Insider Pages Reviews for Oceanaire Seafood Room

5 Stars: Fantastic meal & service! (by jdp13)

jdp13 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:00:00 GMT

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!

4 Stars: Super Fresh, Great birthday dinner. (by harveyc)

harveyc — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

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!

2 Stars: Poor...Only As Good as Your Last Performance! (by mark_k_monroe)

mark_k_monroe — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

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!

4 Stars: Great food great price (by Sue B.)

Sue B. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:45:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Seafood (by Anli J.)

Anli J. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:19:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: ladies night out begins here (by rockestar)

rockestar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Happy hour and oysters.. the perfect combination (by magpie23)

magpie23 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Oysters Oysters Oysters (by Kari M.)

Kari M. — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:22:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Overpriced, Overcooked (by foodlvr84)

foodlvr84 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Best "upscale" restaurant I've ever been to (by pmartz)

pmartz — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Overpriced and not worth it (by sweetkoshka)

sweetkoshka — Sun, 25 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Oceanaire (by Shea V.)

Shea V. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:48:00 GMT

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).

5 Stars: Fantastic Seafood Must for a memorable occasion (by BillTraci)

BillTraci — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great service and Great Seafood (by bmase)

bmase — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Great Service (by junwhang)

junwhang — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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!

3 Stars: Not wonderful (by carrie922)

carrie922 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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

1 Stars: Sucky bartendar attitude... (by annkelly411)

annkelly411 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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

2 Stars: Not the experience we were hoping for. (by ooomermaidooo)

ooomermaidooo — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Wow!! I love this place! (by beamer214)

beamer214 — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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!!

2 Stars: The Emperor Has No Clothes! (by mac65)

mac65 — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: 25 for 25 a terrible deal (by okido)

okido — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Avoid it (by foodsnoby)

foodsnoby — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: overpriced merely adequate food, pretentious (by choosy1_23)

choosy1_23 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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'.

5 Stars: Fantastic Service! (by tinitime)

tinitime — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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....) :)

4 Stars: i love it every time (by recruitcho)

recruitcho — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Reservations 101 (by j115)

j115 — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: 1 (by jdolan115)

jdolan115 — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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5 Stars: Blue crabcakes - DELICIOUS! (by meganwa)

meganwa — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Scary Waiter and WAY overpriced (by apaulus)

apaulus — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Disappointing food, service, wine (by denisebbb)

denisebbb — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great fish, vegetables, good service (by simakatz)

simakatz — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: The one in Dallas is better (by tryggero)

tryggero — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Not good. (by suzy16)

suzy16 — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Great Service, Average Food (by swift2211)

swift2211 — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Wonderful (by rocknrollbaby)

rocknrollbaby — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Excellent Seafood - Poor service (by salmonsal)

salmonsal — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Dining without the bad service (by nrg28)

nrg28 — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Bad food, server MIA (by seattlechk)

seattlechk — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: User review by judithanne (by judithanne)

judithanne — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: User review by dorotheakalby (by dorotheakalby)

dorotheakalby — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Amazing Seafood Platter (by janetsmith1)

janetsmith1 — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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

3 Stars: The most inappropriate server... (by happyshadow)

happyshadow — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: horrible service (by jychiang77)

jychiang77 — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Splurge! (by anaford)

anaford — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Food (by foodstallion)

foodstallion — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Great food- disappointing service... (by copperloni)

copperloni — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Some of the best and still superior to McCormicks (by cccc)

cccc — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: User review by snuggle_bear (by snuggle_bear)

snuggle_bear — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: One of Seattle's Classic Spots! (by jimbunt)

jimbunt — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Fantastic Restaurant! (by marlinperkins)

marlinperkins — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: loud and lousy (by johaver)

johaver — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

My husband and I dined here solely based on the recommendation from Citysearch. We were looking for a fine dining spot before a show at the Paramount. What we encountered was a noisy, slow serviced, average food restaurant. The waiter seemed preoccupied and we had to constantly ask to have our water filled - no one came by to check. We were basically ignored. The seafood was average - mine was actually quite greasy. The noise level was so high we had to scream at eachother across the table. We will not dine there again.

5 Stars: Lunchtime (by tnt50)

tnt50 — Tue, 22 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I've eaten here many times and generally have been satisfied. Of late, though, service at lunch has slipped greatly while prices haven't. Waiter yesterday had to be called to table for service several times; not attentive to our needs and took over two hours! Not acceptable.

4 Stars: Overall, very good (by bostock)

bostock — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I was there with a party of five and the service was attentive, from filling the water glasses to bringing dessert menus.

The Calamari appetizer is absolutely delicious. I've never had it done that way with an asian flair. The lone crab cake was also very good and could easily substitute as an entree. My companians had the copper river salmon which they said was good and I had the razer clams. My dish was ok, nothing special.

