The entrance of Oyster Bay Restaurant & Bar is absolutely darling, and I was impressed by the size…read moreof the parking lot. The spaces are fairly narrow, though, so be careful to park fully between the white lines.
If you come in through the back entrance near the bar, you'll need to turn right and walk all the way to the front to find the hostess stand. The bar-area staff seemed a little annoyed when people asked where the hostess stand or restrooms were, although I imagine they probably get those questions often.
The hostess was pleasant and seated us promptly. One note for anyone who tends to get cold: bring a cardigan or light jacket. There was a floor vent right beside our table, and I got pretty chilly as the evening went on.
The menu offered a wide range of options, from pork chops and duck to salmon, but I was not especially excited by many of the pairings. I started with the crab soup and ordered the blackened sea bass special with coconut rice for my entrée.
For the table, we shared the bang bang shrimp and burrata. Both were adequately portioned for our party of five. The bang bang shrimp had the right amount of heat, and the burrata was a nice combination of warm pita bread, portobello mushroom, cooked red peppers, fresh greens, and burrata. I would recommend both appetizers.
My crab soup arrived hot and was perfectly seasoned. The spice level was just right, and I liked the balance of small strips of crab throughout, along with a few larger pieces. In my opinion, it had an excellent ratio of crab meat, vegetables, and broth.
Unfortunately, the entrées were less impressive. They were all beautifully presented--colorful and nicely portioned--but the flavors left something to be desired. My sea bass was certainly blackened, but I would have enjoyed it much more if the skin had been crisp. Instead, it was soggy, likely because it was placed directly on top of the coconut rice, which also became soggy. The mango pieces were larger than necessary, and there was far too much of the tomato, green pepper, and onion mixture on top. At $46, I expected more in terms of flavor.
On a positive note, our waitress was friendly and professional, and the young man who brought out our food was pleasant as well. The food also arrived quickly.
Since this was my first visit to the area, I would like to explore other local restaurants before returning. Still, I would not be opposed to giving Oyster Bay Restaurant & Bar another chance and trying a different entrée--possibly the swordfish.