Oceanaire Seafood Room

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

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

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

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

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.

Pros: Happy hour

Cons: bar is small

Posted 09/02/08

I was extremely disappointed on my dinner at Oceanaire this past weekend. Yes, the atmosphere is nice and the service is impeccable. All of the staff was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. However, the food was bleh at best. I was very excited to go to Oceanaire since it's Copper River Salmon season. We ordered 2 different preparations of the copper river salmon, and both of them were flavorless, greasy, dry, and overcooked. We had ordered one with foie gras butter. There was no foie gras taste in the dish at all and just tasted like it was drenched in oil. The other dish we ordered was copper river salmon with the porcini mushrooms they serve with the halibut. The mushroom sauce had a lot of mushrooms but the mushrooms were tasteless. The worse part of the meal was that the fish was way overcooked in both orders, leaving it very dry...disappointing

Posted 06/15/08

This place is amazing. I don't generally eat at the higher priced, upscale restaurants and only go to them for special occasions. That having been said, most that I've been to I would label mediocre and not worth the price. Often, the portion size is miniscule at the more expensive restaurants.

Recently, my girlfriend and I went for our 2 year anniversary to the Oceanaire in Seattle, WA. I was incredibly impressed. All the people we dealt with from the coat-checkers to the bus boys were friendly and helpful. Our waitress was amazing. We even got dessert for free simply because it was our anniversary.

Yes, the food here is expensive and you should expect to drop some cash, but unlike other fancy restaurants, the serving sizes at the Oceanaire are HUGE. When ordering side dishes, be sure to keep in mind that one side dish is enough food for two people to share. The fish was fresh and delicious. Some of the best fish I've had, and I've lived in Seattle all my life! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants an evening out for a special occasion.

Posted 06/05/08

If you're a dot-com millionaire or someone on an oil industry expense account, you might enjoy eating here... all others should come for the oysters (which are excellent and reasonably priced) and that's it. The meals are overpriced and not worth it. Yes, the seafood is good, but you can find the same quality and better for a lot cheaper at a slew of other Seattle establishments. If you really WANT to pay $50 for king salmon - which by the way, doesn't include anything else, so it's really $60+ if you order side dishes with it - then this is your place.

I will concede that the squid appetizer was truly excellent, but everything else did not justify the price. And $13 a glass for Boutari wine? You've got to be kidding.

Service was excellent with one notably offensive exception. A waiter appeared at our table with four cups of coffee we hadn't ordered, and when we told him this he treated us with such contempt - even looking at his order sheet and saying "This IS the right table", as if we wouldn't remembered ordering four coffees, and at the start of a meal at that - that I told him to take his coffee and his attitude elsewhere. Not what you expect in a place where these prices are charged.

One final very cheap note: the amuse-bouche they placed on the table at the beginning featured canned olives. If you're charging $30 or more for entrees, surely you can be classy enough to send out the real thing.

Anyway, I can see people coming here for oysters; but for all else, save your wallet and go elsewhere.

Pros: Good oysters

Cons: Everything else overpriced

Posted 05/24/08

Our experience started the moment we walked in the door, a very friendly young lady promptly escorted us to our seats, asking our preference of a booth or a table. Once seated a wine menu was placed on the table with a plate of relish's and water. Our server, Tim introduced himself and was very knowledge about their wine list and the specials of the day. He was very friendly and attentive without being annoying. He was quick with information we needed to make our entree decisions. Our table was cleared promptly between courses and the Flaming Baked Alaskia was the perfect end to a perfect meal, sinfully delicious.

Posted 04/22/08

We had a marvelous dinner at the Oceanaire on a Saturday night a few weeks ago. We sat in a cozy booth and were amazed at the varitiey of entrees available. We started out with the best oysters ever...light and delicate...and then moved on to the tuna...cooked to perfection and melted in our mouths...wow...The shrimp scampi was divine and my fish was incredible...The creamed corn was the best side dish i have ever gotten anywhere...But....Save room for dessert...We had the sombrero of love which included: huge slices of...key lime pie, cheesecake, chocolate mousse and creme brulee...all of our favorites served in an enormous bowl dripping with flames...an incredible presentation and not to be missed! The service was wonderful and the manager even stopped by to say hello, how charming. We loved our dinner here and will be back!