For dessert we had the key lime pie. The wedge was the size of a small pie, easily and is perfect for sharing.

4 Stars: Serious fish experience (by jafb)

jafb — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Reminds me of the East Coast fish houses--starting with the relish tray and herring to oyster crackers on the table. Only thing the food is MUCH BETTER.
It was long overdue--for Seattle which is known for fish to finally get a restaurant that serves more than tuna and salmon with the mixed sauteed veggies as sides.
We adore the smelts, oyster, and squid starters. There is no fish entree that we have had here that we did not love.
Desserts are enormous and too big for us to eat unless we share. But then all the portions are that way.
The gumbo can be a meal in itself along with salad...
Wines seem high, but my hubbie reminds me that they have to make profit somewhere to provide such high quality staff, food, and digs. So go and enjoy!

5 Stars: Great Dining Experience (by andyrebele)

andyrebele — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:00:00 GMT

We have been to Oceanaire several times, and each time we have had a great experience. The oysters are always fresh, and they do not serve any seafood that is not great that day (even salmon, which most places will scrounge up even when there is nothing good around). For those who don't like their oysters raw (one of our guests didn't), they have a nice Oysters Rockefeller. The atmosphere is upbeat and elegant, like a Mortons but with more light. The wine list is extensive, and there is also a premium wine list that they bring out on demand. It is not cheap, but it is worth the premium.

5 Stars: 12adsu (by sus10eb)

sus10eb — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:00:00 GMT

We were in Seattle seeing a play, and afterwards we wanted some place to eat. There were 7 of us.
What a wonderful dinner we had, the seafood was excellent!!! The staff was very friendly and explained how to share the side dishes. We go to Seattle often, and will make this a new place to have a wonderful dinner. The desserts were fantastic!

3 Stars: OK, but is pricey and overrated (by archer4j)

archer4j — Thu, 02 Oct 2003 02:00:00 GMT

This is one of those 'loud' restaurants that people either like or dislike - so be warned. The seafood selection seemed good, and the crab cakes are definately impressive, but the salmon was standard and over salted and partially overcooked. While the portions seemed large, they also seemed over priced. For this price I am expecting to be amazed and was not. Wine selection was adequate, nothing special, and the wait staff seemed aloof and a touch arrogant. Not bad at all but definately overrated.

5 Stars: WOW (by nakayamag)

nakayamag — Tue, 12 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

An amazing evening. Fantastic food (get the dunginess crab, fresh oysters, salmon), attentive service (the hosts do not forget you and the servers make sure you have everything), bright room. One of our new favorite restaurants.

5 Stars: It doesn't get better than this! (by SantaMonicaBoys)

SantaMonicaBoys — Fri, 18 Jul 2003 02:00:00 GMT

On recent visit, all of our dishes were fantastic! Our friendly, informative waiter walked us through the menu & gave us tips on what to order & how much. In fact, he kept us from ordering too much. Recommendations: Copper River Salmon (when in season) - simply grilled. St. George Scallops and the Halibut were also good.

5 Stars: Great food, great service (by heath0005)

heath0005 — Sat, 05 Jul 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I love the crab cakes, and for a seafood place, their steak is out of this world. It's impossible given the portions, but try anyway: save room for dessert. The lunch menu has a Kobe beef burger, which could possibly be the best burger in Seattle.

5 Stars: Outstanding (by abc12345)

abc12345 — Thu, 15 May 2003 02:00:00 GMT

The food was world class, and the service impeccable. I have to say that our waiter, Colin, was a perfect gentleman who was truly engaged in our dining experience.

5 Stars: Something for Everyone! (by johnrock)

johnrock — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 02:00:00 GMT

From the easy going to the hard to please, I've never had anyone leave unhappy after I've brought them to the Oceanaire. There's something for everyone there. Of course, there's the fresh seafood, but for meat eater there's steak and vegetarian plates as well. And for those who need that unique bite. Is there anyone else in town that serves fresh sea urchin? I'm very satisfied everytime I go.

5 Stars: So good, but.... (by littlegreykitten)

littlegreykitten — Wed, 02 Apr 2003 01:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went for our anniversary, and it was really a great dinner. However, I did find some tiny things to nitpick about. The sauce on my halibut was rather overpowering (yet tasty, of course), and the cheesecake lacked a crust. It all added up to a wonderful experience, but I just tried the Coastal Kitchen recently and I have to say, it was better and about 1/2 the price. Though, of course, the portions at the Oceanaire are just out of control- I only ate 1/3 of my entree. Definitely your money's worth in that respect.

5 Stars: The way it's supposed to be! (by hdaniel)

hdaniel — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Wow! We had dinner for two on 3/15 and I can't say enough about our fabulous experience. The service was flawless, cocktails were top notch, selection was amazing, and our choices were cooked to absolute perfection. I don't think Oceanaire is intended to be a romantic restaurant - the atmosphere has old school vivacity and class. Expect to slurge and enjoy!

