Sinatra is crooning, martinis are shaking and the fish are fresh at this '50s-style seafood palace.
Award Winning Wine List
Voted "Best Seafood"
Extensive Oyster Bar
The Oceanaire Seafood Room is an inviting retro supper club that serves the freshest seafood possible in a setting that is sophisticated yet relaxed and sleek yet warm. The restaurant features plush, red leather booths and wood-accents for a look of high-style swanky elegance. Big band and swing music resonate throughout the dining room, calling to mind the flavor of a forgotten era. The Oceanaire showcases more than 30 varieties of fresh seafood on a daily-printed menu, featuring selections from the Pacific Northwest, as well as varieties from around the world. The oyster bar greets our guests as they swing through the revolving door and offers 10 to 12 varieties of fresh oysters.
Winner of the Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence". Voted "Best Newcomer 2002" by Seattle Magazine, "Best Seafood" on Citysearch and featured in Gourmet's "Guide to America's Best Restaurant.
The Scene Dark wood, plush booths, waiters in white jackets, cocktails the size of Montana--this is a seafood restaurant that thinks it's a steakhouse. The jazzy soundtrack and welcoming, knowledgeable servers encourage an easy, loungey air. Dinner here feels like a serious night on the town.
The Food There's salmon and ahi tuna on the menu, but also more uncommon selections like moonfish and marlin. The list of fresh seafood offers up to 25 varieties (and can change daily), typically including live crab, lobster and a dozen different oysters. Portions are very generous and whether you order fried halibut cheeks, a BLT salad, grilled salmon or crab cakes, it's hard to go wrong. Desserts--including baked Alaska and a chocolate-caramel brownie--are large, decadent and perfect for sharing.
My two friends and I, who eat out about once a month, were really glad Oceanaire participated in the 3 course/$30. Great food and martini, I was a little surprized by the cafeteria atmosphere.
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This is the place to go for upscale dining in Seattle. The seafood is fresh and the dishes are prepared beautifully. You can also count on delicious desserts to end your meal.
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Happy hour at Oceanaire was unexpectedly amazing. I had half price oysters.. I know there were other more filling things on the happy hour menu but I am a fan of oysters. A great glass of wine and oysters are the perfect end to a rough work week. The bar is small so get there on time... The bartender kept calling me "my lady" which was odd.. but I am sure his charm gets him good tips.
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Some of the best seafood in town! A bit pricey, but worth it on a big night out. Perfect before the theater (The Paramount is just couple blocks away).
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
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Fantastic meal & service!
By jdp13
My wife and I visited about a month ago for desert after a show at the Paramont and were so impressed that we were anxiously awaiting an opportunity to go back for the full meal deal. We were not disappointed. The menu is extensive and impressive with interesting and imaginitive preparations of seafood staples as well as some unusual varieties. Our dinner was exquisitly prepared and presented by knowledgeable and courteous wait staff. Look for generous portions, and service that exceeds expectations. We finished the evening with a cappuccino that was absolutely off the charts! Highly recommended if you want to impress someone that enjoys seafood!
Pros: Great food and service
Posted 03/01/09
Super Fresh, Great birthday dinner.
By harveyc
We went to the Oceanaire to celebrate my girlfriend's sister's birtthday, we sat in a plush retro booth that was comfy, and we felt like we were in our own timeless world. Fresh bread and relish trays started us off and wow even that was good. Phyllis was our server, she was friendly and always there at the right time. They ran out of salmon, but in a busy fresh fish house, this can happen, so I got the black cod instead, and that melted in my mouth it was so good. We had their brownie for dessert and that was the best part, what a decadent dessert! One of the best dinners I've had in Seattle, I highly recommend it!
Pros: great fresh fish, food, and ambience Cons: big portions and possible weight gain
Posted 02/16/09
Poor...Only As Good as Your Last Performance!
By mark_k_monroe
Wife wanted shrimp; where better to go then OCEANAIRE??? Impeccable reputation for fresh seafood. Not last night, and we tried. (Though we did not expect "Fresh Shrimp" we did expect GOOD shrimp!)
Oysters Rockefeller; excellent, best part of meal (along with the great "relish tray".)
Shrimp Scampi? BLAND, which was bad enough, but the menu says JUMBO shrimp! These were "20/24's" at best, not even 'Large" 16/20's. Sorry, but decor doesn't justify a lonely plate of frozen 20/24 tiger prawns in garlic butter for close to $30.
Sake-Soy marinated Black Cod? The worst abuse of a great piece of fish I have witnessed. Dry and room temperature (did it wait in window?), which was unexcusable since we were in for dinner at 5:30 (Holiday shopping, we don't usually eat this close to opening, but few tables seated upon arrival means NO WAIT!)
So, Dry and Brown; over marinated with Soy... a piece of fish that should have melted like butter in the mouth was leathery and salty like soy sauce...not delicate and hot and slightly "Asian-Accented" as expected. $38.00 down the drain, though this was removed from the bill which made the point mute.
Probably the worst aspect of the meal, though, was when the "back-waiter" which served the entrees for our Captain (Aaron, a personable and adept front-waiter) brought the aforementioned dishes without first clearing my wife's spinach salad and actually asked her: "Can I swap you plates, Mam, and have you hand me your salad?" while juggling the two entrees and the two side plates of vegetables we ordered? I expect impecable service when I'm at this caliber of establishment! I can not imagine approaching a table with entrees prior to bussing and clearing!
Posted 12/09/08
ladies night out begins here
By rockestar
When deciding where we should go for a much needed ladies night, my girlfriend and I went downtown. We were unsure as to where to go for dinner, but thank goodness for the Oceanaire. Instead of rushing us, it was as if there were an understanding. We were able to chat and were able to take our time ordering.
The scallops were delicious, and the atmosphere was unique. Thank you Katy. It was a wonderful experience.
Posted 09/27/08
Happy hour and oysters.. the perfect combination
By magpie23
I am still dreaming about last Friday nights Happy hour at Oceanaire.. the bartender was friendly the white wine was served in an elegant glass and was nicely chilled... and half priced oysters for happy hour were the best. They had a lot of great things on the happy hour menu that I saw come out of the kitchen but I just kept ordering oysters! Great time, good people watching and a great value in the bar.
