Three words: tempura lobster tail. Probably one of the most indulgent dishes I've ever eaten, and every bit as good as it sounds. Osetra was awesome and I had a great experience, though it looks like not everyone agrees. I guess they have their off nights. For me, it was perfect.. the ambiance and style of the place were great, the wines the server suggested were perfect, and the dish itself. Oh man. Truly heavenly.
(5)
Ramaswamy A.
The food was disappointing, edible, but not inventive nor interesting. The risotto was miserable and the service was overwhelmed, even if they were earnest. Uninspired on a Monday night I suppose.
(2)
Lynne K.
We went there for a small bite, dessert and an after dinner drink and were so bored with it! The service was horribly slow! It took FOREVER! How long does it take to make a martini? Not 30 minutes! There was an awkward switch with wait staff, so we didn't know who was our waiter and who wasn't. The crab cakes were good. Flavorful, not too fishy. Not amazingly amazing. But, they brought them out at the same time as the dessert. So, my dessert smelled like crab. I ordered the Chocolate Passion cake and a glass of port, which was horribly over priced. I could get the whole bottle for that much at Ralphs! The cake was pretty good, very chocolatey. The port, like the martini, took forever to get there! Almost 20 minutes! What a waste of an amazing space. Seriously disappointing.
(1)
Michael P.
We had family in town from the midwest and they wanted to go out to a nice seafood dinner so we decided to give Osetra a try. We definitely will not be going back. Our first server was okay but seemed very confused when serving our glasses of wine. I'm pretty sure I got the wrong glass but he never bothered to check. Our appetizers were the highlight of the meal. We enjoyed the calamari and tempura tuna roll but it was down hill after that. During the salad course our server introduced our new server, which was strange, especially since the original server didn't leave the restaurant. My caprese burrata salad was very bland and my mahi mahi was overcooked and dry. The lobster mash potatoes were my favorite part of dinner, but that's a bad sign when a starch side dish is outshining the main protein. Our guests were happy, or at least they said they were, but I definitely would not recommend this place. There are too many good restaurants nearby to choose from.
(2)
Laura B.
Decent, not outstanding. Pricey, but won't break your whole bank. Good, not great. After reading the reviews, I finally know what to call the girl who was scaling the wall of wine in the middle of the restaurant - "wine angel". Coolest job ever! We sat in the lounge so we didn't have to wait for a table (had called for reservations, but we were about 5 min late and they had given our table away. boo!). The lounge was cool and gave a good view of the restaurant. The decor was great, if nothing else. Our servers were friendly, but not on the fast side - ifyouknowwhatimean. The wine selection was extensive, warranting the entire wine tower in the middle of the place. Food was pretty good. I just can't think of anything very memorable from our dinner selection. (fennel salad and tapas - chicken fricasse, crab cakes, and filet mingon) Meh - I don't go out to eat in Gaslamp very much. It's strange to me that most of the 5 star reviews are from people with only one review to their name..... hhhhhmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmm!
(3)
Ana C.
Came here with a group of friends for restaurant week. The food was great. I had the Lobster Ravioli and had the shrimp & calimari as my appetizer. The Yellow Tail was excellent too. The environment was great. Great service, great meal for a $30 three course meal!
(4)
Alex A.
wow!!!!!!! what a great place!!!! raw bar, great looking design and decor. food is amazing, service is so efficient the gm Sara one of the best front person representing a restaurant anywhere she made our night, came over to greet us, suggested some great combination of appetizers and wine. try the yellow tail entree and the scallops, you'll drool forever
(5)
M D.
I'm somewhat surprised to see so many sub-par reviews. I took a group of six people to Osetra's a few weeks ago and I thought it was fabulous! My first time here. Great service, great wine list, great food. What more can you ask for? Funny thing is that I personally ordered the least expensive item on the menu (Penne Pasta w/ lamb sausage) and OMG, I'm telling you it was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. Really. For that alone I'll return. I also ordered a few dozen oysters for the table and they were good - not great although others at the table felt they were excellent. They were from Washington I believe (the Oysters, not the other people).
(4)
Mika J.
Overall, food was good but not great. Service was not bad but sure it wasn't good. I made a reservation through opentable for 6 of us on Saturday night and I even called about 2 hours ahead to confirm... When we arrived our reservation was nowhere to be found. At least it didn't take them long to put together a table for us. We asked for wine recommendation from our waiter, and he said "i have a thousand-dollar bottle that i would recommend" - I assume he might be more attentive if we actually order that bottle? For having an "extensive collection of wine" as they claim, just happened that the bottles we wanted were out. We had few different salads, trio of tartar, few fish dishes and risottos and ravioli. Overall, the salads, tartar and fish dishes were good: well seasoned and nicely cooked. As for the lobster risotto, it tasted good but the rice were undercooked, and the ravioli wasn't too good. So my advice is to stick with the fish and salad. And you get a piece of cake for your birthday - i forgot how it tasted...
(3)
Jennifer F.
So I just had their happy hour but wanted to give my shout out. They had $1 oysters and $5 wine! That was a really happy few hours for me! I think it's awesome that they do that, when normally oysters can go for $15 for 6 oysters! Nice, modern, upscale restaurant.
(4)
Bob S.
Service was 5 star and my Lamb Ossobuco melted in my mouth like chocolate. Wife had Yellowtail and said it was excellent. I like everything about this place!
(5)
Rolo M.
Nice decor and friendly staff. The seafood isn't that good but everyone and their mother ordered the Filet Mignon and it was delicious. Too bad only sampled it.
(4)
Steve M.
Not really quite sure what others are complaining about. We have eaten here a couple of times and really love the place. The food is quite tastey, well prepared, and well presented. Yes it is pricey but some times you want a nice place and that usually costs money. We have never experienced anything but good service. I usually start off with the trio of tartar appetizer, which is really good. Then a salad and a steak. Nothing but good things to say about this place.
(5)
Addie N.
We got a gift certificate from Restaurant.com for this place & decided to try it out. We saw they have a good looking tapas menu but it was only available at the bar. My husband asked the server if our certificate was good & he said he'll check with the manager. So we ordered when he came back, assuming it was ok since he didn't say anything, but afterwards we asked him again just to make sure. He said it was fine..... We ordered the Kobe Beef Sliders which was pretty good, the Calamari was ok, nothing special, the Lobster Quesadilla was good, but the Seafood Paella was smelly!!! Overall food was ok, not the best for the price. When the check came out, the server gave us back our gift certificate and said that it wasn't valid because we only ordered tapas. OK........we did ask twice & he did said it was fine....well not wanting to make a big deal, we took the certificate back , paid, & left....never to return again
(1)
Viviane T.
I would give this a 3.5 star... and here is why.... First things first, I believe this used to be called Osetra the Fishhouse, but it got a name changed, so it's no longer that but it is now Osetra Watergrill. Not sure which name is better, but what's in a name anyways. It was a Sunday when we decided to venture here for dinner. I called to make a reservations for a 8:30 dinner, they counter offered with a 8:15 pm dinner. When we got there (running about 15 minutes late) I was confused as to why she even requested for me to change my reservation to 8:15, there were barely anyone there, the place was half empty (or half full, however you want to look at it)! We got seated upstairs, too bad we didn't get a window view, it would had been nice to sit and look out on the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter. We ordered the Maryland crab cake for our appetizer, it was good. The crab cake combined with the small mango salad at the top of the dish was a good combination, melted like butter! WARNING: the waiter (at least our waiter did) offered us soup or salad, he made it sound like it came with our dishes, little did we know, it was $10 per salad. He offered us either the Fennel Salad or the typical Cesar salad, or of course, soup. When one offers a Cesar salad with an entree, one would think that it came with the meal, no, we were wrong. I did enjoy my Cesar salad (it was an entree on it's own, that's how big it was!) but my boyfriend hated his fennel salad, it tasted "funny", not very pleasing to the taste buds. I won't recommend it. My boyfriend ordered the 10 oz fillet. I ordered the Seafood Bouillabaisse (if you don't like seafood, this isn't your dish). The fillet came out perfect, juicy, just the right shade of red in the middle and was just so good, not to mention the mountain of mash potatoes that you get with it. My dish on the other hand...the seafood was fresh, it had EVERYTHING in it (half lobster, clams, crab legs, shrimp, and assorted fish), I felt like I was underwater with all these sea creatures just there for me to eat. The presentation was all too great, but it was acceptable taste wise. Over all, both dishes were good but I don't think it was worth the price that we paid for them. The ambiance was nice, I won't say it was romantic, but then again, I would say it was "sporty" either, it's a modern day romantic setting. I felt warm and fuzzy just sitting there eating.
(3)
K. S.
Service was haphazard. Sea bass was great. Spinach was sandy; drinks were weak. Generally mediocre food for the price.
(3)
Sharika S.
Cool place but food was not anything to rave about.
(3)
Pamela S.
Love Osetra! Perfect for a date night or a classy business dinner. The ambience is great , very chill for the Gaslamp and has great signature cocktails. Jessica the bartender was very friendly and gave some great suggestions of items that I have never tried before. We had to get the seafood Napoleon that's one of my favorites as well as the Australian lamp chops and spicy tuna roll. All delicious! For entrees I decided to get the lamp ossobucco because the lamp appetizer was so good. This entree was amazing!!! Fall of the bone tender and a huge portion. We will definitely be back for the great service and incredible food!
(4)
Nick L.
5 stars for the food, 1 star for the service! This place was highly recommended to us by the bar tender at the Courtyard Marriott. Me and the Lil' Mrs. went early on New Years Eve (5:00....we were hungry!) and were seated promptly. It was downhill after that. Our server (James G.) seemed awful disappointed that only I ordered a cocktail. Then the Lil' Mrs. said we wanted to split the wedge and we got the cold shoulder with a big sigh. (Another table got a double sigh when they walked in with two kids.) When our food was served, the dude never came back to see how it was going for us. Basically, we got ignored by the waiter until it was time for dessert. We had planned to have some but decided it wasn't worth it at this establishment. And then we get the check and it was mysteriously inflated by $27. When pointed that out, I got no apology, just a "glad YOU caught that." There's plenty of places to go in the Gas Lamp District so we won't be back. And we'll be letting our bar tender know the experience sucked so he can tell his friend the manager. P.S. We noted they inflated the NYE menu and no way that Filet Mignon was 10 oz. Crab cakes were really good but the Lil Mrs. ordered it as an entree so we got the big sigh.
(2)
Joy L.
We were a group of 14 people stuffed in a square private room that was too small for the gigantic square table that took up most of the space. The servers had very little room to serve the large family style appetizer platters and the large bowls of cold shellfish over ice. As the ice melted, it ran all over the table. It was hard to remove the bowls (three of them) without getting the fishy water all over us. The room was overly warm, and the management said the air was on as high as it would go. Even though the food was good, it wasn't good enough to overcome the circumstances. I think I would have given a higher score had we been seated in the main dining room.
(2)
Allie S.
This restaurant is amazing. One of my favorite restaurant in San Diego. The fish is incredible and really fresh. The service is impeccable and the ambiance is cool and trendy.
(5)
Jack V.
Cool atmosphere but the food is lacking. Osetra has a striking two tier dining room and sleek decor. But my mixed green salad was effectively a big plate of lettuce with little accompaniment. The salmon was well prepared and flavorful but accompanied by bland spinach and mashed potatoes. At this price I expect presentation and higher quality ingredients. Other than the cut of salmon the ingredients were pedestrian.
(2)
Meg D.
My husband and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. It was my year to make plans for Valentine's Day so I decided to give it a try. The evening couldn't have been more perfect! The restaurant decor is beautiful and classy, the food was exceptional (rib eye, sea bass, crab cake appetizer, tuna roll appetizer, and lava cake dessert), and the service was exceptional-to say the least! The restaurant manager, Sara, made it a point to visit each table, which is so refreshing. And Juan, one of our servers, was just a sweetheart! We came for the food and atmosphere (which was superb), but to be treated like celebs was the icing on the cake! Thank you Osetra!
(5)
Matthew H.
I was on a date downtown and we left a bar looking for a place to eat. We stumbled upon Osetra between a bunch of bars where people were clubbing/partying on random Saturday night. Immediatley upon walking in we almost turned around - the place looked a little too fancy. But, we decided to go on in, at the minimum order a drink, and take a look at the menu. We sat at the bar and there were only a couple other people around us and about 3 tables taken in the entire restaurant - granted it was late. The bartender (a female who I believe may be a manager and whom I got the impression works there most nights) was more nice to us. I asked if she had any speciality drinks and she suggested the Habanero martinni. I have to say I was a bit skeptical that this would: 1) be too spicy hot, and/or 2) have any noticeable hint of habanero. However, after trying it I have to say that it goes on my list of top 5 coolest/best alchohalic beverages I've ever had in my life. The bartender later told us that the vodka is infused with the habanero which would explain why it was so smooth. Also, the drink def. had a hint of spice and tasted like habenero but it wasn't overwhelmingly hot - I'm pretty sure my date, who does not like hot/spicy things, actually enjoyed it as well. We also ended up ordering ceasar salads which were just better than average but, for the pice of about $8 or $9, was worth it. We also ordered the lobster mashed potatoes (b/c why wouldn't you?). Again, these weren't specatuclar but somewhere between average and above average - however, they are definitely unique and whose ever seen these on a menu? Overall, I think it's pretty cool place (they have 2 story wine storage in the center of the bar that is restocked by a person who goes up and down suspended cables) and has above average food (especially for the price).
(3)
Kristin B.
My Husband and I went to Osetra for the first time on Saturday evening to celebrate our anniversary. The food was amazing but even better was the service. I cannot speak highly enough of the service we recieved, friendly staff, perfect pace of appetizer, salad and meal delivery. I really wish we remembered our server's name because we would give him huge compliments. Thanks again Osetra for such a wonderful evening, we will be returning.
(5)
Hoa T.
I can't believe this place is still open. The wine angel is not even hot! at least hire some hot girls to fly up and down the wine tower. The food lacks flavor and is overpriced. Service is average but should be better since this place does not get busy.
(2)
Mikael F.
Food was good but service was slooooow. My daughter's fish & chips arrived after we had finished our food. Unbelievable and it resulted in zero tip. Zilch, nada, zip. For the price I would expect better...
(2)
Denise D.
Stopped by here to get drinks on a Saturday night (all the other bars that we wanted to go to were full to capacity and had lines). Well, now I know why this place was empty and easy to get into. The drinks are overpriced and taste like crap. The only thing that tasted right were the shot of patrons we ordered (you can't mess that up). The mojito tasted like mint water. The only "cool" thing that I liked here was the frozen counter that you place your drinks on to keep it cold.
(2)
Mariah C.
My BF and I received a gift certificate to Osetra, so we made dinner reservations for last Friday, and, of course, before dining, I jumped on Yelp to read the reviews of the place. As I read, I began to wonder why in the world anyone would have given us gift certificates to this place, but I kept hoping that we would have a better experience than my fellow Yelpers. WELLLLLL.... WE DIDN'T! The service was mediocre at best. Our waiter had that snooty air about him that made me want to grab him by the neck and remind him that HE IS A WAITER! (Not that I'm knocking waiters, but geez, you aren't the president of the United States buddy!) Our appetizer was the best part of the meal. We ordered the trio de tartare and it was excellent! The lobster bisque soup was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. For my entree, I ordered the Mahi Mahi. For the price, I was expecting a delectable piece of fish, full of flavor and pizazz. Uhhhhh.... no flavor..... no pizazz (although the plating was pretty). BF ordered the stuffed shrimp and he found it to be pretty blah as well. The restaurant itself was pretty, but for a night that wasn't too busy I couldn't understand why they crammed every single diner in the restaurant into the same corner! Totally killed the attempted romantic evening! I won't be coming back to Osetra. I wouldn't even recommend trying it just once. The food is severely lacking in flavor, and for the prices, that just isn't acceptable.
(2)
Steve W.
This was supposed to be an enjoyable dinner/theater night for my wife and another couple, but turned out to be a tense, unpleasant night. The food was good, not great, and the service was horrible. It was Friday night, restaurant week, but it didn't appear overly crowded. Here are the highlights: We were running late and the original 2 hours for dinner was down to 1 hour. We were seated quickly near the window, and greeted promptly. The waiter, an older, portly gentleman finally came back after dissapearing for 5 minutes. Not sure why we had to wait at that point. He returned with menus and dissappeared. After reviewing we noticed the restaurant week menu not enclosed. He is no where to be seen. After he returns, he brings the restaurant week menu. Why not just include it to begin with! We then notified him we had an 8:00 curtain to make at the Horton Grand, 4 blocks away. He jovially interrupted and said, 'do you want me to come along?'. Hahaha, but I don't think the last part he heard. We ordered wine, and saw it sat on the bar,, on a tray waiting to go out but he is gone for another 5 or so minutes. He walks by it and assists other tables. Finally after ordering and waiting what seemed a lifetime for the food to arrive, we enjoyed the food. The wedge salad was fine, the crab cakes were more bread than crab, the Mahi mahi was excellent. The lobster ravioli was tasteless. There was no fresh ground pepper offered for the salads or entrees. I flagged a bus boy down for that. Unexcusable for a restaurant of this price point. The dessert finally comes at 7:45, we gulp it down, I don't even recall if it was good or not. No waiter to get the check. He finally emerges and the the whole final check scenario took us to 8:00pm. We arrive late for the performance which shouldn't have happened. The waiters don't seem to serve, bus or even check back with us and have no clue how to make a special case and move things along a bit faster than normal. There are so many good places Downtown, you don't have to be subjected to this, other better choices. Both for food and obviously for service.
(2)
Kara O.
My boyfriend surprised me with an impromptu jaunt down to San Diego a couple nights ago. Seeing as I had never really spent much time down there, I was ecstatic. We arrived about 9:30 on Friday night and not being too familiar with the Gas Lamp District where we were staying, we set off to find somewhere to get some food and drinks. Then it appeared, like a golden beacon of deliciousness--the words "Tapas-Style Menu." Perfect! We approached the outdoor hostess stand to check out the menu. Within 30 seconds my boyfriend and I looked at each other, nodded and proceeded inside. This place was gorgeous. From the sexy low lighting, to the two-story wine tower and the clean white linen. I was instantly in love. I ordered a glass of their Bouvet-Ladubay Brut--so yummy. We then finally decided on our tapas: lobster tempura tacos, gemelli pasta with goat cheese and lamb sausage and a calamari and shrimp plate. Devine. The evening would have been flawless if it weren't for our lame waiter, who couldn't even properly describe the dishes. Regardless, thanks for a great welcome to San Diego, Osetra!
(4)
Ginger C.
Food and drinks were way overpriced. The limoncello mojito was delicious, but expensive at $13. A simple greyhound was $11.50. Ordered the Shrimp Chop salad for $14 thinking it should be big enough to share...definitely wasn't. Also, there was no shrimp on the salad, but we did find another kind of protein-a dead spider in the salad. They remade the salad, but no visit from the manager as I would expect and no sort of action was taken to make up for it. Tapas menu was very skimpy, $12 for the stuffed prawn...literally it was 1 shrimp. $12 chicken tapa was very small and thin. Bill was $100 and we left hungry and very disappointed.
(2)
David W.
Ok, my wife and I went to this place to celebrate my Birthday. Let's say that we had a really good time. Here is a review of the areas of the restaurant. Service: The waiter we had was very professional and gave us recommendations and even got me a cake complementary on the house. I really enjoyed that. Cost: Well, this place is pretty expensive, but I think it was worth it, although we could of had ruth's Chris Steak..... BUT they MAKE the best SEAFOOD I've tasted. We had the appetizer oysters and they were very fresh (about 2$ for each) 24$ for a dozen... Drinks & Wine: Drinks were very good, we had ordered a few cocktails, I had a mangotini, which I love, since my favorite fruit is mango.,.... but we didn't get to the wine... overall good, but I didn't see the wine, although there were a few wine angels going up to get wine... Food: yes, we had a Tuna sushi /fushion plate, which was spectacular and also a Scallops plate, which had the best (and largest) scallops I've ever eaten..... Atmosphere: Overall they had very good atmosphere as there was decoration and a underwater theme through the whole restaurant... The restroom is not focused much and I think they could work on it... but overall, very nice and elegant.... Wongger out
(4)
Gianna E.
Nice atmosphere, acceptable service (usually), very good "Zonin" Prosecco by the split, yummy seafood. I order the smoked salmon with the cavier preparation sides. It's uber yum and filling. I order just that, no salad, no entree! Of course all items are a little pricey, but I have found that in the gaslamp prices are reflected based mostly on location and whether or not they consider themselves to be a fine dining establishment. How do you think they paid for that wine tower anyway?
(4)
Lindsey S.
I will hand it to them on the atmosphere. Everything else is just "ok". The food was very much over priced, the service was suuuuper slow, and the food was just ok. We had reservations at 8:00, and I think that they finally seated us around 8:40. Then, it just took forever to get our food. We were seated upstairs in the corner surrounded by enormous parties of like 30 people in each one. The entry and bar area is really cool. I wish they would have seated us downstairs. Whatever, I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Leah P.
This was the last place for us during Restaurant Week. I wish we'd picked another place, because Osetra made for a really bad end to a relatively great Restaurant Week. Boo. The food in general was very good. Stand-outs: great wine selection, cool wine tower, Seafood Napoleon starter, and bigger sized portions. Sounds good, right? Then why the sad 2-star action, you might ask? Well, all was good until we got to paying the bill. We asked to split the bill between two cards. Sounds easy, and we sure as hell know that servers have done this before. Then why did one card come back with having been charged $40 more? And why was the automatic 20% service charge itemized 3 times on our bill? When we asked our server, she gave us a lame excuse of having to add some additional items to our bill after she closed it out, therefore adding $40 to one of the cards (just chose randomly which card to charge more on). She was not so quick with the response when we asked about the multiple service charges. After realizing that we would be getting no help from our server, we calculated it on our own and figured that our bill more or less evened out. But when we saw what was posted to our cards later that weekend, why did they try to run our bill at $30 more each card? SHADY. Make sure to review your bill at this place. And pay with cash.
(2)
Joe H.
LOVE this restaurant..! Whether I pop in for just a cocktail or three or for the full on dining experience, this is the place to see and be seen..! Love the bar/wine tower and the wonderful, warm service of the bartenders and wait staff.... One can just chill there and people watch or catch up with friends while watching the multiple flatscreens that are located above the bar area... Speaking of which...I was in last week with some good friends.. Didn't have to wait to be seated... We started with the Tempura Mexican Shrimp and the Spicy Tempura Tuna Rolls.. "Tres Bien..!" I tried the Chilean Sea Bass which was magnifique..! Best I've ever had... Friends had the Lamb Ossobuco and the Flat Iron Steak. Loved it aswell... Dessert and after dinner drinks were also fantastic... High praise goes to Osetra's General Manager, Sara, who came over to our table throughout the evening to see how our experience was progressing. Result.. Very well indeed and we all have her to thank..!!!! All in all, definitely a fantastic time was had..! I will recommend Osetra to all my friends near and far....!!!!
(5)
Dan G.
My company held a function at this restaurant. We had a total of 20 individuals in attendance. We had the "worst" service and the meal was nothing special. We had already finished eating our dinner when our peers started to get theirs. All the meals should have come out together or within minutes of the first in our party being served. Needless to say, it took over an hour to get our dinner. Desert was included, however we left and did not have desert because the service was terrible.
(1)
Sean A.
Great location, my wife & ate there on a Friday night and we walked right in without a reservation. The service was excellent, our server was attentive without being overwhelming, and the rest of the staff was great as well. The food was somewhat mediocre. I had the flat iron steak, was cooked perfectly & had a great sauce, but the sides were lacking. My wife had the Mexican shrimp, her only gripe was the crab & lobster meat was basically shredded, instead of being lump meat. A solid place, and good value due to coupon from restaurant.com . Also they get a downgrade for the majority of the prices on the menu being incorrect. They should take some of the increased revenue they are bringing in and print new menus.
(3)
da g.
This place was just awful!!! My friends and really wanted some oysters and we ended up at this place, well let me just say 2 dozen oysters later we are all very sick, im talking serious nasha diarrhea. I did have a fun time though, but i was very drunk and would have had a good time if i was in jail!!!!!! Martinis were good, service not so good we had a few people with us that were not eating and our waitron refused to give them some more bread. Bottom line this place sucks and i will never go back!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Cameron S.
I came in the entrance and was completely blown away at the sight of the bar and dining area! It was so chic! I looked around the top floor, trying to scope out the tapas center location, but couldn't find it (One of the waiters said the former tapas dining location was replaced with dining tables downstairs, but only temporarily, apparently. He told me they're waiting on some type of permit to get things back to where they were before). I must say, though I loved the sting ray shaped glass lighting suspended from the ceiling upstairs while I visited! Again, very chic. To start, the waiters and hostess were very kind and knowledgeable of the menu and restaurant operations. We were seated in the estimated time given to us, and were warmly greeted by our waiter. The appetizer (Trio of Tartare) and entrees (Stuffed Mexican Shrimp and Stuffed Sole) were such an amazing combination of textures and flavors! Along with the stunning presentation, it truly did express the complexity of the work put into making each individual item. Good portions, good pricing. If you are wanting to try good seafood in San Diego with a unique twist, this is the place to go.
(5)
Reham A.
Another night at Osetra in the Gaslamp district of amazing service and fabulous food. The wine is my favorite part of the evening every time I go. Osetra always has something new to try. I am a big wino and they always surprise me with great taste of new wine that they invite to their incredible collection. And as always I can never resist not ordering the Spicy tuna roll. You have to try the spicy tuna roll no questions asked. The place is amazing. They even have a great space on the second level if you are trying to host a birthday party or host a business meeting or just for having a simple get together. This is an amazing place to hang out at in the heart of the Gaslamp.
(5)
serina c.
OMG what happened to this place? I use to come here at least once a month and haven't been in almost a year (i've been going to oceanaire). Osetra has gone so downhill! I even know the owner Vincenzo. My girlfriend and I went for dinner the other night and from start to finish the service was horrible. The food sucks now also. The only reason i'm gving it 2 stars is 1) because I know the owner and 2) the wine angels and wine tower. Go to Oceanaire instead and have a wonderful meal and don't waste your time here.
(2)
Jill H.
The food was great! Service was awesome; Marilyn was our server. We will for sure go back! Beautiful inside and outside seating.
(5)
Nick K.
I have been going to Osetra for a couple of years and last nights service prompted me to finally write a review. They were unusually busy for a Tuesday night. I sat in my usual spot and drank my usual drink while enjoying some items off the new menu. What impressed me the most is how attentive the bar tender was. She was the only one working the bar and between servicing the bar patrons and getting drinks for the servers, she kept a smile on her face, which by the way could melt and ice berg. Come on come all, I always enjoy this place.
(5)
Robert M.
I am being generous by giving 3 stars. The Mexican stuffed shrimp were highly recommended and didn't have much taste. In addition, the shrimp did not taste fresh. Restaurant was not kept cool enough....the staff was cleaning plates off of the table before everyone at the table was finished. The Ahi tuna was delicious; wish I ordered that. The lobster mashed potatoes were a rip off; hardly any lobster in them and they didn't taste that good.
(3)
Paul C.
Arrived and the asked for a seat. The hostess paused and appeared to think about turning us away and we were dressed up. Our waiter took more than ten minutes to show up, forgot to bring 4 menus leaving us instead with 2. When we asked for the martini menu that never appeared either. The pasta was undercooked, the French onion soup had no cheese, the clam chowder was runny, the salad limp and the wine by the glass was probably opened on Wednesday. It was a bad Saturday night double date. Insult to injury we couldn't find our waiter so we could pay. We grabbed another waiter and then got our check It was wrong, so this second waiter tracked down our original waiter to ask about our bill. Normally you'd expect that your original waiter would come back with the corrected check? Not this guy. Bad food + worse service + vinegar masquerading as red wine = big fail.
(1)
T M.
One star for good wine, and one star for nice decor/ambience. But it all ends with the food. We weren't too hungry, so we decided to skip the apps and salad and just have entrees and wine. I ordered the chilean sea bass and it was awful. I like really mild fish (which is why i ordered the sea bass), but what i received had a very strong, pungent fish taste. Obviously not fresh. it was served with polenta (that was slightly burnt) and 4 spears of asparagus, each of which was missing the tip. I only ate one spear, and had to spit it out b/c it was all stalky and woody. My honey ordered the halibut, and while it was better than the sea bass, it was somewhat overcooked. Our server noticed that we didn't eat my entree at all, and didn't bother to ask if there was something wrong. We asked her if the restuarant saw a lot of locals, or if it primarily served tourists. As we suspected, it caters mostly to the tourist. Bottom line: Leave it for the conventioneers and go to The Fishery for some awesome (and fresh) seafood.
(2)
LaLaLolita D.
The service here is amazing, we ate at the bar (b/c it was covered in ice -cool) Friday night and had one of the best bartenders I have ever had --EVER --anywhere---I have come to learn San Diego service leaves something to be desired but not here. That being said ... the food is just OK-- the sliders came on generic grocery store rolls, the crab cake was good but nothing special, the stuffed shrimp & good wine was my highlight. For the price --there are better places
(3)
stacey s.
After the yelp party at Syrah we chose to try Osetra. The place did have a fishy smell to it that even though it is seafood restaurant I was turned off but we were sat right away, which was perfect. We ordered a bottle of chardonay however, I was not thrilled with their wine selection especially for the prices. We ordered the lobster mashed potatoes which were different but delicious with small pieces of lobster! I had the new england clam chowder which was the best I have had recently! Creamed Spinach was good but did have a strong garlic taste to it. Service was prompt and attentive.
(3)
Dulce M.
Great ambiance!!! I'll definately give them that. The service is great with the way they time your appetizers to the time they bring the food. However, the food was very substandard and over-priced! The stuffed prawns were pretty decent but everything else was boring. Portions are small for the cost.
(2)
Phil R.
Osetra is the best place in the Gaslamp if you want to go on a dinner date or catch a local happy hour. My favorite thing on the menu is the Oysters which happen to be on the happy hour menu for only $1 each! I have been here multiple times, and what keeps me coming back is the hospitable staff and consistently amazing food and wine. Did I mention the WINE TOWER?! There is a wine tower in the center of the bar/ restaurant and if your lucky, you will get to see one of the wine angels floating over the crowd only to access some of Osetra's prized wine collection. Overall, I love this place and make it a point to grab something here weekly and catch up on the new with the staff who always remembers who I am (which i love).
(5)
Sarah O.
I am not a picky eater, nor am I a stickler for "exceptional service" I am in the hospitality industry and I know how it is on a busy night. Regardless, it took the waiter at least 30 minutes to take our order, and one hour for the food to come. We were in a strange walkway, and kept getting bumped. We specifically went for the small plates, but they only serve this in the bar unbeknown to us. Instead of comping one of our dishes, he sent us another round of wine, which we did not need (we had already ordered two glasses during the wait). I don't recommend the squid ink (or was it octopus) risotto. I just couldn't get over the squishy texture. Skip it.
(2)
Nick B.
Last Friday night I decided to cruise around the Gaslamp after work, thought I'd have some happy hour drinks and then head back home for some supper (home made). Didn't work out quite like that... I did have drinks and dinner, but I didn't ended up cruising around nor cooking dinner at home. And I'm glad it worked out like that. In fact my first (and last) stop was Osetra Watergrill. I was really impressed by the bar, with a towering (excuse the pan) wine tower. Turns out the place has a really impressive wine list. So, I sat down at the bar and I was greeted by a friendly bartender, which informed me on their happy hour deals and selections. I had my usual J&C and some crab cakes to go with that. Crab cakes were great (so was the J&C) well, two more Jacks and I started to feel really hungry, so I decided to order some dinner. I ordered the AHI TUNA ROLLS seared Ahi, wrapped with spinach served with spicy tuna rolls in a wasabi and soy glaze. It was excellent! And the Ciabatta bread that came with it (yes I know... I'm Italian) was really, really, good too. Well over all a great experience, why not 5 stars? because of the cold draft that was coming from the entrance door. Please keep that door closed =)
(4)
Richard R.
We stopped in here for a quick drink after dinner. After situating ourselves at the bar, we immediately noticed the woman sitting in the swing whose sole function is to retrieve wine from the multi-story wine cellar in the middle of the restaurant. It was an odd version of Cirque du Soleil with a purpose. She seemed to be enjoying her job and she constantly engaged the customers by raising and lowering herself above and below our field of vision while teasing us like 4 year olds. My buddy ordered the McAllen (18) on the rocks. It was his first McAllen and he enjoyed it, very smooth. I had a chip shot which is coffee, Baileys and something else. The drinks were moderately priced and the staff was attentive, engaging and helpful. Blue is my favorite color so I loved this place. There was a section on one of the walls that was composed completely of different colored blue tiles. This color scheme works because there is a seafood restaurant surrounding the bar on 2 sides. The crowd was lively but not boisterous which made for a great place to catch up on old times.
(4)
Lindsey S.
I have only had the opportunity to eat at Osetra once, but it was absolutely phenomenal. It is pretty expensive (I think our bill was about $350 for 4 people), but well worth it for a special occasion. The restaurant is beautifully decorated in different shades of blue - you feel like you're under the sea while eating there. Downstairs is a large bar surrounding a two-story tower which stores hundreds of bottles of wine and they actually have a something called a "wine angel" - a girl who wears a harness suspended from the ceiling and climbs around the tower to retrieve different bottles. Yes, it's kind of gimmicky, but I was still fascinated. Upstairs is the main dining room which looks down to the main floor and has windows which face out over the Gaslamp District. Osetra specializes in seafood, especially oysters and caviar (the restaurant's name derives from a special type of caviar) and all of their food is delcious and beautifully prepared. All of their specialty cocktails are great as well, and I would recommend stopping in for a drink downstairs before a night out.
(5)
Tom S.
Went with freinds for drinks on a Saturday in April, we made the mistake of arriving at 4:35, before Osetra opened, they let us in anyway, and the service was great. The Bartender (Christine?) was great her recommendation for wine was awesome, and the appitizers were great.
(4)
Vlad A.
This is a great dining experience, the staff is very welcoming and the seafood if amazing. i would recommend this as a dining choice in gaslamp. From the moment we entered to the time we left we felt extremely welcome and taken care of, spacial thanks to tony for making it a great dinner.
(5)
Veronica C.
Went here for my birthday, and it was fantastic!!! Can't complain one bit!!! Bartender was awesome, drinks were awesome, wine selection was spectacular, Tuna tartare fabulous, mood and music great, service impecable. Dessert- delicious! Stuffed Sole, Seared Ahi, lobster ravioli, sea bass --- all fabulous! Its on the expensive side, but it is so yummy its worth it. Great Date restaurant and great birthday place. Kick ass Happy Hour too Sunday- thursday i think 5-7!
(5)
Jackie G.
My sister and I had such a great experience at this cool, hip wine bar! We came in to have a glass of wine at the bar and Nancy was very friendly! I definitley recommend this restaurant and they have a great selection of wine!
(5)
Adam C.
For the price, the service is terrible. Food is so so. Not worth 200 dollars for a dinner for two. Much better places in the gaslamp, like the Mongolian grill in the mall.
(1)
Jennifer C.
Hosted a business dinner here during a conference. We had a really poor experience - both service and food. For the price point I expected knowledgable, attentive service, but there were many slip-ups as other reviewers have noted. The food was all mediocre - it was clear no one thought their meal was very good. And the bread was terrible - come on, at least have decent bread! It was expensive and I left feeling had - clearly a place that takes advantage of the conference crowds on expense accounts without familiarity of the area and restaurant to make a better selection.
(1)
T T.
Excellent! Great ambience and atmosphere. Service was great! Staff prompt and helpful with recommendations. Great martinis... strong spirits! Great selections. Appetizers were awesome! Seafood Napoleon was so yummy! Oysters rock! Chilean sea bass was done perfectly, melt in your mouth and gone to heaven. Their cioppino was done perfectly with wonderfully delightful tomato broth. So with drinks, appetizers, main course and dessert, we were all delightfully happy and stuffed!
(5)
Julie L.
Our arrival experience led me to believe this restaurant was really new, but alas, when we asked our waitress and she said they've been open 3 years, all hope was lost. There was a lot of shuffling and confusion about our table and our waiter, which led to several very flustered people (none of them being us, we were just mildly entertained by the chaos.) Our meal certainly wasn't terrible... the ahi tuna rolls were gorgeous and quite tasty (though a bit sweet). We each ordered a salad, and though they were described on the menu as very different, the dressings tasted exactly the same, and they were simply ok. The Flowers Pinot Noir was an incredible match for our meal, and I don't always see that wine on restaurant lists, so that was a highlight. The whole wine angel thing is extremely over-rated... go to Aureole in Vegas - now that's a wine angel! Well, anyway, it could have been worse. But you can certainly find better.
(3)
Glenn F.
We came here for the first time on our anniversary. We were given a very nice, private, window table and thought the decor was modern and done very nicely! Osetra, features a wine tower, so you will find plenty of selections here for your enjoyment! My wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass and I had the Stuffed Mexican Shrimp. The jumbo shrimp are stuffed with lobster, scallops, crab, and fresh herbs. As wonderful as my dish was, the Chilean Sea bass was magnificent and we were impressed with the generous portion. It features a citrus tomato emulsion, served with a grilled polenta and asparagus. The Sea Bass was pan seared and cooked to perfection! This was as good a Sea Bass as we have ever tasted! The staff was friendly and very helpful. Our server was attentive to our needs and made some nice recommendations. To add to the ambiance is a Flamingo guitarist, which makes you want to stay here, long after dinner is done!
(5)
Corey S.
My wife and I had dinner here on a Friday night at 7PM. The place was pretty empty which surprised me. I think when we left there was a total of 4 tables in use. The service was excellent for us, but it is an unfair way to look at service as I think we were our server's only table, and if you can't handle your 1 table well, than you should find another job. Most of the food was excellent. We had the Shrimp Cocktail and the Tempura Shrimp for appetizers and both were very satisfying. For main course, my wife had the Mahi special and she was happy with her meal. She thought that the food was OK, but for 40 or so dollars for the entree she was expecting more. I had the Rib Eye special with Beer battered Fries. I enjoyed my food and thought the steak was excellent. Overall I was pleased with the Dinner, but felt that the price was a bit high for what we got, especially since my wife wasn't that happy with her dinner. On a positive note, since they knew we were celebrating our Anniversary they gave us a free dessert to share of our choice. Small things like that can really help with the overall impression of a place.
(3)
Eric H.
All flash and no bang. A place that wants to be a fishouse. We went here for a business dinner with a large group. That may have impacted the review since banquet meals are much different than normal menu service. However, I will not be coming here again. Atmosphere: Osetra is in a great location in the Glass Lamp. It has an upscale atmosphere and is well decorated. They have the ever-so-trendy "wine angel" - Wine storage that is accessible by strapping a sommelier into a series of pulleys and cables and hoisting them up to the racks, 20 feet in the air. Very good lighting and interesting bar. Open air kitchen. The restaurant has a very good "feel". It's great place to have a martini. Pricing: Expensive. Service: The servers were eager and willing to help, however they appeared to be "out of sync." I mention this because some of the staff seemed to be unfamiliar with the menu that was offered that evening. Also, when you make a request and get the response "well, that's going cost to extra money" it reflects a certain naivet from the service. Obviously, there's going to be an extra cost when you order 45 oysters (which, by the way, were fantastic.) That sort of response is what I expect when I order an extra side dish at Chili's; not at a supposed upscale restaurant. Food Quality: This is where Oserta failed to meet the mark. I ate the oysters, lobster bisque, fennel salad, grilled seabass, and chocolate cake. The oysters were outstanding. The soup and salad were good. For the entre, our table had an even mix between seabass and ribeye. All of the seabass that was served at our table was undercooked. This is unforgivable for place that calls itself a fishouse. Seabass is not a fish to be served medium rare. A simple poke of the fork would clearly indicate that the fish was raw. While I did not eat the steak, the people at our table commented that it was tough and under done. Having spent 7 years in the restaurant business myself, I try to try to keep an open mind. I understand that there are inherent challenges when serving a large group, especially if you are not designed or accustomed to this kind of service. Nonetheless, for the money that we spent, it should have been good. For me, the final dagger was desert. The chocolate cake that I order was well presented (on a pretty plate with swirls of chocolate and caramel), but a quick bite revealed the true nature of this establishment. The cake had obviously spent a fair amount of its life in a refrigerator near the seafood and onions. The cake had been excessively aged and aromatically infused with the other items stored in the fridge. A final note: Don't forget the Imodium - On separate occasions, earlier in the week, two colleagues ate here and both had the Trio of Tartare (a signature dish of Osetra). On the following day, both were complaining of severe intestinal distress. Personally, I didn't experience this but I didn't eat the tuna. I have worked at these sorts of places before (not for very long). If I had to guess, I would say that this place is run businessmen who have a passion is revenue growth and maximizing the profit margin; their passion is not food quality and outstanding service. The things mention above are what you find when the management is more interested in making money than providing an outstanding dining experience. Pass on Ostera. There are too many other places in the area that are far better.
(2)
Melissa Y.
Decor is enough to pay a visit. There's a wine tower like the one at Mandalay Bay in vegas, where girls suspend themselves like Laura Croft in the Tomb Raider. Food is always fresh and everything is clean. Sometimes I like going there just for drinks too. This is a good place to take guests, but make reservations.
(4)
Zen A.
What a huge dissapointment Osetra turned out to be. My daughter and I had a special evening planned and it didn't turn out so good. This restaurant looked really classy and elegant. We sat outside because it was a beautiful evening. Our waiter was fabulous but the food was horrible. Nothing tasted good. When the waiter asked us how our dinner was my daughter told him point blank, "terrible, check please" I almost fell out of my chair because she never complains out loud. He offered us dessert and we were both responded, "no thanks" in the same breath. I have never been this dissapointed over a meal. One star is a gift for this place.
(1)
Kate V.
Trendy. Pricey. Good, but forgettable. Osetra, osetra, osetra... We came here on our concierge's recommendation when we told her we wanted to try a seafood place on our last night in SD. I was impressed with her suggestion upon arrival: the lighting was dim except for candelight and a gleaming blue column in the middle of the restaurant--which turned out to be a floor-to-ceiling wine shelf, from which the hostess was able to retrieve and replace bottles by sitting in a swing-like seat attached to a mechanically-operated cable. Entertaining? Check! Service? Not so much. Our waiter was pretty short with us, without so much as looking us in the eye or mentioning any specials. A robot might have been more personable. The food was far from bad... Chris T. had the sea bass, and I had the jumbo Mexican stuffed prawns (don't remember what was Mexican about them, but they were good). As one might expet at a yuppie place like this one, the menu was kind of spendy, and the portions were small. All in all though, we left satisfied. Would I come here again? Probably not. Minus the Cirque Du Soleil-esque wine tower, I've seen this restaurant before. And there are way too many other pricey, trendy, and good (but not forgettable, and hopefully closer to great) places to try in a big city.
(3)
Ed U.
Amazing fish, had the sea bass with fennel risotto and asparagus which was prepared excellently. Look forward to returning here again.
(4)
Carlos Y.
Music was 3rd rate,the band sounded like a high school 1980s, Air conditioning was not efficient-very stuffy, the place spelled like kitty litter. .yuck
(2)
Dyane P.
Overall, this place is like a 3.5 for me. The food is good, the service is good but its too expensive for what it offers. We came here for San Diego Restaurant Week and our bill was still $130. The food is good, but I have had just as good as food for much cheaper also. The boyfriend and I shared the following courses: Seafood Napoleon - Amazing!! tuna, crab, avocado stacked with wasabi oil. Shrimp and Calamari - This was fine, but I felt like I could get this at ANY bar Lobster Ravioli - This was good, not great. It was full of lobster, the sauce was good, but the pasta itself was much too thick Ahi Tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes - Pretty good. The mashed potatoes were yummy but I think the ahi tuna (which was a good portion) could have been cooked a smidgen longer. This is not because I don't like rare things, I eat sashimi, but the way it was served seemed like it could have used a bit more cooking. Cheesecake - Good, nothing special Tiramasu - Good, but a little too generous on the cocoa dusting on top that it made me cough/choke We also paired our menus with the red wine tasting for $15 each - probably not worth it because the pours were very small, but the wines were good, especially the Chianti. Overall, the ambiance is good and its a nice restaurant for a date. I am planning to come back for their happy hour but don't think I'd return for dinner due to cost, without it being restaurant week again.
(3)
Saleem M.
I was in town for a weekend getaway, and my friend used a Groupon. Osetra honored it, and the staff was extremely friendly. Most importantly, however, was the delicious stuffed sole! That was the best meal of my entire weekend! Great, great stuff!
(5)
Erika Q.
Thanks for a great 18 Year Anniversary experience!
(4)
Stacey S.
My daughter and I came her last night before going to see The Book of Mormon. She'd driven down from school and said she would like to have seafood. Living in SD our whole lives, we decided not to do the old standby's, The Top of the Market, Oceanaire, etc. We read some of the reviews on line and decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint. We started we oyster's on the half shel. They were soft and tender. Very tasty. We split the roasted beet salad. It was good. Could have been dressed a little more for my taste. I had the seared scallops and my daughter had the Chilean sea bass. Both were excellent and we ended up sharing and couldn't decide which we liked more. Our server, please forgive me, I forgot his name, was excellent. His recommendations from wine to food were spot on. We had a fabulous time. I look forward to returning with the rest of our family.
(5)
Andrea U.
I do NOT recommend this place. First off, the smell when you walk into the restaurant is not appetizing at all. Secondly, after ordering out food it took over an HOUR to be served to us! Prior to the food coming I tried to speak to the waiter, he did not stop to speak with me but instead passed by as he told me our food will be here shortly. Our group was here for a special occasion and I decided to speak with a manager, who stated "There is no excuse." Yet, continued to make excuses like they had large parties. However, that did not explain how the table who was seated long after us was served before us. Instead of trying to offer comped meals or anything for that matter, she said she would try to find out what happened. What happened???? Our food was not served to us for over an hour! And we were avoided when trying to inquire about it. Be accountable! This restaurant is not cheap and I receive better service at much cheaper restaurants. I will never go here again. I rarely write reviews on YELP, but this was such horrible service and a lack of respect shown to the patrons that I was inclined to write a review.
(1)
Bill J.
Osetra is one of my go-to seafood places downtown San Diego. They have a wine list that is quite nice and pairs great with the seafood. Their waitstaff is always friendly and although seating is somewhat limited, this will be one of my favorite spots down town.
(4)
Keith R.
So the young lady outside was friendly, she took the time to find out that when we arrived, which was at 9:45PM, there was a "reverse happy hour" in the bar and lounge area. We sat in the lounge area because the bar was full. We sat there for 10 minutes and nobody came to help us. Then 2 seats came available at the bar so we moved there. The bartender came to us and I asked about the happy hour and he tells me there is no happy hour. I told him the lady out front went in and brought us a happy hour menu and said to come in and try. He wouldn't give it to us..... Don't like the lake of communication. Won't be back.
(1)
Steven F.
Great food great drink! Seafood Napoleon is to die for! Ambience and service was friendly and relaxed. Will be back!
(5)
Jinah Y.
You get what you pay for! Super pricey dinner for 4 but the yummy food and the exceptional service was probably worth it. The heirloom tomato & fresh mozz salad was probably the best I have ever had. I am not a huge fish person but I love all other seafood so the surf & turf was an incredibly good choice--SO much food! Tried a couple bites of other fish dishes (stuffed sole & yellow tail) but wasn't as impressed with those. The scallops were pretty perfect though. Was a good choice for a special occasion!
(4)
Evan M.
Came to Osetra with a couple of buddies for a classy meal before a wild night out in the Gaslamp... This was definitely the way to get the night started. We all shared some oysters and sashimi tuna as appetizers; both were fresh as could be. My steak was cooked to perfection and I loved the silver oak Cabernet that our server Jon L. said to pair it with. He helped some of our lady friends pick out the right type of sushi, and we all ended up stuffed and happy. We had a great time talking with him and he really started off our night on the right foot. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Jonnie D.
Nice atmosphere, great happy hour. Server was good but not very personable. Oysters were great, ahi was good...but tartare a bit fishy. Happy hour wine had turned but he replaced upon request without question. Sake flight was silly small.
(4)
Claude N.
The for of us were looking for a nice seafood restaurant. This place pleased all members in the group. Our Waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about their menu. They have an unusual large wine selection. In fact a young lady rode a harnessed one person lift to get wine wich looked about for 1 to 2 stories above us per our amazement. Nice food presentations. Fresh salad and seafoods
(5)
Pamela S.
Great happy hour. Nice fresh oysters for a dollar. Our server/Bartenders have been very friendly and helpful. They serve a mule with Vodka, I prefer it with Bourbon and it tastes really yummy. Very nice atmosphere, comfortable seating. At the bar I like the ledge with the ice that keeps your drinks nice and cold. We have not yet tried it for dinner but, the food looks great.
(4)
M D.
I stopped in for Happy Hour, and was in shock how delicious and well priced it is. A lot of nice restaurants get a bit sloppy on Happy Hour, but not Osetra! Their Seafood Napoleon and Crab Cakes were perfectly prepared and infused with the magical flavors. I love their cocktails, but the St.Petersburg is a must try. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jenna H.
Wow what a great find and yelp did not lead us astray! Truly a 5-star experience from beginning to finish. We happened upon Osetra by chance, took a quick peek at their menu outside, and decided to give it a try. I was a bit worried when the hostess told us we would be the first/only table upstairs when we walked in at 7pm, but that was not the case (granted I did like the privacy we temporarily had) SERVICE: Our server, MARCO, made sure we were well taken care of. He was so pleasant and friendly. My boyfriend and I never felt rushed by him (because we were a bit indecisive on what to get for entrees). Marco was so helpful and gave us his honest advice to all our questions. He also gave us his personal favorites as recommendations to help us with our indecisiveness. He also made some great drink recommendations. Truly a star server, he came by several times throughout our meal to make sure everything was good. FOOD: - Fried calamari: quite honestly this was just okay. Not complaining though since it was FREE with a yell check in! It was good, don't get me wrong, but compared to the rest of our meal it was just -- meh. - Half dozen oysters: super fresh! My boyfriend loved these! - Chilean Sea Bass: Oh. My. God. LOVED this!! This risotto complemented the fish so well and everything was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend loved the bite I gave him that I offered to swap meals half way through our dishes. - Ahi Tuna: seared to perfection! I don't usually like tuna because of its texture, but it was cooked so well and it paired so perfectly with the carrots and mashed potatoes. AMBIANCE: super nice and romantic for a date night! Dark and trendy with fantastic service. Thanks Marco and everyone else at Osetra that made our last night of our vacation in San Diego so fantastic!!
(5)
Julia K.
Me and my friend, first time visitors in San Diego, walked into Osetra around 9pm on Thursday night. We had no preconceived expectations and chose purely by looking at the menu. All the tables were reserved, which is always a good sign, we've decided to have dinner at the bar. We have started with a dozen of Oysters and Foie Gras, and I had lobster ravioli. The food was superb, but what makes the place is the stuff! We were very warmly welcomed by the manager, who even recommended us a few special cocktails. St. Petersburg drink is highly recommended! But of course the highlight of the dining experience was the wine angel, flying up and down right in front of us to get the bottles from the wine tower. I would definitely go out of my way to have a proper dinner at Osetra next time in San Diego.
(5)
Margaret D.
Yay, I think I'm a fan of going out to eat downtown on a Monday night. Plenty of parking, no crowds and great service. Osetra is a classy restaurant with a nice open layout. I ate at the bar where they had happy hour specials. I started with the Ahi Poke Taco's and they were amazing. The light crispy crunch of the taco shell, and the delicious poke filling were perfect. Next I tried the crab cakes which were served on top of a crispy potato cake, again this was another home run. $1 per oyster, they were good, Blue Point, but not amazing. I went for the tiramisu for dessert, which was a very larger serving and enough for two people. There were a few layers, and I felt it was a bit heavy on the cream. Normally I stay away from Sake, but they had a flight of three. My two favorites were the coconut lemongrass and the plum. Our bartender was very nice, since it wasn't busy he came by and chatted for a bit. It was an amazing meal and I couldn't be happier.
(4)
Alex T.
As long as the food is consistently good I'll always be a regular. Once again, hands down two thumbs up. Started with their fresh blue point oysters. Today's pasta special~lobster, mussels, red snapper, shrimps, you name it; it was in the pasta. Great place, awesome ambience, service always on point.
(5)
Adrienne K.
Perched right on the corner towards the end or start of the Gaslamp, this Russian owned establishment is delicious! Although I've never had the desire or opportunity in trying Osetra ("a prized, very expensive caviar") I know you can enjoy this option upon your request. I ordered the Chilean seabass with a custom lemon, butter and caper sauce. It was cooked to perfection! Check out the cool graphiti decor as you enter, pretty cool and modern. I love the upstairs dining the best, gives a great view, as opposed to the downstairs a bit cramped indoor seating dining, or my least preferred outdoor seating area, although small, the riff raff of downtown can spoil your meal and ambiance. Be sure to check in on yelp to utilize the free appetizer!
(5)
Danny H.
'Cause I just wanna look good for you, good for you I just wanna look good for you, good for you Let me show you how proud I am to be yours Leave this dress a mess on the floor at...OSETRA! - Selena Gomez (good for you) We were staying in downtown for 4th of July and this was within walking distance for us. The bread to start off was addicting, the alcoholic beverages were great, the soup of the day (corn soup) was delicious, the caprese salad had extremely fresh ingredients, the broccoli was cooked perfect; however my steak was way overcooked and not satisfying. I should've stuck to their fish menu..oh well service was super on point and they were so consistent that it seemed we had our own server for the evening. Also she spotted a wine angel!
(4)
Zana P.
This amazing fish house has to die for cocktails, scallops and flying angels! For an amazing dining experience with entertainment, come to Osetra in 5th Ave. I love the food my favorite dish is sea scallops with caviar was sooo good our server Toni was amazing! Thank you so much, for sure will be back soon!
(5)
Lindsey H.
A restaurant with energy, excellent food, and service:This a restaurant with an interesting design. There is seating outside and inside. Most impressive is the vertical presence with what appears to be multiple levels of seating. This is a sister restaurant with Greystone, which is also excellent. They both have comparable excellent wine lists. We foiund the hostesses to be friendly and accomodating. I get the feeling this restaurant is mostly attrractive to out of towners, particularly travelers on business. Regardless, it is still very worthwhile.
(4)
Victor M.
This place has the best service in the gaslamp! Words cannot express my experience! My whole meal was a joy from start to finish! You should just come and try it!!! And see Olga she is precious!
(5)
Jennifer F.
Stumbled into this restaurant on a Saturday night around 11:00 and they had a fabulous late night happy hour ! My bartender Andrea was so wonderful she took great care of us . I had the calamari which had shrimp in it as well. Delicious I also ordered the 4 different cheese platter . I am impressed they give you a lot of cheese on there platter . The live music was awesome !
Having done a little shopping prior, and lost track of time, I walked into Osetra at 9:55 pm - 5 minutes before closing during the middle of the week. I was seated without any problem and received good service even as they started to clean up the patio and some staff checked out. Only being somewhat hungry, having eaten some appetizers during the poster session at the conference I was in town for, I ordered a bowl of mushroom soup topped with crab (the soup of the day) and a chocolate lava cake. Both were delicious. As I ate, it was nice to sit by the front window and watch the people outside and inside. All the staff were friendly. My server Marco was particularly nice, even a bit flirtatious, and I wish I had done a better job flirting back :-). (I don't usually dine alone so this was a nice novelty in a couple places but most memorable here.). I debated about coming back to try the sea bass but I ended up going to another restaurant.
(4)
Dan B.
I agree with a lot of reviews - good, but pricey. I came here as part of a large, organization-size dinner (I think there were about 30 of us in the party), and we were able to order from something of a modified set menu. Choose from 2 starters (salad or soup), from 3 entrees (fish, raw fish, or meat), and from 2 desserts (doesn't matter to me). I went with the salad, which was a very good house salad with an emulsified dressing. I asked the friendly waiter why the dressing looked creamy and he said it's because they put it in a blender. Huzzah! No lactose. Dinner was a bone-in rib-eye that was above-average, though not the greatest piece of meat I've ever had. I also had part of my pal's mahi-mahi, which was actually a bit overcooked, and I can't help but wonder if the large size of our group may have played a role (perhaps a dish or two sat on a counter while others were finished up). Dessert I ignored. The wines we had to choose from were both very good - I didn't get a look at the names. Still, the food was very good, as a whole. I overdid it and got indigestion, but that's my own fat-fault. The waiter was very, very good, dealing with our huge group. But arguably my favorite part of the whole experience is the bathroom with the sink OUTSIDE the one-stall. Great idea! I can use the restroom in peace, then wash my hands while someone else gets started on their trip. Very efficient use of space.
(4)
Sanjay P.
Great place! Good food and good drinks. Our server Olga was awesome. Thanks Olga for taking great care of us. We will go back there again for sure.
(5)
Linda J.
Had to come write another review because they made our night so special. Was here last night with the hubby for our anniversary and had an amazing time! Our server Jessica was great and the food was delicious!! For drinks she recommended the Sonoma Chardonnay and the Bordeaux which went perfect with our dinner! For appetizers we started with the Crab cake and Calamari which were cooked perfectly. Then we had the Chilean Sea Bass and Scallops which were amazing! I couldn't have been more pleased with our experience here. Everything from the atmosphere to the food was exquisite. And our server made sure we had a really fun time here! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Jamie R.
Osetra is a sturgeon. Not just any old sturgeon, but a big, nearly extinct fish from Russia. The older it gets, the more valuable the roe. For a while, you couldn't get it in the US, & it's still that desirable and unique. The proprietor here is Russian, as are several of his staff. So I asked if there was Osetra (the caviar) in the house. I was assured that yes, it's offered, but from domestic, farmed fish. So many gorgeous seafood choices to consider. Finally persuaded, I had lobster salad which was luscious chopped lobster meat turned into a timbale, lined with balsamic tomato and avocado. Superb Loved the posh decor. There's a 2 story wine tower bathed in alternating colors of light. A stairwell leads to a second floor; during our visit, a large group of what appeared to be escaped cruise ship passengers huffed/puffed up those. Totally unnoticed is a contemporary commission by muralist Retna. He made up his own coded alphabet a few years ago for street art, and a sampling is here as wallpaper. I recommend this spot to anyone venturing into the Gaslamp District with more than hard drinking and bad decisions in mind. Osetra is a cultural & culinary delight,
(5)
D B.
Awesome restaurant, great service, meal was delicious. Katrina was our waitress and she was awesome. Great conversation. You should move to NYC Katrina! =)
(5)
Clare E.
My husband and I had a wonderful meal here last week! My sister recommended it to us because she knows I love Lobster. We lucked out and had a really friendly and professional server Marco who helped described the dishes perfectly! My husband and I shared a lobster tempura roll and the lobster bisque for our first course then Marco recommended the salmon and the lamb Osso buco which did not disappoint!! Marco even recommended A good movie theatre near by! We had an excellent night and will return:)
Nice dinner at the bar with my friend a couple weeks ago. Bartenders were attentive and gave some good recommendations on food and drinks. A good place for a formal dinner or a more casual night out like ours. The Prawns were my fav!! I'm not too keen on seafood like oysters and all but I've heard great things about it here. I'm a tequila type of guy so I went with the Piñata for my cocktail which I loved. My friend got the St. Petersburg (Vodka based) and we both liked the refreshing taste it had with the basil and lemon. I'd suggest this place to someone roaming around the famous Gaslamp Quarter if it was a really busy night... Not stellar but I was satisfied.
(3)
Karl S.
Here as guests of our friend, part of a group of 6. Before dinner cocktails were great and seated near the back of the room. The place is LOUD so service suffers a bit, but the waitress do their best. I'm not a huge fan of Restaurants that are so loud, but we were guests of a great friend. Wifey ordered the Spicy Tempura Tuna Roll for a appetizer. This was fantastic. Our host ordered an order of the Caviar and we all loved it. For the main I had a special of Seafood, Pasta and a spicy tomato sauce. Was great. Wifey had the King Crab and she loved it. Overall was a great dinner with great company.
(4)
Eric F.
We came here for a pre-dinner drink and some appitizers - but the food is so tasty that I can't wait to come back for a full meal. I had oysters from the raw bar. They were good but not as good as the best I've ever had. However, for a place that is NOT specifically an oyster bar I was impressed. We almost got the caviar but in the end we decided not to spend the money. However, I am impressed and happy to find a place that actually serves a nice litle caviar plate in the proper way. To continue, we tried their creamed spinach because my companion MUST try all creamed spinach... and we had the calimari and shrimp starter as well as the Asperigus Tempura. All good. The wait staff was also very helpful and friendly - even when we sat through the shift change from lunch to dinner. As we were paying the bill we saw a lovely looking seafood stew/soup come out (with pasta underneath) It was the Ciappino, a traditional California/San Francisco dish, originated by the Italian immigrants who helped create the fishing industry here a hundred or so years ago. It has lots of fish and shellfish in it, including crab legs.. It looked so good. I will come here again.
(4)
Evelyn R.
Menu was great. Food better. Service impeccable (Olivier from Nice). The seafood sampler for two was SWEET! Oysters (Cumay my fav), mussels, shrimp, lobster, crab - this left your mouth watering. Olivier has secrets, too!Osetra sits in the heart of the Gaslamp District. The atmosphere was great. The Hari Krishnas were rocking music as they cruised around the district. The bicycle cabs were playing hits from the 80s on their radios as they took people around town.The food and ambiance is really perfect! Highly recommend!
(4)
Cyndi D.
