Dive Oyster House — Restaurant in Town of Ossining

I grew up in Briarcliff and this is the best restaurant we have ever had in town!!

I have been twice, first with family and then with family and friends. I have tried many items on the menu including Oysters (east and west), Octopus, Burrata, Beet Salad, Mussels, Crab Cakes, Lobster Bisque, Tomahawk Steak, Branzino (Whole), Linguini with Clam Sauce, Seafood Risotto, Spinach Linguini, Tagliatelle with Mushrooms and Black & White Truffles, Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Bomba, Hazelnut Passion.

In terms of food, it is EXCEPTIONAL! The ingredients are so fresh and always cooked to perfection. They are never over/under seasoned, oily, or too heavy. We always have enough room for dessert and never leave feeling uncomfortably full -- because, again, never too seasoned, too cheesy, or oily, they really pay homage to their fresh ingredients.

The ambiance is perfect, although the food is excellent, you don't have to dress to the nines to dine-in. Half of the space is a bar and the other half is is formal sit-down area. It's not a huge restaurant, so it's a pretty intimate setting which allows them to maintain their quality and excellent service. Co-owners John and Kevin are very hospitable and always stop by our table to ask how we are doing. It is truly fine-dining.

The service is nothing short of excellent. We were never interrupted in conversation, our water glasses were never empty, our meals came in a timely manner, and we were never rushed -- even when we didn't realize the restaurant was closing. (I have been to many high-end establishments where they aren't shy to tell you they are closing as they clean up the restaurant around you; or, not offer you dessert as their kitchen is closing). While we finished our meals and placed our dessert orders, we were not once told to hurry up and finish as they were closing. They waited for us to ask for the tab, close our tab, and exit before cleaning up the restaurant. Next time we will pay closer attention to the time, but they certainly do an excellent job at keeping customer service and dining experience a top priority!

Briarcliff is a small village so I imagine it's hard to keep a restaurant afloat, but the Dive Oyster House is certainly here to stay!! It has become our new...

If I could give more than five stars, I would. Dive Oyster House is truly one of those rare finds you almost don’t want to share—because part of the magic is that it hasn’t yet been overrun. Everything here is done with such care that it’s impossible not to want to return again and again. I’d travel out of my way for this place, and without hesitation, it’s become a favorite.

The food? You simply can’t go wrong. Every dish is fresh, light, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully presented. From start to finish, each bite speaks to the quality of ingredients and the skill in the kitchen.

The service is equally impressive—fluid, seamless, and built on visible teamwork. No detail is too small, and every table receives the kind of doting attention that makes you feel valued.

The atmosphere ties it all together: music at just the right volume, lighting that’s warm but not dim, comfortable seating, and a spotless space that shows pride in every corner.

Dive Oyster House deserves far more attention than it gets—but selfishly, I’m thankful it hasn’t, because that means no wait at the door for now. A gem in every sense...

Words fail me. I cannot praise this place enough. The menu has so many offerings my wife and I wanted to try that we each made sure we had nothing that was the same so we could try each others selections and maximize our experience. There was absolutely nothing we would not order again, which is a problem since there remain more on the menu we wish to try. The lobster bisque, clam chowder, oysters Rockefeller, lobster tails, the daily special, which was a stuffed sole were fabulous. The key lime cheese cake had an aromaticity that I never experienced. It delighted the nose before ever reaching my palette. The service was attentive without being intrusive. And if that was not enough, I dropped my watch in the parking lot outside the restaurant, and did not realize it until we got home. I called the restaurant as my find devices suggested it might be in there and they looked, despite having a crowd. When I returned to the restaurant the owner insisted one of the employees help me find it. My wife and I will certainly make the Dive Oyster House a regular dining experience and recommend the...