How have I walked by this place dozens of times and never tried it out? We went last night and we were blown away. Even though it was 6:15 on a Saturday night, we were able to be sat right away. As soon as we walked in, someone greeted us and showed us to our table. Our server immediately got us waters and asked if we wanted anything else to drink (wife and I both got some delicious beers that they had on tap). We had our little one in tow with us and they were so accommodating to him! As soon as we were ready, our server took our order. We got: Chowder "frots" (fries and tots mixed in with some New England clam chowder, bacon, onions, cheese, and other goodies) 10/10, would definitely order again. My wife got the lobster roll with a side of clam chowder. Loaded with lobster, but you do pay the price. Labeled as market price, this was almost $40. Delicious, but not worth it in our opinion. 6.5/10. Pan roast (house specialty which came with shredded crab, shrimp, clams, and muscles). This, topped with rice, was heavenly. Better than any pan roast I've had. Came out ripping hot as it should. My wife was envious of my dish. 10/10 From the kids menu we also ordered the chicken Alfredo. My kid loved it, but my wife and I both had a bite and wow, we would've ordered that for ourselves it was so good. 10/10. We can't wait to come back just for the food. On top of that, however, service was above and beyond. The servers and everyone in the restaurant were so accommodating to us and our child and made us feel so, so welcome. We would come back even if the food was bad, solely for the service we received. Vibes we great, decoration on the walls look like they hired an artist to paint it. They had two TV's behind the bar / prep area that was showing NBA and PGA which I'll never complain about. All around 10/10 experience. read more

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Underwhelming... Went for the lobster roll but they were charging $38... So second choice was the soft shell crab po boy and they weren't selling that. So settled for the fish and chips. Definitely have had better, the fries were oily and underdone. Also very little tartar sauce. Nice staff but we were the only ones in there & we had our food come out 15 mins apart. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - FISH N CHIPS Chicken po boy - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Weekend dinner, pretty open seating, nice decor. Menu is various seafood item ranging from po boys to pan roasts. Ordered the shrimp po boy,pan roast, and kids macaroni and cheese. Po boy had nice crispy shrimp on a fresh roll. Comes with a side of fries. Pan roast was a nice creamy broth with shrimp mussels and crab. Comes with a side of rice. Mac and cheese was a pretty big portion for a kid, really cheesy and rich. Overall pretty good meal and surprisingly pretty affordable considering the cost of seafood. Service was attentive. Would recommend. read more

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We tried happy hour menu and got these items. Dozen oyster for 2$ per oyster was refreshing and tasty with their 2 sauces however, the oyster are kinda small imo. 4/5 The grits taste delicious and healthy 4/5 Sprouts low key taste like a snack wrap which is excellent and perfect way to eat vegetables 5/5 The clam/mussels soup I'm not a fan of. The soup flavor is very thin and watery like and the spice flavor feels like its floating only the top of the soup if that make sense. 1/5 not for me. This is my first time eating oyster and I can see why people like it. Overall 4/5 read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Sprouts, grits, and steam clam/mussel soup - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

It was our second time here today. The oyster options change. The server let us know the Kumiai was more of a lime finish and the Sol Azul was a cucumber taste and bigger. Definitely recommend a half dozen of either options, we asked for 3 of the Kumiai and 9 of the Sol Azul. A half dozen is priced at $22. Since we ordered 3 of each option they were both priced at $11.25, so about 50¢ more. It's pretty chill inside, there's some tv screens that have sports channels playing. The waiter this time didn't really check in on us. We would've preferred to have some salt but at least we had Tabasco, lemon wedges, cocktail sauce and another green sauce that was a little spicy. Also had a Tora Japanese Lager it was around 5%, which my boyfriend enjoyed. read more

Omg! Amazing food. The clams are fantastic. I took the broth home! Everything here was incredible flavor. Order everything!!! read more

