The River Seafood & Oyster Bar

Very delicious seafood choices here. This seafood and oyster bar is one of the best seafood in Miami. Everything is freshly made and delightful. Well prepared Lobster, clams, shrimp, and seafood salad and a very good variety food, even for vegetarians.
I had the Fire Roasted Oyster for my appetizer and Maine Lobster and was very impressed. It is definitely a must have. The service was very friendly and courteous. Servers are always wearing their smile all the time. Each food a bit pricey, but definitely worth to pay for.

First time visiting on a Monday night. Service and food were on point! My server made trying oysters for the first time a very enjoyable experience and was really friendly and helpful. The gnocchi was rich and delicious and the curried seafood stew had just the right amount of spice without being overpowering. The pineapple upside down cake was light and refreshing and the smores tart reminded us of an extremely tasty milano cookie. Loved my experience, will be returning again!

Hip and top notch seafood spot just off the river. Try the spicy Cioppino or the salt encrusted Branzino. Outta this world. Great ceviche too. Pricey but worth it.

We had a fantastic time at this restaurant. We arrived a little late due to traffic and was seated immediately for a party of 12. The service and the food was superb. This restaurant went out and purchased a cake for my BFF. This is really going above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks for a great experience.

Food amazing. It was surprise 1.5 lb Maine lobster night with 6 variations. Chefs are amazing.
We were entertaining colleagues from out of town. So 3 prominent architects and a chef were talked down to during ordering experience.
Thus the evening was tainted by a rude and condescending waiter. Everyone was shocked by his disdainful answers to our questions. I am not sure but perhaps he thinks he should be a famous actor instead.
I called and spoke to manager after exit and he was more than apologetic with great customer service.
We will go back because of the food. But we will sit in a different section.

Atmosphere and experience was marvelous. Amazing seafood cooked perfectly. This is the great spot for seafood. The price is good. The ambiance were cool.

Nice place! The food is very good, especially the salmon sandwich! The vegetables have a good flavor and the yuca fries are delicious!

Headed over to The River Seafood & Oyster Bar for Happy Hour on Monday. For Happy Hour Oysters were half priced so we ordered a large assortment and also enjoyed a Lobster Cocktail. This was in addition to a few drinks that were also on special.
Quality
We ordered a selection of Oysters from both the east coast, west coast, and Canada. As is generally the case I enjoyed the west coast Oysters a bit more, but for the most part all the Oysters were very good. I was also a big fan of the wasabi sauce provided, which gave a nice twist to the Oyster flavor. The Lobster Cocktail was a Maine Lobster that came with cocktail sauce and horseradish as well as a passion fruit vinaigrette. The lobster had a good amount of meat, but was a bit more work than I ended up wanting to do during happy hour. However, the vinaigrette was a great addition and much different than the typical sauces provided with lobster.
Quantity
The Oysters were all standard size, I believe the ones from Washington state packed the most bang for your buck. The Lobster Cocktail came with a good sized lobster, it seemed like it was about 1.5lbs, with a decent amount of meat.
Value
The half-​priced Oysters and drinks were great deals. The Lobster Cocktail was probably a bit overpriced for what it is, but the Oysters are light so expect to order some other items as well.
Ambiance
The River Seafood & Oyster Bar is stuck in the middle of all of the construction going on to build the new mall and apartment complexes in Brickell. So right outside the bar is loud construction as well as dust particles everywhere. Inside however is a nice oasis away from it all. The main focal point is a long bar, which was packed. I am not positive if Happy Hour is only at the bar, but based on its popularity I would guess that is the case. There were a bunch of people working behind the bar and they were needed because the Oysters were just rolling out to each group sitting down. There was a small dining area, but in following the crowd we just sat at the bar. The music choice was electronica and downtempo techno with mostly older songs from the 90s.
Crowd
It was clear that most people knew about the solid happy hour deals and were coming for that purpose. We had left a bit before the happy hour was over and our seats were immediately swarmed by waiting guests. It seemed like most of the patrons were locals as many of them knew the bartenders quite well. They were mainly middle aged professional looking individuals, and surprisingly to me many of them were really taking down drinks.
Service
The bartenders were nice, but clearly a bit swamped. It was strange that with so many other staff members, who must have been assigned to tables, that no one was sent to help out. It really felt like two restaurants with the bar and the sit down, and they did not seem to be friendly with each other.
Parking
There is a parking lot right by the restaurant that is $ 10, which seems very high, but it is taking advantage of the chaos nearby. You can definitely park closer to Mary Brickell Village and walk without much issue.
Extra
It is a very solid happy hour for Oysters and drinks, but based on what I saw and the prices on the menu, I would only come for the happy hour. I would also worry about it when all the new buildings and restaurants open, but it does seem like it has a solid following.

