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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Welcome to Ocean, opened by George Reis in 2002 and located in the trendy Five Points district of Birmingham’s Southside. Enjoy a casual night out with friends at the inviting and contemporary patio bar, or venture inside for some of the best seafood in town and an award-winning dining experience. Enjoy a signature martini or feast on an array of oysters, shrimp, clams, and lobster at the raw bar. Ocean is one of Birmingham’s most recognized restaurants, winning multiple awards including Best Chef and Best Restaurant, not to mention a regular winner of the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and Winner of the AAA Four Diamond award for the past twelve years. Reservations are accepted Wednesday through Saturday.
A bold seafood menu & fine wines are highlights at this trendy, contemporary cafe.
Hours
| Tuesday | 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 5:30–10 PM |
| Saturday | 5:30–10 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1218 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: (205) 933-0999
Website: http://www.oceanbirmingham.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: oceanbirmingham.comresy.com
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Related Web Results
Ocean, Birmingham
Voted Best Restaurant, Best Chef, and the recipient of AAA Four Diamond Award for the past twelve years, Ocean offers fresh seafood in an exciting and …
Ocean Restaurant | Birmingham AL – Facebook
Details. . 94% recommend (1,273 Reviews). . $$. . Open now. . 1218 20th St S, Birmingham, AL, United States, 35205 ; Links. . oceanbirmingham.com ; Services.
Ocean – Updated 2026, Seafood Restaurant in Birmingham, AL
Ocean offers fresh seafood in an exciting and contemporary atmosphere. The menu features a wide selection of fish and fresh oysters arriving daily.
Reviews
Chefladykatie
Exceptional Service and Food! Was here for business and chose Ocean Restaurant from reviews. So glad I did. We had the Branzini Whole Fish, Red Snapper Whole Fish and Shrimp Appitizer. All dishes were fresh and very well prepared. Definitely will be going back and telling everyone about it. Highly suggest a reservation, they fill up fast even on a week night.
… moreNatasha Baroody
My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here and the overall experience was wonderful. The food was absolutely amazing—beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and truly worthy of a special occasion. The service was also attentive and professional throughout our meal.
My only disappointment was that, although the reservation system asked for the occasion and we noted our anniversary, there was no acknowledgment during our visit. It wasn’t a major issue, but a small gesture would have made the evening feel even more memorable, especially for such an important milestone.
Still, we had a lovely time, and the quality of the food alone makes this restaurant worth visiting.
… moreMy only disappointment was that, although the reservation system asked for the occasion and we noted our anniversary, there was no acknowledgment during our visit. It wasn’t a major issue, but a small gesture would have made the evening feel even more memorable, especially for such an important milestone.
Still, we had a lovely time, and the quality of the food alone makes this restaurant worth visiting.
Katy Rose Uffinger
Ashley was absolutely incredible and made our entire experience unforgettable! From the moment we sat down, she was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. She anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, kept our drinks filled, and made sure everything came out perfectly. Her positive attitude and energy truly stood out, and you can tell she takes pride in what she does. Ashley went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and taken care of. If you’re lucky enough to have her as your waitress, you’re guaranteed amazing service.
On top of the amazing service, the new owner, Chloe, personally came to each table to introduce herself, which was such a thoughtful touch. You can tell she truly cares about the restaurant and the experience guests have. Hands down is the best food, service, and overall dining experience in Birmingham.
… moreOn top of the amazing service, the new owner, Chloe, personally came to each table to introduce herself, which was such a thoughtful touch. You can tell she truly cares about the restaurant and the experience guests have. Hands down is the best food, service, and overall dining experience in Birmingham.
Umeko Mitsuki
Everything was cooked to perfection and worth the wait. I love that many of the drinks had a mocktail version. My only complaint is that I didn’t have a bigger appetite to try more dishes. I recommend getting a reservation because they fill up fast.
… moreThom Tyrrell
My wife and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary here. Valet parking was excellent. Food was spot on and the desert was presented in a unique way for our special occasion. The reason for the 4 star rating on service is because our waitress did not tell us about any specials. We heard another server explaining them at another table after we had placed our order. Excellent experience all around and will visit again. Making reservations online was easy.
… moreJean Kurtz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We chose Ocean Restaurant to celebrate my husband’s birthday after reading reviews, and it exceeded every expectation. From valet to greeting to service, everything was seamless and welcoming. The bread cone arrived immediately, and our server Chris was spectacular — attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced.
My husband, a true foodie, said the Calabrian chili rice grouper was a 10/10 and possibly the best meal he’s ever had. My scallops were cooked to perfection, and adding a lobster tail (at our waiter’s suggestion) to both plates was the perfect touch. We finished with French press coffee and the pumpkin spice crème brûlée — absolute perfection.