Pros: Great service, great food

Cons: none

Posted 04/05/08

I was a little hesitant to have dinner here, having read the last few negative reviews. I'm sure people will have negative experiences no matter how good the restaurant. Happily for me, though, I had a great dinner there last night. Even though I showed up by myself, I was made to feel very welcome and treated extremely courteously. Oysters were amazing. Grilled Oregon sole was very good. Thumbs up!

Posted 03/17/08

The service was very good, but the dinners were mediocre, and somewhat overpriced. We were somewhat dissapointed.

Posted 03/09/08

I love Oceanaire the chain - the DC one is among my favorites. I also love going out - I live and work downtown (not Belltown, not Queen Anne, not Pioneer Square - downtown), so I know what's going on in this neighborhood. I have been to our Seattle Oceanaire location - 2.5 blocks from my home - several times. I recently resolved to make it a more regular hangout and invited my girlfriends to join me this Friday night. Well, apparently heaven help you if you're not a well-established regular, no matter how much money you're willing to spend - or could spend over the course of a relationship with the restaurant! A "favored" group of 5 had taken over the entire bar area and when I asked for them to clarify where they wanted to sit (since there were far fewer people than available seats - seemed plenty of space to go around), I was met with scorn from the group but most surprisingly, the bartender, who then proceeded to talk down to me directly and to his fellow bartenders. I was confused, since all I wanted to do was find a very available seat for myself and my girlfriends to spend money!! Needless to say, I didn't bother to stay, and my girlfriends and I took our business elsewhere. Such a shame - I live in the heart of downtown, have lots of fun going out friends. But I'm not going to kiss someone's butt - especially when they're already charging a lot of money for the privilege - just to be treated like a fellow human being. In the words of the passive aggressive bartender, "Merry Christmas" (trust me, it's all in how you say it). I will be talking this locale down at every opportunity, and vow NEVER to return. Cheers, Ann

Pros: Chain - go to the ones anywhere but Seattle

Cons: Attitude, price compared to value

Posted 12/20/07

Making a reservation to ensure prompt seating when you arrive at the Oceanaire is pointless since you still have to wait 30 minutes to be seated. The wait staff seemed off the evening we were there. Our waitress had no knowledge of their wine list and rarely came to our table. The restaurant manager stopped by our table and patched up the spottie service which restored our faith in the restaurant. The food and wine was great but they need to work on having a stronger front end and wait staff to compliment the price of your meal.

Pros: Food and wine was great.

Cons: Service was lacking.

Posted 11/10/07

I went in for lunch again, as I am prone to do every Tuesday.....and as usual when you first step into Oceanaire you are greeted by an amazing and quite handsome host, who immediately seats us in our favorite area of the restaurant -- the cozy booths on the wall. Service was exceptional, prompt and attentive. I had the crab club, which is loaded with mounds of crab, instead of the usual filler you get at other seafood places. My other favorite item on the menu are the fish tacos....loaded with fresh cilantro, guacamole and a delicious sour cream sauce. I can't get enough of the black beans and purple cabbage included with this dish. The fish with macerated cherries- (no matter what special fish of the day) is always a favorite at our table, and the Caesar - big enough for 4 is a great starter. You would be shock at the size of the wine pours by the glass, although at first you may think $12.95 may be a bit on the expensive side, once you get your glass this clearly becomes a moot point.....I think I had half a bottle in one glass! I will continue to frequent this restaurant, and recommend it to all my friends and out of town visitors....always classy...always perfect!!

Pros: Great food..Great Service

Cons: Can't think of any!

Posted 08/15/07

We've been to Oceanaire twice. The first time, we were disappointed, but thought it must have been because it was in December during the Christmas party rush. Went again Saturday night (4/28). Terrible service - again! My husband didn't receive his appetizer. He mentioned it to the server who ignored his requests and didn't tell the head server about it. Later, he asked the head server to be sure it didn't get on the host's bill. The server said "Oh, yeah, sorry about that". Same thing with getting hot tea. Several requests, no real apology. No refills on water. We were at Chandler's Crab House the week before and chuckled because the staff was soooooooooooooo attentive. Wish we'd had them at Oceanaire! The food was lack-luster. My daughter had to leave early because she felt ill after eating the greasy grilled scallops. Powder Room is nicely stocked and I hear the same about the Gents room.

