Ocean Prime — Restaurant in Kansas City

Three of us went to dinner here on Thursday, March 10th. It was my last night in town visiting my parents who have been to several of the other locations, which is why we chose this restaurant.

Food: 4.5 Stars Atmosphere: 4.5 Stars Service: 2 Stars

Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately sat. Within a few moments our waiter assistant, Carla, came and asked our water preference. Shortly there after Earl, our waiter, came and introduced himself. He welcomed us and took our drink orders. As the non-drinker of the group he kindly assured me that the bar could make a mocktail and my parents ordered a bottle of wine.

The drinks and wine took at least 10-15mins to arrive at the table. Long enough to be noticeable. My suspicion is perhaps they were short staffed due to the snowstorm and the bar was backed up. The mocktail, a cucumber gimlet, was delicious.

Shortly thereafter our appetizers arrived. My mother and I had ordered the West Coast oysters and my father ordered the shrimp cocktail. When it arrived at the table it was teetering in a tower formation for show. Even the food runner was struggling to make sure the shrimp didn’t topple off the top. I deconstructed it and gave my Dad his shrimp cocktail. I was disappointed that no one bothered to tell us what type of oysters they were or where they were from.

For our mains we had the Florida Grouper, the Lobster Tails, and the Crab Cakes. My Dad was disappointed by the ratio of bread crumbs to crab but that was the only real complaint.

It took nearly all of the main course to get my 2nd drink. I assumed it had never been entered in. We also never saw Carla to refill waters. They were never refilled again for the rest of the meal. Earl stopped by once to check on us. We rarely saw him after mains were brought to the table.

When our mains were finished we sat for a while before Carla who just happened to be walking past us noticed that we were finished and decided to clear our plates.

Earl came and asked if we wanted dessert, and we did. He came back with one menu for the three of us to share. We decided on the chocolate peanut butter pie which was heavenly.

Once we had finished we sat waiting for someone to clear our plate or check on us. Carla reset the entire table directly next to us without even once looking at us and our table needing to be cleared. She didn’t notice and/or notify Earl our meal was concluding. Another busser eventually grabbed our plate.

Then we continued to sit. Forgotten. When Earl arrived on the floor he went to a large party that had been sat recently and spent a long time helping them order. After he departed that table and started to have a conversation with another waiter - I finally got up to ask if we could have the check. He waved me off and said one moment and then finished his conversation. From our dessert plate being cleared to getting our check took a little over 25mins. Not a soul spoke to us for almost 30mins. As we left we walked past Earl and he did not thank us for dining or acknowledge us. Our dinner was apprx $150/person for that price service should be impeccable.

Carla & Earl clearly weren’t communicating

Wine service was non-existent. It is a pour your own place

Earl rarely checked on us even though he walked past our table multiple times. He never came by during our dessert course

Carla clearly felt that resetting place settings was the priority and chose to not pay attention to small details, such as water and plate clearing

Earl would be absent from the dining room for HUGE periods of time. When he would come back he never seemed to stop and check on us. He always came back chewing. I assume it was slow due to the storm and he was hanging in the kitchen eating

No one really seemed to care about us. I have never had to get up to ask for a bill at a fine dining restaurant. Then to be waved off until he finished his conversation felt terrible

I will not return. My parents are returning, under protest, with friends at the end of the month. The only reason they’re going is because...

What an absolutely terrible experience! From start to finish, this restaurant proved to be a masterclass in poor management, lackluster service, and subpar food quality.

To begin with, the male manager—an unprofessional individual in a hideous blue sports jacket—set the tone for the evening. Hastily chastising the host when we walk in. When we are seated and cocktails are brought to the table my drink, the Black Orchid, was supposed to be a fruity martini. Instead, I was served a glass of salty olive juice. When everyone at the table agreed something was clearly wrong, our waiter began actively avoiding us. It wasn’t until Sarah, who may also be the manager, reluctantly made her way to our table during her lazy laps around the dining area that the drink was addressed. She took it back and disappeared for 10 minutes before finally replacing it with the correct drink, at which point our waiter magically reappeared. They brushed off the issue, mentioning how many reservations they had as if that excused the lack of attention to our table.

We ordered calamari and shrimp cocktails as appetizers—both quick-prep items that arrived promptly—but things went downhill fast after that. Despite the restaurant not being packed, it took another 15 minutes after finishing our apps for anyone to come back to our table. Plates weren’t cleared, drinks weren’t refilled, and we had to lock eyes with the waiter to even get her to take our order. When ordering a second bottle of wine that finally came, it was served in white wine glasses because, according to the waiter, they had run out of red wine glasses. For a supposedly upscale restaurant, this was odd and disappointing.