We just stopped by for a drink and oysters they were having a special and we could not resist. We loved the bar and the chill shelf that goes along the bar very neat as we had never seen such a thing, we laughed as we thought we do need that where we come from out in the desert. The decor is nicely done and when your there, hopefully you will see the flying angel as she comes out to take wine out of this lovely wine cellar that is over the bar. She flies around and gathers the wine from different locations. very cool and nicely done.
(4)
Armani M.
Very cool bar! I just stopped by for drink here, it was strong as it should be. Beautiful Russian lady at the door didn't lie. She described the menu so vividly that my mouth started watering. I had to have an appetizer. I got tempura jumbo shrimps and they were awesome! I have to come back for a full dinner 100%
(5)
Tom D.
We came here for happy hour. The happy hour food menu is quite good. They offer oysters on the half shell for a dollar a piece. Very fresh and beautifully prepared. They also have a sizable fish sandwich with fries, which is worth trying. The California roll was good, and so were the mini crab cakes. Our server was attentive and professional. The vibe is classy and up scale. Worth trying if you're in the gas lamp quarter.
(4)
Gary M.
I enjoyed both the Mahi Mahi and the pear salad to start. My wife had the swordfish and it was OK. The service was very prompt and good. Out waiter John L was extremely courteous and helpful. The atmosphere and the decor are both very nice. Overall, worth the trip!
(4)
Tim L.
The food was decent to good, but the service was lacking, especially for the price. It started with a C- waiter, but he was ousted after multiple screw ups. The next guy was pretty good, B+, but somehow my bottle went up by $20 over the original listed price on the menu. The bruschetta was okay, but not toasted enough. They brought out the wrong calamari dish and the second dish was missing shrimp for the most part. Stuffed sole was okay but the fish was plain tasting. Would pass on this place the next time around.
(2)
Marissa R.
My hsband and I walked in here on Friday evening; we were walking around downtown looking for a Happy Hour spot. The girl at the front was really nice so we tried it out, we sat at the bar and I'm sorry, I'm horrible with remembering names, but the bartender was amazing. Our drinks were so good, my husband wants to go back for another Piñata lol! And our appetizers were perfect! My drink was good too, we started asking questions about wine and he was very helpful teaching us about different wines, we've never been wine tasting but we now feel comfortable ordering! Thank you for making it a great experience for us!
(5)
Katy S.
Amazing fish house located in the center of beautiful downtown San Diego. Beautiful restaurant decorated with classy decor, giving it a classy vibe. They have an amazing wine tower with a wine angel! One of the coolest thing I got to experience there. There bar Is full service and includes a Seafood bar which displays fresh seafood! There seafood is amazing and is a great place for large parties! They also have a lot of variety on there menu including steaks and pasta as well! There Chilean sea bass is to die for, definitely a dish I would recommend trying! They also have a vast selection of wines, which is a plus! Would recommend to all types: families, couples, business dinners etc.
(5)
Sara M.
Awesome service. Great food. Reasonable prices. Good wine list. Loved the atmosphere.
(5)
Cv m.
Ok, this review is long overdue. I love the wine angels! It's unique to the area. I like the location. I have a young son, I love that it's a family friendly place, yet it remains classy and sophisticated. Love the fact that I can order pasta from menu and ask for a sushi roll (just because, I love sushi!). The seafood with italian flare is fantastic! Great service! Great patio. The 2nd floor is beautiful! I would consider this for any business meeting or private family event, it's so big and has private rooms! Live Music too! Yup a favorite to visit with the hubby.
(5)
Elle N.
Delicious oysters. Very fresh, beautifully shucked.
(5)
Jamie S.
Great happy hour! $1. Oysters :) Went on a Tuesday afternoon and they took great care of us. Diana is wonderful!!
(5)
DAN S.
I ate at Osetra again last night. I had an excellent wine as recommended by the bartender, a couple rolls and the vermouth oysters. All the dishes were as recommended by their manager and were fantastic. The oysters in particular were very different than I've ever had before and I loved them. (Actually getting hungry again just writing this!) I always suggest Osetra when I have out of towners visiting and they want seafood in the Gaslamp. Love the restaurant remodel and will definitely remember Osetra when planning my next party. Great great meal!!!?
(5)
jessica o.
Last time I was here I had an amazing time so I decided to come back ... This time I sat in the bar for happy hour Adriana and Lisa took care of me not only do thy make great drinks but they also make you laugh :) Wine Angels are beautiful. I loved the Scallops dish, the scallops were so huge. Saint Petersbug drink was recommended to me and I loved how fresh and delicious it was. Looking forward to the next time!
(5)
Marquetia C.
Perfectly elegant atmosphere for the experienced fine diner, with service and an elevated yet understandable menu for the foodie who is looking to enjoy a meal done with professionalism and an artistic touch. Unlike the chain cookie cutter "Italian" restaurants that drown food in low grade Parmesan cheese and drown every noodle with red sauce. This is a genuine Italian menu from the sea. I look forward to treating myself there again, and again. Oh, and the wine the waiter selected for me worked perfect with my crab cake. Love it when a wait staff knows the menu and how to compliment your meal.
(5)
Sunset R.
Mussels as a starter. Had the chilean sea bass. It was delicious. Service was great(thanks Andrew)
(5)
Kay K.
I would love to give this place 5 stars because the food was so delicious. The service was really bad. I had a new york steak and beef battered fries. Steak was cooked really well and had an amazing sauce. It comes with mashed potatoes which tasted delicious. Friends got salad, tuna roll, rib eye, and bass. We were all happy with the delicious food which was cooked to perfection but the server was just bad. He was curt, rude, and abrupt. We all agreed that he had no business working in a high end joint like Osetra. He didn't bring a steak knife until asked, left the wine glasses on table until asked and made many elementary mistakes. Food took an hour to come out. Overall, I would recommend this place because the food was impressive.
(4)
Lusine V.
So i give three stars because of the service. The food was in fact very very tasty. The service on the other hand was terrible. I think i should not generalize it possibly since it was only our waiter (this bald guy) that was incredibly rude and lacked professionalism. I would definitely go back and make sure not to get the same waiter.
(3)
Dj F.
Me and my family had an amazing time here. Definitely coming back.Great customer service and the food was great
(5)
Nataliya P.
I missed this place since the Valentine's dinner, so last night was a time to go back!!! It was a very different on the Valentine's night everyone was extremely busy, however last nigth was the best service in town!!! We already know that the food here is always fantastic no matter what you order! We usually have an aperitif at the bar, by the way the bar has an ice strip, you keep your glass on it and you cocktail will stay nice and cold:) We started with an octopus salad and some hand rolls it was delicious, after moving to the table I had lobster ravioli and a bottle of my favorite California Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena! In any occasion this is a great place to go either for a full dinner or just cocktails and appetizers at the bar love it! We must have spent over three hours there last night!!! Keep the good work guys, we will always come back!!!
(5)
Angela G.
My family and I came to San Diego for our first time on vacation. Our concierge at the hotel recommended that we come to Osetra for a nice dining experience, and it was nothing short of amazing. Every dish we had was phenomenal and prepared to perfection. Our waiter, Jon L, was very professional, attentive and friendly, and knew just the right things to recommend on the menu. Highly suggest the scallops, and king crab linguini dish.
(5)
Nat K.
Seriously best sushi roll ever (the anniversary) and all the other yummy food we ordered. Jon was our waiter and such a gentleman and provided great service. He didn't judge us for how much food we ordered. Would for sure come back
(5)
Angela G.
Had dinner here with my best friend last night and was very impressed. First off I have to say I love the wine tower and the fact that the wine angels have to fly up to grab the wine bottles upon request is entertaining. We both had the jumbo sea scallops over the soft polenta and lobster chunks and it was so delicious! Will return for some happy hour soon.
What? What did you say? Huh?? That;s what you find yourself saying every 5 seconds here. Literally the loudest restaurant i have ever eaten in, other than basketball arena. It's too bad because the food is really good. But when your waiter is shouting the specials to you, well, there's a limit. Sorry. Stay away.
(1)
Terrance W.
So disappointed, the lobster mashed potato side was my favorite dish few years ago. It was buttery with CHUNKS of lobster and awesome ! Got it today, no meat, barely lobster "flavored" but somewhat tasty anyway. I still really like this place and will go back for other items, but they killed a unique treat.
(2)
Bruce C.
We had a nice time here. It's a huge place, and nicest seating is upstairs around the atrium. We had an enthusiastic server, a nice cocktail, and the food was ok. Not really 4* food, but we're talking about the tourist quarter in San Diego here, so since this place is one of the better ones, marking it up a bit. For starters, had beet salad and bruschetta. The beets tasted very bland though rest of salad was ok. The bruschetta toast was, strangely, only mildly toasted on one side. Hello? The bruschetta is supposed to have well toasted bread. Tomatoes on top were ok,. Had two fish dishes (but their menu is large and features many non-seafood choices) and one was quite good (the sea bass). Other was a bit overcooked (mahi-mahi), but otherwise tasty. For dessert, we had their tiramisu. NIcely moist, but strangely fruit flavored.
(4)
John B.
Stopped by after a long day at work for happy hour. The apps where so delicious I decided to have dinner as well. I had the Filet mignon and crab legs, my steak was seasoned and cooked to perfection and the crab legs were on point as well. Kudos to the chef. This may become a weekly routine for me! Highly recommend!
(5)
Jenee-maree N.
We came in during ComiCon and I immediately loved that staff was dressed up for the occasion. We got the bruschetta as an appetizer (delicious) and I had the lamb osso bucco for my entree. It was cooked perfectly, and I even had the leftovers for breakfast the next day. The wine selection is pretty extensive and cute wine angels retrieve it for you. The ambiance and vibe was a really nice contrast to the busy streets outside. John, our server, was also from Tennessee so we bonded over that. He provided prompt, excellent service and made us feel at home. Next time, we will be in for happy hour.
(5)
Anna Maria G.
We stopped in for a glass of wine and appetizers to check out the bar and wine angels. Loved the food and service so much that we stayed for a full dinner. Lobster ravioli were awesome, and Ahi Tuna was so fresh and delicious. Great place!!!!
(5)
Muhammad A.
Tried their sashimi tuna appetizer and jumbo scallops! Best dished I've tried in a while. Very pleased with the food quality and especially service. I saw the stuff working really hard. The server had a great personality and all his suggestions were right on spot. Nice selection of wines by the glass to compliment your dinner. Great spot for dinner!
(5)
Yen P.
The sea food pasta (special of the day) is so good. I can taste the sweetness of the fresh claims, shrimp, and mussels. The pasta sauce is just spice enough to make the dish to a different level. Try it when you are in Gaslamp!
(4)
Marco C.
On this trip from Italy my hotel concierge recommend i dine at osetra fish house(gaslamp) I started with the house osetra Moscow Mule. I went with my waiters appetizer recommendation;shellfish platter. For entree I stuck with seafood and choose the ahi tune with the soy glanced reduction. My date had the surf & turf,which she loved. Both presentation & taste were 2thumbs up. Thank you for a lovely evening.
(5)
Shruti N.
I really didn't enjoy my experience here and neither did my boyfriend. We had veal fettuccine and mahi mahi. The mahi mahi was pretty good but the pasta had absolutely no flavor. Service was lackluster and overall I just felt like the meal was overpriced. Meh, skip this.
(2)
Kelli T.
About 6 years ago my Mother and I had the most amazing crab cake while vacationing in San Diego. We compare every crab cake we've had since then saying "this isn't as good as the one we had in San Diego". Unfortunately we could not remember the name of the restaurant. Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2014, we are back in San Diego and were trying to find restaurants that are open. Thankfully we found Osetra and the moment I walked in I knew it was the place with "the best crab cake ever" from 6 years ago. We brought our own bottle of wine that we purchased earlier that day from The Wine Bank which came with a coupon for free corkage at a few local restaurants (including Osetra which normally charges a $25.00 corkage fee). Needless to say we had a wonderful non-traditional Thanksgiving meal. Started with the infamous crab cake and it was just as great as the first time. Followed by Seafood Napoleon and Lobster Bisque. Adriana was our bartender/server and she was fantastic!!
(4)
Cecilia O.
Everything was amazing! Went here last week and not only was the food delicious but the service couldn't be beat. The lobster bisque and the scallops had so much flavor but what actually made me want to come back was our server Alec. He was so knowledgeable about the menu, friendly, and he was always there when we needed him. Not only was Alec the best server but everyone else was so nice and hard working. The hostess was friendly (not pushy to get us in the door), the bussers made sure we never needed water, and even the food runner (a guy with a bread who's name I think started with a R) made sure we didn't need anything else after he dropped off the food. This place is a must when you want seafood and great service!
(5)
Aysha S.
Excellent sushi menu and great service. Very fast and friendly for being a classy nice place.
(5)
Michael N.
Service was outstanding on 2/9/15. Dined in the bar on high top table. Enjoyed raw oysters and Rockefeller, plus Tuna roll. Food was fresh, well presented and delicious. Getting back to the service, it was attentive, prompt and efficient with regular "ck'ins" to confirm all was ok. Overall very nice dining experience. Plus Yelp savings!!!
(4)
Shelly H.
Amazing!! My boyfriend and I came to Gaslamp but unfortunately we couldn't agree on what to eat. We finally came across Osetra which seemed to satisfy both of our cravings and all I can say is wow! We got seated right away and our server was so friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere was perfect for a date night. We got started with Chesapeake Crab Cake and it was one of the best crab cakes I've tried! For my entree, I got the Chilean Sea Bass and it was incredible. From presentation to taste, it was absolutely perfect. My boyfriend got the Prime New York strip and he loved it! Both dishes were cooked to perfection. We ended up sharing both of the dishes because they were just too good not to. This is the best fish house I have been to since moving to the West coast. Everything was so fresh and delicious. 5 star service, taste, and experience! I'll definitely be returning soon.
(5)
SoCalFoodies F.
We had a bad experience the first time we went here and so they contacted us and invited us back. Amazing difference !! A few months ago and had a sad 1-star experience but We were invited back and Sara took great care of us this time. The food was amazing and the service impeccable. It was a night and day different experience. Thanks for the great evening Osetra.!! So glad that we gave it another try !
(5)
Barry T.
This place has a pretty solid Happy Hour menu. My friend and I ate a lot of $1 Oysters. That's a pretty good value, since Oysters are normally pricey. I wasn't too crazy about the Spicy Tempura Tuna Roll. I thought that was too sweet. The Seafood Napoleon was a good dish. Though I do think the Happy Hour Menu was good, I think it could be a lot better. A lot of the items were not creative and unoriginal. My favorite Happy Hour place would still be Roppongis in DT La Jolla. Overall, this place is a good restaurant for Happy Hour. I would come back again if i were around the area.
(4)
Mike B.
So I'm in town for a few days and this place is close to my hotel at Horton Plaza. Great service from the bartender and a really good Saturday happy hour. I had oysters, shrimp cocktail and a bad ass Old Fashioned sitting at the bar. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Joe F.
Hit this place for happy hour Friday. Oyster bar has tasty oysters at reasonable price. Also got the Seafood Napoleon and wife raved about it, good enough we got a second one :) Service at the bar is excellent. We will definitely come back to try dinner service.
Came here last weekend for an early dinner. The place seemed nice, always wanted to try it, finally got the chance to. They were accommodating and polite..Service was solid, the apps we had were good. Had the Tuna tartar and burratta.. For my entree, I ordered a rib-eye medium rare..It came well done, instantly sad. I asked my waiter if maybe he put it in as well done and misheard me but it was clearly the kitchens error, he was quick to correct the situation even though I said it was ok and I was in a hurry. He had the kitchen rush out another rib-eye which was prepared correctly this time but under seasoned. Lobster mash was delicious though. I'll give this place another go probably when I visit SD again, solely because of the service our waiter provided.
(3)
J D.
We dropped in here one evening during our trip to check out their happy hour. It came highly recommended by friends and we were excited to give it a try. Happy Hour starts at 4:30 and we were there at the start. After browsing the Happy Hour Cocktail menu, we decided on Mojitos ($7)....damn, they were good! I lost track of how many after the 4th one....by 8 o'clock, we were smashed. Good thing we were staying downtown and were able to walk *stumble* back to our hotel. Next trip, we're going to come back and try the food....LOL Return Factor - 90%
(4)
Kent R.
We were just walking and saw A gal hanging from a trapeze stacking the wine. Looked interesting so we went to eat. Bad decision. The place was very quiet but the bartender was not friendly and the food was frankly quite boring. We did enjoy watching the gal on the trapeze but would not go back
(2)
Lana R.
Decent happy hour (food & drinks)! The patio is dog friendly. The regular menu is overpriced.
(4)
Kevin J.
Best Seafood restaurant in downtown San Diego hands down! My girlfriend and I went here for a nice seafood dinner, and this place did not disappoint. We started with the crab cake and a nice bottle of wine. The crab cake was amazing with lots of crab and mango and other good stuff in it. If you like wine this is the place for you, Osetra has a huge wine list and they have "wine angles" that go and grab the bottles from the rakes.Our entrees, I had the Chilean Sea Bass that was so awesome and fresh. My girlfriend had the Scallops that were cooked perfectly and so amazing I wanted to eat her dish too. I can't say enough about this place, if your looking for a great dinner with a cool atmosphere and top notch service , try Osetra!
(5)
Jill P.
The food was actually pretty good, although pretty basic, and very over-priced. Our waiter was extremely condescending and rude. I don't care how good the food is, I will never eat here, again. The sommelier was friendly and helpful, but the waiter made us feel unwelcome.
(2)
Teresa D.
We had a wonderful dinner at this fishhouse. Lovely atmosphere, varied menu and wine list. 4 foodies found dinners that we perfect! Our waitress Olga, was hterrific as well as h helpful and beautiful. Yelp really helped me find a great place for 3 well dined physicians, thank you! We highly recommend!
(5)
Jimmy R.
Food and ambiance was great, but for the price, not worth it. Our server was very nice but chose not to tell us about a few things. Apparently, we were charged 2 bucks for "Open Food" which I later determined was the tiny bottle of Tabasco that was GIVEN to us. Tabasco, aside, what really bothered me was how they charged us for the bisque, which was in fact amazing. "Would you like soup or salad?" Usually, the word 'or' implies a choice between two things, but what they really should've asked was, "would you like soup or salad or nothing, because nothing is $20 cheaper than the first two options." Don't trick me into buying your expensive soup, please. And lastly, the food was great, but even before the hidden fees debacle, I had already determined that the quality of the food did not warrant such a high price for the meals.. The band was excellent though! Twas the only thing that saved the night for me.
(3)
Mustapha O.
Went there for the first and last time. Xpensive and over the top. I did not like my entree so the waiter offered us a free dessert. At the end, instead, he discussed it with his mean looking manager and decided to charge us for both dessert and throw in a free Tiramisu (worth 10 cents) that was not needed... No wonder the place had plenty of seating on a Saturday night... Instead, I would recommend Cafe Cloe or bo beau.
(1)
Vincene M.
Excellent! Nice decor and presentation. Food was delicious, cocktails were great, excellent service! I would definitely go back.
(4)
C F.
Went a few months ago and had a sad 1-star experience. Went back again and it was much better this time.
(3)
Britt H.
2 stars for service, 2 stars for amazing wine collection and wine tower! It's just wonderful to watch some wine bungee-ing whilst enjoying a fancy meal.
(4)
Jay D.
O'setra? Nope, Not Irish. Olestra. Nope, you're thinking of Olestra, a fat substitute in potato chips. Olvera? Nope, that's a kicking historical old town main street in Los Angeles. Aloe vera? Nope, that's a healthy plant extract from succulents. Osetra. More like et cetera. A few nights ago, the girlfriend and I stopped in for Happy Hour before checking out Anthony Bourdain at Spreckles nearby. Sure, let's check out the wine tower that Osetra boasts about. Well, it is a tall (about 30-feet tall at least) wine tower case that employees must suspend themselves along each side with wires above the dining crowd. Maybe 5 years ago I'd be impressed, but after seeing Hollywood stunts, hidden wires, Hong Kong martial arts movies and Mission Impossible, I'm desensitized. We ordered. 1) Seafood Napoleon - layers of lump crab, spicy tuna and guacamole. Drizzled with wasabi oil. 2) Lobster Bisque 3) Chesapeake Crab Cake - pan seared white lump crab finished with fresh mango chutney. Served with a Russian remoulade. 4) Oyster Rockefeller - Not on the menu, but we asked for it. Oyster half shells topped with butter, parsley, herbs, bread crumbs and broiled. 5) Among many drinks of whiskey and glasses of wine. The two of us ordered a number of Happy Hour items shown above that totaled about $100 bucks. Happy Hour means that select items were 50% off. Not ballers by any means, but a $100 Happy Hour for 2 is relative high, even if you offset our drinks. The joint is nice, classy, and busy as you can see that there are regulars. The bartending staff is awesome and friendly. That said, it's a good place, no beef (it is a seafood place, pun) about it.
(3)
Amy B.
Great Happy Hour!!! Great wine selection. Sat at the bar planning on moving to a table, ended up staying all night at the bar. Friendly staff, fresh seafood and $1 oysters for happy hour. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)
Cole C.
Had dinner at Osetra the other night while visiting San Diego. While there are plenty of options for dining in the Gaslamp District, this place should not be missed. I had the calamari, which was served with three different dipping sauces, perfectly cooked and delicious. For dinner, I had the scallops, served on lobster polenta and topped with caviar. It blew me away. The service was attentive, friendly and professional, even as the place got busy. As I was dining alone, I was checked on by my server, the hostess and the busboy, to assure I wasn't neglected, as often happens when one is traveling on business and dining alone. I would definitely recommend.
(5)
Javier D.
Walked into Osetra on Valentine's Day, it was a busy night of course, and the bar was also full. We were greeted and taken to a table on the first floor. Our friendly server came soon after and offered sparkling water, he also recommended a gin cocktail called Mr Miyagi which was spicy and delicious. We started our meal with half a dozen oysters, they were medium in size, fresh, and buttery; it was my date's first time eating oysters and she enjoyed them too. Then we shared the pear salad and the calamari and shrimp, Our server suggested a glass of Sauvignon Blanc that paired perfectly with both dishes. For our main course my date ordered the crab legs ( which arrived already cut down the middle and easy to enjoy without any work done to them) I ordered the Rib eye steak so we could share and have a surf and turf course. The steak was cook perfectly to a medium rare and as my side I chose the lobster mash potatoes (fluffy and with enough chunks of lobster meat in them). I forget our server's name, but he had long hair tidde up in a cool ponytail and he kept a smile on his face through the whole meal. We will be back to Osetra when we come to San Diego again!!!
(5)
Michael J.
I love this place, comes complete with wine angels! The food is awesome, and they have the best raw bar: oysters, lobster...yummm! The wine list is awesome, and from what I understand, the mixed drinks aren't too shabby either. A must check out if you're in the Gaslamp. Very elegant seating upstairs, and Gaslamp casual downstairs, and at the bar.
(4)
Jeff G.
Great food!! Tuna was fabulous. Highly recommend. Staff was fabulous. We sat outside and of course the weather couldn't have been better.
(4)
Briget P.
The Seafood Napoleon was amazing! Layer after layer of deeeelish! Crab meat, seared Ahi Tuna, and avocado sitting in a sesame and wasabi sauce. Amazing. The lobster ravioli was a little too rich for me, too many of bites of it made me sick of the over cheesy sauce. The Yellowtail was seared to perfection! Yum loved that. Although I did not care for the Lemon Chicken with capers. Trying to dress up a chicken=fail. And for dessert, people won't stop raving about the Tiramisu. But in actuality it was mediocre to me. Excellent service.
(3)
W. G.
I dined here on a Sunday evening with a group of colleagues on a recent business trip to San Diego. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of food; however, the service left more to be desired. There was a sense of disorganization (and even slight chaos) in the service overall. Our reservation was not arranged correctly to begin with, then the server did not even take our drink orders for at least 45 minutes. Thereafter, several servers came by who lacked knowledge of the menu items, including daily specials, wine options, and ingredients in the menu items. One of my colleagues received chopsticks to use to consume her pasta dish, and many of the orders were mixed up. The food itself was fantastic however; the appetizers were quite large, especially the crab cake, and the oysters were fantastic! For our main courses, the highlights were the Ahi Tuna and Stuffed Sole, which were well portioned and seasoned with tasty side dishes. One of my colleagues requested the chocolate cake for dessert, which they had run out of; instead, it was substituted with a sorbet, which was slightly disappointing. I myself had the chocolate mousse which was superb. I would recommend this restaurant for its ambiance and the food, although I would hope that the service provided would live up to that quality as well.
(3)
Mario L.
I went there with a friend of mine last night and we had a very nice time. The food was really good. And the atmosphere was exceptional! The wine wall is incredible! The server was very knowledgeable and was always there when I needed him but never over whelming. We spoke with the bar tender for a few minutes while waiting for a table and she was very friendly and very pretty.
(5)
Rebecca A.
This is my favorite place for happy hour! They have amazing $1 oysters and half off selected appetizers. The staff is always so friendly with me and cater to any need. Have had dinner here as well plenty times, it is impeccable. The seared ahi tuna is my favorite. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Sher M.
The ambience of this restaurant is beautiful... we went on valentine's day so it was busy and loud.... but the food wasn't as great as it should be for the price. The service was not that great either, at one point our waiter was pretty rude, which I am sure was due to the stressful busy night but still... But the tempura spicy tuna rolls are amazing!
(3)
Casey H.
This was the last straw for me and my relationship with Yelp! Where in God's name did all these 4&5 star reviews come from? Can you spell nepotism? Are you kidding me? The reviews had to be coming from friends and family or just out right bought because everything about our night here sucked! We were traveling here from San Francisco for our annual board meeting and happened upon this eatery as our first choice spot was booked with an unusually large dinner party. Their two pretty young girl barkers beckoned us in promising that the pasta dishes were all homemade and the seafood was fresh...freshly previously frozen in reality. I make pasta at home and this pasta was actually all from a box. So they lied about the pasta and the fresh seafood...but the real kicker is the PRICE of these lies. All three of the four people in our group ordered "Specials" and each special was approximately $50 each....which is fine...but the caliber of execution in our so called signature dishes was appalling. Everyone's seafood was entirely over cooked...and mine in fact, arrived just barely warm. It must have been sitting out for a while for the other three dishes to catch up. Adding to the sorry execution of these meals was a thoroughly ruinous waiter...we ended up pouring our own wine because he was not to be found anywhere near our table during most of our service. At the end of the day...I no longer trust yelp and I warn out of town guests to avoid this place like the plague. You will end up being sorry you ever entered into this establishment! BTW, this is the first time I have ever given a one star review.
(1)
Nushie N.
This place is amazing. I had the spaghetti and prawns and OMG. Foodgasam in my mouth!!! I've never had such well cooked pasta! And the shrimp was perfectly cooked and fresh. I stared with the grapefruit fennel beet salad and OMG was that perfect. I wasn't expecting to like the grapefruit as much as I did. The have us a beautiful Break basket and butter. Just top notch. The only negative I will say is the wait to get food was long but as you can see from my review that did make a difference. We sat outside anyway do we watch the ppl was we waited. Oh but Side note it's beautiful inside
(5)
Josh R.
My date and I were walking in the Gaslamp and we wanted fresh seafood, we walked in and from the beginning the service was excellent and the seafood platter was the freshest I have had in San Diego and then I ate a New York steak my girlfriend had the seabass (pomegranate reduction mmmmmm) Reasonably priced and worth the experience. . Thanks for a memorable night... I'll be back.
(5)
Layla M.
We came for restaurant week and were pleased. We sat outside and were served well by our waitress. The food and and dessert was great, no complaints here! Kinda pricey but you get what you pay for!
(4)
El J.
I think most people over use the 5 star rating, but Osetra is deserving to be sure. This is my favorite place for late night cocktails and music. The atmosphere and crowd are sophisticated without being stuffy. In a short period of time you have a drink in hand and you are chatting with other well dressed patrons at the bar. Then the music starts... Not too loud like many places, the volume is just right. The music the last 2 weekends was sultry music with a Cuban influence. No dance floor per say, but if the beat moves you there is plenty of room to have a dance to two with your dinner date. Osetra is one of the few places in the Gaslamp where the frat-boys and woo-girls are unlikely to saunter into, they can tell its a place for the well heeled and those who appreciate a well made cocktail. Kudos to the bartender for making the best lemon drop I have ever tasted. Great Crowd Attentive Staff Lo-key yet Sophisticated Atmosphere Excellent Music High Quality Cocktails I cannot recommend Osetra more highly!
(5)
Dean L.
The Food is fantastic, and their Staff are very kind & attentive. A great restaurant to visit in the Gaslamp District, of Downtown San Diego. They also have some really nice Private Dining areas on the upper level of their restaurant; (which might be a good Option for a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, or some other type of special "Private Event."
(5)
Medina Z.
Could not have asked for a better place to enjoy happy hour with my coworker and meet up with my husband! Something about this place just make you feel sexy!!! Karina their General Manager was made for this business! What service, stories and laughs we had! The food was delicious of course and the service was just right! You can tell this place has a strong team working together! I look forward to dinner here soon!!! And ask to see the Osetra Angel's.....a real treat!
(5)
Kris T.
Excellent experience all around. We came in around 9pm Sat night without prior reservation. There was no wait. The hostess was friendly and warm. She seated right away. Our server Marco was very attentive. He made some excellent recommendations. We love the seafood linguine $59 (lobster, clam, shrimps, mussels) and the seafood platter (mussels, lobster, clams, mussels, jumbo shrimps, scallops, Alaskan king crab) $45. Portions were very generous. We didn't really care for the clam chowder $11. Over all, we really enjoyed for food, great service, and love the live music, too.
(5)
Neal E.
Our team came here for a team dinner one evening. We sat in the upstairs area. I ordered the Lobster Bisque and the Oysters Rockefeller. Both the Lobster Bisque and the Oysters Rockefeller were very good. Service was good. However, one of the waiters knocked my glass of red wine over, soaking the white table cloth. They attempted to mop up the mess and laid white linen napkins over the affected area. After about 10 minutes, red wine began to wick up through the napkins and I found I had red wine residue on my hands, elbows, etc. Rating would have been higher had I not been wallowing in red wine for a good portion of the evening.
(3)
Yasemin D.
If you are looking for a restaurant with great food and an amazing service, then look no further, you have found the right spot!!! This was my first time being here on Sunday and I am really impressed! My boyfriend made a reservation for our monthly anniversary he he :) ( he is a good boy) however, it turned out a serious date night; atmosphere, music, wine, food and service... I felt like a fallen angel from sky with oysters and wine :)) So, we started with fried calamari and Rockefeller oysters which was awesome. I could not decide for wine and our waitress Jessica suggested a really tasty Pinot Grigio, we loved it. And for dinner we ordered stuffed lobster with blue crab meat and a butter sauce served with mash potato and vegetables, and chilean seabass in a pomegranate sauce... By the way service was outstanding, Thank you Jessica! Please don't look for pictures, I was so busy with my delicious food. We will be back for this place.
(5)
Jordan H.
One of my absolute FAVORITES for seafood in the Gaslamp Quarter! I've been in several times before but just took a friend there to catch up and reacquaint myself with the menu. Perfect environment for a quiet catch-up with friends; even with a full house, it's never too loud in Osetra, whether you're seated or at the bar. Perfect for a romantic evening as well, if you're bringing a date. Osetra could easily serve as a place to grab lighter eats and a few cocktails, in addition to its full entree menu. I always get the Seafood Napoleon, it's my favorite raw fish/cold seafood option- crab, tuna, avocado, yum! And of course, the raw bar also sports a variety of oysters. The Mahi Mahi and the Stuffed Sole are hands down my favorite entrees, though I'm always open to trying their daily/weekly specials. Always impressed that they try to get their seafood fresh on the daily. A shout out to Shad who has served me a handful of times; he's very professional and efficient and attentive.
(5)
Adam S.
Ate here last week during a trip to San Diego. Amazing. Ordered the burrata and the stuffed lobster, both of which were ridiculously delicious. Our waiter, Jon L., was also awesome. He recommended we try the Duckhorn Pinot Noir with our meal, and it was the perfect wine to go with our food. I used to live in San Diego and wish I had known about the place back then! I'll definitely come back on my next visit.
(5)
Princess F.
Had dinner here on NYE. The restaurant did not honor the check in deal offered on yelp as the server claimed they were not accepting any coupons or offers as it was NYE. That's not what the yelp deal said. Needless to say I will not be returning to this restaurant. What's the point in offering a yelp deal? Another reason I will not return to this restaurant is because the food was mediocre. I started with the pear salad. The butter lettuce was a bit soggy, which was a disappointment. My dinner entree was Sea Scallops made with lobster polenta and garnished with caviar. This was a delicious option. The scallops were cooked just right. For dessert, we had the hazelnut chocolate mousse and the pear tart. The mousse was a let down. I was expecting a soft smooth mousse but was more of a hard chocolate rectangle with barely soft layers of chocolate cake. The pear tart was surprisingly more satisfying.
(2)
Naureen I.
The hubs and I went to Osetra last night with two couple friends for restaurant week. It was our first time there and aside from struggling to find parking (gaslamp friday night blues), we enjoyed our dinner. The ambiance isn't ideal for groups- probably better for dates. It was extremely loud and there were musicians playing or trying to play rather. The appetizers were absolutely phenomenal- I had the portobello mushroom, but the crab cakes and Napoleon appetizer were both super yummy too! The main entree was a little underwhelming- the ravioli beat out the fish dishes (Mahi Mahi and salmon- both were essentially drenched in butter). Finally, dessert was okay- I wish I had gone for the chocolate cake bc the tiramisu was very soggy. Overall, this is a modern, nice place for dinner for two- I would recommend it with reservations.
(3)
Marie M.
Foods okay I know for downtown we should have better...right?! We went for happy hour....I guess for okay food for service ....kinda slow but, I guess for happy hour.
(3)
Kim M.
I had the pleasure of dinning at this place by chance. My two sons and I were in San Diego for Mothers Day. Our hotel was close to the gas lamp district so we walked around looking for a place to eat. We spotted Osetra on 5th Ave, read the menu outside and decided to give them a try. It was low lights, warm setting and the downstairs looked pretty full. I had two young kids in tow, so in thought they were hiding us when they led us upstairs. We actually had a great table, with a view of the city and it was just us up there. We orders, the waiter, Joel, was really great. He was nice to the boys, and really welcomed me I'm honor of Mothers Day. Our food came out fast, and it was huge portions. The kids LOVED what they got (Mac n Cheese and shrimp & fries) I ordered the Chilean sea bass and it was amazing. We all ordered dessert to go and the manager came to it table and stayed to chat and again, make me feel special for Mother's Day. See explained she wanted to comp my dessert for Mothers Day! How sweet! as we talked, my sons noticed that behind me-the bar, that ran two stories high in the center of the restaurant, a female bartender was hanging from a wire reaching for a wine bottle at the tippy top. It was all the boys could stare at! she must have been 30 feet off the ground. My youngest, 8 yrs old, said "mom this is a reeeeally fancy place!" The manager, Karina, and I laughed out loud. She was really lovely. They boxed our dessert so we could take it to the hotel to enjoy and even waited to put my ice cream in a box - until our cab arrived -for fear of the ice cream would melt too fast before we got to our hotel! The cab pulled up, and Joel, our waiter ran out and handed it to me as I got in. THAT is service. I was so grateful for the special care, I am a single mom...it meant a lot. Seriously excellent service, atmosphere and special attention given. We weren't dressed up, compared to the other guests there but we felt like royalty. I cannot recommend them enough.
(5)
Javier R.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here last weekend. Me and my wife were looking for a good seafood restaurant in the gaslamp quarter and decided to pick Osetra over others that we looked at. We came away very impressed with the whole experience. We made reservations online and didn't wait at all for a table. Our waiter was informative and prompt but it was the food that made the experience great. The oysters were fresh and the Lobster Linguine special was delicious. My wife had the scallops with lobster mashed potatoes. I would definitely come again when I come out to San Diego. Karina the general manager does a great job making this place stand out.
What can I say? AMAZING! Let me begin by saying our waitress, Olga was outstanding. Informative and knowledgeable about the food and menu! Lastly, the food was impeccable! This place is one of the best seafood restaurants in SD. Definitely recommend making this on a list of places to come.
(5)
Marisa G.
What a nice treat this place was. Had a great dinner here and the specialty drinks were so good. Our waiter Marco (handsome Italian man) treated us like kings and queens, best service ever. Will definitely return.
(5)
Kong N.
My Rating Verdict Level Food : flavorful , amazingly great pasta selection 9 Drinks : full bar and wine 10 Service : friendly staff 7 Waitress/waiter : hit or miss. The youngers one don't really care about their tip nor service 5 Selection : great seafood selection 9 Ambience : warm, fast, charming 8 Exterior : average 6 Interior : nice 2 story wine case , bathroom available upstairs and downstairs 8 Overall Recommend to others? 10 Additional Feeling: Average: 8.0
(4)
Mallory F.
I came here for Valentine's day...not disappointed at all! It was insanely busy, but my server took great care of me. Jessica was so sweet and considerate with great food suggestions. I've been here before and it never lets down.
(5)
K G.
Meh. Definitely meh. My husband reserved a table at Osetra for us last weekend. We were excited to try something different and the menu looked amazing. What came out was anything but. And we love food. Just about ALL food. But we left after paying a very large bill very disappointed. We ordered the Sea Bass and the New York, with a side of the gnocchi since it sounded so dang good. The sea bass was fishy and stringy, nothing like the tender, buttery sea bass I've had at just about any other restaurant. The New York had a great sauce, but wasn't anything to rave about. We both ate the steak and left the fish. The gnocchi was odd... not sure what was in it, but it wasn't little balls of heaven that I would have expected. The best thing at this place was the brussels sprouts, and I don't even like brussels sprouts! We won't be back. I don't enjoy giving negative reviews, but we enjoy so many different things, it's rare to have such an unenjoyable experience.
(2)
Keith W.
Enjoyed an Excellent meal coupled with outstanding service. My date and I split the Chilean Seabass with mashed potatoes instead of the risotto. The pomegranate sauce was in my opinion the secret sauce (literally) with enough acidity to bright up the dish. We also split the Ostera Organic Pear Salad which was delicious. As a starter the Blue Point Oysters set the tone for the evening with a well made Chopin martini. Overall a very nice dinning experience to start off our evening. Elegant, classic ambiance with enough warmth to bring me back again. Next time I'll indulge the Tempura Lobster tail. Looked very tasty!!
(4)
Beba F.
A client of mine gave me a $25 Osetera restaurant.com gift card for this place. I have a list of pretty powered clients who I host in SD quite a bit, so I decided to come here with a friend and check it out before I bring any of my clients. I have a great relationship with many 4-5 star restauramts because of the business that I bring them. Food was decent, but didn't think much of it because we ordered our main course from the Restaurant Week menu. We did however order a few items from the regular menu as well. Service was great. A first. Our original waiter's shift was over before we finished our meal, so we got stuck with 2 different ones. Took over 20 minutes to get our deserts and then another 20 before we were able to flag someone for our check. The place wasn't even packed. Anyway, we got our check and I handed it back with the gift certificate and my credit card. Waiter comes back saying that we couldn't use it because it's not valid for Restaurant Week menu items to which I responded that there are non Restaurant Week items on the bill as well. He leaves then comes back saying that the non Restaurant week items had to total at least $50 to be able to apply the $25 gift certificate. Im not stupid. I read the fine print. The total for those items were $54 dollars. I am attaching a picture of my receipt for visual and proof purposes. At this point I didn't feel the need to explain to these people what was obvious. Either they need a crash course in basic 2nd grade arithmetic, or they are just so desperate that they feel the need to stiff their patrons out of money. I just paid the bill and left. On my way out, I gave the gift certificate to a couple that was walking. Maybe they'll honor it to them. I will never come back to a place with clearly no moral ethic in how to conduct a business. And they just screwed themselves of a single person that can bring tens of thousands of dollars in business. I would NEVER humiliate myself by bringing ANY of my clients to this place.
(2)
Cindy Y.
First time at Osetra and what an incredible time!!! Fabulous cocktails made by Lisa!! Absolutely loved the crab and shrimp Mac and cheese and the crab cakes were out of this world!! Amazing service and loved the live music!! Get over here people!!
(5)
Natalia R.
This restaurant screams romantic and fun! Cue the dim lighting, the wine fairy and the live music because Osetra had it all and the dinner spoke for itself. I had the salmon with spinach risotto and the serving was just enough to get full but not "hate yourself" fullso you know you are getting a bang for your buck. Servers were hospitable and made the dinner their comfoting, imtimate ans romantic. I would recommend dressy semi formal or business casual. Overall it was a wonderful dinner spot that was part of a very beautiful getaway to San Diego! Definitely will be here again and hopefully soon.
(5)
Marcelo A.
You've got try to their steaks! I know I know... It's a Seafood place... But the steaks were so good! I got a Rib-Eye, it was huge!!!!! I got a side of lobster mashed potato to go with it. So good! Next time I'll give a try to their fish. But steak was so good!
(5)
Darryn R.
I dined here post Valentine's Day and my partner and I were amazed at the level of service, quality of food and oh my goodness, their signature appetizer with the tuna, avocado and crab meat. NO WORDS! Karin the General Manager is extremely personable and genuine and really cares about her establishment, and it's evident that her customer service is impeccable. I truly look forward to the next time I'll have a meal here. For locals of San Diego, this is a place where they embrace us and remember our faces and for those visiting out of town, this place is a MUST! It's conveniently located in the Gaslamp District and you'll have an amazing time down town! Enjoy your time there!
(5)
Charles C.
My wife and I can never really pinpoint what it is that we like the most about Osetra but we always stop in for at least a glass of wine whenever we are in town. The wine list is solid and while we usually sit at the bar for just a quick glass, the atmosphere is welcoming and on the few occasions we have dined here, the food has been excellent. My wife will often get just a half a dozen oysters and they are always fresh. Easy access and the live music on the weekends is a nice touch. All in all, it's a "plus" experience in a city where the competition is high for the tourist dollar and I would recommend it.
(4)
Carmen V.
Very glad that Osetra was one of the restaurants participating at the ShamRock this year, so the lucky ones (yes, me!) who got a VIP pass for the event, got 8 drinks included in different venues. So one of them was Osetra, a restaurant I never even got too close as was always scared of the too high end aura. I only had the complimentary drink and another one and the feeling of being there was awesome, very nicely decorated, nice illumination, full with people but not overtly noisy, with the upper level for more intimate dinners and the bottom part more like a lounge. Great place, good looking people, very classy and chic, nice art on the walls, I cannot wait to save some $$$ and get some seafood dishes there!
(4)
Elena B.
I was here for a date night, and I usually don't go out of my comfort zone and I get salmon. But my server Jessica recommended the sea bass, which was amazing. My husband had the pasta sea food special and he loved it. And we ended the night perfectly with a yummy desert, the chocolate lava cake. Food was amazing, service was great, and we will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Anna V.
I came here with a girlfriend of mine, and we sat on the patio on a lovely San DIego evening. :) Service was prompt and excellent! We were served by John who had the cutest Southern accent, and was super nice, helpful and knowledgeable about the food. I got the Surf n Turf plate which was really good. The presentation was beautiful and the way they cooked it was right on the money. I'm not sure what the bad reviews are about, because we got excellent service and excellent food. The ambiance is stellar as well. Five stars.
(5)
Ara F.
I am a local San Diegan and tend to shy away from touristy restaurants that attract the business kooks from the convention center. I am a glad I was forced to give this place a shot by a couple of attractive bossy ladies for happy hour. We had this very charming bartender named Lisa and man could she make a drink and make you laugh. I had a couple of Mr. Miage and some spicy margaritas drink. Oh the sushi is pretty awesome as well. I am definitely going to stop by again for a drink and sushi when I am in gaslamp. Hopefully I can get the girls to pay for me next time.
(5)
Vera S.
If your heart is craving good food, Osetra is the place to go! Chick atmosphere, amazing food and wonderful stuff. Oysters are always fresh, and the bar has everything you ever wanted to try!
(5)
Tish N.
We went to San Diego for our anniversary trip and the concierge at our hotel recommended this place. We got the cold seafood platter. It was something special. Fresh, fresh and crazy fresh. We had the green salad and lobster mashed potatoes as well. The tiramisu was good, a little too much cocoa powder. We were hoping for a decorated plated but maybe they don't do that here. Even though there were families with children there, it was still pretty quiet and romantic. Will be back.
(4)
Justin P.
Best seafood in San Diego!! I'm a concierge in the downtown area and I send people here all the time. Every single person has come back and LOVED it! I've been there a handful of times myself, it's amazing! The stuffed sol is fantastic, and the mashed potatoes it comes with are to die for. The crab cakes are ridiculous too, best I've ever had! The decor inside is really cool too. They have a huge wine tower with a great selection of wine. If you want seafood in San Diego, this is where you need to go!!! They have non-seafood items on their menu as well, so there's something for everyone
(5)
Gluten L.
This is our favorite restaurant ANYWHERE (that's still in busiess). We eat out a lot and travel a lot. We're from San Diego but haven't lived here since 1982. However, we visit at least once a twice a year because our family and many friends still live here (and my husband loves the Padres). We've been stopping in at Osetra for years, and even though the menu has changed over times, it's always got fantastic food. Sure, it's really expensive, but it's worth it. Sometimes we just sit at the ice bar and order appetizers and drinks. Everything there is delicious. I have to eat gluten free due to allergies, and they have marked on their menu which items are gluten free (MANY!). This last time, I had the lobster salad and it was AMAZING!!! I wish we could eat there every day. My husband loves it, too, and he's very picky. The service is also really good and they have a great wine list. The people who work there are very nice, too.
(5)
Alec P.
San Diego seafood at its finest. Talk about quality and great service, I can't stop thinking about the excellent meal I had here. The bar was a great place to start and enjoy some drinks. The wine angel that floats above the bar and retrieves wine bottles from the large wine cellar is a great touch. When I moved to the dining room and began my meal the restaurant really started to shine. The seafood napoleon was light but very flavorful, a great way to start. The lobster bisque was rich, but not over the top and left room to enjoy dinner. The scallops were phenomenal, and my guest enjoyed one of the prime steaks which was fantastic. Next time, I will definitely consider the surf and turf as both the steaks and seafood were great. The restaurant had a nice energy, but was not overly loud. I am really looking forward to treating myself to fresh seafood at Osetra again soon!
(5)
Sarah S.
What can I say this place is amazing. The ambiance and service are outstanding and the freshness of the fish is superb. Everytime I have gone to Osetra the quality is consistently the same. I also love that they have an awesome bar area and live music on the weekends. I love this place!
(5)
Keila N.
The hostess was cordial. Our waiter was very personable, but the overall service was very inattentive and slow. This place is also very pricey. I loved the trio carpaccio. I also ordered the lobster salad which had ample amount of lobster. My daughter had the salmon with risotto. I thought the risotto was under-cooked. The creme brulee was okay-nothing impressive. I would have give this place 4-5 stars if it had better service. The food is great, but for the price it demands, the service should have been exceptional.
(3)
Malcolm J.
Good, but pricey lamb ossobuco ($35): good, we liked it, I just don't know if it was a $35 entree Ahi Tuna ($32): again, this was good, we enjoyed it, but i don't think it was $32 good Bottom line: go if you have a groupon, but I'm not going at full price
(3)
Elizabeth Y.
Well, I've had worse downtown. But the food was almost flavorless and is obscenely expensive for the quality. My scallops were overcooked, bland, topped with some type of caviar that added nothing to the flavor but a strange crunchiness, and the plating reminded me of a birthday cake. High prices, average quality, overpriced wine, and inappropriate service. I really regretted choosing Osetra. There are other excellent choices in San Diego.
(3)
Rocco F.
Dang this place is amazing and the service is even better! My waiter Marco was super knowledgeable and on top of his game - great food and wine pairing recommendations :) I had the Chilean Sea Bass with the risotto and pomegranate reduction = unreal. My girlfriend had the Beef and Reef and loved it even more than mine (we split everything!) The food + the service = perfection. It's decently priced considering the quality.
(5)
Vanessa C.
Came to Osetra for the first time over the weekend and I was so impressed! The food was excellent, the servers were attentive and the live music provided the perfect ambience. We started at the bar and enjoyed some delicious cocktails, but the best part of the night was the food. Everything was fresh and the flavors were phenomenal. We look forward to returning as soon as possible.
(5)
Ludo M.
Great first time experience i start with the happy hour at the bar and absolutely loved the dollar oysters very fresh and yummy .the bartender Adriana was very attentive and friendly she make me feel right at home ,i i end up going back for dinner the same night with my wife ,this time the hostess took us to a very nice table in the dining room very elegant and cozy atmosphere, we had the lobster tempura for appetizer and it was so good . My server was very knowledgeable and he recommended me to try the surf and turf and my wife had the Chilean sea bass,both dishes were excellent, I will definitely come back to osetra , you can't go wrong great service and good food.
(5)
Katie L.
I had a hard time debating on whether this place should get three or four stars. The food was great but there was live music (i guess there is live music every friday) that was way too loud and it made it difficult to have a conservation with the table. Although, i asked our waiter if the music could be turned down, and it was immediately. I ordered the ahi tuna and it was cooked perfectly and i loved the wasabi mashed potatoes (i recommend this one!!). My fiance got the ny strip and he said it was cooked perfectly & the sauce was delicious. My mom got the crab legs and she loved them, i tried a little bit too and it melted in my mouth!! My dad got the sea bass and he seemed to enjoy it as well! Wine list was average considering the wine tower/display. I will go back for HH, but im not sure i would recommend for dinner service if you want a nice convo with the family.
(3)
Lola D.
Went to dinner at Osetra last week and had an absolutely amazing time! The food was amazing and the service was even better!! We started with some very fresh oysters and then I had the sea-bass! Thanks to our great server Shad for the delicious food and wine recommendations! I Will definitely be back to try out the happy hour menu and cocktails!!
(5)
L.A. L.
Service was so-so, although the food did come out promptly. Weird atmosphere - tries to be classy, but every once in a while, a woman wearing red angel wings is lowered behind the bar to get a bottle from what seems to be a large tower. More Vegas-y and takes away from the ambiance. Portions are rather small for ridiculously high prices. Food was okay, but definitely not worth the price. Won't eat here again & wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Tiffany H.
In town for business and I decide to stroll down to the gas lamp for dinner. Peek inside and I am sold...very cute, wine tower is a plus as I believe there should be an extensive wine list. Dining solo so I head to the bar, wait 10 minutes listening to the bartender chat to his waiter bud about some girl he is dating before coming over to offer me a menu, drink, anything. Not too impressed with the wines by the glass, but I pick one and the mahi mahi special. Someone from the kitchen showed up with my lukewarm food (did my bartender get wrapped up in another scintillating convo?). It was pretty good, only reason I give a three. Half-way through dinner the barkeep remembers my wine...nice. I sit with a finished plate 20 minutes before a different bartender shows up to clear it away. Synopsis: service at the bar sucks big time, food not bad but I've had better in this price range...
(3)
Amanda D.
Saturday night here for an after dinner drink. It was a really classy place and it was fun to see the hostess "flying" to the wine storage upstairs. The band they had over the last weekend was phenomenal - not only the girls can really sing, they responded to my request with some killer tones. Felt a little uneasy when the bartender didn't tell us the late night happy hour deal though... one star less I can give than it supposed to.
(3)
Manda Bear B.
***************************** 1,020 ******************************* Osetra The Fishhouse, the name says it all. If you love Caviar and seafood, you are in for a real treat in the heart of Gaslamp district. I've been frequent San Diego because of my BFF recently became a 1/4 resident here. I'm in love with San Diego weather, the beach and the lifestyle. The food is no where near NYC, SF, Chicago or Vegas, but it's warming up to me. Osetra is 1 of them, with the Wine Tower, and if you catch the Wine Angel, flying up and down to get a bottle of wine for you, it's quite a view. Osetra offers beautiful ambiance, gorgeous space, white tablecloth, good service, and a Wine Spectator Award winning wine list. For private dining, Osetra The Fishhouse offers a few private dining rooms on second floor. Happy Hour - 4pm - 6pm - live music on Fri and Sat 9pm-midnight, happy hour price on wine, beer, sake and small plates. - Caviar service - Crostini, bellini, capers, crème fraÃche, egg yolk, egg white, chives, red onion in a beautiful platter, a MUST ORDER, 1 of my favorite dishes. - Oysters are fresh here - Half-dozen, 3 mignonette sauce - Dress up your oysters: green onions, jalapeño, ponzu sauce, mango - Seafood Napoleon - Lump crabmeat, spicy tuna, avocado, wasabi oil, their best seller, quite nice. - Ahi Tuna - Cajun crusted, wasabi mashed potatoes, ginger soy sauce reduction, tobiko caviar, ORDER this dish! - Lobster Bisque - Tobiko caviar, crème fraiche was my BFF favorite. - The lobster, clam, mussel pasta, special of the day was GENEROUS portion, the pasta was al dente, we enjoyed it very much. - Chilean Sea Bass - Fennel risotto, grilled asparagus, pomegranate reduction, I feel as the risotto just wasn't a good pairing with the bass, it's a bit over powering the sea bass. However, we enjoyed the bass itself very much. Besides seafood, I was surprise with the meat selection here: - Lamb Ossobuco - Lamb shank slowly braised in a red wine & vegetable sauce over saffron risotto. You have to see my photo, it's a GIGANTIC and lovely. - The risotto with black truffle - a special dish of the night, was fantastic. I requested less on the cheese, so the aroma of truffle could come true. Love it. - House-cured charcuterie platter was perfect for a late night snack at the bar. - Australian Lamb Chops - Herb risotto, raisin port wine reduction, goat cheese, side of mint jelly - I personally didn't care for the mint jelly, the port reduction sauce was very nice. The service was very nice and attentive, but what set our experience here at Osetra The Fishhouse the most is the manager Sara. She was gracious, attentive to us the whole time and personally prepared the caviar for us. We couldn't ask for a better service the first time, that we came back 2 more times in 1 week. I'm in this industry of hospitality, and I truly believe the service will bring a guest back over and over again. So if you visit San Diego, and just local, check Osetra out, and please tell the manager Sara that I send you :-) I guarantee you she will treat you like how she treats me, simply impeccable service! P.S. Valet service available E Street in between 4th and 5th Avenue for $12, beginning at 4 p.m. Daily
Went here for valentine's day. Service was horrible and food was worse. Waitress came up to us twice in a time span of 45 minutes to ask us for our order. All in all i am terribly disappointed. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Arthur S.
Good food, very generous portions for this type of restaurant. Be sure to start with some oysters. Also a good place to sit outside and enjoy some of the 'local color' - of which there is plenty...
(4)
Ryan F.
Rarely do I write a yelp review but this was warranted. Valentine's Day, hotel concierge made a reservation for us. Showed up 15min before reservation, sat us 25 min after our reservation. After we sat down, four separate times different waiters came up to put down food or drinks that we hadn't ordered. Seems like everyone was confused. When asked for the sushi menu they 'didn't have it that night' Two tables next to us were loud and obnoxious (granted this wasn't the restaurants fault but still) Tap water was a charge of 6 dollars! Had to wait forever for service. Food wasn't very good at all. Fish overcooked. No lobster in the 'lobster mashed potatoes' When we asked for the bill, took an additional twenty minutes because the 'system was down'. They did offer us complimentary desert but at that point just wanted to leave. Side note, when I went to use the restroom. Sounded like two people were in the stall exchanging money for something. Take it as what you will
(1)
Holly F.
Staying at the Courtyard Marriott and the great bartender Josh told us about Ostera. We sat at the bar, best service and love the bartenders. Friendly and wonderful customer service.
(5)
Billy J.
We went for restaurant week. their service was excellent, never left long for drink refill or any other service for long. the food was well portioned and tasted well.
(4)
A. Vinnie V.
Modern, Stylish and Great decor.. Great place for a date, a nite out with a friend or a group of people. The food, drink and service are great. The staff is helpful, friendly and attentive. The GM Karina is wonderful and helpful. Must try the Velvet Berry Drink it is so good. The Chef's Selection Chilled Plater and Sea Bass is amazing. Lisa the bartender can make some great drinks . Had a wonderful night out.
(5)
Kiki Y.
The restaurant is very elegant. We went for happy hour $1 oysters. We were walking to Spike Africa but instead came in here. I liked their HH menu. I'm skeptical of happy hour because some places give very small and sh*tty portions since it's happy hour. We ordered the mini crab cakes, a dozen oysters, and the fish sliders. The mini crab cakes were superb! There were 2 crab cakes with green salad. Bites of real crab meat, lightly fried, flavorful but not over spiced. The oysters were fresh and meaty. It came in a very beautifully shaped oyster plate with a little cute Tabasco bottle. We ordered another 6 after. The fish sliders were great, it came with fries and I devoured the slider. There was real mahi mahi in it, not just fried fish where you can't taste any fish. Melted cheese with lettuce and tomatoes. The bun was soft and very yummy too. We got a free appetizer for just checkin in! Choice of tuna sashimi, calamari or something I can't remember. Of course we picked the tuna sashimi. I watched the chef behind the oyster bar create this dish. To our surprise, there were 5-6 slices of seared tuna with a wonderfully tasty sauce drizzled on top AND a good portion square size of rice, on top: more tuna sashimi! It was delicious. Very creative presentation. The tuna tasted so fresh. The house red is $5. I don't drink red wine usually, it gives me a headache, but this house red was good quality and I drank the whole glass. The service was good and attentive. This is my new favorite happy hour place. I will come back for sure and try the UNI linguine I saw on the dinner menu. $30 but it sounds great.
(4)
Katherine W.
The food here blew me away. I had the salmon on a bed of spinach risotto and I don't think I've ever enjoyed a meal so much. However, I had no idea they charge for water poured from a bottle so I ended up paying 12 dollars for water...so we wary of that. Other than this, I loved my experience here and would recommend it to anyone.
(4)
Jamie R.
Highly disappointed. It was my first time out at gaslamp and read good reviews on yelp, so I made reservations. Service was terrible. Food took over a hour and a half to come and the crabs were over cooked and their was a hair in my calamari. Waitress didn't even offer to replace it. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
(1)
Vi T.
This review is only for the oysters. Blue point oysters at $12/dozen during happy hour on Sunday here is one of the best deals in Gaslamp. Fresh! Served with all the trimmings! Friendly waitresses! Their California roll made with real crab was disappointing.
(5)
Valorrie P.
I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant. We sat down immediately, were waited on immediately, and got our drinks immediately. The drinks were strong, but the flavor was not overpowered by the alcohol. The food, oh the food. The scallops were topped with caviar, and the most moist, delicious scallops I have ever eaten. The lobster mashed potatoes were amazing. The crab legs were so succulent, I had no patience with my fork I had to dig in with my fingers. The steak was good, but I'm from Texas, so its hard to win me over on a steak. The service was the best service we have had in the gaslamp district. We never had to wait to be serviced.
(5)
Erin O.
Really good ambiance (we sat outside)!! The food was delicious. I had the mahi mahi and it was very flavorful. Lobster mashed potatoes are a great side! The waiters and and waitresses were really nice. We brought our kids (not really a kids place). But they were accommodating and our kids are used to being good in nice restaurants! In fact, a couple complimented us on how well behaved they were! :) A little pricey...but hey, we are in the middle of the gas lamp district (expected)!
(5)
Warren S.
Ordered the king crab linguine and when the dish arrived there was no crab meat visible. Kitchen fixed it but even then the overall food was average. Quite disappointed. Service was great though so give it a try but my review is over priced for the quality of the food.
(2)
Chuck N.
Happy hour is good here.
(4)
keo b.
Don't bother. After ordering oysters to start. That was the last thing that came. The seafood wasn't fresh or so it didn't taste as if it was fresh. I'm very unimpressed with the service and the food. What a waste of time and money.
(1)
Norm D.
They packed people in here like sardines for Valentine's Day. Bar is backed up, kitchen is backed up, servers can't keep up. All for the greed of money! Disappointed! Didn't enjoy th experience.
(2)
Marsha G.
Spent Christmas Eve here, what a wonderful experience! Sat at the bar for a cocktail before dinner and ended up staying there all evening. The happy hour items were delish! The tempura prawns and sashimi tuna really stood out. The sushi rolls were surprisingly good too! The bartender guided us through our whole experience, from apps to wine pairing. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Nick D.
My wife and I went to Osetra for our 16th anniversary. We had some drinks and oysters at the bar......awesome. Got sat and as I went to push in my wife's chair, I noticed that the top of the chair was sticky. Told the wife I would get a towel to clean it but long story short it ended up being on the wife's chair. Brand new dress, now not so brand new. The manager Lisa came over immediately and apologized and told us dinner was on her.......and she wasn't, kidding. She sent over 2 appetizers and then we got lobster bisque, then crab!!! By the time we finished the crab we were stuffed. Hey kept trying to get us to get desert, but we were done. Most places would have apologized and then waited to see what we ordered. Lisa didn't hesitate. She took care of us WAYYYYY ABOVE the call of duty. Thank you Lisa for taking what could have been a bad night and making it great!! See you guys soon!! PS...The dress came clean..8-)
(5)
Constantine S.
I was in San Diego just for a few days and stayed in downtown area. I have to admit, that this was a great place to have a nice seafood dinner in and a few drinks after work. Service was detailed and attentive. Wine selection was amazing! And fish was just out of the ocean. Check this place out!
(5)
Brad G.
Amazing service from the from the front door to table side. Just happened to use the valet in front of the restaurant and was surprised to walk inside to an upscale restaurant with amazing service and even better pricing. Totally impressed with the service and ambiance!
(5)
Adriana S.
