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The Dive Oyster Bar

4.1 (355 reviews)

The Dive Oyster Bar Photos

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THE DIVE OYSTER BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - The Dive Oyster Bar

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POPCORN CRAWFISH
Mehrnaz H.

We came here on a Saturday for dinner. Party of two, arrived at 6PM and were seated right away. We had reviewed the menu in advance and decided to come specifically for their house specialty pan roast entrée -- but they were already out of it. At 6PM?! A bit disappointing. We opted instead for the cioppino, popcorn crawfish, and loaded fries. The cioppino was flavorful but runny and lacked that rich, hearty consistency you'd expect. The popcorn crawfish and fries were tasty but definitely on the heavier, fried side. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal, and the casual, coastal vibe makes for a comfortable setting. Prices felt fair for seafood, but for a place that promotes its pan roast as a signature dish, running out so early was a letdown. Overall, decent food and a relaxed atmosphere, but not quite the standout seafood experience we were hoping for. Might give it another try, but I'll call ahead next time to make sure they have the pan roast.

Brenda L.

A great spot for happy hour oysters!! I heard about their $2 oysters online and instaaantly knew I had to go. We came in pretty early, so we only had intentions of grabbing an oyster "snack" lol and some clam chowder. The oysters were fresh and plump! The clam chowder was also rich and delicious, it's definitely on the thicker side of most chowders that I've had. Service was amazing! Our server was super attentive and checked in on us regularly. They have a good number of tables indoors, and a few tables outside too. Their happy hour is M-F from 3-6 PM!

SOFT SHELL CRAB
Annie C.

Came here for my mom birthday. Left disappointed. The service was really nice, our server was attentive and even gave us a free dessert for her birthday. The ambiance felt a bit flat, maybe music or TV would help with the overall vibes. Furthermore, the food left my mom very disappointed. At almost $40, the lobster roll she ordered only got two dry claw meat. She was disappointed as lobster meat is the best from their bodies, not their claws. (We were able to return them). We also ordered soft shell crabs as appz, but the presentation of it on the tray left us little to desired, and it was very oily (and the oil tasted old). It came with some greens, but idk it felt really stale on the cold tray. We also got gumbo, which is the only thing i like, it was very flavorful. I don't know if i'll be back.

Tina N.

Hi! Tinathaotravels (from Instagram) The Dive Oyster Bar in San Jose is a must-visit for seafood lovers! From the moment we walked in, the staff was welcoming, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food did not disappoint. We started with 1/2 dozen fresh oysters--they were perfectly chilled and briny, a true highlight especially during their happy hour ($2 oysters Mon-Fri 3-6 PM). The Cajun Truffle Fries were addictively crispy with just the right amount of seasoning. I also loved the Lobster Roll + Bowl of Clam Chowder combo--the lobster roll was buttery and generous with lobster, while the chowder was rich and comforting. The Grilled Cheese & Pan Roast was a pleasant surprise, pairing gooey cheesy goodness with a flavorful seafood stew. We also enjoyed the Steamed Clams & Mussels, which were tender and well-seasoned, and the Hot Cheetos Truffle Mac & Cheese--a fun, bold twist that delivered on flavor! Tina's Tip: Book your reservation through @OpenTable for convenience and don't miss out on their $2 oysters during happy hour. Also, take advantage of their drink specials--Monday 50% off draft beers and Wine Wednesday 40% off after 5 PM. Thank you for the invite, @thediveoysterbar_sj!

Oysters
Jess B.

My husband and I decided to try The Dive Oyster Bar for one of our first dinners in San Jose. Overall, we had a really solid experience. I ordered the Shrimp Louie Salad, which was generously portioned and had a good amount of shrimp. We also shared the Brussel sprouts, which were nicely roasted and packed with flavor. I liked the added flavors of feta cheese and red onion. My husband had the clam chowder in a bread bowl, which was one of the standout dishes of the night. It was creamy and well-seasoned. He also went with the fish and chips, and while not groundbreaking, they were crispy, well-cooked, and hit the spot. The only letdown for us were the oysters. They didn't taste quite as fresh as we'd hoped, which was a bit disappointing considering it's an oyster bar. That said, everything else we ordered made up for it. What really made this visit memorable, though, was our server. She was really friendly, attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.

