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The River Oyster Bar

4.2 (1.2k reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM
Updated 2 months ago

The River Oyster Bar Photos

Business Info

THE RIVER OYSTER BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - The River Oyster Bar

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Dawn W.

Stopped in to meet up with friends and pre game for the evening. It was my first time and I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is nice and welcoming. With great ambiance. The service was also good. For food, I shared the blue crab gnocchi and omg it was delicious! So full of flavor and the lumps of crab were massive! I had my go to Hugo spritz to wash it down. They also loved the oysters. I'll be back for sure to catch happy hour soon!

Menu as of 2/22/26
Rana R.

Ahh I really wanted this to be a 5-star review, but unfortunately, the service was lacking. Firstly, if the review was solely on food, it'd be 10 stars cause we thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes we tried. The service is a huge part of the restaurant industry, and unfortunately, this time, The River Oyster Bar fell short. Although our waiter was nice enough, not rude or anything, he just didn't engage with us like he did other tables. It seemed like he thought we couldn't afford the place... He was lacking personality and didn't check in on us until I flagged him down a couple of times. He didn't really ask if we had any questions and just expected us to know about the menu. All the other staff members we came in contact with was more lively than our server. Kind of put a damper on my birthday dinner. So a 4 star review seems fitting. Now onto the food! The star of the show was definitely their namesake- the oysters. We had an order of the oyster with caviar [$10] a piece which was amazinggg. The other oysters I had did not come with caviar but was just as amazing- 2 from FL and 2 from Maine at $3.50 each. I'm assuming it's a rotating menu since it was clipped on to the "normal" menu. We also had the Octopus to start [$22/one medium sized tentacle] & was also a 5/5. The sauce had a bit of but the Octopus was grilled to perfection. Loved the smokiness of it. Came w/beans and some veggies. Our entries were both really solid picks as well. Got the Mushroom Crusted Sea Bass [$48] which came w/mashed potatoes. OMG this was really, freakin good. I couldn't get enough of it! Finished everything on my plate. Also had a taste of the Gnocchi & Jumbo Lump Crab [$42] which was filling but full of flavor. Ended the night with a Chocolate Mousse w/raspberries [$12]. Perfecto! Random spot for a restaurant, just off to the side of the mall. Very inconspicuous location, but it was nicely decorated and clean. it was pretty busy from the time we got there (7pm) til we left around 9pm. I'd say make reservations just to secure your spot.

Tuna
Carlie B.

Delicious but soooo loud! It was a happening place on a Friday evening. Our waiter was so nice and attentive, also a little flirty but we were loving it on our bachelorette celebration! Tuna was fresh and amazing with plantains. Mussels were great too (so I was told) and the main curry plate was the real winner.

Sweet and salty
Veronica G.

It was my first time visiting, and I was really pleased with the oysters I tried. The chimichurri oysters were my favorite and really stood out for their flavor. The service was friendly and knowledgeable, and the ambiance was relaxing, clean, and well lit.

Drinks
Andrea T.

Oh my hips. Just look at the pics I took- fish dishes were scrumptious! Even the rice was heaven. Service was great, ambiance a little dark and semi formal. 4.7 stars!

Black Cod Curry
Alex H.

The bar seems to be the happening place, no doubt influenced by the bar specials and being in the center of the room. If seated at the bar, get the lamb meatballs. Also consider the Black Cod Curry and Squid Ink Spaghetti Fra Diavolo which were both excellent.

Raw oysters
Sheena G.

This is my second visit and had another great experience. The first time, I had the Cobia curry and it was great. My husband had the Fisherman's stew previously and said it was fantastic. This time we both had the stew and found the octopus to somewhat ruin the dish for us. Deviled eggs were good, but nothing special and were overpriced for the two eggs. We enjoyed two different types of raw oysters that were on the happy hour specials. Both were clean and fresh. The last time we found out server to be knowledgeable and friendly, but this visit, our server seemed either brand new or lacking familiarity with the menu and offerings. The sticky toffee pudding was excellent and better than those I've had in Europe. It is rare to see this dessert on a menu in the US, so it was a nice surprise!

Oysters
Geraldine O.

