Jay's Seafood

Historic charm with a dated dinner-house vibe. Had an old-building smell. Friendly staff; they were very busy so it was pretty slow service to get our orders but server was gracious. FOOD-- soft bread w/ alot of salty topping, Bside salad with mixed greens and lots of tomatoes, good variety of house-made dressings; I had the seared tuna, excellent. The portable a mushrooms were so good. I did not expect the tuna to be on butter, which is unfortunate. I would not have chosen that. The fisherman's platter looked tasty. Recommend ordering a specialty, not by meat/side. The women's bathroom reveals the dated building. Unlevel floor with narrow walls. I can see how this restaurant was at its prime 20 years ago.

Last night was my first and only time I have been to Jays. It’s been on my list for a long time. My problem is it was advertised as a 5 star experience, but I feel like I got 3 stars… The good: The cheese sticks. Some of the best I’ve ever had. They were like a fluffy and lightly breaded. Wife had the king crab legs, they come cracked for you, and they were top quality! Huge amounts of meat, served with a butter tower. Zucchini boat was served with my steak, it was loaded with a mushroom and cheese filling. It was really good. I liked the house vinaigrette. It was like a lemon poppyseed thing. It was light and nice! The bad/odd: When we first arrived the host was surprised we actually kept our reservation she felt it necessary to inform us of several no shows they had have. Our server wasn’t great and she was odd. Started off by talking about her dog was her valentine. After brining us water she took awhile to take our order, informed us of the specials (2 diffrent fishes grouper and salmon) I tried to order the bone in steak (it was already sold out) which I thought was weird they opened at 4pm my reservation was at 6… so I got the filet instead. Once our food came out we were enjoying our meal and the server was getting ready to serve the specials to another table and she brought it to show us. (I just thought it was really strange because we were already eating what we had ordered and then she’s showing us like what we could’ve had) it was just odd.. Steak was ok We got chocolate cake at the end per our server’s recommendation, and it was one of the worst pieces of cake over ever had. I told the server that I didn’t care for it. She didn’t offer to take it away or get something else for us… The salad is so basic, Just lettuce, carrots, and uncut tomatoes.. I’m surprised that I could get served a better salad at a chain restaurant like an Applebee’s or outback. The bread had an odd taste to it. Almost like it was frozen and thawed out. Also, I know it’s an older restaurant and the history is part of the charm, but just everything in there felt outdated and that it’s just running on old money and reputation. This is probably somewhere I won’t come back to just because of the overall experience from the service and the let down on some of the food items. Like I said, it’s advertised as five stars and it feels more like three.

We’ve been to Jay’s numerous times and have always been satisfied. Today, we finally realized it was Dayton’s best restaurant! I had the blackened walleye—delicious! My wife had a rare fillet and it was cooked perfectly. We normally go to the Oakwood Club or the Pine Club for steaks, but this one was even better. We love the atmosphere and Tandra’s service was top-notch, not oppressive but we never felt neglected. We’ll definitely be going back more often, and now not just for the fish!

The food was good but the hospitality killed the whole experience. If you are Black, expect to be treated like a second class citizen here. They prejudiced as hell and bold as hell with it too. The first time I visited I gave them a pass. In the food industry there are good days and bad days, you never know what’s going on behind the scenes that affects the hospitality/customer service that day. But if it happens more than once it’s a BEHAVIOR and CULTURE. The second time, which was my last time going there was in 2021. I talked to the director of hospitality who bragged to me about being there 30 plus years. When I told her my concerns she said she never noticed anything with her servers, completely tone deaf, and treated me as if I was trying to get a free meal. I left and never went back. The food is far from cheap, so every customer that comes in there regardless of race should feel welcomed, warm, and appreciated for patronizing the establishment. A Black person shouldn’t be frowned upon, mean mugged by waiters and waitresses like a Jim Crow special edition.

