Absolutely lovely restaurant! My boyfriend and I got cocktails and oysters and sat in the garden on a warm evening. Service was quick and enjoyable. Would highly recommend! read more

One of my go to places in NY! I never pass up MP it's like a step back in time to New Orleans! Oysters, lobster, brunch you can't go wrong here! Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I always make reservations before I travel. You can walk in but it is best to reserve a place at the bar which I recommend or a table! read more

Disappointing indeed. We asked for a table but were informed everything was booked. So we opted to have a drink at the bar while waiting for something to open up. About an hour later, I checked out the back room tables of which there seemed to be plenty available on a late Tuesday night. The cocktails were tasty, oysters were clean, the bartender was judgy. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when my boyfriend asked for Woodford. Like, chill out B, you're a bartender in Williamsburg, not a sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Lastly, I had emailed about booking a private dinner prior to my visit. I received an email a couple days later, but hadn't received a reply when I inquired further. I also left my contact info with the hostess when I was getting hipster-shamed, but 3 days later and I'm only hearing crickets. Guess they really don't need my business. read more

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR POC. I'm not pleased with my experience here and will soon write in to inform the restaurant more formerly. I wasn't planning on saying anything but we ran into the guests at a table near to us again later that evening and they brought it up. Using choice words of "disturbing" and "vile" - their take was exactly what we felt of the service... racist and/or discriminatory. Things were going fine despite an early unpleasant encounter with a staff member who was expressly annoyed that I was interrupting her texting on her personal cell, and then our third guest arrived - she is African, a diplomat at that. Mind you, I am a fair skinned mixed POC and this shift in service was noticed not only by all of us but also a table of guests nearby. Our service dramatically changed once she arrived and continued to worsen with staff clearly trying to push us out with obvious microaggressions including numerous staff constantly reaching over us to "clear our table" of nothing and even when told that we still were working on various things and while I was still waiting for my drink. In fact they put so much effort into hurrying us out that they completely dropped the ball, forgetting one of my drink orders. I was also industry and am very much aware of the tactic they used which made it even more egregious. I am incredibly disappointed as I had been looking forward to this meal for some time and it was intentional to comfort a friend grieving a recent loss. The actions that evening soured the experience for us and I am quite regretful to have spent $250 at a place that treats its customers so poorly. read more

Overall: One of my favorite restaurants for lunch in NYC, really great to sit outside on a nice day. Atmosphere: Very much French-Creole, retro New Orleans vibes. Nice and airy, perfect for brunch date. Food: Get the Poached Eggs & Caviar!! You also can't go wrong with the oysters. Drinks: 10/10 absinthe-based cocktail menu. I recommend the Maison Piña Colada - not too sweet and just right! Service: Solid service, no complaints. read more

I'm so impressed about this bar. Very professional bartender I like the drinks very much. So great vibes. I have Jungle bird, old fashion and rainbow. So so great, love it. read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Amazing drinks. The back bar is good for a romantic date. The garden is even better. They might have a line so make sure you call or come 30 minutes ahead read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Visited on 9/3/19, and twice last year. Here comes my belated review on the most recent visit: Happy hour oysters: if you thought that the $1.50/ea is an amazing deal for oysters, I feel obliged to ask you to think it twice. We sampled two dozens of oysters, one at happy hour price, the other at non-happy-hour prices. The happy-hour oysters were miniature, half or perhaps 1/3 the size of regularly priced oysters, which were about double or triple the price. The non-happy-hour ones were comparatively much tastier, if not just larger (understandably, size does not matter that much). It seems that here, you really get what you are paying for, if not be tossed with substandard goods, even during the happy hours. Nevertheless, the clams were quite fun to chew. Drinks: No complaints. My Casablanca was delicious - herbal absinthe, chai, and subtle yogurt - simply magical. My boyfriend really liked the chandelier flip from last summer, which was sadly no longer on the menu. Service: Simply odd. The waiter focused exclusively on my boyfriend: placing the menu ONLY to him, giving the oyster order menu ONLY to him, and ONLY asking him how the experience was. I was ignored. I got nothing. No menu, no eye contact, no smile, no question. Should I pretend to be sorry that my look has not evolved towards some diamond-dripping Mrs. Robinson yet? Should I be jealous of my European and sort of cute boyfriend? Or should I elevate this argument of bad service to the fact that Asians get ignored so extremely frequently in this society? Perhaps I should. I was the one who paid and tipped. I was also the one who noticed the restaurant's filing for bankruptcy, and thought, perhaps, we should visit here again because maison deserved more love and business. It might be a bad choice, but customers are never wrong. To be clear - I do not wish for any chauvinistic moves, but I do expect equal and professional treatment - menu and greeting for each patron, at the very least. And to be fair - the botanist decor, vintage mirrors and lights were delightful; reminded me of NoLa - but only if you are drunk enough to ignore the awful service. read more

