★ 5

Glad they accomodate something in veg, other enjoyed the seafood

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★ 5

Classy abd great place to dinner! Highly recommed dishes are delicious!

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★ 5

Best happy hour in town! Great oyster selection. Love the patio or the shell!

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★ 5

Best scallops and tenderloin I’ve ever had!

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★ 4

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★ 5

I love all the food I have eaten there. I love the decor. I love the exotic drinks.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Definitely, hands down, my favorite restaurant in Madison.

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★ 5

Amazing oysters, really loved it there. Would absolutely go back. Service was super attentive. Only docking one star for the atmosphere because there was a group of upsettingly inebriated people at a nearby table.

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★ 5

Our meal at Tempest oyster bar was delicious. We started with happy hour drinks and appetizers, which were fantastic. Many places have happy hour specials of things that you really don't wanna eat, but the oysters, Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, Conch fritters were all delicious.
Being served by Nicole was a real treat. She was absolutely one of the best waitresses we've ever had, wonderful personality, and fantastic service.

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★ 5

Great place to celebrate with friends and family

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★ 5

I came in for happy hour oysters for my birthday. I told the hostess that I was celebrating my birthday, and she offered that I could sit in “the shell” a lovely scallop shell at the end of the main room. I loved the table with its ambient lighting. I enjoyed all of the oysters that were offered, and was delighted by the cocktail selection! My server was very attentive, and offered me a complimentary dessert, that I had to take away since I ate 18 oysters! I had a perfectly lovely birthday evening!

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★ 5

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★ 3

The Carpetbagger (steak with stuffed oyster) can use some flavor. For that price, I'd expect a side comes with it. The Oyster Rockefeller is on the dry side and the flavor is OK. We ordered two Desserts, Chocolate Caramel Walnet Tart and Pear Upside-down cake, both are delicious. The restaurant was loud and the service was acceptable.

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★ 5

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★ 1

Not sure where to start. The lobster over cook, the Brussel burnt, the trout side was not even the right side and was way under cook, the pear upside down was dry, and the Rockefeller was tiny oyster at best. The waiters was lacking skill and or knowledge of the menu. and I mean lacking Over all i was not happy for my birthday dinner. We will try one more time, Every one has a ruff day. I chef I know.

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★ 5

Impeccable service, delicious food, and an unforgettable atmosphere that sends you back in time. Of course the oysters are amazing, and as equally the scallops and lobster roll. Will be back.

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★ 1

I don’t know what’s wrong with the servers. I have visited this place 20+ times this year not bc the food is good just convenience. The servers most of time behaved indifferently, with the warmth of a vending machine and the charm of that picky aunt from next door. Once I pointed out that the oyster was bad, and the server kindly informed me that she didn’t think so. I even offered her the oyster as a gift, but apparently generosity wasn’t on the menu—she refused to eat it. Another time, I asked if all the dishes could come out together. Her response? “It’s gonna come when it comes.” Truly, words to live by.
If you’re looking for entertainment, don’t waste money on Netflix—just come here and ask a reasonable question. The service philosophy seems to be: “We don’t care, and we want you to know we don’t care.” What a refreshing break from all those boring restaurants that actually try

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

The food and the service was outstanding

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★ 5

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★ 5

Try the oysters

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★ 5

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★ 5

High quality restaurant & experience all around. The Smoke Stack is absolutely incredible. Highly recommended.