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Came here after walking around the Spectrum and it was such a cute little stop. They have both outdoor and indoor seating but we grabbed a cozy booth inside which felt perfect after all that walking. We started with raw oysters and they had two kinds from California, big and small. They were super fresh and paired really well with this red sauce that was kinda sweet and spicy. I don't even know what it was exactly but I kept going back for more. The cioppino was sooo good. The broth was rich and slightly sweet and just hit the spot. I do wish there were more clams but honestly the flavor made up for it. The clam chowder was THICK and chunky in the best way. Like every bite had clam and even some crab which made it feel extra worth it. We also got fries which were just okay compared to everything else. Definitely not the star of the table. Service was good and we got seated right away which I love. There was a moment where I really wanted a water refill but I could tell the staff was a little distracted watching the basketball game lol. Not a huge deal but I noticed. read more

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What I haven't written a review yet? Well I really enjoy this place. I forget about it but it's quite yummy!! Only pan roast place left that I know of. There's never a wait for us when we go which is nice. There's never signature pan roast is my fav!! It's creamy and you pick your spice level. Ask for bread to dip all the goodness! I've come for happy hour as well which is pretty good with some specials. SYOY! read more

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We came here after a long stroll through the Irvine Spectrum mall . We made it time go happy hour and took advantage of the menu and prices. We order one and a half dozen kumiai oysters at $2 each and we order Fish n chips and a cup of clam chowder. All that said this place was a nice find and decent pricing. The oysters were fresh and very delicious and the fish n chip were probably one of the best I've had here in Orange County but the Clam Chowder was perfect and tasty and I will come back just for the chowder. The service was good and everyone was tentative to us and the and the Ambiance was fun and very hip with neon lights and bright interior with a covered patio and heating lamps. They have many locations in SoCal so I will definitely try them and or come back to this location read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - FISH N CHIPS - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

The second location I have been to, and compared to the first in Temple City this place was not quite as good. The main setback is the portion size which is quite small. The interior is clean and well decorated, and staff are friendly and helpful. The food quality is good and tasty. read more

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One of my favorite spots to eat at the Spectrum, especially as a seafood lover. I stopped by for happy hour and the oysters were so fresh and flavorful. Their clam chowder and fish & chips are always a hit--the fries are perfectly crispy every time. The pan roast is another must‑order, rich and comforting. The staff here are consistently sweet, attentive, and make every visit feel welcoming. Always a reliable, delicious stop. read more

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This is a fantastic spot! I stopped by for their $1 happy hour oysters from 3-6 PM. The oysters themselves were great. A bit more on the briny side (not sweet) but the water in the shell is sweet which balanced everything out perfectly. They serve them with fresh horseradish and a great cocktail sauce It's a great, low-key place to stop by for a quick bite and a drink. The value is unbeatable, and the quality is definitely there. U cant beat $1! U get a few big ones and a few small ones so it all evens out read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Pan roast is the best thing here, that's what you should order. Creamy, rich, lots of seafood, and with the rice it gets really filling. What made it even better was using the sauce from the fried calamari. Tasted like cocktail sauce with horseradish, and mixing a little into the pan roast gave it another level. Sounds weird but it actually works. Also got the fried calamari, crispy and not chewy, good to eat while waiting for the pan roast. Price is a little high for the portion, so 4 out of 5, but I would come back for the pan roast. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of the few spots that still serves pan roast! So I've been to all Dive Oyster Bar locations in SoCal and will say this one is pretty good, but still lacking something.. similar to the Yorba Linda one. This spot is located at Irvine Spectrum Center near AMC. The space is casual and bright, with nice attentive workers. Signature Pan Roast - I ordered it medium spicy and it had a nice kick. There were plenty of chunks and seafood throughout, which I really enjoyed. I personally prefer a stronger tomato base, but overall it was solid. 7.5/10 Cioppino - This one was a bit disappointing. It tasted so so watery, almost like diluted tomato water, and lacked depth of flavor. You can choose noodles or bread, and actually received both, but the noodles didn't mix well with the broth. 4/10 Oysters - We tried three different ones (don't remember the names), but my favorite was the briny, medium-sized one from Canada! They also offer complimentary bread upon request, which was great for dipping it into my pan roast. And they don't serve the scallops from their menu anymore. read more

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I got the pan roast signature and it was good! Doesn't compare to the Oyster Bar one in Vegas but it satisfies the craving!

