The ambiance was beautiful. I for one loved the fish celling lights. The customer service was great. Out of all the sushi I've had this is some of the best. Me and my boyfriend had a great valentines night. read more

Ocean - Sushi - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Over priced. Mediocre Food. Bad Presentation. My husband and I dined there on Thursday sat at the bar and was less than impressed with the experience. We got there right when they opened so I will allow them some grace for taking a while to get our order.. but there was no explanation of the menu, no drink suggestions.. just here's your menu. We ordered shrimp cocktail, and oysters to start...now the oysters have always wow'd me, this time i wasn't too impressed with the selection I chose. For my entree, I order the fried snapper that was cooked extra crispy (I didn't ask for) at $60. The snapper wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't $60 good either. There presentation was not the best, no side on the place. I also ordered the pink lady peas that were damn near raw and dry. I tried my best to eat them but the bartender saw my struggle and offered to change them out. I will say the carrots were pretty good. I ended up adding a lobster tail which was a whopping $33 for ONE 5oz tail. Our bill was $226. I was extremely disappointed because the price didn't match the quality of food or the experience. Ocean has always been one of my favorites (for well over 17 years) however this gave Fish Market quality with Beverly Hills prices. We probably won't be back. Birmingham has far better options. Did I mention they had a bottom shelf selection of alcohol options and had the audacity to up charge for Tito's and Grey Goose?? Ridiculous! read more

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Wow! I can't believe it took me until 2026 to visit Ocean. Arrived shortly after they opened for the evening. The valet service is a great option especially since parking can be a little worrisome in this area. The valet gentleman was friendly and prompt. I sat at the bar. This restaurant has an upscale vibe but isn't stuffy. The bartender (Christina ???) was great and took excellent care of me throughout my visit. The oyster shucker was also a pleasant , hardworking young man. All of my food was amazingly fresh and delish!! I enjoyed half a dozen of raw oysters. The oysters are buy one get one, get one half off on Tuesdays. I highly recommend you check them out if you like quality oysters. I also had their seafood and sausage gumbo. It was really tasty and had a little kick to it! I just wish it had came with a little more rice. I do not believe they offer any happy hour specials on drinks. I was in the mood for wine so I had a red blend which complemented my meal nicely. Overall, this was a great experience! They have a new owner who seems to be dedicated to creating a complete dining experience. I will be back here real soon to explore more of their fantastic menu! read more

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So disappointed tonight. Always a top 10 in Bham for us,, til now. 10-15 minutes for water, drinks were wrong, salads wrong, no more wonderful bread to welcome you, unless you add 10.00. The next door dining room is a well-lit prep area, the vibe is gone, along with attention to the details. read more

Valet was great! Our server was below par for fine dining. Somewhat knowledgeable of the menu. Both whole fishes were sold out. The alternative dishes were decent but we were a bit disappointed already by not getting what we came for. Oysters, surf and turf tartar and grouper collar were amazing! Dessert was also incredible. Baklava ice cream was something I have never had and sent me over. The cheesecake was delicious as well. Will definitely return but get an earlier reservation so the main event won't be sold out!! read more

Food first, thoughts later... This restaurant has been around for a long time! I could not believe it took my husband and I so long to try it. I loved the confidence of the servers as they boast about how good the restaurant and its food is. We tried the oysters and they were really fresh and yummy. The complimentary bread with a light summer salad was amazing as well. The seafood here is pretty fresh. The dishes are all really light and our server was very knowledgable. Would consider coming back! read more