Maison Premiere - Casablanca (absinthe cocktail) - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Touted as having one of the best oyster happy hours in the city, Maison Premiere really delivered on the promise, and I'll have to agree with the hype. I don't really buy in too often, as sky-high expectations really have a tendency to result in disappointment, but our experience from beginning to end was pretty much impeccable. We came right at opening around 4pm on a Friday, and there was a line out the door, but we were seated after about 10 minutes. The space in general is pretty large, and with the back area, can almost be considered immense. The décor is a bit old-fashioned, with a bit of a New Orleans vibe throughout, but far from dated. We were seated outside, which featured a back patio with a "roof" covered in foliage. It definitely made for a nice, rustic setting, although there were little bits of brush and pollen flying around, and sometimes landing in our drinks and food. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is so relaxed, that we just didn't care. Craziness. The outdoor space really is an oasis, sort of sequestered from the rest of civilization. I got the Adonis (Carpano Antica vermouth, oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez, orange bitters) , which had a really nice, but subtle maple flavor, and our server told us that it was her favorite drink on the menu. Nice. I also got to try the chancellor's cocktail (Black Bottle scotch, Tawny port, Vergano BVB vermouth, orange bitters), which was brought out to us in a decanter, and poured in front of us. Next time, I'll need to get the Old King Cole Martini, as it's prepared tableside, and the guy from the neighboring table touted it as one of the best martinis he'd had. Intriguing. As for food, we got some of the bread, and 36 oysters. Hoo-wee. My favorite were the Cotuit and the Malpeque, as they were the right balance of meaty and brininess, with somewhat of a clean finish. Regardless, pretty much all the oysters we had, we enjoyed, so you really can't go wrong. The great thing is that the variety of oysters is so good and the staff is very helpful with their recommendations. Overall, our server was very attentive, friendly, and helpful throughout our visit, especially with explaining the nuances between the different oysters and cocktails. The prices are decent for seafood in the area, with the cocktails trending on the expensive side, but when you come for oyster happy hour ($1.25 per oyster), you can really find some good value. My review does come a little premature, as we didn't have anything other than oysters and cocktails, but considering that most of my return trips will likely consist of oyster HH, I don't have a problem giving them 5 stars. Will definitely be back for some oyster HH. read more

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I just want to say that anyone complaining about waiting or not being greeted is probably incredibly insecure or suffering from serious head trauma. This place is run by professionals. Every member of the staff was focused on the task at hand - creating great ambience and providing quality service. The hostess that greeted me had a wonderful demeanor as did every server I interacted with. Oh yeah - and the cheesecake was fantastic Reading some of these reviews on Yelp reinforces my opinion that some people go to restaurants to vent on staff members. Confront your boss, not the person bringing oysters to your table. read more

Good and drinks were great. The hostess wasn't really on top of her game though. Swanky vibe overall.

Don't eat a ton in Brooklyn, but this is the cutest little seafood restaurant. I went before the outdoor area was open for seating but would love to go back to check it out. We had some oysters to start, fresh and delicious. The razor clams were amazing, I've never had them like that before and loved it. The interior is so cute, lots of exposed brick and little fairy lights. Definitely go during oyster happy hour. read more

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Oyster is so fresh and fat! Brunch is pricy and taste is really soso, nothing special! And it is a small restaurant, the tables are too close to each other! For oyster, this is a good place! For having fun with friends, go find some other quieter place:) read more

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Love this place for the service and quality experience overall great drinks food and ambiance

Really great atmosphere and vibe. Cocktails are excellent. Oysters were fresh and cold. Steak tar tar was excellent. Great spot!

Walking past this nondescript building with the sign "Bar | Oysters" on its facade, one might think divey or meh kinda bar. Au contraire my fellow Yelpers! Step back in time to the roaring 20's, or maybe 30's, I thought that an old skool gangster with a Tommy gun may appear. The bartenders wore suspenders and skinny ties, coiffeur perfectly gelled, parted to the side. This place is more than extraordinary. Sitting at the bar catered more to those drinking and eating oysters but that was OK because there really is no bad seat. I think you'll catch the same vibe no matter where you sit. The woodwork is amazing and you gotta see the bathrooms! Our waitress came by with a few menus. One with quite an array of Absinthe concoctions. I, with the absolute zero knowledge of what it is other than knowing its existence, asked. She gave me a wealth of knowledge and I'm glad to say most of it was retained. Get this.... I 100% loathe/detest/can't stand the taste of black licorice. Feeling adventurous, I waved my left index finger and picked one. The one I picked was more on the bitter side, so she suggested another. What I can say is, somehow, the finish or back end of the drink tasted bizarrely creamy IMO. All in all she really knows her stuff and thanks for making this noob feel much better about himself. I'd go back on my next trip to Bedford Ave, Brooklyn for sure. It's that cool, and I gotta call one of those bartenders"Mugsey" or something. Btw.. I fricken still hate the taste of anise. read more