5 Stars: first of the season halibut (by waltoncpa)

waltoncpa — Sun, 09 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

i just had the most amazing halibut dish at the oceanaire. it has an olive crust that is so delicious, words would fail to do it justice. if you're going to have halibut for the first time this season have it at the oceanaire. you won't be disappointed.

4 Stars: Dessert (by duncwa)

duncwa — Sun, 09 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Excellent, superb wine list. We had the Sauvignan Blanc from Australia with Hawaiian Tuna. All around great. I will admit that my SO (significant other) was a bit peeved by the absence of crust on the cheese cake (she loves a good cheese cake). I was completely satisfied. Fried green tomatoes, delicious; asparagus and sauce......superb.

3 Stars: Not nearly as good as expected!!! (by cristina1979)

cristina1979 — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Too-bright lighting, office ceiling panels, and just-decent food and service do not warrant this place's reputation or $30 entrees. If you're looking for a solid NW seafood experience, you're much better off spending your money on a cab ride out to Chinook's at fisherman's terminal.

5 Stars: My second office (by eraserhead)

eraserhead — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

From the last few times I've eaten at the Oceanaire, the place has become one of my favorite places to eat. Not only do they have the seafood I enjoy such as King Crab Legs but they also have selections that i can serve to non seafood eaters as well such as filets, pork chops, chicken and kobe. Basically, it turns out everyone I brings comes out very happy. Its a fun atmosphere and we get treated very well.

5 Stars: King Crabs Are Back!!! (by papercuts)

papercuts — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Yes, its that time of year again. This is my favorite time of the year for seafood. There is nothing like fresh king crab legs. I had them yesterday and they were so sweet and so tender. Those guys at the Oceanaire really know how to cook 'em.

5 Stars: dinner at grandma's (by johngh)

johngh — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I tell you, I cannot get enough of what the chef at the oceanaire is making. He has superb dishes on the menu that I haven't seen in years. Many of them are classics that my grandmother used to make for me. The approach takes me down memory lane long enough to appreciate what i've been missing over time. I can't recommend enough how inspired the oceanaire chef is and how much he makes us appreciate good food.

5 Stars: THE Place for SEAFOOD!!! (by FeedMeFish)

FeedMeFish — Tue, 25 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Frankly, I can't imagine myself going anywhere else for seafood since I've visited the Oceanaire. All other places pale in comparison. The seafood is fresh and the chef is amazing. A big thumbs UP!!!

2 Stars: WAY OVERRATED!!! (by rubyesque)

rubyesque — Mon, 24 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

So they have a great selection of seafood. What good is that if the preparation is mediocre at best? But the worst part was the service. We got a very cold waitress who was very unsavvy. The food is extremely overpriced, including paying for side vegetables. We spent $268 for four people only to be treated so poorly. Save your money and go elsewhere.

5 Stars: Where oysters go to heaven (by dwntwnwrkr)

dwntwnwrkr — Sat, 22 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

If you love oysters then you have to try the Oceanaire. They have the best oyster selection in the city as far as I'm concerned. And if you go in for happy hour, its half price. Check it out!

5 Stars: My what a wonderful place! (by morningcoffee)

morningcoffee — Fri, 21 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

This place is great. I can't state enough how much I love the food. Everytime I go back it has something new that I haven't tried before from Monchong to Spearfish to Sea Urchin. Its an exciting place with great food. I would definitely recommend this place to my pals at work.

1 Stars: Terrible Letdown! (by dynamicfigure)

dynamicfigure — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

We have eaten at some of the best places that can be had and I can honestly say this place is WAY overpriced and nothing great as far as food, ambiance or service goes. I took my wife out for a special dinner after seeing the Symphony. Our server was unfriendly when she could be found, which was not very often. As for the food - their selection was great, but we had to send one plate back because we asked for it medium and it came out nearly sushi raw. Our salad's, sides, and the other dish were nothing to brag about either, overall very disappointing!

5 Stars: KOBE ROCKS!!! (by hanna101)

hanna101 — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I think I just had the best steak ever. This American Kobe steak has excellent flavor and a great texture to it. I've read so much about the kobe cattle and I've wanted to try it for so long. Let me just day it ROCKS

5 Stars: Fabulous (by slstorvik)

slstorvik — Wed, 19 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Oceanaire provides the largest portions of any fine dining restaurant I've been to. The food is spectacular, but expensive. Arrive famished, plan to share entrees and the side dishes (everything is a la carte). Drinks are pricy, the wine list vast. Our server was not engaging, but the entire experience left us wanting to return the next time we are celebrating something special.

