Ocean Blue Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Absolutely fantastic dining experience. The red pepper soup and the lobster bisque were both excellent. Highly recommended. Grilled fish tacos were also very well done. The atmosphere was cosmopolitan without being overly refined. The prices were middle to slightly above average, but you get what you pay for.

Very nice location beautiful restaurant and rooftop seating. I had the crab cake & tuna tartare both were outstanding an abundance of fresh lump crab and the spicy fennel salad with the tuna was a nice touch my friend had the cioppino and said it was delicious ! My only complaints are the menu is a bit overpriced about $ 5 to $ 8 an entrée, wine list also could be a bit better priced and more selections. Staff were friendly, hostess and bartender were cool and our server was friendly but I felt could have been a bit more professional and knowledgeable ! I will be back for sure !

The Sunday brunch here is amazing! I have never had a bad thing on the menu. The stuffed French toast is out of this world. Eggs Benny with salmon, hash, grits all worth the cost. Clean, upscale environment and very friendly service.

I’ve had brunch here a few times which is amazing. The chicken and waffles is so good but huge so make sure you’re really hungry or sharing with someone! I went here the first time tonight for dinner with my cousins from South Carolina. They grew up in Utica and were really impressed with the new place. We were able to sit out on the roof. Watched a beautiful sunset over food and drinks. The service was wonderful. We had a variety of dishes including some oysters from the raw bar, loaded lobster fries, blackened tuna. We also tried the cheesecake and smores pot for desert. One bartender there, unfortunately I didn’t grab their name, really knows how to make a good old fashioned. I ordered a second one and it wasn’t so great. I wish I had asked. Anyway, the food was great. The oysters especially. They had east and west coast option — we chose the east and the east is more griney, the west is more of a cucumber texture. I highly recommend this spot.

I stopped by for brunch. The servers were all very friendly. The views are spectacular.
The food was inconsistent. Several plates at the table looked great. I wasn’t too enthused with my dish. The rice pilaf didn’t look or taste fresh. It had obviously been reheated in a microwave. My salmon was undercooked and raw in the middle.
I’ve heard great things, so I won’t write them off just yet, but I hope they can improve their consistency in regards to their dishes.

Had a wonderful dinner with my mother, aunt and cousin. On a Monday night, this place was bopping! I must admit, I had low expectations — I live in NYC and know the caliber of Utica restaurants. OR at least I thought I did. This restaurant is on the top floor of the newly renovated «Landmark» building in downtown Utica. The building is part business/​part residential. Very interesting — you take the elevator up to Ocean Blue and immediately know you are at a upscale place. There is a beautiful roof deck with plenty of ample sitting. There was a nice view of Utica and there was a beautiful sunset to boot!
On to the food and drink — there were plenty of wines by the glass. My aunt and I had a nice dry rosé (I was sad that the offer Whispering Angel was only available in bottle, not by the glass — but the one we had was a-​okay) while my mother and cousin had dirty martini’s. They thought they were great. We shared a few apps and got some oysters. Everything was delicious. Our server Nicole was a doll and took real good care of us.
I was pleasantly surprised by Ocean Blue and a bunch of other new places in Utica. It’s about time that this city enjoys it’s well deserved renaissance. Something tells me this is just the beginning!

Went here for dinner last weekend and, after reading mixed reviews on this site, was pleasantly surprised. For appetizers, we got the shrimp cocktail, mussels, and calamari. The shrimp, even though it was quite large, was tender and very tasty, and the calamari was crisp and served with a stellar spicy/​sweet sauce. I got the garlic grilled shrimp as an entrée and was impressed with the prominent grill flavor. My dessert, a s’mores pot de crème, was creative and delicious. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, friendly, and attentive to our table throughout the night. Overall, the atmosphere is lively (and loud), much more like NYC than Utica. Although I do think the food is overpriced, it’s a fun treat for a great meal and night out!