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★ 5

I'm in Madison Wisconsin. I met a man who works at a restaurant and tells me I should try it. The thing that makes it interesting is that it has Massachusetts oysters on the menu. To be specific Wellfleet. After chatting I looked up the menu. I have to admit that the menu got me a little excited. Here I am, a Bay Stator, or Masshole, in a Midwestern state. Not an ocean in sight wondering how good could it possibly be if it's not near the Atlantic Ocean. We New englanders are a little arrogant about our seafood, claiming it to be the best anywhere. And, we will tell you we don't eat oysters unless there's an r in the month.
Well Monday night I GPS myself to the Tempest Oyster Bar. Driving to the oyster bar you see the Capitol building in Madison, it is unbelievably breathtaking You can almost forget what you're doing or where you're going. So back to the bar, I arrived and went to the host station and was greeted by one of the loveliest young women. Not just the fact that she was pretty to look at she was very welcoming and not in that sugary sweet way, just plain nice. I actually felt welcome. I explained to her why I was there and that I had been invited and she showed me to a table where I would not feel conspicuous. I never care about sitting by myself in a restaurant. I've been doing it for years and I don't really ever feel uncomfortable. But then there's not many places I would feel uncomfortable.
Upon sitting down at a high top table next to a speed boat, I was greeted by a young lady who brought me bread. Now I haven't had bread since June and here it is nearly the end of August and I just wanted to put as much bread in my mouth as I could. There were three slices of the slightest tangy sourdough that made me want to eat through 20 loaves of it. There is the smallest mattering of salt on the top crust that just made one slice after another jump into my mouth. Probably because I hadn't had bread in so long it was extra delicious, I'm not sure I just think it was really good bread. Don't think I'm making too much of the bread, but I couldn't help think if having it toasted on a cold winter morning with butter and a drizzle of honey and a cup of tea would not have just made everything in life worthwhile.
My server came over and she was delightful. Lovely young woman very upbeat but not in that roll your eyes way. I had already made up my mind when I looked at the menu online. A glass of Riesling and it began. I ordered oysters, three from Duxbury and three from Wellfleet Mass. Both have this very distinctive flavor and characteristics. But for my money Wellfleet has the best briny toothsome oysters and I was not disappointed. For a few moments I was transported home and having dinner with a friend of mine where we always got oysters on Fridays.
I decided to forgo a formal meal and try a couple of different things. The first thing was the conch fritters with a spicy aioli. The last time I had Conch fritters was in the Cayman Islands more than 10 years ago, so this was a
a treat. Crispy on the outside pillowy on the inside and juicy little bits of conch. Now if you've never had a conch fritter, the frying process can make the pieces of conch hard and less enjoyable. These were perfect. The conch was tender and the fritter itself was fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I also enjoyed the mussels. I love muscles and these came with a delightful broth and a grilled hunk of the bread for dipping in the juices. Mussels were tender, The broth was flavorful and oh that bread. It was the perfect threesome that brought me back to New England once again.
Finally, for my gluttonous greedy self I enjoyed the fruits de mer. By this time I was getting full but I had to attempt a platter full of delight; fried scallops shrimp oysters calamari and cod. I tried one of each with the dipping sauces. I was done. Another glass of Riesling and I was carrying home the last vestiges of a meal that I will remember for a very long time. It has to be up in my top five.

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★ 5

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★ 5

I love tempest! Iconic Madison spot for delicious seafood, steaks, and cocktails. Our bartender Isaac was great, super attentive and answered all the questions we had. If you’re in town you should stop by!

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★ 5

I work in the field in Downtown Madison so I’ve passed by your restaurant a few times, Fam came in town for dinner and I’m really glad we chose this place. Oyster and shrimp cocktail were spot on, great variety of wine and thoughtfully crafted house cocktails for a reasonable price… the dinners and sides were really exceptional as was the carrot cake… we were throughly impressed with our first visit here and for sure will be back.

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★ 5

Very fun atmosphere, great service, and delicious food! What more do you need

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★ 5

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★ 5

Must try the key lime pie! Omg it’s so good

And the black cod aka butter fish is a must! Literally melted in my mouth.

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★ 3

We’ve eaten at Tempest many times, but recently had a pretty disappointing experience with an exceptionally rude bartender and very mediocre cocktail. We opted not to stay for dinner.

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★ 5

The oysters were very good. For the main course, we had a spectacular New York steak. The potato oyster was delicious, and the Caesar salad was homemade

