Liv's Oyster Bar Restaurant - Feedback

Great restaurant interesting menu and excellent food in a casually upscale atmosphere. A memorable meal. read more Great restaurant interesting menu and excellent food in a casually upscale atmosphere. A memorable meal.

The service is always exceptional! Best food in the area without a doubt! The team in the kitchen works their butts off! read more The service is always exceptional! Best food in the area without a doubt! The team in the kitchen works their butts off!

Food not as good as I remember in past visits. Kitchen trying too hard. Past menus much better selection and better preparation. 3 visit with same impression. W... read more Food not as good as I remember in past visits. Kitchen trying too hard. Past menus much better selection and better preparation. 3 visit with same impression. We miss the great food

Exceptional service and excellent food! The waitstaff is phenomenal. They bend over backwards to make your meal great! The chef is imaginative and creative! Exc... read more Exceptional service and excellent food! The waitstaff is phenomenal. They bend over backwards to make your meal great! The chef is imaginative and creative! Excellent date night! Fantastic value! We will see you again soon !!!

Another great meal at Livs! Food was perfectly prepared and delicious. Our server, Alex, was excellent. read more Another great meal at Livs! Food was perfectly prepared and delicious. Our server, Alex, was excellent.

The fodd (superb) was even better than we remembered, both flavorful and creative. We had the warm mushroom salad, fried oyster tacos, and pasta with clams and... read more The fodd (superb) was even better than we remembered, both flavorful and creative. We had the warm mushroom salad, fried oyster tacos, and pasta with clams and sausage. We can highly recommend the hazelnut torte (with chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, and hazelnut crust with a topping of salted hazelnuts).

Always enjoy our visits to Liv's; great atmosphere and always excellent food and attentive service. Very well-run restaurant. Nice wine list, good bread (always... read more Always enjoy our visits to Liv's; great atmosphere and always excellent food and attentive service. Very well-run restaurant. Nice wine list, good bread (always a plus), we shared the empanadas for an app, and both had the pork chop schnitzel, which was enormous and very tasty. The chocolate bomb cake was, well, the bomb!

This was my second visit to this restaurant, and it certainly won’t be my last. The shellfish sampler was exceptional, and both of our main courses were fantast... read more This was my second visit to this restaurant, and it certainly won’t be my last. The shellfish sampler was exceptional, and both of our main courses were fantastic. The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection. The service was both friendly and prompt, striking the right balance between attentive and unobtrusive. Even if it's a bit outside your usual area, it's definitely worth the trip.

Somehow, Liv's maintains its standards and continues to please. Great oysters, a really well thought out special octopus appetizer (crisped octopus pieces on a... read more Somehow, Liv's maintains its standards and continues to please. Great oysters, a really well thought out special octopus appetizer (crisped octopus pieces on a skewer over a white bean/chorizo puree that was rich enough and spiced enough to highlight the octopus by contrasting with it) and a truly fresh piece of cod cooked perfectly. Nice wine list with something I wish other restaurants would do: a list of odds and ends that are discounted. The only knock on Liv's is the price, which is often closer to NYC than Old Saybrook, but as someone who emphasizes value rather than price, I'm happy.

Livs never fails to impress. We've tried a variety of dishes from their menu, and they always exceed our expectations. It's definitely one of our favorite resta... read more Livs never fails to impress. We've tried a variety of dishes from their menu, and they always exceed our expectations. It's definitely one of our favorite restaurants in Connecticut. The cocktails are fantastic, and the wine list is both appealing and reasonably priced. Don't overlook the desserts – they're definitely worth indulging in. Some of our top recommendations include the mussels, clam chowder, any of the cod dishes, pistachio gelato, and the Livs martini.

Best food experience I have had in a while. The duck! OMG, the duck. The happy hour specials are a great draw. The Oysters were wonderful. Did I mention the duc... read more Best food experience I have had in a while. The duck! OMG, the duck. The happy hour specials are a great draw. The Oysters were wonderful. Did I mention the duck? Our waiter, Jake, really added to the experience as well. He gets his own 5 stars. They evenwent out of their way to accommodate the vegetarian in our group. The atmosphere was delightful. Well worth the price for afancier night out. Order the duck:

Our waiter (Jake) was as perfect as the food. His recommendations were spot on and the food was visually stunning and tasted as good as it looks. We had a cup o... read more Our waiter (Jake) was as perfect as the food. His recommendations were spot on and the food was visually stunning and tasted as good as it looks. We had a cup of clam chowder and Fava bean falafel for appetizers then steamed mussels with a perfect djon mustard sauce and the shrimp and cod curry for dinner then a caramel creme Brule to split for dessert everything was wonderful can't wait to go back. I should mention the tasteful and spotlessly clean interior. We got there at 4:30 pm (we had not eaten all day..but that's another story) by the time we left there was not a seat avaliable...and it was a Thursday. So make a reservation if you are not going to be an early bird.