Stopped by to try their Miami Spice menu and sat at the bar, where the service was quick and friendly. The bar itself is spacious and comfortable (bonus: there are even outlets underneath if you want to work). Now, the food: - Oyster flight: I swear this rewired my brain chemistry. The one with blue cheese was outstanding. - Gnocchi and shrimp in vodka sauce: Incredible. I actually wished I had bread or a spoon because I wanted to drink the sauce. The gnocchi were slightly toasted, yet so soft they melted in my mouth. Honestly, I haven't enjoyed a vodka sauce pasta like this in years. - Pot de crème (recommended by my server): OMG. How have I never tried this before? The caramel had a smoky, rich depth that paired beautifully with the cream, and the touch of salt just made it perfect. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to be blown away by the food but I was. I'd 100% come back just for this menu again. Which you can tell by the long review.

Oysters and fried calamari
Kristine B.

Such a great HH spot! We got 2 orders of 10 oysters 2 dollars an oyster and so good! It comes with a nice little sauce also great oyster deal! We also tried other options on the menu like bread with tomato and jamón serrano it was fantastic the stuffed mushrooms were also great. In regards to the ambience the location and space was inviting clean and beautiful. The service was also fast attentive and sweet .

Laura P.

The oysters here are outstanding. The Skipper Sweets got me hooked -- small, incredibly fresh, and delightfully sweet, just like the name promises. Service was very nice, but this place can be very packed, I would recommend to make a reservation if you have a bigger group.

Beautiful old fashioned and some wonderful martini
Cat F.

Very upscale restaurant with incredibly delicious food and impeccable service! We had lunch here and it felt like a fancy dinner out. The restaurant and bathroom were beautifully decorated and getting there was easy to navigate. For starters I had the lobster bisque and he had the limp crabmeat cocktail, which was in a delicious creamy sauce. We had never had anything like this. Anywhere! For entrees, he had raw oysters and I had crab cakes that were probably the best I've ever had,, but it's been so long since I had them,, I'm not sure. Lol Definitely the best presentation! We also had some lovely cocktails.

Hamachi tartar
Kristina K.

Fresh, high-quality seafood and excellent service! The summer lobster deal was an absolute steal, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. One of my go-to spots for seafood and oysters in the Brickell

Patricia L.

I visited The River Oyster Bar after reading several glowing reviews, but unfortunately, my experience didn't match the hype. I came in on a Monday around midday, and while the restaurant wasn't particularly busy, both the dining area and the bathroom were noticeably dirty. Not exactly the first impression you want when you're about to eat raw seafood. I ordered the oysters, but the server had zero knowledge about them--couldn't tell me where they were from or what made each one different. When they arrived, a young staff member simply dropped the plate on the table and walked off without a word. No explanation, no interaction. If you're going to serve oysters (or any specialty item), your team needs to know the basics. And if someone doesn't, at least have someone else available who does.

Grilled Sweet & Spicy King Salmon

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2 months ago

The best! Been in Miami forever. Great service. They did move a block from there long time location... bigger better.

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The River Oyster Bar Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The River Oyster Bar

If I made a reservation on resy for 5:45PM will it give me access to the happy hour menu and prices?

As long as you're seated in the happy hour section which is by the bar. Which also has seating areas.

Good morning, do they offer a kids menu?

I don't believe they have one. They are pretty accommodating tho so u can call and ask.

Is happy hour everyday? What are the times and days for happy hour?

Hi, Diana, it's 4:30 - 7pm. I believe it is daily, but I have never tried on a weekend, their website doesn't specify days. They also have a bar bite menu available from 3pm - 6pm. You can enjoy Happy Hour at the bar or at the outdoor seating areas… Read more

Is the restaurant currently BYOB with no corkage fee?

Yes, they are waiting for their liquor license. They are also offering 2 free drinks/glasses per person of Sauvignon Blanc, Heineken, and one other wine that I don't remember.

The restaurant is closed. Is it expected to reopen soon?

We will be opening for Dinner Service only starting this Tuesday Dec. 15th. At the moment it s BYOB!

Is brunch all day on Sunday's?

Yes

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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