Rocker Oysterfeller's at the Wharf — Restaurant in Sebastopol

We have been really excited to try this place which is why it was so disappointing when we were greeted by an unreasonable and icy host on late afternoon or 9/7. This would have been an easy 5 star review but being that our very first 15 minutes there was so unpleasant, it set the tone for the entire dinner.

We arrived at 4, and were told they were only serving cold food and would have to wait till 5 for the dinner menu. We said that was fine and said we would order drinks and cold menu in the mean time. The hostess sat us at a bar table but after seeing there was plenty of open tables in the dining area we asked to be seated there. The hostess replied by saying they were all reserved tables which I thought was weird because they only do reservations for parties of 6 or more and there were plenty of tables that only seated 4. We looked at her confused and sat down. After not being helped for a while, our husbands went up to the bar to order drinks and I went back to the hostess to say we were going to sit outside until we could have a regular table in the dining area. She then proceeded to again say that those tables were reserved which I then pointed out that there were plenty of tables of only 4 and reservations were for 6 so her logic didn’t make sense. She said there was a reservation for 3 for a special party, but still- there were multiple tables we could have sat in. She said we couldn’t put our name in for a table until 5pm and that I should be aware “they are very busy.” Which she said multiple times.Yes. We know this, which is why we came early (and it was not busy). After her continuing to try and detour me for wanting to sit in the dining area, I walked over to the bar to meet my husband and friends where she then walked over and asked us to sit outside and not at the bar because the bartender “was very busy” even though we were sitting in bar seats and the place WAS NOT BUSY. She walked away and that “very busy” bartender took our order as soon as she walked away. The bartenders had great customer service and we went outside with our cocktails. We noticed that the unfriendly host left and so I went back inside to see if someone else would help us. As I was waiting, a couple came in and asked to sit in the dining area and were seated by the window immediately. As you can imagine at this point it feels personal. A server came over and asked if they could help me, I explained my experience with the hostess and asked what was happening and if she could explain why we’re being singled out. The waitress was kind and sat us immediately at a table: our server was also kind and again would love to give 5 stars but can’t. I am not sure what judgments the hostess made about us but I can’t not for life of me figure out why she was so clearly trying to deny our business. We loved Lucas Warf, even got engaged there over 15 years ago and were so excited to be back and see the new business but we will not be going back.

I would like to add that it was never so busy that there was a line, so I don’t know why she continued to say that to me. Also, I am aware that restaurants have lull periods in between dinner and lunch and even though that was not communicated well online, we were very understanding. She could have said “dinner doesn’t start till 5 but please help yourself to the bar and cold menu in the meantime.” Maybe we didn’t look like we we had money? Maybe she was tired after the lunch haul? Either way- a little kindness takes little effort and goes a long a way and being intentionally difficult takes a lot of effort and leaves...

We rolled in here at 8:00pm on a Sunday evening after driving for 7.5 hours, and enjoyed a great meal with awesome cocktails. Our server was funny, charming, and provided excellent food and beverage recommendations. Thanks to our star server and great meal, our experience was a positive one. However, there is something I feel I need to address here.

A large group of late-teens/early 20-somethings came in just a moment after us. The hostess made a big deal about how they were near closing (it was not even 8:15, restaurant advertises close at 9:00), and how they couldn't possibly accommodate nine of them. We could all clearly see a table of eight set and empty... and the restaurant was half-full at best. For some bizarre reason, the hostess eventually agreed to let them sit outside on the patio (in the cold, dewey evening), and then had to bring all of the settings out to the patio, which took far longer then just bringing a chair and place setting to the empty table of eight. I guess they were hoping to scare them off? As it happens in restaurants, one server muttered to the next hostess, until a giant chorus of groans erupted from the kitchen at the announcement of a 9-top rolling in (at 8:15pm).

It's very simple here folks: if you don't want to serve customers until 9:00pm, don't advertise your hours until 9pm. There was no good reason why the staff there should have made such a ridiculous fuss to simply continue to do their jobs. It was embarrassing to watch and I felt bad for that large group of young people. It also showed a lack of spacial awareness and maturity as the entire thing could be heard and witnessed by myself, my dining partner, and pretty much any other...

Overhyped Tourist Trap – Never Again

We visited this restaurant over Mother’s Day weekend, excited by glowing online reviews and a friend’s recommendation. Sadly, it turned out to be one of the worst dining experiences we’ve ever had.

The food was terrible across the board. The “big bowl” of clam chowder was actually a shallow plate with barely any soup and no clams—a complete illusion. The fish and chips were over-battered, greasy, mostly air, and likely missing any real fish. The crab cakes were dense and dry, the coleslaw tasted like slop, and even the condiments were disappointing—watered-down vinegar and flavorless ketchup. The food was so bad that not one person at our table finished their meal, despite the $400+ bill. I ended up eating beef jerky and taking Pepto-Bismol from the car just to settle my stomach.

Service was awkward and inattentive. Servers leaned across us to pour water, and we were stuffed in a corner by the kitchen with no ocean view, despite the scenic location. The environment was noisy and chaotic, adding to the discomfort. Worst of all, we saw an elderly patron fall backward out of his chair, and no staff helped him up—a truly shocking lack of care.

The whole place felt like a low-budget eatery surviving solely on its beachside location. It’s clear they rely on tourist foot traffic rather than repeat customers or quality service.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was such a disappointing and overpriced experience that people deserve to be warned. The only highlight was seeing seals outside the building, who seemed to have better judgment than we did.

Do yourself a favor—go...