Went for dinner with a friend- it was all pretty OK. Ambience- 3.5/5- not bad, but the lighting is a little on the white/bright side for my taste and it's a very casual 'seat yourself' situation. Service- 5/5- good, quick service. Food- 3/5- I got the gumbo- I've never tried gumbo before and was interested to try it, but I didn't love it. It was extremely peppery, the black pepper drowned out any other flavors. The gumbo itself was thick, but in a gelatinous sort of way that I didn't particularly enjoy. I also either learned I don't like okra, or maybe it was just the okra in this version of gumbo I didn't enjoy but it's hard to tell if it was the veggie or the way that the veggie was cooked. The chicken was just an OK cook and the sausages reminded me of the Costco sausages I've bought. My friend got the pan roast and hers was much better, a heavy meal for sure, but I know she liked hers better than I liked mine. Glad we checked it out, but I don't think either of us would come back. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - GUMBO (front), CHICKEN AND ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE PAN ROAST (back)- just OK - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Came to the dive oyster bar for their happy hour M-F From 3pm to 6pm I THINK. The only place with decent $1 oysters in this area in Irvine. The hot Cheetos mac n cheese is ok but a littoooo grainy. They ran out of the hot Cheetos part around 5pm but we were ok with that. The clam chowder was the bomb dot com. Get it to wash down to raw oysters; so creamy and flavorful! Ambiance was nice and cute. They get busy during happy hour time read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Came to DIVE Oyster Bar for happy hour and got 30 oysters for $1 each, which is honestly such a steal. The oysters were super fresh, cold, and so yummy: exactly what you want. Quality was on point, especially for the price. Service was quick and attentive, and everything came out smoothly even with a big order. Ambiance was lively but relaxed, perfect for happy hour vibes and hanging out with friends. Great value, great food, great experience. Would 100% come back for happy hour again. read more

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Happy Hour! Cheap eats for early dinner, 3-6 pm on a weekday. I got two dozen oysters and mussels with a couple glasses of Chardonnay to wash it down for dinner on a Tuesday night. The oysters were from Virginia -Chesapeake Bay, briney and meaty they weren't bad for discounted price! The mussels had a ton of Italian seasoning flavor with strong rosemary notes, but only 8 of them... light seafod broth was the star. Three crusty slices of bread helped as filler. The higher ceilings and patio make a nice relaxing open environment for nomming. Service is highly attentive noticing when water and glass refills are needed, continually checking on you. Shout-out to Jun who helped me out during happy hour! read more

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Went during happy hour which has $1 oysters from 3pm-6pm. Ordered a dozen oysters, and they were all really good! They were a great size, mildly salty and chewy! I don't know how they make money off this deal! Order the bacon wrapped shrimp, i was really amazed at how tightly wrapped the shrimp were! bacon didn't not fall apart while eating. Not overly salty and great firm texture. Ordered the happy hour clam and mussels but asked the waitress to add noodles. It's a really good entree for 1 person! The sauce is more of a broth style but really good with the noodles. Ordered the jambalaya medium spicy; be aware that it does run a little on the spicier side. Lastly, ordered the s'mores bread pudding. So rich, creamy and warm! A good shared portion for a party at three. Kind of wish the marshmallows were more melted. The restaurant is a small intimate venue, but very clean and bright inside. Service was slow to get our check at the end, even after we let the waitress know we were ready for our check. The waitress ended up leaving for the day and forgot about us. we had to speak to a manager. He was very apologetic and found ways to make the experience still end on a good note. Regardless we'll still be back again! read more