I came here on a Saturday for happy hour! Ok, can we talk about how this place has happy hour on a Saturday??? Win!!! I had several glasses of prosecco for $ 5 each, another win. It was crisp and refreshing. Partook on the oyster special. This is such an awesome deal. You can pick between several different options and they are served with 3 different sauces. Don’t forget to ask for bread when you eat here! We were informed that the bread is served on request only! The basket included fresh bread from ZTB and also their made in house cornbread which was phenomenal! Also served with sides of butter and an olive tapenade. Wonderful happy hour experience!

Excellent food. Small place. Service ok. But who cares when the food is that good. Loved it. Highly recommend. 5 stars!!!

Today was my second visit to River Oyster Bar. My first visit was 10 days ago for dinner. We had the whole fried fish in the soy sauce. It was so salty it was almost inedible. Our server was super friendly and welcoming to my husband and I so I would have given 4 stars despite the fact I was unhappy with my food.
Today we came in for happy hour with friends from out of town. They wanted to try oysters and I have heard this place is the best. But, it was a disaster from the moment we walked in. We walked In and told a server standing there that we were here for happy hour. He very curtly told us to see the host. We laughed at his rudeness thinking it was an odd response. We told the host we were here for happy hour and he was equally unfriendly. Do they not like people coming here for happy hour? He said he could sit us at the communal table.
When our server came over she told us about the oysters on happy hour. I told her I don’t eat oysters and asked if they had other things. She said no. Well last time I was here and waiting for my table I noticed some food items on a blackboard behind the bar. I went and looked at them. When our server came back I asked her about them. She said «we will allow you to order them until 7. I said great do you have a list? She said no. I said oh can you tell me what they are. SHE ROLLED HER EYES!!! We ordered our oysters, drank my beer and we are leaving. LAME

River Oyster Bar is a solid local seafood option. The chef uses unique flavor profiles and fresh ingredients to provide one of the best dining experiences in the Brickell area. Void of the pretentious nature of many Brickell restaurants, River Oyster Bar focuses on what’s most important; the food! The recently renovated dining room provides a luxurious atmosphere ideal for small groups and dates. The only negative aspect of this restaurant comes by way of its service, which can be very hit or miss. While they are often times attentive, servers are not typically friendly and slightly high-​brow. All in all, the food at River Oyster Bar is sure to impress.
Best: Jalapeño Corn Bread/​Olive Tapenade
Fresh Oyster Selection
Cobia Sashimi
Gnocchi and Bluecrab
Snapper Filet
Meyer Lemon Cheesecake
Worst: Service

Small and cozy seafood restaurant within walking distance from my condo so it was a matter of time before I checked it out. The Asian style snapper with veggies was divine – just wish the sauce was less pure soy sauce and more packed with flavor, should be slightly less salty is what I’m suggesting. But overall, the fish was steamed well and the veggies complemented it nicely. I ate the entire fish as my meal with a side of white rice! As with any whole fish, be prepared to get your hands (sorta) dirty – may not want to order it on the first date but it’s a must try.
The servers and hostess working that night were all very sweet and accommodating. I went with a friend on a whim and there was a small group of people waiting. Since we didn’t have a reservation, we found two seats at the bar. For a Wednesday night, the entire place was packed… As it should be!
My martini was above par. I didn’t have room to try the oysters on the half shell that night but I will be back for them. I did, however, order two oyster shooters… Lol, they were as expected – like raw oysters in a bath of Bloody Mary… If that’s your thing!;)
Overall, I was impressed with this cute place. The crowd was very Brickell-​esque and so was the bill, but what do you expect? I hear their happy hours are wonderful so I’ll check it out ASAP and keep you guys posted!

Where do I start. Was on the hotel list for recos but not always sure those are the best. Where do I start? Service: Excellent. Lauren was great. Recos for the fresh oysters were spot on. The house hot sauce she suggested was perfect. The coconut steamed mussels with lemon grass and lime were incredible! The broth is spectacular
The oyster selection is excellent. Tonight blue points, Hamahama, Mirada and rocky points. The kale salad with strawberry almonds and blue cheese. Excellent. A must when you are in Miami!
This place has a great ambience.