1 Stars: Think Twice Before You Go... (by cici)

cici — Wed, 12 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

It was noisy, loud, and crowded. The food wasn't all that great either. Don't bother taking your date there. It will only make you look like a fool, with no money left in your wallet... We may come back for happy hours - but that will be all.

5 Stars: BEST SEAFOOD, BAR NONE! (by seafood_lvr)

seafood_lvr — Fri, 07 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

this place has the best seafood in the city. it'll stand up to anyone, especially in the downtown area. the fish is fresh and the recipes are outstanding. if all restaurants were this good, you'd think we'd gone to heaven.

4 Stars: Are we serious! (by mcleslie)

mcleslie — Thu, 06 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

OK a seafood restaurant is in the top ten for BEST STEAKHOUSE! Oceanaire is a pretty good seafood restaurant, but not a not a steakhouse.

5 Stars: Fun Place, Good Food!!! (by GongShow)

GongShow — Thu, 06 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

from all the places i've been there's something special about oceanaire. if you can't see it then somethings wrong. the festive atmosphere combined with great food and great service; what's better than that? i've been there before and i'll go there again. the place rocks!

5 Stars: MOOOOO! (by standish42)

standish42 — Thu, 06 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

WOW!
I had the best burger of my life at a seafood joint...go figure. only problem is i have to scoot there before 5pm to get it...only for lunch :(

2 Stars: Over rated (by cafebuddy)

cafebuddy — Fri, 31 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Please! This place is totally overrated. We ate there 1/30 with friends and were not pleasantly surprised at any of the ambience nor menu --- but were shocked at the prices. I think there are plenty of area restaurants that have this place beat in price, food quality and ambience....this is a place to impress business associates, not to have a fun dinner with friends.

5 Stars: They Got It Right!!! (by Magoo2)

Magoo2 — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

for starters the food is superb. i can't imagine going anywhere else for seafood anymore. everything is so fresh and our waiter told us that everything is flown in from all over the world. there's so many different kinds of seafood available from samoa, new zealand, hawaii and locally too! but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't know what to do with it. the chef there does a great job and i wish he could give me some lessons. it was a great experience and i would definately go again!

5 Stars: very nice experience (by michelleannmeyer)

michelleannmeyer — Thu, 16 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Just like I had read in a previous review, we walked in without a reservation and were seated within 10 minutes. Drinks are strong. I was pleased with the wine list, they seemed to pass on some good values on several bottles. I spotted a couple bottles that were less than 100%(the norm) from retail prices. The decor is fun but classy. The boys were excited about the fun mens' room and the powder room had all of the luxuries you could want including a real cotton hand towel for my one time use. My entree was prepared exactly as I requested. We were very full and satisfied but managed to eat our 95 cent dixie cup ice creams. We will definitely return again and again.

3 Stars: Mixed Review... (by near_by)

near_by — Thu, 16 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Pretty good food, but come on, we have so many other great seafood places here in Seattle. The somewhat monotonous decor (typical of a chain restaurant) and excessively expensive menu, just don't merit the visit in my opinion. Best advise is to save your cash and go there for lunch (great fish tacos) if you have to. Go somewhere with a great view, like Anthony's, Ray's, Elliott'ts, etc., for dinner...

5 Stars: South Beach without the Long Drive (by djera)

djera — Mon, 13 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Excellent Food and Service. The Seating is spacious, great seafood cooked and presented perfectly. Good wine selection.

5 Stars: Expensive But Worth It (by Buttercup33)

Buttercup33 — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

This was a little pricey but it was a great place to go for seafood. I was really impressed witht he service. It was impecable. If you love desserts, great place to go. They are huge!

5 Stars: Absolutely The BEST (by hawke210)

hawke210 — Tue, 07 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Went here for company party. Was able to customize menu and received personalized attention. Food and wine were incredible. Service was superb. Only downsides were I felt our party was rather rushed from course to course and the clams and mussels were not as good as everything else.

5 Stars: I LOVE OCEANAIRE!!! (by Kazoo)

Kazoo — Mon, 06 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

i can't say how much i love this place. Chef Kevin Davis is a master at creating great and exotic food. this is exactly what seattle needs. a place where your parents can have salmon and halibut, while you dine on sea urchin, ahi and foie gras. for once i can have a good time and so can my parents. we love the oceanaire.

5 Stars: A Christmas Treat!!! (by sebi_handman)

sebi_handman — Fri, 27 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

While shopping at the pacific place for presents, my friends and I discovered a real gem of a restaurant. It was across the street and I've heard so much about it. We planned on only having appetizers for a snack but after having wonderful crab cakes, oysters, shrimp and a pear salad, we couldn't help ourselves but to have big eye tuna and a kobe steak as well. The food was excellent and my server trisha was excellent. I only wish I discovered it before christmas.