Came here for dinner on New Year's eve & thought it was a nice restaurant. I had the ahi tuna & it was good but not the best I've had in SD. The restrooms could use some updating. Overall it's a good atmosphere.
(3)
Unknown U.
I had the best experience trying food at this restaurant for the first time. My friend and I ordered Prime Filet Mignon which was absolutely delicious. It had perfect flavor and went well with red wine. The ambiance was unforgettable and it had live music as well. I will give this restaurant full 5 stars on every level. The quality of food and service was excellent. Thank you to your chef for making such a delicious dish and to your waiter and hostess for being very cheerful and friendly. The best experience I have had in downtown San Diego so far. I will definitely recommend this place to all of my friends. Looking forward to coming back again! :)
(5)
Danny D.
Late last night while in downtown we found ourselves looking for a late night dinner, Walking by Osetra we decided to try it out. The atmosphere was that of a trendy Resturuant, friendly staff and quick service. There wine selection was extensive and the prices are reasonable. We ordered the sashimi tuna for a started, it's served with a small side of salad, very good. We ordered the Chilien sea bass and the sword fish, both we ok but did not seem that fresh, it could have been because it was 10pm on a Thursday night. Overall I we were happy with our experience and would return to try some different items.
(3)
Susie R.
I tried Osetra FH last weekend. It was a Friday night and we sat at the bar for drinks and snacks. We ordered dirty martinis and white wine for drinks which were both very good. I ordered the smoked salmon appetizer and my friend ordered the seafood napoleon. The service was professional and the bartender was very informed on the wines. While we enjoyed our drinks/dinner we watched the wine angel rappel up and down the wine tower retrieving bottles of wine for customers -- that's a very cool touch. This place is not cheap, but I don't mind paying top dollar for good food and great service. I would recommend this place and I will return for another dining experience.
(5)
V P.
Fantastic place: food, design, service! Happy hours time is grate, price and quality bring me back to this place over and over!
(5)
Karin B.
I went to Osetra again. My first experience was awesome and this one if possible even better!!! Their new Oyster Vermouth dish is amazing. Like nothing else!! A must try! Awesome seafood pasta and Seabass! Service was just right on from the bartender to the server. Tried some handcrafted cocktails that were excellent. Love this place, would recommend to anyone wanting a great seafood dinner downtown!
(5)
Mimi L.
Loved this trendy restaurant and wine bar! A block away from Palomar hotel where we stayed, got seated at a tall table between the windows and the bar, floor to ceiling wine cellar behind the bar, it was fun watching waitress going up getting some wines. The patio seatings are good for people watching. There is also a lounge area in the front, great for having drinks with a date or friends. They have extensive wine list, specialty cocktail menu, I picked Southern martini, it was made with sweet tea vodka, very weak drink, tasted like ice tea only, I had to order a Grey Goose dry martini, our waiter took away my unfinished first drink. Our food: Complimentary bread basket with butter: very good Lobster bisque, with tobiko caviar and Creme fraiche: very delicious, loved the caviar in there Half dozen of fresh oysters, served with three mignonette sauce: they were so bad, probably the worst we have ever tasted 2 lb live Maine lobster, boiled, served with butter, garlic steamed veggies and mashed potatoes, it was amazing! One of the best lobsters I have ever had in a long time! So meaty and tender. The lobster claws were huge! The entire lobster was cracked open, easier to eat. Surf and Turf Filet Mignon (10 oz) with 1 lb lobster, Filet grilled over asparagus, topped roasted garlic mashed potatoes in a red Zinfandel reduction, Filet was a little over cooked for Medium rare, but it was still very flavorful and delicious, lobster was just as good as mine! Chocolate mousse with mint leaves and fresh strawberries: melted in my mouth immediately, so yummy Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, changed our plates a few times, very good service, tab was $230 with 3 alcohol drinks I really liked our dinner, the lobsters made up for raw oysters, at least I know a great place for live lobsters in Gaslamp quarter!
(4)
Ashley D.
I came with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved our Valentine's Day dinner!! I made reservations but seeing as it was a busy "holiday". When we arrived we were invited into the beautiful lounge area to wait for our table. Decided to start with some drinks at the bar and watch the excitement. It wasn't too long before our table was ready and we were seated in a cozy table for two. Our server was so sweet and recommended the perfect bottle of wine and caviar to start of our dinner. All of our food was delicious and we will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Meesh B.
A manager contacted me to rectify things but when I emailed her back she vanished into thin air. We came for Mother's Day and had the same terrible service. Bread and our drinks never came. We were waving from our table for a server to come assist us an no one did. Someone had to physical get up from our party to track down an employee to come take our order and bring us something to drink. We felt very neglected which was no surprise from my previous visit. I was hoping to give them another chance thinking it was just a fluke service last time but I'm beginning to think that this is exactly how the restaurant is ran.
(2)
Olga M.
Absolutely the best place to grab some oysters with a glass of wine! Beautiful bar and very friendly bartenders. I stop by here every time I'm in the Gaslamp. Wine angel girls are beautiful. Also, a great spot to grab a cocktail before we go out to the nightclubs in the area.
(5)
Chris s.
Hit happy hour before dinner for apps and drinks. Cool bar. Dinner was amazing. Nice quiet atmosphere and beautiful decor. Highly recommend.
(5)
Trish C.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!!!!! Came here for dinner to celebrate a special occasion with a party of 6 girls. We had reservations 8p. First, when I walked in I got a hit of a horrible oder (like bad fish or something) that should've been a sign to walk out. Second, we placed our drink and dinner order. Drinks came quickly ... BUT from the time we received our drinks to getting our food it was OVER AN HOUR!!...Ridiculous. My friend was trying to get the attention of our waiter who never checked up on us. He walked right passed our table and quickly said "your food is on its way!" And kept on walking, so rude. At this point, our whole table was fed up and annoyed because it was now 9:20p with no food. My friend decided to go talk to the "Manager" and she was apologetic but the only thing she could say was, "it's not an excuse but we do have a large party upstairs"... REALLY??? So, that gives you the reason to neglect and give your other guests shitty service?...unacceptable! To make matters worse the table of 4 next to us, who were seated way later then us, got their meal before us. The manager tried to give us free dessert and comped one of our meals but at this point we all wished we walked out. Waste of time and money. Then because of our party size they had the audacity to include gratuity 18%!!! I'm sorry but the gratuity should've not been included since we received horrible service. To top it off this restaurant is pricey and not cheap so you would expect to get better service than what we received. I definitely will not be coming back here nor will I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)
Viktoriya D.
It's the place to go if you are in the mood for seafood! Always fresh and perfectly cooked! The bartender is very knowledgeable too so our cocktails were perfect.
(5)
Andrea G.
Osetra! I'm shocked and wowed every time I go here. Happy hour is excellent, and have had the best experiences here dining with friends!. From the staff to he best sea food in San Diego, Osetra is the place!
(5)
Pete I.
My girlfriend and I ate here for Valentine's Day and i have to say i was a little disappointed. They had no idea what they were doing. They were bringing other people's food to our table. It happen like 3 times, was getting a little ridiculous. Just too me I think the price for the food was not worth it also.
(2)
H M.
I'm unsure of what happened here. We were walking by and we saw the sign that said Osetra, Tapas style. So we stopped in. First off, it's not tapas style, it's a full dinner menu. When we asked our server about the 'tapas' style, he said that was how the restaurant was originally setup back when it was 'popular'. Okay? Secondly, the menus are like novels. Can't we just keep it simple? Thirdly, they had a live performer that totally drowned out any dinner conversation we were trying to have. Fourthly, all the meats were overcooked. So sad...medium rare lamb and steak and cooked medium well. And to top it off, it was all rather flavorless. There are so many options downtown, I'd try another place.
(2)
Maria A.
Food was good. It was excellent. Service was lacking. We didnt get our bread until 10 minutes after ordering. Server said something like freshly baked bread, it wasn't even piping hot, just warm to lukewarm. I didn't even get my water re-filled like literally after I finished my dinner. So that's about 20 minutes after we ordered.
(2)
Letrica R.
The food was amazing. The service was less than adequate, especially in a supposed fine dining restaurant. Our waiter appeared to be the only issue, however, all other waiters actually paid attention to their tables. Again, though, the food was smashing.
(4)
Sofia R.
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! Im not sure how it could have gotten any better than the first time but you guys really knocked it out the park. I consider myself a foodie and everything was exceptional. I make this a place a must to come too a few times whenI'm in town on business from DC. The jumbo pan seared scallops is a must and the crab cakes where the best I've had in a while. The service was outstanding, i believe her name was Olga. She was efficient and very helpful while making us feel like we were at home. A plus on the service. Can not wait to be back in town to sit in her section.
(5)
Nathan R.
Everything we had here was great tonight. I had the Pasta el Diablo special & my wife had the Mahi Mahi dish. The pasta dish over lobster, shrimp & mussels was fresh, juicy & tasty. My Wife's mahi was prepared just right over lobster mashed potatoes. No room for the Lava cake sorry. We about to walk in this off.
(5)
Mario I.
once again i was hosting some friends from out of town. I choose Osetra fish house to leave my friends impressed. our server Andrea was not only attentive but also on point with all his recommentions. He started us with the shellfish platter(for 4) followed by our entrees- New York special w/ scallops, fresh Chilean seabass,Mahi mahi,& the Ahà Tuna. Thank you once again,i highly recommend for dinner.
(5)
Dean M.
Was there on Christmas Day eve. Classy place with good atmosphere. Food was delicious. The service was fine. I don't give away 5 stars but the experience pretty exceptional.
(5)
Shica L.
We visited Ostera and the location was beautiful. Service was great but the steaks were bland.....
(2)
Martin A.
Great food/Great Service, Karina (the manager) was very friendly and helpful, she made sure we had an amazing experience by recommending food and wine, they have extensive wine selection and the wine Angels were awesome! Food and drinks arrived on-time and I can tell they have mighty chefs! coming back here for sure and highly recommended if you're looking to have good food and drinks in Gaslamp area with wonderful service/atmosphere!
(5)
Julia H.
Should have gone with my gut of reading the 3 stars overall rating and gone somewhere else but since the concierge at my hotel recommended it we decided to stick with it. Food is mediocre but the service and ambiance was good.
(3)
Alma R.
Given its destination as a conference site, vacation destination, and all-around great place to live, I have been appalled at the lack of good food choices in the Gaslamp Quarter. I know I am an East Coast foodie, but I have had one bad meal after another in San Diego making me wonder if there were any good options out there. Osetra is a gem in a city lacking in culinary excellence. Not everything is perfect. The Caesar salad was a disappointment, drenched in too much dressing and consisting of some dense cores of lettuce (please only include the choice parts of the lettuce). But that might be my only grip. We started with a refreshing gin gimlet--gin, lime juice and cane sugar. Perfect balance of tart and sweet. Yes, sucked two of those down. My husband had a beautiful green salad that included a nice variety of ingredients. He had the stuffed sole, which was a winner as was the ahi tuna, raw, with a sauce that complemented the fish instead of overpowering it. Nice wasabi mashed potatoes on the side, creamy but with a kick. Generous portions on both entrees. We finished with the tiramisu, light yet filling, with some nice fresh fruit on the side. Enjoyed ordering a bottle of wine and watching the most unique human retrieval system I have ever seen in a restaurant (Cirque du Soleil would give her a nod). Now I understand another reviewer's comment about watching the flying angels at the bar. Service was excellent, waitstaff backed each other up on tables so you never had to look very far for help clearing a plate or answering a question. Don't understand other negative reviews on service, saw none of that (I will note it was New Years day and the place was only 2/3 full, but still can't believe the service would change that much more if crowded). Overall, very good experience food, service and ambience-wise. You will pay a little bit more than some other places, but that is fine for a good meal. Just skip the Caesar salad.
(4)
Philip L.
Osetra is a wonderful restaurant. I took my wife there recently on her birthday. The food was great and Lisa behind the bar was the best!! After tasty oysters, large shrimp cocktails, and sweet tender crab cakes, Lisa made a fabulous special after dinner drink for us which we enjoyed immensely with a succulent tiramisu finish to a wonderful evening. The bar/happy menu is extremely reasonable with a great of selections. We love Osetra and highly recommend it to seafood lovers. I has a nice corner location on upper 5th Ave in the Gaslamp.
(5)
Brett L.
Found this place on yelp. Thank you fellow yelpers. Had the 2.5 lb. Bug it was great. My wife had the lobster Ravioli and said it was very good. The staff was very friendly and efficient. Being from New Mexico we don't get a lot of fresh seafood and it was refreshing to be eating near the water. Thanks again yelpers.
(4)
Sharon B.
Landlubbers fear not! I was planning dinner for several people who love seafood. However, I do not. Each of the seafood dishes were well prepared and my dinner companions found each to be delicious and well prepared. I ordered the pear salad which was fresh and had wonderful flavor. For my entree, I ordered the chicken fransiase. It was tender, moist, and flavorful. The accompaniments were tasty. Atmosphere was nice but a little loud. Wait staff was attentive and professional.
(5)
Lauren C.
Yum! Especially when it was on someone else's dime. Good sashimi, humongous fried shrimp. I even liked the green cheese!!
(5)
Ramon V.
Well, that was disappointing. The wife and I are staying at the Westin Gaslamp, celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary, and I asked the concierge to recommend a nice restaurant. She knew of our anniversary, and made it sound as if both the hotel and any restaurant they sent us to were going to treat us like VIPs. Well, the hotel has been great so far, but the restaurant? Not so much. No mention at all of our anniversary, no special treatment, and they had to try three times to serve the wife something edible. I ordered the filet mignon, minus sauce and sides, but it came with sauce and sides. I will blame this on how loud the restaurant is. Maybe he thought I asked for the sauce on the side, rather than to hold the sauce and sides. Her sea bass was undercooked and fishy, so she ordered the ahi. That came out ice cold. They tried that again, and got it right the second time. My filet was okay. Better than steak from the Fish Market, but certainly no Morton's. They gave us a free tarimisu, because of the entree problems, and it was the highlight of the meal. The server did his best, but I can't say the same for the kitchen, and I really was expecting a "Happy Anniversary," at the very least. I don't think they even found our reservation. They just seated us because they had empty tables. For $160, I expect more.
(2)
Alexandra D.
The food is fantastic! Karina is lovely. They took great care of my Socialite girls!! They all loved it and will be going back. Love the oysters. Great ambiance. Fab place.
(5)
Dijana R.
My date took me to this place my first night in the beautiful city of San Diego. The hostess was upbeat and reserved us a spot while we took a sightseeing walk through the gaslamp district. The house wine is top notch here and ambience was perfect. Dinner menu is a bit all over the place so I went for a sushi appatizer. It was well prepared, fresh and garnished to perfection. 4 stars for good impressions and friendly staff
(4)
Tammy R.
Popped in for Happy Hour. Was a little leery of the seafood quality when we were seated and noticed the bar table seats were in dire need of reupholstering/replacement. After a chat with the bartending and manager they assured us the restaurant was planning a major overhaul, but the seafood was fresh and high quality, we decided to settle in and enjoy. The service was great, the HH choices were plentiful and everything was delicious. The dishes passing us from kitchen to table all looked fantastic. We will definitely be back for not only HH, but for dinner as well
(4)
Amy R.
Just finished dinner at this place and I was 100% happy with it. Perhaps a little pricy, but the food was great, as was the atmosphere, and the service. I got the salmon, which was served over a bed of spinach risotto. I love risotto and this did not disappoint. The salmon was also quite good, moist and flaky. We also got truffle fries and beer battered asparagus to share with the table. You can definitely taste the truffle oil on the fries, but they were perhaps still a bit too oily. The asparagus was good, but could perhaps have used a side of some sauce.
(4)
Mario P.
This is our first time at this restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. The food was memorable. The oysters and carpaccio was delightful , the sushi roll incredible. A great experience. When you come ask for the bar tender Marcelo, enjoy!
(5)
Katrina G.
3 stars is exactly what I'll rate this restaurant. The ambiance and location is great.. right in the center of Downtown and right next to the mall so we parked there. I've always passed by this restaurant but we decided to try it the first time yesterday for SD Restaurant week. This place is good. First of all, this restaurant is high end. Very expensive so I expect the service to be absolutely amazing. It wasn't. It took them awhile to give us our menu after getting seated and after giving us the menu, it took them awhile to check back on us to see if we had any questions or if we were ready to order. Usually at high end restaurants, they take the time to explain what's on the menu but they didn't. It seemed as if one server was working the whole floor so he only came to ask if we were okay about once. We didn't have small plates for our bread on the table so, we asked and they forgot. We ended up grabbing small plates from the table next to us. They also forgot to give us a steak knife. And, they also forgot to give us a pen after giving back our bill to sign -__- The food. We loved it though!. We started off with appetizers. I got the Lobster Bisque and my boyfriend got the Seafood Napoloan. Both dishes were amazing! My boyfriend got the Filet Mignon for his entree. He loved it a lot and it was cooked to perfection. He loves it medium rare and he got it exactly the way he wanted it! I got the mahi-mahi and it was alright. The fish was pretty tough/hard but I liked the sauce that came with it. It reminded me of an almond croissant taste. We ended our dinner with a Tiramisu cake! It was delicious but I had better. Overrall, this place is good. I'll probably only come back for a special occassion. Maybe... or I'll probably spend my money elsewhere.
(3)
Robb M.
The food is bland, service is mediocre, and the prices are steep. Honestly, I don't know how this place is still in business. If you're planning on dropping $100 or $200 on dinner, go somewhere where you get your money's worth. Slapping a tablecloth down and sticking the busboy in a bowtie doesn't cut it for me. If you're looking for flavor and experience, keep looking.
(1)
E R.
Mahi mahi in citrus sauce over lobster mash potatoes was excellent! I asked to leave off the almonds and they did no problem. Mixed green salad was great, hearts of palm were so fresh tasting. I used the Yelp checkin to get my salad comp'd, sweet! Waiter, Marco was very attentive.
(5)
Anya F.
I simply love this place! Every time I come I enjoy great food, ambiance, and service. Everyone starting from the door make you feel very special and welcome. Happy hour items (and prices) are amazing! Definitely worth checking it out.
(5)
Ryan m.
Amazing contemporary decor that accents the incredible food. One must try the chilled shell fish platter to believe it. Well worth every penny and then some. Loved everything I tasted! I am obsessing about the next time I can eat here!!!!
(5)
Irene P.
Came for dinner on a Friday night. Service is extremely quick - almost like an in, and out establishment, especially for an 8 pm meal. Apparently lingering and enjoying the evening is not allowed. We started with the Chef's selection chilled platter for $39. I was extremely disappointed in the selection from the Chef since all the seafood on the platter was really dry and a bit too cold. I want chilled, not frozen crab legs. The oysters were already shucked earlier in the day, as I watched the man assemble the platter by pulling out preshucked oysters from a refrigerator. The clams and mussels were dry to match the dry oysters. The dipping sauces were nothing spectacular. My salmon entree was fine, but truly nothing special. I did enjoy the lobster bisque that was topped with caviar. The ambiance was great, except for the fact our table was squished against a glass half wall and we were in a high traffic area next to a huge party. A mediocre meal for almost $100 - definitely not returning. There is absolutely no value in the calories.
(2)
Sandra C.
Haven't been here in a long time, but we came because the restaurants we really wanted to go to were crazy booked during restaurant week. One of us ordered order the 3 course menu prefixed for restaurant week at $35 while the rest of us selected from the regular menu. Among us, we had filet mignon, steak, shrimp with gnocci, calamari/shrimp appetizer, side of brussel sprouts, lobster bisque, and seafood stack. Everything was delicious, service was pretty good, and the waiter was kind enough to accommodate our advance request to have 4 separate checks!
(4)
Aaron G.
Worth every penny. We started with a grapefruit, beet and gorgonzola salad and I had the iceberg wedge. Both were excellent. I had the cioppino and my girlfriend had the shrimp with angel hair pasta. All was excellent - and the local color sitting outside was great - with an acoustic guitar up front providing some nice music. If there was something to be improved it would be the slow service - everything came out for each course, salad, entree, dessert, with just enough delay to make us look at each other and have the waiter come by to reassure us the order was coming out soon. Portions were exceedingly large and of very good quality.
(5)
Chef M.
What meal could be bad when you are starting with oysters? And they give you a homemade cocktail sauce that is out of this world great! Follow that with a yummy salad and finish with Sea Bass, Risotto and Asparagus? Good choice for a night out in the Gaslamp. Shout House with dueling pianos and singing at the top of your voice is only 3 or 4 blocks away! So much fun to create a full night downtown.
(4)
Cameron S.
One star. Only because I was amongst friends. So incredibly mediocre in a city full of great food. Tiny, uninspired sushi and leathery hot-lamp fish. Best part was the attentive support staff that kept filling our water glasses.
(1)
Tessa M.
I have a love/hate for this place. I heard about it on restaurant.com . I purchase through them regularly and I always read the fine print. Im aware that most places have stipulations. I brought my boyfriend here for a pre baseball game appetizer & drinks. We had the fruity margaritas and they were amazing! My bf had shrimp cocktail & he said it was the best hes ever had. He ended up ordering 2 more! The drinks were on happy hour so we ordered more food and a round for our bar neighbors to get up to $50 (the minimum to use the gift cert.) When we tried to pay we were told it was not valid on HH items. It did say not valid for specials, I misunderstood. I thought that meant the restaurant specials (that night was white sea bass, heard it was delicious btw). My mistake. But we didnt spend enough in non HH to use it so I was bummed. We over indulged to get our check high enough & then it backfired. The manager apologized and said "come have dinner with us, ill buy your first round". He gave me his business card with a handwritten note on it that said 2 free specialty drinks. I was very excited I felt that made up for it! Last week we went for a real dinner. 2 entrees, an appetizer, salads, and of course we ordered our 2 specialty drinks. No happy hour items and no specials. When I went to pay with the gift certificate she said I could not apply 2 discounts to the bill. Meaning choose the free cocktails or the $25 gift cert. I was really disappointed. That was the whole point right? ? Getting to come and actually use the certificate on a full dinner. In all, the portions are large, food is absolutely delicious, but save your time buying the gift certificate. I live 30 minutes east of here and rarely make it out and I was excited to try something new. Restaurant.com is the only thing that brought me out here. I wont be back unless its to pop in for a shrimp cocktail before a game next season.
(3)
Irina N.
I was at Osetra with my coworkers for our Christmas party. For the starter I had house salad with aged balsamic vinaigrette which had a very gentle yet distinct flavor. For the main course I ordered Mahi Mahi with green beans and lobster mashed potato. The lemon butter emulsion certainly added some piquancy to the fish. The lobster mashed potato was everybody's favorite. Of course, the meal would not be complete without some tasty dessert, and I had chocolate mousse... What a dessert! I enjoyed every little bite and was very sad when it was gone ;) The servers were courteous and quick. I would come back for a romantic dinner to enjoy Osetra's ambience and food.
(4)
Berj A.
First of all beautiful restaurant with potential, unfortunately the service was absolutely horrible and slow the location is on a busy street with many homeless walking by, food was mediocre many different options unfortunately will not be coming here again spare your time . Thanks for reaching out to me that means a lot
(4)
AJ W.
I went here a couple of weeks ago and the food, service, atmosphere and live music was all great. As a server, I'm a firm believer that good service can make or break a dining experience and although the food was great and we would have enjoyed our meal regardless, our server Steve made it that much better! He was very kind, helpful and attentive. I tried his recommendations and was never disappointed! When I return, I absolutely plan on requesting his section. My only complaint would be that the table we were sat at was positioned a bit awkwardly at the top of the stairway where people walked by frequently. Otherwise, everything was fantastic!
(4)
Michael W.
This is our second time here and it was even better than the first! We had a 6:00 reservation on Valentine's Day and arrived in time. We were shown to our table within one minute, I expected to wait and was happy that we did not wait. Our waiter, James, came over immediately to get us started. He was very professional, knowledgable, and at times, witty. Even though you could tell he was getting busy as the night went on, we never felt rushed or neglected. The food at Osetra deserves the fine dining rating. Caviar with Prosecco is always appreciated! The lobster bisque was so good I finished it all! The jumbo scallops were done just right with caramalization on the outside and tender on the inside. At a seafood place you do not expect good steaks, however, my husband had the ribeye and said it was very good! Even though we were pretty full, we went for dessert. Chocolate gelato was just enough (the sliced strawberry was superfluous) and the molten chocolate cake was decadent. All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely come back for a third+ time
(5)
Leonard S.
Love this place for its solid happy hour that includes dollah ersters and Trumer Pils on tap! I had dinner here once long ago an it was really good albeit on the pricey side, then again you don't usually get caviar atop your broiled scallops!
(4)
alley s.
I cannot believe people gave this restaurant anything less than four stars. We showed up as the kitchen was closing 9:30p on a Monday night. We were greeting by a friendly staff eager to please and accommodate our party of three. The waiter, Andrew, not only waited on our third to show up, he was friendly courteous, and went out of his way to make our experience amazing. We never felt rushed throughout the meal. Andrew knew the specials of the top of his head, and explained a few of the dishes I had questions on. We started with some shrimp tempura and a seaweed salad, when our third arrived we ordered dinner, I could not decide between the lamb rack special and the diver scallops and they made me a tasting plate of both. The other meals were the full rack of lamb special and the salmon. The presentation was great, the service the food and the wine. Not sure what more you could ask for in a place. Next time I'm in town, I'm making this a priority dining location.
(5)
L.S A.
Mmmmmm fresh seafood, friendly staff, great specials! Sat at the bar and had a craft cocktail with my dollar oysters! Happy hour is downtown's best kept secret. Live jazz on Saturdays along with a reverse late night happy hour. Absolutely will be back!
(5)
J W.
We had a wonderfully relaxing late night dinner here after a full day on planes and in airports so we needed something to fill us up and calm us down and this is the place. We ate on the patio and people watched while we waited for our order which took only minutes. The bread was fresh and warm, the salad enormous and fresh, our steaks thick and cooked medium rare as we ordered (It is amazing how few cooks get that right) The waiter was professional yet down to earth and fussed over us. The hostess was charming and knowledgeable about the area and the sites to see. Osetra is not inexpensive but in all fairness it is priced correctly for the quality and service, this is an elegant place without going over board, safe for a business meeting meals.
(4)
Nicole L.
I did not like this place as much as I thought I would. Prices are very high. It smelled funney and the decor was cheap and odd, especially on the table. The sushi was good but nothing amazing.
I would give 5 stars if this review was for service alone. If you visit Osetra, please ask for Antonio as your server. He is amazing. However, the food is quite mediocre. Wine list is decent, although the "by the glass" selection is poor. Ordered a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, which had a steeper markup than I am used to seeing at a restaurant of any quality (27$ retail, but 69$ at Osetra). Normally, I see bottles of CB going for 45-50 in restaurants...but I digress. Unfortunately, the food was merely ok. Green salad with tomato and hearts of palm was a bit wilty, and wet. It did not appear that the leaves had been dried after they were cleaned and that diluted the dressing. Hearts of palm were canned, tasting very metallic. The main course was the King Crab Linguine. This dish was actually quite good. The pasta itself was not of a very high quality, but the sauce, enhanced with mussels and clams (not disclosed on the menu) tasted like a very rich and tomatoey bisque. Had the chocolate lava cake for dessert which was quite the disappointment. Generally, with a restaurant of this quality I would expect pastry to be made daily in the morning, and perhaps reheated at night . My lava cake was rubbery and tasted freezer burned. Instead of traditional lava cake, it was what I like to call the "cheaters" version which places chocolate ganache in a well in a round of perfectly ordinary chocolate cake. It also came covered in what tasted like "Hershey's" syrup, and came with a scoop of very icy (possibly melted and refrozen) vanilla ice cream. I think that if the Chef strayed away from using frozen and poor quality ingredients that the food would be much better.
(3)
Matt V.
The food was great and the service was awesome. They were very attentive never had to ask for a refill. And the menu is great.
(5)
Violet C.
Love Osetra. The atmosphere is very cozy and posh. The seafood is top end. Not to mention the wine tower in the middle of the bar with over 2000 types of wine!!! Too bad they pulled my favorite crab stuffed sole from the menu. You've never tried a piece of heaven until you taste that dish!!!!!!!!
(5)
Gerry D.
My wife and I walked past this place. While it looked good we thought we would see what else was down the street. We picked a restaurant further down the street which was terrible so the next night we went to Osetra. What a great place. We sat at a table on the sidewalk on a beautiful evening. Justin was our waiter and did a phenomenal job. The survive was superb only outdone by the food. I had the Mahi Mahi special which just melted in my mouth while my wife had the lamb. I'm not a lamb fan so I never cook it at home. She said it was some of the best lamb she had ever had in between chewing on the bones. Justin found out it was her birthday and brought her desert on the house. I wish we had eaten there the first night - we wouldn't have gone anywhere else!
(5)
Jenn F.
Very nice restaurant, good quiet atmosphere and perfect for date night. I had the stuffed sole, very very good. I wasn't a big fan of the sauce but it was easy to avoid! The bread was very good. Also had a wedge salad, I would recommend them chopping it. My bf had the filet and loved it. Cooked perfectly! Must try it again!!
(5)
Jerm J.
Meeeeeeh. I had their lamb pasta and also have tried some of their sushi items. Meh is the word. The lamb pasta was kinda weird... didn't really like the flavor. Like at all. Also the website is terri-bad. I understand the company has like 3 other places but it seems really janky. I just think if you want to be a class dinner place... have a classy website. Clean... crisp... it's just too cluttered. I know... not even a review for the place but for their website how wack.
(2)
Mike D.
I debated on two stars but the happy hour prices push this to 3. The food is ok. For the prices they charge it should be great. The one reason I wouldn't come back is the oysters. Unlike at Spike Africa's the oysters here are not fresh. After going through a dozen drying, wilting oysters I had the sinking feeling I was probably going to be getting ill from the meal. With a lack of attention and freshness in their ingredients coupled with very high prices I can't recommend Osetra for your night out in the Gaslamp unless you're on a corporate expense account.
(3)
Jenna B.
I stumbled upon this while walking around and enjoying the weather. A little pricey but if you go during happy hour then you are set. They have $1 oysters and a decent house wine so you can walk out full and content without breaking the bank. The place can get busy so call ahead if you have a big group.
(4)
Nicole W.
Came here last night (7/2/13). Got seated immediately since we had a reservation. Once seated, our waiter Aaron came and greeted us, i had a free appetizer coupon and handed it to him. He did not even give me a choice of what appetizer to choose, he just said he's going to send us a bruschetta. The bruschetta was delicious but maybe i wanted something else, you know? While looking at the menu, mr. Aaron was constantly coming to our table to ask if we have decided on what to eat and what wine we wanted. There were so many selections and i wanted to take my time reviewing them all; i just felt like i was being rushed the whole time. I was very uncomfortable the entire time thanks to the waiter. On another note, the food was to die for. I had the 2 pound lobster and my friend had the yellowtail and we shared a side of roasted mushrooms, with a sauvignon blanc wine to wash it all down. I definitely recommend this place for delicious food. It would have 5 stars but the service we received was absolutely horrible.
(4)
Jenna H.
One of the worst meals and dining experiences I have ever had.. I came here in January with a work group and we all were incredibly disappointed. The service was horrible. They were not prepared at all for a large group - they were understaffed. Those that were waiting on us were slow in taking our orders and did not seem to want to be waiting on us at all. The food was even worse that the service... I started with a salad that was missing ingredients it boasted as having on the menu - the candied nut and pears.. which are the two reasons why I picked it.. For my entree I had the ribeye - I ordered it medium rare and it came out well done and overly fatty. I understand that there is fat in ribeye, but this was beyond excessive. It was one of the worst steaks I have ever experienced. I told the waiter I ordered med rare and he argued with me and told me it was... I cut the steak and showed him there was no pink visible. The potatoes it came with were stone cold and mushy! They tasted like they had been left out in a buffet all day and then served to us for dinner - gross! Desert was a disappointing tiramisu that lacked any flavor. Next time I am in SD for work this will definitely be the last place I would return to. MacDonald's is better than this place... There was not one person in our group who liked any part of their meal.
(1)
H C.
Service great. Effort clearly put into even simple dishes. Wine by the glass list small, but decent. Enjoyable spot. Will return on next visit to SD. It's not "memorable" but it appears to be trustworthy like- anything I order here will be good.
(4)
Ashley S.
The best lobster bisque!!!
(4)
Gobbledygook C.
Crazily overpriced and terribly mediocre. Service is terrible- prepare to keep being pushed to order a salad or wine or whatever. It also gets tiring to be asked three times if everything is ok. Better to spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Ian P.
Very nice. We were walking through gaslamp looking for a place to eat, the hostess was at the podium on the sidewalk and totally sold us on coming in. We were very glad we did, the service was perfect. My tuna was cooked PERFECTLY, my date's food was good too. The Moscow Mules come in a copper cup like they're supposed to. Huge drink menu, and nice outdoor seating area with heaters. Really nice. Pricey, but got what we paid for.
(5)
Dan G.
Honeymoon for us and Osetra was recommended by the Hotel we are staying at. We were given a coupon for a free appetizer. However, this ended up being a "Chef Inspired" appetizer, not what we chose. He choose Bruschetta for us. it was quite overdone, my wife hated it. Reminded me of a cheap restaurants loaded Potato Skins App. The waiter implied it was "Special" for us, and seeing the guy at the hotel said "they will take care of us" I thought he called and mentioned our celebration. I thought seeing we ordered Calamari that was our coupon order but we were wrong it turns out... ugh! The worse Calamari I've had. No seasoning whatsoever. And there was overcooked Shrimp tossed in with it, almost as if they were running low on Calamari??? I had the Lamb Ragu and it wasn't bad. Pasta was cooked well and Ragu was flavorful. Yet not nearly up to par for this scale of restaurant. My wife had the Lobster Ravioli. That Pasta was thick, gummy and not cooked well at all. The lobster inside was not seasoned at all, although plentiful. The sauce was simple.. not much more than butter, unseasoned.. kind of disgusting as a whole meal. Dissapointed we skipped dessert. Good thing because the $136 check was hard enough to swallow for this dining experience. The entire time we were served by a waiter that clearly would do better as a car salesman. Wait, scratch that.. a pushy car salesman.
(1)
Greg M.
Visiting from New Orleans and dined at Osetra this past weekend. The wine tower was something else. Restaurant had a very modern and sleek feel to it. And the service and the food complimented the ambiance of the restaurant. The service was outstanding. Our server Shad was on point with his suggestions (lobster ravioli and sea bass). Shad was engaging and friendly while still being prompt and attentive of our needs. Next time we visit San Diego we will definitely be back, and looking forward to a repeat experience. Thanks again!
(5)
Dylan D.
My wife and I chose this restaurant on the fly for our 1st Anniversary dinner, and the experience was fantastic! We arrived at about 5pm with only a few tables filled which provided for a very relaxed dining atmosphere. We were kindly attended to by our waiter James G. who was very pleasant. He made great suggestions that complimented our choices from the already plentiful menu, and he catered to our every need going above and beyond! There is a good and large selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and many delightful cocktails. We enjoyed a flavorful bruschetta and caesar salad with a delicious house dressing, followed by a 10 oz. fillet mignon for the Mrs. and lobster ravioli for myself. The entrees were cooked perfectly and were incredibly tasty. The bottle of sparkling water was a nice touch, along with the Kentucky Mule cocktail I enjoyed. We followed it up with a perfectly sized glass of chocolate gelato with strawberries, and complimentary tiramisu because it was our anniversary. Great food, calm but tasteful atmosphere with great music, and exceptional service from James! Overall great experience. A+!
(5)
Exquisite C.
Bravo! One of the most amazing restaurants I have visited! You can literally choose anything, and you will not be disappointed Amazing service, fantastic atmosphere, this is the place to visit when in San Diego!
(5)
Tori S.
Definitely not kid friendly!!!! Tried to accommodate our kids.... But didn't work. My salad (spinach) tasted like dirt. The wine and asparagus were good though.
(2)
Maureen C.
Finally got here! And STILL haven't had anything to eat!! But Oban can compete anyday with food, sooooo..... Large group took over the bar late on a Friday evening, and were happily served by a cute, new bartender, and entertained by a live guitarist. For whatever reason, us 10 + only 4 others were there. It's a classy joint, with good, stiff drinks, and a nice atmosphere. Glad we came, because I will be back!
(4)
Cayla K.
Absolutely LOVE this Place! The atmosphere, food selection, customer service, and bar was great. Especially at the bar (ask for Lisa) she has good recommendations for the menu and makes a mean martini. Everyone is very personable, the place is clean and quant, and the food superb! I keep going back, especially Happy Hour cant beat the prices!!
(5)
Rosa M.
Walked into the restaraunt not knowing prices or the kind of food they served. I looked in the menu and it looked like this: Prime Rib 42 Lobster mashed potatoes 18 Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp 29 Lobster Market Price (Exagerated, but not by much) I was like: Are those the page numbers? (The menu was only 5 pages long lol) The steak was great. It was the size of Texas and melted in your mouth. The taters were cool. The jumbo shrimp was ginormous but the risotto was bunk! Not a big risotto fan anyway. The sides didn't come with the entrees. I'm not used to this frou-frou dining. We ended up spending three bills. In conclusion, the food was just OK and not worth the money we spent. Oh well, lesson learned. We'll just go to the Yardhouse down the street next time. Oh and the people sitting 2 tables over, do us a favor and do the cocaine in the bathroom instead of on the dessert plate. Kk thanks.
(3)
Brien M.
Disappointing for us. The atmosphere was nice and the promise of the menu, although not creative, was one of a high quality dining experience. However, the prices are outrageous. If the food had been excellent, it would have been worth it, but with mediocre dishes, we were unhappy. For example, the "jumbo" stuffed shrimp were neither very jumbo nor beyond ordinary in flavor. In addition, they were tough and you needed a knife to cut them. One friend made a clear special request to have her chicken over-cooked until it was dry. Not my choice but the request should have been honored. When it arrived cooked normally and my friend requested more, the waiter got defensive and stated that it was cooked, but that wasn't the point. She wanted it over-done, not perfectly done. Why couldn't/wouldn't they oblige? Why did the waiter have to get pissy? And when a simple chicken dish is something like $28, they certainly could have tried harder. High prices, average quality, overpriced wine, and inappropriate service. I really regretted choosing Osetra. There are other excellent choices in San Diego.
(2)
Nhi Thao N.
My boyfriend and I stopped at Osetra last night for a late bite before heading home. We had been here once over a year ago on our last trip to San Diego, and we really liked it, so we wanted to go back. This restaurant/bar has a tall storage area for the wine in the middle of the bar. On our last visit, I remember seeing the bartender going up and down on a cable-like wire (like bungee or rock-climbing) to grab the wine bottles. I thought that was pretty cool. This time, it was not that crowded, and they were about to close up soon. The bartender delivered great customer service, though, and we ended up ordering the yummy clams and mussels, which came in a delicious coconut sauce. Osetra will probably end up being our regular spot whenever we go down to SD :)
(4)
George F.
Good food and atmosphere ... BUT ... server was so pushy that it made the dining experience less than relaxing. The upselling and rushing was kind of annoying. Make sure to check the prices of their specials. Led to believe entrees in the $30-$40 range, but turns out reef and beef special was $79. It was delicious however finding out at the end left a bad taste. That said, it was presumptuous to include 20% service in the bill.
(2)
patti g.
Referred by our hotel and was intrigued by the "flying sommelier" which in the end turned out to be a waitress who was hauled up and down the wine cellar in a harness. Still fun though. Our waiter John was fabulous. Great service and a nice guy. We had the mahi mahi and the sauce was to die for. They also, per our request, customized our asparagus adding truffle oil and shave parmesan. Yummy! Have heard the Happy Hour is awesome so sorry we missed it. Would go back!
(4)
Sasha R.
Osetra means business! Seriously, I went in last night for an espresso martini (surprise, surprise!) and had some apps, too. The tempura shrimp was dynamite! The crab cakes are light and delicious. My date tried the lamb, and it was perfectly cooked. The ahi sushi roll seemed lightly flash friend and it was SO GOOD. Osetra always get the job done. 5 stars.
(5)
Danny W.
Osetra I have had 2 meals at this restaurant. The first time was about a 3.5 star experience. The food has always been amazing , but on my initial visit the service seemed to lack a bit. Next trip back they had underwent some management changes, which you could really tell put the "customer" back in customer service. From the second I came into the restaurant to the moment I left I encountered nothing but friendly, fun staff who were all about making my experience the best possible. I swear my server would have come back to my apartment and tidied it if I asked her to. The bartender was a really funny dude from Boston (and no he didn't reside in PB) with about the coolest story of moving to San Diego that I have ever heard. He came to visit a friend and just never went back, ultimately breaking his lease via text message by faking being thrown into rehab. Halarious! The vibe in here is cooler than 95% of the seafood restaurants I've been to. Its chic and trendy with one of the coolest wine displays I have ever seen. They launch a wine angel up with a pulley system to grab bottles. It's pretty rad. After my last visit I am going to give this place a 5 because they really went above and beyond in service, and the food is always tops. Now that the service is spot on, it's a San Diego fav.
(5)
Sarah G.
Pro: Really yummy bread. Con: They charge you $6 for water. Pro: Best spicy tuna roll I've ever had. Con: Seriously, pasta will run you about $30. Pro: Excellent service from the staff. Con: The lobster ravioli that they normally charge a bajillion dollars for was only so-so. Pro: Atmosphere was lovely. Con: Dessert was mediocre at best. All in all, a decent experience here at Osetra, just be prepared to fork over some serious dough.
(4)
Sean W.
Well, I've had worse downtown. But the food was almost flavorless and is obscenely expensive for the quality. My scallops were overcooked, bland, topped with some type of caviar that added nothing to the flavor but a strange crunchiness, and the plating reminded me of a birthday cake. My girlfriend's fish was dry as a dry-ass piece of overcooked fish. The oysters- some were good some were bad. Service was good.
(2)
Kate D.
Way overrated. It was packed on a Thursday night at 8:00 but the quality of food did not live up to its hype. I wasn't overly impressed with the menu. My seared scallops were not seared, and really lacked any flavor at all beyond the pomegranate puree, which was an odd combination. Served with lobster polenta - again, flavor was dull. I was with a vegetarian and he struggled to find anything besides a caprese salad, french fries and a side of steamed veggies. The veggies never showed up on the table and the french fries were delivered when the rest of us were 1/2 way done with our entrees. Never an offer to create something vegetarian in the kitchen. Meanwhile, the waiter was way too focused on up-selling everyone at the table. He was very pushy and it left a sour impression with all of us. We spent a lot of money on a sub-par meal.
(2)
Heidi M.
Great food and great service from Tony and the Karina. The Risotto and Tiramisu were amazing. Thanks Tony from the North Carolina ladies.
(5)
Delphine R.
This review is only for the HH. We came here for the Restaurant Week and had an amazing dinner. As we were waiting, we took a look at their HH menu and saw they were doing oysters for $1.00. I knew i had to come back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So its Friday and we decided with a friend to come here for HH. I love the fact that they are so close to Horton Plaza, park there, validate and you have three hours of free parking. The oysters were very fresh and came with two sauces, one was a traditional mignonette and the other was cocktail sauce. It was so delicious , we had two dozens!!!!!!!! We tried a couple more stuff, like the trio tartare and the spicy tempura roll, they were both just ok.
(4)
Christie T.
Lobster Mashed Potatoes. That's really all you need to know but I'll humor you with a full review: First things first- the food is amazing. I highly recommend the scallops, the mahi mahi, and the lamb osso bucco. For appetizers the Ahi tuna is out of this world. The freshest fish, perfectly seared. They also have an amazing spicy tuna tempura roll. It gets even better: they just added a raw bar. I find that even when a restaurant has good food- sometimes their desserts are shipped in and just so-so. Osetra has amazing tiramisu- so light and airy, and an almond cranberry tart just melts in your mouth. Every person at Oestra, from the hostess, to the servers, bartenders, food runners and bus boys provides exemplary service. They are attentive but not intrusive. I've been three times in the past year, and the service and the quality never waiver. This is my favorite place to go for a nice dinner in the Gaslamp.
(5)
Fred C.
An all around 5 stars from me no question. (And I can be a pretty picky SOB from time to time) Really cool atmosphere and ambiance. Great Service. Really really great food. Lobster bisque - Delectable Prawns w Capellini - Delicious Ahi steak w wasabi mashed potatoes - Amazing Chilean Sea Bass w the Mahi Mahi fixins (Lemon/Almond butter emulsion, french green beans, and lobster mashed potatoes) - Heavenly Everything was cooked perfectly, no joke, no exaggeration. I will be going back. P.S. Special thanks to Sara for making sure everything was perfect!
(5)
Becky S.
We did not have the experience others have had here. Our server was great when we first sat down. After that, we didn't see him again. Apparently, we were seated in the bar area even though we asked not to be. We ordered two drinks, apps and chowder. The chowder came quickly. Everything else - slowwwwwww. When the soup came, we ordered a second round of drinks and never got them. We flagged down a different server and asked for the drinks we had ordered. He said he'd order them for us. Saw him walk by again, still no drinks. Remember - we have no food, no drinks, we're waiting for everything. He tells us "the bar got slammed." We ordered jack and cokes -- not quite the most time consuming drinks. Overall, the appetizers were just okay. The Mexican Shrimp was the best. The crostini was weak and the crab cakes had more bread than anything else. Oh yes - we also saw two employees exchange words in the front of the house (quickly, granted but still it's Saturday night and the place is packed). When you're sitting at your table, looking around for your server, your drinks and/or your food -- you tend to notice these things.
I don't give many 5 stars, so here's a breakdown on how I got there! FOOD & WINE: 5 STARS My dinner was to die for: diver scallops, topped with tobiko caviar, on a bed of polenta with a little crab meat chunks mixed in. - The scallops were perfectly seared--a gentle crisp outside, juicy and moist inside. - The polenta was heavenly--creamy smooth, spreading its rich flavors sinfully in your mouth. - They have thoughtful wines outside of the standard chardonnay/cabernet choices. The Albarino I had was delish! SERVICE: 5 STARS The service was superb--professional and friendly. - It's the truly thoughtful kind of service that's based on observation and attention, at just the right moments. Not the superficial service that mistakes a gazillion interruptive questions as service. Just when my wine was about a sip away from finished, they offered another glass. Just as I lay my utensils at 4 o'clock on the plate with a satisfied pat of the napkin on my lips, they gracefully removed the dishes. None of the "do you want another glass" pestering when I still have half a glass, or the constant "are you done?" annoyances when it's so obvious I'm not if you care to just look! - What's more, the wait staff was a truly cohesive team who worked seamlessly together to make sure I had the best experience. Not the "each waiter to his own" approach that, for me, always takes away from the overall experience. What's impressive was how they stayed coordinated with each other so it's NOT one of those "left hand doesn't know what the right hand has done" situations were you get offered the menu repeatedly, or folks ask for your order when another team member has already taken it. This team is about as pro as it gets! AMBIANCE: 4 STARS The decor is modern, well-appointed, warm and comfortable. Nothing to complain about. Nothing to write home about either. A respectable, above-average restaurant environment. PERFECT FOR: BUSINESS TRAVELER (especially if traveling solo!) Some days, I just don't want to hole up in my hotel room and have room service by my sad, lonesome self. But on a Friday night, I also didn't want to be mixed up in some over-trendy, hyped-up hook-up scene! Osetra was vibrant yet low-key--perfect for the solo business traveler eager to be out and about but not exactly looking for a full night out!
(5)
Stacy R.
We were greeted and enticed into the restaurant by a very friendly hostess. She gave us a free appetizer coupon and told us they were doing reverse Happy Hour. Sounded appealing. We sat in the bar area for quite a while without any acknowlegdement. Moved to the bar and was told no Happy Hour prices. We decided to dine elsewhere. As we were leaving I thanked the hostess for her friendliness and the manager over heard and tried to entice us back with free food. We commented that they need to improve their communication and declined the offer.
(1)
Gonzalo Y.
More show than quality Food ok Service ok
(3)
Alina M.
HORRIBLE. The waitress we had was so awkward and seemed ticked off. My dish (angel hair pasta with prawns) tasted mundane and I would have rather had Raman Noodles. It cost $28 bucks, and I could have made it at home for $9. The bus boys were the best part of the entire experience. Needless to say, it is NOT WORTH THE MONEY! We paid $105 for NOTHING.
(1)
Abraham M.
Oysters were so tasteful! Definitely coming back here again for happy hour.
(4)
Michael B.
I just returned from dining at Osetra on 5th and E in the Gaslamp, and I will most definitely be back. The vibe in Osetra was really nice- classy, modern and vibrant. The dining area was romantic and candlelit, however I sat at the bar, watching the wine angels up above. I ordered the Seafood Napoleon and the Spicy Tuna Roll, both of which were excellent. The Seafood Napolean was a tower of avocado topped with ahi tuna stacked on top of crab meat, and all topped with caviar. This was served with a soy reduction and a wasabi sauce, which gave it a really tasty sweet and spicy combination. The sushi came fully prepared and I was very impressed with the quality and freshness of the ingredients. I paired this meal with a Riesling, and by the end I was completely satisfied. Every member of the staff was warm and friendly, and the experience as a whole is definitely one worth repeating. I heard they are debuting a new menu soon, so I'll have to make it back the next time I'm in the area. Thanks Osetra, you nailed it!
(5)
Brittany C.
My husband and I went walking through the Gaslamp area on Saturday and decided we would just stop and eat at wherever looked interesting. Osetra caught our eye because we both were in the mood for seafood. The food was good, but I do think it was a tad pricey for the quality. However, the service was wonderful and our server, Joel, was incredibly attentive and just a genuinely nice guy. Wonderful wine list as well! We'll be back to try more of their menu soon.
(4)
Naryssa K.
The ambiance and service is amazing. The food was memorable. I had the mussels and clams appetizer, which had a hint of curry and filled with a buttery taste. LOVED IT! I also ordered an over sized rib eye, which was cooked perfectly. Only problem is i couldn't finish it because of its size but was delicious! Definitely a fan!!
(4)
Vanessa P.
Try the oysters and fish sliders during happy hour from 4-7 every day. The food is always fresh and they give you a cute little Tabasco bottle each time you order oysters.
(4)
Jennifer F.
Great food, my husband and I always enjoy this place... However, our waiter experience was awkward! He was visibly upset when we did not order his recommendation on appetizers...then when the bill came, we gave our credit card and had a coupon...when he came back after running our card he had added 18% gratuity!!! What, he thinks we are cheap because we had a coupon?? I have NEVER heard of a restaurant adding gratuity on a party of 2!! My husband and I both waited tables, we are always 20%+ tippers, he cheated himself...
(4)
A M.
Osetra is a beautiful restaurant with a very welcoming atmosphere. The dining experience was a pleasant one. The bartender, Lisa, did a wonderful job making drinks and was very quick and speedy with service. Always smiling and friendly. The food was excellent. The Sashimi Tuna and Tempura Prawns were excellent! Taste was fresh and flavorful. Portion was just perfect for appetizers. Overall the experience was great!
(5)
David V.
With the right server we could have had a great experience but we did not. My date ordered wine by the glass and when she did not like the wine she was served, the server proceeded to argue that it was the best rather than try to simply get another. This made my date feel uncomfortable. The rest of the night he only spoke to me and pretty much ignored her. She felt he even looked at her with disdain which was awkward and uncomfortable. The food was excellence but wish we had a different server who wasn't so full of himself and was more tuned into the customers than his own opinions. Also a bait and switch, the server recommended a special of kings crab legs and filet mignon, but failed to let us know that one entre was over $80. The food was very good but that special was also over priced for one entre.
(1)
J G.
Came here with a colleague when he was in town. There was a big conference in town and it was Saturday night and the place was packed. All the food was excellent. My colleague couldn't stop raving about the surf and turf that he got. It was a generous serving on crab (pre-cut legs) and a perfectly cooked piece of steak. I wasn't too hungry and got a salad and a lobster bisque. Both were very good too. I would definitely go back. It is a little expensive, so if work wasn't paying I would probably only eat there for special occasions. The atmosphere is fun too and I enjoyed watching them get wine from their cooler.
(4)
Amy E.
Left after 15 minutes of no service. We were sat by the hostess for our 6:30 pm reservation. No menu, no drink, no acknowledgement we were there. After 15 minutes we left.
(1)
Matt S.
Nothing like coastal cities to offer you some top notch seafood! We had a crew of about 20 people dining to celebrate the opening night of our annual conference. Despite having so many people, the serving staff of Osetra did a great job of handling our large group. Highlights of the meal for me were the crab cakes (oh so fluffy) and the lobster (juicy-tastic). Thankfully I ordered my steak rare, as it came back much closer to medium. What I frequently (and sadly) find are the steak and seafood places rarely do BOTH well. I won't complain during my search as it means I'll eat more surf-and-turfs. :) Unfortunately this visit was still during the "drought of '11"--AKA Lent--where I had stupidly given up alcohol, so I could not sample any of their tasty adult beverages, but the wine selection is fantastic.
(4)
TM S.
If you go there during happy hour - 5 stars. If you go otherwise - 3 stars. That's why I give it 4 stars. The cold seafood bowl is amazing. Crustacean fans, go there during happy hour and feast for half price. The staff will throw in lobster for an extra $10.
(4)
Caitlyn M.
The food and service here was OUTSTANDING. Tasty bread before your meal, friendly and patient staff. I had the iceberg wedge salad which was a gooey treat drenched in bleu cheese and bacon, the halibut with lobster mash (OMG) was awesome. Made a perfect dirty martini too! The only drawback in my opinion is that the decor feels a tad dated and the martini glasses look like they're straight from the 80's. All this isn't as important as the food - and THAT was amazing. Will go back for sure!
(4)
Andrew K.
If a NO star rating was available, that's what I'd rate Osetra. We went their for a special New Year's Eve date night. Very memorable dinner experience, but for all the wrong reasons. Here's how our night unfolded: When we arrived and approached the servers, they couldn't locate our reservation. When they finally did, one of the hostesses said they'll check on our table. We never heard from her again. The manager came over about 15 minutes later and asked if we planned on getting a drink at the bar or not. We said no, thinking she would respond with, "let let me show you to your table." Instead, she walked away without any clear communication as to whether or not our table was ready. We then stood there at the bar for another 10-15 minutes with no one, not the hostess, not the manager, not even the bartenders, communicating or offering a beverage. In fact, we were forced to serve ourselves our own water from glasses and water pitchers at the bar! Finally, one of the servers asked if she could get us anything and offered us a wine list. We decided on a fine bottle of Veuve champagne. They said they'd put it at our table, which left us thinking we were going to be seated any minute. Another 5 minutes went by and finally, someone came to seat us. Just when we thought we were almost able to sit down, we were escorted to our table upstairs. At the top of the stairs, the manager realized it was STILL not set. So, we were forced to wait another 5 minutes about 100 feet from our unprepared table. Once seated, about 45 minutes after walking in the door, no one was there to open the champagne for about another 10 minutes. Our server was OK. For a restaurant with such highly priced menu items though, you would expect a server to a) know the champagne special for the night (he had to ask a co-worker) and b) be able to take an order without having to get out a pen and pad of paper. I expect that at TGIFridays, but not at a place like this. The best part of the entire night was when, Sarah, the manager, responded to our request to remove the restaurant's despicable excuse for a table accent - a FAKE rose floating upside down in a cheap vase containing slimy water and hobby glass rocks at the bottom. There were more fundamental service issues that need to be addressed, but still, I'd expect more "touches" on a table out of any respectable restaurant, especially one that has $30-$40+ items on their menu. Oh yeah, the food. Because after all we did go there to eat. The ahi tuna was OK and the Lobster Ravioli was a disappointment, with the ravioli sitting in a soup of sauce. The Tiramisu, however, was better than expected. A $300+ dinner ticket for two people, certainly should have delivered better quality food, smart table presentation, and savvy wait staff. Not a place we will return to, and will likely not visit any of the additional eateries in this restaurant group.
(1)
Marco S.
The manager (Sara) had contacted me about my previous experience and asked me to give them another try. My wife and I went on Tuesday, 4/5/11. No waiting, was seated quickly, much better service this time around. The bread basket and water glasses were never empty. My wife really enjoyed the Ma-hi Ma-hi, I liked the Fillet Mignon, and the Lobster Bisque. The BEST dessert drink ever, is the "Blueberry Tea". I was impressed by the general manager caring enough to contact me and urge me to try it again. With her generosity and persistence, I'm glad we did. It is a fine restaurant with class. Osetra does care about it's customers!
(4)
Matt J.
This is a beautiful restaurant with a well designed interior. Unfortunately, that's where the success ends here. The food is quite pricey and for some reason that I can't understand, NONE of the seafood here seems fresh. I mean, they are less than a mile from the ocean and for some reason serving frozen, old-tasting seafood. They have farmed salmon, imported sea bass, and king crab on the menu. I had the king crab which tasted like it had sat in a fridge for days as it was dry, sour, and tough. The mashed potatoes served with it seemed like they were a mixture of Elmer's school paste and chalk while the limp, flavorless vegetables were terribly overcooked. I don't expect excessively high quality food wherever I eat, but when I pay $42 for an entree, I do expect it to be edible.
(1)
Christine S.
Another Stylish Gaslamp Restaurant with No Soul! Four of us had dinner there on a Wednesday evening. We were seated promptly and the service was pretty good overall. The food was decent. But there's nothing about this place that was unique and makes me want to come back. I ordered the beet and blood orange salad, followed by the lobster risotto. The salad was ok- I had to point out to the waiter that they served regular oranges- not blood oranges which have a sweeter flavor. He didn't seem to know what I was talking about. The manager later came by to explain that the blood oranges are only offered Jan- Feb. (Hello-- why would you put that on your menu if you know it's out of season for 10 months of the year) The risotto was nice- but not memorable. My husband ordered the "Napoleon" salad- a basic caprese salad. (I think the person who wrote the menu got confused between Neapolitan-- i.e. Naples, Italy vs. the short guy that declared himself the french emperor.) Of course the waiter had no clue. Not that any of this really matters, but it just shows that the restaurant is making a lame attempt to be hip & creative and it's obviously not working. Horribly overpriced--- for four of us, each with a salad and a main course, plus one bottle of wine-- total bill was over $240 plus tip. If the meal and service were truly exceptional I wouldn't complain, but this was definitely not in that category. Save your $$ and go somewhere else where it's truly about the food.
(2)
Judy S.
The food was Ok at best. One person in our party ordered lobster. The lobster was not cooked well, parts were liquified when served. Two persons in our party were server cold soup. I did not receive my entree until 10-15 minutes after everyone else. The waiters had already started removing empty plates from the table before my entree was brought out. And, this was only after one of my table mates got up to tell our waitress that I was never served. The food was over-priced and not all was prepared in a quality manner. The waitress concentrated solely on up-selling appetizers, specials, wine, and desserts. I will never go back.
(1)
Yoomi C.
Pricey restaurant! We came here on Saturday for Restaurant Week. For 30 dollars it was a great meal! I came here as a group of 6. We reserved it for 4 ppl, but they easily accommodated to our needs. For appetizers, we had fried calimari and the seafood napolean. Both were really delicious and fresh. The seafood napolean had a nice hint of wasabi oil that gave the plate a kick. For entrees, my friends and I had the steak, yellowtail and lobster ravioli. The lobster ravioli was filling but disappointing. The sauce was too salty for me. The yellowtail my boyfriend had was surprisingly good, since I don't usually enjoy fish. For dessert, the cheesecake, raspberry mousse and tiramisu were alll soooo good! I especially looooved the tiramisu. It was rich and moist! I'd go again for the tiramisu. Overall the restaurant has amazing food. The service was amazing as well. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive. Wish I could eat here everyday:)
(4)
Benezon L.
One of my "go to" restaurants when entertaining clients or family. Actually, I tend to stumble in on my way from Star Bar, Syrah, QS or Analog...but I digress. The best way I can describe the decor is SEXY. Everything from the inlay of ice on the bar tops, the soft lighting and, of course, the lovely Sara. The menu offers a large selection, everything from the spicy tuna tempura roll, lobster ravioli and bone-in filet. My personal favorites are the spinach salad, clams and mussels and the rib-eye. The spinach salad is probably my favorite salad in life. I've had spinach salads before but the combination of the raspberry vinaigrette, strawberries, Gorgonzola and bacon is perfectly balanced. No flavor overpowers the other and the end result is a clean plate. The staff is uber friendly and the location is perfectly situated on the north end of the Gaslamp Quarter. Dress up or come as you are. Stop in for a quick custom saketini, glass of wine or sit down for an amazing meal in a great venue. Don't be a stranger, ask for Sara, say hello, tell her Ben says hi, make a new friend and have a great meal.
(5)
JoAnna T.
not at all what I expected n I think i was deceived with their supposedly "Russian Cavair" hmmmm....I paid $180 for 1oz of authentic Ostrea Cavair served in a glass jar instead of a tin can. did some research after trying it;(. came from Las Vegas just to try it but now not too sure if I got my money's worth? wine angel was a disappointment n so was their service;(. not gong there again n not recommending to my friends or anyone asking about this place
(2)
Vitamin C.
I would definitely come here again. Food, service and ambiance did not disappoint. I had the sea bass, which was cooked to perfection and topped with a nice creamy sauce. I finished with the creme brulee which was simply amazing.
(4)
Brenda B.
Just relocated from the Bay Area and was pleased to find such a lovely place for dinner! From the moment I called to inquire about parking, they were extremely helpful, not only providing me directions, but a valet option right across the street! The oysters were fresh and tasty, the staff friendly, the wine list was great, the scallops were wonderful... Can't wait for my next meal at Osetra!