My husband and I come to jays seafood a few times a month. Our favorite item is the scallops Andre appetizer. We've been dining at Jays for a few months and we love it! Today was the first time one of our meals were messed up. But absolutely nothing that wasn't corrected. I felt terrible to say anything about the steak not being cooked correctly but the manager and staff were amazing about the issue. We got our bill discounted and a gift card and two free deserts. Couldn't ask for better service. Thank you guys for always making our dining experience amazing!!!!! Thank you to Tasha our server and to the only manager I ever see at the restaurant lol.

Wonderful place for dinner. We celebrated our wedding anniversary and had a great dining experience. Highly recommend this restaurant for celebrating your special event!

My wife and I are here for the first time tonight. We looked at the menu ahead of time so the prices did not come as a shock. For the price we expected to taste great food. We did just that! She had a crab leg platter and I had the fisherman’s platter. We started with some raw oysters. Everything was fantastic! Great, fresh tasting seafood that came out quick and was filling. The only one thing we did not care for was the mashed potatoes. Might have just been us though. Seafood was fantastic. Highly recommend.

I would encourage to have a reservation. The place was packed on a Friday evening. The service was very good. The best scallops I had in Dayton. The shrimp was also very good, flavorful and soft. I got the gumbo (chefs special- not on the menu). It was good. The sausage had a unique flavor. Wife got the pasta which was decent as well. The place looks a little old. They validate the parking.

Food was incredible! Loved the calamari strips, they were so tender and crispy. Salmon and pasta were both delicious. First time at Jays, but definitely won't be the last.

From the mahogany bar to the high ceilings and the history of this place I can't believe this was my first visit. Parking meter inside the front door on those very cold and rainy nights is a plus. We started off with a few drinks and yes they make an old-fashioned but the glass was way too small. So next I went with a Manhattan sans vermouth and it came with a maraschino cherry so I had to 86 that out and ask for Luxardo cherries. Our table ordered a Warped Wing Flyer Red and it came in a can. Nope. Not good. If you're gonna advertise that beer, always make sure it's on draft. The Mozzarella Strips were amazing and it came with honey mustard, but ditch it for other sauces. The Oysters Rockefeller were on point and this party of 6 ordered several. Market Price for Crab Legs is $110/pound. A bit pricey but meaty as all get out. Spiced Bourbon Salmon was flavorful and the Kobe Burger was a hit. We had a party of 6 and although we split it into 3 checks, a 20% gratuity was included on each check with a party of 5 or more which was never discussed until the checks came out. Welp, there goes your tip since it was already included. Very poor management on charging gratuity for 5+ patrons.

What has happened? We come here about every other month. Have ALWAYs had excellent meals. I ordered an entre spinach salad with salmon. It came in a soup bowl with very little spinach and no dressing. Salmon was cooked to perfection but salad equated to a handful of leafs in a soup bowl. Why did the server even think this was okay to bring to the table? We have always had a great cup of coffee with desert here but tonight it tasted like it was run through the same coffee grounds, repeatedly. Jay's - seriously, what is happening?

One of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. The wait staff was unfriendly, short, and thoroughly unpleasant. Why would the staff be helpful and friendly when the tip is included? oAn offensive practice. Most importantly, the food was terribly average. The swordfish was dry with poor flavor. The halibut (the special) was uninspired with muddled flavors. Finally, the filet with shrimp had an overwhelming vinegar flavor, practically inedible. The restaurant enjoys popularity, but is clearly resting on its past. Awful experience, bad food and help. Will not return.