5 Stars: could not be better (by kathycasey)

kathycasey — Fri, 27 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

Seattle's best new restaruant. Great food, passionate chef and kitchen, outstanding service!

5 Stars: Excellence in Seafood (by stephanie01)

stephanie01 — Sat, 21 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

We have been here several times, never disappointed. One of my very favorite restaurants in Seattle. I try something different each time, the mussels are wonderful, oysters great. I like the "Tower", crab, lobster, oysters, shrimp & more. It is presented in a way that you know it's special. Try the fried green tomatoes, all sides should be shared.

3 Stars: Not as good as it looks (by shoobashooba)

shoobashooba — Sun, 15 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

I've been to Oceanaire 4 times. The servixe is fabulous, the menu wonderful, the ambience fun, but the seafood is just not as good as everything else! The menu looks like there would be great tasting choices, but I've tried something different each time and was unimpressed. The side dishes and salads are good, it's just the fish. One time I went with a group of 10 and we all felt the same.

4 Stars: worth the wait (by rubalra)

rubalra — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

We celebrated our first year together at the Oceanaire and thoroughly enjoyed it. The seafood was prepared to perfection. The only thing that we didn't like about the experience was having to wait a half hour despite having made a reservation over a week ahead of time.

5 Stars: Sweet Savory Satisfaction (by Dunbar0042)

Dunbar0042 — Tue, 26 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

The title says it all!! While shopping at Pacific Place Mall the concierge mentioned The Oceanaire Seafood Room as a great place to have exotic fish for lunch. We took the advise and WOW did we have a great lunch, the chef came by and asked how my Black Cod was and proceded to tell me all about this fish, who caught it and how sought after the Sable fish (other wise known as) is in Japan. Great food Great knowlege and a Great place to have lunch.

2 Stars: OK but overpriced (by richardm)

richardm — Sun, 17 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

New, full, and overpriced. It won't look so succesfull next year when it is empty. The menu is good but certainly not exceptional.

5 Stars: See Food (by matt_chan)

matt_chan — Wed, 13 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

Oceanaire is the seafood version of a steakhouse! Pricey, but hard to beat for what I think is the best seafood in town.

2 Stars: 3 times was NOT a charm (by Cozycats)

Cozycats — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

Our waiter was indifferent and unengaged with our dining. The wine, which the waiter apparently had no clue about, was characterless and overpriced. The food was good, though not exceptional, through the salad course. Then we were served with large, unimaginative portions of fish which mine required a knife and some effort to cut through. The second attempt from the chef came out of the kitchen barely warm. The third attempt was downright uncooked in the middle. At this point my wife's dinner was cold and we gave up. While we were not charged for this dismal experience, we left still feeling awful. Off night? No excuse.

5 Stars: What REAL Seafood IS! (by DeniseWalz)

DeniseWalz — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

AGREE! AGREE! AGREE! Oceanaire is far and away the BEST seafood restaurant in Seattle. The food is impeccable. Fresh flavors, wonderful variety of fresh product. The Kobe beef was out of the world! The Ahi - amazing. Our waiter Daniel is a true pro. I have been dining in Seattle for 10 + years and this meal was one of the most memorable I have EVER had. GREAT place to take out of town guest and show them what real seafood is all about. If I owned a seafood restaurant in Seattle I would be SCARED!

4 Stars: Great Catch (by ehymes)

ehymes — Thu, 10 Oct 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Wonderful seafood, from what one can tell on only one visit.
The crabcakes were magnificent and so was the sauce but, not together. Ask for a slice of lemon to bring out the full flavor of the crab. Then, soak up the delicious sauce with the bread.

5 Stars: Seattle Surprise (by lindasuzumoto)

lindasuzumoto — Tue, 01 Oct 2002 02:00:00 GMT

We were up there for the weekend and decided to pop in on a Saturday night after shopping all day.
Although we were not dressed for the restaurant the
host graciously told us that he would not be able to seat us till 930 but we could order at the bar since we were starving after a day of shopping. The food and service was excellent. We were told by several people who were waiting for a table that this was one of the happening places in the city. Expect to wait a half an hour from your reservation time. But order a Bloody Mary or a Cosmo while you wait and enjoy the great people watching. We'll definitely be back again.

5 Stars: Pricey, but excellent. (by bobbert)

bobbert — Thu, 26 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I once had a seafood smorgasboard at the bar. The service was the best I've experienced in Seattle, truly refined. The oysters were varied, and fresh. I'd love to eat here more often when my wallet is a bit more padded.

2 Stars: Highly Over Rated (by SGR)

SGR — Thu, 26 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

After all of the hype, dinner was so-so. Not bad, but also not worth the price. I suggest eating in the bar, since there is at least some opportunity for interesting people watching to make up for the DULL meal.

