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The John Dory Oyster Bar
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
1196 Broadway(between 28th St & 29th St)
New York, NY 10001
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Flatiron
(212) 792-9000
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (N, R)
34 St - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
28 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 1 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Stephanie B. said: "I came here with a group of four on a Sunday night so it was pretty empty inside. However, that didn't mean there was any lacking in the food. For appetizers we ordered the chorizo, the camarones al aljillo, the mushrooms stuffed…" read more »
158 reviews for The John Dory Oyster Bar
Review Highlights
"The Parker House rolls I ordered were delicious."
(in 21 reviews)
"Perfect fit for the Ace Hotel - unique Aquarium ambiance..."
(in 19 reviews)
"Oyster pan roast with sea urchin crostini."
(in 20 reviews)
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158 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa M.
Manhattan, NY
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Checked out their happy hour with a friend and would highly recommend the oysters. Preferred the west coast oysters over the east coast. Small, briney, sweet and super fresh paired with delicious in-house sauces. I could probably toss back 50 of these suckers but that would set me back a pretty penny.
We got there sometime late afternoon midweek and had no trouble getting seats. The place started to fill up around 6:30pm. -
Review from Morgan B.
Deer Park, NY
1/30/2012
A co-worker and I were walking through the neighborhood last Friday to find a new lunch spot and decided we'd splurge and give this place a try. I've heard a few food blogger friends rave about it before so I was willing to spend $30+ on a random lunch date.
Our hostess was friendly and sat us immediately. That's where the good service stopped. There was a decent crowd in there, but by no means was this place super busy. Our waitress didn't show up for about 15 minutes. My co-worker, who is a veteran in the restaurant/hospitality industry, was already miffed. She ordered the prawns and the pork sandwich. I ordered a soup and the trout with roasted beets small plate. Remember that we were here for a lunch and didn't plan on spending more than 45 min-hour here. Our food took nearly 30 minutes to come out. I enjoyed my (tiny) meal, but the wait really put a bad taste in our mouths. Her pork sandwich was rock hard and the prawns came with head, tentacles and all. She barely ate her food and our waitress didn't say a word about it. It was obvious she didn't want to deal with it. We left annoyed and hungry. -
Review from Derek W.
Valencia, CA
This review is just for the bar, didn't have anything to eat.
But the bar does serve up a nice selection of Spirits. The cocktails were delicious and went down smooth
Will be coming back fro drinks and oysters -
Review from J.W. D.
Manhattan, NY
As good as cocktails that I have had outside San Francisco and one great spot in Providence, RI. The bartenders are knowledgeable and patient...sometimes I tell them to make me something good. At a lot of places, barkeeps get annoyed by that, understandably so, but for me, it's just a great way to try something I never would have.
There are staples on the drink menu that you should try. The food is good. The oyster selection is pretty good. Most importantly, they are fresh, I would rather have fresh oysters with eight choices than...well, you know where I am going. All in all, I am surprised this place is not always more crowded. They play great music, the bar area is cool, well decorated and it's the only good spot for a few blocks. Great spot for mid-day cocktails. -
Review from Laura H.
1/7/2012
I don't understand why this place is so poorly reviewed. I went here for happy hour on my last trip to NY and had a fabulous time. It's a bit pricey, but what do you expect... FRESH seafood.
I got the happy hour special, 6 oysters and a glass of Cava, parker house rolls and then a random cocktail with a HUGE ice rock. I loved everything. I recently made Parker house rolls and after seeing the recipe, cannot let myself to eat that much butter. BUT the smell of those rolls, I had to make an exception. The oysters were good; I ordered east since living in SF, I have west coast oysters all the time. The drink with the huge ice rock was eh - but hey, the ice rock really intrigued me!
Ambiance wise, busy and full of life. I loved the decor and the fish tanks, and then the mirror with the oyster shell frame. Coolest thing though was instead of ramekins for horseradish and the minuet sauce, they use oyster shells! Would definitely considering coming back to John Dory on my next trip.
OH - and don't forget, check out the beer coasters, Really cool design. -
Review from Mike S.
New York, NY
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here with some coworkers after work. The place wasn't empty but it wasn't packed. We sat down and ordered away.