Pros: Assortment of seafood

Cons: Preparation of food, Terrible service

Posted 04/29/07

Went with a group of 10 for a birthday, all hoping to try the deal many restaurants were offering at the time (a few months ago) of 3 courses for 25.00. We had one bottle of wine and the bill was 40.00 each, cheap perhaps, but i ate my meal in 3 minutes and I am a slow eater and a small person- portions were tiny and tasteless, and the desserts though very large were just sugary and seemed to try to compensate for the lousy meal, i was still starving and regretted eating it. terrible. Not worth the price, I would never go again.

Cons: Terrible value

Posted 04/16/07

MAJOR DISSAPOINTMENT
I was very excited to have a nice dinner out with a friend, the only thing great about this dinner was the conversation. It all started with the lame host. He made sure we went to the bar before being seated, then claimed he had looked for us to seat 40 minutes later when I went up to ask that we were seated. The food was decent, but not great. Definitely not worth the price. They are going to need to get their food back up to par if they want to compete with Seattles amazing resturant scene. I think this place had better food and service a few years ago, and has slowly been going downhill. I have heard this time and time again from friends who have been dining here.

Posted 03/31/07

We were surprised to see the place packed on a Sunday night. Our reservations ensured us prompt seating and we were not dissappointed.We ordered drinks and an appetizer...Clam something or other that was overcooked and TASTELESS. It took over 1 hour for the staff(although friendly and knowledgable) to even ask for our dinner order. Brother and sister-in-law, admitted wine snobs were quick to point out that the wine they chose for dinner, "La Poussey", was substantially overpriced. When dinner finally came I remember thinking how fortunate I was that I had ordered the Hudson Bay scallops as it looked so much more elegant and appetizing than the buffet line presentation of the rest of my party of 4. Unfortunately, my joy ended with the first bite. The scallops, although perfectly cooked, failed in every way to be enhanced by the white truffle sauce which I thought tasted more like really bad brown gravy that had been allowed to burn. Sampling wifes Scampi with saffron: Scampi over cooked, saffron over powering rather than subtle, the entire combination smothered over a gooey glob of rice. score 2/10. I did not try brother and sisters entrees although they said they were merely OK. Overall rating for the place over priced, pretentious ...(Hudson Bay this, Icelandic that, Virginia something else... even our own local king salmon wasn't good enough for the stuff flown in from Oregon?) At the end of the meal no one asked "how was everything?" Parting shot...the stupid champagne bottles lined up in the entry like we used to do in college before we were legal age. I wish I gave $250 of the $270 dinner bill to some bum I saw downtown and took the other $20 (and the $50 tip) and went to Dick's drive-in for some honest cookin'.

Posted 03/26/07

My gal pal Chelsea and I decided to take our good friend Trista out for her birthday dinner. We told her to look on a Citysearch and pick a place. The 25 for $25 deal was currently going on in Seattle so she picked Oceanaire. She had never been there, but driven by after long Saturdays at Pacific Place. We had 6:30 reservations, and being our normal punctual selves, we showed up at 6:45. Our reservation was still available and the hostess knew exactly where to seat us. Our server was Aaron, a very outgoing and knowledgeable waiter. We asked him questions about a couple of cocktails we weren't familiar with and he told us exactly what they were and which ones we might prefer. We told him we found them on Citysearch and we were there for the 25/25 deal. Even though he knew we were "bargain shopping" he still treated us like princesses, which made the dinner special particulary for Trista. When the dessert course was served, Aaron showed up with what looked like a gravy boat. (We ordered apple strudel and a Big Ed between the three of us.) I made a joke about Aaron lighting our dessert on fire...and he looked at me like a deer in headlights. I casually made light of it and said, "It's not like it's Baked Alaska!" Sure enough, Aaron had already gotten us Baked Alaska for Trista's Birthday Dessert and he thought I knew something he didn't! It made for a very fun evening and we appreciated him going out of his way to make our dinner fun and an enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend this restaraunt, especially if you're sitting for Mr. Personality, Aaron. (The more I laugh through dinner, the better the tip is....) :)

Pros: Fun, fast service...

Cons: We were there for 25/25 the rest of the menu was out of my league... :)

Posted 03/12/07

despite the low ratings, i've enjoyed all my visits to the OSF. oysters rockefeller were delicious in which the spinach was nicely seasoned. i had the jumbo lump crab cakes which were packed with crab meat. my girlfriend had the shrimp scampi which were delicious also. for dessert we had the baked alaska which was lit on fire and was enough for 4 to share.