5 Stars: Great Eats! (by jamwilson)

jamwilson — Wed, 25 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The food is wonderful, the drinks marvelous & the service superb.

3 Stars: Roomy (by sashaperetti)

sashaperetti — Tue, 24 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Great space and just love the lunch I had there one day.

5 Stars: Exquisite (by Waffleface2000)

Waffleface2000 — Mon, 23 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I loved the atmosphere in the resturant. I'll be making more trips there in the future.

5 Stars: Didn't miss a thing! (by wharf_rat)

wharf_rat — Sun, 22 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I have eaten here twice, once at the bar alone and the other with a great friend. I eat out frequently and have come across great seafood but the service here makes the seafood stand above Seattle's best seafood restaurants. I realy enjoyed how the staff treated us graciously even though we were dressed in jeans (the couple next to us were dressed to kill). I hope that Oceanaire keeps it up as I look forward to taking clients and friends here for a great time. By the way, order the Blue Fin Tuna...melts in your mouth!

2 Stars: What am I missing! (by flyingcynthia)

flyingcynthia — Thu, 12 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I must have dined there on a bad night -- Both times. I thought the ambiance was cheap, with condiments galore on the table and cliched chrome and wood. The service was poor down to the menus, which are supposedly printed daily, but my table got 3 different menus the first time, and two different menus the second--both times it took about 10 minutes to figure out which was which. It got worse from there. A server (not ours) brought out the food, and put everything in the wrong place (both times). The show continued. The food was certainly big, and the oysters were very good, but the rest was either bland or over spiced, and the fish was often undercooked (Ono isn't good cold in the center!). Perhaps we were there on bad days . . . Or perhaps everyone has been fooled by the Claim Jumper sized portions.

4 Stars: Great quality seafood (by AlexSea)

AlexSea — Tue, 10 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's kind of noisy. But I just can't love seafood enough here. Pickled herring with cold vegetables to start with is a nice touch. I've never thought halibut cheeks with morel mushrooms would create heaven in my mouth. Or how about nicely done rosemary crusted sturgeon with huckleberry sauce? This is the place where you can comfortably take your out-of-town friends to when they scream "I wanna eat seafood in Seattle!!".
But what I don't understand is the "family-style" portion for appetizers and desserts. I personally like to taste different kinds of desserts that my friends order, NOT everyone sharing one huge banana split (my friend and I could never finish it). Cut the portion and price in half please. Knowing how big the dessert would be, I will never order one.

5 Stars: Give it to me!! (by Jellyroll)

Jellyroll — Thu, 05 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

What can I say, this place has it all! I have eaten in many restaurants around the world and consider myself to be somewhat of a snob when it comes to food. I will return to Seattle soon and I know I will be coming to The Oceanaire again! The Sturgeon is to die for, the Tempranillo by the glass impressed me but what will bring me back is the service. Greeted by a friendly hostess, seated promptly and then entertained by the whole staff. It was a feast that was worth the time to acknowlege publicly.

1 Stars: OVERHYPED (by salsashark)

salsashark — Thu, 05 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I have no clue what people are talking about when it comes to this greatly overhyped restaurant! The seafood is hard to taste, it is usually coated with breading or served with some heavy sauce over it. The wine list is boring and poorly chosen, it reminds me of old school restaurants that still think Sterling and Kendall Jackson are the best wines in the world. This place should be the flagship restaurant for Ivar's.......it's just a glorified fish and chips establishment.

4 Stars: Solid performer (by eramberg)

eramberg — Tue, 03 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Try to ignore that this is a budding chain...and instead relish the fresh but mainly not local seafood that you'll have a hard time finding elsewhere. If you've had your fill of all of our incredible local fish and you want to explore a bit wider, go to Oceanaire and try a slice of Big Eye Tuna, Tongan Sailfish, or Hawaiian Monchong.
Be aware...the portions are huge, part of the reason for the high prices. Fun but noisy atmosphere.

5 Stars: Best Seafood in Seattle (by kanada)

kanada — Mon, 02 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Fantastic seafood and one of the best restaurants in Seattle. The fish come in fresh daily, even on Sunday and the food is simply yet elegently prepared. Highlites include the excellent shrimp, oysters, and ahi. The bread is excellent (always a sign of a good restaurant), but though the deserts are ample they are certainly not the best thing on the menu. I'd reccomend skipping desert and coffee here and heading over to the dalhia lounge after your meal. Still this is one of the best restaurants in Seattle and should not be missed.

5 Stars: BEYOND FRESH (by dcdoodles)

dcdoodles — Mon, 19 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

i live in Los Angeles, when i was visiting seattle i had the freshest and most amazing fish i have EVER had. Oceanaire had a wonderful selection of fresh fish and if you like oysters, you cant ask for any better. I cant wait to go back!

