When my main dish came, the Blue Nose Fish Special, it was perfect! Me being from New England and having been a seafood eater since the play pen, not to mention a seafood-aholic as an adult, I can tell you that this was the BEST FISH I have EVERY HAD IN MY 28 years on this earth! This is a fish dish I will NEVER forget!!! The fish was juicy, moist, and the best part of all, there was not a bone in it!!! You could taste the ocean flavor and the seasonings too which did not overtake the fish flavor one bit...I did not need to reach for the salt or pepper shakers since every bite was full of flavor.
Our bill came to $150.00 which was expected for such fine food.
( I would have paid more if they asked me too!) Shhhhh....Our service was sooo great I just had to give a $40.00 tip to our waiter and bussers, they were on it all the way!!! We did not order dessert as both my friend and I were full. We were not full to the point of feeling ill, but full to the point of just having had enough. If I had a larger stomach, I would have ordered dessert, but oh wells. Better luck next time :)
If you plan to go, make sure you dress up, no need for formal ware, this is not a prom or a wedding dress up kind of place, just make sure you dress in your "Sunday Best"...Dress as a CEO would and you will look just fine.... (We saw a few people with jeans on and a few with t-shirts) which ruined the ambiance just a little...No fault of Oceanaire though....The noise level was just enough to be able to hear my soft spoken friend from across the table as we spoke to each other about the food and as we listened to the nice calm music of the 30's 40's and 50's play throughout our meal...Wish more places were like this one. No complaints from me whatsoever! GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!
The best. I took the boyfriend here for his birthday and we both loved it. Had the oyster rockefeller appetizer and we both had the lobster, so amazing! Excellent service too, we had a blast. Definitely a special occasion place for us because it's very upscale and pricey, but it's well worth it.
This was my first experience with Escargot and it was sublime! Tiny snails submerged in Garlic and butter I knew right away I would be back on my birthday just to get this little taste of heaven! My date ordered the swordfish but it was sold out so he settled for the Red Snapper and I got the Angry Scallops (they were cooked with a special chile topping). Both were delicious.The bread was great and for dessert I had the world's best creme-brulee.. I will definitely be back....
The absolute epitome of fine dining! I won't even bother with my menu suggestions because rest assured everything on the menu is utter perfection.
My boyfriend and I like to eat, so we liked that the side order portions are HUGE. (We made zucchini and mushroom omelets the next morning with our dinner leftovers!)
Our server, an attractive and charismatic young woman, was the perfect server--knowledgeable and completely professional and attentive on a very, very busy Friday night.
The energy at Oceanaire is awesome! Love the hustle and bustle. It's definitely not the quiet classy type of vibe, which I think is snobby and uncomfortable.
The one massive downside was that we had reservations but still had to wait a full hour after our reservation time for our table. It was unacceptable, but for me the wait was 110% worth it.
Been here twice and and let me tell you, I have yet to be disappointed.
I'm obsessed with fresh seafood if its cooked, and more importantly, how well it is prepared - so going into any place that has seafood as its charter is a bold endeavor.
Each time, I tried something different, but to my surprise, everything I ordered was prepared extremely well. The setting is great, and the service is superb. One thing I do recommend is that you bring an appetite for both fish and wine as they have an excellent wine list that can fit any budget (unlike so many of those steakhouses out there).
They do a great job in training their servers to be customer oriented and the cooks in the back readily back it all up.
I'd recommend this to anyone and their mom.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! This is by far one of the best seafood restaurants I've eaten at.
They have a great happy hour from 5-6pm on weekdays. Everything is amazing, definitely get the crab cakes, oysters and they have a spicy shrimp app that is to die for.
Sit at the bar and let Ron and James entertain you...believe me, you will be entertained. They are hilarious, have great suggestions for drinks and are the best bartenders I've ever met.