Ocean - Pan seared Sole and Tumeric ginger tea crusted halibut - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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My family and I have been dining at Ocean since 2013. We aren't people who went once or twice, we've celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and countless special occasions here over the last 13 years. My family, who are Birmingham residents, knew the staff by name, from George, the previous owner, to Robby behind the bar. Ocean wasn't just another restaurant to us. It was a place we genuinely loved. We knew there was new ownership, and we walked in with an open mind. We wanted to give it a fair chance. Unfortunately, what we found wasn't Ocean. It's an entirely different restaurant hiding behind the same name. The entire menu has been changed. The sushi is gone. The signature entrées people returned for year after year are gone. Even the complimentary bread and cucumbers that Ocean was known for have disappeared. First they started charging $10 for bread, and now even that's gone. If the goal was to completely transform the restaurant into a French-inspired concept, that's the owner's decision, but don't call it Ocean. Rebranding a restaurant this dramatically while keeping the same name is misleading to loyal customers. The service reflected the lack of preparation. Our waitress admitted he hadn't even tasted some of the menu items and couldn't answer basic questions. At a restaurant where cocktails are $17 and entrées start around $48, we also had to ask for refills and additional drinks because no one checked on us. That's simply not the level of service Ocean built its reputation on. The food was even more disappointing. The oysters were gritty, as though they hadn't been cleaned properly, which is especially disappointing for a restaurant that built its reputation on fresh seafood. (Jason was the best oyster schucker, someone that George gave an opportunity to and he took it.) The famous Ocean Salad with fried feta, once one of the best dishes on the menu, was nothing like it used to be. The feta used to be light, crisp, and melt in your mouth. This time it tasted old, heavy, and over-fried. My fiancé ordered the whole flounder. It was served belly-up, with the tail removed, and butchered so poorly that you couldn't properly remove the meat from the ribs. Anyone familiar with preparing whole fish knows this isn't how a flounder should be presented. To charge $60 for a roughly 13-inch fish prepared that way is unacceptable. My crab cakes contained multiple pieces of shell. Several people at our table tried them to make sure it wasn't just me, and everyone found shell. The most validating part of the evening came from one employee who remained from the previous ownership. She could read our disappointment before we even said anything. She came to our table and confirmed exactly what we were thinking. When the people who helped build the original Ocean acknowledge that this is no longer the same restaurant, that says everything. One final observation really bothered me. The new owner (Chloe Kidd) spent the evening sitting at the bar drinking bottles of red wine with her mother. We never saw her greet guests, visit tables, introduce herself, or check on guests. Instead, I watched her walk over and garnish my crab cakes with chives using her bare hands after sitting at the bar. Whether that's acceptable to others or not, it certainly wasn't what I expect from a restaurant charging fine-dining prices. This review isn't written because we don't like change. It's written because a restaurant that so many Birmingham families loved for years has disappeared while continuing to use the same name. If you never experienced the original Ocean, you may enjoy what's there now. But if you've been coming since the George days, understand before you make a reservation: this is not the Ocean you remember. read more

Whenever we come to town we try and have dinner at Ocean. We have even bought our children several gift certificates. Boy has it gone down hill, especially in service! Oysters are always delicious, and the food is Ok. Ordered bread before dinner, waited a good 20-25 minutes, only to get dried out bread. Waitress apologized and said she would come back with some fresh bread. Bartender was having a hard time making espresso martinis, only to have them thrown away after served! When we were waiting for our car a gentleman came out, (noticed him coming in as we were leaving) saying what has happened to that place!! Not sure if it's under new management or what!! read more

Just think it could better, especially for the price. Got an appetizer and a salad to go. The salad is sad, not much to it. The Fritto Misto supposedly has fish in it per the menu......it doesn't. More veggies such as onions, peppers, etc. It's good, dont get me wrong. They do a good job with their breading, very light and crispy. Just don't expect much seafood in it. read more

Ocean - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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My husband and I went with friends and had an enjoyable time. I was curious about the change in ownership, but everything was as good as ever. Our server Kimmie took excellent care of us. I do miss a couple of menu items, but everything we ate was tasty. My only concern was the use of several spicy chilies that prevented me from ordering some dishes. read more