Posted 02/17/07

Anyone seen that Seinfeld episode where Jerry's made the reservation at the car rental place for a mid-sized and the lady tells him " sorry, we're all out of those,? " Jerry's response was something like, " You know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to keep the reservation. " Hence was our Valentine's Day experience.

Posted 02/14/07

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Posted 02/14/07

We loved this place. The grand shellfish appetizer was over the top and so good. I had the blue crabcakes, which were so full of big chunks of crab they were falling apart. They were the best crabcakes I have ever had.

Pros: fresh seafood

Cons: noisy

Posted 01/12/07

We make an attempt to eat at a new restaurant (new to us anyway) here in Seattle at least once a week. We looked forward to Oceanaire being huge fans of seafood.

When we arrived we found the atmosphere to be shockingly bright and along with the abundance of kids and extremely loud, ugly dining area, there was not a shred of romance to be found. In fact we laughed out loud it was so amazingly awful. Our server was friendly but so forced and overly animated he seemed like Howdy Doody on steroids.

One look at the menu had us reeling. We're used to spending good money for good food but this was appalling: Halibut for $40...Fish and Chips for $16...an "Ultimate" Surf and Turf for a WHOPPING $190.00. For that price it ought to come with a diamond necklace. The fish and chips turned out to be three small pieces of cod and a vast mound of fries which were thin pommes frites - crispy, thin and salty, but obviously filler for the oversized plate. Likewise my chopped salad with shrimp and crab, which appeared in a wooden bowl large enough to bath in. We can't complain about the taste of the food - it would have been lovely to eat it in a nice restaurant.

We now have worked out a signal to each other to discreetly walk back out of a restaurant such as this one prior to being seated; we enjoy our dining experiences way too much to waste time in a place like this one.

Pros: Um...huge portions?

Cons: Vastly overpriced, ugly bright atmosphere, too many kids, obnoxious overall

Posted 11/19/06

The Oceanaire is pretentious and overrated. The food was fine. Crabcakes are much better elsewhere. Overpriced for a small piece of fresh grilled halibut, no veggies, an empty plate with a piece of cilantro and a lemon wedge. Halibut was tasty but very pricey for what was provided. Overpriced wine list (did I read somewhere there was an "award winning wine list" ?) Server was brusque & impatient. A huge disappointment amid an otherwise lovely evening and trip to Seattle. Fun overall atmosphere for a large group but noisy for any conversation.

Pros: Close to downtown hotels and theatre venues.

Cons: Noisy

Posted 11/13/06

We got there late on a Friday evening. We had a little trouble getting a waiter to stop by our table at first, but after that, it was great. The fish was excellent and our side order of mushrooms was fantastic. We don't normally rave about a side dish of vegetables. One of us cannot have any dairy and they were very accomodating. It is supposed to be in the style of a 1930's ocean liner. One of us thought that it was right at the edge of being kitschy, but didn't go too far. Definitely recommended.

Pros: Good quality, good service

Cons: Very expensive

Posted 10/28/06

Better crab cakes, better service, better atmosphere - this one in Seattle is loud and crowded and the bar is not great.
I took a date there for a speacial evening and althought the food was better over all the atmosphere wasnt a lot different than RedLobster - oh but less kids.

Posted 10/22/06

The service was terrible, the food was mediocre and the bill was expensive. We were on vacation so we had been to four other restaurants that were excellent. Ponti Seafood, Chandler's Crabhouse on Lake Union, Wild Ginger, and the Waterfront are recommended.
If you want a delicious meal, great service, wonderful atmosphere and an enjoyable dining experiende, don't go to Oceanaire. You'll get bad service, noisy, touristy atmosphere, and food that tastes like you are in a cafeteria. Seattle has great restaurants, but this isn't one of them.

Posted 09/21/06

As this was my first visit to Seattle I was excited to eat at a highly rated seafood restaurant. The service and atmosphere was wonderful. My waiter was enthusiastic and actually gave recommendations on what to order. Maybe I had raised my expectations to high as I thought the food was average at best. The spinach salad was soggy and the vinagrette a little too bitter. Unfortunately they sold out of halibut so my husband settled for Mahi instead. He stated the dish was fine, but suspected it would have been much better with the halibut. My salmon was average. The tomato vinagrette wasn't the best mix for my pallate. I'd go back to give it another shot, but only after I go and sample the other highly recommended restaurants in Seattle.