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★ 5

I had the opportunity to visit this restaurant for a couple friends' birthdays yesterday. I had heard so much talk about it and was not disappointed at all for the experience I received. We had made reservations ahead of time (coming in with a group of 13) and were seated quickly in a more secluded dining room. The host was fast at filling our waters as more of our group arrived. I asked for the vegan options because a couple of our party were vegans and they had a seaweed salad and a pasta for entrees or there are sides as well. (The seaweed salad is amazing) Our server (Nicole) came over, introduced herself and grabbed our drink orders. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant. (I asked a couple questions about the history) Our courses arrived in a timely fashion and let's just say that was some of the best seafood I've had in my life. The oysters were fresh and full of flavor. The lobster of course was amazing. But it was amazing how fast Nicole worked. Clearing our plates and checking in around the time we needed anything. It was superb! I had the fish and chips for my entrée and it was how I dreamed fish and chips should be made. A light, salty breading with fish that melts in your mouth. (Hard to believe but true). The chips were served with a nice sweeter sauce that paired/rounded the dish out. Preventing the palate from becoming too salty. It was a work of art. For dessert we had a cheesecake (which I did not partake but heard was amazing) and a sweet moist cake which we are still talking about. Honestly it was one of the best evenings I've had the opportunity to experience at a restaurant. Thank you Nicole and crew for the amazing night. I hope to be back. And I strongly urge anyone, if you truly love food, you have to experience Tempest. You will not be disappointed.

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★ 4

Go for the cocktails, stay for the fish fry!
Quirky and nice interior once you get past the giant boat - but then again its a seafood themed bar. Fantastic bar area, prefer it to the dining room. Bartenders are just great - very knowledgeable, nice, and professional. They add personality to the place. I particularly enjoy the fish fry, oysters, and apps. Speaking of personality - just last Saturday they were shooting some reality TV episode right there on the beautiful terrace. Sadly due to that we could not sit outside and left. Also they get busy during peak times. Making reservations is a good idea, unless you want to belly-up to the bar and don't mind waiting.

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★ 5

Tempest has a unique ambiance that you won’t find anywhere in Madison. Their menu is delightful and the beverages are always top notch. The servers trained and held at highest standards. Always polite while creating a memorable and personal experience for their guests. Just a pleasure to dine in every time and observe how well this place is run.

Update from 10/21 after meal on Friday at 5pm suffered major two days diarrhea from scallops or sea food from one dish I ordered.

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★ 3

Service was genuinely awful. We felt like we offended her by just showing up. At first we felt rushed, and then completely avoided.

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★ 5

Great time. The staff and service was great, the food was awesome.

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★ 5

Great food and dining experience. Oysters are excellent, l liked the shrimp, scallops and grits dinner. The bar area is more modern, with sailor accouterments. Dining rooms are casual and quite loud. Families looked quite happy.

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★ 5

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★ 3

Great food, just okay bartenders

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★ 5

This past Sunday my family and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Tempest. There were oysters and steaks to be had. The tenderloin was the best steak I’ve ever had. My boyfriend said his was in his top three for sure. We ordered them medium rare and they were literally cooked to perfection. My steak knife cut through mine like butter and each morsel melted on my tongue. My mouth waters remembering it. So freakin good. Way to go, everyone.

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★ 5

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★ 5

10/10 experience

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★ 5

Absolutely delicious with great service!

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★ 5

13/10. Cared for food, beverage, and conversation. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had, and I've been North, South, East, and West. On Wisconsin! Quality meets Lynch if you're looking for it.

P.s. If I lived here, I'd make myself an annoying regular.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Absolutely outstanding food - the swordfish was amazing! Charming ambience and excellent service, highly recommend when you're looking for the best seafood!

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★ 5

Second time here and I'm hooked. I thought it would be hard to top the first time, but they go above and beyond every time. I enjoyed pan seared halibut, broiled asparagus, and key lime pie.

Big fan of the Summer Love Oysters. Salty Mainer and Kumiai were good too.

The young blood drink was perfectly described by the waiter and was delicious.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great service, food was phenomenal, loved being able to sit on the patio!

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★ 2

Over cooked tuna , extremely loud atmosphere and not great service. We will not be back

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★ 5

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★ 5

Amazing ambiance and incredible happy hour specials. This is the best meal I've had in Madison and we have been to a lot of highly rated places.

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★ 5

Try the lobster rolls

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★ 5

Amazing food and excellent service

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★ 5

Delicious meals for 4 very different diners! Started with drinks, amazing shrimp cocktail and seaweed slaw salad. Entrees included walleye, walnut-crusted rainbow trout, flank steak and fried chicken.

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★ 5

Great Oyster selection and do not sleep on their lobster rolls. They are the real deal.