We’re so glad we stopped here. A truly memorable dining experience and we would absolutely return.
… moreWe chose Ocean Restaurant to celebrate my husband’s birthday after reading reviews, and it exceeded every expectation. From valet to greeting to service, everything was seamless and welcoming. The bread cone arrived immediately, and our server Chris was spectacular — attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced.
My husband, a true foodie, said the Calabrian chili rice grouper was a 10/10 and possibly the best meal he’s ever had. My scallops were cooked to perfection, and adding a lobster tail (at our waiter’s suggestion) to both plates was the perfect touch. We finished with French press coffee and the pumpkin spice crème brûlée — absolute perfection.
We’re so glad we stopped here. A truly memorable dining experience and we would absolutely return.
C P
I’ll put this first, I’d overall come here again. I enjoyed the food
Food (4/5):
• Bread – loved it. The toppings were fresh, absolutely delicious.
• Oysters – tasted so fresh.
• Fish (can’t remember which kind) – Oh my god was this to die for! Recommended by the server
• Side of fries – this is the sole reason this is a 4/5. I swear to you these are McDonalds French fries lol.
• Lobster Tail – good
• My husband got something else as a main course but I can’t remember.
Service 4/5: I’m going to go ahead and say that my server, he was great, but there was just a big miscommunication and I think this was just a bad luck sort of thing.
We were placed in someone’s section, they weren’t closing, they thought someone else had been assigned to us. Nope. We’d been sitting there for 30 minutes. We were actually about to say something but they came to us first. They did apologize a lot.
I order my food, he walks away, we don’t have it. You know I get it. Understandable. I wanted a whole fish. They were completely sold out of all of the whole fish. What he recommended was great but it’s not what I wanted at the end of the day but that’s not his fault they were out. My husband ordered a side of lobster tails. It didn’t come with his food. By the time we told our server and had gotten it, we were both done with all of our food. Our server was so apologetic. I felt bad for him myself it was just one of those nights. There’s only so much I can put into perspective here but hopefully this sums it up. We got a $40 gift card and things taken off of our ticket and we didn’t even express our frustration once. Really appreciated that. He said please come back. We’re typically not like this. Lol We will be back. Resolution skills are top notch.
Atmosphere: it was very neat and there was a lot of ambience.
… moreFood (4/5):
• Bread – loved it. The toppings were fresh, absolutely delicious.
• Oysters – tasted so fresh.
• Fish (can’t remember which kind) – Oh my god was this to die for! Recommended by the server
• Side of fries – this is the sole reason this is a 4/5. I swear to you these are McDonalds French fries lol.
• Lobster Tail – good
• My husband got something else as a main course but I can’t remember.
Service 4/5: I’m going to go ahead and say that my server, he was great, but there was just a big miscommunication and I think this was just a bad luck sort of thing.
We were placed in someone’s section, they weren’t closing, they thought someone else had been assigned to us. Nope. We’d been sitting there for 30 minutes. We were actually about to say something but they came to us first. They did apologize a lot.
I order my food, he walks away, we don’t have it. You know I get it. Understandable. I wanted a whole fish. They were completely sold out of all of the whole fish. What he recommended was great but it’s not what I wanted at the end of the day but that’s not his fault they were out. My husband ordered a side of lobster tails. It didn’t come with his food. By the time we told our server and had gotten it, we were both done with all of our food. Our server was so apologetic. I felt bad for him myself it was just one of those nights. There’s only so much I can put into perspective here but hopefully this sums it up. We got a $40 gift card and things taken off of our ticket and we didn’t even express our frustration once. Really appreciated that. He said please come back. We’re typically not like this. Lol We will be back. Resolution skills are top notch.
Atmosphere: it was very neat and there was a lot of ambience.
Meshia
We came a few months ago and did not have a reservation, but was able to sit at the bar. The bartender was very attentive and helpful with the menu, as well as patient with us. Everyone at the bar was friendly and the bartender made sure everyone was taken care of and had a lot of laughs. The food was fresh, flavorful, very delicious, and the portions were a good size. I wish they opened for lunch or earlier in the day, but I will return.
… moreTiffany H
I’ve traveled all over the world, and this truly was one of the best meals. The food was really well presented and flavorful. The hostess went above and beyond to help us wiggle our reservation time, to accommodate a last minute change on our end. Our server was polite and did his best. Overall it was fantastic.
… moreMarshae’ K
AMAZING FOOD & WAITER! I’m definitely coming back soon. I ordered the “crispy skin salmon” & my date ordered the “wood grilled jerk red snapper”. Both were fresh, moist and delicious! Also we had 2 orders of the appetizer “crispy crab sammy” it was fantastic. Also the martini’s were pretty good too.
… more