The food:
Olives w/ a tomato sauce - pretty damn tasty
Peanuts - nice bar snack
Carte da musica with bottarga and chili - a thin crispy wafer with a spread, some salty stuff (bottarga) and chilis. This was really good. Another nice bar snack.
Grilled Octopus - Everyone's got octopus on they're menu. This one is one of my favorites.
Bass ceviche - it was just ok, that's why I don't remember what it was...
Parker house rolls - if you want a dinner bread, this is it.. buttery and warm and served with a pate. Good eats.
oyster pan roast with uni crostini - A friend of mine went there not too long ago and said he hated this dish. Me and him agree alot but this I'll have to disagree. I loved this dish. It was an oyster stew that was nutty and briny, served with a toast smeared with uni butter that was just off the f#$king chain.... Awesome.
chorizo stuffed squid with smoked tomato - this was good, and just that. I have had better at Degustation when Chef Wesley was there, of course he put in short rib. Still a good dish because I love chorizo. Solid
Last but not least:
kedgeree - I never knew what kedgeree was until here and I gotta say it was good. It's basically basmati rice with curry powder, a little veg and nuts. I thought this was really good at first, until I had kedgeree with smoked fish in it and then this just fell in the ranks. However, first impressions did leave a nice trail. Good.
Overall, I loved this place, the food and the vibe. This place is 3 and a HALF for me. -
Review from Kevin K.
Arlington, VA
1/10/2012
I can't say that I ate off of the main menu I just ordered straight off of the raw bar, and really enjoyed the selections that they had. The dungeness crab was really fresh and I destroyed it right there there was still fat back in the shell and enjoyed it completely. I can't wait to try out the rest of the menu....maybe I can fit it in after I eat lamb burger at the Breslin.
Cheers and happy eats! -
Review from Kristen M.
Jersey City, NJ
12/24/2011
I've been here twice and while I agree it is pricey, the raw bar is exceptional and the service as others have mentioned is well...not. I can justify mediocre service when a place is busy...but that hasn't been the case. I will never understand how people have no concept of priorities i.e: squeezing lime juice and stocking items is part of your job..however you need to serve customers first and address the other parts of your job once they are served...not that tough to grasp :)
That said...the raw bar is that good that If you can bear the above in terms of service...got for it! -
Review from Cheryl J.
Manhattan, NY
1/3/2012
I'll never understand why John Dory Bar gets such ho-hum reviews! I've been twice and both times had a fantastic time and left wonderfully sated.
The Parker rolls alone are well worth a visit, and everyone can agree that the raw bar is pretty great. The rest of the menu rewards adventurous eaters with dishes like the whelks with parsley and garlic butter and pork belly with sea urchin custard. Yum.
On a side note, we spent New Years Eve at JD Bar and had a really wonderful time! The menu was stellar (highlights included Broccoli Rabe tempura with Botargo and a Smoked Mackerel Flatbread) and the wine pairings were on. We're all newly obsessed with Savignin. The service was laid back and awesome and everyone was happy to ring in the new year together! -
Review from Kat G.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 12/26/2011
My boyfriend and I revisited John Dory and we have decided that this visit would be our last. We went since it is conveniently located one block away from our apartment. We had to knock a couple of stars off.
Food- It's good but the menu needs to be redesigned. They have raw bar, appetizers, small plates. The small plate section is a mix of really small plates and then dishes like the Lobster Roll, which SHOULD be an entree portion. So the menu is really confusing because there are no descriptions, and unless you ask the waiter you won't know what size portion you are ordering. Oh and all of these "small plates" range in price from about $15 to $25.
For the portions you get, it is extremely overpriced. I was hungry after 2 hours. I ordered the Lobster Roll, and while it was very tasty, I don't believe it is worth the money. They skimp you on the lobster and give you these minuscule "fries".
I understand that quality seafood does not come cheap, but I have been to seafood restaurants that serve decent and delicious portions. I would much rather go to any other seafood spot, like Ed's lobster house or Mary's Fish Camp.