Maison Premiere - My first ever absinthe concoction! - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is sexy as fuck! The food is sexy, the waiters are sexy, the decor is sexy, sex just oozes out of this place. The place really is an excellent place to grab a drink and to eat some light bites, the drink of choice here is their Absinthe. They have a few different varieties of Absinthe and a pretty extensive cocktail, wine and beer list. Their Oyster Happy Hour is a pretty big draw since it is one of the better Oyster Happy Hours in New York City and it is pretty badass, it offers a very respectable range of oysters ranging from $1.25-$1.50 with some oysters being very briny to others being very mild. The food: Venison Tartare- Smoked egg, Shallot. This was great, it had such a nice clean flavor and I loved the chunks. It's a pet peeve when I get a tartare and the meat is too coarsely chopped, I really loved the texture of the meat here, it had such a perfect mouth feel. It felt like an uncooked hamburger patty in the best sense of the word. read more

Maison Premiere is like a smooth talking debonair gentleman that sweeps you off your feet before you even know it. With his high class, charm, and piercing gaze, he manages to have you paralyzed, speechless, and under his spell in no time. This is what MP was like for me. We were greeted at the door by a hostess who was so striking that I couldn't concentrate for a few minutes. Her intense stare and brilliant red lipstick led me into a trance. It felt like a dreary night in London and how lovely to tuck into a speakeasy where everything is a secret. And so the culinary affair with Maison begins. The place is dimly lit and oddly enough, time stood still at 10:40pm. The horseshoe-shaped bar with bartenders in suspenders and absinthe fountain creates an 1800s French Quarter scene. We were seated right across from the bar, and my the space was cozy! Definitiely a great place to get up-close and personal with that intimate person in your life. Our waiter, ever so kind and personable, took our drink orders. I opted for a Santa Maria Cooler. It is made with rum, sherry, lemon and pineapple syrup. A sharp and clean drink and not too sweet. This is a raw bar. So don't expect to find anything cooked or any meat. You are here for the seafood and trust me, this place is well worth it. We shared the "La Petit Maison" platter, red snapper ceviche and also had 6 additional oysters. When the plate arrived, I immediately fell in love. I have never seen an arrangement so beautiful and so sexy. The food was amazing and if you love raw oysters, you have to come here! The red snapper was excellent, I am usually very wary of red snapper as it has a rough consistency, but this ceviche was on point, tasty and fresh. Come here for fresh seafood and of the highest quality. I also had an absinthe drink, Bitches Breaux. Strong and by the end of my drink, I was on my way to hallucinations. The waiter did manage to spill water all over my suede boots, but that's OK. He made everything better with complimentary glasses of Vueve, a brilliant smile and polite manners. This was one of the best experiences I have had in a long while. I highly recommend it. Take a date here or anyone that means a lot to you. It will heighten the feelings. I know I was swimming in love by the end of the night... read more

OK, I will be first to admit I cracked enough jokes about Maison Premiere and lines waiting at their doors. But truth be told, I love this place. So, I think it's time to proper review. Last time we came here was to celebrate very special birthday weekend - it was part of days-long restaurant crawl in Brooklyn and beyond. After short wait at the bar, with drinks served, we moved to the back, to oyster bar. It's quite cool to sit there and watch fresh oysters to be shucked for you. Fresh! - they are fresh and amazingly tasty. Their oyster selection is absolutely the best I encountered in NYC and in my travels - they seem to have good scoop on both west coast and east coast oysters, not to mention specials. Bread is fresh, and drinks are very, very well done. And decor is hawt. Seriously, do it. read more