This is so sad that we had a great meal two weeks prior and returned only to never return again - ordered the whole red snapper as before and they served us a whole red fish as if we didn't know the difference - it wasn't good and bartender knew what had happened we questioned it and said this isn't snapper and bartender went to the owner and she had no remorse it appeared she did it knowingly - it is like ordering a strip steak and being served a sirloin - we found out she had fired chef week before and let several people go - I would advise you to skip this disappointment she had such an arrogant attitude when bartender asked her to make it right she refused - so many great places in Bham hit automatic or bottega or Amore or chez fon - this isn't worth the money or effort to be disappointed Bartender Nick is amazing plus to otherwise huge let down ! Owner is Chloe - she may own the restaurant but clearly hasn't learned anything about the restaurant and hospitality industry ! Don't waste your money or time Dr Andy Sokol read more

Disappointed as a frequent guest of Ocean. This was my first visit since the new management took over, and unfortunately, it will be my LAST!! We waited nearly 15 minutes just to receive water, and no bread was ever offered to the table. Multiple menu items were unavailable.. which ok, unfortunately it's something I've experienced here before. But this time the remaining options simply weren't appealing enough to justify settling. What was most disappointing was the menu change itself. Some of Ocean's best signature dishes are gone. No Thai green curry bouillabaisse? That alone was shocking. It honestly makes me wonder whether the new management ever experienced what made the original menu so special. Even the gumbo arrived lukewarm and mediocre. The experience was so underwhelming that we left after the appetizers and ended up finishing the night at Ruth's Chris ... a chain restaurant that, sadly, delivered a far higher standard than what was once one of Birmingham's hidden gems. read more

Came here for a work dinner and was so pleased. The service was amazing and they took such good care of our group. Started with lots of shared apps, then the greek style salad, then I had the cobia. Very good and flavorful! The pumpkin creme brûlée was so delicious! read more

Amazing birthday dinner for my bride. David took care of us and he was outstanding. Knowledgeable and very attentive. Very comfortable setting perfect for a great date night. We started off with "fresh start" Ocean Salad followed up with the crab "Sammy" for the appetizer. Salad was super fresh and the fried feta cheese on it was a great complement. Crab Sammy I enjoyed, but the better half did not like the aioli. No problem, I finished it off. Entrees, my wife had the Thai green curry bouillabaisse, lobster tail, clams, shrimp and mussels with pineapple jasmine rice. Absolute perfection. I had the St. George's bank scallops. Outstanding but there was only 3 scallops so it felt more like an appetizer. Super enjoyable though. Dessert was an amazing baklava ice cream, wow!! Great job all around Ocean! read more

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Good things come to those who book reservations. Couldn't have asked for a better pre birthday celebration. Impeccable service, beautiful presentations of delicious food, and the clientele is ever so amusing and entertaining. We also got to witness owner and chef George Reis host his wedding rehearsal dinner on the patio. Started the celebration off with a glass of prosecco and a dozen oysters ranging from the Olde Points, Blue Points, and Blackberry varieties. Then moved to the scallops and yellowtail snapper. The entire fish comes out on the platter so have an appetite ready! The starlight of the evening was definitely the chocolate panna cotta, the brownie brittle is to die for, though if you want something richer order the oatmeal cheesecake. Parking can get limited since it's near the hustle and bustle of Five Points. They offer valet parking for your ease. Nothing beats that unforgettable feeling of good company and summer nights with a glass of wine and dessert sitting before you. Thank you for ushering in my birthday wishes Ocean! read more

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Have a heavy snack before you go! (unless you're ordering sushi) I went in 1/2024 with a party of 8 on a Wednesday. Heads up - 20% gratuity is automatically added on for a party this size. I ordered sushi and enjoyed it. I ordered the crab cakes, which came with 2. They were the size of scallops. The smallest I've ever seen but delicious. But tiny. Speaking of scallops... One of the ladies in the party came in pretty hungry. She ordered the scallops ($35 - no sides just garnish). It came with three (3) average size scallops. I felt so bad for her... She looked devastated. Another friend said the ceviche was not seasoned well. Another said her fish was not seasoned well. The swordfish was reportedly very good, as was the chocolate Panna cotta. The gumbo was reportedly under seasoned. The pear salad and risotto didn't get rave reviews either. The portions are smaller compared to other fine dining restaurants in B'ham. I'd recommend the sushi (which is actually fairly priced for this dining experience). During my first visit, a few years ago, I got a whole fish with the head - I can't recall what kind of the fish was. Anyhow, it had so many bones in it that I could not enjoy the fish so I knew this time I would try something else.. That's how I ended up with sushi. read more

