Ocean Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Key West

I booked this restaurant in early October for 3 people and requested outdoor dining because the restaurant's booking site gave me the option. We arrived ahead of time. It was 20 minutes past our reservation time before we were even acknowledged. Just after we were noticed at the host stand, one of the waiters came over and told the host not to do "what happened last night." Based on the chaos of the restaurant and demeanor of the host, we guessed the host was new and wasn't following the server rotation. Once the waiter walked away, the host looked at my teen daughter and said, "He's just saying that because he doesn't want to $%*&@#^ do it." We were told that he might not be able to seat us and then another waiter went and checked around and found a table inside in the back corner of the restaurant, right by the bathroom, where there were a handful of wooden tables and chairs that were completely different from the rest. So much for reserving a table 2 1/2 months in advance and requesting a table outside. It became pretty clear that people aren't normally seated in that area. We could hear the fan in the bathroom the entire time and the extra seating looked like it had been borrowed from a coffee shop. They were determined to pack in as many people as possible! Then we ordered drinks. My daughter ordered a Shirley Temple. It was made with club soda instead of 7-up. Based on how long our initial wait was, I approached the bar about it. The bartender barely looked up and said "What's wrong." I told him the drink didn't taste right right. He said "They must have pushed the wrong button. This is club soda." Oh ok. He made a new one and just handed to me. We ordered our food and one of the "smaller" dishes was lobster mac 'n cheese. It was in a small bowl and literally had one piece of lobster in it for $21.95! I couldn't believe it. To top it off...Usually when we get our check, I just give the waiter my credit card. This time I didn't. I'm so glad I looked at the bill!! The waiter automatically included an 18% gratuity. At the bottom of the bill, it said an 18% gratuity would be added to parties of 6 or more. Of course, this is standard. But we were a party of 3 and this was completely unexpected. There was no mention of this anywhere. When the waiter came back over, I asked him to remove it. He immediately turned around and started walking away and muttered "No. It is for tonight." Nope. It was not for our night tonight. It isn't right to try to force all parties to pay an 18% gratuity, giving the customer no choice in the matter. I have waited plenty of tables in my life and I get that it's a tough job, but how everything unfolded for us from the start this evening, followed by overpriced food and a severe lack of customer service/poor attitude from staff, I was glad to have had the cash to cover what was required for our meal and what was deserved. We had a terrible experience and will not...

Update 8/8/2025:

Ocean Bar and Grill – Key West We had such a wonderful experience at Ocean Bar and Grill! Our server, Giezel, was so sweet and incredibly attentive—she made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. We enjoyed the bottomless mimosas for only $7.95 (such a great deal!) along with a delicious omelet and perfectly cooked eggs-your-way. The atmosphere here is relaxed and friendly, making it one of our go-to spots whenever we’re in Key West. Great food, unbeatable deals, and exceptional service—highly recommend!

Stepping into Ocean Bar & Grill, one is immediately struck by the restaurant's warm and inviting atmosphere. From its coastal-chic interior to its diversified menu brimming with mouthwatering delights, this restaurant shines as a beacon of gastronomic excellence. However, it was the sincere, familial hospitality that genuinely set this dining experience apart.

Our servers, Sol and Zura, were the epitome of perfect hospitality, embodying the warmth and friendliness that one would typically expect from a family gathering rather than a dining establishment. Their attentive service went far beyond the usual expectations, transforming our dining experience into a personal, memorable event.

Upon our return to the restaurant, Sol's heartfelt embrace for my wife was a touching testament to the restaurant's ethos of treating patrons like family. This unexpected, personal connection elevated our experience from simply dining out to feeling as though we were home.

In addition to this remarkable service, Ocean Bar & Grill's bottomless mimosas were the cherries on top of our delightful visit. Sweet yet tangy, they were the perfect companions to the wide array of delicious dishes the restaurant has to offer. The menu was thoughtfully curated, featuring a variety of offerings to suit every palate, and each dish we tasted was beautifully presented and utterly delicious.

In essence, Ocean Bar & Grill isn't merely a restaurant; it's a homely dining experience where guests are treated like part of the family. Whether you're seeking a place to enjoy a laid-back brunch or a venue for a special celebration, the Ocean Bar & Grill should be your go-to spot. A heartfelt thanks to Sol and Zura, who went above and beyond, demonstrating what truly outstanding...

Sept. 10, 2022, 6:45PM. If you like your restaurant experience to be less than friendly then this establishment is for you. No one from the staff smiled nor were we greeted with a “Good Afternoon” or a “Welcome to Ocean Grille”. When you’re in the service industry, it matters a lot. It sets the tone for the whole dining experience. It felt like they didn’t even want us there. It was our first time in Key West and I was excited at the thought of trying out new things. I love food and I love taking pictures of my food for memories sake. The food was good but the customer service experience needs a lot of working on. What tipped me off the edge was when I found a balled up crumpled paper-like material that had slight scorch marks on it where the end of the snapper rested. Initially I had thought “Wow the portions here are huge but apparently my snapper was resting on top of this crumpled up piece of “paper”. I then looked back at my food photos that I took before we ate and saw that it had been there all along. It’s bigger than what you can see in the picture. I brought it to our server’s attention and he took it back to the kitchen. After a few minutes discussing with the kitchen staff or “chef” at the premises at that time, our server came back and said “This ‘paper’ is not from the kitchen.” To which I had to control my response and politely say “So where did this come from? Are you insinuating that I put this crumpled up ‘paper’ intentionally?” I then pulled out the picture that I took before we ate and showed it to him. He looked at it and dismissed it saying that it’s not from them and left. Nothing was offered at all. Not even an apology for the experience. I felt accused of doing something that I never did. I didn’t even know what to expect from them at this point because they were never apologetic to begin with. I almost wanted to challenge them and pull up any cctv cameras to prove my point but I never wanted to ruin anyone’s evening in our group as we were there to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday. We even planned on getting dessert to celebrate the occasion but decided not to and moved on to place where we can enjoy it best. I will never come back to this restaurant nor recommend this restaurant to any of my friends, family or...