Jay's Seafood restaurant is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Dayton and outlining areas. It is the restaurant where you can always depend upon the freshest and best prepared fish and seafood. A few days ago however, I ordered the Mediterranean Swordfish, and was very disappointed. It was smothered in a heavy bitter cream, and the fish was overcooked. The spinach was mushy and there were no tomatoes or capers in the dish. I will not order it again. I would suggest modifying that dish to resemble a more authentic light dish with wilted spinach, light feta cheese, lemon, etc . Thank you

I usually come to Jay's for restaurant week and it is always an amazing meal. The spiced bourbon salmon is probably one of my favorite items on the menu. The sides that come with it are mashed sweet potatoes and the horseradish mashed potatoes. I don't even like horseradish but the mashed potatoes are delicious! All the flavors and the bourbon sauce meld perfectly together. I also had the seafood linguine and it had the perfect amount of sauce and was loaded with seafood. This was a great portion size and I was able to get multiple meals out of this place. The lobster bisque had amazing flavor to it and I would definitely get it again. I didnt have the clam chowder this time but that is also a favorite of mine. The only thing I did not like as much was the chocolate mousse. The presentation caught me off guard because it looked like ice cream. It also was very thick, dense, and starchy (like eating chalk) and Im used to a lighter, smoother consistency. It wasn't bad and I did eat it all but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I have tried their key lime pie and flourless chocolate cake and those were phenomenal. They get 5 stars because of that. Next time I will just stick to what I know. I will definitely be coming back!

Last night we went to celebrate my birthday. First time going for us. We made reservations since it was prom. We were seated right away but waited for awhile for our waiter to take our drink order. He seemed very flustered the whole time. We ordered appetizers which were delicious. Placed our meal orders and it went down hill from there. It took a long time to get them at one point we were told we were there was one ticket before ours. When they did arrive everything was cold. And not good. Very disappointed Will not return

We've been back to Jay's twice, service has been great both times. Our waiter on the last visit was Tucker and tonight Bronson. Very knowledgeable regarding the menu and great recommendations. He brought a very positive vibe to the experience. The Artichokes app and both our seafood entrees were excellent. So flavorful. Even the salads were worthy of note. The ingredients are high quality all around and the presentation is mouth-watering! Fresh seafood has to travel far to get here, and price reflects that expense. And it's well worth the cost. Highly recommended. I'm coming back for lobster!

We went to Jay's to celebrate my son's birthday. Everyone in our party had something different, and every dish was absolutely excellent. Service was attentive and we enjoyed ourselves completely.

Food was great I had Med Steak w/Bone in. Amazing well cooked and seasoned. Bread was awesome

Jays is a real gem in The Gem City. The beautiful, historic building. The divine cuisine and the friendly, jovial service make it one of our favorites. We always make sure we get there early to enjoy a well made cocktail at the unique bar.

Great service! Thank you Shaun. Worst food ever. Fried oysters ended up as mush. Halibut special was way over done. The clam chowder was good. Never again.

We've been to Jay's numerous times and have always been satisfied. Today, we finally realized it was Dayton's best restaurant! I had the blackened walleye--delicious! My wife had a rare fillet and it was cooked perfectly. We normally go to the Oakwood Club or the Pine Club for steaks, but this one was even better. We love the atmosphere and Tandra's service was top-notch, not oppressive but we never felt neglected. We'll definitely be going back more often, and now not just for the fish!

My husband & I went here for our anniversary. The service was good, wine was excellent. The Crab Rangoon was good. The issue is I ordered Scallops, and for $50 I expect good scallops. They were not edible, they were supposed to be blackened. I received them sitting in a bowl/ plate of water. They were rubbery and had some weird paste in the water they were sitting in. I couldn't eat them. We didn't say anything, because are waiter was slammed. They were horrible. Also it was our anniversary and didn't want to have an issue. Our bill came to $300 with the tip and three desserts. I asked for flan and it was to go, it was pudding in a plastic cup not even caramelised on the top. Whatever you do, please don't order the scallops, and instead order the key lime dessert. Disappointing anniversary diner.

My first time dining here was actually on my birthday. My husband and I decided to celebrate at this location and we had a wonderful time. My very favorite detail about Jay's seafood is how unfussy the vibe is. You get excellent quality food, great service, but nothing feels pretentious. Our waitress chatted with us, and we felt right at home while eating some truly delicious seafood. I am a big raw oyster fan, and their oysters were so fresh and so delicious that I would come back just to have a glass of wine and a dozen oysters. I also enjoyed the muscles as my entree, and they were delicious. This is a great gem in downtown Dayton, and a great spot if you're a big seafood lover like me.