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I have been on an oyster education recently and this place takes the cake. One of the few places to have kumamotos in the east coast because apparently, they are highly difficult to transport. These little guys are amazing with a super clean finish. Also, I realized my favorite oyster to date is the Royal Miyagi - I really want to make a wax on wax off joke here but nothing seems worthy. Beyond being a little in oyster heaven this place might have the best shrimp and grits in the east coast. It was so good me and my partner had 2 plates. It was super glutinous but taste them and then disagree with me. The decor is super cool, although this place is more of a swanky bar than restaurant and the outdoor garden is beautiful. IF you are into absinthe there is a full absinthe cocktail menu for you to choose from - the taste of anise is not my cup of tea but the menu looked amazing. read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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An oyster and cocktail den? Why yes please. Maison Premiere is a great addition to Williamsburg's bar options. Not only do they have an absinthe fountain, they also have a huge selection of oysters from NY, BC, NS, CA and WA ranging from $2.25 - 2.75 each. The space is well appointed, tastefully decorated and cozy. I especially like the horse shoe shaped bar, mirrors, artwork, iron accents, leather seats - prohibition era style. The staff was knowledgeable, attractive, friendly and well-dressed. It is a perfect date spot or check out with a small group of friends for drinks (wine and cocktails) as you slurp on some of the freshest oysters from around the country. They also serve lobsters, mussels and clams. I heard they have an awesome $1 oyster deal Monday - Friday between 4-7PM which I will definitely come back for. Can't get enough of em aphrodisiac ;) read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We died and went to Heaven, this place is phenomenal. Everything was just right- the maitre d was fabulous and couldn't have been more friendly. He made us feel so at home and got us two seats at the bar. Our bartender was super friendly despite being incredibly busy. Drinks were maybe a bit slow but it was impressive how fast they were moving. It was definitely fun to watch. Everything we had was so delicious and honestly, outside of the Sherry Cobbler, I don't even remember what we had, only that everything was amazing. The vibe was fun, the music was definitely lively and never felt drab like some older music can. We can't wait to go back and wish you so much success. read more

Maison Premiere is definitely the best place in the area to get happy hour oysters..! Their happy hour is from 4-7pm on the weekdays and 11-1pm on the weekends. They usually do have a line, so its best to come early or put your name down and have a drink at a nearby bar. They are $1 during happy hour and their absinthe cocktails are really good! They have a garden sitting area in the back, which is a romantic area when it is dark (candles everywhere, lights hung up all around). The oysters come with a little dish of horseradish, mignonette sauce (vinegar based with shallots), and a cocktail sauce - ask for tobasco if you like it spicy! read more

Maison Premiere - Happy hour oysters $1 - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Oysters! Cocktails! Wine and small plates! Some of my cuisine favorites rolled up into one! I don't know who said oysters, like merlot, is an "old people thing". While drinking merlot may be a little old-fashioned, eating oysters on warm, breezy day with some Albariño or bubbly is a near-erotic experience. Using your hands, sipping, slurping, probably making a mess in the process....(and booze. Copious amounts of booze). I went with friends, but I'm totally hoping the manfriendhusband takes me here for some pre-sexy times. Good for: special nights out, happy hour (all oysters between 1 and 1.25), things to do with your parents to show that you a cultured adult FYI: won't seat incomplete parties so tell that one friend who's always late a 15-30 minute earlier meetup time read more

Maison Premiere - All oysters served on half shell on ice with fresh lemon, grated horseradish, red wine minionette and cocktail sauce - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Oyster Happy Hour: Monday - Friday 4-7pm & Sat/Sun 11am-1pm Delicious, $1, Lots of selection But be aware, there can be a really long wait. I really adore atmosphere there. There's a fun, round bar at the entrance and a gorgeous, quaint/rustic interior space inside. We sat at the bar, and had 18 oysters each! The waiter put in an extra order for us by accident, but they charged it on the house (that's so nice!) I loved how they had such a range for the $1oyster menu. We also ordered a few oysters off the menu, which were also delicous. They also have some very enticing cocktails. I LOVE this place. Our waitress was super nice as well - I was a bit late on my reservation but she made it happen for us anyways ^^. They really know how to make their customers happy! P.S. I have a thing for matchboxes at restaurants and the Maison Premiere ones are my favorite. Shh. They are so cute!! read more