Unless you don't care about your wallet, or someone else is paying- I'd say go elsewhere. I know I don't enjoy being taken advantage of with ridiculous and unjustified prices.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/22/2011
To sum it up, the food is excellent, service- ehhhhh, overall- overpriced.
We live in the area so we… Read more »
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Review from Joseph K.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
One of the best lobster chowders that I have ever had. Raw oysters were excellent. Fresh, market driven seafood, well executed. The ambience, service, drinks and food were all terrific. A winning addition to the Ace Hotel hipster scene. The only gripe is the prices-- this is not a cheap place. However, this restaurant is a standout.
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Review from Rui H.
Manhattan, NY
12/19/2011
I'm surprised that the ratings for this place are so low! I used to walk past this restaurant everyday and no matter what day of the week it was, it was always packed -- and rightfully so!
This place has an amazing raw bar that's worth the price and the wait. The oysters and clams were super fresh, the cold poached lobster was amazing, but what really stood out for me was the whelk with parsley and garlic butter. This was my first time having sea snails but I was pleasantly surprised at the taste and texture. It's not for everyone and at $6 a pop it's not cheap, but if you enjoy shellfish I would definitely recommend trying it!
And, if you're going to be drinking during your meal, definitely get the Parker House Roll to line your stomach first. Those are some seriously delicious rolls! -
Review from Masha M.
Long Island City, NY
11/13/2011
Uh oh. My profile has been reviewed 6660 times. Hope I don't get struck down with lighting for this one.
Maybe I have been going through a "poisoning my blood with mercury phase." Or a ... turn myself into Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" phase. Whatever the case, I have been exploring this fishiness at John Dory.
I've been thrice in two months. And after my first experience sampling their delicious corn chowder with mussels, mermaids could only be so lucky to swim and eat from that heavenly fish bath every day. The second time I went, the corn chowder had changed to a lobster chowder. It was smaller, and frankly, couldn't compare. Mermaids be damned.
On my third stop I went whole branzino on the menu and tried the oyster pan roast, and John Dory's piece de resistance, a lobster roll and french fries. I was hoping these choices would restore my faith and make me fall in love with this place again.
And....it did just the opposite. The oyster pan roast was the saltiest soup I've ever had in a restaurant. So salty I drank a liter of water by the time my lunch was over. The lobster roll was covered in dill which was very off putting to me - and the "fries" were so tiny and crisp they were more like potato shards. Even potato chips would have been more satisfying. For $25 for that lobster roll, I was really disappointed. I spent over $50 on a lunch that left me parched and hungry.
So three times is not a charm and unfortunately, this place turned me into Ursula. Purple with frustration and bloated from the salt. I'm taking Flounder and Sebastian elsewhere. -
Review from Caitlin L.
Manhattan, NY
1/28/2012
Best dinner I've had in NYC to date, easily the best seafood I've had in the US, great service... Good cocktail list. For casual delicious dining, you simply don't get any better than this. The happy hour East Coast oysters are a must. I am a big foodie and am more often disappointed than not. I'm from Australia where the seafood is amazing, but the John Dory zoster Bar did NOT disappoint ; it was simply awesome.
The three star rating on this site I don't get. Simply not right. You people don't know good seafood. -
Review from Don J.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
Stayed at the Ace Hotel and ate here at The John Dory. Very nice place and great service. Open oyster bar on display. Ordered the Shellfish Plateau for two for $50. Many oyster choices here from the Pacific and the Atlantic. Since I'm from the west coast, had a variety of shellfish including half a lobster from the Atlantic since I'm from the west coast. Our server recommended the Chorizo stuffed squid with smoked tomato which I recommend too!
They make their own sparkling water and have great beers such as Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Music: Don't Stop - Brazilian Girls -
Review from Liz M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/2/2012
The raw bar at this place is really, really good. The oysters are super fresh and delicious - I give it 3 stars for that. If it was just a raw bar and the service was better, we would go here once a week and i would give it 4 or 5 stars, however.....
Everything else at this place in terms of food and cocktails is just ok. The escarole salad is consistently overdressed and limpy, the oyster pan roast is way way to rich (i know it is supposed to be rich, but i felt like the liquid was coagulating in my throat as I swallowed so I don't want to think about what happened in my arteries!), the parsley anchovy toast was offensively bitter and salty and i love salty bitter flavors in my mouth on a regular basis. The other thing that is a bit annoying is paying for bread....I know it is a nice piece of bread, but given the high prices of the food i think they can afford some bread and butter for the customers!