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Cute, casual spot located in the Spectrum, right by the Regal Cinema. Service was friendly and welcoming. Pan roast house special: 8/10 it leaned more heavily on the tomato side, and I didn't get as much seafood flavour as I expected. That said, it was still very good, and honestly, if I were judging it purely as a tomato soup, it would've been a 10/10. Bacon-wrapped shrimp:10/10. Simple but perfectly executed. The bacon stayed on surprisingly well with each bite, and the mustard sauce was the star of the dish. Lobster roll: 8/10. Good, but nothing particularly memorable, though it's hard to go wrong when you're using fresh lobster. The bun was nicely toasted and there was a decent amount of lobster. I paired it with the truffle Cajun fries, which actually had a strong truffle flavor. read more

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Stopped by for Happy Hour $2 oysters. First we ordered 1 dozen, fries and beers. Oysters were so fresh and delicious I had to order another dozen. Highly recommend this place! Service was great. Overall great spot! read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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Grabbed a quick lunch bite here. The oysters were very fresh and tasty. The menu wasn't up to date and server said they only had one salad available. When that came out, the server said they were out of eggs as well. I was satisfied with my meal but knocked down my rating to 3 stars due to that mix up. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Oyster - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

The oysters were high quality! We got the large variety which were fresh, nice and creamy and a great texture. The clam chowder was outstanding. The mussels and clams were good, but I might opt for something else. The broth was great but it just seemed like it needed more bread to make it worth it. But the reason for this review is to thank IVAN our server! He was so great and we were kind of desperate to offer something for my dog who was getting restless and he was able to get a small order of unseasoned chicken for her. That is above and beyond and just so nice. We had the best experience and will definitely be back. Thank you to Ivan!! The food here is solid and can't wait to try more! read more

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Came for happy hour and it did not disappoint! Their house sauce for the oysters was bomb and paired great with an ice cold beer! All the servers were super friendly and prompt, even reminding us of last call before happy hour ended. Love the vibe inside - cool interior, very clean, and both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Happy hour oysters - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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The $1 happy hour is so worth it!!! Didn't get sick snd the oysters were generally still attached to their shells so I'd say pretty fresh! I also tried their clam chowder which was solid. The service is also pretty attentive so a lot of our orders came out quite fast. Would def go again! read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped by here after doing a bit of shopping and tried out the cioppino. Great flavor and spice. Seafood was cooked perfectly. The broth paired great with the bread, though I do wish the bread was toasted up a bit more. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - CIOPPINO - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Being at the spectrum is always a pleasure. The dive oyster was on the list to try out. Everyone there was so sweet and kind. The atmosphere on 10, nothing new about it. I ordered SIGNATURE PAN ROAST. The taste was fair. read more

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Absolutely love the Dive Oyster Bar for whenever I have any kind of seafood or comfort food cravings! Ambiance is casual but nice, with some fun and colorful interiors. Service is friendly and helpful if you have any questions about the menu. We went for dinner and found all the flavors and textures so satisfying. We ordered: SHRIMP PAN ROAST: we added blue crab to this and picked rice instead of pasta and it was absolutely scrumptious. The depth of flavor in this pan roast is positively addictive, and it's a generous portion so we had enjoyed leftovers the next day. CHOWDER FROTS: Are they fries? Are they tots? They're both and they are saucy and delicious. Definitely a crowd pleaser for apps. LOBSTER ROLL: as a side for your lobster roll, you can choose between salad, fries, or clam chowder. We selected the clam chowder and weren't disappointed in the slightest. The lobster was juicy, decadent, and perfectly seasoned and cooked. 10/10 would order again. SHRIMP LOUIE SALAD: a very generous portion and a deliciously refreshing option for those warm weather days. Thanks for taking great care of us. Can't wait to visit again! read more

