Normally Ocean is one of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham but not anymore. I just blew $175 on mediocre food and not so good service.

If you're used to great seafood, you won't find this to your liking. For starters our waiter walked away in the middle of my sentence. I guess he was tired of me asking questions about the menu, we spent over $400 for our family of 5 and honestly, you'd be better off at a chain restaurant and have better food, service and pay much less. My entree had a strange, unidentifiable flavor where it wasn't good but also wasn't awful, but not worth what they are charging. We are from out of town and visiting so we were excited to try a local restaurant. Disappointed, and $400 poorer. read more

We sat at the bar. The bartender was kind and polite. The service was wonderful. The food was exquisite. I loved the salad with fried feta cheese. The food was cooked to perfection. Had such an amazing time. Food maybe a little pricey but totally worth it. read more

I'm from San Diego and can appreciate good seafood! This place is doing it right! A tad pricey but worth every penny! Parking was a bit challenging so if you can taxi or Uber there I would recommend that. Oysters were delicious and sushi was pretty good too! Definitely a must try if your in the area! read more

We had bouillabaisse, lobster, and fried whole fish flounder. It was all excellent. Meredith was our server and she was perfect. Highly recommend. read more

The ambience is perfect for a date night. The food and service was excellent. The whole flounder was prepared perfectly.

Best seafood in the AL area! Delicious! I am in SF and had low expectations for GOOD seafood in the middle of... well no where! The fish was delicious and you can have it served many different ways! The bread they bring out is yummy and they serve it with three different sauces and dips - Right up my alley! To top it all off I had the best service EVER! Would def go back when I am in the area! read more

Ate here with a date on a Friday night before a concert at Iron City. We were seated promptly at our reservation time. Service from Jay was excellent. Everything we had was a standout: Lobster tail appetizer Ocean salad with fried feta Reg grouper with crawfish grits Cornmeal fried scallops (outstanding, unusual to see fried scallops on menu) Portions/price ratio was excellent given the quality of food. Overall outstanding experience. I used valet which was quick and organized, otherwise parking looks like a zoo. Will definitely return. read more

Ocean's ambiance is superb, service fantastic, location ideal, wine list impressive. my adult daughter, who was raised in oyster producing community, said: "..Ocean's oyster bienvile was the best oyster she has ever eaten". halibut is usually prepared with consistency like steak; Ocean's was soft & flaky, like a knife cutting through butter. read more

This used to be so good! Fish is still fresh but thick unpleasant sauce on it. Seafood appetizer included lots of fried lemons, parsley, and very little seafood. Never again read more

Wonderful food . Great Wine list . We had outstanding service . We ordered Baked oysters , calamari and peel and eat shrimp for appetizers for the table . I ordered the special , which was wood fire grilled Lobster Tails . Split that with a friend who got the Filet . My wife had the Halibut, she said it was Cooke perfectly. Just a really enjoyable dinning experience read more

Wonderful time! Sushi was outstanding and fresh. Service was great! Will definitely be back!

I'm torn. The baklava ice cream was the most amazing thing I have ever placed in my mouth. The meal I had - I don't remember what - was forgettable. But the price wasn't! $117 for the two of us, and we didn't even get a whole bottle of wine. I left with one thought in mind -- I will be back for the baklava ice cream. Many times. I probably won't order food from them again because it just didn't measure up to the price. 3 stars for the food. 5+++ stars for the Baklava ice cream. Oh, one reviewer said that it had bad service and was pretentious. I agree with an overall pretentious atmosphere, but our waiter was super friendly and approachable. Hmm..actually a little too much. He told us about the vineyard he used to work at..blablabla (seriously, my food was getting cold)....then wrote down a couple names of good wine on a piece of paper, because he got so excited talking about it. I dunno.....I just can't bring myself to give it 4 stars. I should give it another shot, but....it was just too expensive for what it was. read more

Last night I had at Ocean the most recklessly and poorly prepared meal I have ever had in a first world country. Never again. Too many truly outstanding alternatives literally within walking distance. I suggest that one avoid this one altogether. read more