Danster L.

I absolutely love The Dive Oyster Bar. It's the only place in the Bay Area that I know of that serves pan roast. I was first introduced to pan roast way back in the day at Ritter's Steam Kettle Kitchen in Santa Ana. Sadly, Ritter's Steam Kettle Kitchen closed down. But there were other pan roast restaurants in Southern California and Vegas that were equally good. I moved back to San Jose a few years ago and missed eating pan roast so much that I would travel to Southern California just to eat it. I have tried so many different items at The Dive Oyster Bar including the popcorn crawfish, cajun truffle fries, tangy buffalo chicken wings, pan roast and the s'mores bread pudding. Everything is absolutely delicious. All of the appetizers are very filling and they help you get a good start on your meal. I mainly come to the restaurant to eat the pan roast because that dish is so delicious. I usually just get the chicken and sausage pan roast and it's loaded with lots of chicken and sausage. So much flavor. It's creamy, spicy, lots of tomato flavor and feels so comforting. Service is top notch and the staff is always checking up on my friends and I every time we dine there. If you've never had a pan roast, I highly recommend it and hopefully it will make you crave it all the time.

Panroast
Hannah W.

Panroasts are popular and their clam chowder is a family favorite. Full of flavor and fresh, quality seafood! Our kids love their Mac and cheese kids meal and I have to agree. (And I am not a Mac and cheese person) They have the option to add a protein like chicken or shrimp for just a few bucks more-we always add the shrimp and it's worth it! The main draw here seems to be the happy hour menu that is served only between 3-6pm on M-F. Come check this place out!

Fish and chips, but substituted clam chowder for the fries.
Nat S.

We ordered the food via DoorDash and everything arrived hot, which was good. The Dasher was there a while and constantly texted me to let me know they were still waiting, so I tipped them a little extra because I felt bad that they had to wait so long. But I am thankful it all arrived hot. If I was eating this just based on the clam chowder it would be 5 stars. But the rest of the order kind of bombed, unfortunately. We ordered a couple of different items, so we could try a few things. Clam chowder - (5/5) A bowl is a good amount. The chowder is creamy and the clams were really fresh. They weren't chewy at all. A lot of clam chowders are a bit too rich for me. While this was rich, it wasn't overwhelming. I thought it was just right. We actually ordered this a second time. The first time we had the fish and chips, but subbed the clam chowder for the fries (this is the way to go). The second time we ordered it as a side. Fish and chips - (4/5) The fish was cooked well. It was nice and flaky, and fresh tasting. The crust wasn't that flavorful, but it worked and it was nice and crispy. The first time we ordered this we also ordered (and paid for) a second side of remoulade. They didn't send either one. The second time we ordered this we did the same. They only sent one. So, both times we paid for an extra side that we never received. The fries were a big no for us. They supposedly had a Cajun seasoning on them, which you really couldn't even taste. And they were cold and soggy, yet the fish was hot and crispy. Seems to me they were left to sit while the rest of the order was finished. The rest of the food... Grilled cheese and pan roast - (-5/5) They set the grilled cheese in the box with the burnt side down, so that wasn't the first thing you saw. The cheese tasted like the Lucerne shredded mixed cheese you get in the store...flavorless. The cheese also wasn't melted all the way, so you could still see the shreds, yet somehow they burnt one side of the toast. The toast was ok, maybe a little thick for the lackluster amount of cheese they added. The pan roast was like a thick, tomato-y, kind of Cajun glop. There is supposedly a "trinity" of veggies in this, but do they puree them? Because there wasn't anything but this weird, gravy stuff they call pan roast. Not a fan at all. Cheesy shrimp and grits - (-2/5) The grit's were flavorless and the cheese was over the top. And I say this as a massive cheese lover. It was swimming in grease. It was so gross. It comes with (4) large shrimp that aren't even seasoned well and they can't even hold up against the greasy, mushy flavorless grits. Not a fan. S'mores bread pudding - (-5/5) It was a huge portion of bread pudding, but it was flavorless. It was just like getting a giant cube of soggy bread. It comes with (4) marshmallows on each side. They apparently heated them just a bit because they were soft when they arrived. By the time you eat them though, they were already really chewy. Then it comes with a tiny plastic cup with a little bit of chocolate sauce and another tiny cup with crumbled graham cracker. It wasn't even one full cracker crumbled up. And neither was enough to pair properly with the huge cube of bread. Super disappointing. I will go back, but only for the fish and chips, but with the clam chowder substituted for the fries. If they didn't have those two items I wouldn't return.