(5)
Bettina M.
Beautiful place and food was good but not a 10 for me! We did live the surprise of watching how our wine was obtained ...
(3)
Kim B.
We happened upon this place after finding that the restaurant where we had planning on dining was closed for the evening. Very lucky accident! First, the service was top shelf. From the hostess to management, we felt like we were their only, and most special, guests. I cannot say enough about our server - he made the entire evening so much fun. The wine list was very impressive and they have something for every budget. The wine tower is worth the trip alone. Imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw the hostess floating in the air. The food was excellent. I wouldn't say the menu is anything over the top but this is a steak house that knows how to cook steak. Medium rare was perfectly done on the rare side. As a mid-western girl who has raised cattle, I feel like I have a good knowledge of quality beef and we definitely had quality at Osetra. On the recommendation of John, we shared tiramisu for dessert and it was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Dinner for two with appetizer, wine, entrees and dessert was slightly over $100 - a good price point for a lovely evening.
(4)
Rachel L.
Came here for a birthday dinner! We were visiting the Gaslamp and it was recommended to us by our awesome cab driver! The atmosphere is fun and classy. They had a live band playing at the front of the restaurant near the bar. It seemed like a small place but I think there was more seating upstairs. The host was incredibly nice and explained a few things on the menu. I would say that she was sort of the hook for the restaurant since the host stand was outside on the sidewalk, not only was she gorgeous but she was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. once seated our server took our drink order (bottle of wine) and we ordered the Mussels and Clams Appetizer ($16). To die for! the sauce is a coconut milk curry sauce that was so good we started dipping the complimentary bread in it after all the clams and mussels were gone. (not a classy thing to do apparently, the people next to us looked horrified, weirdos. for $16 I'm eating it all lol) For dinner I had the Ahi Tuna (Cajun crusted, pan seared. Served with wasabi mashed potatoes, finished in a crispy ginger soy sauce reduction topped with tobiko caviar; $32) pretty much everything on my plate was heaven. The wasabi mashed potatoes were incredible! The wasabi flavor was just enough to compliment the perfectly seared ahi tuna. I ate the entire thing which doesn't happen too often. He got Scallops (Pan seared, served over soft polenta, lobster chunks and tobiko caviar, in a pomegranate reduction sauce; $34) The scallops were melt in your mouth good. We only shared one or two bites back and forth because we were both enjoying our own plate too much to notice the other plate For dessert we had the molten chocolate cake something or other. Since it was his birthday the I asked the server to bring it out with a candle or something embarrassing; he asked the band to sing happy birthday to him :) He loved it, and the cake was good too. ooey and gooey chocolate but it wasn't anything super special. I think everywhere has a molten chocolate cake nowadays. Excellent experience, i hope to go back!
(5)
Erin L.
DELICIOUS food. Wonderful service. All around, a great experience. A co-worker and I went to Osetra for dinner on a weeknight. It was packed insider the restaurant, so we opted to sit outside. We had our pick of tables and a heat lamp available if we needed it (we didn't). Our server arrived immediately with menus and we were quickly brought water and bread. The server recommended dishes and wine and was very helpful. We started with the bruschetta, which we both pronounced the best bruschetta we've had outside of Italy. It was just perfect-- nicely seasoned with just the right amount of olive oil and garlic. I ordered the mahi mahi with lobster mashed potatoes as my entree. Delicious! The fish was tender and beautifully cooked and the potatoes fluffy and flavorful. We ordered a bottle of the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) and it was wonderful, perfectly suited to our meal. We also had a pear and cranberry tart for dessert, which was very tasty. Overall, one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. The setting was relaxing and the service was fantastic. The next time I'm in San Diego on business, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Keith K.
I love this place I had my B-day dinner her is was so elegant and classy I loved it. My Boo bought me a Scooby Doo cake they brought it out candle lit and everything I even sent slices to the other table. If u want a nice elegant place good food go here.
(5)
Rob H.
The good: Scallops were wonderful, the plate was art with the sauces and caviar and was pleasantly paired with wine (of which the selection is numerous). I would rate the scallops as being what gave this 4 stars. Was able to go right in on a Saturday night without a reservation and find a table. I thought the cioppi was a little salty but really it was very well prepared. The muscles were perfect and the clams were also right on the mark. The main courses were excellent. The meh: Tables seemed a little small and ours was rocky (always annoying). The bread was simply ho hum and the shrimp cocktail at $15 comes with 4 shrimp albeit they are jumbo, I would rather there be smaller and more so my appetizer lasts longer than two bites. (I was sharing the appetizer not double fisting it).
(4)
Nicole B.
I stopped here by myself during happy hour. was lured in by the girl out front and sure glad i was. i ordered a 9.00 glass of wine before notcing they hh house wine of 5.00. opps! bartendered offered to take it back twice but i refused since i did order it. had clams in a coconut milk curry sauce. out of this world!!!!!! could eat it every day. bread was good too. did feel like could get snooty in there after hh but would go back to hh again for sure.
(5)
Kris W.
I love everything about this restaurant! We were down from OC for a romantic weekend and couldn't have picked a better place for our first night! The bar is beautiful, they have a Wine "Tower" that has a girl in a pulley scaling the height of it to procure the bottles.My favorite new superhero-WineGirl! We had 2 appetizers (tuna sashimi and seafood napoleon-very good. We shared the tuna rolls for dinner. I had an Espresso Martini for my dessert and it was perfect. We are coming back to eat here again before we leave! Too many things on the menu I want to try! Service and Ambience also excellent. This place rocks.
(5)
Cherlyn B.
Pretty restaurant with blue and black interior. There's a huge alcohol selection and at some point of my meal, I saw some girl strapped up hanging from the ceiling stocking up on the huge wall displaying their bottles. The only problem I had was that the music was playing too loud that it was a bit hard to hear the person I was with. Since this restaurant is located in downtown, of course the parking sucks. I was very pleased with the food though. I started off with the trio of tartare which consisted of fresh tuna and lump crab meat stacked on top of one another into different layers. One of the best raw tuna dishes I've ever had.. probably top 3! For the main course, I ordered the stuffed Mexican shrimp. It's basically jumbo shrimp stuffed with a combination of lobster, scallops, and crab topped with buerre blanc. It was quite delectable. I will def be coming back for more trio of tartare & to try the lobster mashed potatoes. So many things I'd like to try!
(4)
Agnieszka S.
My recent experience at Osetra was a great one! I came in with a friend of mine to have dinner. We got there early and decided to have a drink at the bar. The friendly bartender greater us immediately and since we weren't sure what we wanted she gave us a wine list, cocktail menu, happy hour menu and a full dinner list. With plenty of choices and options we decided to get a bottle of wine. Seconds later we were pleased to see what they call a "wine angel" retrieve it from the massive tower behind the bar. The bartender ended up opening our bottle and bringing over an amazing decanter that allowed the bottle to air out and taste delicious! At this point we were so settled into our spots and into our conversation that we decided to cancel our table and stay at the bar for dinner. The bartender recommended we order the balata as an appetizer and it was great! I love cheese and this was amazing! I later got the ribeye, which was cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the sea bass which she also enjoyed! All in all, I think this was an incredible experience and I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
LRB L.
Mixed reviews on this one... We were a group of 7 and we spent quite a bit on our dinner. We were seated upstairs and it was so loud. Drinks/wines were great, apps were good (Mexican shrimp, oysters, bruschetta all yummy, crab cake was so-so). Entrees were met with mixed reviews. Thumbs up on the steaks but lobsters were all cold upon serving. Sea Bass was on the bland side. Wedge salad was a bit bitter. Tiramisu was disappointing. For the money, I think we all agree we have eaten a better meal elsewhere but thanks to the help of the drinks and company, we all left satisfied.
(3)
Gena C.
The hubby and I went there this past weekend for our anniversary, just picked it randomly out of one of those books about local dining they give you to read in the hotel we stayed at. You know, the bathroom reading material ones? Yeah. Anyway, we finally found it amid 18 billion other restaurants and it was pretty cool on the inside, the ambiance was nice, the music most definitely below conversation level, everything sparkling clean. Our waiter was fantastic, very attentive, very conversational. He even explained the water deal which I believe some other reviewer mentioned so I don't feel at all taken advantage of. Maybe they read the reviews, I dunno! Besides, I really do believe in getting the most for your dollar however you kinda know when you go to a place in this particular price range, you should expect to spend at LEAST 150 for 2 people. You're lucky if you get away less than that, either that or you picked your menu options accordingly and didn't buy drinks. The food was amazing! I got the tomato basil with lump crab on top and it was to die for. I also got the halibut and it was like wow, buttery and cooked perfectly all the way through. It came with lobster mashed potatoes which were great and a few thingies of haricot vert - which I think they just labeled "green beans." Anyway, the portions were pretty big in my book, it was more than enough to stuff me and make me pack a doggy bag. It sucks though because I am pregnant so I didn't get to try the oysters or the carpaccio or any of that cool stuff that I wanted to at least nibble on. Oh well, maybe next time. All in all it was some great dining. Oh, and the "wine angels" were so cool!
(5)
Nikki L.
I was really disappointed with the service here. My boyfriend and I had a $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com and I think because an automatic 18% gratuity is included when you use the certificate, the waitress didn't really care. She didn't ask us how our food was once. Not once. The mahi mahi I ordered was actually quite mushy. The lobster mashed potatoes that came on the side were delicious though. My boyfriend ordered the lamb ossobucco which was pretty good but the saffron risotto was kind of chewy which was really disappointing. Overall, I'd say for what you pay for an entree here, the food was medoicre.
(2)
Shawn C.
Best seafood dinner I've ever had and I've had some good ones. Lobster was awesome. Loved the wine angel awesome little bit of something different. Pricey but a great experience style dinner
(5)
Jessica D.
We were on vacation - family of 4. I don't think they are used to having kids so they didn't know what to do with 10 year old. Overall, food was really average - the sole was very good while my sea bass was mostly inedible - very fishy and tasteless sauce. We waited forever for them to offer us bread. The kids ordered appetizers as their main course and they didn't understand and brought them as appetizers. Didn't offer us dessert. Would not recommend for food, service or ambiance. There is much better in San Diego.
(2)
Vivian L.
I don't usually give one stars, but even with the cool atmosphere and expensive wine angel retrieving wine area in the center of the bar area, everything else about this place brings it back to a none or one star rating. It is located in a pretty busy part of downtown and they have a great corner location, there was an upstairs seating area, too. We chose to it outside. The wait was 5 minutes and after 10, we were told our table was ready, but no one really showed us to our seat. Then the bread too forever to come. We weren't given cloth napkins so had to wipe the bread crumbs with our hands like we were 5. But 5 year olds wouldn't eat here since it's super pricey. We had about 5 different waiters the whole time and no one really knew what we ordered and we had to repeat ourselves. There wasn't a formal pass off to another waiter, too. We just kept getting different ones. I saw on the menu it was also a caviar bar but when we inquired on a caviar menu, there wasn't one. Our clueless waiter had to go back and ask 3 times to finally tell us what kind of caviar they have. He never told us the price. We named off a few types of caviar and he didn't know which ones they had. Finally, get this, the one they serve, is the one that the restaurant is named after and he didn't even know that! We ordered the gemelli pasta with lamb which was pretty good. Just kinda heavy for a summer night. And then I ordered the stuffed shrimp with various seafood stuffed in it. The plate had 3 shrimps on it and in the middles of the 2nd one, I realized that the shrimp wasn't fully cooked. Isn't fully cooked shrimp supposed to be pink in color, not grey???? When I asked the waiter about it, he BSed his way through by telling me that yes, the shrimp should be cooked, but also that because the shrimp was stuffed with a lot of things and baked, the baking couldn't have cooked the shrimp fully. What the heck does that mean? After that, my stomach hurt from eating half-cooked shrimp for dinner for the rest of the night. Don't ever go here. There are so many other really good places to eat downtown and this isn't one of them. I wished I had read the yelp reviews before we went, but oh well.
(1)
Tiffanie J.
beautiful, romantic, excellent service, wonderful food, and wine angel entertainment I have never been disappointed with the service at Osetra. The pastas are all homemade. The steaks are 21 days aged to perfection. Not the mention the fresh fish! The yellow tail and ahi tuna are both locally caught and you can taste the freshness. I came the other day during happy hour (between 4:30 and 7) and all of their oysters were priced at $1 ! :0 I asked the bartender where these oysters were from and she said CARLSBAD! so fresh. The hostesses and servers were so charming and helpful. This is a perfect place to celebrate, have a romantic dinner, bring a arge group, or drinks at their chilled bar. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting SD or a resident of SD. u must try!
(5)
Tommy G.
Ill give it 4 because it really was nice and the food and service were great. I do have to say something is missing from this place, but im just not sure what it is. Might be as good as you can get there at 4 stars. But the service was good and the lobster ravioli was really good, so id go again.
(4)
sparkle s.
Yet another spot I always pass on my way to Horton Plaza to shop...decided to give it a try for Resturant week last night. The venue was gorgeous with beautfiul lighting, loong winding staircases, a woman on climbing a wine cellar in mid air for some bottles, etc... The SDRW selections we're cool (I think going to Oceanaire earlier in the week has made me a seafood snob). The appetizers were just ok; I had the Calamari and he the Wedge salad. For the appetizer lemon chicken and I had the mahi mahi which were both prepared very well. Every ornate detail of the main course was attended to.. from the garnish to the design of the sauces on the plate. The mashed taters were delicious too!! For dessert, I had the Chocolate mousee and he the NY Cheesecake...both delicious (garnished with fresh strawberries) I will definetly try this place once more but not during restarant week; it was very busy and crowded and a bit loud. Our waiter was a bit of a birdbrain at the start of the dinner but he calmed down from all the excitement and catered to our every need even in the busy atmosphere. I will definetly be back to try out the rest of the menu.
(4)
Joe B.
just ok. Good customer service. Ok food but nothing that really struck me as a "must come back" place. This was recc by the concierge at the W hotel. The whole "angel" bottle of wine thing was way oversold. They made it sound like she flew to your table or something? really is just a gal that comes down on a wire and pulls bottles of wine. So many places to choose in the gaslamp, there are better restaurants.
(3)
JOEY V.
Super love these guys! I could eat here 5 nights a week. -Sophisticated wine list -Sexy crowd, FUN BAR, Dramatic lighting -FRESH seafood (The Cold Seafood Platter is very generous!) -Lots of room, Upstairs seating, Charming patio -The price point is perfect because it keeps the shady types AWAY! A good way to judge a Seafood Restaurant is to meet the GM. Sara is the perfect fit for Osetra. Keep up the good work, you are a true professional!
(5)
Lindsay S.
I'm surprised by many of the negative reviews. My husband and I liked our dinner here- granted we did eat here at 5 pm on a Saturday night and it was not that busy at all. Food: A- I ordered the Mahi Mahi which was quite tasty. The fish was cooked well, the sauce was flavorful, and the lobster mashed potatoes were yummy too. If there was anything "wrong" I'd say the green beans were a bit few (they actually give you a pretty large heap of the potatoes) and were limpy and slightly chewy (cooked a bit too long for my liking). My husband had the Mexican stuffed shrimp and he enjoyed it. Portions were good and we both left full which was nice considering we didn't order any apps, drinks or dessert. Ambiance: A: however we sat outside on the patio so I can't really speak to the inside but as most places in the gas lamp district it was a perfect place for people watching and enjoying the beautiful San Diego summer weather. Service: B+ We had no problems with the service. Our waiter was attentive. My only "gripe" would be that he wasn't as friendly as he could have been but certainly wasn't rude or mean. Price: B+ The food was good but I do think it was overpriced. I've had some of the best meals of my life at restaurants in Boston or other places that were less or competitively priced. We did thankfully come prepared with a $25 restaurant.com coupon which always helps cushion the blow. I'd definitely go back but seems that your best bet (based on other reviews) is to go at non peak times for better service.
(4)
Eric Q.
I wanted to propose to my fiance in San Diego this past weekend. It went down without a hitch, all thanks to the wonderful staff at Ostera! I called many restaurants in the area and received nothing but resistance from the management. When I called Ostera they welcomed me with open arms and did everything in their power to accommodate my wishes. Now I'm not gonna say that they will fulfill every single requirement that you have when such a request is presented but they will try there hardest to do so! In my case I was 110% satisfied and had every wish fulfilled. Everyone from the hostesses to bartenders to waiters to upper management made sure that my fiance was treated like royalty. They had a wonderful latin band that performed on Sat night and they participated in the proposal as well. To top is all off the food was marvelous. The Chilean sea bass was most excellent and the seaweed salad was so flavorful. All of the other dishes were a big hit as well. The Wine bar looked amazing, the interior decor and overall ambiance was very romantic . It's a perfect date spot if you're in the neighborhood. BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE AT OSTERA FOR MAKING OUR NIGHT SO MEMORABLE!
(5)
Miss F C.
Place is completely overrated. Too much money for so-so food. The scallops tasted fishy and my boyfriend's Chilean Seabass (that he was so looking forward to eating) was bland. We waited an hour for our food. Service is good but other than that, you can get a lot more bang for your buck without forking over $100+!
(2)
James R.
My girlfriend and I sat in their lounge area which gave us a great view of their 3 story wine bar. We've been their for happy hour before and really liked the vibe. We started with oysters and a sushi roll. Both were fresh and delicious. For entrees my girlfriend had the Stuffed Sole substituting the Ratatouilli for the wasabi mashed patatoes. She ""mmmm'd " through the whole meal. I had the Mahi Mahi with Lobster mashed patatoes. The Mahi was flakey, buttery and cooked perfectly. The Lobster mashed patatoes where unbelievably good and I would gladly go back for that alone. Thumbs up for service, atmasphere and food.
(5)
Snake P.
We had dinner here on 5/24/09. It was very disappointing. We sat at the bar and ordered clam chower soup and some taps dishes - mushroom risotto, olive focaccia, and chicken Fricasee. The clam chowder was $10 a bowl. It was lukewarm and nothing special. I've had been clam chowder out of a can. The risotto was a little undercooked and the focaccia was ok. But, the chicken fricasse took forever to come out. I asked the bartender to check on it and she went into the kitchen and came back and lied to us. She told us it would be out in a minute. By this time, we had finished all the the rest of our food. It was obvious either the bartender never put the order in or the kitchen forgot about it. About another 15 minute passed and we asked about it again. It finally can out some time after that and it was terrible. The bartender comped us for the crappy chicken, but by that time dinner was ruined. First, we got totally ripped off by the $10 clam chowder and then we had some so-so tapas and then ended up waiting forever for some extra crappy chicken fricasee and lies from the bartender. Never again. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)
Donald W.
It's been years since we've been in San Diego so I was greatly disappointed that one of my favorites, The Cotton Patch, is no more. When we picked up our relatives at the Hilton, we (mistakenly) asked the Concierge if Anthony's was still an OK restaurant. Little did I know that he is probably a paid shill for Osetra's. Based on his recommendation, we let him call and make a reservation for us. A high point was finding a $10 parking spot in a sea of $15 valet parking signs. We walked a block to the restaurant and were greeted outside by (the second, equally high point) a spectacularly endowed blonde young lady (wearing a top that showcased her 'assets') who escorted us inside. A perusal of the menu led to the suspician that this place was what we used a 'gyp joint' (unless the quality of the food justified the prices). My suspicians were confirmed. The presentation of the dishes was beyond reproach. Unfortunately, the visual images far exceeded the quality. As another reviewer noted, the Mexican shrimp should have been deported. What the flatiron steak lacked in flavor it made up for in toughness. The salmon was OK although a bit dry. Nobody did drugs (at least not in our view) although a beautiful lady at the next table seemed to find a wine cork a fascinating item to play with. All in all, this 'dining experience' would have been OK at Denny's with Denny's prices but 'fine dining' it was not. Suffice it to say, we will not give them another chance.
(1)
Ray S.
I really like the atmosphere at Osetra; Been here for Happy Hour a couple of times (nice wine selection), but this was the first time I've been here for dinner. The food is a little higher priced than I would have liked, but you will not be disappointed. I had the Mahi Mahi which was full of flavor (rich, but topped with fresh herbs to balance everything nicely).
(4)
Michela P.
I expected to have a wonderful nigh at Osetra the restaurant; sadly it turned out to be the opposite!.. (You really want to read the whole thing! I am really not a picky person or someone that will just complains for no reason.) As me and my girlfriend sat down to enjoy a wonderful dinner at a "fine cuisine restaurant" we were greeted by our server. she took our order about 12 minutes later here comes our food (a bit fast for fine dinning), we received no bread, no butter just thought to mention. She order the scallops I order the Mexican something i forgot the name, which by the way were fabulous!!! (The only reason for 2 stars) My girlfriend hadn't even finish with her food when the busboy asked her if she was done. although we were really bother by the service, which i felt was due to our race, we try to remain calm we wanted to have a pleasant night. Our server came to check on us one more time we order our desert. As i take one of the last sips of my wine i look inside and there is a cockroach!! YES PEOPLE a ROACH!! in my wine! all this time while i have been enjoying the wine! the roach has been too! (I am Hispanic i know a thing or two about roaches) At this time I'm furious! i expect this from a fast food place not a restaurant! i ask to speak to the manager the manager came and was very polite she apologize offer a 50% discount which i refuse to take I already received the poor service which i honestly felt was due to us being Hispanic, the last thing i need is for them to think i need their 50% off . The manager left and came back with our desert , 2 glasses of wine and our check, and insisted we enjoy their wine and desert; however after the roach my appetite was out the window! 2 glasses of wine and an untouched desert with the full amount of their tab me and my girlfriend are gone AND WE ARE NEVER COMING BACK. TIPS: 1. TRAIN YOUR TEAM TO TREAT ALL CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME CARE AND PROFESSIONALISM ACROSS THE BOARD! 2. MAKE SURE THE LITTLER CRITTERS ARE LONG GONE!
(2)
Robert Q.
I am a big fan of the Osetra happy hour. You won't believe the excellent quality seafood you get dirt cheap during happy hour. One of my must go places when in San Diego.
(4)
Julie L.
I would up my rating to 3-1/2 stars if I could. After posting my review, I received a nice email from Sara, the manager. She explained to me the challenges of that particular night and offered to make things right. Sara is a class act and I appreciate the fact that she actually reads the reviews here. Thanks for trying to rectify the situation.
(3)
Leslie M.
Sadly we had very bad service and worse food. Plates were basically tossed down, after we had to ask for them so we could enjoy our appetizer. Our app was brought before our drinks including wine and water. Lobster bisque was very salty but not as salty as the reduction on the ahi. We were treated poorly by the server who came to our table only once to refill our glasses of wine from the bottle we bought. We were definitely treated as if we were there to just eat and not for an experience or night out. All made sense once he tossed our bill at us said "enjoy your stay in San diego." We were treated like tourists. Too bad. We will not return even though we live close.
(2)
M K.
I was wondering why Osetra stuck in my mind during our surfing trip early august down the soCal coastline, and I think it's because of the wine cellar, copying Aureole's in LV, which I'm sure I spotted in a magazine. Regardless, we stopped by during our night in the Gaslamp district. I'm writing a review as spending two weeks in Cairns and sampling their 'fine-dining' restaurants reminded me there are restaurants that pretend to be but miss out, especially if the food is good but not great. The location, ambiance, and decor are great. Osetra seats outside if you're inclined to catch the nightly crowds as we did, and great lighting and the wine tower if you're inclined to sit inside. The menu is, well, standard. I must mention the kumamoto oysters we received, as one of them was a good five inches long :) We had them return it for a less frightening specimen. Sea bass was good, steak was good, and the salad was good. So my observation on service. They were understaffed, and the staff wasn't knowledgeable about their food or care much for service. We even observed a wait staff complain that he'd been waiting fifteen minutes to get his drink to a table. Osetra won't be hard pressed to attract a crowd given their location on 5th, but didn't show much to stand out.
(3)
Jeric L.
Can't forget this place for their caviar! A must-go back place for me and my wife.
(3)
Rachel H.
My experience was consistent with the reviews I read here. Cool venue, food alright but way too expensive and service was ok, nothing special. My husband went for dinner last night and easily dropped 100 bucks. We prepared for an expensive meal that isn't that great. You're paying for the venue and vibe for sure. I had the Tuna sashimi and my husband had the Tuna entree. Both were fine but not mind blowing. I had a mojito, which was strong but small for $12 and my husband had a beer. We shared a Cesar salad to start, also small but fine. As for service, 3 people asked to seat us when we came, there was some confusion I think. Our server was nice but he forgot a beer and we didn't remind him since we were ready to go. He also neglected to tell us the tip was included and it was embarrassing for us to have to ask questions on the bill. My husband and I agreed as we left - it was ok and we are glad we tried a new spot but no desire to go back.
(3)
Esther M.
Celebrated the man friends birthday here the other night and overall I would rate it pretty highly. For eight ppl our tab came out to 800 but almost everyone had a lobster or form of it for dinner as well as a salad or soup. The lobsters were amazing and had absolutely beautiful presentation. The only weird thing was that our server who seemed very experienced had no idea what Oscar Style Steak was or what was in a Spanish coffee..... But other then that, we had an overall great night here. I suggest trying full dining instead of just the tapas menu to really have a try at their menu
(4)
Nolan M.
Went here for a dinner during my bachelor party. We chartered a boat out of Point Loma and caught some yellowtail and sea bass. Brought the fish in and the chef prepared a 3 course dinner for us. We had a great meal and the staff was terrific. The highlight was a wonderful seared yellowtail sashimi. Was served in a giant pinwheel and crusted with poppyseed. All of the items were created on the fly and very tasty. The chef used all of the fish so we got some great bonus delicacies. Wasn't overpriced and again, the staff were great. Very friendly and attentive, right down to the shots at the end we were well taken care of. I highly recommend.
(5)
Daniella C.
My boyfriend surprised me with a new restaurant for our anniversary, which happened to be Ostera! He did such a great job picking this place, we both loved our food, the ambiance, and the service! The staff was extremely amicable and attentive. The general manager, Sara, was very personable and made her personal recommendations. She recommended we start with the Seafood Napoleon as an appetizer, which was DELICIOUS! We normally never order chilled seafood appetizers but we are so glad we did! For our entrees I ordered the mahi-mahi, which was also amazingly delicious! My boyfriend loves lobster ravioli and also enjoyed his entree! My boyfriend and I will definitely be going back! I really enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service! The wine was very good, but sadly we missed the wine angel retrieve a bottle. I am looking forward to going back and the seeing the wine angel; Osetera is now on our list of restaurants to frequent!! It's is so nice going to a special place for a special occasion where the staff is so attentive, amicable, and wants to make your special night extra special. From the moment we walked up to Osetera, the hostess greeted us and wished us a happy anniversary. When we are seated, the general manager came up to wish us a happy anniversary, ask if we've dined with them before and upon learning we had not offered to make her personal recommendations. This type of service should be everywhere!! Our night was so special, and it was one of our best anniversaries yet ! :) They even brought us out a complementary chocolate mousse and champagne toast, how adorable and memorable is that!! Thank you Osetera, we will be back! :)
(5)
Sheerless K.
I decided to update my review based on a second experience. Sara, the manager is wonderful and this dining experience changed my mind about Osetra. We started with the crabcake and the oysters and it was a great start. Nothing compares to Maryland crabcakes but this one came close. It had jumbo lump crab meat and was perfect. For dinner we had the seafood napoleon which my husband loved and the prawns capellini with shitake mushrooms which was simple, elegant and had a wonderful flavor. I had the chopped shrimp salad which was decent. The watermelon cocktail was the star of the evening in my eyes. And as a side note, I like their hammered silverware and the table accent with what looked like a simple flower immersed in a glass of water. Overall, still a bit pricey but a nice dining experience.
(4)
Devon F.
The food is phenomenal, but the atmosphere is stuffy and pretentious, and if you aren't ordering a top-end bottle of wine, they act as if they'd prefer not to have your business at all. I went here during restaurant week- as a San Diego native living just 15 minutes away, I love using the week to try new places. However, they were WAY more attentive to the conventioners who didn't have reservations than the two of us who did. I know restaurant week isn't the biggest money maker, but it was as if they wished we werent there and wanted to rush us out of the restaurant to free up the table. However, the food was truly phenomenal- the ahi, crab and avocado napolean was to die for and I'd go back and tolerate the hideous service just for that...
(3)
Nicholas B.
Starting a Friday night off to a good start at Osetra. For starters the fresh oysters, shucked and served chilled to perfection. Second, the Chesapeake crab cake which was some of the best crab I've had in a long time. The Seafood Napoleon appetizer was tasteful and succulent rendition of an ahi tartare tower. Capellini with giant prawns was a delectable entire that me and my Wife both enjoyed. The staff was professional and what you'd expect in a restaurant like this. Overall Osetra will be a place I will dine in the future.
(4)
Tony J.
This was my first seafood dinner here. My wasabi tuna was cooked and served perfectly. Marilyn was very pleasant and did an excellent job of serving my table. The manager even came over to say hello. Then the owner arrived to say hello. Greystone steakhouse is the flagship of this family owned restaurant business, which is also affiliated with the italian Osteria Panevino.Osteria Panevino is defintely more affordable than Greystone or Osetra Watergrill especially during happy hour. I will definetly return to these fine restaurants again.
(3)
Mandi S.
We sat at the bar for happy hour on Sunday (1/2 off apps and select drinks) and then had dinner. service while at the bar was slow at best, but friendly. The manager was hanging around so I put my last order through him. Seafood Napoleon was ok...I didn't find anything special. Shrimp cocktail = 2 shrimps...meh. at least it all tasted fresh. For dinner - the lemon chicken was delicious as was the mahi mahi. The drinks got very weak during dinner....new bartender? Dinner service was great and they have great outside seating.
(4)
Heather C.
My friend and I went there for dinner and had a really nice time. Our waiter was fantastic and very helpful. We had a hard time deciding on a wine choice and he was very accomedating. I had the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The atmosphere was very nice. I would definitely stop in again.
(4)
Jennifer R.
Walking around downtown and wanting to try something new we went to Osetra. Upon entering I had high hopes, the ambiance looked upscale and we sat in the back with candlelight on very comfy chairs. We ordered tapas and the service was slow, considering it was after 10pm they should of been much more attentive. Our food came out and it looked good, but the quality was not there for the price. The lamb chops were overcooked and charred, the tuna spring roll wrapper was burnt and made the entire roll taste bad, and my calamari with bay shrimp was missing the shrimp! We informed the server but she did nothing, no apology, no adjustment of the bill and no replacement of the food. She said the kitchen was getting ready to close soon, but that is no excuse when I am paying an average of $18 per tapas and I've ordered 4 of them! I would have given this restaurant 2 stars, but let me explain why I decided on 1. I gave them a chance to correct the situation by writing a letter to the restaurant manager. I informed him/her of these problems during our visit and I never even got so much as a response. No follow up letter, post card, apology, gift certificate... nothing! So to top off the terrible food and poor service I was also ignored. I have only written two formal letters to restaurants in my life because of issues like this and both times I've received a response. As a matter of fact,one of the places not only refunded my entire bill but also provided me a $50 gift certificate just to come back. Osetra didn't even respond,so that deserves 1 star at best.
(1)
Dominique H.
Great $1 oysters for happy hour and the tempura sushi roll was good. Very different to have a hot served sushi roll but it was yummy so we got 2. Ordered the 2 different types of calamari and the one that says sauteed it actually a soup. Which would be ok if we were not all sharing things. The fried one was good and has a handful of prawns in it. No complaints but not sure if i will be back
(3)
Rob Y.
I HIGHLY recommend the Mahi Mahi served over a bed of lobster mashed potatoes...wow! But for a better deal, try the tapas at happy hour.
(4)
Justin S.
What an amazing experience, from the service to the food everything was absolutely perfect. To start the restaurant is beautiful and very well kept which is very inviting. Secondly the service was top notch; our server was always attentive and really took care of our needs. Also the manager Sara was GREAT! She really made our experience by making us feel like VIP's. Unlike some managers who seem to disappear Sara was always around chatting with her guests and making sure everything was running smoothly. Lastly the food was amazing, the fish was very fresh and cooked perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you are in the Gaslamp and looking for a great locally owned fish house choose Osetra! :)
(5)
Stacy W.
My husband and I picked this restaurant somewhat randomly as we were wandering around looking for a place to eat. The service personnel ranged from polite to friendly, and service was very efficient. We sat at one of the higher tables by a window, and I appreciated the different types of seating available - there was also outdoor seating, and more secluded indoor seating. I ordered the Jidori Chicken and liked the herbal goodness saturating the chicken, mashed potatoes, and spinach. There is a good selection of wine by the glass, which is good because my husband doesn't drink alcohol. I hope we have a chance to return there soon.
(5)
Michael H.
What a sleek and comfortable atmosphere. Seemingly brand-new restaurant right in the heart of the Gamlamp District. Don't come looking for fried fish, this place is clearly for the "well-heeled." Try the Mexican stuffed shrimp - not too heavy, but filling enough to send you on your way feeling sad that it had to end.
(5)
Cathy C.
Bring your appetite! I came for the drinks stayed for the food and company! The place is called Sara a.k.a. Osetra -- The ambiance is exotic, sexy, low key and just the place to be for a night like this. Tonight the yellowtail called my attention. It is full flavor with a hint if soy and sesame.. The fish is so buttery, it melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting more.. The bartender is Steve and he mixed one of the best summer manhattan's yet.. The tiramisu ended the dinner with the last morsel you want to lick off the plate.. If you are in the Gaslamp--start here..or end here! You won't go wrong at Osetra!
(5)
matthew m.
decent place and food... but being a server/bartender for almost 8 years I was very disappointed in the service. The server was very absent minded and forgot our bread and took forever to take our order.... when asked for a few recommendations he just listed the top 3 most expensive things on the menu. He never did a "2minute check back" and our food wasn't prepared properly. The best part was the decor and the kitchen was very fast. Despite our servers lack of attention we were still "forced" out to make room for a larger party that needed our table... we all have done it in... but not to a table that already had bad service..... wont be going back there due to the awesome restaurants so close to it... but since my only complaint was the service I would encourage people tp try it... I could of had a shitty server
(3)
Kelly R.
If I was rating Osetra solely for their happy hour, I'd give them 4 stars, but since I'm rating the entire experience I'm gonna have to go with 3. The $1 lobster tacos and Kobe beef sliders are fantastic and a great value, but at regular price they're a bit more mediocre. And the rest of the menu is kind of lackluster as well. Definitely pass on the Cauliflower au Gratin. Calamari was unremarkable as well. The ambiance is nice, especially for the touristy Gas Lamp area. Service can be kind of hit or miss. The wine list is extensive and they actually have a person in harness scaling up and down the 2 story wall to obtain your bottle of choice so that's kind of fun to watch.
(3)
Robin K.
Fresh food and fun atmosphere. Group of us came in late from out of town and manger was accomidating and kept the kitchen open for us. Would highly reccommend.
(4)
Jim C.
Nice meal for our anniversary. Had filet mignon with half lobster. My wife had filet mignon with king crab legs. Tasted great. Good wine selection. Service was attentive. Comped dessert for us. Very nice gesture. It's a bit pricey but we enjoyed the evening.
(4)
Renee S.
What happened to the wine fairy? Elusive creatures these wine fairies are.... I've been here a number of times and it's always been good (and I only mean good, not enthusiastically superbly good, but good) - it's just a bit pricey for my tastes. On my most recent visit, I had Madori chicken. I was a bit unarmed by having dark meat with a large amount of skin. I would have preferred just a breast but I understand you have to hedge your bets. It seemed like EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE around us was ordering the lobster. At $40+ I imagine it's quite good.
(3)
diane k.
Make sure you order the SEAFOOD PLATTER in the appetizer section. We had a group of 4 ladies. We finished that up in 5 minutes. It came with lobster, crab, mussels, clams, and shrimp~ We also had 2 clam chowders. YUMMMY~ For the main course, Lina had the steak. She ordered it medium rare but it came out almost well done. I had the MEXICAN SHRIMP. It's lobster and scallops inside a shrimp. It's a very creamy dish along with a side of chinese bok choy. Jennifer had the HALIBUT with LOBSTER MASHED POTATOES. The fish was cooked perfectly. It just melted in your mouth. The edges of the dish had this sweet brown sauce which was too sweet for me, but jennifer gobbled it down. And the mashed potatoes!!! DELICIOUS~!!! Helen had the fettucine with shrimp and tomatoes~ The tomatoes were beautiful and just popped scrumptiously in your mouth~ All in all, this restaurant was GOOOOOOD~ The entire bill came out to $300 total~ hehe
(4)
Stacy H.
This restaurant was amazing! I went there on a Thursday night for a girls night out , the staff was warm and they had great knowledge of the menu. I ordered the crab cake, as it was highly recommended and I am glad that I listened, I am a now crab cake convert. It was creamy with lots of crab and paired with a salad of greens and spicy mango.... delicious ! I then had a the mahi mahi it had this cream sauce, that i could not get enough of not to mention the fish was cooked perfectly! To top it off the waiter was nice enough to bring me a little extra sauce on the side when she noticed how much i loved it. My friend has the Seafood Napoleon filled with lump crab fresh salmon and a wasabi oil, so good. She also had the Ahi tuna that was seared with a wasabi powder on the outside and mashed potatoes. At the end we finished with the Osetra coffee, it was a great finish to an impeccable meal . I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Simon B.
Host at door: brilliant personality, knowledgeable about food and the restaurant. Inside: after being sat - waited too long for service, husband was on yelp and seen bar had tapas menu. Moved to bar with host assistance- host notified manager asap of our non service issue ( from this point on manager came to us about 5x's to enhance service experience). Food: fast, delicious, large variety, fresh, well priced. Ordered scallops, asparagus, oysters, shrimp tacos (yum), spicy tuna roll (very good), ahi sesame tuna. All perfect temps. Overall an AMAZING restaurant catering to all types of people, and food choices. Service recovery was more than ever could be expected.
(5)
Asia H.
Osetra is one of the greatest restaurants I've been to, both ambiance & food. My first impression of the wine tower was "how vegas-esque" with wine angels floating up to get your wine! And the fish, delicious. Fresh and served with the most savory sauces, not to mention the lobster mashed potatoes! One of my top recommendations.
(5)
Monica S.
Amazing Amazing Amazing! Went for a girls weekend, my friend knew the owner & he hooked it up! Alberto is so sweet & took care of us from the get go. He made us a chefs special of a taste of well, EVERYTHING! from oysters to lamb chops, shimrp, calmari, crab cakes, spicy tuna cut rolls, rissoto, you name it! It was all to die for, including the fabulous desert. just a great atmosphere in downtown overall, with great food!
(5)
Steve M.
Any establishment that makes a truly genuine effort at addressing the issues one wrote about clearly ups their value in my eyes, as Sara the manager has. She even offered me $50 gift certificate towards next meal. I have something to look forward to besides the ocean when I go back this summer. Food was never an issue, just felt it was overpriced, but food is solid, and their costs reflect it, it makes sense. Highly recommend if your not in the mood for noise, crowds, and countless people bumbling and stumbling around you as you try to feed yourself.
(4)
Alisia V.
We did a walk in on a Thursday just before 6 and managed to get a nice table (my daughter and I).My daughter had the grilled chicken with the burblanc sauce, sauted spinach an mashed potatoes, this had a wonderful flavor and not a small portion. I had the veal chop with sundried tomato, artichoke and leeks, can I just say Wow! what great savory flavor, perfectly grilled veal chop. The desert menu looked good but we just couldn't manage to fit it in. Another great place to go back to and try something else. If your allergic to bellpeppers you can't order the stuffed shrimp or the lobster ravioli but they do look good.
(4)
Tifney H.
Another amazing experience at Osetras! My husband and I dined here for Thanksgiving this year, what a fabulous decision. The food and service were excellent. I cannot rave enough about the Scallop dish. Huge Diver Scallops, perfectly seared over creamy polenta with lobster chunks and a delicate Pomegranate sauce- yes, please. We also enjoyed blackened sea bass, lobster bisque, crab tower and cocktails.
(5)
E B.
5 stars for service. -1 stars for food and drink. I love oysters,all kinds of oysters and have eaten dozens and dozens of them. I love them so much that the night before we dined here we ate at Ironside Fish and Oyster and after having our entree we ordered more oysters for desert. The oysters here were terrible just terrible. How can you blow Oysters? By buying the cheapest most nothing oysters that taste like they were raised in a bathtub thats how. The brushetta was unremarkable and the steak was overcooked. So overcooked that we sent it back. The drinks were good the service was spectacular very prompt and apologetic to say the least.
(2)
Ruthy R.
Service exceptional! Especially the bartender Adriana Montero...quite friendly, knowledgeable and quick to serve. I would gladly go back again and happy to bring customers to this high end establishment with down to earth service! Thanks for such great service Adriana!
(5)
Nick C.
Food was delicious, servers were attentive. The place just seems more expensive than it should be for that atmosphere in my opinion.
(4)
Audrey C.
Pretty good seafood here. I love their appetizers more than the entree, especially the trio carpaccio. Great location and atmosphere. Waiters were sorta uptight, while the hostess was nice.
(4)
Chris S.
Sorry, I found dining here to be terrible on three different visits. The acrobatic wine tower just doesn't make up for very poor service and oysters that don't seem fresh to me.
(1)
Dashima C.
I came to San Diego for a conference and was looking for some good seafood. My hotel recommended that my friend and I try Osetra. When I first walked in I thought it would be a good experience because the ambiance is really nice. The waiter who was also very friendly recommended the special which was Surf and Turf. Unfortunately, the food was not good at all. The 1/2 Lobster was overcooked and the Fillet Mignon was flavorless. I also regret not asking the price of the special because I was surprised to see it was a little over $75. I would not mind paying that much for Surf and Turf if it had tasted good. Overall, it was a VERY disappointing experience.
(1)
Highhorse L.
Went here for the 1st time with my wife and son. Very impressed! The food was great and so was the atmosphere. I was taken back on how large the lobster was for my "surf and turf." My steak was cooked to my order. My wife and son enjoyed their food too. The waiter was great and personable. There were plenty of tables (probably because we came on a week day before 7pm). Then it filled up pretty quick after that. Their Calamari was awesome!! We had a great time. We are hooked!
(4)
Lisa G.
Mmmmmm! I went twice last month. The first time was for dinner, we made a pit stop at the bar while waiting for our table, (make a reso if dinning between 7-9 because the place fills up). The bartender told us about their sweet deals for happy hour. We didn't want to spoil our dinner so we only ordered a dozen oysters ($1 for happy hour!) They were great! Could have eaten another 2 dozen. For a salad, I had the burrata caprese, it was unbelievable. Best salad on the menu. Dinner, I chose the Chilean sea bass. It melted in my mouth. Highly, highly recommend. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Danielle G.
I had the pleasure of being able to take a friend to this fine dining restaurant for weekday evening in the city and we definitely stopped at the right place! Even for a Wednesday night this place was very lively and the energy was just what we were looking for! We were immediately seated by very friendly staff, who were also extremely knowledgeable about the items on the menu. We had the most AMAZING appetizers and the fish was the best and highest quality of fish I have had in San Diego County. My mouth still waters just thinking about the food, delicious! If you aren't the biggest fan of fish, don't worry.. the steak here is delish! I love that, since my boyfriend isn't the biggest fan of seafood, I like that I can take him with me and he isnt completely lacking in menu choices. Overall, Osetra is the BEST place in San Diego for a classic night out with friends and family. Cant wait to come back!
(5)
Nick T.
I came down here for the weekend with my girlfriend and we came here for a romantic dinner. The food was absolutely amazing! The mahi mahi was the best fish plate I have ever had. It is served over lobster mashed potatoes in a sweet sauce and we were sad when it was gone. Great atmosphere and very kind people.
(5)
Chavah A.
There were things I loved about this place and there were things that werent so great. I went on a Friday night and I'll start with the "loves". Loved - amazing pianist that was playing top 40. He was good but he was not trying to be the main attraction and wasnt too loud which allowed for conversation in between singing along. Loved - wine angels swirling around the wine tower and polite staff. Loved - Decor. I'm a contemporary hound so I like places that have a modern feel. Didnt love - food...was not that great, and by not that great I mean SORELY mediocre. They have a lot of work to do in that department. So...to recap, you'll notice there are more loves overall but the fact that the food (which is probably the main reason people go to restaurants, studies have shown) was so bad probably warrants putting this in the "Go if you feel like a little entertainment while you dine and talk but have a cold so you dont have to taste the food" list. The end
(3)
Peijean T.
Osetra's elegant atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit, with its unique two-story wine cellar at the center of the bar that makes it, without equivocation, San Diego's coolest cosmopolitan dining spot. But, as my return trip tonight demonstrated, Osetra is also a restaurant where the servers and management are absolutely committed to customer service. Following a previous visit that fell short of expectations, the General Manager, Sara, invited me back and explained that the waiter who would have served my friends and me had unfortunately been in an accident and another staff member who was new and not yet up to speed had to fill in. This effort alone showed that Osetra really takes customer satisfaction seriously. So my return dining experience tonight revealed Osetra's true nature beyond a hip atmosphere: a memorable seafood menu, an extensive wine list (maybe we hadn't gotten the full list the first time?), outstanding service. My waiter was knowledgeable of the dishes, had a soothing, not rushed, demeanor while staying on top of all the right steps and keeping my glass full. Dishes came out quickly. The evening's manager, Tony, even came out to greet the tables, checking to see how everyone was doing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the food I had tonight, and especially look forward in the future to trying more items off their unique CHILLED BAR menu, which features lots of cold seafood dishes. Also, I am looking forward to trying some of their very interesting cocktails, such as the ones with watermelon-infused vodka (!). A lowdown on dishes I had: * Seafood napoleon: a tower of lump crab, not-too-spicy tuna, guacamole, all topped with black sesame seeds and caviar. Served atop wasabi oil and a delicious Asian-like sweet soy sauce. Loved it and the size was ample. * Stuffed Mexican Shrimp: HUGE shrimp stuffed with lobster, scallops, crab and fresh herbs (although it's more like shrimp enrobed in these, and then it's all baked to a crispy outside layer). Served in a delicate white sauce, and with fresh bok choy. * Tiramisu: Recipe was right on target, and nicely served with chocolate sauce and fresh strawberries. The management graciously surprised me by providing this as a complimentary dessert. * Dishes I had previously enjoyed and still recommend: the juicy and flavorful Australian lamb chops and the lobster mashed potatoes.
(5)
Jay R.
Excellent food presentation. Definitely a top notch choice for a sit down dinner. Experience and taste blur together in an endorphin driven haze when the menu is utilized correctly. This must have been their intention. Kudos to the chef! Implacable service they're offering here.
(5)
David C.
Great food Great Service....
(4)
Food Critic S.
Should have listen to the other yelp reviewers!! Hotel recommended but good was ok not worth the price !! Service was slow!! Waited 20 minutes for the check!!
(2)
Crystal J.
My husband and I went here for my birthday and Marco was our server. He was such a darling!! The sweetest server ever!!! He flagged down a cab for us at the end. Such a gentleman. The food was delicious and they gave us 2 free deserts for our celebration. Best experience ever!!! Thank you Marco.
(5)
Melissa H.
One word to sum up this restaurant and all the staff... AMAZING!!!! My husband and I had a small wedding and decided to do our reception dinner in the Pacific Room located on the upper level of the restaurant. Karina the manager, is phenomenal!! She was so kind to us and went above and beyond to make our day so special. Also, Lisa and the event coordinator Veronica were so helpful and any time we needed anything they were there to answer a question or even bring in there own ipod player! The night of our dinner reception everything went flawlessly. Our waiters were on top of everything and our guests raved about the food and service. My personal favorite is the Sea Bass for an entree, but the filet was delicious too. For appetizers the tempura tuna roll is YUMMMM as well as the bruschetta! Thank you so much to Karina, Lisa, Veronica, and the whole staff at Osetra for making our evening unforgettable. We will always be so grateful for your kind hospitality and we will be back every time we visit San Diego! **Will update and post pictures of our beautiful reception room when get them from the photographer
(5)
James R.
I like stopping in for some French fries and a drink after work. Lisa is awesome! She puts my order in as soon as I walk through the door.
(5)
Craig M.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT!!!! Everything we had from the Stuffed Sole to the Gigantic Shrimp were excellent! The servers were great and very polite which was a very pleasant surprise since we were on date night and it was our first time at this restaurant. I must say that the prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for in quality of food and service. Everything was great!
(5)
Mike M.
I've been here on two different occasions. The first experience was wonderful. The second, not so much. The restaurant itself is beautiful. They have done a great job in creating an elegant, sophisticated, urban environment in a way that is warm and inviting. The food was, in both cases, above average. The wait service I experienced however was hit or miss. My sense is the inconsistency has to do with how busy they are. It's not that they weren't prompt (in fact they were). But my server during the second visit grew visibly frustrated with two people in my party who took a little longer than most in determining what they were going to order. I understand the stressors that come with customer service. But a professional server should never lose their composure over a well meaning, polite (but slow) patron. Pros: Great atmosphere, friendly bar tender, good food. Cons: Wait staff may need some re-focusing on professionalism and perspective.
(3)
Andrew S.
Great food, ambiance, and service. Although we had reservations, we had to wait about 20 minutes by the bar, but once again, the (I take the "Great food" part back) AMAZING food, setting, and service makes up for it. They have an excellent selection of wine, which I did not get to try :( I came here for restaurant week and the price of $30 was great. I ordered the yellowtail and others ordered the lobster ravioli and steak. The lobster ravioli was rich and pack with lobster meat. The steak was good, but not great. Seemed like how it tasted at home, a little overcooked than what we asked for and lacked taste, seasoning, and flavor. THE YELLOWTAIL WAS THE BEST. The yellowtail was the best entree of the night. The fish was so tender and seasoned to perfection with a hint of pepper and citrus. It was totally worth it! The dessert was great! We had a choice from dark chocolate mousse and cheesecake. Both were very tasty, but the ladies seemed to enjoy it much more than the guys haha. The guys thought the dessert was great, but sometimes I feel like girls can definitely judge better when it comes to dessert haha. I would go here again for restaurant week. I want to try Osetra now during regular hours.
(5)
Debbie C.
The service was decent but I was served the worst crab legs I've ever had. They were overcooked or over frozen, or both. Awful! I was served a second batch but they were not much better than the first ones. For the price paid the food should be amazing. It's not. Save your money and go elsewhere. Mediocre food at best. I will not be back.
(2)
Betsy R.
Oddly, have only gotten takeout here. It's awesome. I hear the atmosphere is great. Whatever. Takeout offers extras, wonderful customer service, and excellent food, with excellent decor. Few restaurants can offer nice presentation in addition to delicious food, when it comes to takeout. It comes in foil wrappers, which usually indicates poorly excecuted dishes. Not here. The salads? Ace? Mashed potatoes, when offered? Wonderful? Salmon? Delicious. And it's incredible how kind the staff can be. Often takeout orders are met with rude and crude waiters. Not here. So worth the steep prices! The ahi is incredible. High grade. Never any sick reactions, and the caviar touches are lovely. Dressings, excellent. Highly recommended, though I do agree the prices are sometimes a little outlandish. But otherwise, It's one of the better places downtown to hang.
(4)
Marisa A.
One of my friends and I went to Osetra the other night and could not have been happier. The hostess was very polite and attentive and took us straight to our table that we had made reservations for. Our server was nothing but kind and the whole meal was nothing but smooth sailing. The top sirlon and ahi are to die for, and the creme brulee dessert is absolute heaven. If you are in San Diego this is a definite must go! Amazing food and amazing service in the heart of downtown, you really can't ask for more.
(5)
Lainey S.
LOVE THIS PLACE! It's located in the Gaslamp district. Came here a few weeksn ago with another couple. We ordered a few drinks & pulled up a table near the bar. It was a Friday night & they had a great band playing. Awesome music! Nobody was dancing, so us 4 decided to get the party started! By the time 2 am rolled around, everyone was out of the floor enjoying good music! Definitely a reat time and we'll be back for some more fun! =]
(4)
Margaret M.
After reading the other Yelpers reviews I was pretty excited about this place. When we arrived we were pleasantly greeted by the hostess, and decided to have a drink at the bar before our dinner reservation. The bar itself is pretty cool, it's a large tower full of wine with a pulley system which the staff goes up and down with in order to retrieve the wine. The lounge area had hip modern furniture with a very Las Vegas feel in my opinion. The bartender was excellent, she was just talkative enough and informative about good drinks, specials and their weekly happy hour. After our drinks we went upstairs for dinner, and because I have food allergies I asked the hostess to send the manager over. The GM, Sara, came and introduced herself and was extremely helpful in informing me of what I could and could not eat (I am allergic to nuts & tree nuts). She informed the server of my selections and the allergy and helped the husband choose his entree as well. We started with the crab cakes which were amazing, melt in your mouth good. They were pan seared, not fried, so they were very light & fresh. For entrees the husband had Ahi Tuna which was thick, seared perfectly rare and served with delicious wasabi mashed potatoes. I opted for my usual, Filet Mignon which was ok...I mean it was good but honestly nothing special. For dessert the GM brought over Tiramisu (which I can't eat due to allergies, so we thought that was funny) and two glasses of champagne complimentary:) The only reason I give this place a 3 star instead of 4 is because of our server. She thought joking around about food allergies was funny, had to ask me what a tree nut was, and continuously disappeared on us. She didn't check on how our appetizer or entrees were, and when we were ready for a drink refill she was no where to be found. In fact both of our beers sat empty from about mid-entree on, this drives me nuts! I mean server training 101, when a drink is 1/2 to 3/4 empty offer a refill or you might have missed your chance, duh. ***An edit to my review*** I actually just spoke with the GM who saw my review, and apologized for the lack in service. This now bumps them up to 4 stars, what excellent customer service from their GM Sara!!
(4)
Allan B.
Seabass on the fish sliders for the reverse happy hour? Worked for me, but prob not every nite. Starts at 9pm.
(5)
Anya J.
Osetra is now one of my favorite dining spots in San Diego. Went there first time a few weeks ago and was really amazed by the quality of food and service. The ambiance is great! The stuff was knowledgeable and friendly. I strongly recommend to everyone! It's worth the $$$!
My dinner here was A-MAZING! I ordered the mahi-mahi plate with lobster mashed potatoes. This was probably the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything about it was perfect. The drinks are delicious, the service is great, the who experience was perfect!
(5)
Arthur I.
HORRIBLE!!! The service was really bad. Food was served cold AND we had to wait for 10 minutes for ALL the orders to be brought after the first dish was delivered. (Both the soups and the main courses were cold and delivered late.) The food itself was not good either. The stuffed shrimp had so much bread in it, you could not taste the shrimp or the crab in it, I am not sure if there was anything in it. Their $10 super awesome fries... saggy plane fries with a side of chipotle dressing! Did I mentioned it was overpriced!!! Will never go here! And the music so laud that all 3 tables around us asked them repeatedly to turn it down, they did not. If I cannot hear the waitress and she cannot hear me, the music has to go!!!
(1)
Jeremy T.
Soon as I walked in I was treated as family, especially Adrianna her personality behind the bar makes you want to come back again she doesn't make you feel like your just a normal customer she talks to you and casual conversation. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in San Diego.
(5)
Jane N.
The Mahi Mahi with lobster mashed potatoes was an ordinary dish, but the sauce.. OHhhh the sauce.. it was extraordinary. It totally MADE the dish. The flavor would have earned this place 4 stars. Unfortunately, getting everything out took some time. If you're with great company, I suppose the wait wouldn't be such of a bother. But, I'm still deducting half of a star because my dinner guests and the restaurant decor couldn't distract me from my growling tummy. I also don't round up. It's a good thing that I'm not a professor because I would have been that tightwad that refused to bump up your grade from a 89.9999% to an A-. This place definitely deserves to be given a chance. I will be back, and I expect the food to be out in under 40 minutes!
(3)
Lg M.
Happy hour price for calamari and shrimp: 50% off $18. Non happy hour price: $8.95. Yes, it is the same quantity. (Oysters were tasty and $1 each.
(3)
Mark W.
Great staff ... James did awesome job ... I ordered the scallops which were goo .... Next time I would order differently ... Hosted group of 10 people ... Unique wine cellar ... Check it out
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Liam O.
Three words: tempura lobster tail. Probably one of the most indulgent dishes I've ever eaten, and every bit as good as it sounds. Osetra was awesome and I had a great experience, though it looks like not everyone agrees. I guess they have their off nights. For me, it was perfect.. the ambiance and style of the place were great, the wines the server suggested were perfect, and the dish itself. Oh man. Truly heavenly.
(5)Ramaswamy A.
The food was disappointing, edible, but not inventive nor interesting. The risotto was miserable and the service was overwhelmed, even if they were earnest. Uninspired on a Monday night I suppose.
(2)Lynne K.
We went there for a small bite, dessert and an after dinner drink and were so bored with it! The service was horribly slow! It took FOREVER! How long does it take to make a martini? Not 30 minutes! There was an awkward switch with wait staff, so we didn't know who was our waiter and who wasn't. The crab cakes were good. Flavorful, not too fishy. Not amazingly amazing. But, they brought them out at the same time as the dessert. So, my dessert smelled like crab. I ordered the Chocolate Passion cake and a glass of port, which was horribly over priced. I could get the whole bottle for that much at Ralphs! The cake was pretty good, very chocolatey. The port, like the martini, took forever to get there! Almost 20 minutes! What a waste of an amazing space. Seriously disappointing.
(1)Michael P.
We had family in town from the midwest and they wanted to go out to a nice seafood dinner so we decided to give Osetra a try. We definitely will not be going back. Our first server was okay but seemed very confused when serving our glasses of wine. I'm pretty sure I got the wrong glass but he never bothered to check. Our appetizers were the highlight of the meal. We enjoyed the calamari and tempura tuna roll but it was down hill after that. During the salad course our server introduced our new server, which was strange, especially since the original server didn't leave the restaurant. My caprese burrata salad was very bland and my mahi mahi was overcooked and dry. The lobster mash potatoes were my favorite part of dinner, but that's a bad sign when a starch side dish is outshining the main protein. Our guests were happy, or at least they said they were, but I definitely would not recommend this place. There are too many good restaurants nearby to choose from.
(2)Laura B.
Decent, not outstanding. Pricey, but won't break your whole bank. Good, not great. After reading the reviews, I finally know what to call the girl who was scaling the wall of wine in the middle of the restaurant - "wine angel". Coolest job ever! We sat in the lounge so we didn't have to wait for a table (had called for reservations, but we were about 5 min late and they had given our table away. boo!). The lounge was cool and gave a good view of the restaurant. The decor was great, if nothing else. Our servers were friendly, but not on the fast side - ifyouknowwhatimean. The wine selection was extensive, warranting the entire wine tower in the middle of the place. Food was pretty good. I just can't think of anything very memorable from our dinner selection. (fennel salad and tapas - chicken fricasse, crab cakes, and filet mingon) Meh - I don't go out to eat in Gaslamp very much. It's strange to me that most of the 5 star reviews are from people with only one review to their name..... hhhhhmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmm!
(3)Ana C.
Came here with a group of friends for restaurant week. The food was great. I had the Lobster Ravioli and had the shrimp & calimari as my appetizer. The Yellow Tail was excellent too. The environment was great. Great service, great meal for a $30 three course meal!
(4)Alex A.
wow!!!!!!! what a great place!!!! raw bar, great looking design and decor. food is amazing, service is so efficient the gm Sara one of the best front person representing a restaurant anywhere she made our night, came over to greet us, suggested some great combination of appetizers and wine. try the yellow tail entree and the scallops, you'll drool forever
(5)M D.
I'm somewhat surprised to see so many sub-par reviews. I took a group of six people to Osetra's a few weeks ago and I thought it was fabulous! My first time here. Great service, great wine list, great food. What more can you ask for? Funny thing is that I personally ordered the least expensive item on the menu (Penne Pasta w/ lamb sausage) and OMG, I'm telling you it was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. Really. For that alone I'll return. I also ordered a few dozen oysters for the table and they were good - not great although others at the table felt they were excellent. They were from Washington I believe (the Oysters, not the other people).
(4)Mika J.
Overall, food was good but not great. Service was not bad but sure it wasn't good. I made a reservation through opentable for 6 of us on Saturday night and I even called about 2 hours ahead to confirm... When we arrived our reservation was nowhere to be found. At least it didn't take them long to put together a table for us. We asked for wine recommendation from our waiter, and he said "i have a thousand-dollar bottle that i would recommend" - I assume he might be more attentive if we actually order that bottle? For having an "extensive collection of wine" as they claim, just happened that the bottles we wanted were out. We had few different salads, trio of tartar, few fish dishes and risottos and ravioli. Overall, the salads, tartar and fish dishes were good: well seasoned and nicely cooked. As for the lobster risotto, it tasted good but the rice were undercooked, and the ravioli wasn't too good. So my advice is to stick with the fish and salad. And you get a piece of cake for your birthday - i forgot how it tasted...
(3)Jennifer F.
So I just had their happy hour but wanted to give my shout out. They had $1 oysters and $5 wine! That was a really happy few hours for me! I think it's awesome that they do that, when normally oysters can go for $15 for 6 oysters! Nice, modern, upscale restaurant.
(4)Bob S.
Service was 5 star and my Lamb Ossobuco melted in my mouth like chocolate. Wife had Yellowtail and said it was excellent. I like everything about this place!
(5)Rolo M.
Nice decor and friendly staff. The seafood isn't that good but everyone and their mother ordered the Filet Mignon and it was delicious. Too bad only sampled it.
(4)Steve M.