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★ 5

Came up for our anniversary. Loved the trout, and appetizers prior (seafood stack and oysters). Service was excellent until the end when we had another customer’s charges added to ours and we had to catch the error. Overall great food and atmosphere and we would return.

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★ 5

My favorite place in town I hope everyone gets the best waitress there I don't remember her name but she is always singing and full of life

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great service and ambiance. Oysters were delicious and so was the cod that I had.

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★ 5

Did a large party of 7 and loved the whole thing

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★ 1

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★ 1

I wish I could leave a much higher review. I came here for my rehearsal dinner for a reservation at 7:15 PM and we weren’t seated until 8:15 PM. Some of my family ended up leaving before we were seated because they had to go and take care of their child. I was very disappointed with the little acknowledgment that we were given when we brought up our concern that we needed to wait an hour for a reservation that we had made. The manager never spoke to us about this, even though we spoke to our waitress about this. I know I’m posting this a a little late, but I thought it would be good for others to know that if you have a reservation on a Friday night that you will most likely have to wait a really long time. I had made my reservation weeks in advance, and I even called the restaurant ahead of time to let them know that this was my wedding rehearsal dinner. I am very disappointed with the lack of service.

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★ 5

Food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! Service was spectacular too. The happy hour price on oysters was such a steal ($2 per oyster).

Pictured below is their daily special for Monday, April 14th 2025 which are the black cod (dish with the red fish roe on top and broth on bottom), corvina (dish with the yellow purée and the orange colored fish), and rainbow trout (has sage brown butter sauce and vegetables on the side).

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★ 5

This is my go to spot as an out of towner, every birthday my wife and I have a tradition of getting oysters. Happy hour is a great deal as well. They’ve also been very supportive of local initiatives and charity events so I can’t recommend supporting them enough!

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★ 5

A Madison FAVORITE for us. Every time we go we get amazing service, excellent food, and the cutest table for two. They have a great selection of N/A beverages on top of a killer bar menu. Happy hour deals are also excellent.

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★ 5

Tempest Oyster Bar offers a truly exceptional dining experience in the heart of Madison. From the moment we walked in, the service was attentive, friendly, and professional. The atmosphere is welcoming, with just the right balance of elegance and comfort.

The food was outstanding. I ordered the 8 oz tenderloin steak, and it was cooked to perfection—tender, juicy, and exactly as requested. The side dish of asparagus was equally impressive—neither dry nor overcooked, but vibrant and flavorful.

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★ 5

Such an amazing find!!! Fresh Oysters are amazing!!! Steak is perfect! I tried 6 of the different oysters they offer!! The Carpetbagger steak was spectacular! Just the right amount of spice and sweetness! I would recommend this place time and time again! Can't wait to visit again!!

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★ 5

We had a wonderful dinner here with Eva taking exceptional care of us. The Crème Caramel, Conch Fritters, and my Navy Pea Coat cocktail were a particular highlight for us. We will definitely be back!! Thanks

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★ 5

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★ 5

Fantastic service!!! Bartenders have been the same for years and our the best! A must stop in Madison! Love being in the shell just better keep your voice down🤔🤣

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★ 5

Another nice upscale Madison establishment.

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★ 5

Excellent oysters!

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★ 5

I enjoyed the scallops, shrimp, and grits. It was delicious and the ambience was very nice.

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★ 4

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★ 5

Nicole!!! Love her. She makes every vist special.

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★ 5

Tempest Oyster Bar is an absolute gem in Madison! From the moment you walk in, the warm, intimate atmosphere sets the stage for an incredible dining experience. The oysters are phenomenal—fresh, expertly shucked, and with a fantastic selection. Whether you love East Coast, West Coast, or a mix of both, they’ve got you covered.

Beyond the oysters, the seafood dishes are next level. The scallops were perfectly seared, and the lobster roll? Easily one of the best I’ve had outside of the East Coast. The cocktail menu is equally impressive—thoughtfully crafted and perfectly balanced to complement the seafood.

Service is top-notch, too. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about what they do, offering great recommendations and making sure every guest feels welcome.

If you're a seafood lover (or just appreciate an amazing meal), Tempest Oyster Bar is a must-visit in Madison. Can’t wait to go back!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

May be the best restaurant in Madison

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★ 5

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★ 5

One of my favorite and most consistent restaurants in Madison. Great food, quality, service.
Servers/staff could slow down their delivery and execution a bit to boost their service.

