Ocean Prime — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

As a seafood and steak lover with a taste for sparkle and indulgence, I walked into Ocean Prime with high expectations. I brought my two sons for a celebratory vacation dinner, anticipating an over-the-top experience to go with the price tag. What we got instead was an evening of beautiful presentation, excellent service… and disappointing flavors.

🚪 First Impressions Matter

Before we even sat down, the tone was set. There was no one to open the door for arriving guests—surprising for an upscale establishment. Upon stepping inside, we were met with a loud and chaotic bar atmosphere, making conversation difficult as we waited to be seated. The front of the house felt more rushed and casual than the refined, welcoming ambiance one would expect at a restaurant in this tier.

🥂 Service with Grace

Thankfully, once seated, the wait staff and management absolutely shined. Our server Anna was attentive and genuinely kind, and Kristin, the manager, handled our concerns with grace and professionalism. They both did everything within their power to turn things around—service like that deserves every star.

🍤 The Seafood Tower That Forgot the Flavor

We ordered the dramatic “smoked” seafood tower, expecting luxury on a platter. It looked the part—but the flavor was missing in action: • Shrimp were rubbery and overcooked. • Crab legs had great texture but no flavor at all. • Lobster had flavor but was too soft and oddly prepared. • Oysters were minuscule and floating in unappetizing liquid, lacking their signature briny freshness. • Even the clarified butter was served cold and flavorless—an unintentional metaphor for the entire tower.

The “smoke” element was barely visible and certainly didn’t add to the experience.

🥩 Steaks & Spirits to the Rescue

The saving grace of the evening came in the form of perfectly cooked steaks and two exceptional bourbon cocktails, including a stellar Old Fashioned. If I were rating drinks and steak alone, this would be a five-star review.

However, my scallops and risotto were an unfortunate finish. The first plate came out underwhelming, lacking sear and flavor. The second, redone by the chef and promised to “wow,” was instead over-salted and mushy. I gave up after a bite or two and leaned into my bourbon instead.

💬 Final Thoughts

Ocean Prime has the setting, the service, and the showmanship—but misses the mark on what truly matters: flavor, finesse, and follow-through. For the price, I expected to be dazzled. Instead, I left full of disappointment (and excellent bourbon).

Would I come back? Possibly—for drinks at the bar and a steak. But not for seafood. Not for risotto. And certainly not...

If I could give more stars I would. This was our engagement dinner, we were celebrating and to start, we had an unruly 5 year old jumping on the seats next to us and uncomfortably staring/making faces at us, and using an iPad at max volume. They kept playing a game with a really loud siren. When we had asked for another table since the mother was not controlling her child, the manager (Tyler) spoke to the mother and took care of the situation. Tyler also paid for our wine and desserts, plus chatted with us. We were so appreciative because for the money you are paying, you expect everything to be perfect.

Steven, our waiter, was absolutely phenomenal!! Literally the BEST waiter we have ever had. He came and spoke to us often, not just asking how things are but really forming a connection with us. He even remembered very beginning of the meal that we got engaged a few hours prior at Discovery Cove. You can really feel the care in his service, we will come back just for him!

The vibe of Ocean Prime is so wonderful as well. I kept saying all night how much I was enjoying the music choices. Everything just flows together making for a better experience.

Lastly, the food! I love to cook and I am hard to please nowadays post COVID restaurants. Food and service has dropped significantly since. However, Ocean Prime is well deserving of their accolades. My fiancé got the truffle deviled eggs, lobster linguine, and creme brûlée while I got both oysters, Chilean sea bass, and butter cake. The deviled eggs were 5 star, and so elevated. You don’t feel like you’re just eating normal eggs. The yolk purée was so creamy, not gritty at all. Delicious. And the oysters tasted like they’d come out the water and onto my plate. Freshness is in every dish! The lobster linguine tasted like home (Italy). It was a comfort food dish and done superbly. The Chilean sea bass was like butter!! Best Chilean sea bass I’ve ever had; it was moist, tender, and flaky. Dessert? The creme brûlée was not too sweet like you’d normally get. It was even better and very well balanced when the berries are added in. The fruit really provides a nice acidity to the sweet cream. Perfect balance of flavors! My butter cake was gooey and moist, and with the raspberry sauce, berries and ice cream, it was heaven!

Long review, but overall the best restaurant experience we’ve both ever had. Thank you guys so much for helping us end our special day in...

Oh My! I haven't been to Ocean Prime since before the plandemic. My future son-in-law gave my wife and I a dinner card for a Christmas present. There is only one thing to do. Wait for Magical Dining. This event occurs from mid-August to the end of September. Depending on the restaurant. You have three course meal options of $40.00 or $60.00. Ocean Prime offers $60.00 only. My wife and I had the lobster bisque as an appetizer. I haven't had a bad lobster bisque in Orlando. I will place Ocean Prime, not number 1. They are ranked in my top tier. The game I play during Magical Dining is not to exceed the Magical Dining price. The moment I read shrimp scampi topping my entrée. I knew the battle was lost. I had the 8oz filet mignon: cooked to perfection. The shrimp scampi toppings added to the flavor of the meat. The size of the shrimps, I had zero complaints. My minor, I stress minor, complaint my mashed potatoes was watery. I mentioned this as my wife raved about her mashed potatoes. She had the braised ribs as her entrée. The server stressed it would fall off the bone. No lies detected the rib fell off the bone. She ordered the oven roasted Brussels sprouts as an extra. I am not a fan of Brussels sprouts. Oh My Goodness: These sprouts were off the chain. The dessert. I am not a fan of desserts. Our server recommended the peanut butter pie. To write, I was resistant would be an understatement. The pie lived up to the server billing. The staff: Under staffed, they were not. I don't recall in my life seeing as many servers. Judging by the dining room, much needed. The escort to our table managed to have a lite conversation before proceeding to her next assignment. Our server Alex: I can write only two servers who are in his class. His timing was impeccable. His recommendation is on point. His professionalism is outstanding. Any restaurant that serves Baker's bourbon is an automatic 3 star. I love my Baker's. I ordered an old-fashioned. The first was short on bitters and sugar. I gave the adjustment to Alex, the second was better. The live band late 70's to early 80's: outstanding. The deep oak furnishings were calming compared to what I remembered. I exceeded the goal. I highly recommend it during Magical Dining. Outside of Magical Dining, bring a...