I went to Ocean Blue this weekend for a friend’s graduation dinner. The restaurant is beautiful and it is definitely a hipster place to catch a drink or dinner. The place is pricey so if you are not willing to pay more than 40 dollars for a meal I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant. The drinks are really great however the food is a hit or a miss. The lobsters mac and cheese was amaze balls but the lobster roll needs more seasoning. Also, the burger and salmon was great, flavorful, and presented on the plate beautifully. I would recommend this place to a friend but I would be watchful of what I would order.

I ordered the Filet Mignon and was rather disappointed that they didn’t even ask me if the sides that normally came with it were okay. They constantly were taking my menu throughout the dinner — I had to go find a new one twice, and the service was only fair. The food was acceptable, but certainly not deserving of the $ 50/​person before tax and tip that we spent — maybe $ 35 would have been fair?

Ocean Blue is one of the more upper scale restaurants in Utica. Definitely a gem to visit.
There is ample amount of parking in its private lot, Genesee St, Lafayette St, and Seneca St. Ocean Blue validates the Radisson Hotel garage parking as well.
Ocean Blue Restaurant is located inside a building, as you must take the elevators/​stairs to enter the restaurant. Upon exiting, the interior of Ocean Blue is modern — black and white with copper here and there. You are greeted by the hostess on your left, with the restaurant and bar in your sight. Reservations are accepted here, but the times I have been here you don’t need them.
Once you are seated, you will notice the open kitchen that is bustling and moving. A few restaurants that I’ve been to do this concept, which is pretty neat for one to observe.
FOOD:
Steamers (⁵⁄₅): This is served with butter on the side. I believe they are the Little Neck Steamers, which were very clean and delicious. There were about 15 clams, easy to pick and dip into the melted butter.
Maine Lobster Roll Buttered (⁵⁄₅): I opted for the hot buttered versus the cold, and it was an absolute delight. I always seen lobster rolls but never tried them until I ordered it here. First, the roll is buttered and delicious — could eat this carb for days. The lobster is jam packed with a light mixture of butter and mayonnaise. This comes with coleslaw and fries, and the latter is dang good. We got an order of unlimited fries which felt like a terrific idea at the time. The lobster roll is a hearty meal but was not that heavy, for it was a nice balance.
Cedar Plank Scallops (³⁄₅): There were six scallops over a bed of a type of rice. (I forgot the term.) Cooked vegetables are included as well. Scallops were great, not over cooked… Mostly ate the scallops only. This plate didn’t wow me or anything, it was just a-​okay.
Salmon Rockefeller (Spinach, jasmine rice, and hollandaise): I tried a bite of this, and the salmon was juicy but cooked. Packed with flavor that you could eat it alone without the other ingredients.
Flour-​less Chocolate Espresso Cake (⁴⁄₅): Mascarpone whipped cream with berries with chocolate. Count me in. Smooth but heavy especially with the subtle flavor of espresso. My friend devoured this.
Service was terrific for the times I have been here. They would come around to the point where they would start short conversations here and there. I would come back to try other items from the menu or even to sit at the bar for a nice time!

I love the vibe/​décor/​atmosphere of Ocean Blue. its trendy, sleek, and modern, which completely reminded me of restaurants back home in Washington DC.
The food is overall good, but I will say that the town of Utica definitely has some «good eats», so the culinary competition is tight… surprisingly for such a relatively small town.
I frequented this restaurant quite often for any small special occasions, or when I had family in town, so I’ve seen Ocean Blue at its best and not-​so-​great. So let’s start with the worst– a few times the service was very slow, even when they were not busy, and another time, I had to send back a poorly-​made cocktail. However, the best was their friendly and outgoing wait staff, and the delicious lobster omelet, lobster bisque, juicy burger, and lobster mac and cheese.(yes.i like lobster, but it has to be done right!!)
Overall, I enjoyed my lil stint in Utica, NY. and I will say that most of my enjoyable moments were at this restaurant.