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Stopped in for dinner before a comedy show at the Improv & hubby and I were so happy with our dinner choice! I went with their pan roast with shredded blue crab, shrimp, clams & mussels - it was a perfect balance of creamy, Cajun-y & spicy goodness. I ordered mild and even that was a bit spicy for me so beware if you're not a fan of spice. (The rice definitely helps cut the spiciness so that helped!). Hubby ordered their lobster roll with truffle fries - not sure if you can tell from the photo, but the brioche bun is STUFFED with lobster. The bun itself wasn't too heavy which he liked! The lobster - garlicky, buttery and so juicy! The service was also really great especially since we got there at about 6pm during their dinner rush. We were seated right away and food came out within 10 mins of ordering. The ambiance itself is super casual, super relaxed and super hip. Can't wait to come back again soon, will definitely be back to try other items off their menu! read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Lobster roll with truffle fries - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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Excellent Food and service! Loved the fish and chips (light and crispy) absolutely delicious. We also got the House Pan which was one of the best I've had. Definitely coming back. Generous portions. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - House Pam and Fish N Chips. - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

My wife and I love going to Irvine Spectrum because it's so pup friendly. When we heard about their weekday happy hour specials, we knew we had to check it out. On weekdays (M-F) from 3-6pm, they have $2 oysters, one of the best deals in all of OC! My wife and I arrived around 5pm and got seated immediately. We knew we wanted the oysters but the rest of the menu sounded delicious too. We shared 8 freshly shucked oysters ($16), House Specialty Pan Roast ($22), Chowder Frots ($15) and 2 glasses of HH House Chardonnay ($7/ea). The oysters came out first and they were sooo good, loved both of the sauces too. We've had the Pan Roast before and it was just as delicious as we remembered it, filled tons of seafood and sausages. It was great to share between the both of us. Lastly, we got the Chowder Frots, such a great appetizer, cheesy, has actual chowder w/ clams and the bacon + green onion topping was delicious. Service was great the entire time, we loved the neon signs inside and they also have TVs if you want to catch a game/sporting event. Overall, had a great time and will definitely be back for the $2 HH oysters + all the other dishes! read more

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Great food and great oysters! Had plenty of seating available on Sat afternoon, the oysters were so fresh and sweet. House Pan Roast - flavor was great, but they forgot to add in sausage into my house pan roast which disappointed me greatly. Service was attentive, and cute decor inside. Id return for the happy hour menu on weekdays for the $2 oysters read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Oysters - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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I am just starting to like oysters and love happy hour so here I am. Wish me luck! It's a cute little mini restaurant at The Spectrum in Irvine and it's not crowded at all today 7/14/25!! I am just starting to like oysters and love happy hour so here I am. Wish me luck! It's a cute little mini restaurant at The Spectrum in Irvine and it's not crowded at all today 7/14/25!! I can't believe the lobster roll is $43 I'm getting mine without the bread. read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

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My friend really wanted to try this place, and while oysters aren't usually my thing, I noticed they had a catfish po'boy on the menu, which I usually enjoy. That's what convinced me to go. When we arrived, the restaurant was pretty empty for being in Spectrum, which felt unusual, but after eating there, I understood why. The inside was very nice I like how it was set up! To be fair, the service was friendly and attentive. The waitstaff checked in and made sure we had what we needed, so no complaints there. The issue was with the food itself and the overall dining experience. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which came topped with raw red onions. The combination was strange the soft sprouts clashed with the sharp crunch and overpowering flavor of raw onions. It didn't make sense flavor-wise or texture-wise, and I ended up asking for the onions on the side. My friend ordered oysters, which she said were decent, but nothing she would come back for. Since oysters were the main reason she wanted to visit, that was a little disappointing. I had the catfish po'boy, and honestly, it was just okay. The fish was a little greasy, the sandwich lacked seasoning, and overall it just didn't have the bold, satisfying flavor you'd expect from a good po'boy. Not inedible, but definitely not memorable. What really made the experience awkward was the timing. My friend's food came out first with no explanation, and mine didn't arrive until about 5-10 minutes later. By then, she was already one fourth through her meal, which made for a strange and uncomfortable dining dynamic. No apology, just "it's coming up" when it was noticeably delayed. Overall, this wasn't a terrible meal, but it wasn't a good one either. The service was nice, but the food felt underwhelming, the flavors didn't come together, and the pacing of the meal was off. For a place in such a busy area, it's surprising how empty it was but after eating here, I understand why. Two stars for the friendly staff, but I wouldn't return. read more