The service is pretty lackluster and terrible and the wait is redick if you are hungry.
We go here for oysters and beer only and go knowing not to expect great service. -
Review from Meghan M.
12/20/2011
If you enter John Dory sober, hungry, and with a pocket full of money, you will leave John Dory sober, hungry, and with an empty pocket.
Happy hour special includes a half a dozen oysters and a pint of stout or glass of cava for $15. This is essentially a half price deal and would be the only thing I could wholeheartedly recommend coming here for and even then, Mermaid Oyster Bar's happy hour and a half blows this one away...worth a trek down to the WV.
Cocktails, like most everything here, are ridiculously tiny and ridiculously overpriced. I'm not joking when I say there is likely approximately four sips per drink. Tasty sips, yes, but for $13 a pop, I'd like my drink to last for more than 3 minutes, thanks.
We ordered the following:
Aforementioned oysters happy hour special...half a dozen east coast (blue point) and half a dozen west coast (don't recall which type) - These were good but I've had better elsewhere - $15 each
Maine sea urchin with pomegranate and black pepper - A few bites, okay I suppose for uni (though I'm never a big fan) - $7
Parsley and anchovy toast - Good but beware of embarrassing green stuff in your teeth after eating - the bargain of the night at $4 (and we each got a piece of toast!)
Burrata with squash, brown butter, and sage - Delicious but a rip off. Sage and squash were amazing but just tossing a piece of not-so-great burrata on toast and melting it is not impressive for this price point - $19
Pork belly - Another good dish but pork belly is hard to screw up. Decent interpretation of the size of a "small plate", especially compared to other things we ordered but still a rip off - ~$20
Parker house rolls with char pate - Rolls were great, char pate was fishy. You get two small rolls and a thimble size of pate - $9
Total bill for minimal food was $144, plus tip (for unfriendly, semi-attentive service) made this evening come in at $175. Not worth it in the slightest.
So since I really wanted to like this place, I've decided to offer up a few tips for JD if they want to build a loyal, local customer base and not just live off hype and tourists:
*Break your menu down into small plates and really, really small plates. Tapas style menus imply sharing and half your menu offers a "small plate" that is only a bite of food. This is fine but it should be specified.
*Invest in normal size cocktail glasses and serve drinks in them...Trust me, it won't kill your bottom line to provide your customers with adequate drinks...It will actually, instead, keep us happy and coming back.
*Up your game on the service front. No one wants to feel like their waitstaff is annoyed at them from start to finish for no apparent reason.
*Reevaluate your prices. Even by New York standards, you guys appear to be smoking crack. -
Review from Jaime W.
Jersey City, NJ
10/17/2011
I have nothing nice to say about this place. I felt uncomfortable, the staff went above and beyond to be extraordinarily rude, the food was far from special, the wine selection average, the decor was unmemorable, and that staff (did I mention the staff...?) was dreadful.
I now understand what bad service is.
Big. Fat. Fail. -
Review from Kyliie T.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2012
A bit on the exp side but oysters were great and so were their small plates. The calamari special was delicious.
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Review from Roxanne G.
New York, NY
11/4/2011
Wow, this place is good. But be ready to break out the ole expense card, cause you'll need it.
Drinks? Get the Cucumber Rickey or the Brooklynite.
Apps? Get the stand of awesomeness - it includes great selection of oysters, crab, lobster, yumminess.
Also, I highly, HIGHLY recommend getting the lobster French onion soup and those rolls. You will be tempted to lick the bowl clean (our table, in fact, was arguing about who would be the lucky one to do just that).
Service? Pretty good, our server was friendly and helped us figure out a good mix of items - heck, we even had a drink with him after!
So... go! -
Review from charle m.
New York, NY
9/26/2011
Last week I decided I was only going to eat oysters from now on. There are two reasons for this:
1. I love that Walrus and Carpenter poem. I wish I could do it somehow for Halloween this year but I think I'm going to have a hard time convincing any of my friends to dress up like a Walrus or an oyster.
