Taverna Oceana

I swung by Oceana Taverna for Happy Hour, and let me tell you--it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was welcoming and the menu had me questioning why I don't do Happy Hour more often.First up, I ordered the Kimchi Brussels Sprouts, and wow--who knew Brussels Sprouts could have a glow-up like that? I also went in hard on the fresh oysters (yes, two orders, because restraint is overrated). The shark bites were my favorite--I assume named for their bite-sized deliciousness, not an actual shark encounter.Then came the famous Truffle Fries because, let's be real, you can't not order them. They were so good I briefly considered writing them a love letter.For drinks, I kicked things off with a Strawberry Lemon Drop--sweet, tangy, and just the right level of "this will sneak up on you." Once that was gone (RIP), I moved on to a Strawberry Margarita, because when in doubt, double down on strawberries.Now, here's where things get interesting. We asked about oyster shooters, and while they weren't on the menu, our waiter--who deserves a raise, a medal, or both--went rogue and made us some with Bloody Mary mix and vodka. Different? Yes. Unexpected? Also yes. But you've got to respect the effort, and for that, I give it an A+ for innovation and a solid B for "this is definitely an acquired taste."Meanwhile, my friend tried the crab legs and gazpacho soup and declared both "amazing," so it's safe to say she was equally living her best life.All in all, this was exactly the kind of Happy Hour my soul (and stomach) needed. I'll definitely be back--possibly just for the fries and some more of those rogue oyster shooters.

I walked into Oceana on a whim for happy hour, --best whim I've had in a while. You know when you go somewhere and immediately think, Oh, I'm about to become a regular here? That was me, about two sips into my Prosecco.I got there right when they opened, and the staff was already on top of everything. They know their menu inside and out, which is exactly what I need when making important food decisions. I ordered the shrimp cocktail. It was fresh, delicious, and just a little bit fancy. The flavoring was perfect. And the Prosecco? Bubbly perfection.The restaurant itself is small but in a charming, intimate way, not an oops, I just knocked over someone's drink way. The decor is beautiful, everything is spotless, and the whole place has a cozy, upscale vibe that makes you want to settle in for a full meal. Which, I absolutely will be doing next time.If you're looking for great food, great drinks, and staff who know what they're talking about - Oceana is the move.

Taverna Oceana is the perfect happy hour spot! I absolutely love the interior and the view of fresh shucked oysters at the bar made the experience even more immersive. I wasn't able to try the entire menu since the plan was to just grab appetizers before our dinner but the items we did try were good. The oysters I had were super fresh and my friend's beef carpaccio (that I stole a few bites from) was absolutely divine! It was our first time trying beef carpaccio and we were both pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it! We did ask for bread on the side to accompany it and I think that helped elevate it due to the texture element it gave to the meal. I will definitely be back to try a cocktail or an item from their dinner menu soon!

Love was in the air this past weekend being Valentine's Day. I created a reservation for my girlfriend and I to celebrate Valentine's Day. Finding parking was a bit tedious due to it being busy but there's plenty of parking where the church is behind the fire station. It's a bit of a walk but no more than 6-8 mins. Other than that when it's not so busy there's plenty of street parking available. I have visited Taverna before but not the sister restaurant Oceana. Both restaurants are adjacent to one another and both have very lovely bars to sit and have a drink at. Our waitress was Morgan and she was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, do ask for her when you visit! We got a bottle of wine for the table plus I had an Everything Nice cocktail. We started off with a Taverna Tower. Instead of the shrimp we opted for an upcharge to have a dozen oysters instead. We got 4 selections of oysters which were Sweet Petites, Beau Soleil, Fountain of Youth, and Shark Bite. Shark Bite and the Sweet Petites were my favorites out of the 4. The ceviche was delicious. I love the fact that it wasn't just a shrimp ceviche but with fish and scallop as well. The Insalata Di Mare was good but I'm not fond of olives and capers so I picked around it. The Tuna Poke on the tower was yummy! I would not mind getting the ceviche or the poke again. I ordered the Seafood Pasta while my girlfriend got the Lobster Thermidor. (Wish I got a picture it looked amazing!) I originally was going to get the Vietnamese Seafood Stew but I'll get that next time. If you haven't gone to Taverna or Oceana, please go as soon as you can! Dining with them is so worth it!

We were just recently here. And I must the service, the wine, the food did not disappoint. We did the Taverna tower and up charged it for $10 more dollars to substitute the shrimp cocktail for the oysters. Our tower included ceviche, 4 different types of oysters which were the shark bites, sweet petites, fountain of youth, and Beau soleil. And their sauces for the oysters which were house made cocktail sauce, traditional mignonette, and sesame-cucumber kimchi mignonette were all amazing and delicious. I also, ordered a bottle of wine because it's cheaper to buy the bottle than to continue glass after glass. For our main course we had the lobster thermidor, and seafood pasta and they did not disappoint. Also when you come here make sure to request Morgan to be your server she made sure to make suggestions when we weren't sure about something, she also made sure to let us know about the up-charges, and answered all and any questions we had throughout our experience. Hurry up and make your reservations. And ask for Morgan.

Five star service and food. The Beef Carpaccio is a must along with the marinated cucumbers. Absolute delicious. The Roasted Oysters are fabulous as well as the half shell raw. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They have bar/oyster bar seating as well. Usually crowded but I have always gotten seated quickly.

Not going to lie this place exceeded my expectations. The Brussel sprouts are by far some of the best I've ever had at a restaurant hands down! DELICIOUS! The tater tots with the salmon roe was so yummy and savory! The peel and eat shrimp were soooo fresh. Nothing I ordered was disappointing at all. This place clearly specializes in seafood and they are doing it well!! Our server was great and the vibe of the restaurant was welcoming and super cute!

Happy Hour at Taverna Oceana with a special friend - oh my gosh, you can't go wrong! The prices, the selections, the ambiance, it's one of my new favorite places now for Happy Hour in Jax! 4pm - 6pm, two whole hours! I'm very gracious Rachel made a reservation for us because it does get busy pretty quickly. Our server kept checking on us the entire time; we had phenomenal service. Oysters were very fresh and at a great price point during happy hour. The oysters, tots, and pear sorbet were my favorite things we tried, but honestly we cleaned house! We didn't leave any apps behind. The lobster burrata had nice big chunks of lobster and cheese, it was perfect. Get the grilled bread when they offer this to go with it - it's a very nice touch! I'm already looking forward to going back. This is a great addition to San Marco.

I recently stopped by Oceanna for some light bites and a drink while cruising another event in San Marco, and I was blown away by their ceviche. I will definitely be back here to try more than the happy hour menu, but if you are just looking for light bites, I would recommend the marinated cucumbers and the ceviche. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the green sauce was the perfect accompaniment. I also had a beautiful glass of champagne, which complemented the meal perfectly!

Amazing location, beautiful interior, wonderful service, but unfortunately the food was not to par. Had the smothered tater tots as an appetizer and they were simply OK, it doesn't not justify $22 for that plate. The steamed mixed platter was also nothing out of the extraordinary and the crabs didn't have that much meat either. I doubt I'll be back to Oceana, I'll stick with the regular Taverna.