Men, this is a great date spot...sit at the bar. :)
i went here for my anniversary with my bf, and it was GREAT! Or waitress, Lora, was FABULOUS! It was our first time there, and we had NO IDEA what to order, but luckily Lora gave us some suggestion! and of course we took it, and it was YUMMY! My bf had the Mahi Mahi and he really liked it (get it if you like SPICY food) and i ordered the Salmon! the portion looked small, but it was not at all it filled us up to where we both had to take it home! we also ordered dessert... and the portions were enough to share with THREE! (cheese cake) we had to take that home too! But the dessert REALLLLLLLLLLY hit the spot ^-^ i was one happy camper! i would definitely go here again for a special occasion (pretty pricey)!
atmosphere was different. it was nice and fancy, but people weren't all quiet.. it was pretty energetic. the waitress and waiters were sweet and very helpful, they would come by our table and ask how is everything. and our glass of water was NEVER empty... even with 3 gulps its back up full AGAIN!
in conclusion my trip from LA to SD... was worth it!
By far the best seafood in San Diego.
The service is amazing, definitely a top-notch staff.
The food is to die for... the crabcake is the best in the country and I've had crabcake in most major cities in the US. I've had it at the Foundation Room and other private places that you have to have a membership or invite only on business trips and yet this crabcake easily blows every other crabcake I've had out of the water. It's like 90% crab meat with just enough other filling and seasonings to accentuate the amazing taste and to keep its shape.
I could write on and on forever about how great this place is but in reality you already know it's amazing due to the 4.5 star average of over 300+ reviews.
I always thought seafood was decent but nothing special since I've been to a lot of decent seafood places across the country but never one that was amazing like this. Now, I love seafood thanks to Oceanaire.
From the minute I walked in, I sensed the love I was going to get from this place. It was a week night, so it wasn't extremely busy but still held an ample amount of early night diners. I was a guest for a business dinner and the host was generous enough to have us indulge in their menu. Business dinners, especially from this guy, is like a sugar daddy saying those T.I lyrics "You can have whatever you liike."
So with very little hesitation, the group of us did just that, indulged. We enjoyed all that this place has to offer. He first ordered the tower of chilled seafood and a few other choice appetizers which kicked us off to a great start! I drank, ate, smiled and exhaled from all the stuff I had put in my mouth.
Let me sum it up, as I like to look back on the wonderfulness and yumminess of that night:
Drinks... tasty yet potent. Guarantee to quench your thirst.
Wine... always check with your server. What he suggested was phenomenal.
Food... the freshest and the best. Seasoned just right. Everything just melted in my mouth.
Dessert... oh yeah! Exquisite and will give you enough caloric intake for you to feel like you should skip the next two meals of the following day.
Ambiance... great atmosphere! Loved it
Service.... A+
This probably isn't the place to frequent during the recession but if you want to have that one good seafood meal at that one good seafood restaurant, this is it!
What an evening to remember. Our server Roy hooked it up! I mean we both shared some common roots, that is being from New Orleans, so he had to hook it up. No, but really, Roy was such a sweet and pleasant man, and he told us exactly what to get when we asked for recommendations. Unlike other servers who would still give you many choices depending on if you liked salmon or tuna or steak, etc. Roy went straight for the punch and was quite convincing in giving his two cents :)
So we had the Endless Summer oysters - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. We could only eat two oysters each b/c we were also getting crab cake and clam chowder, but if you were to do the same and get one or two oysters, definitely try the Endless Summer oysters. They had more taste than the other oysters we got, which I forgot the name already.
We also had the clam chowder which was good. The crab cake was also good. My Mahi Mahi etouffee was delicious. This is a Louisiana dish recommended to me by Roy, and I was debating between the scallops and Mahi Mahi but Roy was convincing enough to get me to order the Mahi Mahi. It didn't disappoint. I don't normally like thick sauces with my fish (I'm more wine and butter), but this was definitely different and in a good way. It's a big portion so you can bring it home with you, and it tastes even better the next day!