Food was overpriced and all over cooked ! Overcooked seafood is awful ! The coating on the cod was too salty ! The server acted annoyed at us the entire meal ! It was suppose to be a special occasion and we all agreed we will never go back

Food and service were both excellent! I can't wait to return and try other items on the menu. The atmosphere was also very nice and relaxing.

We recall dining at Yankee Tavern in Centerville; Kudos to Amy. We have recommended Jay's Seafood Restaurant since 1976, and in our view and many others Jay's Seafood Restaurant is the best seafood restaurant in Dayton. While Jay's Seafood Restaurant merits five star meals, it is upscale casual; but not too casual. Restaurant is old school architecture, and the bar is a centerpiece. Caveat: Reservations are necessary, and we prefer earlier rather than later. Jay's is in Oregon District and offers a parking lot. Fresh fish is the reason to dine; although there are other food items. Years ago we learned the delights of Jay's Seafood Restaurant, and Jay's Seafood Restaurant does a great business. We nearly always order the menu's fresh fish; my wife is partial to Linguine al Frutti di Mal. Dining Five Star Service Five Star Ambience Five Star The tariff is appropriate for the fare.

We did a special wine pared lunch here today. It was nothing short of excellent! We started with escargot in a white sauce. Perfectly cooked, creamy and delicious. Next was scallops, also perfectly cooked and served with garlic noodles. Next came lamb chops served with sliced vegetables, delicious! Finally the tenderloin was served, also cooked perfectly served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Last was a lemon cheesecake that melted in my mouth. Ooooooo...... I would and will do this again!

Great selection of seafood and catches of the day. Prices were moderate and comparable to market price. Nice wine selection and while it's a bit noisy because of 20 ft ceilings the bar and back bar are magnificent

Crab cake had shells in it, salad was gritty, ranch dressing was tasteless. My husband had the spiced bourbon salmon and said he would not order that again. The best part of the meal was the bread and the scallops. Maybe it was a bad night!

We went for my mom's birthday. The food and service were really good! Great wine list!

I would encourage to have a reservation. The place was packed on a Friday evening. The service was very good. The best scallops I had in Dayton. The shrimp was also very good, flavorful and soft. I got the gumbo (chefs special - not on the menu). It was good. The sausage had a unique flavor. Wife got the pasta which was decent as well. The place looks a little old. They validate the parking.

Jay's has and continues to be one of the best restaurants in town. I hadn't been there in over 20 years, but wasn't disappointed. Everyone in our party ordered different entrees and everyone raved about their food. the service and our waitress were exceptional.

It had several salmon dishes, not much else. The service was outstanding. The food not that great.

I came from out of town and my colleague was encouraged to give Jay's Seafood a try. It seemed like a popular eatery in a historic part of town. I ordered the calamari and the fish tacos. The calamari was amazing! Fresh, crispy, and well seasoned. Unfortunately, my tacos were not as good. They were not very seasoned and a bit mushy. Thankfully my helping of calamari was so big, I didn't have room to be upset. I wouldn't get the tacos again, but I'd be willing to go back for the calamari and try something else on the menu.

This place is fantastic! Ate here this evening. We had Adam as our server. He was great. Very efficient and fast getting our drinks! The seafood is awesome! You will love this place! Pictures below! They have a great bar where you can get all kinds of drinks including daiquiris!

Blackened salmon with sweet potato and mashed potato with bourbon sauce may have been too carb heavy, but OMG was it terrific! As always, clam chowder to die for, and their inimitable blue cheese wedge awesome as always. Why four stars? uneven service, things mis ordered, refills forgotten. And sadly, bourbon pecan pie was mostly tasteless crust. It wasn't a packed night, so noise level was fine, it can be high.