Jenny T.

This place has a large variety of oysters to choose from and it was nice trying so many in one place, I've had only the Kumamoto oysters at other seafood restaurants and was unaware of how many different types there were. The oysters were fresh and nice to see the difference between each one from being more briny or sweet. The oysters were paired with lemon, cocktail sauce, horseradish, and Tabasco which was already on the table. I'd like to come back and try their other entrees on the menu but this time we just had an oyster feast.

House BOWL OF PAN ROAST
Kara M.

I never knew this place popped up here in the Bay Area. I've tried this spot down in SoCal before. Loved the seafood pan roast, but the spice was not in the room with us. The flavor was so good though. We got a platter of oysters, some happy hour, some regular price. They were okay, at best. My sister and I both ended up having to run to the toilet about an hour after and my stomach kept screaming at me throughout the remainder of the evening. This doesn't usually happen to me after I eat oysters, so I knew something was a little fishy. Pun intended. Service was good, nonetheless. The chowder was also very good, with tons of clams.

Next level pan roast
Janan D.

My reference point: oyster bar in palace station out in Vegas. It was literally my favorite meal and I've been longing for something like that in California, same portions, and same flavor, and I believe I've TRULY FOUND THAT WITH THIS PLACE. The pan roast is reasonably priced given it's smashed with a ton of seafood from crab, shrimp, mussels. It's insane. They give you so much food!!! Do you see the depth and width??? Yikes, I'm gonna lose it. Meaning I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't go back here. It's so good try it to believe it

Menu March 2025
Emily W.

Lots of people dining in on a Saturday evening but we were seated right away. Outdoor seating available too but no heaters so we sat inside. Food came quickly and service was friendly. We shared the lobster roll (with upgrade to clam chowder) and 6 oysters (pay per individual oyster). Oysters were nice and fresh! They came with a green sauce and a spicy sauce with horseradish inside - loved both. Servers gave good recommendations on which ones to order - we got 2 patron petite oysters, and 4 Virginia oysters which were bigger and described as creamier. Lobster roll was pretty good but small. I appreciated how the lobster was well-seasoned which I haven't run into often in the past for other lobster rolls. Clam chowder was good but barely warm so I would've enjoyed it more if it came warmer. Overall not a bad seafood spot! Prices were fairly steep though, lobster roll was $34 for a pretty small portion and lobster pasta (didn't get this) was a bit over $55.

Truffle Mac n Cheese with Hot Cheetos
Danny N.

Checked out the Dive Oyster Bar and instantly loved the place. The service was fast and very friendly. Multiple servers checked in on us throughout our visit. The inside was small but had ample seating and there is outdoor seating as well. We went with the bacon wrapped shrimp, white Truffle Mac and cheese with a hot cheeto crumble, and the jambalaya. They were all packed full of flavor and absolutely delightful. All the dishes coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. We can't wait to go back and experience this again!

