Message from Oyster Cafe
Since 1985, Oyster Cafe in Kennesaw has brought a bit of the sea to the mainland and pleased the palates of seafood lovers. A combination of great beer, a friendly atmosphere and succulently prepared dishes make this metro Atlanta seafood restaurant a real winner. Patrons can choose whites and reds from the assorted wine bar to pair with their fresh fish selections. What's more, affordable oysters any way you like--fried, steamed or raw platters come pouring from the kitchen and are always guaranteed fresh and well prepared. For a Kennesaw seafood restaurant where the portions are hearty, prices reasonable and service attentive and kind, turn to Oyster Cafe. You'll love the laid back, "coastal" atmosphere and unbeatable cuisine.
Editorial by Citysearch
Crack open a beer or a bottle of wine and taste the freshest oysters and other seafood available in this casual Kennesaw area restaurant.Key Points
- Atlanta Raw Oyster Bar
- Bar Menu, Beer and Wine
- Casual "Coastal" Atmosphere
Reviews for Oyster Cafe
I've been there many times and have never been disappointed...if you're not all into sea food then try their hot wings..yea I know you're probably why go to a place called oyster cafe and not go there for sea food..trust me their wings are awesome!
Posted 02/03/09 | Report Abuse
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They've been around for years and I've never understood why they are always crowded. I guess the regulars don't know what good seafood taste like. I agree the food is greasy. The tartar sauce and cocktail sauce is terrible. I would not recommend this restaurant. I've been there several times so my review doesn't apply to only one visit. I see that someone said it's a new place. They've been there for years, but they are in a new building. Same terrible food. I was hoping for better food when they rebuilt.
Posted 10/08/08 | Report Abuse
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Last Friday, Sept 5, my family and I (wife and four children) had dinner here. The service was good as was the food. Things went downhill when the check arrived. An addition of 18% was added for a gratuity. When I enquired, the waitress told me that was their policy for parties of six or more. I asked to speak to the manager and mentioned that this was not the first time we had been there and had never been charged that before. I was told that the fee was for the extra cleaning that six people require and that all the restaurants do the same thing. We eat out a lot and I mentioned that this was not the case - I was then rudely informed that she must eat at better restaurants. I then informed the manager that we would not be back and I would tell everyone I knew. Since when did a gratuity become mandatory?
Posted 09/09/08 | Report Abuse
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This cafe was good. It was clean and the service was good. My oysters tasted delicious and it was reasonably priced. I reccomend this to seafood lovers. I would go there again.
Posted 02/06/08 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
The new building is quite an improvement on the old Oyster King. I have been eating there for about 5 years in all. I generally get the medium priced sandwiches for lunch as the dinners seem a bit high in price. They have a new blog site at: oystercafe dot blogspot dot com
Pros: New Building
Cons: Prices
Posted 11/04/09
I have eaten here many times. Every time I come in I enjoy my visit.Their oysters are delicious and staff is friendly. Go when they aren't busy and you could be in and out in 15 minutes if you wanted ! They had some staffing problems a few months back(so it seemed) but the last few times I went in things were running smoothly. Mrs. Pak (the main cook)remembers you & is so nice. I've read some people on here's comments & am quite surprised , this place is better then that ! Oh and they do swap out sides , someone said they don't. Give this place a shot !!!
Pros: oysters , very clean
Cons: off 41 , kinda hard to get to
Posted 11/02/09
Love this place . Happy hour 3-5 M-F, save a few bucks on their apps and beer . Oyster Special is the way to go. Buffalo Shrimp is SO good , or try the regular Fried Shrimp if you don't like spicey food, the wings are amazing . They are a typical family run place, you pay for anything you get , but the prices aren't bad. They have lunch specials , all fried but nicely priced. If you haven't been here , go. I have always left full & happy.
Pros: Happy hour
Cons: Always eat too much
Posted 11/02/09
We were greeted with "what would you like to drink" no courteous "hello". we were served luke warm "baked oysters" sent them back and they were no better. The fried seafood platter was flavorless and water soaked, my oysters on the half shell came with ice chips ON TOP OF EACH OYSTER!!!!!!!!!! again completely devoid of any fresh oyster flavor. The waitress placed on our table a dish of hushpuppies as though they were complimentary as they are in MOST restaurants - BEWARE these are .40 a piece and you're not told this, they make the decision for you, you find out when you get the bill. Also, the staff will stare at you through the open kitchen window while your dining. I COULDN'T LEAVE THIS PLACE FAST ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 10/17/09
Our family loves to go there to eat..I would rather eat the seafood / wings from there than anywhere else..WE LOVE THIS PLACE!! except some of the servers they aren't to friendly.. We ve been going to this place for years and have left full and satified everytime we ve been there..everything on menu is good.. oysters, shrimp and the wings are freaking awesome!!!