I arrived earlier than my client so I decided to have a Pellegrino at the bar. K like the bar very much, very up scale and the McCallan 25. I asked about the specials only to find there isn’t any… hmm As I was at the bar admiring the menu and wine list, a server came over to the bartender to inform her the lobster rolls are 86. It’s 7:00 people are starting to show up and no lobster rolls. Now as you know I used to be a chef this would be in acceptable any place I was a Sou at. The reason for no Lobster Rolls is that there is no «rolls» in the house. I asked if I run to 7 – 11 and get rolls can it go back on. LOL.
We ordered array of shellfish for the app, I had the diver scallops my guest had the risotto. Both were excellent.
We finished it of with a piece of Key Lime Pie and the chocolate flourless cake.
I will be back for sure but this time I will bring a spare hotdog roll just in case.

Good eats with a few gluten free options and a chic ambiance for a lazy Sunday lunch. Thank goodness for side of baked beans, corned beef hash on a hot skillet, eggs, salad, soup and fruit. My other friends enjoyed their meals very much. The waitress was patient and understanding of our gluten free requests. The table water tasted fresh and the coffee was decent according to my friends. Restrooms were clean. Staff was friendly. Lovely Christmas tree in the front waiting area. We will be back. One star off for the high prices and for not having gluten free waffles or gluten free breads.

I was interested in purchasing a gift card for a friend but I am out of state. I called and spoke with Micahela — she was incredibly helpful and accommodating and they even mailed the gift card to my friend’s personal address.
Impressive customer service. I will for sure be stopping by for dinner when I am in the area.

First time here. I’m visiting from LA.
I’m generously giving 3 stars. The only impressive thing here is the design. It reminded me of some trendy restaurants back home. Everything else was mediocre to lame.
Our waiter was having issues with kitchen staff and decided to share that drama with us multiple times at the table. The pricing was at a level that we were expecting some very impressive food. We love paying for great food. Not the case here. Massively overpriced. Do not get the lobster bisque if you are a lover of lobster bisque. The calamari/​smelt was greasy. The filet was over cooked and dry. The Manhattan was made with Jim Beam for some reason. That was a mistake. I heard this restaurant is new. I assume these are growing pains. If I’m going to pay $ 100 for dinner, I want a GREAT customer service experience and food that I want to enjoy one slow bite at a time.
My advice, simplify the menu. Do 5 thing exceptionally then expand. You can do this, guys. You’ve got the design down. Now time to refine the rest.

For all the mixed reviews I had heard, I walked in skeptical that this would be a great night.
Worry no more!
We started at the bar with cocktails, ceviche and oysters. Drinks great. Oysters perfect. Ceviche… truly incredible.
Then we were shown to our table by the maître d’, whose name I believe was Gerardo.
We asked to be moved to a both, and he immediately accommodated, apologizing for the 30 second delay in being seated.
One of the members of our party has some extreme food allergies, and again we were accommodated for her needs with great care.
Three of us had the fillet special, and one of us had scallops. All four dishes were cooked perfectly and were fantastic.
Overall, in addition to being a great night with friends, the experience at Ocean blue was more than «better than expected.» It was an absolute pleasure. We are lucky to have a restaurant like that so close to us. Cheers to Utica.

Wonderful experience here with friends while we were visiting the area.
Ordered apps: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Fritto Misto, and Braised Short Rib Nachos
All the apps were delicious.
Drinks: Whiskey Smash and wine
Great location, service, and cuisine.
We will be back!

Eagerly awaited the opening of this restaurant for several months. Lucky for me it coincided with the weekend I would be in town. The owners did a wonderful job on this restaurant build out and the attention to details are incredible. Utica is very lucky to have them.
My group of 6 shared the large raw bar platter and it was incredibly fresh, delicious and copious. We all chose different entrees but eagerly shared amongst friends. The scallop dish and Cioppino I think were the favorites. The scallops were very large and perfectly cooked. The broth in the Cioppino paired excellent with the crusty baguette. We also sampled the desserts which were also great and large in size. The desserts we had could easily be shared between 2 – 3 people. The one part of the menu that I especially liked was the 5 groups of house wines. Very inventive way to sell wines! This will definitely be my go-​to spot when I am in upstate NY.