As for the entrées, the issues kept piling up. One guest ordered fish with a sauce—only for it to arrive completely dry. The waiter tried to lie, saying she had put the sauce on in the back. The rest of us ordered steak, which was an utter disgrace. In Kansas, where quality cuts of beef are plentiful, this tasted frozen and was overcooked across the board. One guest’s plate was so hot from the heat lamp that it couldn’t even be touched, and we didn’t dare send anything back after waiting so long.

What truly baffled me was how we were treated as soon as the last side dish was brought to the table. Seven minutes after the food service was completed, the manager and other staff members began hovering around us, blatantly side-eyeing our table. The waiter rushed over and asked if we wanted boxes, despite the fact that we were still actively eating—some of us hadn’t even touched certain sides yet! Two additional waiters joined in, practically yanking plates and sides off the table as they pressured us to box up our meals. When we pushed back, they kept talking over us, repeating the excuse that they were “slammed” and had “500 people on the books.” Their poor planning should not become the customer’s problem.

The final insult came when the check was thrown at us, dessert was awkwardly offered (and declined), and we were flattered in an overcompensating attempt to smooth things over. Before we could even finish the last sips of wine, bussers were at our booth asking for silverware and glasses. The entire experience felt rushed, uncomfortable, and anything but luxurious.

For the price we paid, we expected an intimate, enjoyable meal. Instead, we left feeling anxious, watched, and entirely undervalued as patrons. This restaurant’s inability to manage its staff, timing, and food quality is a glaring failure. I would absolutely NOT recommend...

Why I give only 1 star rating? Please read to the end.. I wouldn’t go back or recommend this restaurant to any one…..and why?…, My sister and I flew from NYC to celebrate Mother’s Day with our boys and fam. Upon to our arrival with a reservation I notice that the tables were hit and mis with no white table clothes. That was my first impression for a top $$$$ restaurant. Our around table had no table cloth as well for 7 adults and 1 child. When the server came to take are order he never introduced himself by his name Therefore, that’s why I cannot mention it in this review. The bread and butter wasn’t FREE AGAIN for top $$$ restaurant. We end it up ordering bread and two calamari $27.59 that they served without utensils/ Tongues for us to share it, As our food was getting cold because it was impassible to ask for it because our server was no were to be found, Finally, he shows up nearby other table and I took his attention by waiving my hand (which I would never do unless I have to) to ask for utensils he acted like he didn’t hear me very well and putting his hand in his ear like 🧏🏻 whatttt??? , And when I told him we need utensils, he was rude and repeated twice and acted like he didn’t understand what was I asking for? The calamari taste it like rubber there was hard to eat. 👎🏻 and cold as we waited for utensils. The wait time just to take the order for the main course was long because the server never came to check on us after the appetizer was served since he was busy with other tables. We waited 50 min -1 hour to be served the main course 👎🏻 after 45 min wait he said there are 2 more orders and you are next 😳😳1hour later. INSANE !!!!!!! The main dish that is over $65.00 + does not come with a side dish for the price $$$ it’s insane. I order Ahi Tuna $ 65.09 and side of Parmesan fries $17.59 and Gin fizz drink Again the server asked me how I want the tuna cooked ??? Which I never been asked that before ?? Because it’s only one way the two nice cooked.. When I ask to get a Gin fuzz he He rudely repeated after me, you mean gin fizz, Is it really necessary sometimes when you know you know? Again, another way of been rude to me. 👎🏻 My son order Ribeye 16 oz $78.79 and Brussel sprouts $20.09 which he couldn’t finished it because had a lot o fat parts to it. 👎🏻 And the rest of the party they’re order dishes Salmon $60.09 👎🏻 was cooked too much, 3 Prime Steak and egg $129 / $43 each that were not good👎🏻 The bad part it’s that the $98.18 Gratuity was added to the bill??? Gratuity in United States it’s not a requirement. It’s not recognized by law however, people tip base on the service and this server name Graig F ( gladly was printed in the receipt ) I would give him 00.1 penny Because his service was not upscale to match the upscale pricey restaurant. Even the one star that I gave was because that was the lowest I would not even give any stars. I’ve eaten in the same restaurant in New York City on 52nd St in Manhattan and was great the service and the food, That is why we chose to go to the same one in Kansas City. I’m so sorry KC you have to elevate...