Very dissatisfied. The reviews give too much credit. The food was good, at best above average but expensive. Our waitress was very accommodating and polite but... read more Very dissatisfied. The reviews give too much credit. The food was good, at best above average but expensive. Our waitress was very accommodating and polite but was unable to fully make up for the attitude of the the hostesses. We were seated out frontand had some minor issues with drinks (dirty glasses, piece of food in a drink). Our waitress was great at quickly resolvingthese issues no problem however while she was busy one of us went in to hand the cup with food in it to the hostesses and as shewalked out they proceeded to point and murmur between themselves and did this again later on in the dinner while we were eating.Overall it was am average experience with an above average price tag. The saving grace of it all was our very kind and patientwaitress who helped us with these issues. Thank you to her.

An excellent restaurant! All 4 of us loved our meals, and we each order different things. My tuna was rare as desired and high quality tuna. Others ordered stea... read more An excellent restaurant! All 4 of us loved our meals, and we each order different things. My tuna was rare as desired and high quality tuna. Others ordered steak, scallops and roasted rice. We loved the Beignets.

Clearly a local favorite. High quality food with a sometimes unusual mix of flavors, for example I wasn't a fan of the bacon in the chowder. read more Clearly a local favorite. High quality food with a sometimes unusual mix of flavors, for example I wasn't a fan of the bacon in the chowder.

A perfect experience for a birthday dinner in advance of a show at the nearby Kate theater. Staff was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and sensitive to our t... read more A perfect experience for a birthday dinner in advance of a show at the nearby Kate theater. Staff was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and sensitive to our time constraint. Cocktails, wine, and food were excellent. We got a corner table which I’d recommend. I’m not sure we would’ve liked being in the middle, but not one complaint (which is rare! Lol). It had been prob 8 years since I’d been though I had a positive impression- the other times I’ve tried to get in they were full. But we will put Liv’s back in the rotation. Loved it!

Always an enjoyable time at Liv’s. Parsnip Soup with smoked oysters a winning combination. Our table also enjoyed some creative salads. Both the salmon and cod... read more Always an enjoyable time at Liv’s. Parsnip Soup with smoked oysters a winning combination. Our table also enjoyed some creative salads. Both the salmon and cod entrees were delish. Thanks!

Was ingenious (dressing chest and cadjau,) was waiter busy, but attentive and polite, noise became louder than it filled. our reservation was 5:15 and at 6:30 i... read more Was ingenious (dressing chest and cadjau,) was waiter busy, but attentive and polite, noise became louder than it filled. our reservation was 5:15 and at 6:30 it was pretty loud, but not annoying yet. the tables are close without separation, but one could hear without screaming and vice versa. that was nice, there was no pressure to eat and get out. I would definitely come back.

We had a wonderful time at Liv's last night! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. We started with a chowder and kale salad, which were both fantastic... read more We had a wonderful time at Liv's last night! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. We started with a chowder and kale salad, which were both fantastic. For our main courses, I had the scallops and my partner chose the hanger steak; both dishes were excellent. We enjoyed our dinner at the beautiful bar, where the bartender was great and the drinks were generous. We can't wait to come back!

Wonderful atmosphere and delicious! Wait staff was attentive and the host was gracious. Lighting was perfect and I am a fan of good warm lighting when I’m eatin... read more Wonderful atmosphere and delicious! Wait staff was attentive and the host was gracious. Lighting was perfect and I am a fan of good warm lighting when I’m eating.

I celebrated my birthday at Liv’s tonight, and it was a fantastic experience. The food was exceptional, beginning with the oysters and clams, followed by a vari... read more I celebrated my birthday at Liv’s tonight, and it was a fantastic experience. The food was exceptional, beginning with the oysters and clams, followed by a variety of delicious entrees. The service was attentive and friendly, which added to the overall atmosphere. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

This is one of our favorite spots. The staff is friendly and well-informed. The food is expertly prepared, and there's often an inspiring dish featured as the s... read more This is one of our favorite spots. The staff is friendly and well-informed. The food is expertly prepared, and there's often an inspiring dish featured as the special of the night. Plus, the oysters are always a crowd-pleaser!

I love Livs, it’s definitely my current favorite. I DO wish they would put some white cloths on the tables though. read more I love Livs, it’s definitely my current favorite. I DO wish they would put some white cloths on the tables though.

I had the scallop dinner, and my husband had the tuna. Both meals were delicious!! Our dessert was chocolate and raspberry, and it was good, just not the best I... read more I had the scallop dinner, and my husband had the tuna. Both meals were delicious!! Our dessert was chocolate and raspberry, and it was good, just not the best I've had. Overall our experience was very good and we will come back.

The cod was a bit too salty, but it was cooked well. The swordfish was also prepared nicely. The menu is on the expensive side and somewhat limited. read more The cod was a bit too salty, but it was cooked well. The swordfish was also prepared nicely. The menu is on the expensive side and somewhat limited.