Oyster River Rooftop — Restaurant in Palmetto

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Restaurant: Oyster River Rooftop Located at the top of the Marriot 600 US-41 Palmetto, FL 34221 (941) 304-3514

Main Question: Is the food worth the price? Answer: Not even a little bit and BUYER BEWARE warnings inside this review.

Wait Time: There was no wait time, but we almost did not get in because we did not have reservations.

Food: Pros The lemons were good. There wasn't anything that I enjoyed about the meal that made it worth $350.00 for 2 people.

Cons The steak was not cooked correctly being both over cooked on the edges and undercooked in the middle at the same time. This was supposed to be a Wagyu beef steak and we were charged the price for Wagyu. I showed the pictures to a connoisseur of beef and he tells me the restaurant was dishonest and what they served me and charged me for was not Wagyu beef. He showed me Wagyu beef and explained the difference and states without a doubt, I was not served Wagyu beef.

The pate was extremely salty.

The beef carpaccio was drenched in oil so much my guest made a comment to the server there was more oil on this beef carpaccio than what they found in Diddy's mansion.

The bread came out burnt.

Some of the dishes were so small, it made it impossible to enjoy.

Some of the dishes were inedible.

The dessert was big, beautiful in appearance, but so sweet that by the time half of it was completed, it was very difficult to try to eat the rest of it.

Atmosphere: This was okay, but one side overlooks a construction area, the other side overlooks a parking lot. The water is nice to look at though. It was quiet.

Cleanliness: Everything was very clean down to the floors in the bathroom.

Service: The service was outstanding. We really liked our server. This is what would have saved this restaurant from a 1 star to a 2 star restaurant, at best, if it wasn't for the apparent dishonesty listed in this review.

Price: It was $350.00 for 2 people to eat there and we do not drink alcohol.

Recommended: No, I do not recommend this restaurant. If you want to pay for an overpriced meal that you can appreciate, go to the Ritz Carlton in downtown Sarasota.

Comments: The manager and chef came to greet me. I informed them about my intention to write the review based on my experience, showed them my viewers and spoke with them. The chef requested I not write this review because they wanted to invite me back for a second chance. They stated they had untrained personnel at the time we were eating and they were changing the menus within a couple of weeks.

They have my contact information and promised they would contact me back after Valentine's Day. It has been over 2 weeks since Valentines Day has passed without contact. I must surmise they only asked me to hold off so that I wouldn't write the review before Valentines Day and had no intention of contacting me back.

Therefore, due to the dishonesty in both what appears to be in the steak I was served and in their offer, I have marked this down from what the rating of a 2 star review solely based on the server to a 1 star review and a cautionary BUYER BEWARE.

Reading over the other reviews and responses, it appears they have used the "we've changed our menu line before in their responses", but I do commend them for not providing cookie cutter responses.

Official response to a consumer: Hi Rob,

We want to deeply apologize for this experience that you had at Oyster River. We are constantly trying to improve and make adjustments that cater to the needs of our guests and all of this feedback is important for us and the growth of the restaurant. We have since made some very positive changes with our menu and we hope that we can serve you again soon to have a more positive experience.

Best Regards, The...

A new restaurant on the gulf coast is one to certainly be recognized for its exemplary menu, service, and atmosphere. We had an outstanding 5-course culinary masterpiece! First we enjoyed delicious handmade special request cocktails that were absolutely generous and each perfect. I am a connoisseur of the classic martini and they have a perfect one! I remember being in Paris a few months ago and how I longed for a martini served to this perfection with blue cheese olives amd all! They say there’s no place like home, thanks to the new Oyster River rooftop restaurant I agree and can confirm this!! Next we had an opening appetizer a tuna tartar that was incredible; wrapped inside of a delicate wafer thin fresh and very delicious cucumber slice. Followed by Oysters Rockefeller that has definitely engrained their name Oyster River - they earned it in this dish alone. As an additional endorsement, we had their seafood tower With lobster, shrimp, clams, and amazingly fresh oysters. All that up with a Isar salad served with fried oysters that were also delicious. Finally, the main course which was a Wagyu tomahawk steak (intended for two but was perfect for four, with all the courses and side dishes) medium rare, prepared to absolute perfection and personally cut at the table by the Chef; who truthfully left us in awe of all of his unlimited talent!! A wonderful wine selection, several nice smokey beautifully prepared old-fashions, and a couple of expresso martini is with a splash of chocolate to accompany, an outstanding Keylime pie, which was served so eloquently along with a couple of their desserts! Needless to say, this was an amazing evening and culinary perfection and the staff from the parking lot attendance to the first floor, hostess Sarah at the restaurant entrance and our weight staff and chef make this an unforgettable evening and hopefully, you’ve read this review and are making plsns to create your own magical evening of culinary perfection!!

The restaurant is small, very intimate with amazing views, and and an outdoor seating area that is welcoming and...

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect walking into the hotel, which is beautifully decorated and clean. We were greeted by a very friendly and bubbly hostess before being escorted into the elevator with a cheery “enjoy your trip to Oyster river” which felt like an amazing , yet whimsical touch. Her attitude was incredible and she knowledgeably explained the wagyu assortments and her cocktail recommendation. The level of excitement in the elevator sparked with her cheery welcome!

The location is exquisite. Tastefully decorated in calming hues, oozing sophistication and boasting incredible views of palmetto. Our waiter, James was a reflection of our hostess’s cheery and relaxed attitude, and we were guided through the menu. We ordered several appetizers and steak and were given a beautiful amuse bouche to get our palate cleanser and ready for a delightful meal.

Something about this place, wether it’s the relaxed and genuinely happy demeanor of the stuff, the sunlight streaming in, the exceptional food and menu… it feels like you’re home. They treat you like family. The absolute joy in service still exists here, and that’s so rare now!

The food was .. mind blowing. I could easily see a Michelin star in this restaurant’s future. So many flourishes and unique touches.. a perfume bottle spritz of lemon for the oysters. Dehydrated fruit in the lovingly prepared cocktails. It’s absolutely beautiful and well done.

I’ve eaten at top establishments all over the world, seen and tried many Michelin starred and top rated , boujee restaurants internationally…. But oyster river is a titan , and my new personal favorite...