Duke Ocean Grill open

Duke Ocean Grill, owned by Alvin Park of Cafe Duke in Manhattan, has opened in Tappan, N.Y., in the site of the former IGA supermarket, a few steps from the state line. It seats 400 and has stations for just about everything, including prime-aged beef, pizza, rotisserie and kaiten sushi (on a conveyor belt).

Duke Ocean Grill is at 37 Route 303, Tappan, N.Y.; 845-674-2295. Its Web site, dukeoceangrill, doesn't appear to be working.

Comments

[Leandra]

My boyfriend and I went to Duke Ocean Grill on Monday night and I have to say the service was terrible, the food was a disaster I could not even eat my salmon. I took one bite and that was it. My boyfriend however had the red snapper and he never puts salt on anything and had to put salt on it. Neither of the fish was fresh! We ordered appitizers and they did not come at the same time the waiter forgot about our california roll and still charged us. The quail tasted like metal, overall it was a mess! If they would have put as much time into the food as they did decorating it would have been wonderful, and another thing it was hard to tell if it was a steak house or a sushi bar there was only two steaks on the menu from what i remember and a lot of sushi. I do not think they have what it takes!

[Christina]

I just got home from eating at Duke Ocean Grill with my parents and husband. I could not disagree with Leandra's comment more. The place was fantastic. The food was amazing, the service was top notch. My parents are really picky and critical about restaurants and they love, love this place. I suggest getting the mussel appetizer, seafood chowder, the lobster special (which was so delicious and only $20), and the fig four ways dessert. Such a great meal. Decent wine list at reasonable prices. I think the interior of the place is pretty cool and would be great for a big party of people. I hope this place succeeds because it's a great addition to the neighborhood. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!!!!

[Joyce]

I also disagree with Leandra's comment. The food was great, the service was top notch, employees pleasant & friendly and prices reasonable. Such a great meal. Food and wine selections were quite amazing and turned out to be wonderful. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone.

[Tony W.]

I visited Duke's Ocean Grill back on their opening weekend in November and I'm pretty sure I won't be coming back. Our party of 4 consisted of my parents, my fiancé and I. Our first impression was that it was a fancy seafood grill but that moldy/fishy Asian supermarket smell was still in the air and caught us off guard. After checking out the limited and somewhat strange menu, three of us ordered the Mahi-Mahi of which only mine came out cooked. One plate was blood red the other was half cooked and jello-like, so two of the fish were sent back to the kitchen one to be recooked and the other exchanged for a diner quality pork dish. My Mahi-Mahi was just OK, with little to no side dish provided. Overall for an average of $40+ per meal with a drink, served by a new-hire high school student, nobody was impressed. The decor of the place is impressive but the quality of food and service was embarrassing. There is no way a restaurant of this size and price can survive without excellent dishes and a professional staff.

[Erick L]

Tony W. and Leandrea. Hello my name is Erick Larios, I'm the general manager at Duke Ocean Grill in Tappan. I would like to extend a personal invitation to the both of you to come to my restaurant and give us a second chance. As you might know we opened in November and like every new restaurant that opens there are some kinks that need to be worked out. I apologize to you both for the negative experience you had and hope that you will take me up on my invitation and come and give us another chance. I assure you both you will not be dissapointed. The number to the restaurant is 845-680-6631 not the number mentioned above. Please call and ask for me as I would like to personally take your reservation.

[Dorothy Matous]

I also disagree with the negative comments above. I have been at Duke's twice and would not hesitate to go again. The first time was for lunch and the menu was very sparse, but the Chicken pot pie was the best ever! I live very near and see people come by busloads and I sincerely hope they enjoyed their experience as much as I did. My second time was even better and my three friends were very happy also. I also had the lobster special and enjoyed it very much.

[Peter J]

I went for lunch and I ordered some iced tea and the answer from the waiter was. We are out of iced tea. I said I will wait for them to make some more. The answer back was No was are out of iced tea. What is the deal with this. Can't they make some iced tea. There was a ton of wait staff and management standing around. They could have made some iced tea. It is not that HARD! Food was also yucky. Looks like the management was very nervous. Bet they will not be around soon.

[John Bove]

Had dinner there several times and the food and service were outstanding!!! I recommend the crab cakes for appetizer and the rib eye rivals the best steak I have ever eaten!!! Worth the trip!!

[Bernard]

My wife and I had lunch at Dukes Ocean Grill on Feb 28. The place is beautifully decorated, the service OUTSTANDING and the food was incredible. During the week they have a lunch menu but only a dinner menu on weekends. My wife had the salad nicoise which usually comes with canned tuna. Their version had fresh grilled tuna. I had shrimp and linguini with a porcini mushroom sauce which was outstanding but it was Saturday during lunch so I really can't judge until we are there on a busy night. We started out with a shrimp tempura roll which was just ok. I have had better. The have a sushi bar and fully stocked bar. Their steaks are aged so next time that is what I plan to have. Reservations are suggested for a Saturday night.

[MN]

This was by far the WORST dining experience I have ever had in my adult life. It was Easter Sunday and my grandmother's birthday. My entire family (a large party of 16) decided to have brunch at Duke Ocean Grill. The disaster started when the unfriendly seating hostess neglected to give us a kid's menu for the four children in our party. We had to order for them from the adults menu. And apparently, this caused some severe confusion in the kitchen and thus delayed service of our food for an hour. The waiters were incompetent and not attentive. The next disaster was the lobster bisque which the majority of the adults ordered as it sounded appetizing. Much to our disgust the lobster bisque was absolutle inedible and tasted burnt and salty. It was by far the most detestable item I'v ever tasted in a restaurant. It goes without saying that we all did not touch it beyond the initial spoonful. The food was overpriced. Bland or too salty. And to top it off the service from the waiters to the manager left much to be desired. We will NEVER go back to this establishment and will make sure to spread the word.

[Sushi Lover]

To the General Manager. First impressions are everything. By the looks of this place it should always be top notch. Where were you when all of these people had terrible service? Not very good ratings for an expensive new restaurant. I won't go there and I work very close by.

[Jay D.]

Sushi Lover: You mean to tell me that you are not going to the restaurant based on other people's impressions and opinions? Do you not have a mind of your own? The General Manager extended invitations to the first two who were not satisfied which is "top notch" of him to do. I have been to Duke's numerous times and the service has always been wonderful. I usually have the sushi which is always fresh. I have had the lobster special and the steak. All of which were delicious. I have never been there and been disappointed. Maybe you should try it before you criticize a place you have never stepped a foot into. Do not be so judgmental.

[b. shubert]

Just had Father's Day dinner T Duke and loved it. Great architecture with an exciting vibe . Very varied menu which is always a pleasure . Very attentive server (Bernadette) and excelleent food as well as artistic plating. They even found my lost camera and are holding it for me. We will be back..and NOT just for the camera :)

[Fritz]

I ate at duke ocean grill the other night, my experience was interesting. I brought a group of friends with me to dine. My server was rob, a very attentive and patient waiter with us, considering we are all from Germany as have troubles when speaking English sometimes. We had a lot of problems when ordering wine because they were out of 2 different bottles. The chef requests that the entire order be placed at once (not appetizer order then entree) and the fact that I asked him twice for a manager and never got one. Our server seemed embarrassed over this and told us that he was in the party room and would be out to speak to us, still no one arrived. The food was excellent and even though we did give him hard time, he remained professional with us. I do not know why we didn't get a manager over, this has left me very uneasy with returning if a manager cannot help his own restaurant.