King Street Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Washington

Had a couple of hours before we needed to be at the airport so looked for a location for lunch. After heading to a German Restaurant only to find out it wad actually closed in contradiction to what Yelp said we found King Street Oyster Bar in a second search. Headed that way, it said parking was limited but we lucked out and found a spot a block down the street. It was a Monday and not many folks taking in a lunch out so no issues being seated and the waitress was right to the table with menus. My wife just had an iced tea and the first beer I ordered they were out of but the waitress quickly recommended a comparable beer and it was great. Nice cold glass, proper poor so happy happy. I ordered some oysters as an appetizer (3 min of each type and they were $2.50 per) 9 total and they were great, the young man shucking them was an expert, the meat was separated from the shell and the shell was full of the tasty oyster liqueur as it should be. They came with 3 dips and lemon wedge, cocktail sauce with a dollop of horseradish, a peppery mignonette and a spicy one I'm not familiar with and didn't try. My wife had the corn and crab chowder and it was creamy, nice amount of seafood and veg along with some rendered, crispy bacon.

On to the entree, my wife order the wedge salad with no tomatoes which came out correct but was a little over dressed for her preference but not a deal breaker. I ordered the grilled sea scallops w/lobster in a creamy red sauce and pasta. I love scallops and wouldn't have been disappointed if they were a touch larger bit they definitely weren't bay scallops, there was a few nicely cooked pieces of lobster, even found a little claw. The sauce was excellent, touch of spice but nothing to over power the seafood. The pasta was cooked perfectly and while the menu didn't mention it I'm pretty sure it was fresh pasta. No time for anything else. The bathrooms (unsex) were clean and smelled that way, a card on the table clearly notified diners that a 20% gratuity was applied to every bill. A little piece of bread to sop up my leftover sauce would have been a welcome treat but wasn't required. Not a single reason to not dine at this restaurant. We sat inside but there were tons of outdoor tables and...

I had an absolutely AWFUL experience at this location. I would absolutely give 0 stars if I could.

I came in around 6 on a Monday evening, and sat by the bar. Now, I know Happy Hour is popular here, and with it being moderately busy, I expected delayed service to some extent. But what I experienced was highly unacceptable. I waited for over 30+ minutes without even being acknowledged meanwhile, I watched several others who came in after I arrived be waited on and served before I was even greeted by a waiter. I had to ask someone for a menu, hoping they would take the hint and at least send someone over to accommodate me. Yet, several servers were within the vicinity chit-chatting amongst themselves with obviously nothing to do.

Still, I've worked customer service and would've totally understood if there was some valid reason for the delay, even wondering if there was something possibly I was doing wrong. I gestured over one of the black female waitresses at the stand by the door, who immediately gave me an attitude completely unwarranted. Again, this is my first time at this restaurant, and I have never experienced such a disgusting lack of customer service, so maybe there was something that I was missing. I ignored her poor behavior and respectfully asked if perhaps there was somewhere I should go to put my order in. She rudely and abruptly cut me off, explaining that there was a server handling the side of the bar that I was on, and that I needed to wait. I reiterated that I'd been waiting for over half an hour, to which she cut me off AGAIN, telling me that I needed to wait.

I should’ve asked for a manager on the spot, but the encounter completely ruined my mood and appetite, so I left after 30+ mins of waiting without so much as a glass of water. I am not interested in giving service workers a hard time, and I was more than respectful given the circumstances. I was impressed by the ambiance, and was very excited to try the food and drinks served here, especially the oysters which all looked great based on reviews. I really wanted to like this place, so I may try another location. But I will not tolerate mistreatment from employees for absolutely no reason. Do better King...

This restaurant used to be my favorite. Once or twice a month, I go and spend about 70 to 100 dollars on lunch just for myself... I always buy extra entrées to eat later. I looked forward to dining here. When I take my colleagues here for lunch, I usually spend over 200...easily. Well, as of today, I will never, never go back again. For the last 4 times I have walked to the restaurant from my office in the area around 11am, when they are not busy...literally no guest. .. All the managers I have incountered on duty have been extremely rude and short with me. The one before this one never spoke... and seemed very unhappy to be there. They have acted like they do not want to be bothered. They have made me feel unwelcome. Well, today, whoever the new manager is...he said he has been there for 4 weeks... he was rude to me, and he made me feel instantly unwelcome. I then watched him go across the room and say something about me to one of the waitress. I watched him talk to her..then they both looked at me. I then waited to order... feeling uncomfortable. No one came to the table. When no one came to the table. I got up and left. I may have liked the food... but no one is going to make me feel unwelcome when I am spending my money. New manager... please learn some new, kind, and better customer service skills.. Good customer service will take you far. I am nice to everyone I meet. I spend a lot, and tip well. The wait staff always like me... I love the wait staff. They were always nice to me. I usually leave glowing reviews... Well, the managers on duty have messed that all up by being rude to me. I will tell all my co-workers about the horrible customer service experiences I have had here. I will not bring anyone here again for retirement lunches or birthday celebrations ever again. Good customer service seems to be truly a thing of the past. I realize now that the only way I can get my point across is to write detailed, book reviews, so that is what I am going to...