Ocean Blue has made it happen. Fine dining in Utica — but this place isn’t just for Utica. If you live in Albany or Syracuse, it’s certainly worth the trip. The variety of drinks — beer, wine, and mixed — is excellent and appropriately sized with something for everyone. The environment is beautiful. It’s a roof top restaurant with a view of the gold dome. The sunset was beautiful, although a bit blinding until it went down. The owners may need to consider some shades. The dining layout is beautiful, comfortable, and functional, with plenty of space for diners. The open kitchen and chalk boards highlighting the day’s fresh seafood enhances the experience. The bar is huge!
The array of appetizers is incredible… We had such a hard time deciding on what to choose. We settled on the mussels, the hallmark of any kitchen. While a bit small, they were still tender and tasty.
As entrees, we selected a variety of dishes. Filet, cedar plank scallops, and cioppino. All proteins were cooked perfectly and incredibly tender with outstanding accompaniments. Portion sizes were certainly filling.
With our eyes bigger than our stomaches, we ordered desserts… Flourless chocolate cake, key lime pie, and a peach berry cobbler. The chocolate cake was decedent, although with a bit too much espresso. The cobbler was tasty, but could have used more fruit. The star was the key lime pie, which was massive and delicious.
Ocean Blue is a place you must visit. If not for dinner, which can be expensive for a party of four, consider their brunch or lunch menus. The service was polite, knowledgeable, and attentive. Expect to be visited by a manager to check in.

Well, where do I start. First off, this NYC-​style place was put into my bookmarks the moment it was created. I had followed its progress for quite awhile, as quite honestly the only other «upscale» restaurant I could think of in Downtown Utica began with a «T» and ended in a «C.» Okay, enough of that.
So you go inside, and you’re in the building lobby. You take the elevator up to the fourth floor restaurant (not the delivery room), and the door opens to an aroma of culinary smells that make you realize you’ve left Utica entirely. The Parisian-​style theme of black and white worked so well in this building, that I actually realized it complements the exterior, and the pictures on the wall, which are hand made ink-​prints, are the same way. Inside, I thought it was going to be smaller than I anticipated. It turns out I was wrong, there was PLENTY of seating, and a back area for more people. In general, this restaurant takes the cake as one of the best (if not the best) designed and aesthetically pleasing restaurants between Albany and Syracuse.
The rooftop setting allows for a half-​panoramic view of the city of Utica through their special sliding doors, and it’s a view you should definitely check out if you can. I’d have to imagine it would be an awesome place to hang out in the summer/​spring, when it isn’t 40s-​50s outside.
On to the food: The bread came out (baguette), and here is my first and really only pet peeve: it’s not pre-​cut. But that’s no big deal.
Next, I ordered the Lobster BLT, because it’s what intrigued me at the time. It didn’t take long at all for it to come out, and when it did, it looked absolutely succulent. Not a lobster tail really, but a chopped up piece of lobster for easy handling, and very tasty at that, as they say their seafood comes in weekly from Boston. Awesome!
The bacon: now my entire life I have always chewed on thin, fatty slices of this pork delicacy. Well here, they give what I’d have to say amounts to a half-​inch thick slice. Still fatty (which I always manually tear off), but incredibly mouthwatering. The lettuce and tomato were as good as it gets as well.
The fries were also very good, it looks as if you don’t get much because they’re cut thinly like pretzel sticks, but when paired with the ketchup they offer (fresh, and in some aspects better than Heinz), they just taste oh-​so-​good. The coleslaw was also just as good. I usually put coleslaw on fish, but this coleslaw was so delicious it had to be consumed separately.
So basically, what I’m trying to say is, if you ever find yourself in Utica, or if you live in Utica, or you’re in Utica for work or family, you need to mark this place down to visit at least once. Driving from downstate or Massachusetts to another destination, and Utica is «on the way?» Stop here for a change. Live in Yorkville or New Hartford? Give this place a go. You will not regret it.
As the owner of this place once said, I bet there will be more «Ocean Blues» washing up across Utica soon. They have elevated the culinary conversation (literally).