4 Stars: First visit very positive (by russ_brown)

russ_brown — Wed, 14 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My wife and I ate here last Saturday. Our experience was very positive. Shrimp de Jonghe, sturgeon, and blue marlin, plus assorted accompaniments - all quite good. The server was friendly and competent. Other offerings on the menu showed imagination, and it was clear the emphasis is on fresh seafood.

Some responses to other reviewers: Yes, it's expensive, perhaps too much so, but this is why one does a bit of research first before going to a restaurant. Yes, it's noisy. Why is it almost every restaurant in the area is so afflicted? The prices on the wine list struck me as somewhat pricey but not abnormal for this sort of establishment. As for the individual who was unpleasantly surprised that seafood is the emphasis, what does the name "Oceanaire" sound like? You might want to look for a restaurant named "Feedlotaire".

5 Stars: SEAFOOD HEAVEN!!!! (by DALLAS)

DALLAS — Wed, 07 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Last night my girfriend and I had dinner at the Oceanaire. We had heard alot about the seafood there from friends. We decided to check it out for ourselves. This isn't your ordinary salmon and halibut joint. They have an incredible menu of fish flown in daily from around the world! The server was friendly and very knowledgeble about the menu. Music great! Drinks were huuuuuge! WE'RE GOING BACK!!

5 Stars: What Seattle's Been Waiting For!! (by JetCityBoy)

JetCityBoy — Tue, 06 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Everytime I enter The Oceanaire..be it lunch, dinner, a cocktail, I'm taken back to another era... a time when....atmosphere, service, and food meant everything. And the Oceanaire comes thru every single time! What a crew of perfectionists from the Chef's attention to his spectacular seafood preparations to the warm, friendly sparkling personalities of the hostess, servers, bartenders. I set high expectations for myself as a business person here in this city and entertaining clients, friends and family at the Oceanaire makes PERFECT cents$ Worth every hard earned dollar! Thank you OCEANAIRE!

1 Stars: Go elsewhere (by dennis01)

dennis01 — Thu, 01 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

This was an overpriced, overhyped and noisy place without a view. Back to Waterfront we go. Total bill was $200 for 3 people - scary!! Even valet costs more than Metropolitan! At least cannot say we didn't try.

5 Stars: Seattle's Best.... (by KJean)

KJean — Mon, 29 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The food at the Oceanaire doesn't belong in Seattle, it's true...it is deserving of a much bigger metropolitan area! I have only eaten like this in NYC, San Fran, etc. You get what you pay for at this place. The freshest seafood you can find, an amazing winelist (which the sommelier informed me, just won a Wine Spectator award), and service that puts even the hottest restaurants in the country to shame! Trust me...the Oceanaire is a classy trip to a food/wine conniseurs heaven! You'll leave feeling like royalty....

5 Stars: a visit back in time (by chefkaren)

chefkaren — Mon, 29 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I was quite impressed at with the atmosphere at The Oceanaire. I felt like I was in a very classy supper club & it had all the trimmings associated with that era - down to the Aqua Net Hairspray. The staff was impeccable. Service couldn't have been better & the management was very professional. Hostess was lovely & manager was spectacular. I can't wait to return. I loved the big band style music. Very comfortable atmosphere.

5 Stars: Great time! (by BerserkBen)

BerserkBen — Sun, 28 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

A seafood lover's haven! My girlfriend and I absolutely loved the food, the waitress was wonderful, excellent selection...will definately come back in the near future! A++++

5 Stars: FRESH FRESH FISH (by mjackley)

mjackley — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Oceanaire has, in my opinion, the freshest fish in town- the seared rare ahi tuna is melt in your mouth delicious and all of the many selections of fish I have tried are excellent because they would not serve you anything less than the best! The service has always been satisfactory and the atmosphere welcoming. Oh, and don't forget to save room for the very large and tasty Baked Alaska-mmmmmm!!!!!!

5 Stars: Oceanaire blew me away! (by Sean_Martin)

Sean_Martin — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I was completely amazed by all aspects of dining in Oceanaire. The food was fabulous, the atmosphere was prefect, the service was fast and friendly, and the drinks knocked me off my feet!

If you love your seafood, this is THE restaurant to go to.

My only complaint is that I can't find time to get back there sooner!!

5 Stars: Best Seafood in Seattle (by nbmom)

nbmom — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

We have been to Oceanaire 3 times and love it every time! The seafood is the best around. They have seafood that is not common to the everyday fish lover and that's what makes it great.

5 Stars: Wonderful Dining (by Masked_Fog)

Masked_Fog — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The food is great. It is well worth it. Excellent dining for a nice evening out.