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★ 5

The food was delicious. Had the chicken, the biscuit was the best ever! Also had walleye, breaded and cooked to perfection! Charlie our server was the best I've ever had! He was kind, knowledgeable, great timing, and the best waiter which made our experience here the best.

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★ 5

Amazing food, friendly staff, delicious cocktails! Will be back for sure to try more things.
Oyster Rockefeller was very delicious. Came out with some shell flakes, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Smokestack(?) was a tower of smoked fish and a bunch of other delicious things! Very good!
The scallops on my scallop, shrimp & grits were incredible, and I would like to eat a whole plate of JUST the scallops!
My husband got the chicken and it was pretty good. Nothing that blew us out of the water like the rest of the food, so he probably won't get it again. It still has good flavor and there was a large portion!
Presentation for everything was great!
They were almost *too* good at bussing the table, kept trying to take plates or cups away when we weren't finished. They were VERY on top of it, so we had to make sure we were on top of speaking up to leave plates :)

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★ 5

Had a wonderful dinner here. Perch fish fry on Friday, yes classic Wisconsin, but done perfectly. My wife had a nut crusted trout stuffed with a vegetable medley that was awesome. Great cocktails too. Will definitely be back.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

After dinner one evening and responding to an automated email about my experience the manager immediately reached out to me. My concerns were more than satisfactorily addressed. The food was delicious. The manager was amazing and we will definitely be back.

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★ 4

The staff was nice and accommodating. I have a dairy allergy and they found me what I could eat without the cheese. Unfortunately the kitchen screwed up the first try but the second was right. The food was good.
Pretty loud atmosphere but not the worst. Good food and would come again just not for date night.

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★ 5

12/18 Jon was a terrific server! Down to Earth, knowledgeable, nice conversation and just the right amount of present. Oysters for happy hour were delish, as well as scallops. Dinner was bucatini, which i would not order again, but the seafood in it was divine. Just a little bit of beautiful broth with pasta and lots of fish. While delicious, would have liked something else. Whatever, we chose it. But the Shrimp and Grits entree, AMAZING. And my add on 12 oz crab leg was 3 feet long. And perfectly cooked. Drinks were lovely. There was one food delivery person, a young lady with dark hair and glasses, who was particularly personable and charming. I hope you figure out who she is and recognize her.
Thanks for a lovely experience. We will be back!

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★ 5

Charlie was an AMAZING waiter, best service I’ve experienced in a looooooong time. He was incredibly knowledgeable and had tailored recommendations for all of us - food and drink was all amazing. If I could give Charlie 10 stars I would!

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★ 2

I give 1 extra star for the dozens oyster and the scallop appetizer.
However, the overall experience is a nightmare. We waited 45 mins for the oyster, then another 30 mins for the entrees.
The first miso black cod actually tastes fine. However, we found 2 pieces of hair in the plate (we do actually want to let it go for the first one). They do replace it, promising “15 mins” would be good. But this replacement is another tragedy. It is too salty and I doubt they didn’t even pay attention to anything. The restaurant is fully seated but only 5 people are serving. Don’t go during the holiday.

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★ 5

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★ 5

They offer a gluten free menu and have attentive staff to any questions, 12/18/2024

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★ 3

Wasn't overly impressed with the walleye. The fries were OK. Expected better for sure.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Tempest is an excellent seafood spot with an intimate yet social ambience. The oysters are high quality with a nice selection to choose from. Although likely the least thematic “dish,” the bread with flake-salted butter was addictively good. The dining room can get slightly crowded making it somewhat noisy, but I believe this actually contributes to the experience. The waitstaff are A+; very attentive, kind, and professional. The prices are a bit steep, but is reasonable for a nice outing. No parking out front, at least while road construction is underway—we used a garage a block away, which is a short walk.

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★ 5

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★ 5

The happy hour is the time to go!.

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★ 5

Spectacular food. Service was top notch!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

My husband and I are visiting our daughter for Thanksgiving. She recommended we should come here during our visit. We came with her and her boyfriend. We each had different meals and cocktails. They were all outstanding , the atmosphere was beautiful and our waitress Amy made a great dinner even better! If I could give Temptress ten stars I could! We will be coming back again!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Fresh delicious food. Wonderful warm atmosphere 👌 ❤️

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★ 5

The food and service were truly exceptional, I look forward to our next visit.