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Hmmm this place was saved on my phone for some time. Was in the area with a friend so we decided to take a walk around Irvine spectrum while waiting for this place to open up on July 4th. Even though we came around 1130, they had no soft shell crab. The service was normal, but they had a decent selection of other items. We went for the calamari, fish and chips, and house pan roast. I did like that the fish was catfish and the pan roast was pretty good. We didn't finish half of the food though, so we boxed it and I was able to eat the leftovers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day. Im not dying to come back but I wouldn't mind visiting once more. read more

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Came here for happy hour for a second time and very pleased with the food! Main reason to come was for their $2 Oyster deal and the oysters were a great medium size, creamy and sweet! Their little chimichurri sauce they include was delicious, but nothing beat the leon, a bit of salt, and some tabasco! We also ordered the Hot Cheetos truffle mac and cheese and was super pleased w the flavor and it was a great hot item to have to contrast the raw oysters. It was not busy at all once we arrived so we were seated quickly and our food came out quickly as well. Ambiance is fresh and clean, located right next to the Regal theater in the Irvine Spectrum. I will definitely be back! read more

The Dive Oyster Bar - Southern Near Me - Irvine, California

Crystal the server here assisted us today and is very sweet and attentive. We didn't realize it was happy hour and it was awesome $1 oysters, pan roast, mussels and clam, sangria and beer. A great date what more could I ask for. This was a great way to get over the midweek hump. Definitely coming back again. read more

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Came in on a Thursday to try their happy hour menu and there were only a couple tables occupied ~5pm. We came mainly for the $2 oysters during happy hour, but also ordered a few other food items. The decor inside was also nice and fit with their theme. Oysters - for $2, this was a great deal! We had the Steamboat oysters that day, which were fresh and great quality for the price. Hot Cheetos mac & cheese - this dish was tasty, my favorite part being the truffle oil. I saw chili flakes scattered on top with the Hot Cheeto crumbs, which had a kick but I wish the Hot Cheeto topping was more crisp to add some texture to the dish. Fish & chips - fish was cooked well, with a light well-seasoned batter. Fries were decent, though I couldn't taste much of the cajun seasoning that was supposed to be on it. Small beer selection on tap, but we enjoyed their hazy IPA or mango wheat ale for a lighter option. read more

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If you love seafood and brunch, The Dive Oyster Bar at Irvine Spectrum is a must-try! Tucked conveniently inside the Spectrum Center, The Dive blends Southern-style flavors with fresh seafood in the best way possible. I recently came in for brunch and was honestly blown away by the new brunch menu. Think: crab cake bites, pork belly benedict, maple bourbon French toast, and chicken & waffles--each one packed with flavor and perfect for sharing (or not ). We started with steamed clams and mussels in their signature sauce--so fresh and perfectly cooked thanks to their unique steam kettle method. It really does make a difference in taste and texture. The sauce reminds me of the sauce they use to make gumbo. I have a feeling they make really amazing gumbo here. Of course, you have to try the oysters here. I went for the Fat Bastard oysters from Willapa Bay--briny, plump, and ultra-refreshing. I really enjoy the oysters here. One of the best in SoCal. The Roasta linguine is passable. It's a bit too cheesy for my taste. It's a bit overpowering but it's still a decent entree. The vibe is chill but lively, perfect for a weekend brunch or date night. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu too, which always adds to the experience. 10/10 would recommend for raw oyster lovers! read more

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