Oceanic Boil - Jackson Heights — Restaurant in New York

I usually don't leave ratings. Upon arrival 8:15pm, the restaurant wasn't too busy. The waiter was rushing us to order everything we wanted all at once. So we ordered lobster soup, gumball soup as appetizer, 2 orders of crab tails with shrimp, two drinks. This was our first time here so we weren't sure what to order. Less then 3 min after ordering, the time it took to get there attention, we wanted to change one order to lobster instead. Knowing we're going to spend over $160 plus tip for two. They didn't want my to change it because they supposedly started cooking; yet, customers were still entering and ordering crablegs. After waiting about 20 min or more, we got all our food at once, instead of soup first, as appetizer. Also, they gave us one crab- lobster cracker to share instead of two crackers, so we took turns using it, lol. They forgot to give us a bucket for our shells- trash. My date was barely done with the crabs legs, as they were ready to take her plate away. At that point I just started to eat my crab legs. I took longer because i started to use the cracker after eating the shrimps, after she ate hers crab legs. They left the check, I paid and didn't leave a tip. The waiter saw i didn't leave a tip, then told the waitress in Mandarin that i didn't tip. My date unaware of me "not tipping" said goodbye at the door, they look at her angerly, and ignored her, didn't acknowledge her salutations. At home that night, i woke very thirsty; the food had a lot of salt (MSG), my dates food wasnt as salty. I always tip very well. But this place is missing "customers service". If you want to take your time; this might not be the place for you. If you order appetizers and want it before the main course, good luck. Tell them please do not add too much salt. Know what you are going to order before entering. I...

I hate leaving negative reviews, but felt the need to share my experience after last night’s poor service.

Two friends and myself went in for dinner and the place wasn’t busy at all. Maybe a few tables already sat. We place orders for drinks and appetizers while we decided our main dishes. After some time we get our drinks, but no food.

Two additional parties come in after us and are seated by this time. They place their orders and within 20mins, they have appetizers. Us? Still no food.

I ask our server, “hey, where’s our food? Just curious since it’s been close to 40mins at this point”. She smiles and grabs the tablet to check. She never comes back to say it’s on the way. Or close to be complete. Just ushers away and continues to tend to the other tables, later coming back with food for the other tables who were after us.

By this time now, both tables have now received all of their food and we still haven’t gotten apps or even asked about placing our order for main dishes. I ask the server again where our food is and was met with a rude and dismissive answer of “I don’t know”.

I ask for the manager and he tries to explain the kitchen is working on it, but by this time, an hour had expired and the service ruined any chance of wanting to stay.

Normally this place is fun and has been a hit, but last night’s experience really left a horrible taste...

Every dish I've tried has been absolutely delicious and well prepared.

Whomever is doing the shopping and selection for the establishment is a rare gem in a community spot with what is more common at higher-end dining fare circles found in the heart of the city, for the quality served here. Add to whomever is on Chef duty here, and it's a mesmerizing mix. If they are one and the same person, it may make more sense, but if it's a team, these guys have a golden crew! I hope the love the neighborhood patrons keep the restaurant strong enough keep them around for a generation or more.

The ambiance and decor is chill and low key. The staff are cool, attentive, and friendly. Service can lag a bit at times, but it may very well have to to with the culinary preparation and care for freshness, honestly (shucking 30 oysters can be daunting while managing a full kitchen when a surge of patrons suddenly show up), but it would equally not be unfair left unmentioned to offer where there could be room to improve.

Popularity and success wouldn't be a surprising expectation for Jackson Height's Oceanic Boil. It's stuck around several years now, where many other eateries failed. Amidst of the economic climates, common rent & seafood cuisine costs, in a working-class neighborhood, as densely packed as Jackson Heights' food scene is well known...