The Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Had a pretty awful experience here last week. Came to the Oyster Bar with a bunch of family and friends, and the host seemed hesitant to seat us. Understandable seeing as how it was a weekend night and probably busy. She quoted us 15 minutes for a wait, which we were cool with. I asked if it was okay for our group to hang out at the bar and have a few drinks while we waiting for our table. She was reluctant and said, "No, there aren't 6 seats there." I looked up at the bar, and indeed there were several open areas for us to grab drinks. So I thought that was strange of her to say that there wasn't enough room. I shrugged it off, and we ordered a round. While we were ordering drinks, I glanced over into the seating area and noticed several large tables open as well as about 8 tables along the far wall that were unoccupied and cleaned off ready for diners. So I figured that our table would be ready shortly. Not the case. We waited another 30 minutes, and the host never called our name. I went back to check the list, and I noticed a few names crossed off the list that were after my name. I asked for an update and she said that it would be another 4 minutes. Cool. We waited outside again for another 10 minutes, and when I checked in again, she quoted 5 minutes. I looked up, and all the open tables were still open. I shrugged and waited outside. Finally, after another 15 minutes, we walked closer and all hovered around the host stand, and they reluctantly showed us to our table, which was in the area where the open tables were the whole time we were there. It was bizarre, and we started a getting a weird feeling that we were being profiled as bad customers because we all happened to be of the same race. We discussed this as a collective at our table and tried to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt. We sat at our table and took a look at the menu. A good 13-14 minutes passed by and no one came to our table. Not to greet us, not to offer water, nothing The servers completely ignored us and never made an attempt to look at us. We waved at a couple of them, and it seemed like they were pretending not to see us. And the restaurant was not busy (see above notes regarding several open tables). As a collective we decided that they didn't want our business, so we left. I've never done that before, but I also haven't ever felt like blatant disrespect and racial profiling like...

I love the Oyster Bar so please don't let the so-so rating keep you from going in. The staff is helpful and upbeat. My rating today is based on brunch.

I haven't been in for awhile and they made a couple changes, my guess is because of food cost involved with their Sunday brunch buffet. As a businessman I get it. For example, lox and bagels. Go to a tiny bagel and people will eat less salmon and cream cheese. Then mix your ingredients up on a tiny tray and it'll make it harder for them to take big portions. Google lox and bagel. There is a way it goes together and it's not like a tossed salad.

Cutting roast beef into tiny pieces only a few at a time. Now you don't have to have someone standing there cutting for people. In fact, watching the tiny tray of lox mix sit empty for 20 minutes means you've gone ditch to ditch. When it was filled, they didn't have any cream cheese filled. And there was one breakfast item I can't identify because it was empty my whole visit.

Having someone there cutting the beef allows a connection between the customer and the kitchen. Having a thick piece of beef ensures the meat stays warm, the opposite of little chunks. Finally, a staff member at the beef ensures someone is watching the line and keeping it filled.

With all the amazing things that are right with your service, don't lose it at the food.

Like I said, go here because the team is fun...but whoever is running the kitchen, hello, it's called a buffet.

Remember the mass of people you please on a busy Sunday will drive your business during the off season or on those slow weekday nights.

I'll be back again. Hopefully, everything will be...

Had Mussels and wine. There's a slow Sunday afternoon sat at the bar I figured I'd get better service. Seems the bartender didn't have time for customers today. Had to ask the hostess for water. When the food came that I had to go to the hostess for a napkin and set up.

I know it sounds Petty when you come to a place that you expect to be excellent and the server doesn't even look, make eye contact or introduce themselves and then ignores you after bringing you your drink it ruins the experience.

My motto is every meal is an opportunity for joy and don't steal my joy. That's all it takes is a server who doesn't even look at you after they bring you your drink.

I'm local to St Pete Beach so I know what's expected here. You'll see that I rarely make bad reviews but the ignoring the customer completely is just un professional. Dude you have one job to do and that is to serve your customers at work.

Once the hostess got involved things went a little more smoothly. I don't know maybe the bartenders having a bad day or whatever but you got one job to do. I road 16 miles on a bicycle to eat here.

I didn't expect to be ignored. The hostess save the day I appreciate that. The mussels were excellent I would have made something else but I'm moving on from here after that experience.

So maybe there's a bad day for the bartender I don't know. You decide .....good food ...thank you.

Here's some coaching for the bartender how about making eye contact with your customer tell them your name maybe. Is it our privilege to eat here? I did not feel...