2. I wanted to get mercury poisoning and lose 10 pounds. Then I found out thru the trusty http://google.com that mercury poisoning doesn't cause weight loss. I have since moved my fall diet in other directions, namely food poisoning.
I came here with a friend on a Saturday evening and was happy to see that it wasn't obnoxiously stuffed with people like the Breslin next door. I'm not really a big fan of the location but the decor is nicely done, sort of a tasteful Bedknobs and Broomsticks thing sans singing fish and Angela Lansbury. My second time here, I was happy with the crowd. Not too touristy, not too flashy, not too B&T. I did, however, see someone sitting at the oyster bar with an obnoxiously sparkly tank top on. Shiny disco balls aren't in for fall, I promise.
Chill place, upscale casual, a little generic, not really much to it. They have east coast oysters and west coast oysters, although not a substantial selection of either (6 different varieties in total, $3 each). I had three different kinds of the west coast and they were spectacular. Drinks are nicely done but I stuck with the Sauvignon Blanc by the glass ($12), as did my friend.Listed in: The Walrus and The Carpenter
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Review from Franny A.
9/18/2011 1 photo
When I look at reviews on Yelp, the overall amount of stars tells alot about a food establishment.......believe the stars of the John Dory
There is truly some inspired cooking and other food that falls short while being very pricey with absolutely subpar service.
Ordered:
Dozen east coast oysters-$36
Mini wine- $4.5
Crudo with kaffir lime and pistachio
Shooter with crab and avocado- $8
Corn and clam soup- $14
Lobster roll with thinnist fries- $25
Choc mousse with butterscotch cream and pretzel bits- $8
Vanilla sundae with raspberry- $8
Parker house rolls- $4.50
Oysters were super served with horseradish and a green sauce. Crudo was a little underwhelming and tiny for the price which I cannot remember. Shooter was a shooter so it was tiny. Soup was quite good with potatoes and served with a crostini with spicy chorizo. Lobster roll was chock full of lobster served mayo style with lovely crispy skinny fries. Parker rolls were buttery and delicous one of my favorite things we ate. Deserts were not orgasmic, but passable. Decor is mega cute. This place is soooooo overpriced.......... the service clearly does not reflect the pricepoint which is expensive. Took about 20 minutes for us and a nearby table to get our credit cards back and sign off to leave and we were ready............$142 dollars ready. -
Review from Richard K.
Manhattan, NY
12/15/2011
This place is everything a New York bar should be. The hostess/servers are chill, friendly, and young. The seafood is simple, fresh, and prepared with consistent perfection. Everything is served in small portions on plates meant for sharing, making it perfect for a group (but even more perfect for a date).
But the thing that makes this place so distinctive is the clientele - going there just *feels* upscale. The vibe and decorations are perfect; welcoming, but not overdone, with the illuminated fishtanks hanging high overhead, casting a deep-sea glow throughout the bar. The people there are well-dressed; the tones of people's voices are appropriate and musical; the conversation you overhear is varied and interesting.
So - in summary, great for a classy night out! -
Review from Michael C.
Sparta, NJ
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wonderfully decorated ! Great atmosphere, love the fish bowl fish tanks!
Razor clam Ceviche, chorizo stuffed squid (awesome) and 1/2 dozen oysters 3 east coast 3 west! East coast wins.Lunch for three ended with $70 each for lunch! Try the Six River Brooklyn Brewery special brewed Oyster Stout Beer just for John Dory Oyster bar. Has a great rich Guinness start with a dark salty bite. Drink two and really feel like your in a fish bowl. -
Review from Jessica N.
Ames, IA
9/25/2011
Two words: Food Poisoning. Two more words: Left Hungry.
The only thing I liked about this place was the cucumber rickey cocktail I got at the bar. Yeah, we did have some food from the raw bar: oysters and lobster, but I eat raw food fairly often and have NEVER gotten sick. I had to run to the bathroom a few minutes after my meal. Vomiting is no fun, but it really sucks after spending $$$ on your meal.
