Oysters On The Half Shell (4)
ML Tavern

ML Tavern

34105 Chagrin BoulevardOH 44022, Moreland Hills, United States

Full • Seafood • American • Bar-lounge


"My party of 2 decided to make reservations for a Saturday evening. Our reservation was for 7:45pm, however, they didn't have a table available when we arrived. After about a 20 minute wait we were offered a high top even though we booked standard seating. There was no way we wanted the high top that was literally at the front door. Then they offered us another high top which was pretty at the front door and at the opening of the patio area, which also politely declined. We were finally seated in the patio area. Now this may have been nice on a summer evening but it was a November night in northeast Ohio! It was quite chilly and our table was placed very awkwardly, kind of in the middle of the floor. The fans were also on. Even though the table next to us was empty, and in front of the fireplace, we were told it was reserved. Our server, Stewart, took quite awhile to even acknowledge us, but we were able to order drinks. My companion enjoyed the expresso martini and I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The bread was good but I found the butter much too salty. We ordered oysters as an appetizer and waited at least 30 minutes before they arrived. Our server walked past several times, as he was very attentive to his other tables. Finally he apologized for the wait and said the oysters would be coming out. It took almost 45 minutes and it honestly makes me think he forgot. The two of us had barely finished 8 oysters when our food arrived. I had the crab cake and lobster Oscar which was phenomenal and the reason for my stars. The lumps of crab meat and lobster was delicious. My companion ordered a ribeye and said it was cooked just as asked. The asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes were good also. The service is what was disappointing. We watched our server be very attentive to everyone but us! It was so bad that we asked another server to box our leftovers and get our check. Not to mention, not getting the seating we requested. Also the patio was so dim I could barely read the menu. We noticed that every table, but ours, had the small tea light but ours. While the food was great the atmosphere wasn't very welcoming."

Crabshack

Crabshack

150 Woodcleft Ave, 11520, Freeport, United States

Pizza • Salad • Salads • Seafood


"I visited this restaurant for lunch recently on a whim because I remembered they used to offer bay scallops, which are hard to find at many places. We didn’t realize until we got there that the restaurant had changed ownership, but since we were already seated, we decided to make the best of it. The menu featured a mix of seafood and some Asian dishes (no bay scallops, of course), and nothing really stood out as appealing. There was a good lunch special advertised on a board outside, but when we sat down, we were given the regular menu instead of the lunch special menu. Apparently, you have to ask for that! I overheard another table mentioning they were out of crab (I think), and the waitress suggested lobster as an alternative. Unfortunately, the service was lacking; when we asked about the dessert options included with the lunch special, she simply replied, "You’ll have to wait and see." I ended up ordering the General Tso’s chicken, which was crispy but incredibly dry—mostly breading and hardly any sauce, quite disappointing. The New England clam chowder tasted more like a watery potato soup than the rich dish I was expecting. The only item that seemed to please anyone at the table was the fried shrimp. For dessert, our options were ice cream or tiramisu. I opted for the tiramisu, even though I’m not a big fan, as I wasn’t in the mood for ice cream. I won’t comment on whether it was a good version or not since I didn’t really enjoy it. Overall, I have no interest in returning to this restaurant."