Pros: seafood, wings
Cons: service
Posted 08/11/09
My wife and I frequented the restaurant for a period of time. The food is good as long as you like oysters and fried seafood. The batter is a little too "light" on the fried goods, but I'm more accustomed to the seasoned stuff we use here in the South. The fries are run of the mill and the hush puppies are okay but the only other side really offered is cole slaw. Not a lot of variety and the menu states rather bluntly that they will not do subsitutions ("no changes"). Kind of odd if you ask me when all you do is pile the food on a plate, but whatever. The last time we dined there was likely to be our last. I had ordered unsweetened tea and the server mistakenly brought me sweet tea. You figure that out by tasting it, right? Then, I watched her deliver the sweet tea she took from me to another customer. This attitude seemed pretty universal among their wait staff from previous experience and other reviews on this site.
Pros: good oysters
Cons: bad hygeine practices, grease smell permeates the restaurant
Posted 04/26/09
This restaurant is AWESOME. I have been eating there for years. When it was called the Oyster King the food was Fantastic.....they have moved 300 yards over and their fried shrimp continues to amaze me with their ever so light batter and fresh fresh fresh shrimp. Since the reopening with the brand new building, I have brought atleast 12 new customers with me to try their food. No one has felt like I have over sold the expectations. From the shrimp to the oysters to the scallops... AWESOME... AWESOME... AWESOME
Next week I have clients coming over for lunch from Gwinnett and they specifically asked that we go back to the Oyster Cafe. Keep up the great work to all the staff.
Pros: Lite batter - Fresh Seafood
Cons: Wish I lived Closer
Posted 01/12/09
I had a couple people tell me that this place had good seafood. They were wrong. Visited and was seated promptly. The staff was polite and efficient. The food is another story. First off and know that this is one of my pet peeves. The menu is marked all over with "no changes". In other words I cannot get what I want just what is on the menu - Now that's service. This at a seafood place. How hard is it to mix and match cooked up seafood and put it on a plate? Too much for this place. The food was barely passable and the portions for the price were way out of whack. If you want some good seafood go to Henry's in Ackworth. One thing that really ticked me off was that I had to buy a basket of hush puppies to nibble on. They were over thirty cents each for the basket. A bit extreme. My recommendation is find another place to get seafood. Even Red Lobster (not one of my favorites) is better than this place.
Pros: New place, OK service
Cons: high price, bad food, high price
Posted 09/04/08
Everyone kept telling me around Kennesaw area, that this was the best place for oysters and whatnot. I ate there one night, and everything was spilling oil as I was biting into it. Not only that, I think I was about to dehydrate with all the saltiness !
Pros: price
Cons: not too tasty
Posted 04/30/08
Don't know about you but I go dining for 1) the food and 2) the atmosphere. Both are excellent at the Oyster Cafe! I was lucky enough to be able to try the fare at the old oyster king (in the same basic location but oh what a hole in the wall!) I have to say the food is the same high quality I expect from this family operated restaurant. Excellent! I came on a crowded night but still had my food served quickly - hot and tasty too. Wow - and the prices are still very reasonable (although they same to have gone up a tiny bit in the 2 years they were demolishing the old place and building the new. I think some reviewers are too focussed on being spoiled for their meal - to me its about the food. But, I have to remark that our server was pleasant, attentive, and quick. Ample parking, clean and pleasant dining area. One thing i would change is the music! Something more soothing than Rap would fit the atmosphere better ;)
Pros: Great Food, Good Service, Ample Parking, Excellent portions, reasonable Price
Cons: Background music did not fit the location
Posted 03/12/08
Being a resident of Kennesaw for many years and very familar with the original "Oyster King" I have to say "WHAT A HUGE UPSET" The food is basically the Denny's of Seafood. And the main problem is as mentioned in many reviews across the internet on this place., "CUSTOMER SERVICE"!!! There is NONE! If you receive you order and it is wrong or it just does not taste right, don't bother trying to send it back cause regardless you will pay for that order and the replacement of whatever else you choose. My family and I had the WONDERFUL experience of being told by the manager that since I touched the food I was going to pay for it "NICE" I do remember the old Oyster King and although it was nothing to look at the food was good and Mr. Pak the owner was always nice. When I asked my server what was the deal with the managers attitude and believe me she had one I was told that she is Mr. Pak's daughter. In my opinion he needs to re-think her position. This woman could not run a kool-aid stand let alone a restaurant! I have dined there three times with friends in hope that it would get better and NOPE! I sat there and witnessed this woman/manager being rude to patrons not to mention have seen her degrade her employee's. As we were there on a Friday night I actually heard her tell a server that he worked like an "AMERICAN" UNBELIEVABLE!!!! That was it for me! Our whole party walked out and vowed never to return again. I live in a large community here in Acworth and many many residents have expressed the same concerns about the Manager/Daughter. Mr. Pak if you want your business to survive GET RID OF THAT SELFISH, RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL DAUGHTER you have trying to run your establisment! Cause there are just too too many people that don't wish to come back there anymore....
Posted 03/09/08