Maison Premiere - HH Oysters at Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Spending my husbands money is a hobby of mine. Maison Premier made this almost impossible for me to do! First Davinda, you're the worst. Upon arrival on a Sunday night, yes without reservations so what, Davinda told us it would be 45minutes for my husband and I to be seated, we didn't care where (bar,oyster bar, table). Okay we're cool with that, did she care to take our names, NO, maybe a cell number? NO. Why? Because she very rudely turned and walked away! Okay, hello obvious Busser, is it possible for us to stand and have a cocktail? No this bar ledge around the wall is purely decorative. Okay cool. So I stood there awkwardly by the door as it was chilly outside and I only had a shirt. Here comes Malaika, I thanked all restaurant gods for this lovely server. She asked why I was standing there and if I needed help. I explained to her the situation, she then looks into the iPad, and walks to the back of the restaurant. When she came back in less than 2mins she asked if the oyster bar was okay for my husband and I. Yes Yes! That's perfect. We were seated given menus asked what kind of water, I said none I was purely interested in alcohol. I then looked around, guess what 2 out of the 5 tables in the back were empty. There were also 3 empty stools at the oyster bar. So Davinda, why did I have to wait 45 minutes? Whatever, we asked to move to a small two top from the oyster bar and Malaika had no problems. We looked over the menu and we're ready to order, but guess what? There was no server around! 15 mins later, guess who comes to our table... Freaking Davinda, ugh this is going to be bad. No hello, welcome or intro, whatever here's my menu here's what I want. Oysters out in 15mins, Yay super fresh and delicious. Still awaiting cocktails. 10more mins yay cocktail and absinthe. Hubby def is not a fan of absinthe, so he wanted to order something else, I drank the absinthe. Looking for our server, no where to be found but the creepy manager is, he's directly adjacent to us and staring, probably thought I was gorgeous. Anywho very nice once to the table and suggested an amazing locally brewed beer. Thanks! After I basically swallowed the oysters, my husband isn't keen on them, I wanted more. Hey Davinda can I order a whole lobster? No you may not hungry possibly intoxicated young customer. Why? Because the kitchen closes at abruptly 11pm...although it was 1052. I can play the same game Davinda. She walks away says she will try okay, 30 seconds later I stop and ask to add another full lobster.... She says no. The kitchen told her that my single lobster was the absolute last thing they were making. I didn't know they had to make the lobster, all they had to do was cut it open and throw it on top of ice. Pricks. Where's the manager now? We're pretty much tired of being abused,where's my server I need my check. Nowhere!!! 15 mins later the Busser came by to pour more water we asked him for the check. Our server emerges out of no where and brings our check without even the smallest hint of a smile. We pay and still leave %18 tip. Obviously she must not be making any money, that's the only way to explain this disgusting display of the worst service on earth. read more

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There are a lot of things that I want to mention about Maison Premiere. Things like how much fun it is to guess what the person who's washing their hands in the bathroom is going to look like, since you get to look at their shoes/socks while they're in there. Things like how much the maitre d' wearing the double-breasted suit, or the fans that rotate way too slowly to efficiently circulate air, remind me of New Orleans. Things like the fact that it takes - appropriately, might I add, since this bar is themed on previously mentioned New Orleans, after all - entirely too long to get your oysters, but that they always show up the moment you're about to start wondering if they forgot about you. But most of all, I think it's things like a perfectly made Sazerac. Or paying a dollar a piece for a whole bunch of ridiculously fresh and delicious things that look, if I'm being honest, like someone hocked the loogie of the gods into a seashell. Maison Premiere, I'm in love with you. And I don't care who knows it. read more

Maison Premiere - Pimm's Cobbler and a Sazerac. - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Super cute oyster bar with an amazing patio! Makes you forget you're in NYC. We missed the oyster happy hour but that's definitely the best deal. The service was a bit slow which is why I can't give out 5 stars. Great vibes! read more

Maison Premiere - Oysters on the patio - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