We came here for a much needed date night. It started with a bubblegum sushi roll and the crab cake. Both were absolutely perfect! The wasabi on the bubblegum roll perfectly paired the flavors and it burst with deliciousness inside our mouths. We decided to get the fire grilled lobster tails and the grouper for our main courses. The grouper dish was good, but it pales in comparison to the lobster tails and horseradish mashed potatoes. Every bite of the lobster tail dish was better than the next. It was a fabulous meal and experience. I can not wait to go back again! read more

Ate at the bar and the service was fantastic. I wish they had a plasma mounted on the wall to catch some games, but that is the only complaint. Sampled the oysters for appt (they have about 8 varieties to choose from, I went with 2 from 3 varieties ). I should have paid more attention, but they have them on display as you walk in. Stop and ask which one is which prior to ordering. That said 2 I picked rocked, the other was so-so. For main course, had the scallops. The bartender asked how I would like them prepared; a nice touch. They were delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant and would definitely come back if in the area again. read more

They know how to cook. Went to a pop up for st pats day and the beef was over cooked but the burger was to die for!

OK, update on Ocean. This has been my go to Birmingham restaurant for years. I hadn't been in a while and stopped in with my mom last week hoping to treat her to a nice meal. I was so disappointed! Service was bad, kitchen was slow and the food was poorly seasoned. The worst thing was that Chef Reis was actually there (saw him at the bar towards the end of the meal). Clearly this place has jumped the shark. The menu looked tired, nothing new except some desserts and the ingredient list on those was ridiculous...totally forced. Reis must be bored. The only people trying there seemed to be the 2 hostesses. Sad to say I won't be back. read more

Ocean- thank you for a fine Valentine dinner... through my error on making reservations for a wrong date you accommodated my wife and I on this special night on the correct day, can't thank you enough. Food was superb as was the vino. Have lived here over a decade and is my fav fine restaurant to go to. read more

Had dinner at their bar last night. Came in around 630PM on a Wednesday. Not many people there. Decided to eat at the bar. Their oyster selection was very good and delicious. I also had their Greek Salad (tremendous) and their Hawaiian sushi roll (just ok). Their bartender was very nice, professional and talkative. All in all I had a very decent meal and good time. As far as seafood goes in the Birmingham area, this place is tops! read more

Exceptional service and food. Our server Sean, was amazing. He was informative, and had great recommendations. The food was delicious. If you visit the area, you must must visit. Great place. Also, we used valet and car was driving up as we walked out. Amazing service!! read more

We had the most awesome time at the bar. Jason was fabulous. He was the authority on the raw bar. He knew all the oysters, and the king crab legs were amazing. To have Jason explain everything and Carlos at the bar was amazing!! Great people! Great food! Sooooo recommend! And happy happy to Jason and Jennifer! read more

Great food! First time tonight, and it won't be my last. The waiter wasn't the best, but dinner and dessert made up for that. Go, go, go! read more

Ocean - Seafood Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Went here for dinner on a Wednesday evening and it was packed. We lucked out and a table with a reservation didn't show up, so we were seated pretty quickly. We had the oysters Rockefeller, which my friends proclaimed the best they've had. It was my first time having oysters Rockefeller; they were delicious, with crispy edged spinach and bacon that was just-enough salted. I ordered the red snapper, pan seared. It was slightly drier than I would have liked, but the mash and vegetables with it were delicious. read more

All I can say is YUM! It took me a long time to learn to love fish since it was never served when I was growing up. But, this place will convince you. My favorite is to drop in and sit at the bar. Otherwise, you have to get reservations. My family likes it so much that it tops the list of where we go for 'Birthday Dinners". The grilled lobster tail appetizer is really good and I love the pan-seared grouper. My daughters favorite is the grilled shrimp. My mother swears by the steak...really? Yes, it's better than most steak places...no kidding! My husband likes the tuna. I can't say much about the desserts because I don't usually get one. BUT...the ice cream is amazing if you do want one. I think it's the dessert chefs specialty. Anyway, I'd highly recommend Oceans for people who want the freshest seafood that is cooked perfectly. read more