My dinner date got the shark with bleu cheese. It was part of the Summer Special menu ($30 for appetizer, which we got the crab cake, entree, and dessert - a definite steal) and it wasn't bad. I thought the bleu cheese would be overpowering, but it was subtle, and the shark meat was not too tough or dry, which it typically is.
For dessert, we had the hook ups. Berry and peach cobbler (my favorite), vanilla creme brulee and the Baked Alaska. I can see how the Baked Alaska is spectacular looking, and it definitely tastes of 151 (it's basically chocolate ice cream with whipped cream and doused in 151). I mean, for a complimentary birthday treat, I was impressed. But the berry and peach cobbler topped the desserts that night.
I don't want to brag, but our whole dinner (3 appetizers, entrees, 3 desserts, and wine) cost us only $80. It was Roy's birthday the next day, so we gave him a fatty tip for his wonderful service. But aside from the great service, the food was good, the ambience was special and relaxing...I would come back for any occasion.
This review is for happy hour only, which is awesome - i would marry this happy hour and have a beautiful angelina jolie style blended family with it.
the oysters are always fresh and amazing, and i love their salt and pepper fries. it can sometimes get crowded but the bread is fresh and i think this is reason enough to come by.
this is one of the best happy hour spots in downtown sd, for sure.
4.5 stars
I tried, going to this place earlier this year , without RSVP's , WTF was I thinking lol. You must have rsvps when you get here. Even with Rsvp's it took a wait, my boyfriend even gave the host 20 bucks and sped that shit up LOL sneaky sneaky.
Anyway, this place is amazing, only gripe is their side options are weak, im spoiled by Mastros and Ruth chris type side dishes. The appetizers make up for that. The escargot with a puff pastry OMG the bomb, they could do without the pastry puff, it dries up and hardens fast, so take that part off and your going to have mouth orgasms throughout the whole dish. Seriously better than Mastros escargot fuuuuuccccccck. The clam chowder was good consistency but no one beats my Tony P's in MDR...... Now the main course, Diver stuffed sole , stuffed with blue crab and shrimp and some kind of lemon cream sauce. So moist and gooooooood. My bf had the Hazlenut swordfish, I didn't try it but it looked to sweet and to many nuts on it. Side dish we ordered were the yukon mashed potatoes, they came in a big bowl and a dollop of sour cream and chives, it lacked flavor so we added just a tad bit of sea salt and that set that off. A free baked alaska for my Bday . Oh and the bill was only 113 bux and that included drinks Overall, im coming back to this spot ...Enjoy!!!
A weekend stay in San Diego warranted a trip to this delightful seafood restaurant in the Gaslamp District. I called early on Saturday evening to see if they had an available reservation, which they did - at 10pm. Not a problem -- I'd been driving all afternoon and was in desperate need of a nap before venturing out on the town. They also asked if it was a special occasion, which I thought was really great. So often you have to seek out the waiter specifically about special events -- how great to be asked before you even get to the restaurant!
At around 9pm we ventured out of the hotel and began to walk towards the restaurant. The idea was that we'd explore as we walked and hang out in the restaurant bar once we arrived. Well, we got there around 40 minutes before our reservation. Walked into the first floor and up a gorgeous staircase to the dining area. Such a great ambiance! And even better, when I let the host know that we were going to hang out in the bar, he asked if we just wanted to be seated right then. Great - I wouldn't have to stay up too much past my bedtime!
I found our waitress to be perfectly attentive, offering suggestions for food and wine pairings. My one complaint is that she didn't tell us that they were out of the green beans before I tried to order them! But she gets points for suggesting getting an entree that wasn't exactly on the menu...and it was great!
We got one Crab Cake entree and one of the Black and Blue with grouper rather than shark. And since there were no green beans available, we got the broccoli instead. The crab cake was wonderfully moist, will large pieces of lump crab and the perfect seasoning. The Black and Blue was great, with just enough blue cheese to get a bit in every few bites - not at all overpowering. The grouper was cooked perfectly - I ate almost all of the fish on my plate, for me this says quite a bit about how great the meal tasted! While we ate we watched several tables around us explode in flames when their dessert came -- although only one of the tablecloths actually caught on fire.