So I had a wonderfully tasting lobster dish that featured a rubbery, not well cooked lobster. I was told that it was a 1.5 lb. de-shelled lobster before it was reduced to a tail that I could have sworn beloved on a large crawfish and claw meat belonging to the same. The rest of the lobster was missing. I presume that the tasty joint morsels of lobster meat found their way to someone else's lobster bisque soup. I'll start here and work my way to why I'll probably will not return until either I receive a lobotomy and forget my experience with the food, staff and general culture of the place or I'm convinced that things actually improve. My GF ordered the sea bass which was overcooked but not to the point of where the texture would have the consistency of hay. The fish was dry but tolerable. She also ordered a salad with rather ordinary tasting dressing, which I'm sure was overly laden with superlatives on the nearly impossible to read fine print menu. On that note, the even finer print wine list made choosing a wine from a large selection of obscure vintners nearly impossible. This lends to the overall theme of the place: hassle the diner at every opportunity. The stars of the bizaro show were the Kumamoto oysters and the overly dressed sea-urchin. Yet even these fail-safe raw wonders of the sea where a hassle to eat. Apparently the shuckler went out of his way to open the shells so that every oyster had small bits of shells to crack one's teeth upon. The sea urchin had too much crap on it. And while it was pretty tasty crap, the taste of the marvelous sea urchin was lost in the mix. Its hard for me to be honestly critical of this place because I really wanted to like it. The ambiance felt as that of a French provincial restaurant circa 1950, perhaps even from an earlier period. The staff was very informed about the menu items but they were slow. In their defense It was Friday night and the restaurant was packed. But the hassle that I mentioned earlier began before I even entered the space. When you first arrive a well dressed and well tempered doorman greets the guests at the door. There's no chance of entering unless you deal with the seemingly pleasant hostess, that seemed to disappear for some period of time between each set of guests she serviced. Alas when she resurfaced we were ushered to a table. But first we were questioned about how much money we intended to spend: are you here for oysters, drinks or food? I answered all of the above but wanted to say: "no we're here to loiter in your garden; by the way do you have free internet?" While we were waiting outdoors, a set of would-be-diners stopped and told the doorman that their friends were already inside and at a table. The diners communicated with their friends who were already inside and the person whose name was on the reservation emerged from within the restaurant to collect his guests. Both the diner and the friend were told that the hostess needed to bring them to the table. I chuckled at this level of formality at a casual spot. Even Iris at Bilbo lets you find yur friends. With the exception of the doorman and the hostess the rest of the staff that we encountered was very passive-aggressive. After witnessing an over-pour--a pet peeve of mine--of wine to my GF I politely asked the waiter to pour half the amount into my wine glass. He acknowledged my request and commenced to pour the same amount that he poured previously. We're all human and thus fallible. I wouldn't ordinarily make a fuss about this but is this a faux pas on the part of the waiter or an FU to me? After a evening of being hassled and $230 lighter, I chalked it up to the latter. read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The oyster happy hour here is SOLID. Maison Premiere provides a selection of about a dozen or so oysters for $1 or $1.25 a pop, and a few others for normal price. I tried "one of each" on the happy hour menu and threw in a few clams for completeness. They arrived, ice-cold, with two sauces (vinaigrette and cocktail sauce) and horseradish and lemons. The server was courteous enough to tell me which oyster was which (complete with a list), allowing me to do a side-by-side taste comparison of all the oysters. They were fresh, clean, and ranged in flavor from briny to melon-like to sweet to mild. The appetizers and entrees here are also pretty good, specializing in seafood but with understudies of chicken and meat. Razor clam is always delicious as an appetizer and sea whelk toast is as delicious as it is unique and a conversation starter. I also ordered the venison, which was slightly stringy in texture but absolutely rich in flavor. I should've stayed with sea but gambled with land (and lost). But for the oyster happy hour alone, I would give this place 5 stars. Perfect. Pros: - Oyster happy hour is one of the best in the city: huge selection, nicely shucked, good condiments, clean, ice cold. - Interesting happy hour composed plates like sea whelk toast and razor clams with apples - Good selection of wines and cocktails Cons: - Very busy during happy hour and can lend to long waits - Land entrees are not the speciality of the house. This is a seafood joint! - Alcohol can get pricey during happy hour (no specials!) read more

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I didn't want to be unfair to Maison Premiere just because I've been here one time, but my only experience here was NOT pleasant at all. I don't know if it was just the service on the night I went, but the amount of time I spent sitting in the restaurant waiting for my food was UNBEARABLE! I came here on a Friday night with my girlfriend at 5pm trying to catch the 4-7pm happy hour. First, there was about a 45-60 minute wait to get a table in the restaurant, which was fine as we understood many people would have arrived earlier on a Friday. However, once we were told a table was ready for us, we waited another 20 minutes for it to be prepped when there were clearly multiple tables already available. That's seriously way too much time that passes after we were informed our table was ready NOW. Once we were seated we ordered 40 oysters and 2 other small plates because we were starving by the time we were seated. We ordered at around 6:20pm and we both have been to many oyster happy hour restaurants in NYC, but we had never ever waited 1 hour for our food to come out, which was the case here! It was unacceptable that we had to wait that long for just raw oysters and 2 appetizers, even if we did order 40 oysters. We usually order around that many in NYC and I'm fully aware that the process of prepping the raw oysters usually just consist of opening up the oysters for the customers. It's not like they have to actually cook the oysters? To compensate for the horrendous wait, the waitress gave us an order of free shrimp cocktail, but that only satisfied us for so long because after our oysters came out and we finished it, we waited another 25 minutes for our 2 appetizers to arrive! I kid you not. The waitresses' explanation for the long wait was because they were "busy". I don't think that was an acceptable explanation as during happy hour a restaurant SHOULD be busy. During happy hour, the dishes are always kept small so that they can be churned out quickly, that's why happy hour usually only lasts 2 hours. Plus, my girlfriend and I have never waited this long for any types of dishes at other busy restaurants so they don't get a pass for just being "busy". Finally, worst of all, the oysters really weren't that great as they were small and we were only given 2 small shot glasses of vinegar and cocktail sauce. That was for 40 oysters! After all the waiting we did for the food (approximately 1.5 hours), we expected at least some sort of discount/compensation on our bill other than the shrimp cocktail, but we didn't get that, which really put us over the top with the negativity. The only positive I could take from their happy hour is the wide variety of oysters they serve. Other than that, I can't see a reason why we will ever come back or recommend this restaurant to friends. We were extremely disappointed with the level of service, especially since we saw a large number of positive yelp reviews. read more