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★ 4

It was a cool spot and the happy hour specials were worth it! My husband isn’t a huge seafood person and he liked his steak as well! Scallops were cooked perfectly! We will be back I’m sure!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Wonderful happy hour. The oysters were divine. I ate dinner in the bar three nights of my four-night trip. Even if you miss happy hour, the seafood is delicious. Enjoy one of their tasty cocktails (happy hour or not) to round out your dinner. Bartenders are very attentive and knowledgeable.

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★ 5

The lobster roll, packed with claw meat, amazing!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Had a great dinner of Oysters (raw and fried) steaks and seafood. Everything was very good and great service provided by Savannah! Also enjoyed the cocktails and desserts! We will definitely go back!

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★ 5

New favorite spot in Madison. Great food, great service, great ambiance.

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★ 5

Everything was awesome. The service was amazing. I had their special of the evening, the black cod. It was unreal. I highly recommend. Perfect date night location!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Really excellent oysters and good seafood plates. Friendly and patient staff.

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★ 5

Loved it all

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★ 5

Incredible meal. Best scallops we have had so far. Charlie is an exceptionally skilled and gracious server. The pink moon oysters were “some of the best I’ve ever had” -husband.
Love that they have “six pack for the kitchen” available. They deserved it.

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★ 4

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★ 5

The food was over the top. The only problem was that for $100. 00 per plate for crab legs they refused to open them for us.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Best oysters I’ve ever had away from the coast

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★ 4

Oysters were great, you can never go wrong with anything from Prince Edward Island. I liked my ono and my husband’s lobster roll had a ton of lobster, which was awesome, but he said all he could taste was onions, and he likes onions, but not that much.

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★ 2

I don't know if we just went on a bad night or what had happened but it was not their most strong night.

The service was incredibly slow and there were times we wouldn't see our waitstaff for 15-20 minutes at a time. When she was there, she was nice, but the complete lack of attention to a group outing was pretty disappointing, especially noting that the building wasn't what I'd call busy by any means. There were other tables that definitely were getting better service from other waitstaff, so it may have just been an off night. I'm not sure.

The food - for the most part, if you want seafood, get seafood. Everyone at the table found it delicious that had it. I got the chicken - supposedly it was previously called "not yet famous" fried chicken. It is no longer called that and frankly, it was overcooked, incredibly dry, and flavorless. Seasoning would've been nice. The biscuit was good if not a bit overbaked on the outside (it was incredibly crunchy). I will say, the bread at the table and the whipped butter with flakey salt was amazing and delicious.

The building's "ambiance" was a bit frustrating. It was very loud and echo-y, enough so that a table nearby moved to another part of the building as it was just too loud. Additionally there just was no airflow. It was so hot, humid, and stuffy that it really kind of made the overall experience miserable. I can't say I'll be back.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Best, best, best! Crab Legs are best in Wisconsin. Seafood Tower is phenoms. Steak is so flippin’ good. Same as Tornado quality with a little more city preparation. Oysters are best. Only negative is parking. There is a city lot 2 blocks away.

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★ 5

Delicious seafood menu, best oysters in Madison, and a worthwhile happy hour. Love this place.

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★ 5

Bar area is my favorite with plenty of room for a drink, apps and great bar service. Best Oysters in Madison by far!

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★ 5

Tower of seafood was fantastic !!

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★ 5

Had a fabulous happy hour dinner with my children and grandchild this evening. It was all delicious 😋.

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★ 5

Best seafood restaurant in Madison!!! We love it so much, food is amazing and the ambience is great for a night out.

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★ 4

Food took a LONG time to come out of the kitchen and when it did the fish and chips were soggy. The rest of the food was really good though. Parking is also a bit of a nightmare so take extra time

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★ 5

What a wonderful dinner and experience we had! Awsome seafood and fabulous service from staff. We were taken care of in every possible way!

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★ 5

Quick trip up North. After 2 days of family and hibernating, needed a treat...and what a treat. Family member had a friend that had work here. Saw happy hours and had to stop in. Glad I did! Tag Team Bar Service that did not miss a beat...and the food!