Pros: Location - easy walk from downtown hotels

Posted 08/29/06

I hadn't been to Oceanaire in over a year and I don't know why it took me so long to come back. The seafood is always outstanding-- extremely fresh and perfectly prepared. The Sole stuffed with crab, shrimp and brie was to die for and the crabcakes are probably the best I've had in Seattle. The atmosphere is bustling, good service, and large portions. The cream corn and mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food.

Pros: fresh seafood

Posted 08/23/06

We made reservations 6 weeks in advance for a group of 16, which turned out to be 13. The restaurant was notified the day before of the change to 13 people. When we arrived we were promptly seated - at two tables meant for a maximum of 4 people. It was absurd that 13 adults were seated so close that it was impossible to raise our arms to eat and impossible to properly service the table. The restaurant would not correct this situation. We may have understood if we had not made reservations so far in advance.

The food is very good - crab cakes are out of this world, but this business dinner was very uncomfortable and unfortunate. A note sent to the restaurant a few days later was not even acknowledged. Next time we want to entertain, we will select a restaurant that is more accommodating to their guests. There are many great restaurants in Seattle - The Oceanaire needs to realize that food only represents a portion of what diners expect when they dine at upscale restaurants.

Pros: Very fresh & delicious seafood, beautifully decorated restaurant

Cons: Non-accomodating staff ruined meal

Posted 06/21/06

I was hesitant at 1st because I have read other reviews stating the service was not good, this is a big thing for me, especially if I am willing to pay top dollar. We had reservations at 6:30 on a Sat, and we were seated right away. We were seated toward the back corner near the ladies rest room and kitchen entrance. I was not exactly thrilled about this, however, it worked in our favor. Not only was the noise at a minimum in this cozy corner booth, but because we were close to the kitchen entrance, we had no problem falggin someone down when we needed anything! I tried the Rosemary pan seared Scallops- It was DEVINE! I am an extrmemely picky eater- and this was well worth the price. I would deffinately go here again, and get that booth that made us feel our dining experience was great.

Posted 03/29/06

We went to Oceanaire for dinner during March's 25 for 25. I heard many participating restaurants were slacking on quality because they weren't making much per person. If true, then Oceanaire fits that category perfectly. The fish was mediocre, and the sauce was overly salty and otherwise tasteless. The bisque was only slightly better, and the chocolate mousse tasted like it was made from Jello. The server was gone for long periods of time for us and the people at the next table. The entire dinner was disappointing - my husband worked all weekend, and I was treating him to a nice dinner. If this kind of mediocrity is due to the 25 for 25 promotion, Oceanaire should remove itself from the list in the future. I'm sure other lesser-known restaurants would love the exposure, and wouldn't squander the chance to cultivate new customers.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food, service

Posted 03/25/06

The caviar pie and the blue crab crabcakes are to die for. I'm not usually a crabcake fan but these are amazing. The chef is and artist.

Pros: valet parking

Cons: noisy

Posted 01/31/06

The Kobe hamburger at lunch is fantastic, the steaks are excellent but Oceanaire is the place to go for seafood. We have never had better. The atmosphere is fun, upbeat, reminds me of a 1940's club. The service is the best in Seattle. We have our favorite waiters, naturally, but they are all very efficient and nice. Reservations are a must. The valet parking at night is so nice as parking can be difficult at lunch time but well worth the effort. The desserts are big enough for two or three as are the salads. Even the al a carte vegetables are fantastic. From the bar, try a Metaxa Side Car YUMMY. Chef Kevin is a perfectionist. Once you taste his dishes you will agree.

Pros: Food, Drinks, Oysters

Cons: parking/Lunch time

Posted 01/26/06

If you order only one thing at Oceanaire, it should be the Seafood Platter. It's spectacular. The fish is flown in daily and there are always a page full of varieties to choose from. The side dishes are large and can be shared by the entire table. I've experienced very good service to just mediocre but the food has always been consistent. It's a bit on the expensive side but worth it

Pros: Food

Posted 11/20/05

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday. We are a rather young couple and I can only assume because of our age- our waiter felt it was appropriate to talk to us like his peers. Let me just say this- when I am paying over $25 a plate, the word "pimping" should never be uttered by my waiter during my dining experience. However, it was- in reference to me, and I found it so insulting. He was also neglectful- the food at Oceanaire is quite good, but the service will frustrate you at best, and in my case- it was even belittling. Not recommended unless you order to go!

