Ocean Prime — Restaurant in New York

I wish there was a 6th star I could add for service, because Ocean Prime was truly one of the best dining experiences I have had in NYC (and my second job is to review restaurants just like this - to help management improve in areas they may be lacking)

Upon entering the restaurant, one is immediately impressed with the modern, sleek ambiance of the place - not completely out of line for a place like Del Frisco or Strip house, but the tables are a bit more spread out and it feels equal parts steakhouse and lounge. The hosts are very pleasant and attentive and give the restaurant a positive vibe when first entering

The next part, may be the best - as HUNTER (our server) put the Prime into Ocean Prime. I can definitively says, after 5 years of owning restaurants in NYC, and 4 years of reviewing high end restaurants, that Hunter is the BEST server I have ever had the pleasure of working with. For as fancy an establishment as Ocean Prime is, Hunter added a casual, fun but professional aspect to the evening, he was on point with his recommendations and handled one of my guests (who is notorious for substituting anything and everything he orders) with ease and compassion. The one disappointment of the night, even made this place more special in my book, as one of the fish dishes was severely under-cooked, and when my friend showed it to Hunter, he took a good look at it, fully agreed, and then had the instincts to go to my other guest, who had ordered the same dish, to make sure there were no issues with his. 2 minutes later, the manager appeared, and was super apologetic about the incident, and offered us anything (prob free drinks or dessert), but we had enjoyed the evening so much and were so pleased with Hunter, that we politely thanked her and said we did not have an issue. The restaurant prepared a NEW dish for my guest, and it was cooked perfectly, and we all agreed that the steaks and seafood were among the best we have had in NYC

In the end, this restaurant is priced appropriately as a high end steakhouse, so be prepared to pay up to $200 per person with a cocktail or 2, but it delivers on all ends and as a one-off treat or for celebrating a special occasion, I could not be any more positive in my recommendation

Thank you Hunter and to all the other great staff...

I usually love Ocean Prime and have always had excellent dining experiences there, which is why I decided to book a private room (the Rockefeller Room) for my birthday celebration. Unfortunately, this particular experience was extremely disappointing.

When my guests and I arrived, the private room was uncomfortably hot, and to make matters worse, the TV and audio system were not functioning. This meant we were unable to play music, display visuals, or provide any kind of entertainment for the evening. It was a birthday event, so this significantly impacted the atmosphere and overall enjoyment. The manager had no solution to the TV malfunction such as switching us to another room . What made this worse is that none of these issues were disclosed to me prior to paying the deposit or arriving, which I found very unprofessional and misleading.

The service also fell far below the standard I’ve come to expect from Ocean Prime. The server originally assigned to our group was extremely rude. His attitude and demeanor made both myself and several guests upset, and his responses to basic questions about the menu were rude. It was disappointing to experience this level of service at such a reputable establishment. The situation became so uncomfortable that one of my guests had to request a new waiter from management.

While the food itself was consistent with Ocean Prime’s usual quality, the lack of hospitality, poor communication, and technical issues overshadowed the meal completely. For a private event that required an upfront deposit and premium pricing, I expected much better preparation and customer care.

Overall, this was a very disappointing experience that did not reflect the Ocean Prime standard I’m accustomed to. I would not book a private room again, as the service and amenities did not justify the cost or...

Ambiance definitely is reason to go. A place for celebrations and to impress. Come classy but comfortable. A ton of stairs for the restroom and additional seating. Service disappointed. Obligatory but would not even allow or provide a tasting of wines to decide; glasses not bottles. Never had that happen even at a sub-star place. Always had Staff oblige and make suggestions but not here. Didn't even return to ask did we want anything else outside the Brooklyn Lager. Eventually ordered the Black Orchid, which was well-balanced, nice but extremely weak. The Blackened Snapper was beautiful but underwhelming. It needed flavor. No salt, no compliments. Pretty much the same theme for each item, except the Lambchops. The Chops came grilled in an au jus and perfectly roasted garlic. The four (4) Chops were seasoned well, tender and delicious. The accompanying Garlic Mashed Potatoes were smooth but again, needed seasoning and butter. The Garlic chips were a nice addition but could have added more. The Lobster Bisque was too heavily rouxed and the Sherry was not cooked out. Again, needed seasoning and more Tomato paste, double concentrate would help for depth and flavor. You get approximately a Tablespoon of chopped Lobster. Not worth it. The Jumbo Lump Crabcake was good but basic. Mayo, saltiness and salt seemed to be the filler. Added fresh Lemon juice and hot sauce for a bit more pizzazz. Cooked beautifully but fell apart with each bite. The Slaw was DELICIOUS! Had with Beet Salad, golden and red. Came with toasted sliced almonds. Good but again, needed seasoning or a flavorful and fruity Vinaigrette. Technically, overall, this would be a 3.8 but the ambiance is definitely a 4.5-5. There are others that are better, especially at this...