Had a guest from Philly area join us to Jay's for dinner. As we always are, they were impressed! Our meals were delicious, wait staff very good; and even ran into the owner who was gracious enough to share some restaurant history and take our photo near the awesome bar. Never hesitate to dine at Jay's... the walleye can't be beat!

Not sure the low ratings here. The food, service and ambiance are amazing. Old world environment with very fresh seafood. That is amazing when you are a very long ways from the ocean.

Great place to take out of town friends or for a special night out. For seafood lovers you have plenty of choices. For those who prefer a good steak they have that too. Cool bar. Cool atmosphere.

This place was amazing! On our last trip up to Dayton, The Harrshorn's introduced us to Jays. This place is fantastic, from seafood to steaks & a burger for the young one. Everything was perfect! I promise you, Jays, does not disappoint.

Service was amazing. Had a very talented host. Got seated right at open 5p. Had the oysters and Rockefeller O's, on par with other oyster bars in Southwest OH or a Ruby's seafood tower. Tried all 3 platters; the fisherman's, crab and lobster. Seafood was solid. Scallops a little dry but they were grill

Jay's Seafood has long been a special occasion spot in the neighborhood end of the iconic Oregon District in Downtown Dayton. And when I arrived last weekend I was still in awe of how incredible the restaurant looked. Its classic mix of old but well maintained and loved. We were greeted warmly by our hostess and shown to our table. Our server arrived and was very charming, ready to address our needs. The food arrived, I was absolutely delighted...Until I ate it. I ordered a Pepper Tuna Steak and it came out pretty okay (a little tough) but the wasabi cream sauce was undetectable and the lemon spinach was boring. My wife ordered lobster and it was clearly overcooked not to mention, pretty expensive. All in saying, no doubt a famous local spot but lacking the luster that it once held.

My brother came in town to visit and insisted trying "the best seafood in Dayton," after previously trying out the best steakhouse in Dayton. I had the Clam Chowder and Fried Oysters and both were delicious. The clam chowder is definitely more on the richer and thicker side of chowders.

On 2/24/24 we had 6 o'clock dinner reservations (party of 5) at Jay's prior to going to an adult prom night at the Dayton Arcade at 8:00. We arrived on time thinking we had plenty of time to eat dinner before going to the prom. (We were late) Although we were served drinks and appetizers , we sat there feeling ignored and didn't receive our food til 7:40. When the food arrived it was luke warm at best. I ordered the fisherman's platter and the fried shrimp and it was very greasy and seemed to have been double dipped!! The gentleman that served us was too busy flirting other patrons to accommodate us. They also charged us a gratuity for 6 people and stated on the receipt that we had a party of 6 but there was only 5 in our party!! I guess they knew that that's the only way for our waiter to get his tip since we complained about the food and service. They gave us a small discount which was a joke!! I looked at my receipt once I got home and the calculations did not add up. (See top of receipt) For the fisherman's platter $35.50 and 2 glasses of wine $26.00 I still ended up paying $68.49 after their "so called discount" for bad food and service!! Jays used to be the best place in town for great seafood but since the owner passed away it has really gone downhill!! Over priced & over rated. I would not recommend to anyone!!

The food was so bad tonight! We have ate there before and it was great but tonight was so bad! The drinks tasted awful, the mussels and oysters served cold. The lobster tail cold (no butter served with it)and tasted like rubber, ceasar salad tasted like vinegar, no utensils until we asked, no appetizer plates, mashed potatoes tasted like straight horseradish, I could go on and on. Worse meal of my life and our party of 4 are physically sick as a result. Don't know what's goin on but they need to get it together and fix something! Terrible

First and foremost, I want to say that the server was lovely. However, the food, not too much. We started with oysters, and while not the worst, they were very grainy. The salads weren't bad but the ranch dressing had zero flavor. For the first time in my life I had to salt my salad. Then, we had a shrimp cocktail. While they were HUGE, they were again, flavorless and a little tough. For our entrees, we had the twin lobster tails, and again, while they were HUGE, zero flavor. I actually had to salt all of my food. Both myself and my dinner companion left feeling sick, and before we even left the restaurant, had the runs. Ran us close to $250.

