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South Ocean Grill

4.2 (451 reviews)

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SOUTH OCEAN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Intimate
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - South Ocean Grill

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Salmon burger and fries!
Nicole D.

Tucked away on a residential street, the South Ocean Grill is one of Patchogue's hidden gems. Every time I've been here, the food has been phenomenal. I love the grilled salmon and salmon sandwich. Although I haven't ventured outside of my love for salmon here yet, family and friends who have dined with me always enjoyed their food, whether it was steak, chicken, or salad. The only downsides are the lack of parking and the size of the restaurant. I enjoy the homey feel, but it has limited seating. Overall, the South Ocean Grill is a must-visit if you're in the Patchogue area.

This was a very nice restaurant.
J J.

This was a very nice restaurant. The food was very good. We were the only ones there at the time, so we can't know what the service is normally. Yet, it was incredible while we were there. I had the shrimp. They were very good. Actually, they were great. Nice large shrimp with nice flavors.

French Onion Filet Mignon with Loaded Baked Potato and Squash Salad, Pan Seared Jumbo Scallops and Rock Shrimp with Lobster Risotto
Mallory O.

The food exceeded our expectations! Super flavorful, fresh, and unique dishes here. It's a small and cozy establishment and has a pretty small staff, but they deliver a great meal. We cannot wait to come back to explore other menu items. A hidden gem for sure!

Snowy margarita
Emily B.

Nothing quite like restaurant week to open my eyes to new places! I stumbled across South Ocean Grill while looking at restaurants participating in restaurant week. My boyfriend and I immediately fell in love with their price fixed menu and decided this was where we were having date night! This place is small, like really small. HOWEVER, it is super cozy and inviting. If you don't like tight spaces I don't recommend dining in. I immediately fell in love with the decor and the ambiance. It's very rustic and like I said above super homey. For the food I ordered the Korean cauliflower, it was cooked to perfection but there were a few pieces drowning in sauce, could've used a little less. Otherwise amazing. My boyfriend started with the crab cake which was a $4 add on, he wasn't too thrilled but he did say it was amazing (crab cakes aren't my thing personally). For our main we both got the grilled salmon. We were slightly disappointed that they had run out of the filet mignon but the salmon proved to be an amazing choice. It was perfectly cooked and came with a delicious sauce on the side so you could add as much as you wanted. The green beans were cooked perfectly as well as the potatoes. We were both really impressed considering we thought we were gonna get a steak. Dessert was also great I had the gluten free chocolate cake, since I'm watching my figure, obviously. And it was heavenly. Creamy with a raspberry jam drizzled on top of it. I'm not gonna stop thinking about it. My boyfriend had the crème brûlée cheese cake which was also great, it wasn't saturated and held a great shape. Our drinks were alright, we both got "snowy" cocktails and they came in very "summery" glasses. My boyfriends margarita had coconut in it and it just seemed like a cocktail for the wrong time of year. I had an aperol spritz which was delightful but but also a little sweet with the "snowy" aspect to it. Overall, we had a great time and we definitely agreed on coming back in the summertime since it's right by the water and the summer cocktails look INSANE. For the winter season I'd just be prepared to be really close to other patrons since it's really small and there isn't a heated outdoor section.

PEI mussels
Peter C.

Everything tasted fresh and was well made. PROS: great little place! The waitstaff was so friendly and all wear shirts that say the restaurant is Veteran Owned. That's awesome! The seafood is great. Mussel appetizer was good. The toasted bread with it was so good, I didn't expect to love the bread so much. Volcano shrimp were good, but the coleslaw was the star. I could have ate a bowl of just the slaw. So fresh and not too heavy with mayo. The steak was well cooked to temp. It was sufficiently seasoned as well. Delicious roasted potatoes and veggies on the side. The burger was the star! 5 star burger. Fresh roll, perfectly grilled patty. I would go just for the burger. It was insanely good and I would swear it eclipsed the seafood. The brownie sundae was incredible. Safe room for this warm, cake brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. GET DESSERT! CONS: They were out of Calamari, which was really disappointing as I so wanted to try it. The risotto in my flounder special was not very good. I left it after one bite. Risotto is a tough dish to do, and quickly turns into wall spackle if done incorrectly. The risotto was the only real miss here. OVERALL: No waterfront dining, but it's close. Small place with really great food. You can tell they care about the end product. Everything tastes like it's from scratch. I highly recommend this place. Make a reservation. Note that if you make the reservation and don't show, it's $20 per person. I understand this in the time of covid.

Pan Seared Jumbo Scallops and Rock Shrimp Lunch
Rebecca R.

My husband and I ate here today on a day trip to Long Island during our vacation. I told the staff that in ten years of marriage this meal today at South Ocean Grill was in our top three restaurant meals. I was wrong. On the way home we tried to think of two other meals that came even close to this one, and we couldn't. We agreed that this meal was easily our favorite meal in ten years of marriage. My husband's risotto was creamy, the rice was not grainy, spinach was cooked to perfection. His scallops were perfect... and he is a scallops person, as well as a picky eater. He is usually disappointed in restaurant scallops... but not today. These scallops, he said, were perfect. The clam chowder was just clammy enough. My vegetable platter was gorgeous. The grilled flavors of the artichoke, corn, squash and potato were perfect. I ordered mulled wine to go with it and was not disappointed. Last night we ate at a far more expensive restaurant near a ski resort in the Catskills. The meal was good, but we will probably forget it. This meal will be a forever memory. The restaurant itself has an interior design that is simultaneously elegant and relaxed, perfect for a spontaneous lunch as well as a special occasion. The service was attentive but we still enjoyed our privacy. If we didn't live near Chicago, we would be back regularly. This restaurant is a real gem.

Doesn't look like a beet patty to me.
Allissa A.

When we went here the bathroom was out of order. The waiter was nice to let us know when we arrived before getting us seated. Long story short we had to leave but went back because it was the only one open in the area. So I ordered a veggie burger without bun because they don't have a gluten free bun. According to the description it comes with a BEET patty. However when my order arrived, it was rice and beans with teriyaki glaze. I didn't complain because I actually like rice and beans. It's just not what I ordered or how I expected it to be. It looks like they tried to make a patty out of rice and beans that didn't form like patty. Taste ok. They also accommodate dogs in their outdoor patio. So we were sitting with a bulldog who kept on staring at us because it wanted some food.

Jumbo Scallop and Shrimp Risotto

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11 months ago

Went here for takeout. I got a kale salad, which was delicious. The steak sandwich was amazing. The service was great. The vibe was good.

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1 year ago

Drove 30 minutes and CLOSED BUSINESS. Should have it somewhere online. Not good service. Vacant building.

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2 years ago

My favorite spot for a dinner out in Patchogue. Great service and cozy vibes. Theres no bad item on the menu. Key Lime Pie is to die for!!

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Tiny and cozy restaurant, my food was excellent and service was attentive, small menu but tasty

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South Ocean Grill - burgers - Updated May 2026

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