HOUSE PAN ROAST HOT CHEETOS TRUFFLE MAC

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Ask the Community - The Dive Oyster Bar

Can I come in and get a large quantity of the clam chowder soup to go? ( to feed eight people. ) FS

Hi, we don't have any issues with that. We would pack them individually.

When is the happy hour / hours?

We added happy hour to our menu from 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday, see you soon!!!

Can you accommodate large parties?

Kind if small for a big party

Do you guys take to go orders and will there be an option to order online at the San Jose location?

Hi Nancy, DoorDash is live for delivery service!

Do you take reservations?

Hi Michelle, as of right now we're not taking reservations. We are working on a platform to make our wait-list and reservations more efficient. Please check on us later and hopefully we'll have that service ready for you. Thank you

What are your happy hour hours?

Hi Melissa, we added happy hour to our menu from 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday, see you soon!!! Thank you for your patience!

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GOGA is one of those restaurants that reminds you why independent, chef-driven dining is so…read morespecial. We had a 5:30 reservation on a Friday. First tip: it's a little tricky to find! It's tucked behind the buildings just off Saratoga's main strip. Trust Google Maps, head to the rear parking lot, and follow the sign through the alley to the restaurant. Dinner is prix fixe only -- $93 as of August 2026. We mentioned that we had plans afterward and just wanted a lighter dinner and some wine, and they were incredibly gracious about letting us split one prix fixe. Honestly, the portions still felt very generous, and we ended up spending about the same amount on wine anyway. The wine list is small but really thoughtfully curated, and they also allow you to bring your own bottle for a corkage fee. The standout for me was the Hokkaido scallop with crab and caramelized carrot. Genuinely one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. A couple of dishes were liberal with the finishing salt, but the flavors, seasoning, creativity, and technique were top tier. Everything is cooked to order by the chef, and it showed -- every course came out beautifully prepared and cooked to perfection. The whole place feels like a passion project. The chef has spent decades in the industry, including time in Shanghai and Hawaii, and it feels like he and his wife basically said, "This is what we do, this is the food we love -- let's make a place for it." And I love that. There are some rough edges that come with making the space work for them, but the things that actually matter -- food, service, organization, and cleanliness -- were excellent. Even the single restroom was very clean and well kept. It's a small, intimate space, so I definitely recommend making a reservation. That said, they seemed genuinely accommodating to everyone who came through and clearly care about making people feel welcome. More than anything, the restaurant just felt happy. Everyone around us was having a great time, people were ordering liberally from the wine list, and by the time we left around 7, it felt like a room full of people who understood exactly what this place is about. GOGA isn't trying to win you over with a bunch of empty promises and trendy decor. It's about really good food, wine, and hospitality from people who clearly care about what they're doing. I'd love to see the space evolve over time, but never at the expense of the food or the wonderfully unique experience they've created. We'll absolutely be back -- brunch is next.