Not really quite sure what others are complaining about. We have eaten here a couple of times and really love the place. The food is quite tastey, well prepared, and well presented. Yes it is pricey but some times you want a nice place and that usually costs money. We have never experienced anything but good service. I usually start off with the trio of tartar appetizer, which is really good. Then a salad and a steak. Nothing but good things to say about this place.
(5)Addie N.
We got a gift certificate from Restaurant.com for this place & decided to try it out. We saw they have a good looking tapas menu but it was only available at the bar. My husband asked the server if our certificate was good & he said he'll check with the manager. So we ordered when he came back, assuming it was ok since he didn't say anything, but afterwards we asked him again just to make sure. He said it was fine..... We ordered the Kobe Beef Sliders which was pretty good, the Calamari was ok, nothing special, the Lobster Quesadilla was good, but the Seafood Paella was smelly!!! Overall food was ok, not the best for the price. When the check came out, the server gave us back our gift certificate and said that it wasn't valid because we only ordered tapas. OK........we did ask twice & he did said it was fine....well not wanting to make a big deal, we took the certificate back , paid, & left....never to return again
(1)Viviane T.
I would give this a 3.5 star... and here is why.... First things first, I believe this used to be called Osetra the Fishhouse, but it got a name changed, so it's no longer that but it is now Osetra Watergrill. Not sure which name is better, but what's in a name anyways. It was a Sunday when we decided to venture here for dinner. I called to make a reservations for a 8:30 dinner, they counter offered with a 8:15 pm dinner. When we got there (running about 15 minutes late) I was confused as to why she even requested for me to change my reservation to 8:15, there were barely anyone there, the place was half empty (or half full, however you want to look at it)! We got seated upstairs, too bad we didn't get a window view, it would had been nice to sit and look out on the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter. We ordered the Maryland crab cake for our appetizer, it was good. The crab cake combined with the small mango salad at the top of the dish was a good combination, melted like butter! WARNING: the waiter (at least our waiter did) offered us soup or salad, he made it sound like it came with our dishes, little did we know, it was $10 per salad. He offered us either the Fennel Salad or the typical Cesar salad, or of course, soup. When one offers a Cesar salad with an entree, one would think that it came with the meal, no, we were wrong. I did enjoy my Cesar salad (it was an entree on it's own, that's how big it was!) but my boyfriend hated his fennel salad, it tasted "funny", not very pleasing to the taste buds. I won't recommend it. My boyfriend ordered the 10 oz fillet. I ordered the Seafood Bouillabaisse (if you don't like seafood, this isn't your dish). The fillet came out perfect, juicy, just the right shade of red in the middle and was just so good, not to mention the mountain of mash potatoes that you get with it. My dish on the other hand...the seafood was fresh, it had EVERYTHING in it (half lobster, clams, crab legs, shrimp, and assorted fish), I felt like I was underwater with all these sea creatures just there for me to eat. The presentation was all too great, but it was acceptable taste wise. Over all, both dishes were good but I don't think it was worth the price that we paid for them. The ambiance was nice, I won't say it was romantic, but then again, I would say it was "sporty" either, it's a modern day romantic setting. I felt warm and fuzzy just sitting there eating.
(3)K. S.
Service was haphazard. Sea bass was great. Spinach was sandy; drinks were weak. Generally mediocre food for the price.
(3)Sharika S.
Cool place but food was not anything to rave about.
(3)Pamela S.
Love Osetra! Perfect for a date night or a classy business dinner. The ambience is great , very chill for the Gaslamp and has great signature cocktails. Jessica the bartender was very friendly and gave some great suggestions of items that I have never tried before. We had to get the seafood Napoleon that's one of my favorites as well as the Australian lamp chops and spicy tuna roll. All delicious! For entrees I decided to get the lamp ossobucco because the lamp appetizer was so good. This entree was amazing!!! Fall of the bone tender and a huge portion. We will definitely be back for the great service and incredible food!
(4)Nick L.
5 stars for the food, 1 star for the service! This place was highly recommended to us by the bar tender at the Courtyard Marriott. Me and the Lil' Mrs. went early on New Years Eve (5:00....we were hungry!) and were seated promptly. It was downhill after that. Our server (James G.) seemed awful disappointed that only I ordered a cocktail. Then the Lil' Mrs. said we wanted to split the wedge and we got the cold shoulder with a big sigh. (Another table got a double sigh when they walked in with two kids.) When our food was served, the dude never came back to see how it was going for us. Basically, we got ignored by the waiter until it was time for dessert. We had planned to have some but decided it wasn't worth it at this establishment. And then we get the check and it was mysteriously inflated by $27. When pointed that out, I got no apology, just a "glad YOU caught that." There's plenty of places to go in the Gas Lamp District so we won't be back. And we'll be letting our bar tender know the experience sucked so he can tell his friend the manager. P.S. We noted they inflated the NYE menu and no way that Filet Mignon was 10 oz. Crab cakes were really good but the Lil Mrs. ordered it as an entree so we got the big sigh.
(2)Joy L.
We were a group of 14 people stuffed in a square private room that was too small for the gigantic square table that took up most of the space. The servers had very little room to serve the large family style appetizer platters and the large bowls of cold shellfish over ice. As the ice melted, it ran all over the table. It was hard to remove the bowls (three of them) without getting the fishy water all over us. The room was overly warm, and the management said the air was on as high as it would go. Even though the food was good, it wasn't good enough to overcome the circumstances. I think I would have given a higher score had we been seated in the main dining room.
(2)Allie S.
This restaurant is amazing. One of my favorite restaurant in San Diego. The fish is incredible and really fresh. The service is impeccable and the ambiance is cool and trendy.
(5)Jack V.
Cool atmosphere but the food is lacking. Osetra has a striking two tier dining room and sleek decor. But my mixed green salad was effectively a big plate of lettuce with little accompaniment. The salmon was well prepared and flavorful but accompanied by bland spinach and mashed potatoes. At this price I expect presentation and higher quality ingredients. Other than the cut of salmon the ingredients were pedestrian.
(2)Meg D.
My husband and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. It was my year to make plans for Valentine's Day so I decided to give it a try. The evening couldn't have been more perfect! The restaurant decor is beautiful and classy, the food was exceptional (rib eye, sea bass, crab cake appetizer, tuna roll appetizer, and lava cake dessert), and the service was exceptional-to say the least! The restaurant manager, Sara, made it a point to visit each table, which is so refreshing. And Juan, one of our servers, was just a sweetheart! We came for the food and atmosphere (which was superb), but to be treated like celebs was the icing on the cake! Thank you Osetra!
(5)Matthew H.
I was on a date downtown and we left a bar looking for a place to eat. We stumbled upon Osetra between a bunch of bars where people were clubbing/partying on random Saturday night. Immediatley upon walking in we almost turned around - the place looked a little too fancy. But, we decided to go on in, at the minimum order a drink, and take a look at the menu. We sat at the bar and there were only a couple other people around us and about 3 tables taken in the entire restaurant - granted it was late. The bartender (a female who I believe may be a manager and whom I got the impression works there most nights) was more nice to us. I asked if she had any speciality drinks and she suggested the Habanero martinni. I have to say I was a bit skeptical that this would: 1) be too spicy hot, and/or 2) have any noticeable hint of habanero. However, after trying it I have to say that it goes on my list of top 5 coolest/best alchohalic beverages I've ever had in my life. The bartender later told us that the vodka is infused with the habanero which would explain why it was so smooth. Also, the drink def. had a hint of spice and tasted like habenero but it wasn't overwhelmingly hot - I'm pretty sure my date, who does not like hot/spicy things, actually enjoyed it as well. We also ended up ordering ceasar salads which were just better than average but, for the pice of about $8 or $9, was worth it. We also ordered the lobster mashed potatoes (b/c why wouldn't you?). Again, these weren't specatuclar but somewhere between average and above average - however, they are definitely unique and whose ever seen these on a menu? Overall, I think it's pretty cool place (they have 2 story wine storage in the center of the bar that is restocked by a person who goes up and down suspended cables) and has above average food (especially for the price).
(3)Kristin B.
My Husband and I went to Osetra for the first time on Saturday evening to celebrate our anniversary. The food was amazing but even better was the service. I cannot speak highly enough of the service we recieved, friendly staff, perfect pace of appetizer, salad and meal delivery. I really wish we remembered our server's name because we would give him huge compliments. Thanks again Osetra for such a wonderful evening, we will be returning.
(5)Hoa T.
I can't believe this place is still open. The wine angel is not even hot! at least hire some hot girls to fly up and down the wine tower. The food lacks flavor and is overpriced. Service is average but should be better since this place does not get busy.
(2)Mikael F.
Food was good but service was slooooow. My daughter's fish & chips arrived after we had finished our food. Unbelievable and it resulted in zero tip. Zilch, nada, zip. For the price I would expect better...
(2)Denise D.
Stopped by here to get drinks on a Saturday night (all the other bars that we wanted to go to were full to capacity and had lines). Well, now I know why this place was empty and easy to get into. The drinks are overpriced and taste like crap. The only thing that tasted right were the shot of patrons we ordered (you can't mess that up). The mojito tasted like mint water. The only "cool" thing that I liked here was the frozen counter that you place your drinks on to keep it cold.
(2)Mariah C.
My BF and I received a gift certificate to Osetra, so we made dinner reservations for last Friday, and, of course, before dining, I jumped on Yelp to read the reviews of the place. As I read, I began to wonder why in the world anyone would have given us gift certificates to this place, but I kept hoping that we would have a better experience than my fellow Yelpers. WELLLLLL.... WE DIDN'T! The service was mediocre at best. Our waiter had that snooty air about him that made me want to grab him by the neck and remind him that HE IS A WAITER! (Not that I'm knocking waiters, but geez, you aren't the president of the United States buddy!) Our appetizer was the best part of the meal. We ordered the trio de tartare and it was excellent! The lobster bisque soup was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. For my entree, I ordered the Mahi Mahi. For the price, I was expecting a delectable piece of fish, full of flavor and pizazz. Uhhhhh.... no flavor..... no pizazz (although the plating was pretty). BF ordered the stuffed shrimp and he found it to be pretty blah as well. The restaurant itself was pretty, but for a night that wasn't too busy I couldn't understand why they crammed every single diner in the restaurant into the same corner! Totally killed the attempted romantic evening! I won't be coming back to Osetra. I wouldn't even recommend trying it just once. The food is severely lacking in flavor, and for the prices, that just isn't acceptable.
(2)Steve W.
This was supposed to be an enjoyable dinner/theater night for my wife and another couple, but turned out to be a tense, unpleasant night. The food was good, not great, and the service was horrible. It was Friday night, restaurant week, but it didn't appear overly crowded. Here are the highlights: We were running late and the original 2 hours for dinner was down to 1 hour. We were seated quickly near the window, and greeted promptly. The waiter, an older, portly gentleman finally came back after dissapearing for 5 minutes. Not sure why we had to wait at that point. He returned with menus and dissappeared. After reviewing we noticed the restaurant week menu not enclosed. He is no where to be seen. After he returns, he brings the restaurant week menu. Why not just include it to begin with! We then notified him we had an 8:00 curtain to make at the Horton Grand, 4 blocks away. He jovially interrupted and said, 'do you want me to come along?'. Hahaha, but I don't think the last part he heard. We ordered wine, and saw it sat on the bar,, on a tray waiting to go out but he is gone for another 5 or so minutes. He walks by it and assists other tables. Finally after ordering and waiting what seemed a lifetime for the food to arrive, we enjoyed the food. The wedge salad was fine, the crab cakes were more bread than crab, the Mahi mahi was excellent. The lobster ravioli was tasteless. There was no fresh ground pepper offered for the salads or entrees. I flagged a bus boy down for that. Unexcusable for a restaurant of this price point. The dessert finally comes at 7:45, we gulp it down, I don't even recall if it was good or not. No waiter to get the check. He finally emerges and the the whole final check scenario took us to 8:00pm. We arrive late for the performance which shouldn't have happened. The waiters don't seem to serve, bus or even check back with us and have no clue how to make a special case and move things along a bit faster than normal. There are so many good places Downtown, you don't have to be subjected to this, other better choices. Both for food and obviously for service.
(2)Kara O.
My boyfriend surprised me with an impromptu jaunt down to San Diego a couple nights ago. Seeing as I had never really spent much time down there, I was ecstatic. We arrived about 9:30 on Friday night and not being too familiar with the Gas Lamp District where we were staying, we set off to find somewhere to get some food and drinks. Then it appeared, like a golden beacon of deliciousness--the words "Tapas-Style Menu." Perfect! We approached the outdoor hostess stand to check out the menu. Within 30 seconds my boyfriend and I looked at each other, nodded and proceeded inside. This place was gorgeous. From the sexy low lighting, to the two-story wine tower and the clean white linen. I was instantly in love. I ordered a glass of their Bouvet-Ladubay Brut--so yummy. We then finally decided on our tapas: lobster tempura tacos, gemelli pasta with goat cheese and lamb sausage and a calamari and shrimp plate. Devine. The evening would have been flawless if it weren't for our lame waiter, who couldn't even properly describe the dishes. Regardless, thanks for a great welcome to San Diego, Osetra!
(4)Ginger C.
Food and drinks were way overpriced. The limoncello mojito was delicious, but expensive at $13. A simple greyhound was $11.50. Ordered the Shrimp Chop salad for $14 thinking it should be big enough to share...definitely wasn't. Also, there was no shrimp on the salad, but we did find another kind of protein-a dead spider in the salad. They remade the salad, but no visit from the manager as I would expect and no sort of action was taken to make up for it. Tapas menu was very skimpy, $12 for the stuffed prawn...literally it was 1 shrimp. $12 chicken tapa was very small and thin. Bill was $100 and we left hungry and very disappointed.
(2)David W.
Ok, my wife and I went to this place to celebrate my Birthday. Let's say that we had a really good time. Here is a review of the areas of the restaurant. Service: The waiter we had was very professional and gave us recommendations and even got me a cake complementary on the house. I really enjoyed that. Cost: Well, this place is pretty expensive, but I think it was worth it, although we could of had ruth's Chris Steak..... BUT they MAKE the best SEAFOOD I've tasted. We had the appetizer oysters and they were very fresh (about 2$ for each) 24$ for a dozen... Drinks & Wine: Drinks were very good, we had ordered a few cocktails, I had a mangotini, which I love, since my favorite fruit is mango.,.... but we didn't get to the wine... overall good, but I didn't see the wine, although there were a few wine angels going up to get wine... Food: yes, we had a Tuna sushi /fushion plate, which was spectacular and also a Scallops plate, which had the best (and largest) scallops I've ever eaten..... Atmosphere: Overall they had very good atmosphere as there was decoration and a underwater theme through the whole restaurant... The restroom is not focused much and I think they could work on it... but overall, very nice and elegant.... Wongger out
(4)Gianna E.
Nice atmosphere, acceptable service (usually), very good "Zonin" Prosecco by the split, yummy seafood. I order the smoked salmon with the cavier preparation sides. It's uber yum and filling. I order just that, no salad, no entree! Of course all items are a little pricey, but I have found that in the gaslamp prices are reflected based mostly on location and whether or not they consider themselves to be a fine dining establishment. How do you think they paid for that wine tower anyway?
(4)Lindsey S.
I will hand it to them on the atmosphere. Everything else is just "ok". The food was very much over priced, the service was suuuuper slow, and the food was just ok. We had reservations at 8:00, and I think that they finally seated us around 8:40. Then, it just took forever to get our food. We were seated upstairs in the corner surrounded by enormous parties of like 30 people in each one. The entry and bar area is really cool. I wish they would have seated us downstairs. Whatever, I wouldn't go back.
(2)Leah P.
This was the last place for us during Restaurant Week. I wish we'd picked another place, because Osetra made for a really bad end to a relatively great Restaurant Week. Boo. The food in general was very good. Stand-outs: great wine selection, cool wine tower, Seafood Napoleon starter, and bigger sized portions. Sounds good, right? Then why the sad 2-star action, you might ask? Well, all was good until we got to paying the bill. We asked to split the bill between two cards. Sounds easy, and we sure as hell know that servers have done this before. Then why did one card come back with having been charged $40 more? And why was the automatic 20% service charge itemized 3 times on our bill? When we asked our server, she gave us a lame excuse of having to add some additional items to our bill after she closed it out, therefore adding $40 to one of the cards (just chose randomly which card to charge more on). She was not so quick with the response when we asked about the multiple service charges. After realizing that we would be getting no help from our server, we calculated it on our own and figured that our bill more or less evened out. But when we saw what was posted to our cards later that weekend, why did they try to run our bill at $30 more each card? SHADY. Make sure to review your bill at this place. And pay with cash.
(2)Joe H.
LOVE this restaurant..! Whether I pop in for just a cocktail or three or for the full on dining experience, this is the place to see and be seen..! Love the bar/wine tower and the wonderful, warm service of the bartenders and wait staff.... One can just chill there and people watch or catch up with friends while watching the multiple flatscreens that are located above the bar area... Speaking of which...I was in last week with some good friends.. Didn't have to wait to be seated... We started with the Tempura Mexican Shrimp and the Spicy Tempura Tuna Rolls.. "Tres Bien..!" I tried the Chilean Sea Bass which was magnifique..! Best I've ever had... Friends had the Lamb Ossobuco and the Flat Iron Steak. Loved it aswell... Dessert and after dinner drinks were also fantastic... High praise goes to Osetra's General Manager, Sara, who came over to our table throughout the evening to see how our experience was progressing. Result.. Very well indeed and we all have her to thank..!!!! All in all, definitely a fantastic time was had..! I will recommend Osetra to all my friends near and far....!!!!
(5)Dan G.
My company held a function at this restaurant. We had a total of 20 individuals in attendance. We had the "worst" service and the meal was nothing special. We had already finished eating our dinner when our peers started to get theirs. All the meals should have come out together or within minutes of the first in our party being served. Needless to say, it took over an hour to get our dinner. Desert was included, however we left and did not have desert because the service was terrible.
(1)Sean A.
Great location, my wife & ate there on a Friday night and we walked right in without a reservation. The service was excellent, our server was attentive without being overwhelming, and the rest of the staff was great as well. The food was somewhat mediocre. I had the flat iron steak, was cooked perfectly & had a great sauce, but the sides were lacking. My wife had the Mexican shrimp, her only gripe was the crab & lobster meat was basically shredded, instead of being lump meat. A solid place, and good value due to coupon from restaurant.com . Also they get a downgrade for the majority of the prices on the menu being incorrect. They should take some of the increased revenue they are bringing in and print new menus.
(3)da g.
This place was just awful!!! My friends and really wanted some oysters and we ended up at this place, well let me just say 2 dozen oysters later we are all very sick, im talking serious nasha diarrhea. I did have a fun time though, but i was very drunk and would have had a good time if i was in jail!!!!!! Martinis were good, service not so good we had a few people with us that were not eating and our waitron refused to give them some more bread. Bottom line this place sucks and i will never go back!!!!!!!!!
(1)Cameron S.
I came in the entrance and was completely blown away at the sight of the bar and dining area! It was so chic! I looked around the top floor, trying to scope out the tapas center location, but couldn't find it (One of the waiters said the former tapas dining location was replaced with dining tables downstairs, but only temporarily, apparently. He told me they're waiting on some type of permit to get things back to where they were before). I must say, though I loved the sting ray shaped glass lighting suspended from the ceiling upstairs while I visited! Again, very chic. To start, the waiters and hostess were very kind and knowledgeable of the menu and restaurant operations. We were seated in the estimated time given to us, and were warmly greeted by our waiter. The appetizer (Trio of Tartare) and entrees (Stuffed Mexican Shrimp and Stuffed Sole) were such an amazing combination of textures and flavors! Along with the stunning presentation, it truly did express the complexity of the work put into making each individual item. Good portions, good pricing. If you are wanting to try good seafood in San Diego with a unique twist, this is the place to go.
(5)Reham A.
Another night at Osetra in the Gaslamp district of amazing service and fabulous food. The wine is my favorite part of the evening every time I go. Osetra always has something new to try. I am a big wino and they always surprise me with great taste of new wine that they invite to their incredible collection. And as always I can never resist not ordering the Spicy tuna roll. You have to try the spicy tuna roll no questions asked. The place is amazing. They even have a great space on the second level if you are trying to host a birthday party or host a business meeting or just for having a simple get together. This is an amazing place to hang out at in the heart of the Gaslamp.
(5)serina c.
OMG what happened to this place? I use to come here at least once a month and haven't been in almost a year (i've been going to oceanaire). Osetra has gone so downhill! I even know the owner Vincenzo. My girlfriend and I went for dinner the other night and from start to finish the service was horrible. The food sucks now also. The only reason i'm gving it 2 stars is 1) because I know the owner and 2) the wine angels and wine tower. Go to Oceanaire instead and have a wonderful meal and don't waste your time here.
(2)Jill H.
The food was great! Service was awesome; Marilyn was our server. We will for sure go back! Beautiful inside and outside seating.
(5)Nick K.
I have been going to Osetra for a couple of years and last nights service prompted me to finally write a review. They were unusually busy for a Tuesday night. I sat in my usual spot and drank my usual drink while enjoying some items off the new menu. What impressed me the most is how attentive the bar tender was. She was the only one working the bar and between servicing the bar patrons and getting drinks for the servers, she kept a smile on her face, which by the way could melt and ice berg. Come on come all, I always enjoy this place.
(5)Robert M.
I am being generous by giving 3 stars. The Mexican stuffed shrimp were highly recommended and didn't have much taste. In addition, the shrimp did not taste fresh. Restaurant was not kept cool enough....the staff was cleaning plates off of the table before everyone at the table was finished. The Ahi tuna was delicious; wish I ordered that. The lobster mashed potatoes were a rip off; hardly any lobster in them and they didn't taste that good.
(3)Paul C.
Arrived and the asked for a seat. The hostess paused and appeared to think about turning us away and we were dressed up. Our waiter took more than ten minutes to show up, forgot to bring 4 menus leaving us instead with 2. When we asked for the martini menu that never appeared either. The pasta was undercooked, the French onion soup had no cheese, the clam chowder was runny, the salad limp and the wine by the glass was probably opened on Wednesday. It was a bad Saturday night double date. Insult to injury we couldn't find our waiter so we could pay. We grabbed another waiter and then got our check It was wrong, so this second waiter tracked down our original waiter to ask about our bill. Normally you'd expect that your original waiter would come back with the corrected check? Not this guy. Bad food + worse service + vinegar masquerading as red wine = big fail.
(1)T M.
One star for good wine, and one star for nice decor/ambience. But it all ends with the food. We weren't too hungry, so we decided to skip the apps and salad and just have entrees and wine. I ordered the chilean sea bass and it was awful. I like really mild fish (which is why i ordered the sea bass), but what i received had a very strong, pungent fish taste. Obviously not fresh. it was served with polenta (that was slightly burnt) and 4 spears of asparagus, each of which was missing the tip. I only ate one spear, and had to spit it out b/c it was all stalky and woody. My honey ordered the halibut, and while it was better than the sea bass, it was somewhat overcooked. Our server noticed that we didn't eat my entree at all, and didn't bother to ask if there was something wrong. We asked her if the restuarant saw a lot of locals, or if it primarily served tourists. As we suspected, it caters mostly to the tourist. Bottom line: Leave it for the conventioneers and go to The Fishery for some awesome (and fresh) seafood.
(2)LaLaLolita D.
The service here is amazing, we ate at the bar (b/c it was covered in ice -cool) Friday night and had one of the best bartenders I have ever had --EVER --anywhere---I have come to learn San Diego service leaves something to be desired but not here. That being said ... the food is just OK-- the sliders came on generic grocery store rolls, the crab cake was good but nothing special, the stuffed shrimp & good wine was my highlight. For the price --there are better places
(3)stacey s.
After the yelp party at Syrah we chose to try Osetra. The place did have a fishy smell to it that even though it is seafood restaurant I was turned off but we were sat right away, which was perfect. We ordered a bottle of chardonay however, I was not thrilled with their wine selection especially for the prices. We ordered the lobster mashed potatoes which were different but delicious with small pieces of lobster! I had the new england clam chowder which was the best I have had recently! Creamed Spinach was good but did have a strong garlic taste to it. Service was prompt and attentive.
(3)Dulce M.
Great ambiance!!! I'll definately give them that. The service is great with the way they time your appetizers to the time they bring the food. However, the food was very substandard and over-priced! The stuffed prawns were pretty decent but everything else was boring. Portions are small for the cost.
(2)Phil R.
Osetra is the best place in the Gaslamp if you want to go on a dinner date or catch a local happy hour. My favorite thing on the menu is the Oysters which happen to be on the happy hour menu for only $1 each! I have been here multiple times, and what keeps me coming back is the hospitable staff and consistently amazing food and wine. Did I mention the WINE TOWER?! There is a wine tower in the center of the bar/ restaurant and if your lucky, you will get to see one of the wine angels floating over the crowd only to access some of Osetra's prized wine collection. Overall, I love this place and make it a point to grab something here weekly and catch up on the new with the staff who always remembers who I am (which i love).
(5)Sarah O.
I am not a picky eater, nor am I a stickler for "exceptional service" I am in the hospitality industry and I know how it is on a busy night. Regardless, it took the waiter at least 30 minutes to take our order, and one hour for the food to come. We were in a strange walkway, and kept getting bumped. We specifically went for the small plates, but they only serve this in the bar unbeknown to us. Instead of comping one of our dishes, he sent us another round of wine, which we did not need (we had already ordered two glasses during the wait). I don't recommend the squid ink (or was it octopus) risotto. I just couldn't get over the squishy texture. Skip it.
(2)Nick B.
Last Friday night I decided to cruise around the Gaslamp after work, thought I'd have some happy hour drinks and then head back home for some supper (home made). Didn't work out quite like that... I did have drinks and dinner, but I didn't ended up cruising around nor cooking dinner at home. And I'm glad it worked out like that. In fact my first (and last) stop was Osetra Watergrill. I was really impressed by the bar, with a towering (excuse the pan) wine tower. Turns out the place has a really impressive wine list. So, I sat down at the bar and I was greeted by a friendly bartender, which informed me on their happy hour deals and selections. I had my usual J&C and some crab cakes to go with that. Crab cakes were great (so was the J&C) well, two more Jacks and I started to feel really hungry, so I decided to order some dinner. I ordered the AHI TUNA ROLLS seared Ahi, wrapped with spinach served with spicy tuna rolls in a wasabi and soy glaze. It was excellent! And the Ciabatta bread that came with it (yes I know... I'm Italian) was really, really, good too. Well over all a great experience, why not 5 stars? because of the cold draft that was coming from the entrance door. Please keep that door closed =)
(4)Richard R.
We stopped in here for a quick drink after dinner. After situating ourselves at the bar, we immediately noticed the woman sitting in the swing whose sole function is to retrieve wine from the multi-story wine cellar in the middle of the restaurant. It was an odd version of Cirque du Soleil with a purpose. She seemed to be enjoying her job and she constantly engaged the customers by raising and lowering herself above and below our field of vision while teasing us like 4 year olds. My buddy ordered the McAllen (18) on the rocks. It was his first McAllen and he enjoyed it, very smooth. I had a chip shot which is coffee, Baileys and something else. The drinks were moderately priced and the staff was attentive, engaging and helpful. Blue is my favorite color so I loved this place. There was a section on one of the walls that was composed completely of different colored blue tiles. This color scheme works because there is a seafood restaurant surrounding the bar on 2 sides. The crowd was lively but not boisterous which made for a great place to catch up on old times.
(4)Lindsey S.
I have only had the opportunity to eat at Osetra once, but it was absolutely phenomenal. It is pretty expensive (I think our bill was about $350 for 4 people), but well worth it for a special occasion. The restaurant is beautifully decorated in different shades of blue - you feel like you're under the sea while eating there. Downstairs is a large bar surrounding a two-story tower which stores hundreds of bottles of wine and they actually have a something called a "wine angel" - a girl who wears a harness suspended from the ceiling and climbs around the tower to retrieve different bottles. Yes, it's kind of gimmicky, but I was still fascinated. Upstairs is the main dining room which looks down to the main floor and has windows which face out over the Gaslamp District. Osetra specializes in seafood, especially oysters and caviar (the restaurant's name derives from a special type of caviar) and all of their food is delcious and beautifully prepared. All of their specialty cocktails are great as well, and I would recommend stopping in for a drink downstairs before a night out.
(5)Tom S.
Went with freinds for drinks on a Saturday in April, we made the mistake of arriving at 4:35, before Osetra opened, they let us in anyway, and the service was great. The Bartender (Christine?) was great her recommendation for wine was awesome, and the appitizers were great.
(4)Vlad A.
This is a great dining experience, the staff is very welcoming and the seafood if amazing. i would recommend this as a dining choice in gaslamp. From the moment we entered to the time we left we felt extremely welcome and taken care of, spacial thanks to tony for making it a great dinner.
(5)Veronica C.
Went here for my birthday, and it was fantastic!!! Can't complain one bit!!! Bartender was awesome, drinks were awesome, wine selection was spectacular, Tuna tartare fabulous, mood and music great, service impecable. Dessert- delicious! Stuffed Sole, Seared Ahi, lobster ravioli, sea bass --- all fabulous! Its on the expensive side, but it is so yummy its worth it. Great Date restaurant and great birthday place. Kick ass Happy Hour too Sunday- thursday i think 5-7!
(5)Jackie G.
My sister and I had such a great experience at this cool, hip wine bar! We came in to have a glass of wine at the bar and Nancy was very friendly! I definitley recommend this restaurant and they have a great selection of wine!
(5)Adam C.
For the price, the service is terrible. Food is so so. Not worth 200 dollars for a dinner for two. Much better places in the gaslamp, like the Mongolian grill in the mall.
(1)Jennifer C.
Hosted a business dinner here during a conference. We had a really poor experience - both service and food. For the price point I expected knowledgable, attentive service, but there were many slip-ups as other reviewers have noted. The food was all mediocre - it was clear no one thought their meal was very good. And the bread was terrible - come on, at least have decent bread! It was expensive and I left feeling had - clearly a place that takes advantage of the conference crowds on expense accounts without familiarity of the area and restaurant to make a better selection.
(1)T T.
Excellent! Great ambience and atmosphere. Service was great! Staff prompt and helpful with recommendations. Great martinis... strong spirits! Great selections. Appetizers were awesome! Seafood Napoleon was so yummy! Oysters rock! Chilean sea bass was done perfectly, melt in your mouth and gone to heaven. Their cioppino was done perfectly with wonderfully delightful tomato broth. So with drinks, appetizers, main course and dessert, we were all delightfully happy and stuffed!
(5)Julie L.
Our arrival experience led me to believe this restaurant was really new, but alas, when we asked our waitress and she said they've been open 3 years, all hope was lost. There was a lot of shuffling and confusion about our table and our waiter, which led to several very flustered people (none of them being us, we were just mildly entertained by the chaos.) Our meal certainly wasn't terrible... the ahi tuna rolls were gorgeous and quite tasty (though a bit sweet). We each ordered a salad, and though they were described on the menu as very different, the dressings tasted exactly the same, and they were simply ok. The Flowers Pinot Noir was an incredible match for our meal, and I don't always see that wine on restaurant lists, so that was a highlight. The whole wine angel thing is extremely over-rated... go to Aureole in Vegas - now that's a wine angel! Well, anyway, it could have been worse. But you can certainly find better.
(3)Glenn F.
We came here for the first time on our anniversary. We were given a very nice, private, window table and thought the decor was modern and done very nicely! Osetra, features a wine tower, so you will find plenty of selections here for your enjoyment! My wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass and I had the Stuffed Mexican Shrimp. The jumbo shrimp are stuffed with lobster, scallops, crab, and fresh herbs. As wonderful as my dish was, the Chilean Sea bass was magnificent and we were impressed with the generous portion. It features a citrus tomato emulsion, served with a grilled polenta and asparagus. The Sea Bass was pan seared and cooked to perfection! This was as good a Sea Bass as we have ever tasted! The staff was friendly and very helpful. Our server was attentive to our needs and made some nice recommendations. To add to the ambiance is a Flamingo guitarist, which makes you want to stay here, long after dinner is done!
(5)Corey S.
My wife and I had dinner here on a Friday night at 7PM. The place was pretty empty which surprised me. I think when we left there was a total of 4 tables in use. The service was excellent for us, but it is an unfair way to look at service as I think we were our server's only table, and if you can't handle your 1 table well, than you should find another job. Most of the food was excellent. We had the Shrimp Cocktail and the Tempura Shrimp for appetizers and both were very satisfying. For main course, my wife had the Mahi special and she was happy with her meal. She thought that the food was OK, but for 40 or so dollars for the entree she was expecting more. I had the Rib Eye special with Beer battered Fries. I enjoyed my food and thought the steak was excellent. Overall I was pleased with the Dinner, but felt that the price was a bit high for what we got, especially since my wife wasn't that happy with her dinner. On a positive note, since they knew we were celebrating our Anniversary they gave us a free dessert to share of our choice. Small things like that can really help with the overall impression of a place.
(3)Eric H.
All flash and no bang. A place that wants to be a fishouse. We went here for a business dinner with a large group. That may have impacted the review since banquet meals are much different than normal menu service. However, I will not be coming here again. Atmosphere: Osetra is in a great location in the Glass Lamp. It has an upscale atmosphere and is well decorated. They have the ever-so-trendy "wine angel" - Wine storage that is accessible by strapping a sommelier into a series of pulleys and cables and hoisting them up to the racks, 20 feet in the air. Very good lighting and interesting bar. Open air kitchen. The restaurant has a very good "feel". It's great place to have a martini. Pricing: Expensive. Service: The servers were eager and willing to help, however they appeared to be "out of sync." I mention this because some of the staff seemed to be unfamiliar with the menu that was offered that evening. Also, when you make a request and get the response "well, that's going cost to extra money" it reflects a certain naivet from the service. Obviously, there's going to be an extra cost when you order 45 oysters (which, by the way, were fantastic.) That sort of response is what I expect when I order an extra side dish at Chili's; not at a supposed upscale restaurant. Food Quality: This is where Oserta failed to meet the mark. I ate the oysters, lobster bisque, fennel salad, grilled seabass, and chocolate cake. The oysters were outstanding. The soup and salad were good. For the entre, our table had an even mix between seabass and ribeye. All of the seabass that was served at our table was undercooked. This is unforgivable for place that calls itself a fishouse. Seabass is not a fish to be served medium rare. A simple poke of the fork would clearly indicate that the fish was raw. While I did not eat the steak, the people at our table commented that it was tough and under done. Having spent 7 years in the restaurant business myself, I try to try to keep an open mind. I understand that there are inherent challenges when serving a large group, especially if you are not designed or accustomed to this kind of service. Nonetheless, for the money that we spent, it should have been good. For me, the final dagger was desert. The chocolate cake that I order was well presented (on a pretty plate with swirls of chocolate and caramel), but a quick bite revealed the true nature of this establishment. The cake had obviously spent a fair amount of its life in a refrigerator near the seafood and onions. The cake had been excessively aged and aromatically infused with the other items stored in the fridge. A final note: Don't forget the Imodium - On separate occasions, earlier in the week, two colleagues ate here and both had the Trio of Tartare (a signature dish of Osetra). On the following day, both were complaining of severe intestinal distress. Personally, I didn't experience this but I didn't eat the tuna. I have worked at these sorts of places before (not for very long). If I had to guess, I would say that this place is run businessmen who have a passion is revenue growth and maximizing the profit margin; their passion is not food quality and outstanding service. The things mention above are what you find when the management is more interested in making money than providing an outstanding dining experience. Pass on Ostera. There are too many other places in the area that are far better.
(2)Melissa Y.
Decor is enough to pay a visit. There's a wine tower like the one at Mandalay Bay in vegas, where girls suspend themselves like Laura Croft in the Tomb Raider. Food is always fresh and everything is clean. Sometimes I like going there just for drinks too. This is a good place to take guests, but make reservations.
(4)Zen A.
What a huge dissapointment Osetra turned out to be. My daughter and I had a special evening planned and it didn't turn out so good. This restaurant looked really classy and elegant. We sat outside because it was a beautiful evening. Our waiter was fabulous but the food was horrible. Nothing tasted good. When the waiter asked us how our dinner was my daughter told him point blank, "terrible, check please" I almost fell out of my chair because she never complains out loud. He offered us dessert and we were both responded, "no thanks" in the same breath. I have never been this dissapointed over a meal. One star is a gift for this place.
(1)Kate V.
Trendy. Pricey. Good, but forgettable. Osetra, osetra, osetra... We came here on our concierge's recommendation when we told her we wanted to try a seafood place on our last night in SD. I was impressed with her suggestion upon arrival: the lighting was dim except for candelight and a gleaming blue column in the middle of the restaurant--which turned out to be a floor-to-ceiling wine shelf, from which the hostess was able to retrieve and replace bottles by sitting in a swing-like seat attached to a mechanically-operated cable. Entertaining? Check! Service? Not so much. Our waiter was pretty short with us, without so much as looking us in the eye or mentioning any specials. A robot might have been more personable. The food was far from bad... Chris T. had the sea bass, and I had the jumbo Mexican stuffed prawns (don't remember what was Mexican about them, but they were good). As one might expet at a yuppie place like this one, the menu was kind of spendy, and the portions were small. All in all though, we left satisfied. Would I come here again? Probably not. Minus the Cirque Du Soleil-esque wine tower, I've seen this restaurant before. And there are way too many other pricey, trendy, and good (but not forgettable, and hopefully closer to great) places to try in a big city.
(3)Ed U.
Amazing fish, had the sea bass with fennel risotto and asparagus which was prepared excellently. Look forward to returning here again.
(4)Carlos Y.
Music was 3rd rate,the band sounded like a high school 1980s, Air conditioning was not efficient-very stuffy, the place spelled like kitty litter. .yuck
(2)Dyane P.
Overall, this place is like a 3.5 for me. The food is good, the service is good but its too expensive for what it offers. We came here for San Diego Restaurant Week and our bill was still $130. The food is good, but I have had just as good as food for much cheaper also. The boyfriend and I shared the following courses: Seafood Napoleon - Amazing!! tuna, crab, avocado stacked with wasabi oil. Shrimp and Calamari - This was fine, but I felt like I could get this at ANY bar Lobster Ravioli - This was good, not great. It was full of lobster, the sauce was good, but the pasta itself was much too thick Ahi Tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes - Pretty good. The mashed potatoes were yummy but I think the ahi tuna (which was a good portion) could have been cooked a smidgen longer. This is not because I don't like rare things, I eat sashimi, but the way it was served seemed like it could have used a bit more cooking. Cheesecake - Good, nothing special Tiramasu - Good, but a little too generous on the cocoa dusting on top that it made me cough/choke We also paired our menus with the red wine tasting for $15 each - probably not worth it because the pours were very small, but the wines were good, especially the Chianti. Overall, the ambiance is good and its a nice restaurant for a date. I am planning to come back for their happy hour but don't think I'd return for dinner due to cost, without it being restaurant week again.
(3)Saleem M.
I was in town for a weekend getaway, and my friend used a Groupon. Osetra honored it, and the staff was extremely friendly. Most importantly, however, was the delicious stuffed sole! That was the best meal of my entire weekend! Great, great stuff!
(5)Erika Q.
Thanks for a great 18 Year Anniversary experience!
(4)Stacey S.
My daughter and I came her last night before going to see The Book of Mormon. She'd driven down from school and said she would like to have seafood. Living in SD our whole lives, we decided not to do the old standby's, The Top of the Market, Oceanaire, etc. We read some of the reviews on line and decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint. We started we oyster's on the half shel. They were soft and tender. Very tasty. We split the roasted beet salad. It was good. Could have been dressed a little more for my taste. I had the seared scallops and my daughter had the Chilean sea bass. Both were excellent and we ended up sharing and couldn't decide which we liked more. Our server, please forgive me, I forgot his name, was excellent. His recommendations from wine to food were spot on. We had a fabulous time. I look forward to returning with the rest of our family.
(5)Andrea U.
I do NOT recommend this place. First off, the smell when you walk into the restaurant is not appetizing at all. Secondly, after ordering out food it took over an HOUR to be served to us! Prior to the food coming I tried to speak to the waiter, he did not stop to speak with me but instead passed by as he told me our food will be here shortly. Our group was here for a special occasion and I decided to speak with a manager, who stated "There is no excuse." Yet, continued to make excuses like they had large parties. However, that did not explain how the table who was seated long after us was served before us. Instead of trying to offer comped meals or anything for that matter, she said she would try to find out what happened. What happened???? Our food was not served to us for over an hour! And we were avoided when trying to inquire about it. Be accountable! This restaurant is not cheap and I receive better service at much cheaper restaurants. I will never go here again. I rarely write reviews on YELP, but this was such horrible service and a lack of respect shown to the patrons that I was inclined to write a review.
(1)Bill J.
Osetra is one of my go-to seafood places downtown San Diego. They have a wine list that is quite nice and pairs great with the seafood. Their waitstaff is always friendly and although seating is somewhat limited, this will be one of my favorite spots down town.
(4)Keith R.
So the young lady outside was friendly, she took the time to find out that when we arrived, which was at 9:45PM, there was a "reverse happy hour" in the bar and lounge area. We sat in the lounge area because the bar was full. We sat there for 10 minutes and nobody came to help us. Then 2 seats came available at the bar so we moved there. The bartender came to us and I asked about the happy hour and he tells me there is no happy hour. I told him the lady out front went in and brought us a happy hour menu and said to come in and try. He wouldn't give it to us..... Don't like the lake of communication. Won't be back.
(1)Steven F.
Great food great drink! Seafood Napoleon is to die for! Ambience and service was friendly and relaxed. Will be back!
(5)Jinah Y.
You get what you pay for! Super pricey dinner for 4 but the yummy food and the exceptional service was probably worth it. The heirloom tomato & fresh mozz salad was probably the best I have ever had. I am not a huge fish person but I love all other seafood so the surf & turf was an incredibly good choice--SO much food! Tried a couple bites of other fish dishes (stuffed sole & yellow tail) but wasn't as impressed with those. The scallops were pretty perfect though. Was a good choice for a special occasion!
(4)Evan M.
Came to Osetra with a couple of buddies for a classy meal before a wild night out in the Gaslamp... This was definitely the way to get the night started. We all shared some oysters and sashimi tuna as appetizers; both were fresh as could be. My steak was cooked to perfection and I loved the silver oak Cabernet that our server Jon L. said to pair it with. He helped some of our lady friends pick out the right type of sushi, and we all ended up stuffed and happy. We had a great time talking with him and he really started off our night on the right foot. Would definitely go back.
(5)Jonnie D.
Nice atmosphere, great happy hour. Server was good but not very personable. Oysters were great, ahi was good...but tartare a bit fishy. Happy hour wine had turned but he replaced upon request without question. Sake flight was silly small.
(4)Claude N.
The for of us were looking for a nice seafood restaurant. This place pleased all members in the group. Our Waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about their menu. They have an unusual large wine selection. In fact a young lady rode a harnessed one person lift to get wine wich looked about for 1 to 2 stories above us per our amazement. Nice food presentations. Fresh salad and seafoods
(5)Pamela S.
Great happy hour. Nice fresh oysters for a dollar. Our server/Bartenders have been very friendly and helpful. They serve a mule with Vodka, I prefer it with Bourbon and it tastes really yummy. Very nice atmosphere, comfortable seating. At the bar I like the ledge with the ice that keeps your drinks nice and cold. We have not yet tried it for dinner but, the food looks great.
(4)M D.
I stopped in for Happy Hour, and was in shock how delicious and well priced it is. A lot of nice restaurants get a bit sloppy on Happy Hour, but not Osetra! Their Seafood Napoleon and Crab Cakes were perfectly prepared and infused with the magical flavors. I love their cocktails, but the St.Petersburg is a must try. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jenna H.
Wow what a great find and yelp did not lead us astray! Truly a 5-star experience from beginning to finish. We happened upon Osetra by chance, took a quick peek at their menu outside, and decided to give it a try. I was a bit worried when the hostess told us we would be the first/only table upstairs when we walked in at 7pm, but that was not the case (granted I did like the privacy we temporarily had) SERVICE: Our server, MARCO, made sure we were well taken care of. He was so pleasant and friendly. My boyfriend and I never felt rushed by him (because we were a bit indecisive on what to get for entrees). Marco was so helpful and gave us his honest advice to all our questions. He also gave us his personal favorites as recommendations to help us with our indecisiveness. He also made some great drink recommendations. Truly a star server, he came by several times throughout our meal to make sure everything was good. FOOD: - Fried calamari: quite honestly this was just okay. Not complaining though since it was FREE with a yell check in! It was good, don't get me wrong, but compared to the rest of our meal it was just -- meh. - Half dozen oysters: super fresh! My boyfriend loved these! - Chilean Sea Bass: Oh. My. God. LOVED this!! This risotto complemented the fish so well and everything was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend loved the bite I gave him that I offered to swap meals half way through our dishes. - Ahi Tuna: seared to perfection! I don't usually like tuna because of its texture, but it was cooked so well and it paired so perfectly with the carrots and mashed potatoes. AMBIANCE: super nice and romantic for a date night! Dark and trendy with fantastic service. Thanks Marco and everyone else at Osetra that made our last night of our vacation in San Diego so fantastic!!
(5)Julia K.
Me and my friend, first time visitors in San Diego, walked into Osetra around 9pm on Thursday night. We had no preconceived expectations and chose purely by looking at the menu. All the tables were reserved, which is always a good sign, we've decided to have dinner at the bar. We have started with a dozen of Oysters and Foie Gras, and I had lobster ravioli. The food was superb, but what makes the place is the stuff! We were very warmly welcomed by the manager, who even recommended us a few special cocktails. St. Petersburg drink is highly recommended! But of course the highlight of the dining experience was the wine angel, flying up and down right in front of us to get the bottles from the wine tower. I would definitely go out of my way to have a proper dinner at Osetra next time in San Diego.
(5)Margaret D.
Yay, I think I'm a fan of going out to eat downtown on a Monday night. Plenty of parking, no crowds and great service. Osetra is a classy restaurant with a nice open layout. I ate at the bar where they had happy hour specials. I started with the Ahi Poke Taco's and they were amazing. The light crispy crunch of the taco shell, and the delicious poke filling were perfect. Next I tried the crab cakes which were served on top of a crispy potato cake, again this was another home run. $1 per oyster, they were good, Blue Point, but not amazing. I went for the tiramisu for dessert, which was a very larger serving and enough for two people. There were a few layers, and I felt it was a bit heavy on the cream. Normally I stay away from Sake, but they had a flight of three. My two favorites were the coconut lemongrass and the plum. Our bartender was very nice, since it wasn't busy he came by and chatted for a bit. It was an amazing meal and I couldn't be happier.
(4)Alex T.
As long as the food is consistently good I'll always be a regular. Once again, hands down two thumbs up. Started with their fresh blue point oysters. Today's pasta special~lobster, mussels, red snapper, shrimps, you name it; it was in the pasta. Great place, awesome ambience, service always on point.
(5)Adrienne K.
Perched right on the corner towards the end or start of the Gaslamp, this Russian owned establishment is delicious! Although I've never had the desire or opportunity in trying Osetra ("a prized, very expensive caviar") I know you can enjoy this option upon your request. I ordered the Chilean seabass with a custom lemon, butter and caper sauce. It was cooked to perfection! Check out the cool graphiti decor as you enter, pretty cool and modern. I love the upstairs dining the best, gives a great view, as opposed to the downstairs a bit cramped indoor seating dining, or my least preferred outdoor seating area, although small, the riff raff of downtown can spoil your meal and ambiance. Be sure to check in on yelp to utilize the free appetizer!
(5)Danny H.
'Cause I just wanna look good for you, good for you I just wanna look good for you, good for you Let me show you how proud I am to be yours Leave this dress a mess on the floor at...OSETRA! - Selena Gomez (good for you) We were staying in downtown for 4th of July and this was within walking distance for us. The bread to start off was addicting, the alcoholic beverages were great, the soup of the day (corn soup) was delicious, the caprese salad had extremely fresh ingredients, the broccoli was cooked perfect; however my steak was way overcooked and not satisfying. I should've stuck to their fish menu..oh well service was super on point and they were so consistent that it seemed we had our own server for the evening. Also she spotted a wine angel!
(4)Zana P.
This amazing fish house has to die for cocktails, scallops and flying angels! For an amazing dining experience with entertainment, come to Osetra in 5th Ave. I love the food my favorite dish is sea scallops with caviar was sooo good our server Toni was amazing! Thank you so much, for sure will be back soon!
(5)Lindsey H.
A restaurant with energy, excellent food, and service:This a restaurant with an interesting design. There is seating outside and inside. Most impressive is the vertical presence with what appears to be multiple levels of seating. This is a sister restaurant with Greystone, which is also excellent. They both have comparable excellent wine lists. We foiund the hostesses to be friendly and accomodating. I get the feeling this restaurant is mostly attrractive to out of towners, particularly travelers on business. Regardless, it is still very worthwhile.
(4)Victor M.
This place has the best service in the gaslamp! Words cannot express my experience! My whole meal was a joy from start to finish! You should just come and try it!!! And see Olga she is precious!
(5)Jennifer F.
Stumbled into this restaurant on a Saturday night around 11:00 and they had a fabulous late night happy hour ! My bartender Andrea was so wonderful she took great care of us . I had the calamari which had shrimp in it as well. Delicious I also ordered the 4 different cheese platter . I am impressed they give you a lot of cheese on there platter . The live music was awesome !
(4)Chris G.
The first time I came to Osetra was for dinner which was very good. Recently I went back for happy hour which was awesome. This place is huge and right in the heart of the Gaslamp. This place has a real upscale feel to it and is very well put together. When you first walk in the views of the wine selection are crazy. Let alone the wine angels that go up and down in a harness gathering wine above the bar. The sushi and other seafood is very fresh. If you are sitting at the bar they prepare the sushi and crack the oysters right there. The food here is really really good. The dinner is on the pricey side but it is a great spot for a special dinner or romantic date night. The happy hour is outstanding. $1 oysters and other great appetizers for great prices. The portions are fair and the staff is very friendly. They also have live music on the weekends. If you are staying downtown on vacation and want a romantic night out check this place out. If you work downtown or your fiancée does meet her after work for happy hour.
(4)Anne K.
Having done a little shopping prior, and lost track of time, I walked into Osetra at 9:55 pm - 5 minutes before closing during the middle of the week. I was seated without any problem and received good service even as they started to clean up the patio and some staff checked out. Only being somewhat hungry, having eaten some appetizers during the poster session at the conference I was in town for, I ordered a bowl of mushroom soup topped with crab (the soup of the day) and a chocolate lava cake. Both were delicious. As I ate, it was nice to sit by the front window and watch the people outside and inside. All the staff were friendly. My server Marco was particularly nice, even a bit flirtatious, and I wish I had done a better job flirting back :-). (I don't usually dine alone so this was a nice novelty in a couple places but most memorable here.). I debated about coming back to try the sea bass but I ended up going to another restaurant.
(4)Dan B.
I agree with a lot of reviews - good, but pricey. I came here as part of a large, organization-size dinner (I think there were about 30 of us in the party), and we were able to order from something of a modified set menu. Choose from 2 starters (salad or soup), from 3 entrees (fish, raw fish, or meat), and from 2 desserts (doesn't matter to me). I went with the salad, which was a very good house salad with an emulsified dressing. I asked the friendly waiter why the dressing looked creamy and he said it's because they put it in a blender. Huzzah! No lactose. Dinner was a bone-in rib-eye that was above-average, though not the greatest piece of meat I've ever had. I also had part of my pal's mahi-mahi, which was actually a bit overcooked, and I can't help but wonder if the large size of our group may have played a role (perhaps a dish or two sat on a counter while others were finished up). Dessert I ignored. The wines we had to choose from were both very good - I didn't get a look at the names. Still, the food was very good, as a whole. I overdid it and got indigestion, but that's my own fat-fault. The waiter was very, very good, dealing with our huge group. But arguably my favorite part of the whole experience is the bathroom with the sink OUTSIDE the one-stall. Great idea! I can use the restroom in peace, then wash my hands while someone else gets started on their trip. Very efficient use of space.
(4)Sanjay P.
Great place! Good food and good drinks. Our server Olga was awesome. Thanks Olga for taking great care of us. We will go back there again for sure.
(5)Linda J.
Had to come write another review because they made our night so special. Was here last night with the hubby for our anniversary and had an amazing time! Our server Jessica was great and the food was delicious!! For drinks she recommended the Sonoma Chardonnay and the Bordeaux which went perfect with our dinner! For appetizers we started with the Crab cake and Calamari which were cooked perfectly. Then we had the Chilean Sea Bass and Scallops which were amazing! I couldn't have been more pleased with our experience here. Everything from the atmosphere to the food was exquisite. And our server made sure we had a really fun time here! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Jamie R.
Osetra is a sturgeon. Not just any old sturgeon, but a big, nearly extinct fish from Russia. The older it gets, the more valuable the roe. For a while, you couldn't get it in the US, & it's still that desirable and unique. The proprietor here is Russian, as are several of his staff. So I asked if there was Osetra (the caviar) in the house. I was assured that yes, it's offered, but from domestic, farmed fish. So many gorgeous seafood choices to consider. Finally persuaded, I had lobster salad which was luscious chopped lobster meat turned into a timbale, lined with balsamic tomato and avocado. Superb Loved the posh decor. There's a 2 story wine tower bathed in alternating colors of light. A stairwell leads to a second floor; during our visit, a large group of what appeared to be escaped cruise ship passengers huffed/puffed up those. Totally unnoticed is a contemporary commission by muralist Retna. He made up his own coded alphabet a few years ago for street art, and a sampling is here as wallpaper. I recommend this spot to anyone venturing into the Gaslamp District with more than hard drinking and bad decisions in mind. Osetra is a cultural & culinary delight,
(5)D B.
Awesome restaurant, great service, meal was delicious. Katrina was our waitress and she was awesome. Great conversation. You should move to NYC Katrina! =)
(5)Clare E.
My husband and I had a wonderful meal here last week! My sister recommended it to us because she knows I love Lobster. We lucked out and had a really friendly and professional server Marco who helped described the dishes perfectly! My husband and I shared a lobster tempura roll and the lobster bisque for our first course then Marco recommended the salmon and the lamb Osso buco which did not disappoint!! Marco even recommended A good movie theatre near by! We had an excellent night and will return:)
(5)J M.
Osetra the Fishhouse has a good selection of seafood items, plus steaks. I had one of four specials, the seared haddock on risotto with sauce and small shrimp. I also ordered an appetizer that I got for free for checking in on yelp! I finished it off with creme brûlée which was excellent. The appetizer was fried calamari with a few shrimp. It was okay but greasy which is not untypical for deep fried food. The entree was very good and prepared perfectly. The restaurant has a good wine list. Prices were on the high side, but it's a touristy, convention attendee environment, so prices matter less to those on an expense account. Service was very good despite the fact that the restaurant was busy. I will go back (as long as I'm still using an expense account).
(4)Morgan S.
Nice dinner at the bar with my friend a couple weeks ago. Bartenders were attentive and gave some good recommendations on food and drinks. A good place for a formal dinner or a more casual night out like ours. The Prawns were my fav!! I'm not too keen on seafood like oysters and all but I've heard great things about it here. I'm a tequila type of guy so I went with the Piñata for my cocktail which I loved. My friend got the St. Petersburg (Vodka based) and we both liked the refreshing taste it had with the basil and lemon. I'd suggest this place to someone roaming around the famous Gaslamp Quarter if it was a really busy night... Not stellar but I was satisfied.
(3)Karl S.
Here as guests of our friend, part of a group of 6. Before dinner cocktails were great and seated near the back of the room. The place is LOUD so service suffers a bit, but the waitress do their best. I'm not a huge fan of Restaurants that are so loud, but we were guests of a great friend. Wifey ordered the Spicy Tempura Tuna Roll for a appetizer. This was fantastic. Our host ordered an order of the Caviar and we all loved it. For the main I had a special of Seafood, Pasta and a spicy tomato sauce. Was great. Wifey had the King Crab and she loved it. Overall was a great dinner with great company.
(4)Eric F.
We came here for a pre-dinner drink and some appitizers - but the food is so tasty that I can't wait to come back for a full meal. I had oysters from the raw bar. They were good but not as good as the best I've ever had. However, for a place that is NOT specifically an oyster bar I was impressed. We almost got the caviar but in the end we decided not to spend the money. However, I am impressed and happy to find a place that actually serves a nice litle caviar plate in the proper way. To continue, we tried their creamed spinach because my companion MUST try all creamed spinach... and we had the calimari and shrimp starter as well as the Asperigus Tempura. All good. The wait staff was also very helpful and friendly - even when we sat through the shift change from lunch to dinner. As we were paying the bill we saw a lovely looking seafood stew/soup come out (with pasta underneath) It was the Ciappino, a traditional California/San Francisco dish, originated by the Italian immigrants who helped create the fishing industry here a hundred or so years ago. It has lots of fish and shellfish in it, including crab legs.. It looked so good. I will come here again.
(4)Evelyn R.
Menu was great. Food better. Service impeccable (Olivier from Nice). The seafood sampler for two was SWEET! Oysters (Cumay my fav), mussels, shrimp, lobster, crab - this left your mouth watering. Olivier has secrets, too!Osetra sits in the heart of the Gaslamp District. The atmosphere was great. The Hari Krishnas were rocking music as they cruised around the district. The bicycle cabs were playing hits from the 80s on their radios as they took people around town.The food and ambiance is really perfect! Highly recommend!
(4)Cyndi D.
We just stopped by for a drink and oysters they were having a special and we could not resist. We loved the bar and the chill shelf that goes along the bar very neat as we had never seen such a thing, we laughed as we thought we do need that where we come from out in the desert. The decor is nicely done and when your there, hopefully you will see the flying angel as she comes out to take wine out of this lovely wine cellar that is over the bar. She flies around and gathers the wine from different locations. very cool and nicely done.
(4)Armani M.
Very cool bar! I just stopped by for drink here, it was strong as it should be. Beautiful Russian lady at the door didn't lie. She described the menu so vividly that my mouth started watering. I had to have an appetizer. I got tempura jumbo shrimps and they were awesome! I have to come back for a full dinner 100%
(5)Tom D.
We came here for happy hour. The happy hour food menu is quite good. They offer oysters on the half shell for a dollar a piece. Very fresh and beautifully prepared. They also have a sizable fish sandwich with fries, which is worth trying. The California roll was good, and so were the mini crab cakes. Our server was attentive and professional. The vibe is classy and up scale. Worth trying if you're in the gas lamp quarter.
(4)Gary M.
I enjoyed both the Mahi Mahi and the pear salad to start. My wife had the swordfish and it was OK. The service was very prompt and good. Out waiter John L was extremely courteous and helpful. The atmosphere and the decor are both very nice. Overall, worth the trip!
(4)Tim L.
The food was decent to good, but the service was lacking, especially for the price. It started with a C- waiter, but he was ousted after multiple screw ups. The next guy was pretty good, B+, but somehow my bottle went up by $20 over the original listed price on the menu. The bruschetta was okay, but not toasted enough. They brought out the wrong calamari dish and the second dish was missing shrimp for the most part. Stuffed sole was okay but the fish was plain tasting. Would pass on this place the next time around.
(2)Marissa R.
My hsband and I walked in here on Friday evening; we were walking around downtown looking for a Happy Hour spot. The girl at the front was really nice so we tried it out, we sat at the bar and I'm sorry, I'm horrible with remembering names, but the bartender was amazing. Our drinks were so good, my husband wants to go back for another Piñata lol! And our appetizers were perfect! My drink was good too, we started asking questions about wine and he was very helpful teaching us about different wines, we've never been wine tasting but we now feel comfortable ordering! Thank you for making it a great experience for us!
(5)Katy S.
Amazing fish house located in the center of beautiful downtown San Diego. Beautiful restaurant decorated with classy decor, giving it a classy vibe. They have an amazing wine tower with a wine angel! One of the coolest thing I got to experience there. There bar Is full service and includes a Seafood bar which displays fresh seafood! There seafood is amazing and is a great place for large parties! They also have a lot of variety on there menu including steaks and pasta as well! There Chilean sea bass is to die for, definitely a dish I would recommend trying! They also have a vast selection of wines, which is a plus! Would recommend to all types: families, couples, business dinners etc.
(5)Sara M.
Awesome service. Great food. Reasonable prices. Good wine list. Loved the atmosphere.
(5)Cv m.
Ok, this review is long overdue. I love the wine angels! It's unique to the area. I like the location. I have a young son, I love that it's a family friendly place, yet it remains classy and sophisticated. Love the fact that I can order pasta from menu and ask for a sushi roll (just because, I love sushi!). The seafood with italian flare is fantastic! Great service! Great patio. The 2nd floor is beautiful! I would consider this for any business meeting or private family event, it's so big and has private rooms! Live Music too! Yup a favorite to visit with the hubby.
(5)Elle N.
Delicious oysters. Very fresh, beautifully shucked.
(5)Jamie S.
Great happy hour! $1. Oysters :) Went on a Tuesday afternoon and they took great care of us. Diana is wonderful!!
(5)DAN S.
I ate at Osetra again last night. I had an excellent wine as recommended by the bartender, a couple rolls and the vermouth oysters. All the dishes were as recommended by their manager and were fantastic. The oysters in particular were very different than I've ever had before and I loved them. (Actually getting hungry again just writing this!) I always suggest Osetra when I have out of towners visiting and they want seafood in the Gaslamp. Love the restaurant remodel and will definitely remember Osetra when planning my next party. Great great meal!!!?
(5)jessica o.