I want to live here. I live a block and a half away from this place, and it's still not close enough. It's a great little place with an awesome '20s speakeasy feel...the lights are dim, the furnishings are antique, and the bartenders--excuse me--mixologists sport dress shirts and suspenders. So cute. They have the most extensive oyster menu (which changes often) I have ever seen, and they're all $1 each between 4-7pm on weekdays--including Friday! :D They offer a great range of oysters, so just tell your server what you like and they'll be able to recommend something. My favorites: Wellfleet - mild; a good go-to Shooting Point Salts - medium in size, briny but with a clean finish Malpeque - creamy, flavorful, usually larger in size Katama Bay - large and meaty, but with a nice crisp finish Kumamoto - sweeter with a nice finish, usually smaller in size It's impossible to get a table (which can't really accommodate large groups to begin with) during happy hour, so pick your favorite person and head to the bar. Hell, go by yourself and you can avoid that extra pair of judgmental eyes when you order your fourth dozen. I've tried other things on the menu, but nothing really stood out to me as spectacular. The lobster and sea urchin are both good, but the way they're prepared is too creative for its own good; the extra flavors are distracting and mask the natural yummy goodness of the menu item. The scallop with foie gras mousse, however, is a repeat order for me (and I don't even like foie gras). Oysters, wine, cocktails, and really awesome, knowledgeable staff. Go give them your monies. read more

Maison Premiere - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Decided to drop by tonight. Was in the mood for beer and some raw oysters and clams, so I decided to come here. Place is nice. Not to big and not to small. Had about 4 beers, 6 cherry stone, 3 little neck, 16 oysters. Bill was around $89.00 plus a $6.00 tip. Only $6.00 tip because I was kinda unhappy. I asked for 1 more beer and the check and the bartender said she thinks I had to much drinks and did't want to serve me the last beer. I said okay just bring me the check. No use arguing with her. Paid the bill and left. Okay. Now for the oysters and little necks most of them are like baby miniature size, but they are the best. The larger ones, OMG they are so FISHY God. I mean so FISHY my mouth tasted like the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Smelled like my Ex. (Just Kidding) Lols. Thank God the oysters and clams came with horse radish, vinegar, cocktail sauce, lemon, and tabasco sauce. Threw up 8 times. Was it really the beer that good or was it the seafood bad. I eat raw oysters and clams all the time, but this time. I don't know. Lols... By the way, I wanted a Steak afterwards. Just a Oyster and Clam Bar. read more

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Lovely place to bring a date! If you want to avoid the crowd, good luck! This place is very popular. Drinks range from $8-$16. There are many different absinthes to try. The specialty cocktail list is on point. I would suggest spending all night trying each one with a beautiful date! Amazing oysters. I ordered 3 and let the server choose. Two were $2.60 and one was $3.40. The more expensive oyster was sooo good! If I remembered the name I would tell you. All I will say is the more expensive, the better! Do be shy and try. Servers are top notch and very helpful. They will not expect you to know a whole lot and will guide you through the choices. I highly recommended this place. Thanks for reading! If you found this review helpful please "like" it. Have a great one. -cj read more

Maison Premiere - Upon entering at 12AM on a Friday night - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I want to give this place 5 stars. Maybe a year ago when I was less jaded on fancy cocktail bars I would have, but I just can't. It really deserves five stars. They're doing everything right. I just couldn't get past the pretentiousness. Trust me I go to the most "pretentious" places and truly love them. But something about this place just felt a little unnatural. Anyway, love that they have an absynthe program. My date ordered a cocktail by saying "I like St Germain and want to try absynthe and maybe some champagne would be nice" and the result was fantastic. The bartenders can really think on their feet. We also had some food that was very good. The bread plate was surprisingly perfect. The cauliflower soup with shrimp and caviar was ridiculous. The pickle plate was pretty standard except that it included pickled oysters which were a nice treat. I definitely recommend this place. It deserves five stars. Maybe I'll have a better experience another time. read more

Maison Premiere - Half of that bar is absinthe. - Seafood Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Where do I begin?! I love everything from here! The bar--it's a semi-circular old fashioned bar, very intimate and comfortable. you can also peak thru the window of the other side of oyster bar! in addition, you maybe wondering the dripping faucets on the center of the bar for absinthe. The bartender--Will is his name, served us above and beyond w his delicious recommendations. I find it mesmerizing and intoxicating when he's making them! the server--very friendly, attentives, and informative, my water and drink glasses were never empty the entire time after we were seated from the bar. The oysters--ranging from east to west coast, buttery to sweet, large to small! the backyard--I never been there on past summer, definitely looks like a cute space for summer time With all that being said, I'm still not an absinthe person, I did try couple of absinthe cocktails including julep, still did not like it, but I was perfectly happy with other drinks, my mojito was made to perfection!! so are my friends w theirs! Will definitely enlisted it as one of my fav bars!! looking forward to come back for more drinks, oysters and dinner/brunch! read more