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This is a hidden gem in Five Points S that I believe is overlooked by many of us in the YP/student community. I came for dinner on a Wednesday and was promptly seated with my reservation. The scene was loud but had a comfortable seating situation where I didn't feel too close to the table next to me. I enjoyed the grenache with my red snapper. The bread was quickly served to the table and fresh enough. I recommend the blackberry cobbler to top off the meal. It had a great lemon zest undertone that was bursting with flavor. read more

Ocean - Red Snapper, Destin, Florida Wood Grilled Troll King Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The menu changed so much. I flew in from Houston for a conference and made sure I got to Ocean. Please go back to the menu that you had going on pre-Covid. I was disappointed in the food. read more

This place is always fantastic. Great service and amazing food. Well worth a little extra money, because everything is so delicious. My wife and I went for our anniversary and both got the fried flounder. We have had this many times and it never ceases to amaze me. The crust is delicate and so flavorful and the fish is tender and mild. The dessert chef made our anniversary extra special by decorating the Godiva cheesecake so beautifully and creatively! It was not only beautiful, but the taste was out of this world good. The consistency of the cheesecake was just right. Thank you so much for an amazing night. read more

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As always, 10/10! We go at least once a year for my husbands birthday. He always gets sushi and changes it up each time. Sorry can't remember which rolls he got but they were amazing and so fresh. Can't go wrong! We started with the fish collar and oysters Rockefeller. Both great! One of the few places I get scallops, fresh and huge portion. The service was attentive and made our night special. Surprised my husband with a little bday dessert. The restaurant is cozy and perfect for a special occasion. read more

Our group had a great experience at Ocean about a year and a half ago but we didn't get so lucky this time. I can't recommend it, especially for the price point. I ordered scallops which were $35 and got three, drenched in hot sauce which I don't care for. Others in our group of 8 were also disappointed with their entrees. Generally the sushi got good reviews and everything else was lackluster. Our server showed no warmth whatsoever and did nothing to make the meal a pleasant experience. Suffice it to say we'll be taking this one off our list. read more

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Derrick our server was phenomenal. I had the whole fried flounder it was cooked to perfection. The Brussels sprouts were ok. I always have great meals here. We definitely took advantage of bringing our wine and paying the corkage fee. read more

My table got a dozen raw oysters. Our waitress was helpful in helping us decide which to get. This is a wonderful spot for a date night or celebration. The dining area is small so there's not a lot of noise. There is valet available as well. read more

Everything is always great Love Robbie! service , food, ambiance...one of my favorites in Birmingham! , read more

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Ok so my take on Ocean. It is a very nice atmosphere! The vibe is white table cloth and I really enjoyed the service. Now on to my favorite discussions which is the food. I'd go back here to sit at the bar, have drinks and oysters. I did that as a prelude to my dinner and it was better than dinner itself. I had the whole fried snapper which was just ok. It had no flavor so I asked for some chimmichurri on the side to punch it up a notch. It helped. The Brussels were ok. I must say the dessert was delicious! So for me going back means a nice seat at the bar with a cocktail and some oysters. read more

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I went here for my aunts graduation celebration, and let me tell you, it was wonderful! The food was magical, the service was impeccable, and when I walked in, it felt like Mamma Mia! I ordered the filet mignon and it was wonderful! It came with a potato and green beans. For dessert I had the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. We sat outside and it was nice weather so we had a good experience. 10/10, would recommend. read more

Ocean - Outside!! - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Ocean is one of my favorite fine dining restaurants. The experience and food is always on point. On this night, they were understaffed, so it took a while for the entrees to come out. But the drinks and appetizers came fairly quickly. The oysters and sushi were delicious. My snapper entree was delightful. The banana foster dessert wasn't my favorite but was okay. Overall great experience. read more