My husband and I always enjoy wonderful dinners at Ocean, but our recent dinner was even better than wonderful! Our server was Jay, who helped us with menu and drink suggestions that were all great. I had the Wild Mushroom Goat Cheese appetizer, which was not only delicious, but beautifully presented with circular layers of tomato, mushroom and goat cheese, with balsamic vinegar drizzled lightly on the plate. The Lobster Pot Pie was decadently delicious with chunks of Maine lobster and vegetables in a wonderful sauce. My husband had the Prince Edward Island Mussels appetizer, of which I had a few and they were wonderful. It was a huge bowlful and I probably wouldn't have been able to eat a whole entree, if I had ordered the mussels to start. He also had the grouper entree, which he also enjoyed. Of course, there's always room somewhere for dessert and even though I was leaning toward the Tiramisu, we opted for the Baklava on Jay's recommendation, and yum, it was a nice way to finish our dinner. Being a very rainy night, we especially appreciated the Valet service they have for both Lunch and Dinner, shared with their sister restaurant 26, next door. read more

I'd suggest calling ahead and making a reservation. Valet parking is a huge plus! the atmosphere is very relaxing and service is good. Menu is limited to a hand full of options,but you know they have perfected those choices. Also the wine list is nice. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. The food is amazing with a trendy environment. During oyster season I suggest trying their oysters. Their staff is knowledgable about them and explains where they are from and they are able to provide suggestions. Ocean also has a wide cocktail selection. It's pricy but worth every penny. If you are looking for amazing seafood in Birmingham, go to Ocean! read more

If you like Oysters, you need to come to Ocean. The raw and various dishes of cooked oysters were amazing. Coming from the West Coast, I was blown away by just how fresh and delicious the seafood was at this Birmingham establishment. That's not to say I underestimated what Alabama had to offer in the way of seafood, just that I didn't expect to find a seafood restaurant that topped any of the ones I have eaten at here in San Diego. The Ocean salad was great and the lobster pot pie was decadent and scrumptious. Yeah, I said it...scrumptious. They had good beer selections, and the service was outstanding. Will definitely go back when I am in Birmingham! read more

Honestly, I wasn't that impressed with Ocean. For a restaurant that is rated to be a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, I expected much more. Sure, Ocean is "fine-dining" and upscale, but I've felt a better ambience elsewhere. I came for a group work dinner and were seated outside on the covered patio dining area. Bleh. Our table was set wrong for 10 even though we made the reservation for 12. While we were bunched in close with extra chairs, it took a while till a little 4-top table was added on. Orders took a while to place, but we were a pretty talkative bunch. I ordered the Ocean Salad since I heard so many good things about the fried feta. As for my entree, I got the Red Grouper with smoked duck farro, ruby chard, heirloom carrots & orange duck fat vinaigrette. The salad was good, and the fried feta was a unique but delicious topper. As for my entree, I was highly disappointed. It was maybe lukewarm. The grouper seemed a bit dry. I honestly felt like the smoked duck farro and the heirloom carrots were my favorite part of the entree. My meal just did not seem worthy of it being a Four Diamond restaurant, and it definitely didn't seem worth $40. Glad I got to try a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, but I probably won't be returning here. read more

See all

The last few years INCONSISTENT would describe Ocean. I'm perplexed. We always celebrate our anniversary at Ocean. I doubt we will return. I reserved our favorite booth months ago, and was informed three hours before our reservation time " it was unavailable". We were seated in the main dining room next to a party of 8. We could hardly hear each other talk. Our server, William was fantastic. We ordered the oysters Bienville. They were small but delicious. We ordered them again after our entree and they were overcooked . The lobster was fine, but the risotto ( what little there was) was dry and hard, not creamy. The desserts were wonderful. I will think twice before spending $200.00 on a restaurant that is no longer " special". read more

I went here for a business dinner, and had a great experience. My house salad was excellently, and my Norwegian salmon was superb. Service was excellent. I would definitely dine there again. read more