If NYC was a Disney theme park, Williamsburg would be "Patinatown". Patinatown is full of restaurants and bars whose interiors have been run through the "way-back machine", serving olde-timey fare, archaic cocktails, and the weathered mirror/pull-chain toilet once-over. Even though Maison Premiere is the new kid in Patinatown, he/she fits right in--though to be honest, there is an odd disconnect between the weathered look your eyes see and the new-car-smell that emanates from the wall paint to the still-getting-their-groove service. Oysters? Good selection and they were fresh. Cocktails? Good! Apparently there are $1 oysters for happy hour, too. I am guessing once the back garden opens up (once we are not all freezing our spheres off), they start serving their expanded menu (muffelettas? yes please), and they get the opening week kinks worked out, Maison Premiere will feel more homey and less theme park-y. This, I hope. read more

Put on that one outfit you paid way too much for and never returned and take yourself on a date (jeans and a tee work just as well ). Make your way to Maison Premiere and cozy up to the bar. Sip on your first perfectly complex or satisfying simple cocktail while scripting third person narratives (aka people watching) of the cute couple sitting across the two seater, the 20's something group snappy endless selfies and the woman insisting she made a reservation for the outdoor garden (she most definitely did not). What's that?! Time for round two paired with some pretty exotic oysters. (Tip: ask about the oysters. The bartenders are super knowledgeable and great storytellers.) The oysters are some of the freshest, most fragrant and flavorful ones I've had around the city! The steak tartare and gem and chicories salad are equally amazing. Maison will not disappoint! Maison will become home. read more

Believe the hype. A year ago: tried coming here on a Saturday night, with the naive notion that I'd be able to get a table. Two hour wait. Last week. came early on a Saturday night, threw in our names, was quoted two hours, and then got a call back in 15 minutes saying a table was ready. So yes, I finally got to step foot inside the famed Maison Premiere. I got to order from their amazingly extensive list of oysters. I got to sip on their finest absinthe cocktails (which led to my eventual blackout). But most of all, I can finally tick this place off the bucket list. Let me tell ya, the guys behind the bar dress the part because they're great mixologists. Loved everything I tried, but especially the Arsenic and Old Lace. Of course, no visit to MP would be complete without a dozen oysters (or two dozen). First round: Chesapeake Gold (MA), Irish Point (PEI), and Fanny Bay (BC). Second round: Island Creek (MA), Kumamoto (Humboldt Bay, CA), and Skookums (WA). They were all amazing. I haven't had Island Creek oysters since I was in Boston, and the last time I had Skookums was in Nashville (long story). Loved the Kumamotos and the Irish Points as well. Hard to believe that they can get away with charging $1 apiece for weekday happy hour. Sadly, we had to pay full price since it was a Saturday, but they were totally worth it anyway. Making it a point to come back for happy hour, where I will plop down my wallet and tell them to feed me dollar oysters until I explode (or until HH is over). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EDIT: It only took me less than a week to come back for Happy Hour. The hostess even remembered me. Like last time, we were quoted a long wait for a table, but it actually ended up being 15 minutes. I think maybe I just have the best luck when it comes to table reservations. Speaking of tables, they gave us a pair of tables by the right side under the mirror. Very cozy in the booths, and no risk of people bumping into you as they walk by. We wasted no time in ordering oysters. Most were $1, some were $1.25, and then the market price list was also available. Still the best oyster HH selection I've ever seen. Went with two dozen because why not? Favorites were probably the Effinghams (BC), Chesapeake Golds (MD), and the Holy Grails (MD). But really, the main reason I had to write a review update was because I also had dinner here and it was AMAZING. Because of the two dozen oysters the two of us had, we wanted to have something a bit lighter for dinner. Well, we totally failed by getting the bread w/seaweed butter. It was basically three types of bread - a thin French baguette, two thick slices of something wheatey, and a mini boule of some sort. It was a LOT of bread. The butter was delicious though. So creamy, with just a touch of flavor from the seaweed flakes. But the star of the show was definitely the venison tartare. I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was. The taste of the raw meat mixed with the raw smoked egg on a toast point was a wonderful mixture of flavors. Nice gamey flavor in the meat, but not overwhelmingly so. LOVED it. Will definitely come back for this dish. Also had the sweetbread and scallops. An interesting take on surf and turf. I thought the sweetbreads were just okay, but the scallops were amazing. Among the best I've had in years. Of course, the service was impeccable, and the weekday waitstaff is also exceedingly beautiful and/or handsome. Is there anything Maison Premier doesn't excel at? I'm willing to come back over and over again to find out! read more

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First time just walking by maison premier is an amazing place for cocktails, 1920 New Orleans decor, friendly staff and amazing cocktails, our waiter super well knowledgeable ask for Leo! Definitely coming back on my next visit to New York! read more

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