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We reserved our own room so that was nice since we were a rowdy bunch. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. I got the crispy skin salmon which was good. I have never had raw oysters but I will say after my visit here, I'm a fan of them. Overall the food, service, and atmosphere was excellent. read more

The experience was good, both appetizers were good. We had a blueberry punch cocktail that was tasty. I had the swordfish and the ladies had red snapper. Both were good. Atmosphere was nice and our waitress Tina was very nice and good at her job. read more

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I had dinner here recently with a large group. I will say Oceans did a good job of handling our group, and we were in a separate room. This was good as the restaurant is incredibly noisy. We had to place our orders earlier, and I ordered the filet mignon medium. I was quite surprised when I received a tough, unseasoned and overcooked filet. During dinner I ordered two glasses of a mediocre white wine. No prices on the wine menu. Imagine my surprise to be charged $45 for two glasses of wine! And I'm from Chicago and used to city prices! Tourist trap!!!!!! I suggest giving this place a pass for sure! read more

Ocean is a go to restaurant for me whenever there is something to celebrate. Perfect for anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays, ocean never fails to bring you the best of the best seafood in Birmingham. 1. Bruschetta-- good appetizer, but would've been better with more vinegar & oil. I could make a better one at home. 2. Baby Lobster Tails-- secret menu item! Honestly worth ordering two of. Smaller tails are easier to eat,more tender, and SO good with lemon & butter. 3. Scallops-- the best I've ever had. Pair nicely with the sauce, but were slightly overpowered by the beans. Scallops are not super filling, so an appetizer is needed to make it a meal. 4. Baklava Ice Cream-- A must try. The warm, flaky and mildly sweet crust melts the ice cream just enough that it's easy to eat. The slight drizzle of honey really brings out the flavors. read more

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We came in for a work dinner. Great atmosphere, they had multiple servers waiting on us and we did not have to wait long for anything. The sushi is wonderful and the desserts were so delicious. We will definitely be back read more

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Wonderful! Lobster tails are a must. Beautiful atmosphere and amazing service. Oysters Rockefeller were a great start to our meal.

My wife and I ate here to celebrate her passing the exam for her CHT certification. The beef satay was one of the best appetizers we'd had in years. It would have been a tasty, albeit small, dinner all on its own. Fortunately, I opted for the hereford filet mignon, which to the dismay of many, I usually have cooked well-done and butterflied. The restaurants that are able to pull this off without drying out the steak always remain at the top of my list, and Ocean certainly pulled it off! Our server was also very friendly and helpful, making for a perfect evening to celebrate my wife's accomplishment! read more

Ocean - Hereford Filet Mignon - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Painfully below average for a restaurant that advertises so many awards and presents those type prices. My old fashioned was bitter and filled to the rim with ice that melted and only made the drink worse. The maker used so much orange peel that I could taste the bitterness of the rind. Pre-meal toast was offered with a cucumber and tomato salad that was overpowered by the onions. My wife ordered a well below average sushi roll. My gulf coast shrimp was described by the waiter as being fire grilled. The menu said it was pink-salt crusted over fora with goat cheese. What was brought was, in essence, scampi in which the five large shrimp sat atop a grain swimming in a half inch of butter. No detectable goat cheese or other flavors. The baklava ice cream was allegedly the star of the show on an otherwise bland dessert menu. It was well presented, a ball of ice cream wrapped in filo, twisted at the top and dusted with sugar. The ice cream had nearly all melted by the time it arrived, leaving us with syrup and about a tablespoon of actual ice cream. The decor and ambiance in the restaurant were nice, and the service was fair, aside from the I'll-described shrimp dish. Wouldn't recommend at those prices. read more