To start out, I am a HUGE fan of Hawaiian food and Asian fusion cuisine; thus, I was very excited…read moreabout visiting GOGA to celebrate my birthday with my wife (who shares the same birthday) and my two kids. We found GOGA on Yelp and it seemed like it had just the right vibe (a laid-back atmosphere with the meticulous and intentional attention to detail that only a master chef can bring to a meal). I'll start out with the good. We were seated quickly (as the first reservation of the evening should) and they offered us a burger and fries option for our small children; this is nice since kids are often too picky to appreciate the mixture of flavors/textures on offer. My six-year-old had the burger and he reported that it was good (with one thumb up) but not great (two thumbs up); I think that if he had not removed the tomato and lettuce, it would have been better but he is a much tougher critic than me. On to the areas where improvement is needed. The chef's attitude toward small children is not inviting. For example, my son is small, 36". He does not put his feet on the chair because he wants to but because he needs to in order to prop himself up to a comfortable height. The chef yelled at him from the kitchen, "Tell the young man to put his feet down!" I get it, the chairs are upholstered in a leather material but a better approach would be to send the server over to communicate in a friendlier way, offer a booster, or to ask if he would be willing to remove his shoes if he needs to prop himself up in the chair. The next thing was the smoke. At one point before they decided to turn on the range hood the entire restaurant was filled with smoke that was pretty irritating and a bit alarming. They seemed to get it under control but the whole restaurant stayed musty at all times, it definitely needs more circulation. One idea would be to install a large folding door on the side of the restaurant next to the entry-way to create a sort of indoor/outdoor dining that makes use of the entry-ally way. It would also help to avoid the feeling of claustrophobia from being in such a small space. The prix fixe menu for the evening was a four-course meal at $95 that included the tuna sashimi salad, a lobster roll, American Wagyu, and raspberry tiramisu. The tuna salad was decent, very smooth, rich and well matched to the veggies and avocado. The lobster roll is where things started to fall apart. The bun was butter and overly salted and over-powered the meager bits of lobster that was included within. Last was the Wagyu (which we were highly anticipating due to having to wait 45 minutes after the lobster roll to arrive). Sadly, it was also over-salted, dry on the outside and chewy on the inside with a very gamey flavor (it was the worst steak I have had in a long time and definitely the worst Wagyu I have ever tasted). It was paired with a single spear of broccolini (extremely over-salted) and a large cut of heirloom tomato. Nothing about this pairing brought to mind Hawaii and its unique savory and sweet profiles but then again it just did not taste good. Last was the tiramisu. It was good, perhaps a bit heavy on the cream but overall good. The only other thing to note from this portion of the meal was that their only attempt at helping us celebrate our birthdays was a single heart-shaped candle which is nice but definitely minimal effort. As I was getting ready to sign the bill (around $400 total including a mimosa, three prix fixe, and a burger) the chef visited our table. I thought this was going to be a visit to ask how our meal was but instead he wanted to let us know that there were other guests waiting for our table... wait what?!? We arrived promptly at 5:30, they took 20 minutes to serve our salad, another 30 minutes to bring the lobster roll, 45 minutes to bring Wagyu, and 20 minutes to serve desert and somehow we are the ones holding things up?!? Frankly, I was too impressed by their total lack of self-awareness to get overly angry. Conceptually, I'm OK with the chef not adhering to the Hawaiian theme (regardless of the Hawaiian music playing throughout our visit) as long as they provide food quality that matches the fine dining price. Perhaps I visited on an off-night (since the menu is likely changing frequently) but for nearly $100 per person I expect better. Sadly, it looks like I'll still be waiting for a fine-dining approach to Hawaiian cuisine because GOGA just isn't it.

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Waygu Steak with fresh arugula ( Set menu on July 23)

GOGA Restaurant - Crab Cake with lemon chili butter

Crab Cake with lemon chili butter

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The Hero Ranch Kitchen - Seasonal Entreé: Pumpkin Ravioli ($34)