Last time I was here I had an amazing time so I decided to come back ... This time I sat in the bar for happy hour Adriana and Lisa took care of me not only do thy make great drinks but they also make you laugh :) Wine Angels are beautiful. I loved the Scallops dish, the scallops were so huge. Saint Petersbug drink was recommended to me and I loved how fresh and delicious it was. Looking forward to the next time!
(5)Marquetia C.
Perfectly elegant atmosphere for the experienced fine diner, with service and an elevated yet understandable menu for the foodie who is looking to enjoy a meal done with professionalism and an artistic touch. Unlike the chain cookie cutter "Italian" restaurants that drown food in low grade Parmesan cheese and drown every noodle with red sauce. This is a genuine Italian menu from the sea. I look forward to treating myself there again, and again. Oh, and the wine the waiter selected for me worked perfect with my crab cake. Love it when a wait staff knows the menu and how to compliment your meal.
(5)Sunset R.
Mussels as a starter. Had the chilean sea bass. It was delicious. Service was great(thanks Andrew)
(5)Kay K.
I would love to give this place 5 stars because the food was so delicious. The service was really bad. I had a new york steak and beef battered fries. Steak was cooked really well and had an amazing sauce. It comes with mashed potatoes which tasted delicious. Friends got salad, tuna roll, rib eye, and bass. We were all happy with the delicious food which was cooked to perfection but the server was just bad. He was curt, rude, and abrupt. We all agreed that he had no business working in a high end joint like Osetra. He didn't bring a steak knife until asked, left the wine glasses on table until asked and made many elementary mistakes. Food took an hour to come out. Overall, I would recommend this place because the food was impressive.
(4)Lusine V.
So i give three stars because of the service. The food was in fact very very tasty. The service on the other hand was terrible. I think i should not generalize it possibly since it was only our waiter (this bald guy) that was incredibly rude and lacked professionalism. I would definitely go back and make sure not to get the same waiter.
(3)Dj F.
Me and my family had an amazing time here. Definitely coming back.Great customer service and the food was great
(5)Nataliya P.
I missed this place since the Valentine's dinner, so last night was a time to go back!!! It was a very different on the Valentine's night everyone was extremely busy, however last nigth was the best service in town!!! We already know that the food here is always fantastic no matter what you order! We usually have an aperitif at the bar, by the way the bar has an ice strip, you keep your glass on it and you cocktail will stay nice and cold:) We started with an octopus salad and some hand rolls it was delicious, after moving to the table I had lobster ravioli and a bottle of my favorite California Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena! In any occasion this is a great place to go either for a full dinner or just cocktails and appetizers at the bar love it! We must have spent over three hours there last night!!! Keep the good work guys, we will always come back!!!
(5)Angela G.
My family and I came to San Diego for our first time on vacation. Our concierge at the hotel recommended that we come to Osetra for a nice dining experience, and it was nothing short of amazing. Every dish we had was phenomenal and prepared to perfection. Our waiter, Jon L, was very professional, attentive and friendly, and knew just the right things to recommend on the menu. Highly suggest the scallops, and king crab linguini dish.
(5)Nat K.
Seriously best sushi roll ever (the anniversary) and all the other yummy food we ordered. Jon was our waiter and such a gentleman and provided great service. He didn't judge us for how much food we ordered. Would for sure come back
(5)Angela G.
Had dinner here with my best friend last night and was very impressed. First off I have to say I love the wine tower and the fact that the wine angels have to fly up to grab the wine bottles upon request is entertaining. We both had the jumbo sea scallops over the soft polenta and lobster chunks and it was so delicious! Will return for some happy hour soon.
(5)Kena S.
I was able to make reservations through yelp an hour before which was a plus considering it was a Saturday night. I called in right after I made the reservations and the hostess was very friendly and was able to pull up my request online. I had a party of 7 being that 3 were kids plus 2 babies, with that said I was afraid that other guests won't appreciate kids being there as it is a fine dining. But it turned out to be a great night! Thanks to the food and customer service, We were greeted when we arrived. We had a stroller and there was a two step stair to get into the restaurant. The hostess was kind enough to offer to help lift it up. But my husband got it. I thought it was a very nice gesture to begin with. When we walked in first thing I thought was "oh no" because most of the guests were older and very formal attire. My family were in beanies and sneakers. Our waiter was very nice and allowed us time to get all our kids situated. They sat us in a booth right next to the stairs leading to the 2nd floor. It was perfect because we had a little privacy and the booth came with pillows!!!! So our babies were able to sleep while we were dining. Our older kids were entertained by a lady with wings hanging down from the 2nd floor. It turned out she was selecting bottle of wines that they had stored against the main wall. Brilliant! She even waived at them. We ordered the lobster salad which was phenomenal! Unlike other places, this place had large chunks of lobster meat and the dish itself exploded with flavor! The mini pieces of mangos were a great touch. I had the Mahi Mahi. Meat was a bit tough but the mashed potatoes with bits of I think was crab meat and citrus sauce was sooo good. My husband had the swordfish. He didn't like it very much because it was tough but the sides that came with it were good. Found out swordfish is one of the few fishes high in Mercury. Kept him up all night. But it's ok the lobster salad really made up for it lol. My girls had Mac n cheese and chicken strips with French fries from the kids menu. Really good portion. Dessert was delicious. We had the creme brûlée, NYA cheesecake and chocolate gelato. Only Con I had was that the table was set up for a party of 8 adults with wine glasses and all. Our waiter just left it all on the table and did not bother to remove it. It was hard for us to move plates around. For that i took a star off because it really got in the way, even when they brought our food they couldn't put it down, so instead they put our food at the edge of the table and we had to arrange it ourselves. Kind of unprofessional for a classy dining. However I will be returning to this restaurant. A bit pricey but would like to return with my husband for a couples dinner just so I can try out their other food on the menu.
(4)Colloton R.
What? What did you say? Huh?? That;s what you find yourself saying every 5 seconds here. Literally the loudest restaurant i have ever eaten in, other than basketball arena. It's too bad because the food is really good. But when your waiter is shouting the specials to you, well, there's a limit. Sorry. Stay away.
(1)Terrance W.
So disappointed, the lobster mashed potato side was my favorite dish few years ago. It was buttery with CHUNKS of lobster and awesome ! Got it today, no meat, barely lobster "flavored" but somewhat tasty anyway. I still really like this place and will go back for other items, but they killed a unique treat.
(2)Bruce C.
We had a nice time here. It's a huge place, and nicest seating is upstairs around the atrium. We had an enthusiastic server, a nice cocktail, and the food was ok. Not really 4* food, but we're talking about the tourist quarter in San Diego here, so since this place is one of the better ones, marking it up a bit. For starters, had beet salad and bruschetta. The beets tasted very bland though rest of salad was ok. The bruschetta toast was, strangely, only mildly toasted on one side. Hello? The bruschetta is supposed to have well toasted bread. Tomatoes on top were ok,. Had two fish dishes (but their menu is large and features many non-seafood choices) and one was quite good (the sea bass). Other was a bit overcooked (mahi-mahi), but otherwise tasty. For dessert, we had their tiramisu. NIcely moist, but strangely fruit flavored.
(4)John B.
Stopped by after a long day at work for happy hour. The apps where so delicious I decided to have dinner as well. I had the Filet mignon and crab legs, my steak was seasoned and cooked to perfection and the crab legs were on point as well. Kudos to the chef. This may become a weekly routine for me! Highly recommend!
(5)Jenee-maree N.
We came in during ComiCon and I immediately loved that staff was dressed up for the occasion. We got the bruschetta as an appetizer (delicious) and I had the lamb osso bucco for my entree. It was cooked perfectly, and I even had the leftovers for breakfast the next day. The wine selection is pretty extensive and cute wine angels retrieve it for you. The ambiance and vibe was a really nice contrast to the busy streets outside. John, our server, was also from Tennessee so we bonded over that. He provided prompt, excellent service and made us feel at home. Next time, we will be in for happy hour.
(5)Anna Maria G.
We stopped in for a glass of wine and appetizers to check out the bar and wine angels. Loved the food and service so much that we stayed for a full dinner. Lobster ravioli were awesome, and Ahi Tuna was so fresh and delicious. Great place!!!!
(5)Muhammad A.
Tried their sashimi tuna appetizer and jumbo scallops! Best dished I've tried in a while. Very pleased with the food quality and especially service. I saw the stuff working really hard. The server had a great personality and all his suggestions were right on spot. Nice selection of wines by the glass to compliment your dinner. Great spot for dinner!
(5)Yen P.
The sea food pasta (special of the day) is so good. I can taste the sweetness of the fresh claims, shrimp, and mussels. The pasta sauce is just spice enough to make the dish to a different level. Try it when you are in Gaslamp!
(4)Marco C.
On this trip from Italy my hotel concierge recommend i dine at osetra fish house(gaslamp) I started with the house osetra Moscow Mule. I went with my waiters appetizer recommendation;shellfish platter. For entree I stuck with seafood and choose the ahi tune with the soy glanced reduction. My date had the surf & turf,which she loved. Both presentation & taste were 2thumbs up. Thank you for a lovely evening.
(5)Shruti N.
I really didn't enjoy my experience here and neither did my boyfriend. We had veal fettuccine and mahi mahi. The mahi mahi was pretty good but the pasta had absolutely no flavor. Service was lackluster and overall I just felt like the meal was overpriced. Meh, skip this.
(2)Kelli T.
About 6 years ago my Mother and I had the most amazing crab cake while vacationing in San Diego. We compare every crab cake we've had since then saying "this isn't as good as the one we had in San Diego". Unfortunately we could not remember the name of the restaurant. Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2014, we are back in San Diego and were trying to find restaurants that are open. Thankfully we found Osetra and the moment I walked in I knew it was the place with "the best crab cake ever" from 6 years ago. We brought our own bottle of wine that we purchased earlier that day from The Wine Bank which came with a coupon for free corkage at a few local restaurants (including Osetra which normally charges a $25.00 corkage fee). Needless to say we had a wonderful non-traditional Thanksgiving meal. Started with the infamous crab cake and it was just as great as the first time. Followed by Seafood Napoleon and Lobster Bisque. Adriana was our bartender/server and she was fantastic!!
(4)Cecilia O.
Everything was amazing! Went here last week and not only was the food delicious but the service couldn't be beat. The lobster bisque and the scallops had so much flavor but what actually made me want to come back was our server Alec. He was so knowledgeable about the menu, friendly, and he was always there when we needed him. Not only was Alec the best server but everyone else was so nice and hard working. The hostess was friendly (not pushy to get us in the door), the bussers made sure we never needed water, and even the food runner (a guy with a bread who's name I think started with a R) made sure we didn't need anything else after he dropped off the food. This place is a must when you want seafood and great service!
(5)Aysha S.
Excellent sushi menu and great service. Very fast and friendly for being a classy nice place.
(5)Michael N.
Service was outstanding on 2/9/15. Dined in the bar on high top table. Enjoyed raw oysters and Rockefeller, plus Tuna roll. Food was fresh, well presented and delicious. Getting back to the service, it was attentive, prompt and efficient with regular "ck'ins" to confirm all was ok. Overall very nice dining experience. Plus Yelp savings!!!
(4)Shelly H.
Amazing!! My boyfriend and I came to Gaslamp but unfortunately we couldn't agree on what to eat. We finally came across Osetra which seemed to satisfy both of our cravings and all I can say is wow! We got seated right away and our server was so friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere was perfect for a date night. We got started with Chesapeake Crab Cake and it was one of the best crab cakes I've tried! For my entree, I got the Chilean Sea Bass and it was incredible. From presentation to taste, it was absolutely perfect. My boyfriend got the Prime New York strip and he loved it! Both dishes were cooked to perfection. We ended up sharing both of the dishes because they were just too good not to. This is the best fish house I have been to since moving to the West coast. Everything was so fresh and delicious. 5 star service, taste, and experience! I'll definitely be returning soon.
(5)SoCalFoodies F.
We had a bad experience the first time we went here and so they contacted us and invited us back. Amazing difference !! A few months ago and had a sad 1-star experience but We were invited back and Sara took great care of us this time. The food was amazing and the service impeccable. It was a night and day different experience. Thanks for the great evening Osetra.!! So glad that we gave it another try !
(5)Barry T.
This place has a pretty solid Happy Hour menu. My friend and I ate a lot of $1 Oysters. That's a pretty good value, since Oysters are normally pricey. I wasn't too crazy about the Spicy Tempura Tuna Roll. I thought that was too sweet. The Seafood Napoleon was a good dish. Though I do think the Happy Hour Menu was good, I think it could be a lot better. A lot of the items were not creative and unoriginal. My favorite Happy Hour place would still be Roppongis in DT La Jolla. Overall, this place is a good restaurant for Happy Hour. I would come back again if i were around the area.
(4)Mike B.
So I'm in town for a few days and this place is close to my hotel at Horton Plaza. Great service from the bartender and a really good Saturday happy hour. I had oysters, shrimp cocktail and a bad ass Old Fashioned sitting at the bar. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(4)Joe F.
Hit this place for happy hour Friday. Oyster bar has tasty oysters at reasonable price. Also got the Seafood Napoleon and wife raved about it, good enough we got a second one :) Service at the bar is excellent. We will definitely come back to try dinner service.
(4)Kitty C.
Well, the service was horrendous. The waitress was a mess and clearly did not want to be there. At first glance you would assume that the food and service would complement the ambiance; however upon closer inspection you begin to realize that a tragic ending (and yelp review) is the only direction this experience was going to end on. While reading the food menu, the waitress picked up the drink menu two minutes after dropping it off because we were attempting to find food to order! Thus, make sure to hold on to all your menus. In that regard, a quick note on the specialty drinks: there is no tequila option and you must be a vodka drinker otherwise the waitress is doing you a favor by stealing the menu away from you. It also appeared they didn't service their fountain drink machine, as we opted for ice tea after two attempts at soda. Bread comes to your table after you order. Strange. So, on to Apps. We ordered the "house smoked" salmon and "beet and grapefruit" salad. There was nothing about the salmon that indicated it was smoked in house - or in any house for that matter. It was seemingly packaged. Second, the BEETS IN THE BEETS SALAD WERE CANNED. This was mindblowing, especially when it was obvious the chef rinsed the beets multiple times to give it a neutral flavor, in which - sadly - the chef was unsuccessful. Tragic. For entrée, we ordered the Ahi and Mahi Mahi - it is a fish house after all. The food came out on average pace. The food was bland, flavors were not developed and fish was overcooked. Not sure if the cooks knew how to handle cooking fish. Also, ALL fish is prepared one way - pan seared. The food was difficult to eat. In middle of the meal the bread basket was taken away, though it was not the greatest bread, it was the only thing we wanted for dinner. We didn't finish our food, paid $150 and left. It is sad for a restaurant who apparently boasts $200 caviar on their menu and then attempts to serve canned food can try fool their patrons. It put into question for me the veracity of the remainder of the menu items. The chef should be ashamed for not respecting ingredients but letting food go out of his kitchen in that manner. Cutting corners seems to be the modus operandi here; limiting bread intake, canned and packaged food, and outdated/outserviced soda fountain. If your looking for a nice place to visit, but aren't really hungry you should make your way down and grab a great table. Yet, don't expect to get a table for cheap, because it's extremely overpriced. Everyone else, don't walk, run away from this place.
(2)Edouard S.
Came here last weekend for an early dinner. The place seemed nice, always wanted to try it, finally got the chance to. They were accommodating and polite..Service was solid, the apps we had were good. Had the Tuna tartar and burratta.. For my entree, I ordered a rib-eye medium rare..It came well done, instantly sad. I asked my waiter if maybe he put it in as well done and misheard me but it was clearly the kitchens error, he was quick to correct the situation even though I said it was ok and I was in a hurry. He had the kitchen rush out another rib-eye which was prepared correctly this time but under seasoned. Lobster mash was delicious though. I'll give this place another go probably when I visit SD again, solely because of the service our waiter provided.
(3)J D.
We dropped in here one evening during our trip to check out their happy hour. It came highly recommended by friends and we were excited to give it a try. Happy Hour starts at 4:30 and we were there at the start. After browsing the Happy Hour Cocktail menu, we decided on Mojitos ($7)....damn, they were good! I lost track of how many after the 4th one....by 8 o'clock, we were smashed. Good thing we were staying downtown and were able to walk *stumble* back to our hotel. Next trip, we're going to come back and try the food....LOL Return Factor - 90%
(4)Kent R.
We were just walking and saw A gal hanging from a trapeze stacking the wine. Looked interesting so we went to eat. Bad decision. The place was very quiet but the bartender was not friendly and the food was frankly quite boring. We did enjoy watching the gal on the trapeze but would not go back
(2)Lana R.
Decent happy hour (food & drinks)! The patio is dog friendly. The regular menu is overpriced.
(4)Kevin J.
Best Seafood restaurant in downtown San Diego hands down! My girlfriend and I went here for a nice seafood dinner, and this place did not disappoint. We started with the crab cake and a nice bottle of wine. The crab cake was amazing with lots of crab and mango and other good stuff in it. If you like wine this is the place for you, Osetra has a huge wine list and they have "wine angles" that go and grab the bottles from the rakes.Our entrees, I had the Chilean Sea Bass that was so awesome and fresh. My girlfriend had the Scallops that were cooked perfectly and so amazing I wanted to eat her dish too. I can't say enough about this place, if your looking for a great dinner with a cool atmosphere and top notch service , try Osetra!
(5)Jill P.
The food was actually pretty good, although pretty basic, and very over-priced. Our waiter was extremely condescending and rude. I don't care how good the food is, I will never eat here, again. The sommelier was friendly and helpful, but the waiter made us feel unwelcome.
(2)Teresa D.
We had a wonderful dinner at this fishhouse. Lovely atmosphere, varied menu and wine list. 4 foodies found dinners that we perfect! Our waitress Olga, was hterrific as well as h helpful and beautiful. Yelp really helped me find a great place for 3 well dined physicians, thank you! We highly recommend!
(5)Jimmy R.
Food and ambiance was great, but for the price, not worth it. Our server was very nice but chose not to tell us about a few things. Apparently, we were charged 2 bucks for "Open Food" which I later determined was the tiny bottle of Tabasco that was GIVEN to us. Tabasco, aside, what really bothered me was how they charged us for the bisque, which was in fact amazing. "Would you like soup or salad?" Usually, the word 'or' implies a choice between two things, but what they really should've asked was, "would you like soup or salad or nothing, because nothing is $20 cheaper than the first two options." Don't trick me into buying your expensive soup, please. And lastly, the food was great, but even before the hidden fees debacle, I had already determined that the quality of the food did not warrant such a high price for the meals.. The band was excellent though! Twas the only thing that saved the night for me.
(3)Mustapha O.
Went there for the first and last time. Xpensive and over the top. I did not like my entree so the waiter offered us a free dessert. At the end, instead, he discussed it with his mean looking manager and decided to charge us for both dessert and throw in a free Tiramisu (worth 10 cents) that was not needed... No wonder the place had plenty of seating on a Saturday night... Instead, I would recommend Cafe Cloe or bo beau.
(1)Vincene M.
Excellent! Nice decor and presentation. Food was delicious, cocktails were great, excellent service! I would definitely go back.
(4)C F.
Went a few months ago and had a sad 1-star experience. Went back again and it was much better this time.
(3)Britt H.
2 stars for service, 2 stars for amazing wine collection and wine tower! It's just wonderful to watch some wine bungee-ing whilst enjoying a fancy meal.
(4)Jay D.
O'setra? Nope, Not Irish. Olestra. Nope, you're thinking of Olestra, a fat substitute in potato chips. Olvera? Nope, that's a kicking historical old town main street in Los Angeles. Aloe vera? Nope, that's a healthy plant extract from succulents. Osetra. More like et cetera. A few nights ago, the girlfriend and I stopped in for Happy Hour before checking out Anthony Bourdain at Spreckles nearby. Sure, let's check out the wine tower that Osetra boasts about. Well, it is a tall (about 30-feet tall at least) wine tower case that employees must suspend themselves along each side with wires above the dining crowd. Maybe 5 years ago I'd be impressed, but after seeing Hollywood stunts, hidden wires, Hong Kong martial arts movies and Mission Impossible, I'm desensitized. We ordered. 1) Seafood Napoleon - layers of lump crab, spicy tuna and guacamole. Drizzled with wasabi oil. 2) Lobster Bisque 3) Chesapeake Crab Cake - pan seared white lump crab finished with fresh mango chutney. Served with a Russian remoulade. 4) Oyster Rockefeller - Not on the menu, but we asked for it. Oyster half shells topped with butter, parsley, herbs, bread crumbs and broiled. 5) Among many drinks of whiskey and glasses of wine. The two of us ordered a number of Happy Hour items shown above that totaled about $100 bucks. Happy Hour means that select items were 50% off. Not ballers by any means, but a $100 Happy Hour for 2 is relative high, even if you offset our drinks. The joint is nice, classy, and busy as you can see that there are regulars. The bartending staff is awesome and friendly. That said, it's a good place, no beef (it is a seafood place, pun) about it.
(3)Amy B.
Great Happy Hour!!! Great wine selection. Sat at the bar planning on moving to a table, ended up staying all night at the bar. Friendly staff, fresh seafood and $1 oysters for happy hour. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)Cole C.
Had dinner at Osetra the other night while visiting San Diego. While there are plenty of options for dining in the Gaslamp District, this place should not be missed. I had the calamari, which was served with three different dipping sauces, perfectly cooked and delicious. For dinner, I had the scallops, served on lobster polenta and topped with caviar. It blew me away. The service was attentive, friendly and professional, even as the place got busy. As I was dining alone, I was checked on by my server, the hostess and the busboy, to assure I wasn't neglected, as often happens when one is traveling on business and dining alone. I would definitely recommend.
(5)Javier D.
Walked into Osetra on Valentine's Day, it was a busy night of course, and the bar was also full. We were greeted and taken to a table on the first floor. Our friendly server came soon after and offered sparkling water, he also recommended a gin cocktail called Mr Miyagi which was spicy and delicious. We started our meal with half a dozen oysters, they were medium in size, fresh, and buttery; it was my date's first time eating oysters and she enjoyed them too. Then we shared the pear salad and the calamari and shrimp, Our server suggested a glass of Sauvignon Blanc that paired perfectly with both dishes. For our main course my date ordered the crab legs ( which arrived already cut down the middle and easy to enjoy without any work done to them) I ordered the Rib eye steak so we could share and have a surf and turf course. The steak was cook perfectly to a medium rare and as my side I chose the lobster mash potatoes (fluffy and with enough chunks of lobster meat in them). I forget our server's name, but he had long hair tidde up in a cool ponytail and he kept a smile on his face through the whole meal. We will be back to Osetra when we come to San Diego again!!!
(5)Michael J.
I love this place, comes complete with wine angels! The food is awesome, and they have the best raw bar: oysters, lobster...yummm! The wine list is awesome, and from what I understand, the mixed drinks aren't too shabby either. A must check out if you're in the Gaslamp. Very elegant seating upstairs, and Gaslamp casual downstairs, and at the bar.
(4)Jeff G.
Great food!! Tuna was fabulous. Highly recommend. Staff was fabulous. We sat outside and of course the weather couldn't have been better.
(4)Briget P.
The Seafood Napoleon was amazing! Layer after layer of deeeelish! Crab meat, seared Ahi Tuna, and avocado sitting in a sesame and wasabi sauce. Amazing. The lobster ravioli was a little too rich for me, too many of bites of it made me sick of the over cheesy sauce. The Yellowtail was seared to perfection! Yum loved that. Although I did not care for the Lemon Chicken with capers. Trying to dress up a chicken=fail. And for dessert, people won't stop raving about the Tiramisu. But in actuality it was mediocre to me. Excellent service.
(3)W. G.
I dined here on a Sunday evening with a group of colleagues on a recent business trip to San Diego. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of food; however, the service left more to be desired. There was a sense of disorganization (and even slight chaos) in the service overall. Our reservation was not arranged correctly to begin with, then the server did not even take our drink orders for at least 45 minutes. Thereafter, several servers came by who lacked knowledge of the menu items, including daily specials, wine options, and ingredients in the menu items. One of my colleagues received chopsticks to use to consume her pasta dish, and many of the orders were mixed up. The food itself was fantastic however; the appetizers were quite large, especially the crab cake, and the oysters were fantastic! For our main courses, the highlights were the Ahi Tuna and Stuffed Sole, which were well portioned and seasoned with tasty side dishes. One of my colleagues requested the chocolate cake for dessert, which they had run out of; instead, it was substituted with a sorbet, which was slightly disappointing. I myself had the chocolate mousse which was superb. I would recommend this restaurant for its ambiance and the food, although I would hope that the service provided would live up to that quality as well.
(3)Mario L.
I went there with a friend of mine last night and we had a very nice time. The food was really good. And the atmosphere was exceptional! The wine wall is incredible! The server was very knowledgeable and was always there when I needed him but never over whelming. We spoke with the bar tender for a few minutes while waiting for a table and she was very friendly and very pretty.
(5)Rebecca A.
This is my favorite place for happy hour! They have amazing $1 oysters and half off selected appetizers. The staff is always so friendly with me and cater to any need. Have had dinner here as well plenty times, it is impeccable. The seared ahi tuna is my favorite. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Sher M.
The ambience of this restaurant is beautiful... we went on valentine's day so it was busy and loud.... but the food wasn't as great as it should be for the price. The service was not that great either, at one point our waiter was pretty rude, which I am sure was due to the stressful busy night but still... But the tempura spicy tuna rolls are amazing!
(3)Casey H.
This was the last straw for me and my relationship with Yelp! Where in God's name did all these 4&5 star reviews come from? Can you spell nepotism? Are you kidding me? The reviews had to be coming from friends and family or just out right bought because everything about our night here sucked! We were traveling here from San Francisco for our annual board meeting and happened upon this eatery as our first choice spot was booked with an unusually large dinner party. Their two pretty young girl barkers beckoned us in promising that the pasta dishes were all homemade and the seafood was fresh...freshly previously frozen in reality. I make pasta at home and this pasta was actually all from a box. So they lied about the pasta and the fresh seafood...but the real kicker is the PRICE of these lies. All three of the four people in our group ordered "Specials" and each special was approximately $50 each....which is fine...but the caliber of execution in our so called signature dishes was appalling. Everyone's seafood was entirely over cooked...and mine in fact, arrived just barely warm. It must have been sitting out for a while for the other three dishes to catch up. Adding to the sorry execution of these meals was a thoroughly ruinous waiter...we ended up pouring our own wine because he was not to be found anywhere near our table during most of our service. At the end of the day...I no longer trust yelp and I warn out of town guests to avoid this place like the plague. You will end up being sorry you ever entered into this establishment! BTW, this is the first time I have ever given a one star review.
(1)Nushie N.
This place is amazing. I had the spaghetti and prawns and OMG. Foodgasam in my mouth!!! I've never had such well cooked pasta! And the shrimp was perfectly cooked and fresh. I stared with the grapefruit fennel beet salad and OMG was that perfect. I wasn't expecting to like the grapefruit as much as I did. The have us a beautiful Break basket and butter. Just top notch. The only negative I will say is the wait to get food was long but as you can see from my review that did make a difference. We sat outside anyway do we watch the ppl was we waited. Oh but Side note it's beautiful inside
(5)Josh R.
My date and I were walking in the Gaslamp and we wanted fresh seafood, we walked in and from the beginning the service was excellent and the seafood platter was the freshest I have had in San Diego and then I ate a New York steak my girlfriend had the seabass (pomegranate reduction mmmmmm) Reasonably priced and worth the experience. . Thanks for a memorable night... I'll be back.
(5)Layla M.
We came for restaurant week and were pleased. We sat outside and were served well by our waitress. The food and and dessert was great, no complaints here! Kinda pricey but you get what you pay for!
(4)El J.
I think most people over use the 5 star rating, but Osetra is deserving to be sure. This is my favorite place for late night cocktails and music. The atmosphere and crowd are sophisticated without being stuffy. In a short period of time you have a drink in hand and you are chatting with other well dressed patrons at the bar. Then the music starts... Not too loud like many places, the volume is just right. The music the last 2 weekends was sultry music with a Cuban influence. No dance floor per say, but if the beat moves you there is plenty of room to have a dance to two with your dinner date. Osetra is one of the few places in the Gaslamp where the frat-boys and woo-girls are unlikely to saunter into, they can tell its a place for the well heeled and those who appreciate a well made cocktail. Kudos to the bartender for making the best lemon drop I have ever tasted. Great Crowd Attentive Staff Lo-key yet Sophisticated Atmosphere Excellent Music High Quality Cocktails I cannot recommend Osetra more highly!
(5)Dean L.
The Food is fantastic, and their Staff are very kind & attentive. A great restaurant to visit in the Gaslamp District, of Downtown San Diego. They also have some really nice Private Dining areas on the upper level of their restaurant; (which might be a good Option for a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, or some other type of special "Private Event."
(5)Medina Z.
Could not have asked for a better place to enjoy happy hour with my coworker and meet up with my husband! Something about this place just make you feel sexy!!! Karina their General Manager was made for this business! What service, stories and laughs we had! The food was delicious of course and the service was just right! You can tell this place has a strong team working together! I look forward to dinner here soon!!! And ask to see the Osetra Angel's.....a real treat!
(5)Kris T.
Excellent experience all around. We came in around 9pm Sat night without prior reservation. There was no wait. The hostess was friendly and warm. She seated right away. Our server Marco was very attentive. He made some excellent recommendations. We love the seafood linguine $59 (lobster, clam, shrimps, mussels) and the seafood platter (mussels, lobster, clams, mussels, jumbo shrimps, scallops, Alaskan king crab) $45. Portions were very generous. We didn't really care for the clam chowder $11. Over all, we really enjoyed for food, great service, and love the live music, too.
(5)Neal E.
Our team came here for a team dinner one evening. We sat in the upstairs area. I ordered the Lobster Bisque and the Oysters Rockefeller. Both the Lobster Bisque and the Oysters Rockefeller were very good. Service was good. However, one of the waiters knocked my glass of red wine over, soaking the white table cloth. They attempted to mop up the mess and laid white linen napkins over the affected area. After about 10 minutes, red wine began to wick up through the napkins and I found I had red wine residue on my hands, elbows, etc. Rating would have been higher had I not been wallowing in red wine for a good portion of the evening.
(3)Yasemin D.
If you are looking for a restaurant with great food and an amazing service, then look no further, you have found the right spot!!! This was my first time being here on Sunday and I am really impressed! My boyfriend made a reservation for our monthly anniversary he he :) ( he is a good boy) however, it turned out a serious date night; atmosphere, music, wine, food and service... I felt like a fallen angel from sky with oysters and wine :)) So, we started with fried calamari and Rockefeller oysters which was awesome. I could not decide for wine and our waitress Jessica suggested a really tasty Pinot Grigio, we loved it. And for dinner we ordered stuffed lobster with blue crab meat and a butter sauce served with mash potato and vegetables, and chilean seabass in a pomegranate sauce... By the way service was outstanding, Thank you Jessica! Please don't look for pictures, I was so busy with my delicious food. We will be back for this place.
(5)Jordan H.
One of my absolute FAVORITES for seafood in the Gaslamp Quarter! I've been in several times before but just took a friend there to catch up and reacquaint myself with the menu. Perfect environment for a quiet catch-up with friends; even with a full house, it's never too loud in Osetra, whether you're seated or at the bar. Perfect for a romantic evening as well, if you're bringing a date. Osetra could easily serve as a place to grab lighter eats and a few cocktails, in addition to its full entree menu. I always get the Seafood Napoleon, it's my favorite raw fish/cold seafood option- crab, tuna, avocado, yum! And of course, the raw bar also sports a variety of oysters. The Mahi Mahi and the Stuffed Sole are hands down my favorite entrees, though I'm always open to trying their daily/weekly specials. Always impressed that they try to get their seafood fresh on the daily. A shout out to Shad who has served me a handful of times; he's very professional and efficient and attentive.
(5)Adam S.
Ate here last week during a trip to San Diego. Amazing. Ordered the burrata and the stuffed lobster, both of which were ridiculously delicious. Our waiter, Jon L., was also awesome. He recommended we try the Duckhorn Pinot Noir with our meal, and it was the perfect wine to go with our food. I used to live in San Diego and wish I had known about the place back then! I'll definitely come back on my next visit.
(5)Princess F.
Had dinner here on NYE. The restaurant did not honor the check in deal offered on yelp as the server claimed they were not accepting any coupons or offers as it was NYE. That's not what the yelp deal said. Needless to say I will not be returning to this restaurant. What's the point in offering a yelp deal? Another reason I will not return to this restaurant is because the food was mediocre. I started with the pear salad. The butter lettuce was a bit soggy, which was a disappointment. My dinner entree was Sea Scallops made with lobster polenta and garnished with caviar. This was a delicious option. The scallops were cooked just right. For dessert, we had the hazelnut chocolate mousse and the pear tart. The mousse was a let down. I was expecting a soft smooth mousse but was more of a hard chocolate rectangle with barely soft layers of chocolate cake. The pear tart was surprisingly more satisfying.
(2)Naureen I.
The hubs and I went to Osetra last night with two couple friends for restaurant week. It was our first time there and aside from struggling to find parking (gaslamp friday night blues), we enjoyed our dinner. The ambiance isn't ideal for groups- probably better for dates. It was extremely loud and there were musicians playing or trying to play rather. The appetizers were absolutely phenomenal- I had the portobello mushroom, but the crab cakes and Napoleon appetizer were both super yummy too! The main entree was a little underwhelming- the ravioli beat out the fish dishes (Mahi Mahi and salmon- both were essentially drenched in butter). Finally, dessert was okay- I wish I had gone for the chocolate cake bc the tiramisu was very soggy. Overall, this is a modern, nice place for dinner for two- I would recommend it with reservations.
(3)Marie M.
Foods okay I know for downtown we should have better...right?! We went for happy hour....I guess for okay food for service ....kinda slow but, I guess for happy hour.
(3)Kim M.
I had the pleasure of dinning at this place by chance. My two sons and I were in San Diego for Mothers Day. Our hotel was close to the gas lamp district so we walked around looking for a place to eat. We spotted Osetra on 5th Ave, read the menu outside and decided to give them a try. It was low lights, warm setting and the downstairs looked pretty full. I had two young kids in tow, so in thought they were hiding us when they led us upstairs. We actually had a great table, with a view of the city and it was just us up there. We orders, the waiter, Joel, was really great. He was nice to the boys, and really welcomed me I'm honor of Mothers Day. Our food came out fast, and it was huge portions. The kids LOVED what they got (Mac n Cheese and shrimp & fries) I ordered the Chilean sea bass and it was amazing. We all ordered dessert to go and the manager came to it table and stayed to chat and again, make me feel special for Mother's Day. See explained she wanted to comp my dessert for Mothers Day! How sweet! as we talked, my sons noticed that behind me-the bar, that ran two stories high in the center of the restaurant, a female bartender was hanging from a wire reaching for a wine bottle at the tippy top. It was all the boys could stare at! she must have been 30 feet off the ground. My youngest, 8 yrs old, said "mom this is a reeeeally fancy place!" The manager, Karina, and I laughed out loud. She was really lovely. They boxed our dessert so we could take it to the hotel to enjoy and even waited to put my ice cream in a box - until our cab arrived -for fear of the ice cream would melt too fast before we got to our hotel! The cab pulled up, and Joel, our waiter ran out and handed it to me as I got in. THAT is service. I was so grateful for the special care, I am a single mom...it meant a lot. Seriously excellent service, atmosphere and special attention given. We weren't dressed up, compared to the other guests there but we felt like royalty. I cannot recommend them enough.
(5)Javier R.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here last weekend. Me and my wife were looking for a good seafood restaurant in the gaslamp quarter and decided to pick Osetra over others that we looked at. We came away very impressed with the whole experience. We made reservations online and didn't wait at all for a table. Our waiter was informative and prompt but it was the food that made the experience great. The oysters were fresh and the Lobster Linguine special was delicious. My wife had the scallops with lobster mashed potatoes. I would definitely come again when I come out to San Diego. Karina the general manager does a great job making this place stand out.
(5)Anabelle G.
Went there for dinner with my fiancé last night and the mahi mahi blew my expectations out of the water . It was very romantic and my server was there then minute I needed something me and my fiancé are very pickey with our fish houses but this place exceeded or experiences .
(5)Gia C.
What can I say? AMAZING! Let me begin by saying our waitress, Olga was outstanding. Informative and knowledgeable about the food and menu! Lastly, the food was impeccable! This place is one of the best seafood restaurants in SD. Definitely recommend making this on a list of places to come.
(5)Marisa G.
What a nice treat this place was. Had a great dinner here and the specialty drinks were so good. Our waiter Marco (handsome Italian man) treated us like kings and queens, best service ever. Will definitely return.
(5)Kong N.
My Rating Verdict Level Food : flavorful , amazingly great pasta selection 9 Drinks : full bar and wine 10 Service : friendly staff 7 Waitress/waiter : hit or miss. The youngers one don't really care about their tip nor service 5 Selection : great seafood selection 9 Ambience : warm, fast, charming 8 Exterior : average 6 Interior : nice 2 story wine case , bathroom available upstairs and downstairs 8 Overall Recommend to others? 10 Additional Feeling: Average: 8.0
(4)Mallory F.
I came here for Valentine's day...not disappointed at all! It was insanely busy, but my server took great care of me. Jessica was so sweet and considerate with great food suggestions. I've been here before and it never lets down.
(5)K G.
Meh. Definitely meh. My husband reserved a table at Osetra for us last weekend. We were excited to try something different and the menu looked amazing. What came out was anything but. And we love food. Just about ALL food. But we left after paying a very large bill very disappointed. We ordered the Sea Bass and the New York, with a side of the gnocchi since it sounded so dang good. The sea bass was fishy and stringy, nothing like the tender, buttery sea bass I've had at just about any other restaurant. The New York had a great sauce, but wasn't anything to rave about. We both ate the steak and left the fish. The gnocchi was odd... not sure what was in it, but it wasn't little balls of heaven that I would have expected. The best thing at this place was the brussels sprouts, and I don't even like brussels sprouts! We won't be back. I don't enjoy giving negative reviews, but we enjoy so many different things, it's rare to have such an unenjoyable experience.
(2)Keith W.
Enjoyed an Excellent meal coupled with outstanding service. My date and I split the Chilean Seabass with mashed potatoes instead of the risotto. The pomegranate sauce was in my opinion the secret sauce (literally) with enough acidity to bright up the dish. We also split the Ostera Organic Pear Salad which was delicious. As a starter the Blue Point Oysters set the tone for the evening with a well made Chopin martini. Overall a very nice dinning experience to start off our evening. Elegant, classic ambiance with enough warmth to bring me back again. Next time I'll indulge the Tempura Lobster tail. Looked very tasty!!
(4)Beba F.
A client of mine gave me a $25 Osetera restaurant.com gift card for this place. I have a list of pretty powered clients who I host in SD quite a bit, so I decided to come here with a friend and check it out before I bring any of my clients. I have a great relationship with many 4-5 star restauramts because of the business that I bring them. Food was decent, but didn't think much of it because we ordered our main course from the Restaurant Week menu. We did however order a few items from the regular menu as well. Service was great. A first. Our original waiter's shift was over before we finished our meal, so we got stuck with 2 different ones. Took over 20 minutes to get our deserts and then another 20 before we were able to flag someone for our check. The place wasn't even packed. Anyway, we got our check and I handed it back with the gift certificate and my credit card. Waiter comes back saying that we couldn't use it because it's not valid for Restaurant Week menu items to which I responded that there are non Restaurant Week items on the bill as well. He leaves then comes back saying that the non Restaurant week items had to total at least $50 to be able to apply the $25 gift certificate. Im not stupid. I read the fine print. The total for those items were $54 dollars. I am attaching a picture of my receipt for visual and proof purposes. At this point I didn't feel the need to explain to these people what was obvious. Either they need a crash course in basic 2nd grade arithmetic, or they are just so desperate that they feel the need to stiff their patrons out of money. I just paid the bill and left. On my way out, I gave the gift certificate to a couple that was walking. Maybe they'll honor it to them. I will never come back to a place with clearly no moral ethic in how to conduct a business. And they just screwed themselves of a single person that can bring tens of thousands of dollars in business. I would NEVER humiliate myself by bringing ANY of my clients to this place.
(2)Cindy Y.
First time at Osetra and what an incredible time!!! Fabulous cocktails made by Lisa!! Absolutely loved the crab and shrimp Mac and cheese and the crab cakes were out of this world!! Amazing service and loved the live music!! Get over here people!!
(5)Natalia R.
This restaurant screams romantic and fun! Cue the dim lighting, the wine fairy and the live music because Osetra had it all and the dinner spoke for itself. I had the salmon with spinach risotto and the serving was just enough to get full but not "hate yourself" fullso you know you are getting a bang for your buck. Servers were hospitable and made the dinner their comfoting, imtimate ans romantic. I would recommend dressy semi formal or business casual. Overall it was a wonderful dinner spot that was part of a very beautiful getaway to San Diego! Definitely will be here again and hopefully soon.
(5)Marcelo A.
You've got try to their steaks! I know I know... It's a Seafood place... But the steaks were so good! I got a Rib-Eye, it was huge!!!!! I got a side of lobster mashed potato to go with it. So good! Next time I'll give a try to their fish. But steak was so good!
(5)Darryn R.
I dined here post Valentine's Day and my partner and I were amazed at the level of service, quality of food and oh my goodness, their signature appetizer with the tuna, avocado and crab meat. NO WORDS! Karin the General Manager is extremely personable and genuine and really cares about her establishment, and it's evident that her customer service is impeccable. I truly look forward to the next time I'll have a meal here. For locals of San Diego, this is a place where they embrace us and remember our faces and for those visiting out of town, this place is a MUST! It's conveniently located in the Gaslamp District and you'll have an amazing time down town! Enjoy your time there!
(5)Charles C.
My wife and I can never really pinpoint what it is that we like the most about Osetra but we always stop in for at least a glass of wine whenever we are in town. The wine list is solid and while we usually sit at the bar for just a quick glass, the atmosphere is welcoming and on the few occasions we have dined here, the food has been excellent. My wife will often get just a half a dozen oysters and they are always fresh. Easy access and the live music on the weekends is a nice touch. All in all, it's a "plus" experience in a city where the competition is high for the tourist dollar and I would recommend it.
(4)Carmen V.
Very glad that Osetra was one of the restaurants participating at the ShamRock this year, so the lucky ones (yes, me!) who got a VIP pass for the event, got 8 drinks included in different venues. So one of them was Osetra, a restaurant I never even got too close as was always scared of the too high end aura. I only had the complimentary drink and another one and the feeling of being there was awesome, very nicely decorated, nice illumination, full with people but not overtly noisy, with the upper level for more intimate dinners and the bottom part more like a lounge. Great place, good looking people, very classy and chic, nice art on the walls, I cannot wait to save some $$$ and get some seafood dishes there!
(4)Elena B.
I was here for a date night, and I usually don't go out of my comfort zone and I get salmon. But my server Jessica recommended the sea bass, which was amazing. My husband had the pasta sea food special and he loved it. And we ended the night perfectly with a yummy desert, the chocolate lava cake. Food was amazing, service was great, and we will definitely be coming back!
(5)Anna V.
I came here with a girlfriend of mine, and we sat on the patio on a lovely San DIego evening. :) Service was prompt and excellent! We were served by John who had the cutest Southern accent, and was super nice, helpful and knowledgeable about the food. I got the Surf n Turf plate which was really good. The presentation was beautiful and the way they cooked it was right on the money. I'm not sure what the bad reviews are about, because we got excellent service and excellent food. The ambiance is stellar as well. Five stars.
(5)Ara F.
I am a local San Diegan and tend to shy away from touristy restaurants that attract the business kooks from the convention center. I am a glad I was forced to give this place a shot by a couple of attractive bossy ladies for happy hour. We had this very charming bartender named Lisa and man could she make a drink and make you laugh. I had a couple of Mr. Miage and some spicy margaritas drink. Oh the sushi is pretty awesome as well. I am definitely going to stop by again for a drink and sushi when I am in gaslamp. Hopefully I can get the girls to pay for me next time.
(5)Vera S.
If your heart is craving good food, Osetra is the place to go! Chick atmosphere, amazing food and wonderful stuff. Oysters are always fresh, and the bar has everything you ever wanted to try!
(5)Tish N.
We went to San Diego for our anniversary trip and the concierge at our hotel recommended this place. We got the cold seafood platter. It was something special. Fresh, fresh and crazy fresh. We had the green salad and lobster mashed potatoes as well. The tiramisu was good, a little too much cocoa powder. We were hoping for a decorated plated but maybe they don't do that here. Even though there were families with children there, it was still pretty quiet and romantic. Will be back.
(4)Justin P.
Best seafood in San Diego!! I'm a concierge in the downtown area and I send people here all the time. Every single person has come back and LOVED it! I've been there a handful of times myself, it's amazing! The stuffed sol is fantastic, and the mashed potatoes it comes with are to die for. The crab cakes are ridiculous too, best I've ever had! The decor inside is really cool too. They have a huge wine tower with a great selection of wine. If you want seafood in San Diego, this is where you need to go!!! They have non-seafood items on their menu as well, so there's something for everyone
(5)Gluten L.
This is our favorite restaurant ANYWHERE (that's still in busiess). We eat out a lot and travel a lot. We're from San Diego but haven't lived here since 1982. However, we visit at least once a twice a year because our family and many friends still live here (and my husband loves the Padres). We've been stopping in at Osetra for years, and even though the menu has changed over times, it's always got fantastic food. Sure, it's really expensive, but it's worth it. Sometimes we just sit at the ice bar and order appetizers and drinks. Everything there is delicious. I have to eat gluten free due to allergies, and they have marked on their menu which items are gluten free (MANY!). This last time, I had the lobster salad and it was AMAZING!!! I wish we could eat there every day. My husband loves it, too, and he's very picky. The service is also really good and they have a great wine list. The people who work there are very nice, too.
(5)Alec P.
San Diego seafood at its finest. Talk about quality and great service, I can't stop thinking about the excellent meal I had here. The bar was a great place to start and enjoy some drinks. The wine angel that floats above the bar and retrieves wine bottles from the large wine cellar is a great touch. When I moved to the dining room and began my meal the restaurant really started to shine. The seafood napoleon was light but very flavorful, a great way to start. The lobster bisque was rich, but not over the top and left room to enjoy dinner. The scallops were phenomenal, and my guest enjoyed one of the prime steaks which was fantastic. Next time, I will definitely consider the surf and turf as both the steaks and seafood were great. The restaurant had a nice energy, but was not overly loud. I am really looking forward to treating myself to fresh seafood at Osetra again soon!
(5)Sarah S.
What can I say this place is amazing. The ambiance and service are outstanding and the freshness of the fish is superb. Everytime I have gone to Osetra the quality is consistently the same. I also love that they have an awesome bar area and live music on the weekends. I love this place!
(5)Keila N.
The hostess was cordial. Our waiter was very personable, but the overall service was very inattentive and slow. This place is also very pricey. I loved the trio carpaccio. I also ordered the lobster salad which had ample amount of lobster. My daughter had the salmon with risotto. I thought the risotto was under-cooked. The creme brulee was okay-nothing impressive. I would have give this place 4-5 stars if it had better service. The food is great, but for the price it demands, the service should have been exceptional.
(3)Malcolm J.
Good, but pricey lamb ossobuco ($35): good, we liked it, I just don't know if it was a $35 entree Ahi Tuna ($32): again, this was good, we enjoyed it, but i don't think it was $32 good Bottom line: go if you have a groupon, but I'm not going at full price
(3)Elizabeth Y.
Well, I've had worse downtown. But the food was almost flavorless and is obscenely expensive for the quality. My scallops were overcooked, bland, topped with some type of caviar that added nothing to the flavor but a strange crunchiness, and the plating reminded me of a birthday cake. High prices, average quality, overpriced wine, and inappropriate service. I really regretted choosing Osetra. There are other excellent choices in San Diego.
(3)Rocco F.
Dang this place is amazing and the service is even better! My waiter Marco was super knowledgeable and on top of his game - great food and wine pairing recommendations :) I had the Chilean Sea Bass with the risotto and pomegranate reduction = unreal. My girlfriend had the Beef and Reef and loved it even more than mine (we split everything!) The food + the service = perfection. It's decently priced considering the quality.
(5)Vanessa C.
Came to Osetra for the first time over the weekend and I was so impressed! The food was excellent, the servers were attentive and the live music provided the perfect ambience. We started at the bar and enjoyed some delicious cocktails, but the best part of the night was the food. Everything was fresh and the flavors were phenomenal. We look forward to returning as soon as possible.
(5)Ludo M.
Great first time experience i start with the happy hour at the bar and absolutely loved the dollar oysters very fresh and yummy .the bartender Adriana was very attentive and friendly she make me feel right at home ,i i end up going back for dinner the same night with my wife ,this time the hostess took us to a very nice table in the dining room very elegant and cozy atmosphere, we had the lobster tempura for appetizer and it was so good . My server was very knowledgeable and he recommended me to try the surf and turf and my wife had the Chilean sea bass,both dishes were excellent, I will definitely come back to osetra , you can't go wrong great service and good food.
(5)Katie L.
I had a hard time debating on whether this place should get three or four stars. The food was great but there was live music (i guess there is live music every friday) that was way too loud and it made it difficult to have a conservation with the table. Although, i asked our waiter if the music could be turned down, and it was immediately. I ordered the ahi tuna and it was cooked perfectly and i loved the wasabi mashed potatoes (i recommend this one!!). My fiance got the ny strip and he said it was cooked perfectly & the sauce was delicious. My mom got the crab legs and she loved them, i tried a little bit too and it melted in my mouth!! My dad got the sea bass and he seemed to enjoy it as well! Wine list was average considering the wine tower/display. I will go back for HH, but im not sure i would recommend for dinner service if you want a nice convo with the family.
(3)Lola D.
Went to dinner at Osetra last week and had an absolutely amazing time! The food was amazing and the service was even better!! We started with some very fresh oysters and then I had the sea-bass! Thanks to our great server Shad for the delicious food and wine recommendations! I Will definitely be back to try out the happy hour menu and cocktails!!
(5)L.A. L.
Service was so-so, although the food did come out promptly. Weird atmosphere - tries to be classy, but every once in a while, a woman wearing red angel wings is lowered behind the bar to get a bottle from what seems to be a large tower. More Vegas-y and takes away from the ambiance. Portions are rather small for ridiculously high prices. Food was okay, but definitely not worth the price. Won't eat here again & wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Tiffany H.
In town for business and I decide to stroll down to the gas lamp for dinner. Peek inside and I am sold...very cute, wine tower is a plus as I believe there should be an extensive wine list. Dining solo so I head to the bar, wait 10 minutes listening to the bartender chat to his waiter bud about some girl he is dating before coming over to offer me a menu, drink, anything. Not too impressed with the wines by the glass, but I pick one and the mahi mahi special. Someone from the kitchen showed up with my lukewarm food (did my bartender get wrapped up in another scintillating convo?). It was pretty good, only reason I give a three. Half-way through dinner the barkeep remembers my wine...nice. I sit with a finished plate 20 minutes before a different bartender shows up to clear it away. Synopsis: service at the bar sucks big time, food not bad but I've had better in this price range...
(3)Amanda D.
Saturday night here for an after dinner drink. It was a really classy place and it was fun to see the hostess "flying" to the wine storage upstairs. The band they had over the last weekend was phenomenal - not only the girls can really sing, they responded to my request with some killer tones. Felt a little uneasy when the bartender didn't tell us the late night happy hour deal though... one star less I can give than it supposed to.
(3)Manda Bear B.
***************************** 1,020 ******************************* Osetra The Fishhouse, the name says it all. If you love Caviar and seafood, you are in for a real treat in the heart of Gaslamp district. I've been frequent San Diego because of my BFF recently became a 1/4 resident here. I'm in love with San Diego weather, the beach and the lifestyle. The food is no where near NYC, SF, Chicago or Vegas, but it's warming up to me. Osetra is 1 of them, with the Wine Tower, and if you catch the Wine Angel, flying up and down to get a bottle of wine for you, it's quite a view. Osetra offers beautiful ambiance, gorgeous space, white tablecloth, good service, and a Wine Spectator Award winning wine list. For private dining, Osetra The Fishhouse offers a few private dining rooms on second floor. Happy Hour - 4pm - 6pm - live music on Fri and Sat 9pm-midnight, happy hour price on wine, beer, sake and small plates. - Caviar service - Crostini, bellini, capers, crème fraÃche, egg yolk, egg white, chives, red onion in a beautiful platter, a MUST ORDER, 1 of my favorite dishes. - Oysters are fresh here - Half-dozen, 3 mignonette sauce - Dress up your oysters: green onions, jalapeño, ponzu sauce, mango - Seafood Napoleon - Lump crabmeat, spicy tuna, avocado, wasabi oil, their best seller, quite nice. - Ahi Tuna - Cajun crusted, wasabi mashed potatoes, ginger soy sauce reduction, tobiko caviar, ORDER this dish! - Lobster Bisque - Tobiko caviar, crème fraiche was my BFF favorite. - The lobster, clam, mussel pasta, special of the day was GENEROUS portion, the pasta was al dente, we enjoyed it very much. - Chilean Sea Bass - Fennel risotto, grilled asparagus, pomegranate reduction, I feel as the risotto just wasn't a good pairing with the bass, it's a bit over powering the sea bass. However, we enjoyed the bass itself very much. Besides seafood, I was surprise with the meat selection here: - Lamb Ossobuco - Lamb shank slowly braised in a red wine & vegetable sauce over saffron risotto. You have to see my photo, it's a GIGANTIC and lovely. - The risotto with black truffle - a special dish of the night, was fantastic. I requested less on the cheese, so the aroma of truffle could come true. Love it. - House-cured charcuterie platter was perfect for a late night snack at the bar. - Australian Lamb Chops - Herb risotto, raisin port wine reduction, goat cheese, side of mint jelly - I personally didn't care for the mint jelly, the port reduction sauce was very nice. The service was very nice and attentive, but what set our experience here at Osetra The Fishhouse the most is the manager Sara. She was gracious, attentive to us the whole time and personally prepared the caviar for us. We couldn't ask for a better service the first time, that we came back 2 more times in 1 week. I'm in this industry of hospitality, and I truly believe the service will bring a guest back over and over again. So if you visit San Diego, and just local, check Osetra out, and please tell the manager Sara that I send you :-) I guarantee you she will treat you like how she treats me, simply impeccable service! P.S. Valet service available E Street in between 4th and 5th Avenue for $12, beginning at 4 p.m. Daily
(5)Annalisa Y.
Absolutely obsessed with the oyster Rockefeller!! I am a recent oyster lover and could eat these every day. For my main enter I have the scallops with polenta and cavier. All the flavors worked perfect together, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Our server was so helpful and since it was our first time he gave us a yummy dessert which was the crime brûlée cheesecake. Beautiful ambiance. Great for all occasions :)
(5)Trav G.
Went here for valentine's day. Service was horrible and food was worse. Waitress came up to us twice in a time span of 45 minutes to ask us for our order. All in all i am terribly disappointed. Don't waste your time.
(1)Arthur S.
Good food, very generous portions for this type of restaurant. Be sure to start with some oysters. Also a good place to sit outside and enjoy some of the 'local color' - of which there is plenty...
(4)Ryan F.
Rarely do I write a yelp review but this was warranted. Valentine's Day, hotel concierge made a reservation for us. Showed up 15min before reservation, sat us 25 min after our reservation. After we sat down, four separate times different waiters came up to put down food or drinks that we hadn't ordered. Seems like everyone was confused. When asked for the sushi menu they 'didn't have it that night' Two tables next to us were loud and obnoxious (granted this wasn't the restaurants fault but still) Tap water was a charge of 6 dollars! Had to wait forever for service. Food wasn't very good at all. Fish overcooked. No lobster in the 'lobster mashed potatoes' When we asked for the bill, took an additional twenty minutes because the 'system was down'. They did offer us complimentary desert but at that point just wanted to leave. Side note, when I went to use the restroom. Sounded like two people were in the stall exchanging money for something. Take it as what you will
(1)Holly F.
Staying at the Courtyard Marriott and the great bartender Josh told us about Ostera. We sat at the bar, best service and love the bartenders. Friendly and wonderful customer service.
(5)Billy J.
We went for restaurant week. their service was excellent, never left long for drink refill or any other service for long. the food was well portioned and tasted well.
(4)A. Vinnie V.
Modern, Stylish and Great decor.. Great place for a date, a nite out with a friend or a group of people. The food, drink and service are great. The staff is helpful, friendly and attentive. The GM Karina is wonderful and helpful. Must try the Velvet Berry Drink it is so good. The Chef's Selection Chilled Plater and Sea Bass is amazing. Lisa the bartender can make some great drinks . Had a wonderful night out.
(5)Kiki Y.
The restaurant is very elegant. We went for happy hour $1 oysters. We were walking to Spike Africa but instead came in here. I liked their HH menu. I'm skeptical of happy hour because some places give very small and sh*tty portions since it's happy hour. We ordered the mini crab cakes, a dozen oysters, and the fish sliders. The mini crab cakes were superb! There were 2 crab cakes with green salad. Bites of real crab meat, lightly fried, flavorful but not over spiced. The oysters were fresh and meaty. It came in a very beautifully shaped oyster plate with a little cute Tabasco bottle. We ordered another 6 after. The fish sliders were great, it came with fries and I devoured the slider. There was real mahi mahi in it, not just fried fish where you can't taste any fish. Melted cheese with lettuce and tomatoes. The bun was soft and very yummy too. We got a free appetizer for just checkin in! Choice of tuna sashimi, calamari or something I can't remember. Of course we picked the tuna sashimi. I watched the chef behind the oyster bar create this dish. To our surprise, there were 5-6 slices of seared tuna with a wonderfully tasty sauce drizzled on top AND a good portion square size of rice, on top: more tuna sashimi! It was delicious. Very creative presentation. The tuna tasted so fresh. The house red is $5. I don't drink red wine usually, it gives me a headache, but this house red was good quality and I drank the whole glass. The service was good and attentive. This is my new favorite happy hour place. I will come back for sure and try the UNI linguine I saw on the dinner menu. $30 but it sounds great.
(4)Katherine W.
The food here blew me away. I had the salmon on a bed of spinach risotto and I don't think I've ever enjoyed a meal so much. However, I had no idea they charge for water poured from a bottle so I ended up paying 12 dollars for water...so we wary of that. Other than this, I loved my experience here and would recommend it to anyone.
(4)Jamie R.
Highly disappointed. It was my first time out at gaslamp and read good reviews on yelp, so I made reservations. Service was terrible. Food took over a hour and a half to come and the crabs were over cooked and their was a hair in my calamari. Waitress didn't even offer to replace it. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
(1)Vi T.
This review is only for the oysters. Blue point oysters at $12/dozen during happy hour on Sunday here is one of the best deals in Gaslamp. Fresh! Served with all the trimmings! Friendly waitresses! Their California roll made with real crab was disappointing.
(5)Valorrie P.
I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant. We sat down immediately, were waited on immediately, and got our drinks immediately. The drinks were strong, but the flavor was not overpowered by the alcohol. The food, oh the food. The scallops were topped with caviar, and the most moist, delicious scallops I have ever eaten. The lobster mashed potatoes were amazing. The crab legs were so succulent, I had no patience with my fork I had to dig in with my fingers. The steak was good, but I'm from Texas, so its hard to win me over on a steak. The service was the best service we have had in the gaslamp district. We never had to wait to be serviced.
(5)Erin O.
Really good ambiance (we sat outside)!! The food was delicious. I had the mahi mahi and it was very flavorful. Lobster mashed potatoes are a great side! The waiters and and waitresses were really nice. We brought our kids (not really a kids place). But they were accommodating and our kids are used to being good in nice restaurants! In fact, a couple complimented us on how well behaved they were! :) A little pricey...but hey, we are in the middle of the gas lamp district (expected)!
(5)Warren S.
Ordered the king crab linguine and when the dish arrived there was no crab meat visible. Kitchen fixed it but even then the overall food was average. Quite disappointed. Service was great though so give it a try but my review is over priced for the quality of the food.
(2)Chuck N.
Happy hour is good here.
(4)keo b.
Don't bother. After ordering oysters to start. That was the last thing that came. The seafood wasn't fresh or so it didn't taste as if it was fresh. I'm very unimpressed with the service and the food. What a waste of time and money.
(1)Norm D.
They packed people in here like sardines for Valentine's Day. Bar is backed up, kitchen is backed up, servers can't keep up. All for the greed of money! Disappointed! Didn't enjoy th experience.
(2)Marsha G.
Spent Christmas Eve here, what a wonderful experience! Sat at the bar for a cocktail before dinner and ended up staying there all evening. The happy hour items were delish! The tempura prawns and sashimi tuna really stood out. The sushi rolls were surprisingly good too! The bartender guided us through our whole experience, from apps to wine pairing. Definitely recommend!
(5)Nick D.
My wife and I went to Osetra for our 16th anniversary. We had some drinks and oysters at the bar......awesome. Got sat and as I went to push in my wife's chair, I noticed that the top of the chair was sticky. Told the wife I would get a towel to clean it but long story short it ended up being on the wife's chair. Brand new dress, now not so brand new. The manager Lisa came over immediately and apologized and told us dinner was on her.......and she wasn't, kidding. She sent over 2 appetizers and then we got lobster bisque, then crab!!! By the time we finished the crab we were stuffed. Hey kept trying to get us to get desert, but we were done. Most places would have apologized and then waited to see what we ordered. Lisa didn't hesitate. She took care of us WAYYYYY ABOVE the call of duty. Thank you Lisa for taking what could have been a bad night and making it great!! See you guys soon!! PS...The dress came clean..8-)
(5)Constantine S.