Ocean definitely earned these 5 stars I'm giving them. In addition, they've been added to my list of new faves! Stick with me as I recap my wonderful dining experience from last night! My husband and I, along with another couple, decided to go to Ocean on a whim last night. We had been at the City Club for an event and we wanted to extend our time together over a nice meal. Our friend (the female counterpart of the other couple) suggested Ocean. Out of the four of us, she was the only one that had been before so we decided to check it out. Of course last night was Friday so Ocean was practically full. However, the hostess made sure we could get a table and we got it in under 20 minutes so kudos to her! As we walked to our table, waiters and servers gracefully stepped aside to let us pass. Before I ate or drank a thing, I was already impressed with the service and decorum. We were sat and our waiter was amazing! He thoroughly went over the menu and gave us recommendations since most of us were first timers. We ordered a few orders of the Rockefeller and Bienville oysters to share. They were delicious, especially the Rockefeller oysters. Then, we had the whole flounder. When I say whole, I mean whole--head and tail included. The fish was delectable! Overall, it was an excellent dining experience for our double date. I will most certainly be going back! You get what you pay for and this place was worth every dime! read more

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I surprised my wife for her birthday by coming here. Neither of us had ever been, and we were very happy to have that situation rectified! We started with the Oysters Rockefeller, which were delicious. We decided to split a few rolls of Sushi for the main course, and then decided we weren't quite done with the oysters yet! We ordered some Oysters Bienville, which were also good as well. Our waiter was great - courteous and friendly the entire meal. Word of warning - this place is on the expensive side, but it is worth it. We'll be back! read more

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We were visiting Birmingham and this was recommended to us by the lovely owner of the amazing Hassinger Daniels Mansion nearby. Had a quick cocktail at Dave's Pub on the opposite corner (not fancy but a damn good bar!) and then went for dinner. Food was outstanding; service very professional. But sometimes you happen to order about 5 minutes after a tour bus of 25 Road Scholars (not misspelled!) had just ordered. Our 1st glass of wine was finished after 35 minutes and still no appetizers. That said, the Oysters Bienville were exquisite, and the special lobster tail dish, even at $39, was a treat: two large tails split so you get four (they gave us a fifth to make up for the wait) over a bed of fresh spring vegetables and mashed potatoes....way good. My wife was also very pleased with her crab cakes and entree. Go before they get busy and you will be totally happy. And we are from NYC so we can be fussy but OCEAN rocked in the end. read more

Ocean - grilled lobster tails over fresh Spring veggies and mashed potatoes...fabulous! - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I went to Ocean to celebrate a friend's birthday. I was excited to try the restaurant as I had never been before. Unfortunately the visit was disappointing enough to not be enticed to return. From the beginning, the waiter was pretty curt. We were a party of 10 so maybe he didn't want to serve a large party. Not sure. I asked about the gulf shrimp al ajillo. He said it came with 3 shrimp so I opted not to get that. I ordered the bubblegum roll and parmesan truffle fries (weird combo I know lol). The fries were good and the sushi was okay but they used one little sliver of a single shrimp for 8 pieces of the roll. So if they used a sufficient amount of shrimp the roll would have definitely been better. The waiter took my fries before I was done, but based on how rude he had been I decided not to even bother saying anything. My friend ordered the Maine lobster. One person ordered the filet mignon. A few members of my party ordered off of the Birmingham Restaurant Week. The restaurant week dish that a few people ordered was the chargrilled shrimp and scallop pasta. I tried the shrimp from the pasta - it was undercooked and barely seasoned. The guest that ordered filet mignon ordered it well done. The kitchen sent the steak out medium the first time. So the guest requested it to be cooked more, and they sent it out medium again. Which is crazy to me because literally all they needed to cook the steak longer which they refused to do. Fortunately, my friend enjoyed her lobster and that's what mattered most since she was the guest of honor and we were celebrating her birthday. But I won't be back! read more

Do not eat here. I got food poisoning from eating the mahi on Friday night. Happy Birthday to me. . Thought I was going to die. Service was awful. The waitress took fish back to the kitchen and said the kitchen staff agreed it was not cooked to their standards. Ocean was one of our favorite restaurants, but I will never go back again. If you need a good colonoscopy prep, might be a good place to eat. read more