Pros: Food

Cons: Distracted servers, Bad service

Posted 11/11/05

for a four star restaurant you would think that you could get a glass of water without waiting for 20min to find someone to get it for you. it was absolutely ridiculous!

Posted 08/31/05

If you feel like being a little decadent, Oceanaire is the place to go. I had been for lunch but a first for dinner with my husband turned out to be an outstanding dining experience. The dining room was loud, but had an exciting energy. While our server was obviously busy, we never felt rushed when asking him about the menu or wine list. We started with the crab cake and mussels, both amazing and the bread from Essential Bakery was delicious with the spicy sauce from the mussels. I ordered the scallops, a HUGE portion of garlicky, delicious scallops. My husband's Yellowtail was the biggest, freshest tuna steak I have ever tried, he was in heaven. I would have skipped the rhubarb crisp for dessert if I had known it was prepared with so many white raisins. Not cheap, but if you feel like splurging, you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Excellent food, Energetic vibe

Cons: Busy

Posted 08/17/05

I always have a great experience here. The food is excellent- fish always extremely fresh- and the mashed potatos oozing with sour cream are out of this world. Cocktails are large and expensive but shaken beautifully. The seafood platter is stunning.

Posted 08/14/05

I was surprisingly put off by the service I received at Oceanaire this past Sunday... I took my fiance for his birthday. Our waiter seemed to have more important customers, as he would neglect to come by for extended periods of time and we would have to flag someone down. Our food, which we had asked to be boxed, got thrown away... delicious scallops and all- and when that came to attention, we were compensated with a much less desirable (and much cheaper) dish, minus said delicious scallops- and then were charged on the bill for it! Honest mistakes are fine, but our server and his carelessness almost nearly ruined our night. That all being said, the seafood is fresh and wonderful, and the prices are not exorbitant. Just cross your fingers and hope your server is better to you than ours was.

Pros: Fresh Food, Valet and Parking, Reasonable

Cons: Service, Service, Service

Posted 07/15/05

We live nr McCormicks, but we trek over to Oceanaire because the fish, ambience, and service are superior. Yes, it is more expensive, but life is short...Favorites are smelts, spicy squid, the Windsor Court salad, raw oysters and little necks, and yes, the fish. The desserts, if you have room are rich, very sweet, very large. Wine list is on the high side, but again, think of the overhead. Because the portions are so large, we usually share a salad and skip dessert. Dinner for 2 for about $100. You do not have to mortgage the house.

Altho I have read some of the negative comments about service, we have had consistently prof. and attentive service in the nearly 3 yrs we have been eating here. We go early, however, to avoid the crowds and noise. I do think the service is a tad more casual than when they first opened, but does not substantially diminish our experience there. We have never had to wait for water or coffee refills. And my husband easily drinks a liter of water during the meal.

Pros: quality of fish/prep, ambience, service

Cons: , noise

Posted 06/28/05

My fiance and I went for a special dinner and had a great time, to have a bartender who is like if you don't like it than you don't have to buy it, was a shocker to me. And truly with a drink I wasn't crazy about he didn't charge us for it. Dinner was good and when there was a bit a a problem at dinner, my order not going through on the computer, our waiter was great and brought me what ever I wanted for free, he was excelent and was very attentive of us yet not to much so. Though overall I thought the place was a bit loud, we had a great time and I would go back anytime.

Pros: good food, great drinks , great service

Cons: loud, crowded

Posted 06/14/05

Oceanaire is fast becoming one Seattle's classic spots where you can always go and never fall short of a great experience. Whether your looking to impress yourself or others, you can depend on Oceanaire to deliver. The food is fantastic, above all else. The ambience is big time - very few spots in the Northwest bring you the girth of style Oceanaire delivers. The service is "Nordsrom-esque"..all Seattelites will understand that analogy. And the overall vibe is professional and warm at the same time. You can't go wrong with Oceanaire.

Pros: Food, Service, Ambience

Posted 03/16/05

Don't believe what you read here by the negative "reviewers". Do believe what everybody in town knows as Seattle's best seafood experience with professional yet friendly service, an outstanding room with a lively bar crowd, and a kitchen that puts out consistent quality seafood dishes. Large portions, large drinks, large restaurant, large check. Seattles foodies know you get what you pay for! A must when your in town.

Pros: Valet Parking, Quality Chef, People Watching

Posted 01/03/05