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★ 5

Amazing menu, friendly service. Will recommend!

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★ 4

Everything was great. I have no complaints.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Awesome experience with my wife and 1 year old daughter on a Saturday night. The food was excellent and the staff was even better. They went above and beyond and made our visit special. Highly recommend! Thank you for a wonderful evening, we’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in town

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★ 5

Five stars again! The crab legs are delicious!

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★ 5

Great service and great food. Recommend reservations as this is a busy restaurant.

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★ 5

Excellent whole lobster!

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★ 5

Amazing selection

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★ 5

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★ 5

So good all around that I don’t know where even to start with my praise. I’ll start with the little touches and first impressions: lovely and caring front desk hostess and bartender, friendly server, cloth napkins, bread basket, great drinks! The extensive oyster menu was explained patiently and thoroughly. So, we ordered 24 oysters ( we loved the P.E.I best), oysters Rockefeller and a delicious short stack of white fix, smoked trout, lox, dried capers, pickled onion… and my mouth is watering as I type this. Delicious! Great food, reasonable prices, nice atmosphere, good service…. What’s not to like? I highly recommend Tempest Oyster Bar.

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★ 5

We had a great birthday dinner for our friend here. Oysters, drinks and dinners were top notch. The Bluegill was the best I’ve ever had. Service was OK.

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★ 5

We went for the first time for my birthday and absolutely loved it! The friendliest staff I have ever had. The atmosphere fun and classy. Waiter was extremely knowledgeable on gluten free options and didn’t need to worry at all. Will definitely be coming back. May be my new favorite spot!

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★ 4

Food and atmosphere that will make you think you are within sight of the ocean.

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★ 5

I inadvertently made a reservation for the main dining room but the hostess was very accommodating and was able to seat us in the boat room so we could still enjoy happy hour. The food and service were excellent as always! This is our go to spot for celebrations and oysters!

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★ 5

This is just outright my favorite place to go eat

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★ 5

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★ 5

Quality menu and service.

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★ 5

Very nice spot! Food was good, service was phenomenal. I’d come back for the smoked whitefish salad and chocolate tart alone. Recommended.

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★ 4

As always, my reviews are relative to price, and Tempest is moderatelly expensive. We spent $120 with tip for 2 people. Too bad Google doesn't offer more gradations of review, as I would give Tempest 4.5 stars if I could. The food was good, although hard for a Wisconsin seafood restaurant to compete with coastal locations. We tried a few raw oysters, which were interesting taste wise but not too fresh. The seared scallops appetize was excellent. I had an oyster poboy which was a little disappointing as the fried oysters were slightly soggy instead of nice and crisp. My wife had fried walleye, which was excellent. The key lime pie was excellent. Service wqs excellent. The 3* rating for ambience is because the place suffered a bit, like many restaurants, from almost overwhelming chatter noise. Overall, a very nice meal and we expect to return.

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★ 5

Been here twice and sat at the bar. Stellar food, drinks, and atmosphere.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 3

What a disappointment. Went for a belated Mother’s Day dinner. Our waiter, Jake, was excellent. He was very accommodating, personable and professional. The meal was not. We wanted lobster and that was a poor choice on our part. The lobster roll was not more than a few chunks of lobster that was not mixed well with the other ingredients. The whole “Maine” lobster was not, in my opinion, Maine lobster. Having lived in New England and my brother living in Maine, this was not what I was used to having. The lobster color was a darker red and the shell was so thick that I had to have my boy friend help me crack it even though the kitchen attempted to crack the claws. The meat itself lacked the sweet taste that you expect from Maine lobster. The tail was cut in half which was appreciated but if you need help cracking the shell of a “Maine” lobster, then you don’t have Maine lobster. In my opinion, this was a Canadian lobster. Save your money and go somewhere with actual Maine lobster.

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★ 5

We’ve made multiple trips from Rockford just to visit. Truly an excellent experience in a landlocked state which is often lacking in the fresh seafood department. The oysters are excellent, but the Smoke Stack and Buccatini are my favorite. Don’t miss Happy Hour either!