Everything was excellent here. The ambiance, the staff, the food! I had the oyster to start and did not disappoint. We shared also had the mushroom with truffle oil and tuna tartar for appetizer and had the soft shell crab with side salad.
Wine selection was intense.
All just amazing and our waiter was kind and attentive.
Will be back!

Came in for the first time last weekend with a group of friends. We were greeted and seated immediately for our reservation and ordered some champagne. The Roasted Butternut Squash salad was excellent and the Jalapeño Cornbread is addicting. My meal, Sea Scallops a la Plancha, was delectable, along with the Crab Fried Rice. One friend raved about her grilled octopus and another about their Yellowtail Snapper. The table was silent when our food was delivered to the table, always a sign that it’s so good no one wants to stop to talk! :P
For dessert we got the Mayer Lemon Cheesecake and Coconut Cake; both devoured almost immediately.
Before I was back in the car I was already planning my next trip.

Great atmosphere. I was fortunate to come here for a business dinner because the food is delicious. We had a specialty menu and were able to choose an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. For the app, I had the shitake mushroom flatbread. You could smell the truffle oil as soon as it came out. It’s presented beautifully on a wooden platter. The dish is messy because the flatbread consistency is closer to that of crunchy chips than bread. It came with fontina and parmesan cheese, as well as truffle. I would definitely suggest trying this.
As an entrée, I ordered the sea scallops a la plancha which came with lentil ragout and lemon butter fried shallots. The scallops were incredibly soft, in that perfect melt in your mouth scallop way. The sauce was perfect for dipping them in. While I like lentils, it was an unusual combination for scallops. I would’ve preferred a different side, or some lentils, and something else instead. Having so many was a bit overwhelming. However, it was still very good, and I appreciate the variety they have on their menu. Knowing the food is this good, I would likely order something different in the future.
For dessert, I had flan and a capuccino, which were both full of flavor, and sweet but not overbearing. Service is great, and the private room would be perfect for a party or small gathering.

Came with a few girlfriends on a Thursday night. First thing I noticed was that I definitely love the environment and style of this particular oyster bar. Not sure if it’s because of the location, but it does not feel like you’re in Miami, which can be a good thing, right?
Place was pretty packed at around 10pm, so we had no option, but to sit at the bar. The bartender (who also brought us our food) was EXTREMELY nice and very, very knowledgeable of the oysters, drinks and dishes. Always had a smile on his face and had a very positive and welcoming attitude, which you rarely see nowadays.
We ordered beers, cocktails and wine, and they were all top-​notch. The oysters were pretty tasty (Island Creek for the win!) and the appetizers were also great. I was not a big fan of the crab cakes. I felt it tasted way too fishy (if that makes any sense!) The spicy tartar was the best appetizer by far, and of course, the grilled octopus, which was cooked to the perfection.
Overall it was a pretty great experience, we just thought it was a little overpriced for the amount of food we actually got, but a cool place nonetheless. Will probably be back when I’m craving yummy oysters while on the area.

Came to The River on a Thursday evening to celebrate my best friend’s birthday. We wanted to go somewhere with a good happy hour but also somewhere pretty nice — I think we struck a pretty good balance here.
We almost didn’t get a table (even though we were there around 5!), so definitely make reservations! They eventually told us we could have a table as long as we got up before 7. Cool, we agreed to that.
My friends and I all ordered happy hour drinks to start. They were just well drinks so it wasn’t anything unique, but I did think they were pretty strong for $ 5, which was nice.
We then ordered a few oysters. I had the Edgartown ones on the suggestion of our server. During happy hour, the oysters are $ 1.50, which definitely is an improvement to their not-​happy-​hour price. The oysters were good and came with three different options of «sauces» — my whole table liked the traditional horseradish best.
One thing we were not made aware of when we arrived was that many parts of the main menu are unavailable until a certain time. Because of this, we had to order only items that are on the bar snacks menu. This was fine with us, but we were not told this until we had already made other decisions.
We decided to get the duck tacos, bacalao croquettes, lamb meatballs, and baked clams. I thought the lamb meatballs were by far the best of these. But even those, I felt, were sort of lacking. None of the food we had really left any impression on me at all. I was pretty disappointed by this because The River is a more expensive restaurant so each bar snack (which were each rather small, of course) was about $ 10 – 14 apiece, yet I wasn’t crazy about any of them. Because it was getting close to 7 anyway, we decided against ordering anything else.
We did, however, have great service and really appreciated the fact that they helped us out with a table when we didn’t have reservations. Bonus points for those things!
I’d like to come back to a The River sometime and perhaps opt for a seafood entrée rather than many smaller plates. I definitely thought their oysters were the best part so I think we might have really screwed up by not just getting a lot more oysters instead.