I was in San Diego just for a few days and stayed in downtown area. I have to admit, that this was a great place to have a nice seafood dinner in and a few drinks after work. Service was detailed and attentive. Wine selection was amazing! And fish was just out of the ocean. Check this place out!
(5)Brad G.
Amazing service from the from the front door to table side. Just happened to use the valet in front of the restaurant and was surprised to walk inside to an upscale restaurant with amazing service and even better pricing. Totally impressed with the service and ambiance!
(5)Adriana S.
Came here for dinner on New Year's eve & thought it was a nice restaurant. I had the ahi tuna & it was good but not the best I've had in SD. The restrooms could use some updating. Overall it's a good atmosphere.
(3)Unknown U.
I had the best experience trying food at this restaurant for the first time. My friend and I ordered Prime Filet Mignon which was absolutely delicious. It had perfect flavor and went well with red wine. The ambiance was unforgettable and it had live music as well. I will give this restaurant full 5 stars on every level. The quality of food and service was excellent. Thank you to your chef for making such a delicious dish and to your waiter and hostess for being very cheerful and friendly. The best experience I have had in downtown San Diego so far. I will definitely recommend this place to all of my friends. Looking forward to coming back again! :)
(5)Danny D.
Late last night while in downtown we found ourselves looking for a late night dinner, Walking by Osetra we decided to try it out. The atmosphere was that of a trendy Resturuant, friendly staff and quick service. There wine selection was extensive and the prices are reasonable. We ordered the sashimi tuna for a started, it's served with a small side of salad, very good. We ordered the Chilien sea bass and the sword fish, both we ok but did not seem that fresh, it could have been because it was 10pm on a Thursday night. Overall I we were happy with our experience and would return to try some different items.
(3)Susie R.
I tried Osetra FH last weekend. It was a Friday night and we sat at the bar for drinks and snacks. We ordered dirty martinis and white wine for drinks which were both very good. I ordered the smoked salmon appetizer and my friend ordered the seafood napoleon. The service was professional and the bartender was very informed on the wines. While we enjoyed our drinks/dinner we watched the wine angel rappel up and down the wine tower retrieving bottles of wine for customers -- that's a very cool touch. This place is not cheap, but I don't mind paying top dollar for good food and great service. I would recommend this place and I will return for another dining experience.
(5)V P.
Fantastic place: food, design, service! Happy hours time is grate, price and quality bring me back to this place over and over!
(5)Karin B.
I went to Osetra again. My first experience was awesome and this one if possible even better!!! Their new Oyster Vermouth dish is amazing. Like nothing else!! A must try! Awesome seafood pasta and Seabass! Service was just right on from the bartender to the server. Tried some handcrafted cocktails that were excellent. Love this place, would recommend to anyone wanting a great seafood dinner downtown!
(5)Mimi L.
Loved this trendy restaurant and wine bar! A block away from Palomar hotel where we stayed, got seated at a tall table between the windows and the bar, floor to ceiling wine cellar behind the bar, it was fun watching waitress going up getting some wines. The patio seatings are good for people watching. There is also a lounge area in the front, great for having drinks with a date or friends. They have extensive wine list, specialty cocktail menu, I picked Southern martini, it was made with sweet tea vodka, very weak drink, tasted like ice tea only, I had to order a Grey Goose dry martini, our waiter took away my unfinished first drink. Our food: Complimentary bread basket with butter: very good Lobster bisque, with tobiko caviar and Creme fraiche: very delicious, loved the caviar in there Half dozen of fresh oysters, served with three mignonette sauce: they were so bad, probably the worst we have ever tasted 2 lb live Maine lobster, boiled, served with butter, garlic steamed veggies and mashed potatoes, it was amazing! One of the best lobsters I have ever had in a long time! So meaty and tender. The lobster claws were huge! The entire lobster was cracked open, easier to eat. Surf and Turf Filet Mignon (10 oz) with 1 lb lobster, Filet grilled over asparagus, topped roasted garlic mashed potatoes in a red Zinfandel reduction, Filet was a little over cooked for Medium rare, but it was still very flavorful and delicious, lobster was just as good as mine! Chocolate mousse with mint leaves and fresh strawberries: melted in my mouth immediately, so yummy Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, changed our plates a few times, very good service, tab was $230 with 3 alcohol drinks I really liked our dinner, the lobsters made up for raw oysters, at least I know a great place for live lobsters in Gaslamp quarter!
(4)Ashley D.
I came with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved our Valentine's Day dinner!! I made reservations but seeing as it was a busy "holiday". When we arrived we were invited into the beautiful lounge area to wait for our table. Decided to start with some drinks at the bar and watch the excitement. It wasn't too long before our table was ready and we were seated in a cozy table for two. Our server was so sweet and recommended the perfect bottle of wine and caviar to start of our dinner. All of our food was delicious and we will definitely be back soon!
(5)Meesh B.
A manager contacted me to rectify things but when I emailed her back she vanished into thin air. We came for Mother's Day and had the same terrible service. Bread and our drinks never came. We were waving from our table for a server to come assist us an no one did. Someone had to physical get up from our party to track down an employee to come take our order and bring us something to drink. We felt very neglected which was no surprise from my previous visit. I was hoping to give them another chance thinking it was just a fluke service last time but I'm beginning to think that this is exactly how the restaurant is ran.
(2)Olga M.
Absolutely the best place to grab some oysters with a glass of wine! Beautiful bar and very friendly bartenders. I stop by here every time I'm in the Gaslamp. Wine angel girls are beautiful. Also, a great spot to grab a cocktail before we go out to the nightclubs in the area.
(5)Chris s.
Hit happy hour before dinner for apps and drinks. Cool bar. Dinner was amazing. Nice quiet atmosphere and beautiful decor. Highly recommend.
(5)Trish C.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!!!!! Came here for dinner to celebrate a special occasion with a party of 6 girls. We had reservations 8p. First, when I walked in I got a hit of a horrible oder (like bad fish or something) that should've been a sign to walk out. Second, we placed our drink and dinner order. Drinks came quickly ... BUT from the time we received our drinks to getting our food it was OVER AN HOUR!!...Ridiculous. My friend was trying to get the attention of our waiter who never checked up on us. He walked right passed our table and quickly said "your food is on its way!" And kept on walking, so rude. At this point, our whole table was fed up and annoyed because it was now 9:20p with no food. My friend decided to go talk to the "Manager" and she was apologetic but the only thing she could say was, "it's not an excuse but we do have a large party upstairs"... REALLY??? So, that gives you the reason to neglect and give your other guests shitty service?...unacceptable! To make matters worse the table of 4 next to us, who were seated way later then us, got their meal before us. The manager tried to give us free dessert and comped one of our meals but at this point we all wished we walked out. Waste of time and money. Then because of our party size they had the audacity to include gratuity 18%!!! I'm sorry but the gratuity should've not been included since we received horrible service. To top it off this restaurant is pricey and not cheap so you would expect to get better service than what we received. I definitely will not be coming back here nor will I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)Viktoriya D.
It's the place to go if you are in the mood for seafood! Always fresh and perfectly cooked! The bartender is very knowledgeable too so our cocktails were perfect.
(5)Andrea G.
Osetra! I'm shocked and wowed every time I go here. Happy hour is excellent, and have had the best experiences here dining with friends!. From the staff to he best sea food in San Diego, Osetra is the place!
(5)Pete I.
My girlfriend and I ate here for Valentine's Day and i have to say i was a little disappointed. They had no idea what they were doing. They were bringing other people's food to our table. It happen like 3 times, was getting a little ridiculous. Just too me I think the price for the food was not worth it also.
(2)H M.
I'm unsure of what happened here. We were walking by and we saw the sign that said Osetra, Tapas style. So we stopped in. First off, it's not tapas style, it's a full dinner menu. When we asked our server about the 'tapas' style, he said that was how the restaurant was originally setup back when it was 'popular'. Okay? Secondly, the menus are like novels. Can't we just keep it simple? Thirdly, they had a live performer that totally drowned out any dinner conversation we were trying to have. Fourthly, all the meats were overcooked. So sad...medium rare lamb and steak and cooked medium well. And to top it off, it was all rather flavorless. There are so many options downtown, I'd try another place.
(2)Maria A.
Food was good. It was excellent. Service was lacking. We didnt get our bread until 10 minutes after ordering. Server said something like freshly baked bread, it wasn't even piping hot, just warm to lukewarm. I didn't even get my water re-filled like literally after I finished my dinner. So that's about 20 minutes after we ordered.
(2)Letrica R.
The food was amazing. The service was less than adequate, especially in a supposed fine dining restaurant. Our waiter appeared to be the only issue, however, all other waiters actually paid attention to their tables. Again, though, the food was smashing.
(4)Sofia R.
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! Im not sure how it could have gotten any better than the first time but you guys really knocked it out the park. I consider myself a foodie and everything was exceptional. I make this a place a must to come too a few times whenI'm in town on business from DC. The jumbo pan seared scallops is a must and the crab cakes where the best I've had in a while. The service was outstanding, i believe her name was Olga. She was efficient and very helpful while making us feel like we were at home. A plus on the service. Can not wait to be back in town to sit in her section.
(5)Nathan R.
Everything we had here was great tonight. I had the Pasta el Diablo special & my wife had the Mahi Mahi dish. The pasta dish over lobster, shrimp & mussels was fresh, juicy & tasty. My Wife's mahi was prepared just right over lobster mashed potatoes. No room for the Lava cake sorry. We about to walk in this off.
(5)Mario I.
once again i was hosting some friends from out of town. I choose Osetra fish house to leave my friends impressed. our server Andrea was not only attentive but also on point with all his recommentions. He started us with the shellfish platter(for 4) followed by our entrees- New York special w/ scallops, fresh Chilean seabass,Mahi mahi,& the Ahà Tuna. Thank you once again,i highly recommend for dinner.
(5)Dean M.
Was there on Christmas Day eve. Classy place with good atmosphere. Food was delicious. The service was fine. I don't give away 5 stars but the experience pretty exceptional.
(5)Shica L.
We visited Ostera and the location was beautiful. Service was great but the steaks were bland.....
(2)Martin A.
Great food/Great Service, Karina (the manager) was very friendly and helpful, she made sure we had an amazing experience by recommending food and wine, they have extensive wine selection and the wine Angels were awesome! Food and drinks arrived on-time and I can tell they have mighty chefs! coming back here for sure and highly recommended if you're looking to have good food and drinks in Gaslamp area with wonderful service/atmosphere!
(5)Julia H.
Should have gone with my gut of reading the 3 stars overall rating and gone somewhere else but since the concierge at my hotel recommended it we decided to stick with it. Food is mediocre but the service and ambiance was good.
(3)Alma R.
Given its destination as a conference site, vacation destination, and all-around great place to live, I have been appalled at the lack of good food choices in the Gaslamp Quarter. I know I am an East Coast foodie, but I have had one bad meal after another in San Diego making me wonder if there were any good options out there. Osetra is a gem in a city lacking in culinary excellence. Not everything is perfect. The Caesar salad was a disappointment, drenched in too much dressing and consisting of some dense cores of lettuce (please only include the choice parts of the lettuce). But that might be my only grip. We started with a refreshing gin gimlet--gin, lime juice and cane sugar. Perfect balance of tart and sweet. Yes, sucked two of those down. My husband had a beautiful green salad that included a nice variety of ingredients. He had the stuffed sole, which was a winner as was the ahi tuna, raw, with a sauce that complemented the fish instead of overpowering it. Nice wasabi mashed potatoes on the side, creamy but with a kick. Generous portions on both entrees. We finished with the tiramisu, light yet filling, with some nice fresh fruit on the side. Enjoyed ordering a bottle of wine and watching the most unique human retrieval system I have ever seen in a restaurant (Cirque du Soleil would give her a nod). Now I understand another reviewer's comment about watching the flying angels at the bar. Service was excellent, waitstaff backed each other up on tables so you never had to look very far for help clearing a plate or answering a question. Don't understand other negative reviews on service, saw none of that (I will note it was New Years day and the place was only 2/3 full, but still can't believe the service would change that much more if crowded). Overall, very good experience food, service and ambience-wise. You will pay a little bit more than some other places, but that is fine for a good meal. Just skip the Caesar salad.
(4)Philip L.
Osetra is a wonderful restaurant. I took my wife there recently on her birthday. The food was great and Lisa behind the bar was the best!! After tasty oysters, large shrimp cocktails, and sweet tender crab cakes, Lisa made a fabulous special after dinner drink for us which we enjoyed immensely with a succulent tiramisu finish to a wonderful evening. The bar/happy menu is extremely reasonable with a great of selections. We love Osetra and highly recommend it to seafood lovers. I has a nice corner location on upper 5th Ave in the Gaslamp.
(5)Brett L.
Found this place on yelp. Thank you fellow yelpers. Had the 2.5 lb. Bug it was great. My wife had the lobster Ravioli and said it was very good. The staff was very friendly and efficient. Being from New Mexico we don't get a lot of fresh seafood and it was refreshing to be eating near the water. Thanks again yelpers.
(4)Sharon B.
Landlubbers fear not! I was planning dinner for several people who love seafood. However, I do not. Each of the seafood dishes were well prepared and my dinner companions found each to be delicious and well prepared. I ordered the pear salad which was fresh and had wonderful flavor. For my entree, I ordered the chicken fransiase. It was tender, moist, and flavorful. The accompaniments were tasty. Atmosphere was nice but a little loud. Wait staff was attentive and professional.
(5)Lauren C.
Yum! Especially when it was on someone else's dime. Good sashimi, humongous fried shrimp. I even liked the green cheese!!
(5)Ramon V.
Well, that was disappointing. The wife and I are staying at the Westin Gaslamp, celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary, and I asked the concierge to recommend a nice restaurant. She knew of our anniversary, and made it sound as if both the hotel and any restaurant they sent us to were going to treat us like VIPs. Well, the hotel has been great so far, but the restaurant? Not so much. No mention at all of our anniversary, no special treatment, and they had to try three times to serve the wife something edible. I ordered the filet mignon, minus sauce and sides, but it came with sauce and sides. I will blame this on how loud the restaurant is. Maybe he thought I asked for the sauce on the side, rather than to hold the sauce and sides. Her sea bass was undercooked and fishy, so she ordered the ahi. That came out ice cold. They tried that again, and got it right the second time. My filet was okay. Better than steak from the Fish Market, but certainly no Morton's. They gave us a free tarimisu, because of the entree problems, and it was the highlight of the meal. The server did his best, but I can't say the same for the kitchen, and I really was expecting a "Happy Anniversary," at the very least. I don't think they even found our reservation. They just seated us because they had empty tables. For $160, I expect more.
(2)Alexandra D.
The food is fantastic! Karina is lovely. They took great care of my Socialite girls!! They all loved it and will be going back. Love the oysters. Great ambiance. Fab place.
(5)Dijana R.
My date took me to this place my first night in the beautiful city of San Diego. The hostess was upbeat and reserved us a spot while we took a sightseeing walk through the gaslamp district. The house wine is top notch here and ambience was perfect. Dinner menu is a bit all over the place so I went for a sushi appatizer. It was well prepared, fresh and garnished to perfection. 4 stars for good impressions and friendly staff
(4)Tammy R.
Popped in for Happy Hour. Was a little leery of the seafood quality when we were seated and noticed the bar table seats were in dire need of reupholstering/replacement. After a chat with the bartending and manager they assured us the restaurant was planning a major overhaul, but the seafood was fresh and high quality, we decided to settle in and enjoy. The service was great, the HH choices were plentiful and everything was delicious. The dishes passing us from kitchen to table all looked fantastic. We will definitely be back for not only HH, but for dinner as well
(4)Amy R.
Just finished dinner at this place and I was 100% happy with it. Perhaps a little pricy, but the food was great, as was the atmosphere, and the service. I got the salmon, which was served over a bed of spinach risotto. I love risotto and this did not disappoint. The salmon was also quite good, moist and flaky. We also got truffle fries and beer battered asparagus to share with the table. You can definitely taste the truffle oil on the fries, but they were perhaps still a bit too oily. The asparagus was good, but could perhaps have used a side of some sauce.
(4)Mario P.
This is our first time at this restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. The food was memorable. The oysters and carpaccio was delightful , the sushi roll incredible. A great experience. When you come ask for the bar tender Marcelo, enjoy!
(5)Katrina G.
3 stars is exactly what I'll rate this restaurant. The ambiance and location is great.. right in the center of Downtown and right next to the mall so we parked there. I've always passed by this restaurant but we decided to try it the first time yesterday for SD Restaurant week. This place is good. First of all, this restaurant is high end. Very expensive so I expect the service to be absolutely amazing. It wasn't. It took them awhile to give us our menu after getting seated and after giving us the menu, it took them awhile to check back on us to see if we had any questions or if we were ready to order. Usually at high end restaurants, they take the time to explain what's on the menu but they didn't. It seemed as if one server was working the whole floor so he only came to ask if we were okay about once. We didn't have small plates for our bread on the table so, we asked and they forgot. We ended up grabbing small plates from the table next to us. They also forgot to give us a steak knife. And, they also forgot to give us a pen after giving back our bill to sign -__- The food. We loved it though!. We started off with appetizers. I got the Lobster Bisque and my boyfriend got the Seafood Napoloan. Both dishes were amazing! My boyfriend got the Filet Mignon for his entree. He loved it a lot and it was cooked to perfection. He loves it medium rare and he got it exactly the way he wanted it! I got the mahi-mahi and it was alright. The fish was pretty tough/hard but I liked the sauce that came with it. It reminded me of an almond croissant taste. We ended our dinner with a Tiramisu cake! It was delicious but I had better. Overrall, this place is good. I'll probably only come back for a special occassion. Maybe... or I'll probably spend my money elsewhere.
(3)Robb M.
The food is bland, service is mediocre, and the prices are steep. Honestly, I don't know how this place is still in business. If you're planning on dropping $100 or $200 on dinner, go somewhere where you get your money's worth. Slapping a tablecloth down and sticking the busboy in a bowtie doesn't cut it for me. If you're looking for flavor and experience, keep looking.
(1)E R.
Mahi mahi in citrus sauce over lobster mash potatoes was excellent! I asked to leave off the almonds and they did no problem. Mixed green salad was great, hearts of palm were so fresh tasting. I used the Yelp checkin to get my salad comp'd, sweet! Waiter, Marco was very attentive.
(5)Anya F.
I simply love this place! Every time I come I enjoy great food, ambiance, and service. Everyone starting from the door make you feel very special and welcome. Happy hour items (and prices) are amazing! Definitely worth checking it out.
(5)Ryan m.
Amazing contemporary decor that accents the incredible food. One must try the chilled shell fish platter to believe it. Well worth every penny and then some. Loved everything I tasted! I am obsessing about the next time I can eat here!!!!
(5)Irene P.
Came for dinner on a Friday night. Service is extremely quick - almost like an in, and out establishment, especially for an 8 pm meal. Apparently lingering and enjoying the evening is not allowed. We started with the Chef's selection chilled platter for $39. I was extremely disappointed in the selection from the Chef since all the seafood on the platter was really dry and a bit too cold. I want chilled, not frozen crab legs. The oysters were already shucked earlier in the day, as I watched the man assemble the platter by pulling out preshucked oysters from a refrigerator. The clams and mussels were dry to match the dry oysters. The dipping sauces were nothing spectacular. My salmon entree was fine, but truly nothing special. I did enjoy the lobster bisque that was topped with caviar. The ambiance was great, except for the fact our table was squished against a glass half wall and we were in a high traffic area next to a huge party. A mediocre meal for almost $100 - definitely not returning. There is absolutely no value in the calories.
(2)Sandra C.
Haven't been here in a long time, but we came because the restaurants we really wanted to go to were crazy booked during restaurant week. One of us ordered order the 3 course menu prefixed for restaurant week at $35 while the rest of us selected from the regular menu. Among us, we had filet mignon, steak, shrimp with gnocci, calamari/shrimp appetizer, side of brussel sprouts, lobster bisque, and seafood stack. Everything was delicious, service was pretty good, and the waiter was kind enough to accommodate our advance request to have 4 separate checks!
(4)Aaron G.
Worth every penny. We started with a grapefruit, beet and gorgonzola salad and I had the iceberg wedge. Both were excellent. I had the cioppino and my girlfriend had the shrimp with angel hair pasta. All was excellent - and the local color sitting outside was great - with an acoustic guitar up front providing some nice music. If there was something to be improved it would be the slow service - everything came out for each course, salad, entree, dessert, with just enough delay to make us look at each other and have the waiter come by to reassure us the order was coming out soon. Portions were exceedingly large and of very good quality.
(5)Chef M.
What meal could be bad when you are starting with oysters? And they give you a homemade cocktail sauce that is out of this world great! Follow that with a yummy salad and finish with Sea Bass, Risotto and Asparagus? Good choice for a night out in the Gaslamp. Shout House with dueling pianos and singing at the top of your voice is only 3 or 4 blocks away! So much fun to create a full night downtown.
(4)Cameron S.
One star. Only because I was amongst friends. So incredibly mediocre in a city full of great food. Tiny, uninspired sushi and leathery hot-lamp fish. Best part was the attentive support staff that kept filling our water glasses.
(1)Tessa M.
I have a love/hate for this place. I heard about it on restaurant.com . I purchase through them regularly and I always read the fine print. Im aware that most places have stipulations. I brought my boyfriend here for a pre baseball game appetizer & drinks. We had the fruity margaritas and they were amazing! My bf had shrimp cocktail & he said it was the best hes ever had. He ended up ordering 2 more! The drinks were on happy hour so we ordered more food and a round for our bar neighbors to get up to $50 (the minimum to use the gift cert.) When we tried to pay we were told it was not valid on HH items. It did say not valid for specials, I misunderstood. I thought that meant the restaurant specials (that night was white sea bass, heard it was delicious btw). My mistake. But we didnt spend enough in non HH to use it so I was bummed. We over indulged to get our check high enough & then it backfired. The manager apologized and said "come have dinner with us, ill buy your first round". He gave me his business card with a handwritten note on it that said 2 free specialty drinks. I was very excited I felt that made up for it! Last week we went for a real dinner. 2 entrees, an appetizer, salads, and of course we ordered our 2 specialty drinks. No happy hour items and no specials. When I went to pay with the gift certificate she said I could not apply 2 discounts to the bill. Meaning choose the free cocktails or the $25 gift cert. I was really disappointed. That was the whole point right? ? Getting to come and actually use the certificate on a full dinner. In all, the portions are large, food is absolutely delicious, but save your time buying the gift certificate. I live 30 minutes east of here and rarely make it out and I was excited to try something new. Restaurant.com is the only thing that brought me out here. I wont be back unless its to pop in for a shrimp cocktail before a game next season.
(3)Irina N.
I was at Osetra with my coworkers for our Christmas party. For the starter I had house salad with aged balsamic vinaigrette which had a very gentle yet distinct flavor. For the main course I ordered Mahi Mahi with green beans and lobster mashed potato. The lemon butter emulsion certainly added some piquancy to the fish. The lobster mashed potato was everybody's favorite. Of course, the meal would not be complete without some tasty dessert, and I had chocolate mousse... What a dessert! I enjoyed every little bite and was very sad when it was gone ;) The servers were courteous and quick. I would come back for a romantic dinner to enjoy Osetra's ambience and food.
(4)Berj A.
First of all beautiful restaurant with potential, unfortunately the service was absolutely horrible and slow the location is on a busy street with many homeless walking by, food was mediocre many different options unfortunately will not be coming here again spare your time . Thanks for reaching out to me that means a lot
(4)AJ W.
I went here a couple of weeks ago and the food, service, atmosphere and live music was all great. As a server, I'm a firm believer that good service can make or break a dining experience and although the food was great and we would have enjoyed our meal regardless, our server Steve made it that much better! He was very kind, helpful and attentive. I tried his recommendations and was never disappointed! When I return, I absolutely plan on requesting his section. My only complaint would be that the table we were sat at was positioned a bit awkwardly at the top of the stairway where people walked by frequently. Otherwise, everything was fantastic!
(4)Michael W.
This is our second time here and it was even better than the first! We had a 6:00 reservation on Valentine's Day and arrived in time. We were shown to our table within one minute, I expected to wait and was happy that we did not wait. Our waiter, James, came over immediately to get us started. He was very professional, knowledgable, and at times, witty. Even though you could tell he was getting busy as the night went on, we never felt rushed or neglected. The food at Osetra deserves the fine dining rating. Caviar with Prosecco is always appreciated! The lobster bisque was so good I finished it all! The jumbo scallops were done just right with caramalization on the outside and tender on the inside. At a seafood place you do not expect good steaks, however, my husband had the ribeye and said it was very good! Even though we were pretty full, we went for dessert. Chocolate gelato was just enough (the sliced strawberry was superfluous) and the molten chocolate cake was decadent. All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely come back for a third+ time
(5)Leonard S.
Love this place for its solid happy hour that includes dollah ersters and Trumer Pils on tap! I had dinner here once long ago an it was really good albeit on the pricey side, then again you don't usually get caviar atop your broiled scallops!
(4)alley s.
I cannot believe people gave this restaurant anything less than four stars. We showed up as the kitchen was closing 9:30p on a Monday night. We were greeting by a friendly staff eager to please and accommodate our party of three. The waiter, Andrew, not only waited on our third to show up, he was friendly courteous, and went out of his way to make our experience amazing. We never felt rushed throughout the meal. Andrew knew the specials of the top of his head, and explained a few of the dishes I had questions on. We started with some shrimp tempura and a seaweed salad, when our third arrived we ordered dinner, I could not decide between the lamb rack special and the diver scallops and they made me a tasting plate of both. The other meals were the full rack of lamb special and the salmon. The presentation was great, the service the food and the wine. Not sure what more you could ask for in a place. Next time I'm in town, I'm making this a priority dining location.
(5)L.S A.
Mmmmmm fresh seafood, friendly staff, great specials! Sat at the bar and had a craft cocktail with my dollar oysters! Happy hour is downtown's best kept secret. Live jazz on Saturdays along with a reverse late night happy hour. Absolutely will be back!
(5)J W.
We had a wonderfully relaxing late night dinner here after a full day on planes and in airports so we needed something to fill us up and calm us down and this is the place. We ate on the patio and people watched while we waited for our order which took only minutes. The bread was fresh and warm, the salad enormous and fresh, our steaks thick and cooked medium rare as we ordered (It is amazing how few cooks get that right) The waiter was professional yet down to earth and fussed over us. The hostess was charming and knowledgeable about the area and the sites to see. Osetra is not inexpensive but in all fairness it is priced correctly for the quality and service, this is an elegant place without going over board, safe for a business meeting meals.
(4)Nicole L.
I did not like this place as much as I thought I would. Prices are very high. It smelled funney and the decor was cheap and odd, especially on the table. The sushi was good but nothing amazing.
(2)Angela I.
We dined at Osetra last night and had a fantastic time. Our waiter, Shad, was very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list and also gave us great tips on where to go after dinner. We tried the raw bar sampler which was delicious but way too much food because we each also ordered entrées. When my husband ordered the swordfish I didn't think it would be a good choice since normally it can be very dry. it turned out to be amazingly delicious and moist. It was topped with a gorgonzola and artichoke crust with a leeks and lime emulsion. Absolutely heavenly. I had the Seabass which was prepared perfectly and served with a saffron risotto - so incredibly delicious. We sat in the upstairs level and had a great view of the bar and the "wine angel" who flew up the wine tower to pull wines for several tables. We highly recommend this restaurant and would definitely go back again. Ask for Shad, he's the best
(5)L C.
I would give 5 stars if this review was for service alone. If you visit Osetra, please ask for Antonio as your server. He is amazing. However, the food is quite mediocre. Wine list is decent, although the "by the glass" selection is poor. Ordered a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, which had a steeper markup than I am used to seeing at a restaurant of any quality (27$ retail, but 69$ at Osetra). Normally, I see bottles of CB going for 45-50 in restaurants...but I digress. Unfortunately, the food was merely ok. Green salad with tomato and hearts of palm was a bit wilty, and wet. It did not appear that the leaves had been dried after they were cleaned and that diluted the dressing. Hearts of palm were canned, tasting very metallic. The main course was the King Crab Linguine. This dish was actually quite good. The pasta itself was not of a very high quality, but the sauce, enhanced with mussels and clams (not disclosed on the menu) tasted like a very rich and tomatoey bisque. Had the chocolate lava cake for dessert which was quite the disappointment. Generally, with a restaurant of this quality I would expect pastry to be made daily in the morning, and perhaps reheated at night . My lava cake was rubbery and tasted freezer burned. Instead of traditional lava cake, it was what I like to call the "cheaters" version which places chocolate ganache in a well in a round of perfectly ordinary chocolate cake. It also came covered in what tasted like "Hershey's" syrup, and came with a scoop of very icy (possibly melted and refrozen) vanilla ice cream. I think that if the Chef strayed away from using frozen and poor quality ingredients that the food would be much better.
(3)Matt V.
The food was great and the service was awesome. They were very attentive never had to ask for a refill. And the menu is great.
(5)Violet C.
Love Osetra. The atmosphere is very cozy and posh. The seafood is top end. Not to mention the wine tower in the middle of the bar with over 2000 types of wine!!! Too bad they pulled my favorite crab stuffed sole from the menu. You've never tried a piece of heaven until you taste that dish!!!!!!!!
(5)Gerry D.
My wife and I walked past this place. While it looked good we thought we would see what else was down the street. We picked a restaurant further down the street which was terrible so the next night we went to Osetra. What a great place. We sat at a table on the sidewalk on a beautiful evening. Justin was our waiter and did a phenomenal job. The survive was superb only outdone by the food. I had the Mahi Mahi special which just melted in my mouth while my wife had the lamb. I'm not a lamb fan so I never cook it at home. She said it was some of the best lamb she had ever had in between chewing on the bones. Justin found out it was her birthday and brought her desert on the house. I wish we had eaten there the first night - we wouldn't have gone anywhere else!
(5)Jenn F.
Very nice restaurant, good quiet atmosphere and perfect for date night. I had the stuffed sole, very very good. I wasn't a big fan of the sauce but it was easy to avoid! The bread was very good. Also had a wedge salad, I would recommend them chopping it. My bf had the filet and loved it. Cooked perfectly! Must try it again!!
(5)Jerm J.
Meeeeeeh. I had their lamb pasta and also have tried some of their sushi items. Meh is the word. The lamb pasta was kinda weird... didn't really like the flavor. Like at all. Also the website is terri-bad. I understand the company has like 3 other places but it seems really janky. I just think if you want to be a class dinner place... have a classy website. Clean... crisp... it's just too cluttered. I know... not even a review for the place but for their website how wack.
(2)Mike D.
I debated on two stars but the happy hour prices push this to 3. The food is ok. For the prices they charge it should be great. The one reason I wouldn't come back is the oysters. Unlike at Spike Africa's the oysters here are not fresh. After going through a dozen drying, wilting oysters I had the sinking feeling I was probably going to be getting ill from the meal. With a lack of attention and freshness in their ingredients coupled with very high prices I can't recommend Osetra for your night out in the Gaslamp unless you're on a corporate expense account.
(3)Jenna B.
I stumbled upon this while walking around and enjoying the weather. A little pricey but if you go during happy hour then you are set. They have $1 oysters and a decent house wine so you can walk out full and content without breaking the bank. The place can get busy so call ahead if you have a big group.
(4)Nicole W.
Came here last night (7/2/13). Got seated immediately since we had a reservation. Once seated, our waiter Aaron came and greeted us, i had a free appetizer coupon and handed it to him. He did not even give me a choice of what appetizer to choose, he just said he's going to send us a bruschetta. The bruschetta was delicious but maybe i wanted something else, you know? While looking at the menu, mr. Aaron was constantly coming to our table to ask if we have decided on what to eat and what wine we wanted. There were so many selections and i wanted to take my time reviewing them all; i just felt like i was being rushed the whole time. I was very uncomfortable the entire time thanks to the waiter. On another note, the food was to die for. I had the 2 pound lobster and my friend had the yellowtail and we shared a side of roasted mushrooms, with a sauvignon blanc wine to wash it all down. I definitely recommend this place for delicious food. It would have 5 stars but the service we received was absolutely horrible.
(4)Jenna H.
One of the worst meals and dining experiences I have ever had.. I came here in January with a work group and we all were incredibly disappointed. The service was horrible. They were not prepared at all for a large group - they were understaffed. Those that were waiting on us were slow in taking our orders and did not seem to want to be waiting on us at all. The food was even worse that the service... I started with a salad that was missing ingredients it boasted as having on the menu - the candied nut and pears.. which are the two reasons why I picked it.. For my entree I had the ribeye - I ordered it medium rare and it came out well done and overly fatty. I understand that there is fat in ribeye, but this was beyond excessive. It was one of the worst steaks I have ever experienced. I told the waiter I ordered med rare and he argued with me and told me it was... I cut the steak and showed him there was no pink visible. The potatoes it came with were stone cold and mushy! They tasted like they had been left out in a buffet all day and then served to us for dinner - gross! Desert was a disappointing tiramisu that lacked any flavor. Next time I am in SD for work this will definitely be the last place I would return to. MacDonald's is better than this place... There was not one person in our group who liked any part of their meal.
(1)H C.
Service great. Effort clearly put into even simple dishes. Wine by the glass list small, but decent. Enjoyable spot. Will return on next visit to SD. It's not "memorable" but it appears to be trustworthy like- anything I order here will be good.
(4)Ashley S.
The best lobster bisque!!!
(4)Gobbledygook C.
Crazily overpriced and terribly mediocre. Service is terrible- prepare to keep being pushed to order a salad or wine or whatever. It also gets tiring to be asked three times if everything is ok. Better to spend your money elsewhere.
(1)Ian P.
Very nice. We were walking through gaslamp looking for a place to eat, the hostess was at the podium on the sidewalk and totally sold us on coming in. We were very glad we did, the service was perfect. My tuna was cooked PERFECTLY, my date's food was good too. The Moscow Mules come in a copper cup like they're supposed to. Huge drink menu, and nice outdoor seating area with heaters. Really nice. Pricey, but got what we paid for.
(5)Dan G.
Honeymoon for us and Osetra was recommended by the Hotel we are staying at. We were given a coupon for a free appetizer. However, this ended up being a "Chef Inspired" appetizer, not what we chose. He choose Bruschetta for us. it was quite overdone, my wife hated it. Reminded me of a cheap restaurants loaded Potato Skins App. The waiter implied it was "Special" for us, and seeing the guy at the hotel said "they will take care of us" I thought he called and mentioned our celebration. I thought seeing we ordered Calamari that was our coupon order but we were wrong it turns out... ugh! The worse Calamari I've had. No seasoning whatsoever. And there was overcooked Shrimp tossed in with it, almost as if they were running low on Calamari??? I had the Lamb Ragu and it wasn't bad. Pasta was cooked well and Ragu was flavorful. Yet not nearly up to par for this scale of restaurant. My wife had the Lobster Ravioli. That Pasta was thick, gummy and not cooked well at all. The lobster inside was not seasoned at all, although plentiful. The sauce was simple.. not much more than butter, unseasoned.. kind of disgusting as a whole meal. Dissapointed we skipped dessert. Good thing because the $136 check was hard enough to swallow for this dining experience. The entire time we were served by a waiter that clearly would do better as a car salesman. Wait, scratch that.. a pushy car salesman.
(1)Greg M.
Visiting from New Orleans and dined at Osetra this past weekend. The wine tower was something else. Restaurant had a very modern and sleek feel to it. And the service and the food complimented the ambiance of the restaurant. The service was outstanding. Our server Shad was on point with his suggestions (lobster ravioli and sea bass). Shad was engaging and friendly while still being prompt and attentive of our needs. Next time we visit San Diego we will definitely be back, and looking forward to a repeat experience. Thanks again!
(5)Dylan D.
My wife and I chose this restaurant on the fly for our 1st Anniversary dinner, and the experience was fantastic! We arrived at about 5pm with only a few tables filled which provided for a very relaxed dining atmosphere. We were kindly attended to by our waiter James G. who was very pleasant. He made great suggestions that complimented our choices from the already plentiful menu, and he catered to our every need going above and beyond! There is a good and large selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and many delightful cocktails. We enjoyed a flavorful bruschetta and caesar salad with a delicious house dressing, followed by a 10 oz. fillet mignon for the Mrs. and lobster ravioli for myself. The entrees were cooked perfectly and were incredibly tasty. The bottle of sparkling water was a nice touch, along with the Kentucky Mule cocktail I enjoyed. We followed it up with a perfectly sized glass of chocolate gelato with strawberries, and complimentary tiramisu because it was our anniversary. Great food, calm but tasteful atmosphere with great music, and exceptional service from James! Overall great experience. A+!
(5)Exquisite C.
Bravo! One of the most amazing restaurants I have visited! You can literally choose anything, and you will not be disappointed Amazing service, fantastic atmosphere, this is the place to visit when in San Diego!
(5)Tori S.
Definitely not kid friendly!!!! Tried to accommodate our kids.... But didn't work. My salad (spinach) tasted like dirt. The wine and asparagus were good though.
(2)Maureen C.
Finally got here! And STILL haven't had anything to eat!! But Oban can compete anyday with food, sooooo..... Large group took over the bar late on a Friday evening, and were happily served by a cute, new bartender, and entertained by a live guitarist. For whatever reason, us 10 + only 4 others were there. It's a classy joint, with good, stiff drinks, and a nice atmosphere. Glad we came, because I will be back!
(4)Cayla K.
Absolutely LOVE this Place! The atmosphere, food selection, customer service, and bar was great. Especially at the bar (ask for Lisa) she has good recommendations for the menu and makes a mean martini. Everyone is very personable, the place is clean and quant, and the food superb! I keep going back, especially Happy Hour cant beat the prices!!
(5)Rosa M.
Walked into the restaraunt not knowing prices or the kind of food they served. I looked in the menu and it looked like this: Prime Rib 42 Lobster mashed potatoes 18 Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp 29 Lobster Market Price (Exagerated, but not by much) I was like: Are those the page numbers? (The menu was only 5 pages long lol) The steak was great. It was the size of Texas and melted in your mouth. The taters were cool. The jumbo shrimp was ginormous but the risotto was bunk! Not a big risotto fan anyway. The sides didn't come with the entrees. I'm not used to this frou-frou dining. We ended up spending three bills. In conclusion, the food was just OK and not worth the money we spent. Oh well, lesson learned. We'll just go to the Yardhouse down the street next time. Oh and the people sitting 2 tables over, do us a favor and do the cocaine in the bathroom instead of on the dessert plate. Kk thanks.
(3)Brien M.
Disappointing for us. The atmosphere was nice and the promise of the menu, although not creative, was one of a high quality dining experience. However, the prices are outrageous. If the food had been excellent, it would have been worth it, but with mediocre dishes, we were unhappy. For example, the "jumbo" stuffed shrimp were neither very jumbo nor beyond ordinary in flavor. In addition, they were tough and you needed a knife to cut them. One friend made a clear special request to have her chicken over-cooked until it was dry. Not my choice but the request should have been honored. When it arrived cooked normally and my friend requested more, the waiter got defensive and stated that it was cooked, but that wasn't the point. She wanted it over-done, not perfectly done. Why couldn't/wouldn't they oblige? Why did the waiter have to get pissy? And when a simple chicken dish is something like $28, they certainly could have tried harder. High prices, average quality, overpriced wine, and inappropriate service. I really regretted choosing Osetra. There are other excellent choices in San Diego.
(2)Nhi Thao N.
My boyfriend and I stopped at Osetra last night for a late bite before heading home. We had been here once over a year ago on our last trip to San Diego, and we really liked it, so we wanted to go back. This restaurant/bar has a tall storage area for the wine in the middle of the bar. On our last visit, I remember seeing the bartender going up and down on a cable-like wire (like bungee or rock-climbing) to grab the wine bottles. I thought that was pretty cool. This time, it was not that crowded, and they were about to close up soon. The bartender delivered great customer service, though, and we ended up ordering the yummy clams and mussels, which came in a delicious coconut sauce. Osetra will probably end up being our regular spot whenever we go down to SD :)
(4)George F.
Good food and atmosphere ... BUT ... server was so pushy that it made the dining experience less than relaxing. The upselling and rushing was kind of annoying. Make sure to check the prices of their specials. Led to believe entrees in the $30-$40 range, but turns out reef and beef special was $79. It was delicious however finding out at the end left a bad taste. That said, it was presumptuous to include 20% service in the bill.
(2)patti g.
Referred by our hotel and was intrigued by the "flying sommelier" which in the end turned out to be a waitress who was hauled up and down the wine cellar in a harness. Still fun though. Our waiter John was fabulous. Great service and a nice guy. We had the mahi mahi and the sauce was to die for. They also, per our request, customized our asparagus adding truffle oil and shave parmesan. Yummy! Have heard the Happy Hour is awesome so sorry we missed it. Would go back!
(4)Sasha R.
Osetra means business! Seriously, I went in last night for an espresso martini (surprise, surprise!) and had some apps, too. The tempura shrimp was dynamite! The crab cakes are light and delicious. My date tried the lamb, and it was perfectly cooked. The ahi sushi roll seemed lightly flash friend and it was SO GOOD. Osetra always get the job done. 5 stars.
(5)Danny W.
Osetra I have had 2 meals at this restaurant. The first time was about a 3.5 star experience. The food has always been amazing , but on my initial visit the service seemed to lack a bit. Next trip back they had underwent some management changes, which you could really tell put the "customer" back in customer service. From the second I came into the restaurant to the moment I left I encountered nothing but friendly, fun staff who were all about making my experience the best possible. I swear my server would have come back to my apartment and tidied it if I asked her to. The bartender was a really funny dude from Boston (and no he didn't reside in PB) with about the coolest story of moving to San Diego that I have ever heard. He came to visit a friend and just never went back, ultimately breaking his lease via text message by faking being thrown into rehab. Halarious! The vibe in here is cooler than 95% of the seafood restaurants I've been to. Its chic and trendy with one of the coolest wine displays I have ever seen. They launch a wine angel up with a pulley system to grab bottles. It's pretty rad. After my last visit I am going to give this place a 5 because they really went above and beyond in service, and the food is always tops. Now that the service is spot on, it's a San Diego fav.
(5)Sarah G.
Pro: Really yummy bread. Con: They charge you $6 for water. Pro: Best spicy tuna roll I've ever had. Con: Seriously, pasta will run you about $30. Pro: Excellent service from the staff. Con: The lobster ravioli that they normally charge a bajillion dollars for was only so-so. Pro: Atmosphere was lovely. Con: Dessert was mediocre at best. All in all, a decent experience here at Osetra, just be prepared to fork over some serious dough.
(4)Sean W.
Well, I've had worse downtown. But the food was almost flavorless and is obscenely expensive for the quality. My scallops were overcooked, bland, topped with some type of caviar that added nothing to the flavor but a strange crunchiness, and the plating reminded me of a birthday cake. My girlfriend's fish was dry as a dry-ass piece of overcooked fish. The oysters- some were good some were bad. Service was good.
(2)Kate D.
Way overrated. It was packed on a Thursday night at 8:00 but the quality of food did not live up to its hype. I wasn't overly impressed with the menu. My seared scallops were not seared, and really lacked any flavor at all beyond the pomegranate puree, which was an odd combination. Served with lobster polenta - again, flavor was dull. I was with a vegetarian and he struggled to find anything besides a caprese salad, french fries and a side of steamed veggies. The veggies never showed up on the table and the french fries were delivered when the rest of us were 1/2 way done with our entrees. Never an offer to create something vegetarian in the kitchen. Meanwhile, the waiter was way too focused on up-selling everyone at the table. He was very pushy and it left a sour impression with all of us. We spent a lot of money on a sub-par meal.
(2)Heidi M.
Great food and great service from Tony and the Karina. The Risotto and Tiramisu were amazing. Thanks Tony from the North Carolina ladies.
(5)Delphine R.
This review is only for the HH. We came here for the Restaurant Week and had an amazing dinner. As we were waiting, we took a look at their HH menu and saw they were doing oysters for $1.00. I knew i had to come back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So its Friday and we decided with a friend to come here for HH. I love the fact that they are so close to Horton Plaza, park there, validate and you have three hours of free parking. The oysters were very fresh and came with two sauces, one was a traditional mignonette and the other was cocktail sauce. It was so delicious , we had two dozens!!!!!!!! We tried a couple more stuff, like the trio tartare and the spicy tempura roll, they were both just ok.
(4)Christie T.
Lobster Mashed Potatoes. That's really all you need to know but I'll humor you with a full review: First things first- the food is amazing. I highly recommend the scallops, the mahi mahi, and the lamb osso bucco. For appetizers the Ahi tuna is out of this world. The freshest fish, perfectly seared. They also have an amazing spicy tuna tempura roll. It gets even better: they just added a raw bar. I find that even when a restaurant has good food- sometimes their desserts are shipped in and just so-so. Osetra has amazing tiramisu- so light and airy, and an almond cranberry tart just melts in your mouth. Every person at Oestra, from the hostess, to the servers, bartenders, food runners and bus boys provides exemplary service. They are attentive but not intrusive. I've been three times in the past year, and the service and the quality never waiver. This is my favorite place to go for a nice dinner in the Gaslamp.
(5)Fred C.
An all around 5 stars from me no question. (And I can be a pretty picky SOB from time to time) Really cool atmosphere and ambiance. Great Service. Really really great food. Lobster bisque - Delectable Prawns w Capellini - Delicious Ahi steak w wasabi mashed potatoes - Amazing Chilean Sea Bass w the Mahi Mahi fixins (Lemon/Almond butter emulsion, french green beans, and lobster mashed potatoes) - Heavenly Everything was cooked perfectly, no joke, no exaggeration. I will be going back. P.S. Special thanks to Sara for making sure everything was perfect!
(5)Becky S.
We did not have the experience others have had here. Our server was great when we first sat down. After that, we didn't see him again. Apparently, we were seated in the bar area even though we asked not to be. We ordered two drinks, apps and chowder. The chowder came quickly. Everything else - slowwwwwww. When the soup came, we ordered a second round of drinks and never got them. We flagged down a different server and asked for the drinks we had ordered. He said he'd order them for us. Saw him walk by again, still no drinks. Remember - we have no food, no drinks, we're waiting for everything. He tells us "the bar got slammed." We ordered jack and cokes -- not quite the most time consuming drinks. Overall, the appetizers were just okay. The Mexican Shrimp was the best. The crostini was weak and the crab cakes had more bread than anything else. Oh yes - we also saw two employees exchange words in the front of the house (quickly, granted but still it's Saturday night and the place is packed). When you're sitting at your table, looking around for your server, your drinks and/or your food -- you tend to notice these things.
(2)Hiba M.
After leaving Yelp for a while and removing all my reviews, I decided to come back. I figured that if I'm going to use it as often as I do, I should at least contribute a little. The very first place that came to mind to write a review for is this place because its current rating really does not do it justice. To the point: 1) The food is fab 2) The service is fab 3) The environment is lovely. The breakdown: 1) Food and Beverages: Drink: Watermelon infused Vodka I believe. The fruit flavor was very subtle so I can't remember it that well BUT I like Vodka (especially when it doesn't taste like nail polish remover!) and I like Watermelon! Vodka was very smooth with a hint of fruit flavor I enjoyed sipping on this drink. I would order it again. Appetizer: Seafood Napoleon ($17); Layers of lump crab, spicy tuna and guacamole (drizzled with wasabi oil). Looked lovely, tasted interesting. I enjoyed trying it (and would recommend it if you like experimenting as I do) but I am not a fan of wasabi so I personally would not order it again. Entrée: Stuffed Mexican Shrimp ($29); Jumbo Shrimp stuffed with lobster, scallops, crab and fresh herbs. OMG so good I can still taste it! This dish may sound tiny but boy is it mighty! DEFINITELY would recommend this dish if you like the ingredients and of course I definitely would order it again. My friend had Salmon with risotto. If you like risotto this one was really well made and the Salmon was perfectly cooked. I like Salmon but if I had to choose between one of these dishes I'd pick the Shrimp every time (have I mentioned how good it was?) Side Note: They do have salads, meats and non-seafood pasta but if you are coming to a SEAFOOD place you might want to order some seafood (have I not mentioned how good the shrimp was?)! (Even though we stayed there for quite a while, when dessert time came I was so stuffed I kept saying: "I can't do dessert". However, once dessert came--I did dessert. ) Dessert: Mango sorbet and Tiramisu. The Sorbet was FULL of flavor but the dessert itself was light on the tummy. The Tiramisu was great. I'm a big fan of Tiramisu (it's my go-to dessert) so I've tried a wide range of this lovely desert (even strawberry "Tiramisu"...YEH!) and this one was definitely well made. I would recommend both (seriously order both even if you "can't do dessert" like some people =/). Moving on from that shrimp... The Service: I always ask for recommendations and I thought they did a great job. Our server was great, helpful and nice. What I really liked about this place was that the manager (I believe her name was Sara but don't hold me to that) clearly cared for the restaurant and its customers. Besides the fact that the food deserved my review (seriously that shrimp*sigh*), I've actually decided to come back on Yelp and review this place because of her. She was honest about the food and her recommendations were spot on (but mostly she was just plain nice and very inviting). She was nice enough to give us a tour of the upstairs at the end of our night =). The Environment: Cozy but big (they even have private rooms). A place you can enjoy with either your partner, friends (bonus: they have a cool bar you can lounge in) or family. Con: even though it's not really their fault I have to take a moment to b!tcH about PARKINNGGGG!!! Good news is there is valet close by =). There's also a cheap parking lot a block or two down the street that I made the mistake of not going to. Lastly I'd like to end my surprisingly long review (I was planning on writing a few lines but I guess that's how much I enjoyed the place) by reminding everyone (because I don't think I mentioned it enough) that the SHRIMP WAS DELICIOUS! Haha I have a feeling I'm going to get some hate mail because of this. Oh well. SHRIMP! ~HM
(5)Izzy C.
I don't give many 5 stars, so here's a breakdown on how I got there! FOOD & WINE: 5 STARS My dinner was to die for: diver scallops, topped with tobiko caviar, on a bed of polenta with a little crab meat chunks mixed in. - The scallops were perfectly seared--a gentle crisp outside, juicy and moist inside. - The polenta was heavenly--creamy smooth, spreading its rich flavors sinfully in your mouth. - They have thoughtful wines outside of the standard chardonnay/cabernet choices. The Albarino I had was delish! SERVICE: 5 STARS The service was superb--professional and friendly. - It's the truly thoughtful kind of service that's based on observation and attention, at just the right moments. Not the superficial service that mistakes a gazillion interruptive questions as service. Just when my wine was about a sip away from finished, they offered another glass. Just as I lay my utensils at 4 o'clock on the plate with a satisfied pat of the napkin on my lips, they gracefully removed the dishes. None of the "do you want another glass" pestering when I still have half a glass, or the constant "are you done?" annoyances when it's so obvious I'm not if you care to just look! - What's more, the wait staff was a truly cohesive team who worked seamlessly together to make sure I had the best experience. Not the "each waiter to his own" approach that, for me, always takes away from the overall experience. What's impressive was how they stayed coordinated with each other so it's NOT one of those "left hand doesn't know what the right hand has done" situations were you get offered the menu repeatedly, or folks ask for your order when another team member has already taken it. This team is about as pro as it gets! AMBIANCE: 4 STARS The decor is modern, well-appointed, warm and comfortable. Nothing to complain about. Nothing to write home about either. A respectable, above-average restaurant environment. PERFECT FOR: BUSINESS TRAVELER (especially if traveling solo!) Some days, I just don't want to hole up in my hotel room and have room service by my sad, lonesome self. But on a Friday night, I also didn't want to be mixed up in some over-trendy, hyped-up hook-up scene! Osetra was vibrant yet low-key--perfect for the solo business traveler eager to be out and about but not exactly looking for a full night out!
(5)Stacy R.
We were greeted and enticed into the restaurant by a very friendly hostess. She gave us a free appetizer coupon and told us they were doing reverse Happy Hour. Sounded appealing. We sat in the bar area for quite a while without any acknowlegdement. Moved to the bar and was told no Happy Hour prices. We decided to dine elsewhere. As we were leaving I thanked the hostess for her friendliness and the manager over heard and tried to entice us back with free food. We commented that they need to improve their communication and declined the offer.
(1)Gonzalo Y.
More show than quality Food ok Service ok
(3)Alina M.
HORRIBLE. The waitress we had was so awkward and seemed ticked off. My dish (angel hair pasta with prawns) tasted mundane and I would have rather had Raman Noodles. It cost $28 bucks, and I could have made it at home for $9. The bus boys were the best part of the entire experience. Needless to say, it is NOT WORTH THE MONEY! We paid $105 for NOTHING.
(1)Abraham M.
Oysters were so tasteful! Definitely coming back here again for happy hour.
(4)Michael B.
I just returned from dining at Osetra on 5th and E in the Gaslamp, and I will most definitely be back. The vibe in Osetra was really nice- classy, modern and vibrant. The dining area was romantic and candlelit, however I sat at the bar, watching the wine angels up above. I ordered the Seafood Napoleon and the Spicy Tuna Roll, both of which were excellent. The Seafood Napolean was a tower of avocado topped with ahi tuna stacked on top of crab meat, and all topped with caviar. This was served with a soy reduction and a wasabi sauce, which gave it a really tasty sweet and spicy combination. The sushi came fully prepared and I was very impressed with the quality and freshness of the ingredients. I paired this meal with a Riesling, and by the end I was completely satisfied. Every member of the staff was warm and friendly, and the experience as a whole is definitely one worth repeating. I heard they are debuting a new menu soon, so I'll have to make it back the next time I'm in the area. Thanks Osetra, you nailed it!
(5)Brittany C.
My husband and I went walking through the Gaslamp area on Saturday and decided we would just stop and eat at wherever looked interesting. Osetra caught our eye because we both were in the mood for seafood. The food was good, but I do think it was a tad pricey for the quality. However, the service was wonderful and our server, Joel, was incredibly attentive and just a genuinely nice guy. Wonderful wine list as well! We'll be back to try more of their menu soon.
(4)Naryssa K.
The ambiance and service is amazing. The food was memorable. I had the mussels and clams appetizer, which had a hint of curry and filled with a buttery taste. LOVED IT! I also ordered an over sized rib eye, which was cooked perfectly. Only problem is i couldn't finish it because of its size but was delicious! Definitely a fan!!
(4)Vanessa P.
Try the oysters and fish sliders during happy hour from 4-7 every day. The food is always fresh and they give you a cute little Tabasco bottle each time you order oysters.
(4)Jennifer F.
Great food, my husband and I always enjoy this place... However, our waiter experience was awkward! He was visibly upset when we did not order his recommendation on appetizers...then when the bill came, we gave our credit card and had a coupon...when he came back after running our card he had added 18% gratuity!!! What, he thinks we are cheap because we had a coupon?? I have NEVER heard of a restaurant adding gratuity on a party of 2!! My husband and I both waited tables, we are always 20%+ tippers, he cheated himself...
(4)A M.
Osetra is a beautiful restaurant with a very welcoming atmosphere. The dining experience was a pleasant one. The bartender, Lisa, did a wonderful job making drinks and was very quick and speedy with service. Always smiling and friendly. The food was excellent. The Sashimi Tuna and Tempura Prawns were excellent! Taste was fresh and flavorful. Portion was just perfect for appetizers. Overall the experience was great!
(5)David V.
With the right server we could have had a great experience but we did not. My date ordered wine by the glass and when she did not like the wine she was served, the server proceeded to argue that it was the best rather than try to simply get another. This made my date feel uncomfortable. The rest of the night he only spoke to me and pretty much ignored her. She felt he even looked at her with disdain which was awkward and uncomfortable. The food was excellence but wish we had a different server who wasn't so full of himself and was more tuned into the customers than his own opinions. Also a bait and switch, the server recommended a special of kings crab legs and filet mignon, but failed to let us know that one entre was over $80. The food was very good but that special was also over priced for one entre.
(1)J G.
Came here with a colleague when he was in town. There was a big conference in town and it was Saturday night and the place was packed. All the food was excellent. My colleague couldn't stop raving about the surf and turf that he got. It was a generous serving on crab (pre-cut legs) and a perfectly cooked piece of steak. I wasn't too hungry and got a salad and a lobster bisque. Both were very good too. I would definitely go back. It is a little expensive, so if work wasn't paying I would probably only eat there for special occasions. The atmosphere is fun too and I enjoyed watching them get wine from their cooler.
(4)Amy E.
Left after 15 minutes of no service. We were sat by the hostess for our 6:30 pm reservation. No menu, no drink, no acknowledgement we were there. After 15 minutes we left.
(1)Matt S.
Nothing like coastal cities to offer you some top notch seafood! We had a crew of about 20 people dining to celebrate the opening night of our annual conference. Despite having so many people, the serving staff of Osetra did a great job of handling our large group. Highlights of the meal for me were the crab cakes (oh so fluffy) and the lobster (juicy-tastic). Thankfully I ordered my steak rare, as it came back much closer to medium. What I frequently (and sadly) find are the steak and seafood places rarely do BOTH well. I won't complain during my search as it means I'll eat more surf-and-turfs. :) Unfortunately this visit was still during the "drought of '11"--AKA Lent--where I had stupidly given up alcohol, so I could not sample any of their tasty adult beverages, but the wine selection is fantastic.
(4)TM S.
If you go there during happy hour - 5 stars. If you go otherwise - 3 stars. That's why I give it 4 stars. The cold seafood bowl is amazing. Crustacean fans, go there during happy hour and feast for half price. The staff will throw in lobster for an extra $10.
(4)Caitlyn M.
The food and service here was OUTSTANDING. Tasty bread before your meal, friendly and patient staff. I had the iceberg wedge salad which was a gooey treat drenched in bleu cheese and bacon, the halibut with lobster mash (OMG) was awesome. Made a perfect dirty martini too! The only drawback in my opinion is that the decor feels a tad dated and the martini glasses look like they're straight from the 80's. All this isn't as important as the food - and THAT was amazing. Will go back for sure!
(4)Andrew K.
If a NO star rating was available, that's what I'd rate Osetra. We went their for a special New Year's Eve date night. Very memorable dinner experience, but for all the wrong reasons. Here's how our night unfolded: When we arrived and approached the servers, they couldn't locate our reservation. When they finally did, one of the hostesses said they'll check on our table. We never heard from her again. The manager came over about 15 minutes later and asked if we planned on getting a drink at the bar or not. We said no, thinking she would respond with, "let let me show you to your table." Instead, she walked away without any clear communication as to whether or not our table was ready. We then stood there at the bar for another 10-15 minutes with no one, not the hostess, not the manager, not even the bartenders, communicating or offering a beverage. In fact, we were forced to serve ourselves our own water from glasses and water pitchers at the bar! Finally, one of the servers asked if she could get us anything and offered us a wine list. We decided on a fine bottle of Veuve champagne. They said they'd put it at our table, which left us thinking we were going to be seated any minute. Another 5 minutes went by and finally, someone came to seat us. Just when we thought we were almost able to sit down, we were escorted to our table upstairs. At the top of the stairs, the manager realized it was STILL not set. So, we were forced to wait another 5 minutes about 100 feet from our unprepared table. Once seated, about 45 minutes after walking in the door, no one was there to open the champagne for about another 10 minutes. Our server was OK. For a restaurant with such highly priced menu items though, you would expect a server to a) know the champagne special for the night (he had to ask a co-worker) and b) be able to take an order without having to get out a pen and pad of paper. I expect that at TGIFridays, but not at a place like this. The best part of the entire night was when, Sarah, the manager, responded to our request to remove the restaurant's despicable excuse for a table accent - a FAKE rose floating upside down in a cheap vase containing slimy water and hobby glass rocks at the bottom. There were more fundamental service issues that need to be addressed, but still, I'd expect more "touches" on a table out of any respectable restaurant, especially one that has $30-$40+ items on their menu. Oh yeah, the food. Because after all we did go there to eat. The ahi tuna was OK and the Lobster Ravioli was a disappointment, with the ravioli sitting in a soup of sauce. The Tiramisu, however, was better than expected. A $300+ dinner ticket for two people, certainly should have delivered better quality food, smart table presentation, and savvy wait staff. Not a place we will return to, and will likely not visit any of the additional eateries in this restaurant group.
(1)Marco S.
The manager (Sara) had contacted me about my previous experience and asked me to give them another try. My wife and I went on Tuesday, 4/5/11. No waiting, was seated quickly, much better service this time around. The bread basket and water glasses were never empty. My wife really enjoyed the Ma-hi Ma-hi, I liked the Fillet Mignon, and the Lobster Bisque. The BEST dessert drink ever, is the "Blueberry Tea". I was impressed by the general manager caring enough to contact me and urge me to try it again. With her generosity and persistence, I'm glad we did. It is a fine restaurant with class. Osetra does care about it's customers!
(4)Matt J.
This is a beautiful restaurant with a well designed interior. Unfortunately, that's where the success ends here. The food is quite pricey and for some reason that I can't understand, NONE of the seafood here seems fresh. I mean, they are less than a mile from the ocean and for some reason serving frozen, old-tasting seafood. They have farmed salmon, imported sea bass, and king crab on the menu. I had the king crab which tasted like it had sat in a fridge for days as it was dry, sour, and tough. The mashed potatoes served with it seemed like they were a mixture of Elmer's school paste and chalk while the limp, flavorless vegetables were terribly overcooked. I don't expect excessively high quality food wherever I eat, but when I pay $42 for an entree, I do expect it to be edible.
(1)Christine S.