I should have known better when i looked around the place and no one really had food on their tables. The only reason we came here was because we couldn't get into the Mermaid Bar- too busy!!! -
Review from Patricia S.
New York, NY
10/11/2011
$15 - 6 oysters with champagne or stout Happy Hour special
Park House Rolls
Oyster pan roast with sea urchin crostini
Those are the three best things to happen to me on a Wednesday a few months ago. Yes, John Dory is expensive. You walk in knowing it. At these types of places, I expect terrible pretentious service from a model that thinks she/he's wayyy hotter than they are. (Honsetly, am I the only one that thinks fashion models are funny looking in person?)Surprisingly, my service was OK. Not great, not terrible. -
Review from hk k.
Northampton, MA
1/4/2012
Love this place. The pre-dinner cocktails were awesome and well-balanced, which put me in a good mood even though I was waiting in a super-crowded bar area for our table to be ready. My date and I shared an excellent selection of East Coast oysters to start with. The second course, the special of the day, was sea urchin presented simply in its shell; it was so fresh that we could really taste the ocean. The salad and the main courses (perfectly cooked sea bass, pork belly with sea urchin custard) were flavorful and utterly delicious. The place is crowded and bustle-y, so it might not be the best place for a leisurely, romantic dinner. But the food and the drinks are tremendously enjoyable.
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Review from Corinne C.
Manhattan, NY
8/25/2011
OK. So, let me preface with the fact that I was torn between three and four stars. I went with four because my only qualm was the price. This place is pricey. Pricey drinks, pricey food.
That being said, this place is also delicious. Great atmosphere, tall ceilings, so the fact that it gets super crowded is tolerable.
Drinks are expensive and B grade at best. They don't have Jack Daniels, which might be their first mistake.
Onto the food: I indulged in the seafood platter for two, which at about $50, was kind of a tease. A really tasty tease. I had bomb oysters, mussels, clams, and a super-delicious lobster tail. Whatever the sauce on the lobster was, was delicious. The mussels were from New Zealand, amazing. And the oysters, also really good, came with a cilantro-jalepeno vinaigrette to dip, which was so good. I will be attempting to replicate shortly.
Other than that, they have small plates:
I tried octopus for the first time, which was really good. Cooked well and the sauce (a little spicy) was pretty good.
I also had a striped sea bass, which was out of this world. The fish was fresh, well cooked, and seasoned to perfection. There was corn involved, which is always a plus for me.
If someone else is paying the tab, this place is great. Also, feel free to stop inside the lobby of the Ace hotel for an after dinner cocktail. -
Review from Bill S.
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is such a cool, fun place!
Sure its a little pricey (minus the one star) but April Bloomfield is bringing sexy back!
The Morels and periwinkles with garlic on toast is the most richest, flavorful, buttery, harden my arteries and bring me to an early death thing I'm addicted to.
If the apocalypse happens and I'm in Midtown, I'm finding April to cook this dish for me on a daily basis while I fight off the Zombie invasion. My girl..
So I bop in last week and I order a Bottlerocket which has Blanco tequila and Jalapenos? Snaps up high mutha effer!
So my waiter (who smelled) doesn't tell me there is an Oyster happy hour on a certain oyster and I order one of each off the menu. Nice job skippy. What do I look like to you, a friggin ATM? Just like my kids....
And of course I ordered the Chorizo stuffed squid with smoked tomato.
So what if the bill is high? April, I'm in training to run really fast. Oh yeah, I want the lamb burger for dinner as well with the cumin mayo. I'll keep ya safe baby girl. -
Review from Heather H.
Houston, TX
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mouth watering experience! Everything in here was fresh and delicious. We got the sampler with oysters, clams, snails, lobster, crabs, I cant even remember what else it was that good! After we finished the tower of food we ordered even more oysters and clams. I highly recommend going here!
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Review from Karol S.
12/3/2011
Great space with good music and fresh seafood. Oh and delicious drinks. We had to wait awhile but not as long as the wait for Breslin across the hall.
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Review from S. M. S.
Boston, MA
12/8/2011
Over-hyped and over-priced hipster joint, but I'm glad it's there for that quarterly moment when I'm walking by and have the craving for oysters and a $12 glass of $6 cava.