When it was time for dessert, we got to experience the fire ourselves -- due to the special occasion, they brought us a complimentary Baked Alaska. Quite delectable, although I have to agree with our waitress, who warned that the meringue was probably a bit much and that we'd want to scrap some of it off. It was a combination of too sweet and too much of the flaming alcohol taste.
Overall, a great place for a special occasion, but probably a bit spendy for a normal meal. The service was superb and the food great.
This is indeed one of the Best seafood restaurants from food, ambiance, and service.
Highlight - The crab cake didn't disappoint. The thick chunky and moist crab meat was what did it. The freshness of the meat can also be tasted.
Highlight - Baked Alaska. From the moment it was brought to our table, our eyes were glued to seeing it being doused in 151, setting it on fire and seeing it served while burning. it is a must try experience
Highlight - The service is impeccable. The staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and the food. Even when my fish was send back to be re prepared to get the waiter was thoughtful and gave me a small clam chowder to enjoy while my fish while i wait.
Overall, this is an amazing restaurant . A must try.
Got dragged here post-WhiteRabbit, and it was deliciousness incarnate.
If seafood were to have a place to pray to it from, it might be the bar at Oceanaire.
They pour well crafted drinks.
They know their wines.
They have spectacular seafood.
Bar menu might be the way to go, too, so save the temptation of sitting in the fuddy-duddy table setting, and saddle up to the bar (you yelpers know how to do that) and get a drink, an appetizer, and some fine fine seafood.
You will NOT be disappointed.
DO IT!
NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Though I've only been to Oceanaire once, I have to give it 5 stars based on my one-time experience. I have to start off with the sourdough bread since it was something I could not overlook. I like my sourdough bread more on the sour side. It was quite authentic and probably one of the best sourdough breads I've had. We ordered the Kumamoto California Oysters at around $2 an oyster and the Malpeque Prince Edward Island Oysters at around $3 an oyster. Although the Malpeque oysters were better, they were both so fresh and delicious. The sauces that accompanied them paired well - a red vinegar mixture with marinated onions, and a thick cocktail sauced with grated horseradish. For entrees, we ordered the Chesapeake Bay style jumbo lump crab cakes and the Drunken Baja swordfish. The swordfish was extremely fresh, slightly rare in the middle, and a little on the lighter side with regards to flavor. As for the crab cakes, the previous reviews reign true. They were THE best I have ever had with chunks of fresh crab in a delicious mixture almost creating a mousse-like texture. It was cooked to absolute perfection.
My overall experience was wonderful. Our waiter was attentive and cordial. The restaurant had a great ambiance: dim, classy, with modern elegance. As for the dress code, although I saw people dressed quite casually, there were also a good number of people who were on the dressier side.
Overall, I highly recommend The Oceanaire.
One of the BEST seafood restaurant I've ever been to. Crab cake (based on yelp recommendation) was awesome.
If you are a shellfish lover, this place is perfect for you! Everything we ordered were fresh and very high quality. We had a dozen assorted oysters, half dozen clams, and the Shellfish Platter. The shellfish Platter (Large) included 8 each of the followings: Alaskan king crab legs, snow crab legs, giant shrimps, shelled sea scallops, mussels, and more oysters.
Overall, it was a great experience and the service was exceptional. I will definitely repeat next time I visit SD!
I'll keep this review short because just about everything has been said already here on Yelp.
- Best meal I've had in downtown SD.
- Never liked crab cakes til I had one here.
- EVERY SINGLE THING we ordered was un-BE-lievable.
Can't wait to go back :)
Thanksgiving Day Buffet!
San Diego, CA
Happiest Hour in The Gaslamp
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Category: French
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Category: Seafood Markets
Neighborhood: Chula Vista
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: French
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