Amazing food. I love the ambience. I tried for lunch but want to go back for dinner too! The best ceviche I had in my life !!! Wow wow wow
Also wine list is nice. I tried ca Bolani Pinot Grigio and it was a perfect pairing with the food !! Good job!!! Ps you can park in the backyard and it is free when dining there !!!

One of my favorite restaurants ever! As a seafood lover I look forward to coming here for the amazing oysters and seafood selection. The best part about River is the uncanny knowledge all the servers have about the seafood and where it comes from and how it will taste. I would definitely trust their recommendation. As always GF options :)

My boyfriend and I came here for the first time for his birthday, and this place did not disappoint.
Like the dummy I am, I didn’t make reservations for a Friday night, so we arrived to the restaurant around 8:30pm and the wait was seriously 2 hours long (which also shows how popular this place is). But they have a bar and it’s first come first serve, and within 10 minutes we got seats right in front of the area where the dishes get plated and served. Honestly, ending up at the bar in front of the kitchen was the best thing to happen us, and in my opinion, probably the best seats in the house. We were able to see every dish that came out, and everything was mouth watering.
The overall atmosphere was nice, a bit loud for my liking and really busy, but I really love the décor, it’s modern with a touch of rustic.
Shout out to our waiter too! His name was Ken and he was amazeballs! The best service, he was attentive, nice, and funny. He wasn’t over bearing, and he checked up on us just the right amount of times. I totally recommend him!
I definitely used help from Unilocal to make my choice that night, because there were so many options. Since this is an oyster bar, we couldn’t leave without getting oysters. You can either buy it individually for $ 3 each or in a batch they already have prepared. We bought 6 oysters, 3 sets of 2 from a different location, and they serve it with 3 sauces, a vingrette, a marinara sauce, and a horse radish type of sauce. They also serve a basket of bread.
For the entrée, I got the Gnocchi with blue crab, which was spectacular. The dish was a lot smaller than I expected, but it was creamy and delicious. My boyfriend ordered the Maine Lobster, go big or go home, am I right? It is his birthday haha. The lobster was on another level, it was $ 55, but totally worth it, and the sauce, a lemony buttery garlic, was to die for. Ugh. Amazing. We also got a side of smashed potatoes, which was pretty yummy too.
This place is definitely on the pricey side, but worth it if you’re a lover of seafood.

We had been here before for Miami Spice and thought it was delicious. We were both looking for oysters and knew that they had happy hour specials so walked on over.
They had 6 different type of oysters all half off ($ 1.50 a piece) and served it with three different sauces. The kitchen is open so you can see people cooking and they shuck the oysters right at the oyster bar in front of you. We got two dozen oysters (Tisbury, Kumamoto, Spring creek, salt aire to name a few) and they were sooo delicious and fresh. I liked the tisbury because they were large and meaty.
I ordered the lobster bun which was a brioche, buttery and crisp, with a cool very tasty salad of lobster with a decent amount of lobster and the delicious fresh chips.
Hubby got grilled branzino and it was delicious. He opted to not even eat any condiment because it was so fresh and tasty.
We ordered the Smores tart which was out of this world. A chocolate top with a meringue similar to marshmellow whip with a delicious graham cracker crust. It was perfection.
In fact thinking about it is getting me hungry, I’m gonna head on over to the fridge to chomp my leftover tart!
Go here for good seafood, with a laid back atomosphere, packed happy hour!

A sophisticated seafood spot in a refined urban setting, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar is still a gem, and thanks to a new lease, it apparently has three years of new life.
Don’t let the massive Brickell City Center construction project across the street put you off, however. Drive by it, park in the back, and don’t miss the branzino, possibly the freshest oysters in town, or the crab fried rice, an absolutely stellar side dish.
There are always a number of fresh fish selections here (including plenty from local waters), but what sets The River apart is the consistent quality and intelligent selections – in fact, this spot has one of the most impressive price-​to-​quality ratios in town. There’s a great, reasonably priced wine list, too. (I had a Gruner Vetlinger by the glass.)
Consistently great food and friendly, attentive, and highly experienced service make this a hard to beat proposition. You’ll need a reservation, too, so be sure to book.