Having been to the location at Palace Station, I knew what to expect for the flavors and quality of the food, and boy, was I NOT disappointed! The freshness of the oysters is undisputed, and the cioppino (my first time ordering it--I usually get the pan roast) was divine! You even get a sweet little bowl of rice on the side so that the cioppino doesn't get mixed with it like the pan roast can do.\n\nSo why the 3 stars, you ask? Simply, the service. When I went in on a busy Sunday evening, there were a couple of places at the bar that were empty but had piles of dishes on them, waiting to be cleaned. (Understandable, but at Palace Station, these are cleaned up almost immediately.) I sat in the one empty, clear seat, and looked over the menu. I placed my order for oysters and cioppino and read while I waited. While I understand that the staff were extra busy at that moment (it seems like they had 5 different patrons, including myself, order a dozen oysters), bringing beverages and the rolls should have happened within my first few minutes of sitting down. The gentleman beside me kept having to wait for his beverage to be refilled, and then he sat there for ages waiting to pay. When his check finally came, he had to wait again to ask for a pen because he wasn't given one. I, meanwhile, never even received the glass of water that I asked for, and the order of oyster shooters that I placed never came. This sort of oversight wouldn't have happened if they had an adequate amount of staff, I believe. The few cooks and servers working there are simply too busy to handle the volume of patrons that eat at their establishment! While I was happy to see that this Oyster Bar was larger than the one at Palace Station, I feel the staff they have working at the latter is much more attentive and on top of their game.\n\nThat being said, the location is much nearer to my home, so I'll definitely give this place another chance. Maybe I came on a bad night! I'd still recommend this place for the food--just don't expect to be quickly on your merry way after your meal.
places reviews