5 Stars: Expensive and Worth it !! (by FeedME409)

FeedME409 — Wed, 17 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The food is top notch. They offer a wide variety of menu choices including non seafood items. The service is outstanding. The Oyster bar has an incredible selection of the freshest oysters in the city. The bar carries the best of the best in liquor, beer, and wine. It's Expensive but you certianly get what you pay for. I had a 3 pound live Maine Lobster and a couple dozen oysters with a Cesar salad and I can't wait to go back. This is most certianly a "special occasion" restaurant, you won't be let down.

5 Stars: a hit with us!!! (by sujin)

sujin — Tue, 09 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

my boyfriend and i dined here and we just had a ball... from the moment we sat down till the time we left we were indulged in what seemed like heaven... everything from appetizers to dessert were wonderful and exotic... we didn't know what a lot of things were but our waiter was patient enough to go through and explain everything to us... he set the course wonderfully and i just can't say enough how much we loved it...

5 Stars: Timeless Classic! (by BMalarkey)

BMalarkey — Tue, 09 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I had heard so much about this sleek new restaurant I decided it was time for me to swing on in, and thats exactly what I did when I came through the old school spinning door. For the next two hours my lady love and I had a truly great dining expierences, being a seafood man I found my Place. As I sit here in my office writing this review Im day dreaming about swing through the doors the next chance I get.

2 Stars: Not for me or my family... (by winniet)

winniet — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

There are many places to get good seafood in Seattle, and Oceanaire is definitely one of them. But are the prices really jusfieid? $50-75/per person dinner may be okay for east coast businessmen, but not for me or my family.

5 Stars: A home run. (by seattlerod)

seattlerod — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I have been here twice, once for lunch and another for dinner. Both times were outstanding. The food and service is top notch in every respect. The portions are large and the prices are no more than I expected for fine dining. I will continue to take my customers and friends there as this IS the best seafood in town. Safeco is not the only place to see a Homerun.

2 Stars: We were tricked! (by Gerbond)

Gerbond — Tue, 02 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The concierge at our hotel recommended this place...she said it was the freshest seafood in Seattle. This place is just McCormich & Schmick's with a different name. The prices are RIDICULOUS. There are so many other good places to go in Seattle (especially if you are a tourist). The seafood is fresh, just not well prepared and soooo overpriced. I mean, it cost us over $25 for a dozen oysters. Are they serious? A glass of average quality wine was $8. My swordfish was maybe 6 oz. and was $25. Beware, it is all a-la-carte. On a plus, even though a side of asperagus was $7.50, it was terrific. Overall, stay away from this place.

3 Stars: Outrageous Prices !! (by ctgii)

ctgii — Wed, 26 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

There are so many really great restaurants in Seattle, where a drink doesn't cost $8-10 !! Yes, it's nice, great seafood selection, but don't expect to get away without $75 per person for wine, appetizer and salad. (The entree will be extra)
The service is great, and so it should be at those prices. The only bargain is half-price appetizers during happy hour, that brings them down to the prices in the rest of the world.

3 Stars: A bit kitschy and very expensive (by kimberlynovak)

kimberlynovak — Fri, 21 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I ate here just a few nights ago and while the food was pretty good, the prices just can't justify ($190 for two with tip-we each had two glasses of wine and an appetizer). I've eaten at 4-5 star restaurants in NY, SF, Italy..and Oceanaire just seems to have a casual way about it but again, super pricey! Our server was very friendly, but lacking a little energy and the timing was off on the courses - the portions were HUGE almost gluttonous. The lighting was weird too-sort of bright....overall, the food is good, but the experience was just odd for the $. I would recommend going to the Waterfront Restaurant for seafood and a beautiful atmosphere that works.

2 Stars: THE WORST SERVICE EVER (by salonp)

salonp — Fri, 07 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I've lived in Seattle for 10 years and am a avid restaraunt goer. First of all I only saw the waiter three times. My First cocktail had liptstick on the glass. The waiter didn't come and check to see how we were. It was sent back via busboy. My companions dinner came and my was never ordered. His crabcakes were full of shells and by the time my dinner came we had finished his and we were too full to eat the second. Foolishly I ordered a second cocktail and jokingly checked my glass. Guess what more lipstick! Our bill came with only the one comped drink to discover that my drink was $11. I usually don't ask the price of a cocktail but considering the condition of them I was pretty shocked. Hey maybe they thought I didn't have enough makeup on and thought they were helping me out!

5 Stars: A Real Winner Here!!! (by Paul_Quincy)

Paul_Quincy — Mon, 27 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

This is by far the best restaurant experience I've had in a while. The best part about the restaurant is the fresh fish. Our waiter told us about the pains taken to insure fresh fish and it is amazing the lengths Oceanaire goes. What's really impressive is the special things that oceanaire has that no other restaurants do, such as fresh sea urchin. I've had urchin in other restaurants before but until I had it fresh I had no idea what I was missing. The wine list is decent and the service is good but the real deal is in the fresh fish. I'd definately recommend...