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Review from Mindy K.
Albany, NY
9/23/2011 1 photo
This place is a refreshing new take on the age old oyster bar. It's maritime decor is hyperbolically whimsical to the point of being funny (in that ironic way), and its bustling, but open and airy atmosphere is a nice reprieve from the dark stuffiness of the Ace.
The oysters are some of the best you'll find around. Their priceyness is entirely justified for their quality. Sit at the literal oyster bar and watch the cooks shuck away. -
Review from Alexandra R.
Manhattan, NY
9/7/2011
FINALLY! The unbelievable seafood joint I've been searching for. After the amazing service, over-the-top quality seafood and quirky design, I will definitely succumb to the usual hour wait for this experience again and again. Heck, I'm so jazzed about this place I might convince myself to make a res for the new Chef's Table -a set seven-course dinner costing $100 a head for a group of 8-12 people... well one day. The bar is truly beautiful and cool with the "under the sea" theme -not tacky. I mean how many other restaurants have huge "snow-globe" looking lights with real fish swimming around inside? We loved all of our dishes, and I would try anything on that menu and be confident it would be awesome.
Food to get: (go to my blog website listed under my profile for a link for photos)
-Oysters
-Wild Striped Bass: Cherry Tomatoes. Corn. Chanterelles.
-Heirloom tomatoes: Miticrema. Fried Bread. Salt Cod.
-Grilled Octopus: Eggplant. Garbanzo Beans. Harissa (Tunisian hot chili sauce).
-Parker House Rolls
This restaurant bar is perfect for any occasion whether you want to share apps and socialize with co-workers or go for a fun, memorable date. All I know is there is something fishy going on here...and I LOVE it!
***Be sure to check out the hipster and trendy lobby bar at the Ace Hotel next door. -
Review from Alan Y.
New York, NY
9/28/2011
hmmmmm . . . how many times do you have to ask for water (and, if you know me, you know I'm not JUST drinking water!), and how long does it take to make a salad--an hour?
The place is beautiful, but let's not call it a restaurant! It's a bar, pure and simple. Go there for drinks--if you're not in a hurry--but don't go there hoping to eat. -
Review from Maricel T.
Huntersville, NC
11/9/2011
Went here just for the oysters. A good variety, highly recommend but the staff was WEIRD and it felt awkward. Don't go there during their non-peak hours.
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Review from Gina X.
New York, NY
My new favorite brunch spot. 2 reasons:
1) no crowd (yet)
2) FISH DUMPLING SOUP! Fish dumplings like my moma makes - and that's a hiiiigh compliment, cause (insert boastful puffs of air) my mom makes THE softest, fluffiest, fish dumplings IN THe WORLD! (pause for emphasis) She still does, but Mr Dory makes a close second.
Ok, so I said 2 reasons, but
3) They're serious about their soft boiled eggs
4) Raspberry Collins that's the perfect shade of summer pink (tasty too)
5) they love anchovies -
Review from Daniel F.
San Marino, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
For dinner we had 6 dz of oysters, 2 magnum Chablis & tons of food with 8 youngsters (under 30 yrs old). What a blast!
I will definitely go back. Great oysters. great place to have a small party to share and taste all the different dishes. Not good for a romantic date. -
Review from Melissa G.
Manhattan, NY
9/11/2011
Having tried the Breslin and loved it, I was excited to try its counterpart John Dory Oyster Bar. The tables are kinda weird and sparse but we were lucky enough to get one of the good ones.
Of course we gave the oysters a go. So delicious. I don't know how you mess up oysters though unless they aren't fresh.
Other items we tried were the salmon, octopus salad, heirloom salad, parker house rolls. Everything was really good. I loved the octopus salad especially. I will say though.... I left hungry :( Everything is served tapas style. It felt like we ordered a lot but like I said I was hungry when I left. I also enjoyed the mixed drinks. I forget what it was called but it had jalapeno in it and it was just the right amount. Would come back for drinks and oysters for sure! -
Review from Real B.
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The oysters were like butter - especially the Hog Island. Snapper crudo was delish as well, very happy visit.
service was really nice actually, a nice surprise for such a trendy place.