I went sporadically with a friend, and we both work in a high end restaurant in Atlanta. I rarely write reviews but I think it's really important to do so when a place exceeds your expectations. We walked in without reservations and the place was packed, a great sign for a Wednesday night. The hostess was able to get us in within 20 minutes. The service was decent, our server was friendly. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere is so comfortable. Bread service was soooo yummy. Get the Ocean salad, amazing. For dessert I ordered the pop tarts and was on heaven. After looking at so many restaurants beforehand, I was completely happy with my experience at Ocean! read more

Of all the restaurants I have been to throughout the country, Ocean is my favorite. I have eaten here numerous times since I first discovered it 7 years ago. It's worth a trip to Birmingham just to eat at Ocean. My favorite dish is the southern battered whole flounder. Everything is excellent. read more

This is a nice place in bham. it appears to be popular with the young professional crowd. I assume this since we could not hear our waiter do to the screaming and yelling as bros had to shout and brag about how many glasses of wine/beer/shots they had. It was also nice to listen to them "fight" over who was going to pay the bill. Everyone wanted to pay in order to prove how much money they made. Other than these people the place is really nice. Problem being these people where every where inside. The seats are really close together. The food was amazing. Our waiter was outstanding. This place has absolutely amazing food. it looks so good inside. Its just the crowd. I plan on going back just hoping it was a one time thing. read more

One of the best meals we've every had and we travel and eat out a lot. The oyster bar selection was very broad and the oysters were as fresh as you can get. We had the 2 LB lobsters which were prepared perfectly! The ocean salad with feta cheese crutons was very creative and included with our meal. The Baklava ice cream dessert was amazing. Great service and wine selection to boot. On the pricey side for Birmingham, but worth every penny. read more

went for my bff's wedding rehearsal dinner, it was a preordered menu, which was fantastic! Appetizers were lobster rangoon, asian springrolls and lump crabcakes(no breadcrumbs, amazing!) Had the greek salad as a starter (had these fried feta chunks which were scrumptious!)for dinner had the filet with their homemade potato salad ( again spectacular) Did not have rooom for dessert but had a couple of bites of this chocolate pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream. I loved, loved , loved ocean! read more

The best seafood establishment in Bham by far. The service is impeccable, the food and its presentation was excellent. Waitstaff were attentive. I had the lobster salad which had plenty of lobster on it, and the nightly special. The halibut was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were nicely done as well. Seasoning was a little on the bland side, but I do like spicy food, and I do think the taste was very good. For dessert I had the local peach cobbler and it was delicious. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Ocean is a hot spot in Birmingham, haven't been in a while so decided to surprise my wife with an much needed break from the kids and early Vday dinner date. Drinks were good, server was good, but when my wife's scallops came there was a small worm, alive, dancing on her plate.. we were shocked, waiter was shocked, snatch up the plate and apologized.. got some excuse about the organic flowers they get in everyday sometime have some infestation. totally unacceptable. they did replace her entree with new scallops, but they were hastily over cooked and needless to say, our appetite was gone. Disappointed that a restaurant of this quality didn't offer to remove her $30 meal from our ticket.. all they offered was a couple free drinks. $180 for dinner and drinks wasted... may or may not be back, there are a lot of good spots in Birmingham who would have handled the situation better. read more

I just had dinner here with a colleague while on a work trip to Birmingham. We chose this restaurant based on good reviews and how appealing the menu sounded online. We had crab cakes as an appetizer that were served on a bed of sweet corn relish that was a lovely mix of sweet and spicy. For dinner I had the seared scallops with black eye pea and bacon hash. Everything was cooked to perfection and I was actually very surprised how much I enjoyed the hash. My colleague had the grouper special which she described as "smaller than she expected but appropriately filling." Basically she cleaned her plate and was full so I guess that means it was good. We didn't order dessert but the manager brought us an order of s'more pot de creme because we were out of towners. It was amazing. Needless to say we had a wonderful first impression of Birmingham at Ocean. read more