Another Stylish Gaslamp Restaurant with No Soul! Four of us had dinner there on a Wednesday evening. We were seated promptly and the service was pretty good overall. The food was decent. But there's nothing about this place that was unique and makes me want to come back. I ordered the beet and blood orange salad, followed by the lobster risotto. The salad was ok- I had to point out to the waiter that they served regular oranges- not blood oranges which have a sweeter flavor. He didn't seem to know what I was talking about. The manager later came by to explain that the blood oranges are only offered Jan- Feb. (Hello-- why would you put that on your menu if you know it's out of season for 10 months of the year) The risotto was nice- but not memorable. My husband ordered the "Napoleon" salad- a basic caprese salad. (I think the person who wrote the menu got confused between Neapolitan-- i.e. Naples, Italy vs. the short guy that declared himself the french emperor.) Of course the waiter had no clue. Not that any of this really matters, but it just shows that the restaurant is making a lame attempt to be hip & creative and it's obviously not working. Horribly overpriced--- for four of us, each with a salad and a main course, plus one bottle of wine-- total bill was over $240 plus tip. If the meal and service were truly exceptional I wouldn't complain, but this was definitely not in that category. Save your $$ and go somewhere else where it's truly about the food.
(2)Judy S.
The food was Ok at best. One person in our party ordered lobster. The lobster was not cooked well, parts were liquified when served. Two persons in our party were server cold soup. I did not receive my entree until 10-15 minutes after everyone else. The waiters had already started removing empty plates from the table before my entree was brought out. And, this was only after one of my table mates got up to tell our waitress that I was never served. The food was over-priced and not all was prepared in a quality manner. The waitress concentrated solely on up-selling appetizers, specials, wine, and desserts. I will never go back.
(1)Yoomi C.
Pricey restaurant! We came here on Saturday for Restaurant Week. For 30 dollars it was a great meal! I came here as a group of 6. We reserved it for 4 ppl, but they easily accommodated to our needs. For appetizers, we had fried calimari and the seafood napolean. Both were really delicious and fresh. The seafood napolean had a nice hint of wasabi oil that gave the plate a kick. For entrees, my friends and I had the steak, yellowtail and lobster ravioli. The lobster ravioli was filling but disappointing. The sauce was too salty for me. The yellowtail my boyfriend had was surprisingly good, since I don't usually enjoy fish. For dessert, the cheesecake, raspberry mousse and tiramisu were alll soooo good! I especially looooved the tiramisu. It was rich and moist! I'd go again for the tiramisu. Overall the restaurant has amazing food. The service was amazing as well. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive. Wish I could eat here everyday:)
(4)Benezon L.
One of my "go to" restaurants when entertaining clients or family. Actually, I tend to stumble in on my way from Star Bar, Syrah, QS or Analog...but I digress. The best way I can describe the decor is SEXY. Everything from the inlay of ice on the bar tops, the soft lighting and, of course, the lovely Sara. The menu offers a large selection, everything from the spicy tuna tempura roll, lobster ravioli and bone-in filet. My personal favorites are the spinach salad, clams and mussels and the rib-eye. The spinach salad is probably my favorite salad in life. I've had spinach salads before but the combination of the raspberry vinaigrette, strawberries, Gorgonzola and bacon is perfectly balanced. No flavor overpowers the other and the end result is a clean plate. The staff is uber friendly and the location is perfectly situated on the north end of the Gaslamp Quarter. Dress up or come as you are. Stop in for a quick custom saketini, glass of wine or sit down for an amazing meal in a great venue. Don't be a stranger, ask for Sara, say hello, tell her Ben says hi, make a new friend and have a great meal.
(5)JoAnna T.
not at all what I expected n I think i was deceived with their supposedly "Russian Cavair" hmmmm....I paid $180 for 1oz of authentic Ostrea Cavair served in a glass jar instead of a tin can. did some research after trying it;(. came from Las Vegas just to try it but now not too sure if I got my money's worth? wine angel was a disappointment n so was their service;(. not gong there again n not recommending to my friends or anyone asking about this place
(2)Vitamin C.
I would definitely come here again. Food, service and ambiance did not disappoint. I had the sea bass, which was cooked to perfection and topped with a nice creamy sauce. I finished with the creme brulee which was simply amazing.
(4)Brenda B.
Just relocated from the Bay Area and was pleased to find such a lovely place for dinner! From the moment I called to inquire about parking, they were extremely helpful, not only providing me directions, but a valet option right across the street! The oysters were fresh and tasty, the staff friendly, the wine list was great, the scallops were wonderful... Can't wait for my next meal at Osetra!
(5)Bettina M.
Beautiful place and food was good but not a 10 for me! We did live the surprise of watching how our wine was obtained ...
(3)Kim B.
We happened upon this place after finding that the restaurant where we had planning on dining was closed for the evening. Very lucky accident! First, the service was top shelf. From the hostess to management, we felt like we were their only, and most special, guests. I cannot say enough about our server - he made the entire evening so much fun. The wine list was very impressive and they have something for every budget. The wine tower is worth the trip alone. Imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw the hostess floating in the air. The food was excellent. I wouldn't say the menu is anything over the top but this is a steak house that knows how to cook steak. Medium rare was perfectly done on the rare side. As a mid-western girl who has raised cattle, I feel like I have a good knowledge of quality beef and we definitely had quality at Osetra. On the recommendation of John, we shared tiramisu for dessert and it was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Dinner for two with appetizer, wine, entrees and dessert was slightly over $100 - a good price point for a lovely evening.
(4)Rachel L.
Came here for a birthday dinner! We were visiting the Gaslamp and it was recommended to us by our awesome cab driver! The atmosphere is fun and classy. They had a live band playing at the front of the restaurant near the bar. It seemed like a small place but I think there was more seating upstairs. The host was incredibly nice and explained a few things on the menu. I would say that she was sort of the hook for the restaurant since the host stand was outside on the sidewalk, not only was she gorgeous but she was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. once seated our server took our drink order (bottle of wine) and we ordered the Mussels and Clams Appetizer ($16). To die for! the sauce is a coconut milk curry sauce that was so good we started dipping the complimentary bread in it after all the clams and mussels were gone. (not a classy thing to do apparently, the people next to us looked horrified, weirdos. for $16 I'm eating it all lol) For dinner I had the Ahi Tuna (Cajun crusted, pan seared. Served with wasabi mashed potatoes, finished in a crispy ginger soy sauce reduction topped with tobiko caviar; $32) pretty much everything on my plate was heaven. The wasabi mashed potatoes were incredible! The wasabi flavor was just enough to compliment the perfectly seared ahi tuna. I ate the entire thing which doesn't happen too often. He got Scallops (Pan seared, served over soft polenta, lobster chunks and tobiko caviar, in a pomegranate reduction sauce; $34) The scallops were melt in your mouth good. We only shared one or two bites back and forth because we were both enjoying our own plate too much to notice the other plate For dessert we had the molten chocolate cake something or other. Since it was his birthday the I asked the server to bring it out with a candle or something embarrassing; he asked the band to sing happy birthday to him :) He loved it, and the cake was good too. ooey and gooey chocolate but it wasn't anything super special. I think everywhere has a molten chocolate cake nowadays. Excellent experience, i hope to go back!
(5)Erin L.
DELICIOUS food. Wonderful service. All around, a great experience. A co-worker and I went to Osetra for dinner on a weeknight. It was packed insider the restaurant, so we opted to sit outside. We had our pick of tables and a heat lamp available if we needed it (we didn't). Our server arrived immediately with menus and we were quickly brought water and bread. The server recommended dishes and wine and was very helpful. We started with the bruschetta, which we both pronounced the best bruschetta we've had outside of Italy. It was just perfect-- nicely seasoned with just the right amount of olive oil and garlic. I ordered the mahi mahi with lobster mashed potatoes as my entree. Delicious! The fish was tender and beautifully cooked and the potatoes fluffy and flavorful. We ordered a bottle of the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) and it was wonderful, perfectly suited to our meal. We also had a pear and cranberry tart for dessert, which was very tasty. Overall, one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. The setting was relaxing and the service was fantastic. The next time I'm in San Diego on business, I'll definitely be back.
(5)Keith K.
I love this place I had my B-day dinner her is was so elegant and classy I loved it. My Boo bought me a Scooby Doo cake they brought it out candle lit and everything I even sent slices to the other table. If u want a nice elegant place good food go here.
(5)Rob H.
The good: Scallops were wonderful, the plate was art with the sauces and caviar and was pleasantly paired with wine (of which the selection is numerous). I would rate the scallops as being what gave this 4 stars. Was able to go right in on a Saturday night without a reservation and find a table. I thought the cioppi was a little salty but really it was very well prepared. The muscles were perfect and the clams were also right on the mark. The main courses were excellent. The meh: Tables seemed a little small and ours was rocky (always annoying). The bread was simply ho hum and the shrimp cocktail at $15 comes with 4 shrimp albeit they are jumbo, I would rather there be smaller and more so my appetizer lasts longer than two bites. (I was sharing the appetizer not double fisting it).
(4)Nicole B.
I stopped here by myself during happy hour. was lured in by the girl out front and sure glad i was. i ordered a 9.00 glass of wine before notcing they hh house wine of 5.00. opps! bartendered offered to take it back twice but i refused since i did order it. had clams in a coconut milk curry sauce. out of this world!!!!!! could eat it every day. bread was good too. did feel like could get snooty in there after hh but would go back to hh again for sure.
(5)Kris W.
I love everything about this restaurant! We were down from OC for a romantic weekend and couldn't have picked a better place for our first night! The bar is beautiful, they have a Wine "Tower" that has a girl in a pulley scaling the height of it to procure the bottles.My favorite new superhero-WineGirl! We had 2 appetizers (tuna sashimi and seafood napoleon-very good. We shared the tuna rolls for dinner. I had an Espresso Martini for my dessert and it was perfect. We are coming back to eat here again before we leave! Too many things on the menu I want to try! Service and Ambience also excellent. This place rocks.
(5)Cherlyn B.
Pretty restaurant with blue and black interior. There's a huge alcohol selection and at some point of my meal, I saw some girl strapped up hanging from the ceiling stocking up on the huge wall displaying their bottles. The only problem I had was that the music was playing too loud that it was a bit hard to hear the person I was with. Since this restaurant is located in downtown, of course the parking sucks. I was very pleased with the food though. I started off with the trio of tartare which consisted of fresh tuna and lump crab meat stacked on top of one another into different layers. One of the best raw tuna dishes I've ever had.. probably top 3! For the main course, I ordered the stuffed Mexican shrimp. It's basically jumbo shrimp stuffed with a combination of lobster, scallops, and crab topped with buerre blanc. It was quite delectable. I will def be coming back for more trio of tartare & to try the lobster mashed potatoes. So many things I'd like to try!
(4)Agnieszka S.
My recent experience at Osetra was a great one! I came in with a friend of mine to have dinner. We got there early and decided to have a drink at the bar. The friendly bartender greater us immediately and since we weren't sure what we wanted she gave us a wine list, cocktail menu, happy hour menu and a full dinner list. With plenty of choices and options we decided to get a bottle of wine. Seconds later we were pleased to see what they call a "wine angel" retrieve it from the massive tower behind the bar. The bartender ended up opening our bottle and bringing over an amazing decanter that allowed the bottle to air out and taste delicious! At this point we were so settled into our spots and into our conversation that we decided to cancel our table and stay at the bar for dinner. The bartender recommended we order the balata as an appetizer and it was great! I love cheese and this was amazing! I later got the ribeye, which was cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the sea bass which she also enjoyed! All in all, I think this was an incredible experience and I would definitely recommend it.
(5)LRB L.
Mixed reviews on this one... We were a group of 7 and we spent quite a bit on our dinner. We were seated upstairs and it was so loud. Drinks/wines were great, apps were good (Mexican shrimp, oysters, bruschetta all yummy, crab cake was so-so). Entrees were met with mixed reviews. Thumbs up on the steaks but lobsters were all cold upon serving. Sea Bass was on the bland side. Wedge salad was a bit bitter. Tiramisu was disappointing. For the money, I think we all agree we have eaten a better meal elsewhere but thanks to the help of the drinks and company, we all left satisfied.
(3)Gena C.
The hubby and I went there this past weekend for our anniversary, just picked it randomly out of one of those books about local dining they give you to read in the hotel we stayed at. You know, the bathroom reading material ones? Yeah. Anyway, we finally found it amid 18 billion other restaurants and it was pretty cool on the inside, the ambiance was nice, the music most definitely below conversation level, everything sparkling clean. Our waiter was fantastic, very attentive, very conversational. He even explained the water deal which I believe some other reviewer mentioned so I don't feel at all taken advantage of. Maybe they read the reviews, I dunno! Besides, I really do believe in getting the most for your dollar however you kinda know when you go to a place in this particular price range, you should expect to spend at LEAST 150 for 2 people. You're lucky if you get away less than that, either that or you picked your menu options accordingly and didn't buy drinks. The food was amazing! I got the tomato basil with lump crab on top and it was to die for. I also got the halibut and it was like wow, buttery and cooked perfectly all the way through. It came with lobster mashed potatoes which were great and a few thingies of haricot vert - which I think they just labeled "green beans." Anyway, the portions were pretty big in my book, it was more than enough to stuff me and make me pack a doggy bag. It sucks though because I am pregnant so I didn't get to try the oysters or the carpaccio or any of that cool stuff that I wanted to at least nibble on. Oh well, maybe next time. All in all it was some great dining. Oh, and the "wine angels" were so cool!
(5)Nikki L.
I was really disappointed with the service here. My boyfriend and I had a $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com and I think because an automatic 18% gratuity is included when you use the certificate, the waitress didn't really care. She didn't ask us how our food was once. Not once. The mahi mahi I ordered was actually quite mushy. The lobster mashed potatoes that came on the side were delicious though. My boyfriend ordered the lamb ossobucco which was pretty good but the saffron risotto was kind of chewy which was really disappointing. Overall, I'd say for what you pay for an entree here, the food was medoicre.
(2)Shawn C.
Best seafood dinner I've ever had and I've had some good ones. Lobster was awesome. Loved the wine angel awesome little bit of something different. Pricey but a great experience style dinner
(5)Jessica D.
We were on vacation - family of 4. I don't think they are used to having kids so they didn't know what to do with 10 year old. Overall, food was really average - the sole was very good while my sea bass was mostly inedible - very fishy and tasteless sauce. We waited forever for them to offer us bread. The kids ordered appetizers as their main course and they didn't understand and brought them as appetizers. Didn't offer us dessert. Would not recommend for food, service or ambiance. There is much better in San Diego.
(2)Vivian L.
I don't usually give one stars, but even with the cool atmosphere and expensive wine angel retrieving wine area in the center of the bar area, everything else about this place brings it back to a none or one star rating. It is located in a pretty busy part of downtown and they have a great corner location, there was an upstairs seating area, too. We chose to it outside. The wait was 5 minutes and after 10, we were told our table was ready, but no one really showed us to our seat. Then the bread too forever to come. We weren't given cloth napkins so had to wipe the bread crumbs with our hands like we were 5. But 5 year olds wouldn't eat here since it's super pricey. We had about 5 different waiters the whole time and no one really knew what we ordered and we had to repeat ourselves. There wasn't a formal pass off to another waiter, too. We just kept getting different ones. I saw on the menu it was also a caviar bar but when we inquired on a caviar menu, there wasn't one. Our clueless waiter had to go back and ask 3 times to finally tell us what kind of caviar they have. He never told us the price. We named off a few types of caviar and he didn't know which ones they had. Finally, get this, the one they serve, is the one that the restaurant is named after and he didn't even know that! We ordered the gemelli pasta with lamb which was pretty good. Just kinda heavy for a summer night. And then I ordered the stuffed shrimp with various seafood stuffed in it. The plate had 3 shrimps on it and in the middles of the 2nd one, I realized that the shrimp wasn't fully cooked. Isn't fully cooked shrimp supposed to be pink in color, not grey???? When I asked the waiter about it, he BSed his way through by telling me that yes, the shrimp should be cooked, but also that because the shrimp was stuffed with a lot of things and baked, the baking couldn't have cooked the shrimp fully. What the heck does that mean? After that, my stomach hurt from eating half-cooked shrimp for dinner for the rest of the night. Don't ever go here. There are so many other really good places to eat downtown and this isn't one of them. I wished I had read the yelp reviews before we went, but oh well.
(1)Tiffanie J.
beautiful, romantic, excellent service, wonderful food, and wine angel entertainment I have never been disappointed with the service at Osetra. The pastas are all homemade. The steaks are 21 days aged to perfection. Not the mention the fresh fish! The yellow tail and ahi tuna are both locally caught and you can taste the freshness. I came the other day during happy hour (between 4:30 and 7) and all of their oysters were priced at $1 ! :0 I asked the bartender where these oysters were from and she said CARLSBAD! so fresh. The hostesses and servers were so charming and helpful. This is a perfect place to celebrate, have a romantic dinner, bring a arge group, or drinks at their chilled bar. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting SD or a resident of SD. u must try!
(5)Tommy G.
Ill give it 4 because it really was nice and the food and service were great. I do have to say something is missing from this place, but im just not sure what it is. Might be as good as you can get there at 4 stars. But the service was good and the lobster ravioli was really good, so id go again.
(4)sparkle s.
Yet another spot I always pass on my way to Horton Plaza to shop...decided to give it a try for Resturant week last night. The venue was gorgeous with beautfiul lighting, loong winding staircases, a woman on climbing a wine cellar in mid air for some bottles, etc... The SDRW selections we're cool (I think going to Oceanaire earlier in the week has made me a seafood snob). The appetizers were just ok; I had the Calamari and he the Wedge salad. For the appetizer lemon chicken and I had the mahi mahi which were both prepared very well. Every ornate detail of the main course was attended to.. from the garnish to the design of the sauces on the plate. The mashed taters were delicious too!! For dessert, I had the Chocolate mousee and he the NY Cheesecake...both delicious (garnished with fresh strawberries) I will definetly try this place once more but not during restarant week; it was very busy and crowded and a bit loud. Our waiter was a bit of a birdbrain at the start of the dinner but he calmed down from all the excitement and catered to our every need even in the busy atmosphere. I will definetly be back to try out the rest of the menu.
(4)Joe B.
just ok. Good customer service. Ok food but nothing that really struck me as a "must come back" place. This was recc by the concierge at the W hotel. The whole "angel" bottle of wine thing was way oversold. They made it sound like she flew to your table or something? really is just a gal that comes down on a wire and pulls bottles of wine. So many places to choose in the gaslamp, there are better restaurants.
(3)JOEY V.
Super love these guys! I could eat here 5 nights a week. -Sophisticated wine list -Sexy crowd, FUN BAR, Dramatic lighting -FRESH seafood (The Cold Seafood Platter is very generous!) -Lots of room, Upstairs seating, Charming patio -The price point is perfect because it keeps the shady types AWAY! A good way to judge a Seafood Restaurant is to meet the GM. Sara is the perfect fit for Osetra. Keep up the good work, you are a true professional!
(5)Lindsay S.
I'm surprised by many of the negative reviews. My husband and I liked our dinner here- granted we did eat here at 5 pm on a Saturday night and it was not that busy at all. Food: A- I ordered the Mahi Mahi which was quite tasty. The fish was cooked well, the sauce was flavorful, and the lobster mashed potatoes were yummy too. If there was anything "wrong" I'd say the green beans were a bit few (they actually give you a pretty large heap of the potatoes) and were limpy and slightly chewy (cooked a bit too long for my liking). My husband had the Mexican stuffed shrimp and he enjoyed it. Portions were good and we both left full which was nice considering we didn't order any apps, drinks or dessert. Ambiance: A: however we sat outside on the patio so I can't really speak to the inside but as most places in the gas lamp district it was a perfect place for people watching and enjoying the beautiful San Diego summer weather. Service: B+ We had no problems with the service. Our waiter was attentive. My only "gripe" would be that he wasn't as friendly as he could have been but certainly wasn't rude or mean. Price: B+ The food was good but I do think it was overpriced. I've had some of the best meals of my life at restaurants in Boston or other places that were less or competitively priced. We did thankfully come prepared with a $25 restaurant.com coupon which always helps cushion the blow. I'd definitely go back but seems that your best bet (based on other reviews) is to go at non peak times for better service.
(4)Eric Q.
I wanted to propose to my fiance in San Diego this past weekend. It went down without a hitch, all thanks to the wonderful staff at Ostera! I called many restaurants in the area and received nothing but resistance from the management. When I called Ostera they welcomed me with open arms and did everything in their power to accommodate my wishes. Now I'm not gonna say that they will fulfill every single requirement that you have when such a request is presented but they will try there hardest to do so! In my case I was 110% satisfied and had every wish fulfilled. Everyone from the hostesses to bartenders to waiters to upper management made sure that my fiance was treated like royalty. They had a wonderful latin band that performed on Sat night and they participated in the proposal as well. To top is all off the food was marvelous. The Chilean sea bass was most excellent and the seaweed salad was so flavorful. All of the other dishes were a big hit as well. The Wine bar looked amazing, the interior decor and overall ambiance was very romantic . It's a perfect date spot if you're in the neighborhood. BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE AT OSTERA FOR MAKING OUR NIGHT SO MEMORABLE!
(5)Miss F C.
Place is completely overrated. Too much money for so-so food. The scallops tasted fishy and my boyfriend's Chilean Seabass (that he was so looking forward to eating) was bland. We waited an hour for our food. Service is good but other than that, you can get a lot more bang for your buck without forking over $100+!
(2)James R.
My girlfriend and I sat in their lounge area which gave us a great view of their 3 story wine bar. We've been their for happy hour before and really liked the vibe. We started with oysters and a sushi roll. Both were fresh and delicious. For entrees my girlfriend had the Stuffed Sole substituting the Ratatouilli for the wasabi mashed patatoes. She ""mmmm'd " through the whole meal. I had the Mahi Mahi with Lobster mashed patatoes. The Mahi was flakey, buttery and cooked perfectly. The Lobster mashed patatoes where unbelievably good and I would gladly go back for that alone. Thumbs up for service, atmasphere and food.
(5)Snake P.
We had dinner here on 5/24/09. It was very disappointing. We sat at the bar and ordered clam chower soup and some taps dishes - mushroom risotto, olive focaccia, and chicken Fricasee. The clam chowder was $10 a bowl. It was lukewarm and nothing special. I've had been clam chowder out of a can. The risotto was a little undercooked and the focaccia was ok. But, the chicken fricasse took forever to come out. I asked the bartender to check on it and she went into the kitchen and came back and lied to us. She told us it would be out in a minute. By this time, we had finished all the the rest of our food. It was obvious either the bartender never put the order in or the kitchen forgot about it. About another 15 minute passed and we asked about it again. It finally can out some time after that and it was terrible. The bartender comped us for the crappy chicken, but by that time dinner was ruined. First, we got totally ripped off by the $10 clam chowder and then we had some so-so tapas and then ended up waiting forever for some extra crappy chicken fricasee and lies from the bartender. Never again. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)Donald W.
It's been years since we've been in San Diego so I was greatly disappointed that one of my favorites, The Cotton Patch, is no more. When we picked up our relatives at the Hilton, we (mistakenly) asked the Concierge if Anthony's was still an OK restaurant. Little did I know that he is probably a paid shill for Osetra's. Based on his recommendation, we let him call and make a reservation for us. A high point was finding a $10 parking spot in a sea of $15 valet parking signs. We walked a block to the restaurant and were greeted outside by (the second, equally high point) a spectacularly endowed blonde young lady (wearing a top that showcased her 'assets') who escorted us inside. A perusal of the menu led to the suspician that this place was what we used a 'gyp joint' (unless the quality of the food justified the prices). My suspicians were confirmed. The presentation of the dishes was beyond reproach. Unfortunately, the visual images far exceeded the quality. As another reviewer noted, the Mexican shrimp should have been deported. What the flatiron steak lacked in flavor it made up for in toughness. The salmon was OK although a bit dry. Nobody did drugs (at least not in our view) although a beautiful lady at the next table seemed to find a wine cork a fascinating item to play with. All in all, this 'dining experience' would have been OK at Denny's with Denny's prices but 'fine dining' it was not. Suffice it to say, we will not give them another chance.
(1)Ray S.
I really like the atmosphere at Osetra; Been here for Happy Hour a couple of times (nice wine selection), but this was the first time I've been here for dinner. The food is a little higher priced than I would have liked, but you will not be disappointed. I had the Mahi Mahi which was full of flavor (rich, but topped with fresh herbs to balance everything nicely).
(4)Michela P.
I expected to have a wonderful nigh at Osetra the restaurant; sadly it turned out to be the opposite!.. (You really want to read the whole thing! I am really not a picky person or someone that will just complains for no reason.) As me and my girlfriend sat down to enjoy a wonderful dinner at a "fine cuisine restaurant" we were greeted by our server. she took our order about 12 minutes later here comes our food (a bit fast for fine dinning), we received no bread, no butter just thought to mention. She order the scallops I order the Mexican something i forgot the name, which by the way were fabulous!!! (The only reason for 2 stars) My girlfriend hadn't even finish with her food when the busboy asked her if she was done. although we were really bother by the service, which i felt was due to our race, we try to remain calm we wanted to have a pleasant night. Our server came to check on us one more time we order our desert. As i take one of the last sips of my wine i look inside and there is a cockroach!! YES PEOPLE a ROACH!! in my wine! all this time while i have been enjoying the wine! the roach has been too! (I am Hispanic i know a thing or two about roaches) At this time I'm furious! i expect this from a fast food place not a restaurant! i ask to speak to the manager the manager came and was very polite she apologize offer a 50% discount which i refuse to take I already received the poor service which i honestly felt was due to us being Hispanic, the last thing i need is for them to think i need their 50% off . The manager left and came back with our desert , 2 glasses of wine and our check, and insisted we enjoy their wine and desert; however after the roach my appetite was out the window! 2 glasses of wine and an untouched desert with the full amount of their tab me and my girlfriend are gone AND WE ARE NEVER COMING BACK. TIPS: 1. TRAIN YOUR TEAM TO TREAT ALL CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME CARE AND PROFESSIONALISM ACROSS THE BOARD! 2. MAKE SURE THE LITTLER CRITTERS ARE LONG GONE!
(2)Robert Q.
I am a big fan of the Osetra happy hour. You won't believe the excellent quality seafood you get dirt cheap during happy hour. One of my must go places when in San Diego.
(4)Julie L.
I would up my rating to 3-1/2 stars if I could. After posting my review, I received a nice email from Sara, the manager. She explained to me the challenges of that particular night and offered to make things right. Sara is a class act and I appreciate the fact that she actually reads the reviews here. Thanks for trying to rectify the situation.
(3)Leslie M.
Sadly we had very bad service and worse food. Plates were basically tossed down, after we had to ask for them so we could enjoy our appetizer. Our app was brought before our drinks including wine and water. Lobster bisque was very salty but not as salty as the reduction on the ahi. We were treated poorly by the server who came to our table only once to refill our glasses of wine from the bottle we bought. We were definitely treated as if we were there to just eat and not for an experience or night out. All made sense once he tossed our bill at us said "enjoy your stay in San diego." We were treated like tourists. Too bad. We will not return even though we live close.
(2)M K.
I was wondering why Osetra stuck in my mind during our surfing trip early august down the soCal coastline, and I think it's because of the wine cellar, copying Aureole's in LV, which I'm sure I spotted in a magazine. Regardless, we stopped by during our night in the Gaslamp district. I'm writing a review as spending two weeks in Cairns and sampling their 'fine-dining' restaurants reminded me there are restaurants that pretend to be but miss out, especially if the food is good but not great. The location, ambiance, and decor are great. Osetra seats outside if you're inclined to catch the nightly crowds as we did, and great lighting and the wine tower if you're inclined to sit inside. The menu is, well, standard. I must mention the kumamoto oysters we received, as one of them was a good five inches long :) We had them return it for a less frightening specimen. Sea bass was good, steak was good, and the salad was good. So my observation on service. They were understaffed, and the staff wasn't knowledgeable about their food or care much for service. We even observed a wait staff complain that he'd been waiting fifteen minutes to get his drink to a table. Osetra won't be hard pressed to attract a crowd given their location on 5th, but didn't show much to stand out.
(3)Jeric L.
Can't forget this place for their caviar! A must-go back place for me and my wife.
(3)Rachel H.
My experience was consistent with the reviews I read here. Cool venue, food alright but way too expensive and service was ok, nothing special. My husband went for dinner last night and easily dropped 100 bucks. We prepared for an expensive meal that isn't that great. You're paying for the venue and vibe for sure. I had the Tuna sashimi and my husband had the Tuna entree. Both were fine but not mind blowing. I had a mojito, which was strong but small for $12 and my husband had a beer. We shared a Cesar salad to start, also small but fine. As for service, 3 people asked to seat us when we came, there was some confusion I think. Our server was nice but he forgot a beer and we didn't remind him since we were ready to go. He also neglected to tell us the tip was included and it was embarrassing for us to have to ask questions on the bill. My husband and I agreed as we left - it was ok and we are glad we tried a new spot but no desire to go back.
(3)Esther M.
Celebrated the man friends birthday here the other night and overall I would rate it pretty highly. For eight ppl our tab came out to 800 but almost everyone had a lobster or form of it for dinner as well as a salad or soup. The lobsters were amazing and had absolutely beautiful presentation. The only weird thing was that our server who seemed very experienced had no idea what Oscar Style Steak was or what was in a Spanish coffee..... But other then that, we had an overall great night here. I suggest trying full dining instead of just the tapas menu to really have a try at their menu
(4)Nolan M.
Went here for a dinner during my bachelor party. We chartered a boat out of Point Loma and caught some yellowtail and sea bass. Brought the fish in and the chef prepared a 3 course dinner for us. We had a great meal and the staff was terrific. The highlight was a wonderful seared yellowtail sashimi. Was served in a giant pinwheel and crusted with poppyseed. All of the items were created on the fly and very tasty. The chef used all of the fish so we got some great bonus delicacies. Wasn't overpriced and again, the staff were great. Very friendly and attentive, right down to the shots at the end we were well taken care of. I highly recommend.
(5)Daniella C.
My boyfriend surprised me with a new restaurant for our anniversary, which happened to be Ostera! He did such a great job picking this place, we both loved our food, the ambiance, and the service! The staff was extremely amicable and attentive. The general manager, Sara, was very personable and made her personal recommendations. She recommended we start with the Seafood Napoleon as an appetizer, which was DELICIOUS! We normally never order chilled seafood appetizers but we are so glad we did! For our entrees I ordered the mahi-mahi, which was also amazingly delicious! My boyfriend loves lobster ravioli and also enjoyed his entree! My boyfriend and I will definitely be going back! I really enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service! The wine was very good, but sadly we missed the wine angel retrieve a bottle. I am looking forward to going back and the seeing the wine angel; Osetera is now on our list of restaurants to frequent!! It's is so nice going to a special place for a special occasion where the staff is so attentive, amicable, and wants to make your special night extra special. From the moment we walked up to Osetera, the hostess greeted us and wished us a happy anniversary. When we are seated, the general manager came up to wish us a happy anniversary, ask if we've dined with them before and upon learning we had not offered to make her personal recommendations. This type of service should be everywhere!! Our night was so special, and it was one of our best anniversaries yet ! :) They even brought us out a complementary chocolate mousse and champagne toast, how adorable and memorable is that!! Thank you Osetera, we will be back! :)
(5)Sheerless K.
I decided to update my review based on a second experience. Sara, the manager is wonderful and this dining experience changed my mind about Osetra. We started with the crabcake and the oysters and it was a great start. Nothing compares to Maryland crabcakes but this one came close. It had jumbo lump crab meat and was perfect. For dinner we had the seafood napoleon which my husband loved and the prawns capellini with shitake mushrooms which was simple, elegant and had a wonderful flavor. I had the chopped shrimp salad which was decent. The watermelon cocktail was the star of the evening in my eyes. And as a side note, I like their hammered silverware and the table accent with what looked like a simple flower immersed in a glass of water. Overall, still a bit pricey but a nice dining experience.
(4)Devon F.
The food is phenomenal, but the atmosphere is stuffy and pretentious, and if you aren't ordering a top-end bottle of wine, they act as if they'd prefer not to have your business at all. I went here during restaurant week- as a San Diego native living just 15 minutes away, I love using the week to try new places. However, they were WAY more attentive to the conventioners who didn't have reservations than the two of us who did. I know restaurant week isn't the biggest money maker, but it was as if they wished we werent there and wanted to rush us out of the restaurant to free up the table. However, the food was truly phenomenal- the ahi, crab and avocado napolean was to die for and I'd go back and tolerate the hideous service just for that...
(3)Nicholas B.
Starting a Friday night off to a good start at Osetra. For starters the fresh oysters, shucked and served chilled to perfection. Second, the Chesapeake crab cake which was some of the best crab I've had in a long time. The Seafood Napoleon appetizer was tasteful and succulent rendition of an ahi tartare tower. Capellini with giant prawns was a delectable entire that me and my Wife both enjoyed. The staff was professional and what you'd expect in a restaurant like this. Overall Osetra will be a place I will dine in the future.
(4)Tony J.
This was my first seafood dinner here. My wasabi tuna was cooked and served perfectly. Marilyn was very pleasant and did an excellent job of serving my table. The manager even came over to say hello. Then the owner arrived to say hello. Greystone steakhouse is the flagship of this family owned restaurant business, which is also affiliated with the italian Osteria Panevino.Osteria Panevino is defintely more affordable than Greystone or Osetra Watergrill especially during happy hour. I will definetly return to these fine restaurants again.
(3)Mandi S.
We sat at the bar for happy hour on Sunday (1/2 off apps and select drinks) and then had dinner. service while at the bar was slow at best, but friendly. The manager was hanging around so I put my last order through him. Seafood Napoleon was ok...I didn't find anything special. Shrimp cocktail = 2 shrimps...meh. at least it all tasted fresh. For dinner - the lemon chicken was delicious as was the mahi mahi. The drinks got very weak during dinner....new bartender? Dinner service was great and they have great outside seating.
(4)Heather C.
My friend and I went there for dinner and had a really nice time. Our waiter was fantastic and very helpful. We had a hard time deciding on a wine choice and he was very accomedating. I had the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The atmosphere was very nice. I would definitely stop in again.
(4)Jennifer R.
Walking around downtown and wanting to try something new we went to Osetra. Upon entering I had high hopes, the ambiance looked upscale and we sat in the back with candlelight on very comfy chairs. We ordered tapas and the service was slow, considering it was after 10pm they should of been much more attentive. Our food came out and it looked good, but the quality was not there for the price. The lamb chops were overcooked and charred, the tuna spring roll wrapper was burnt and made the entire roll taste bad, and my calamari with bay shrimp was missing the shrimp! We informed the server but she did nothing, no apology, no adjustment of the bill and no replacement of the food. She said the kitchen was getting ready to close soon, but that is no excuse when I am paying an average of $18 per tapas and I've ordered 4 of them! I would have given this restaurant 2 stars, but let me explain why I decided on 1. I gave them a chance to correct the situation by writing a letter to the restaurant manager. I informed him/her of these problems during our visit and I never even got so much as a response. No follow up letter, post card, apology, gift certificate... nothing! So to top off the terrible food and poor service I was also ignored. I have only written two formal letters to restaurants in my life because of issues like this and both times I've received a response. As a matter of fact,one of the places not only refunded my entire bill but also provided me a $50 gift certificate just to come back. Osetra didn't even respond,so that deserves 1 star at best.
(1)Dominique H.
Great $1 oysters for happy hour and the tempura sushi roll was good. Very different to have a hot served sushi roll but it was yummy so we got 2. Ordered the 2 different types of calamari and the one that says sauteed it actually a soup. Which would be ok if we were not all sharing things. The fried one was good and has a handful of prawns in it. No complaints but not sure if i will be back
(3)Rob Y.
I HIGHLY recommend the Mahi Mahi served over a bed of lobster mashed potatoes...wow! But for a better deal, try the tapas at happy hour.
(4)Justin S.
What an amazing experience, from the service to the food everything was absolutely perfect. To start the restaurant is beautiful and very well kept which is very inviting. Secondly the service was top notch; our server was always attentive and really took care of our needs. Also the manager Sara was GREAT! She really made our experience by making us feel like VIP's. Unlike some managers who seem to disappear Sara was always around chatting with her guests and making sure everything was running smoothly. Lastly the food was amazing, the fish was very fresh and cooked perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you are in the Gaslamp and looking for a great locally owned fish house choose Osetra! :)
(5)Stacy W.
My husband and I picked this restaurant somewhat randomly as we were wandering around looking for a place to eat. The service personnel ranged from polite to friendly, and service was very efficient. We sat at one of the higher tables by a window, and I appreciated the different types of seating available - there was also outdoor seating, and more secluded indoor seating. I ordered the Jidori Chicken and liked the herbal goodness saturating the chicken, mashed potatoes, and spinach. There is a good selection of wine by the glass, which is good because my husband doesn't drink alcohol. I hope we have a chance to return there soon.
(5)Michael H.
What a sleek and comfortable atmosphere. Seemingly brand-new restaurant right in the heart of the Gamlamp District. Don't come looking for fried fish, this place is clearly for the "well-heeled." Try the Mexican stuffed shrimp - not too heavy, but filling enough to send you on your way feeling sad that it had to end.
(5)Cathy C.
Bring your appetite! I came for the drinks stayed for the food and company! The place is called Sara a.k.a. Osetra -- The ambiance is exotic, sexy, low key and just the place to be for a night like this. Tonight the yellowtail called my attention. It is full flavor with a hint if soy and sesame.. The fish is so buttery, it melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting more.. The bartender is Steve and he mixed one of the best summer manhattan's yet.. The tiramisu ended the dinner with the last morsel you want to lick off the plate.. If you are in the Gaslamp--start here..or end here! You won't go wrong at Osetra!
(5)matthew m.
decent place and food... but being a server/bartender for almost 8 years I was very disappointed in the service. The server was very absent minded and forgot our bread and took forever to take our order.... when asked for a few recommendations he just listed the top 3 most expensive things on the menu. He never did a "2minute check back" and our food wasn't prepared properly. The best part was the decor and the kitchen was very fast. Despite our servers lack of attention we were still "forced" out to make room for a larger party that needed our table... we all have done it in... but not to a table that already had bad service..... wont be going back there due to the awesome restaurants so close to it... but since my only complaint was the service I would encourage people tp try it... I could of had a shitty server
(3)Kelly R.
If I was rating Osetra solely for their happy hour, I'd give them 4 stars, but since I'm rating the entire experience I'm gonna have to go with 3. The $1 lobster tacos and Kobe beef sliders are fantastic and a great value, but at regular price they're a bit more mediocre. And the rest of the menu is kind of lackluster as well. Definitely pass on the Cauliflower au Gratin. Calamari was unremarkable as well. The ambiance is nice, especially for the touristy Gas Lamp area. Service can be kind of hit or miss. The wine list is extensive and they actually have a person in harness scaling up and down the 2 story wall to obtain your bottle of choice so that's kind of fun to watch.
(3)Robin K.
Fresh food and fun atmosphere. Group of us came in late from out of town and manger was accomidating and kept the kitchen open for us. Would highly reccommend.
(4)Jim C.
Nice meal for our anniversary. Had filet mignon with half lobster. My wife had filet mignon with king crab legs. Tasted great. Good wine selection. Service was attentive. Comped dessert for us. Very nice gesture. It's a bit pricey but we enjoyed the evening.
(4)Renee S.
What happened to the wine fairy? Elusive creatures these wine fairies are.... I've been here a number of times and it's always been good (and I only mean good, not enthusiastically superbly good, but good) - it's just a bit pricey for my tastes. On my most recent visit, I had Madori chicken. I was a bit unarmed by having dark meat with a large amount of skin. I would have preferred just a breast but I understand you have to hedge your bets. It seemed like EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE around us was ordering the lobster. At $40+ I imagine it's quite good.
(3)diane k.
Make sure you order the SEAFOOD PLATTER in the appetizer section. We had a group of 4 ladies. We finished that up in 5 minutes. It came with lobster, crab, mussels, clams, and shrimp~ We also had 2 clam chowders. YUMMMY~ For the main course, Lina had the steak. She ordered it medium rare but it came out almost well done. I had the MEXICAN SHRIMP. It's lobster and scallops inside a shrimp. It's a very creamy dish along with a side of chinese bok choy. Jennifer had the HALIBUT with LOBSTER MASHED POTATOES. The fish was cooked perfectly. It just melted in your mouth. The edges of the dish had this sweet brown sauce which was too sweet for me, but jennifer gobbled it down. And the mashed potatoes!!! DELICIOUS~!!! Helen had the fettucine with shrimp and tomatoes~ The tomatoes were beautiful and just popped scrumptiously in your mouth~ All in all, this restaurant was GOOOOOOD~ The entire bill came out to $300 total~ hehe
(4)Stacy H.
This restaurant was amazing! I went there on a Thursday night for a girls night out , the staff was warm and they had great knowledge of the menu. I ordered the crab cake, as it was highly recommended and I am glad that I listened, I am a now crab cake convert. It was creamy with lots of crab and paired with a salad of greens and spicy mango.... delicious ! I then had a the mahi mahi it had this cream sauce, that i could not get enough of not to mention the fish was cooked perfectly! To top it off the waiter was nice enough to bring me a little extra sauce on the side when she noticed how much i loved it. My friend has the Seafood Napoleon filled with lump crab fresh salmon and a wasabi oil, so good. She also had the Ahi tuna that was seared with a wasabi powder on the outside and mashed potatoes. At the end we finished with the Osetra coffee, it was a great finish to an impeccable meal . I can't wait to go back!
(5)Simon B.
Host at door: brilliant personality, knowledgeable about food and the restaurant. Inside: after being sat - waited too long for service, husband was on yelp and seen bar had tapas menu. Moved to bar with host assistance- host notified manager asap of our non service issue ( from this point on manager came to us about 5x's to enhance service experience). Food: fast, delicious, large variety, fresh, well priced. Ordered scallops, asparagus, oysters, shrimp tacos (yum), spicy tuna roll (very good), ahi sesame tuna. All perfect temps. Overall an AMAZING restaurant catering to all types of people, and food choices. Service recovery was more than ever could be expected.
(5)Asia H.
Osetra is one of the greatest restaurants I've been to, both ambiance & food. My first impression of the wine tower was "how vegas-esque" with wine angels floating up to get your wine! And the fish, delicious. Fresh and served with the most savory sauces, not to mention the lobster mashed potatoes! One of my top recommendations.
(5)Monica S.
Amazing Amazing Amazing! Went for a girls weekend, my friend knew the owner & he hooked it up! Alberto is so sweet & took care of us from the get go. He made us a chefs special of a taste of well, EVERYTHING! from oysters to lamb chops, shimrp, calmari, crab cakes, spicy tuna cut rolls, rissoto, you name it! It was all to die for, including the fabulous desert. just a great atmosphere in downtown overall, with great food!
(5)Steve M.
Any establishment that makes a truly genuine effort at addressing the issues one wrote about clearly ups their value in my eyes, as Sara the manager has. She even offered me $50 gift certificate towards next meal. I have something to look forward to besides the ocean when I go back this summer. Food was never an issue, just felt it was overpriced, but food is solid, and their costs reflect it, it makes sense. Highly recommend if your not in the mood for noise, crowds, and countless people bumbling and stumbling around you as you try to feed yourself.
(4)Alisia V.
We did a walk in on a Thursday just before 6 and managed to get a nice table (my daughter and I).My daughter had the grilled chicken with the burblanc sauce, sauted spinach an mashed potatoes, this had a wonderful flavor and not a small portion. I had the veal chop with sundried tomato, artichoke and leeks, can I just say Wow! what great savory flavor, perfectly grilled veal chop. The desert menu looked good but we just couldn't manage to fit it in. Another great place to go back to and try something else. If your allergic to bellpeppers you can't order the stuffed shrimp or the lobster ravioli but they do look good.
(4)Tifney H.
Another amazing experience at Osetras! My husband and I dined here for Thanksgiving this year, what a fabulous decision. The food and service were excellent. I cannot rave enough about the Scallop dish. Huge Diver Scallops, perfectly seared over creamy polenta with lobster chunks and a delicate Pomegranate sauce- yes, please. We also enjoyed blackened sea bass, lobster bisque, crab tower and cocktails.
(5)E B.
5 stars for service. -1 stars for food and drink. I love oysters,all kinds of oysters and have eaten dozens and dozens of them. I love them so much that the night before we dined here we ate at Ironside Fish and Oyster and after having our entree we ordered more oysters for desert. The oysters here were terrible just terrible. How can you blow Oysters? By buying the cheapest most nothing oysters that taste like they were raised in a bathtub thats how. The brushetta was unremarkable and the steak was overcooked. So overcooked that we sent it back. The drinks were good the service was spectacular very prompt and apologetic to say the least.
(2)Ruthy R.
Service exceptional! Especially the bartender Adriana Montero...quite friendly, knowledgeable and quick to serve. I would gladly go back again and happy to bring customers to this high end establishment with down to earth service! Thanks for such great service Adriana!
(5)Nick C.
Food was delicious, servers were attentive. The place just seems more expensive than it should be for that atmosphere in my opinion.
(4)Audrey C.
Pretty good seafood here. I love their appetizers more than the entree, especially the trio carpaccio. Great location and atmosphere. Waiters were sorta uptight, while the hostess was nice.
(4)Chris S.
Sorry, I found dining here to be terrible on three different visits. The acrobatic wine tower just doesn't make up for very poor service and oysters that don't seem fresh to me.
(1)Dashima C.
I came to San Diego for a conference and was looking for some good seafood. My hotel recommended that my friend and I try Osetra. When I first walked in I thought it would be a good experience because the ambiance is really nice. The waiter who was also very friendly recommended the special which was Surf and Turf. Unfortunately, the food was not good at all. The 1/2 Lobster was overcooked and the Fillet Mignon was flavorless. I also regret not asking the price of the special because I was surprised to see it was a little over $75. I would not mind paying that much for Surf and Turf if it had tasted good. Overall, it was a VERY disappointing experience.
(1)Highhorse L.
Went here for the 1st time with my wife and son. Very impressed! The food was great and so was the atmosphere. I was taken back on how large the lobster was for my "surf and turf." My steak was cooked to my order. My wife and son enjoyed their food too. The waiter was great and personable. There were plenty of tables (probably because we came on a week day before 7pm). Then it filled up pretty quick after that. Their Calamari was awesome!! We had a great time. We are hooked!
(4)Lisa G.
Mmmmmm! I went twice last month. The first time was for dinner, we made a pit stop at the bar while waiting for our table, (make a reso if dinning between 7-9 because the place fills up). The bartender told us about their sweet deals for happy hour. We didn't want to spoil our dinner so we only ordered a dozen oysters ($1 for happy hour!) They were great! Could have eaten another 2 dozen. For a salad, I had the burrata caprese, it was unbelievable. Best salad on the menu. Dinner, I chose the Chilean sea bass. It melted in my mouth. Highly, highly recommend. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Danielle G.
I had the pleasure of being able to take a friend to this fine dining restaurant for weekday evening in the city and we definitely stopped at the right place! Even for a Wednesday night this place was very lively and the energy was just what we were looking for! We were immediately seated by very friendly staff, who were also extremely knowledgeable about the items on the menu. We had the most AMAZING appetizers and the fish was the best and highest quality of fish I have had in San Diego County. My mouth still waters just thinking about the food, delicious! If you aren't the biggest fan of fish, don't worry.. the steak here is delish! I love that, since my boyfriend isn't the biggest fan of seafood, I like that I can take him with me and he isnt completely lacking in menu choices. Overall, Osetra is the BEST place in San Diego for a classic night out with friends and family. Cant wait to come back!
(5)Nick T.
I came down here for the weekend with my girlfriend and we came here for a romantic dinner. The food was absolutely amazing! The mahi mahi was the best fish plate I have ever had. It is served over lobster mashed potatoes in a sweet sauce and we were sad when it was gone. Great atmosphere and very kind people.
(5)Chavah A.
There were things I loved about this place and there were things that werent so great. I went on a Friday night and I'll start with the "loves". Loved - amazing pianist that was playing top 40. He was good but he was not trying to be the main attraction and wasnt too loud which allowed for conversation in between singing along. Loved - wine angels swirling around the wine tower and polite staff. Loved - Decor. I'm a contemporary hound so I like places that have a modern feel. Didnt love - food...was not that great, and by not that great I mean SORELY mediocre. They have a lot of work to do in that department. So...to recap, you'll notice there are more loves overall but the fact that the food (which is probably the main reason people go to restaurants, studies have shown) was so bad probably warrants putting this in the "Go if you feel like a little entertainment while you dine and talk but have a cold so you dont have to taste the food" list. The end
(3)Peijean T.
Osetra's elegant atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit, with its unique two-story wine cellar at the center of the bar that makes it, without equivocation, San Diego's coolest cosmopolitan dining spot. But, as my return trip tonight demonstrated, Osetra is also a restaurant where the servers and management are absolutely committed to customer service. Following a previous visit that fell short of expectations, the General Manager, Sara, invited me back and explained that the waiter who would have served my friends and me had unfortunately been in an accident and another staff member who was new and not yet up to speed had to fill in. This effort alone showed that Osetra really takes customer satisfaction seriously. So my return dining experience tonight revealed Osetra's true nature beyond a hip atmosphere: a memorable seafood menu, an extensive wine list (maybe we hadn't gotten the full list the first time?), outstanding service. My waiter was knowledgeable of the dishes, had a soothing, not rushed, demeanor while staying on top of all the right steps and keeping my glass full. Dishes came out quickly. The evening's manager, Tony, even came out to greet the tables, checking to see how everyone was doing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the food I had tonight, and especially look forward in the future to trying more items off their unique CHILLED BAR menu, which features lots of cold seafood dishes. Also, I am looking forward to trying some of their very interesting cocktails, such as the ones with watermelon-infused vodka (!). A lowdown on dishes I had: * Seafood napoleon: a tower of lump crab, not-too-spicy tuna, guacamole, all topped with black sesame seeds and caviar. Served atop wasabi oil and a delicious Asian-like sweet soy sauce. Loved it and the size was ample. * Stuffed Mexican Shrimp: HUGE shrimp stuffed with lobster, scallops, crab and fresh herbs (although it's more like shrimp enrobed in these, and then it's all baked to a crispy outside layer). Served in a delicate white sauce, and with fresh bok choy. * Tiramisu: Recipe was right on target, and nicely served with chocolate sauce and fresh strawberries. The management graciously surprised me by providing this as a complimentary dessert. * Dishes I had previously enjoyed and still recommend: the juicy and flavorful Australian lamb chops and the lobster mashed potatoes.
(5)Jay R.
Excellent food presentation. Definitely a top notch choice for a sit down dinner. Experience and taste blur together in an endorphin driven haze when the menu is utilized correctly. This must have been their intention. Kudos to the chef! Implacable service they're offering here.
(5)David C.
Great food Great Service....
(4)Food Critic S.
Should have listen to the other yelp reviewers!! Hotel recommended but good was ok not worth the price !! Service was slow!! Waited 20 minutes for the check!!
(2)Crystal J.
My husband and I went here for my birthday and Marco was our server. He was such a darling!! The sweetest server ever!!! He flagged down a cab for us at the end. Such a gentleman. The food was delicious and they gave us 2 free deserts for our celebration. Best experience ever!!! Thank you Marco.
(5)Melissa H.
One word to sum up this restaurant and all the staff... AMAZING!!!! My husband and I had a small wedding and decided to do our reception dinner in the Pacific Room located on the upper level of the restaurant. Karina the manager, is phenomenal!! She was so kind to us and went above and beyond to make our day so special. Also, Lisa and the event coordinator Veronica were so helpful and any time we needed anything they were there to answer a question or even bring in there own ipod player! The night of our dinner reception everything went flawlessly. Our waiters were on top of everything and our guests raved about the food and service. My personal favorite is the Sea Bass for an entree, but the filet was delicious too. For appetizers the tempura tuna roll is YUMMMM as well as the bruschetta! Thank you so much to Karina, Lisa, Veronica, and the whole staff at Osetra for making our evening unforgettable. We will always be so grateful for your kind hospitality and we will be back every time we visit San Diego! **Will update and post pictures of our beautiful reception room when get them from the photographer
(5)James R.
I like stopping in for some French fries and a drink after work. Lisa is awesome! She puts my order in as soon as I walk through the door.
(5)Craig M.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT!!!! Everything we had from the Stuffed Sole to the Gigantic Shrimp were excellent! The servers were great and very polite which was a very pleasant surprise since we were on date night and it was our first time at this restaurant. I must say that the prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for in quality of food and service. Everything was great!
(5)Mike M.
I've been here on two different occasions. The first experience was wonderful. The second, not so much. The restaurant itself is beautiful. They have done a great job in creating an elegant, sophisticated, urban environment in a way that is warm and inviting. The food was, in both cases, above average. The wait service I experienced however was hit or miss. My sense is the inconsistency has to do with how busy they are. It's not that they weren't prompt (in fact they were). But my server during the second visit grew visibly frustrated with two people in my party who took a little longer than most in determining what they were going to order. I understand the stressors that come with customer service. But a professional server should never lose their composure over a well meaning, polite (but slow) patron. Pros: Great atmosphere, friendly bar tender, good food. Cons: Wait staff may need some re-focusing on professionalism and perspective.
(3)Andrew S.
Great food, ambiance, and service. Although we had reservations, we had to wait about 20 minutes by the bar, but once again, the (I take the "Great food" part back) AMAZING food, setting, and service makes up for it. They have an excellent selection of wine, which I did not get to try :( I came here for restaurant week and the price of $30 was great. I ordered the yellowtail and others ordered the lobster ravioli and steak. The lobster ravioli was rich and pack with lobster meat. The steak was good, but not great. Seemed like how it tasted at home, a little overcooked than what we asked for and lacked taste, seasoning, and flavor. THE YELLOWTAIL WAS THE BEST. The yellowtail was the best entree of the night. The fish was so tender and seasoned to perfection with a hint of pepper and citrus. It was totally worth it! The dessert was great! We had a choice from dark chocolate mousse and cheesecake. Both were very tasty, but the ladies seemed to enjoy it much more than the guys haha. The guys thought the dessert was great, but sometimes I feel like girls can definitely judge better when it comes to dessert haha. I would go here again for restaurant week. I want to try Osetra now during regular hours.
(5)Debbie C.
The service was decent but I was served the worst crab legs I've ever had. They were overcooked or over frozen, or both. Awful! I was served a second batch but they were not much better than the first ones. For the price paid the food should be amazing. It's not. Save your money and go elsewhere. Mediocre food at best. I will not be back.
(2)Betsy R.
Oddly, have only gotten takeout here. It's awesome. I hear the atmosphere is great. Whatever. Takeout offers extras, wonderful customer service, and excellent food, with excellent decor. Few restaurants can offer nice presentation in addition to delicious food, when it comes to takeout. It comes in foil wrappers, which usually indicates poorly excecuted dishes. Not here. The salads? Ace? Mashed potatoes, when offered? Wonderful? Salmon? Delicious. And it's incredible how kind the staff can be. Often takeout orders are met with rude and crude waiters. Not here. So worth the steep prices! The ahi is incredible. High grade. Never any sick reactions, and the caviar touches are lovely. Dressings, excellent. Highly recommended, though I do agree the prices are sometimes a little outlandish. But otherwise, It's one of the better places downtown to hang.
(4)Marisa A.
One of my friends and I went to Osetra the other night and could not have been happier. The hostess was very polite and attentive and took us straight to our table that we had made reservations for. Our server was nothing but kind and the whole meal was nothing but smooth sailing. The top sirlon and ahi are to die for, and the creme brulee dessert is absolute heaven. If you are in San Diego this is a definite must go! Amazing food and amazing service in the heart of downtown, you really can't ask for more.
(5)Lainey S.
LOVE THIS PLACE! It's located in the Gaslamp district. Came here a few weeksn ago with another couple. We ordered a few drinks & pulled up a table near the bar. It was a Friday night & they had a great band playing. Awesome music! Nobody was dancing, so us 4 decided to get the party started! By the time 2 am rolled around, everyone was out of the floor enjoying good music! Definitely a reat time and we'll be back for some more fun! =]
(4)Margaret M.
After reading the other Yelpers reviews I was pretty excited about this place. When we arrived we were pleasantly greeted by the hostess, and decided to have a drink at the bar before our dinner reservation. The bar itself is pretty cool, it's a large tower full of wine with a pulley system which the staff goes up and down with in order to retrieve the wine. The lounge area had hip modern furniture with a very Las Vegas feel in my opinion. The bartender was excellent, she was just talkative enough and informative about good drinks, specials and their weekly happy hour. After our drinks we went upstairs for dinner, and because I have food allergies I asked the hostess to send the manager over. The GM, Sara, came and introduced herself and was extremely helpful in informing me of what I could and could not eat (I am allergic to nuts & tree nuts). She informed the server of my selections and the allergy and helped the husband choose his entree as well. We started with the crab cakes which were amazing, melt in your mouth good. They were pan seared, not fried, so they were very light & fresh. For entrees the husband had Ahi Tuna which was thick, seared perfectly rare and served with delicious wasabi mashed potatoes. I opted for my usual, Filet Mignon which was ok...I mean it was good but honestly nothing special. For dessert the GM brought over Tiramisu (which I can't eat due to allergies, so we thought that was funny) and two glasses of champagne complimentary:) The only reason I give this place a 3 star instead of 4 is because of our server. She thought joking around about food allergies was funny, had to ask me what a tree nut was, and continuously disappeared on us. She didn't check on how our appetizer or entrees were, and when we were ready for a drink refill she was no where to be found. In fact both of our beers sat empty from about mid-entree on, this drives me nuts! I mean server training 101, when a drink is 1/2 to 3/4 empty offer a refill or you might have missed your chance, duh. ***An edit to my review*** I actually just spoke with the GM who saw my review, and apologized for the lack in service. This now bumps them up to 4 stars, what excellent customer service from their GM Sara!!
(4)Allan B.
Seabass on the fish sliders for the reverse happy hour? Worked for me, but prob not every nite. Starts at 9pm.
(5)Anya J.
Osetra is now one of my favorite dining spots in San Diego. Went there first time a few weeks ago and was really amazed by the quality of food and service. The ambiance is great! The stuff was knowledgeable and friendly. I strongly recommend to everyone! It's worth the $$$!
(5)Jose L.
All I can say is this place is perfection. I am not a sea food eater but I sampled the lobster ravioli, crab cake , and ahi tuna Napoleon and I was amazed. The black truffle chicken breast was perfect as well as the filet mignon was awesome. We topped it off with the crime brûlée cheesecake which was so gooood I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth K.
My dinner here was A-MAZING! I ordered the mahi-mahi plate with lobster mashed potatoes. This was probably the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything about it was perfect. The drinks are delicious, the service is great, the who experience was perfect!
(5)Arthur I.
HORRIBLE!!! The service was really bad. Food was served cold AND we had to wait for 10 minutes for ALL the orders to be brought after the first dish was delivered. (Both the soups and the main courses were cold and delivered late.) The food itself was not good either. The stuffed shrimp had so much bread in it, you could not taste the shrimp or the crab in it, I am not sure if there was anything in it. Their $10 super awesome fries... saggy plane fries with a side of chipotle dressing! Did I mentioned it was overpriced!!! Will never go here! And the music so laud that all 3 tables around us asked them repeatedly to turn it down, they did not. If I cannot hear the waitress and she cannot hear me, the music has to go!!!
(1)Jeremy T.
Soon as I walked in I was treated as family, especially Adrianna her personality behind the bar makes you want to come back again she doesn't make you feel like your just a normal customer she talks to you and casual conversation. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in San Diego.
(5)Jane N.
The Mahi Mahi with lobster mashed potatoes was an ordinary dish, but the sauce.. OHhhh the sauce.. it was extraordinary. It totally MADE the dish. The flavor would have earned this place 4 stars. Unfortunately, getting everything out took some time. If you're with great company, I suppose the wait wouldn't be such of a bother. But, I'm still deducting half of a star because my dinner guests and the restaurant decor couldn't distract me from my growling tummy. I also don't round up. It's a good thing that I'm not a professor because I would have been that tightwad that refused to bump up your grade from a 89.9999% to an A-. This place definitely deserves to be given a chance. I will be back, and I expect the food to be out in under 40 minutes!
(3)Lg M.
Happy hour price for calamari and shrimp: 50% off $18. Non happy hour price: $8.95. Yes, it is the same quantity. (Oysters were tasty and $1 each.
(3)Mark W.
Great staff ... James did awesome job ... I ordered the scallops which were goo .... Next time I would order differently ... Hosted group of 10 people ... Unique wine cellar ... Check it out
(4)Evelyn M.
My boyfriend and I came here as part of a spontaneous night in San Diego and I am so glad we found Osetra! Bf wouldn't let me check yelp first so I was shocked when I did and found this place to only have 3 stars! Based on our evening, I think they deserve more. We came in for reverse late-night Happy Hour and sat at the bar. Our bartender was very nice and made me a delicious Cosmo. I asked him they had any Garlic Aoili and while they did not, he went to the back and had the chef make me some Aoili! I thought that was incredibly sweet of him and it tasted delicious! 1) Tre Carpaccio 2) Calamari The Tre Carpaccio included Salmon, Ahi tuna, and Scallops. It was raw, and super fresh. I loved all three but especially the scallops. They melted like butter in our mouths and the texture, taste, everything was phenomenal. Bf and I are still raving about them! The calamari came sautéed in a wine sauce with garlic and tomatoes. It was like a soup but oh so delicious that we were craving it for days. The place is classy, serves great food, and we received spectacular service. It was also cool that we could place our drinks on the ice block lining the bar area. We cannot wait to come back!
(5)