The Hero Ranch Kitchen

4.5(983 reviews)
3.3 mi
•$$$

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Steak Out…read more Steakhouse from the same ownership group as Opa! (RiP), The Venue Saratoga (RiP), Dos Burros, Flowers, and Sacramento's ELDO that features prime steaks and a wood-fired grill. Hero Ranch is located in one of the more overlooked downtowns of Saratoga, which has a quaint throwback feel and vibe. The Good: * Dog-friendly outdoor dining. * Reservations via OpenTable. * Fantastic service by Katelyn L.; she was the perfect server: knowledgeable, gave great recommendations, and was friendly without being overly smarmy. * Nice stiff drinks (old-fashioned), and my girlfriend's mocktail (Pink Slip) was fantastic. * The cornbread and fried chicken appetizer was very tasty and served in an interesting presentation. The bacon wasn't really necessary, in our opinion, but this place likes to rely on food crutches; more on that later. * The pork chop was delicious, cooked well, and paired beautifully with the apricot glaze. * The seasonal pumpkin ravioli was also delicious, albeit a little greasy from the brown butter, but if you see it still on the menu, it's worth an order. The Meh: * Street and city lot parking only, but it's free. Street parking can be difficult to come by during busier hours, so be sure to look out for the city-owned lots that are located off the main drag. * If you like black truffle on everything, then this is the place for you. Suffice it to say, we are not fans. They literally cram it into almost every possible item, even as a sauce for the cornbread and fried chicken appetizer. Fortunately, we asked for the sauce on the side, and I did try some with the chicken and cornbread, but it brought nothing to the party. * They were out of almost all their beers on tap on a Saturday night. How is this possible? Piss poor planning, that's how. The Ugly: * The outdoor seating is hit-or-miss; if they put you under the patio with a large party, then you should be good to go. However, if you get seated at a two-top in the aisle like we did, prepare to be barraged by a constant stream of customers, servers, food runners, chefs, managers, and God knows who else walking by you every thirty seconds. At first, it was mildly amusing, but as the night went on, it started getting very annoying and put a bit of a damper on our first date night in weeks. Overall, it was a mediocre experience that could have easily been much better depending on where we were seated.

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Inside dining room

The Hero Ranch Kitchen - Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Cornbread App w/ Truffle Aioli on the side ($24)

Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Cornbread App w/ Truffle Aioli on the side ($24)

The Hero Ranch Kitchen - Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Cornbread App w/ Truffle Aioli on the side ($24)

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3.1 mi

Not sure what the story surrounding this place is. Apparently, if you're not a member of some…read more"charmed circle", they won't even TALK to you. We knew that this was an upper-end restaurant and like most restaurants of that caliber, the establishment had some traditions that they liked to adhere to regarding dress and comportment. Not wanting to cause any embarrassments, we hoped to get a couple of questions answered before we walked in. They don't answer their phone. They don't reply to emails. Their website says to contact them via phone messaging, but they don't even reply to THAT. Fortunately, there is another Japanese restaurant just one block down (Hachi ju Hachi) which serves superb, authentic Japanese food and which warmly WELCOMES its customers. We went there instead and are of the opinion we didn't miss out on anything by giving this kaiseki joint a pass.

My husband and I came back here to celebrate our 12 year anniversary dinner. It is a 8 seater…read morekaiseki dinner. We were 10 minutes late (saying goodbye to children) and the restaurant was pleasant. Thankfully, they were still taking in orders for drinks and had not started. Drink menu is heavily concentrated on sake. Not being a heavy sake drinker, we naturally headed over to wine and beer menu. It is much slimmer pickings than the sake, but enjoyed our sparkling wine paired with the kaiseki very much. The dishes were all excellent. The thing that lingered in my mind even till this day, a week after I am writing this review, is that umami flavor bomb chawanmushi with mosel mushroom and uni (never can go wrong with uni). The other thing that I thought took more skill, attention, and was unique to the chef's background was their dashi/broth. It was a complex of flavors from the sea that all paired well together. I thoroughly enjoyed every sip, and the flavors waking up all parts of my tongue. One more part - the meat dishes were not my favorite. They just do the seafood so well. Oh! And dessert, of course, the Japanese melons were as if it was dipped in fructose lol Ambiance is dressy and date-worthy :) the elderly ladies beside me were sporting their Birkens and taking pics of their food next to it

Photos
Hashiri Bettei Kaiseki Aoki
Hashiri Bettei Kaiseki Aoki - Some mochi fruit dessert with a crispy rice shell

Some mochi fruit dessert with a crispy rice shell

Hashiri Bettei Kaiseki Aoki - Katsuobushi & Kombu from Hokkaido for a fantastic Dashi broth

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Katsuobushi & Kombu from Hokkaido for a fantastic Dashi broth

The Dive Oyster Bar - seafood - Updated October 2026

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