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★ 4

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★ 5

A great place in downtown Madison! I've eaten here multiple times and am always impressed. They've got great seafood, cocktails, and service. Always a great place to visit when in Madison.

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★ 3

Staff is very friendly and helpful for those who have questions on the oysters. The only downside to the place is that it's SO loud, it makes conversations very challenging. I was quite disappointed that the cilantro vodka wasn't available. I definitely miss the SharkBait bloodys. I will say, whoever had the idea of the nalt vinegar syrup for the fish and chips. PURE genious! The oysters and shrimp cocktail are always great as well.

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★ 5

The Branzino was fantastic! Our waitress was very helpful in answering questions. Her recommendations were spot on.

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★ 5

I love this casual exquisite dining experience. This was not our first visit but it has been several years. They did not disappoint and the attention given to helping us choose the perfect option for dinner was exceptional.

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★ 4

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★ 1

While stuck in traffic today. I hear someone screaming. I look to see the head cook I assume (man in a white coat) just screaming at a child in the alleyway because the dog pee’d on the sidewalk is what I believe I heard I pulled over and ran back but I was to late. I would recommend anywhere that doesn’t employ people like that. It was unbelievable to be honest. The poor child.

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★ 4

The shellfish were amazing. Actually, all the food & drink was great. Celeste, Jon, & Kate were attentive & personable. Lovely experience. Learned that if you sit in the shell, you hear all bar chatter. Velvet curtains could block the sound but maybe Tempest staff will have a better idea. Please don't eat all the oysters because we are going back.

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★ 5

Went for happy hour. Scallops and shrimp were great. Good craft cocktail special! Had the lobster roll...fabulous!!!

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★ 5

Amazing service and food!

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★ 5

Awesome place with great vibes. Love their scallops as an appetizer

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★ 5

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★ 3

Busy! I love oysters, so not sure if I could ever give a bad review about oysters. My husband, on the other hand, did not feel that way. In his opinion, aside from price, the oysters were too small, along with not liking several of the options.

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★ 5

The perfect place for a celebratory dinner!

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★ 5

Madison gem.

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★ 5

I first came to Tempest last year on business and it absolutely blew me away. The food is out of this world, especially the scallops (which are some of the best I have ever had). The service is impeccable and you feel like you have been coming here for years on your first visit.
I just came back to Madison for work and had to see if lightning strikes twice. Somehow they managed to get better since the last time I visited. The food, including the scallops, was even better than I remembered and I had dreams about them over the last year. The service was, yet again, amazing. Issac was my bartender/server and he was engaging and friendly despite the happy hour rush. Amazing service yet again. The staff here is fantastic and that, coupled with the food makes this a “must visit” when in Madison. I will look forward to my next visit with bated breath because this is truly a fantastic stop that I won’t miss anytime I am on in town. Come here, you will not be disappointed!!!

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★ 5

Great seafood. Scallops were divine. Flourless chocolate cake was worth it.

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★ 5

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★ 1

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★ 5

Everything was great went on Valentine’s Day and the food was amazing oysters was super fresh

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★ 5

Delicious seafood and oysters.

Edit: went back to the restaurant again in November 2023, and it was still awesome. Would recommend. Such a great place to visit.

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★ 5

Could not have had a better meal! Everything was top notch from the bar service, food, and wait staff. Please stop in, you won’t be disappointed!

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★ 5

This place easily rivals sardine. Huge fan. Great cocktails, amazing food, and an exceptional staff. Def recommend.

Cheers

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★ 1

Used to love the place, went about once a month for a few years but last night (2/17) I was served an oyster Rockefeller that died when Nixon was in office. Had to spit it out in my napkin and run to the bathroom and rinse out my mouth. The shell stunk like a New York City sewer. The waitress took it off our bill but didn’t really seem too phased by it. No manager came over and never really got an apology. I’m sure the waitress didn’t tell anyone about it in the kitchen so they were serving oysters out of a contaminated pan all night. Won’t be eating oysters anywhere for a while.

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★ 5

Celebrated a birthday at Tempest tonight and they never disappoint!

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★ 5

Highly recommend the happy hour for their oysters 🦪

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

A wonderful atmosphere, the staff was great—I loved the experience at Temple Restaurante

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★ 5

Great experience, cocktails, and food!

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