Oceanaire Seafood Room Review

The Oceanaire Seafood Room opened its doors in 2006 and prides itself on its knowledgeable wait staff who get a lesson on seafood before each service from Executive Chef Brad MacFiggen.

Located in SouthPark's Piedmont Town Center is the Oceanaire Seafood Room, part of an upscale seafood chain where each location features a notable head chef who creates a unique menu.

I attended Oceanaire as part of a media event to sample some of Executive Chef Brad MacFiggen's creations from the seasonal Florida stone crab claws. I was not left disappointed. The crab claws, which are flown in daily from the Florida Keys were sweet and tasty and prepared deliciously in a nori roll starter, a conch and stone crab fritter, a one and a half pound stone crab claw entree and, of course, key lime pie for dessert. While the nori roll was not my personal favorite the fritter and the crab claw I could not get enough of. And keep in mind, stone crab claws are served chilled over ice as opposed to steamed.

While considered an upscale restaurant, the dark wood and grand booths become much less intimidating once you lay eyes on the familiar Old Bay seasoning and Heinz Ketchup sitting right on the table.

The decor and the name go hand in hand as you walk into a dining room reminiscent of a 1930's ocean liner, complete with big band and swing music playing on the sound system. While I'm not a raw seafood fan, the raw oyster bar -- visible while seated at the bar -- was very impressive. Also, don't forget to take a peek at the restrooms complete with an old-school style shoe buffer and toiletries counter.