Jay's has been voted best Ohio seafood in the past. Within walking distance from Dayton's Oregon District. Large selection of seafood. Excellent service. A magnificent hand carved mahogany bar. Buffalo Bill had ridden his horse up to this bar. My favorite is salmon en Croúte. Excellent wine selection. Great for romantic settings, business or large events.

My husband and I came in for a date night from out of town and were so excited to try out this place, our server was absolutely amazing, our food was super bland and was not worth the bill. We both got platters that looked and sounded amazing, just lacked a little bit.By no means food snobs, but still didn't love our experience

Having not been out much over the past year we are trying to experience restaurants again, our wedding anniversary seemed like a good excuse to go to Jay's. 7:30 reservation and we arrived at our table 7:35 waiter says he is busy will return soon 7:50 Drinks order taken 8:05 Drinks arrive (we are thirsty by now) 8:10 A few slices of bread 8:30 our order taken 9:15 food arrived 9:50 pay and leave First choice was sold out, salmon was heavily salted on one side, salad was a reason to never eat greens again in ones life Service terrible, under staffed, food expensive, imaginative and mediocre at best ! PS if you are going to serve Guinness and you don't have taps it should be canned draught (bottle draught is for drinking from a bottle...read the label) What a waste of $200! Should have gone to a brewery and hoped Pa's bar-b-que in their big red truck was there!

This is this actually my first time every making a complaint about any business I want everyone to succeed especially a local one. But the female mgr at Jay's Seafood in Dayton OH was so very rude I had to inform the public about this business,. I paid $30 for 9 extra's small fried oysters disguised in 95% breading the size of a golf ball and this wasnt the first time but the 2nd time my mother was unhappy with the amount of oysters and when I called to inquire about it the female mgr said and I quote "Then dont come back" SO I SUGGEST DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY AT "RUDE JAY'S SEAFOOD"

The ducked-off location was greatly appreciated. My childlikeness appreciates a good hideaway . Nevertheless, upon arrival I came as a first timer with an open mind. While waiting to be seated a returning customer said this place was delicious. So, I had high-hopes. Jays exceeded it. I ordered a Caesar salad , glass of moscato and the seasonal pumpkin chocolate cheesecake. It was decadent. The Caesar salad was thoroughly spread with seasoning, dressing and cheese. The cake was sweet and satiating. Moscato is always a go to, when you have a sweet tooth for wine, which I always have . Lastly, the interior setting was relaxing: dim lighting, friendly staff and antique embedded wood pieces. I will return. My next task- the Bourbon salmon .

My family and I had a nice time here but I have some constructive feedback. It would appear that our server was over-sat, which isn't her fault and she was busting her ass but it made the timing for us a little frustrating. She did great despite being in over her head. The bottle of wine recommended to us (a Malbec) was amazing and I would definitely get it again. The ambiance here is good but expect it to be louder and busy. This isn't a quiet restaurant for a Saturday night. I ordered the Greek-style swordfish which was good but VERY rich. The wedge salad was awesome but it was too much food together. Everyone else raved about their meals and we were all really happy. One issue was that the child in our party was always served last. It took 25 minutes for her to get her pop after we had our drinks. Her meal also came 10 minutes after we were served. We waited for her to receive our food so our food was no longer hot. I'd try them again but I hope that they correct the issue of us getting our meals and drinks within a reasonable time frame.

For $20-$30 a plate on the low end I'm really not sure how this place keeps a crowd. A friend decided to have his birthday dinner here, it was a first time for most of the party. When I got there about 3 of the staff members walked by without greeting me. Not a good start. Being that it's a known seafood restaurant I set my expectations accordingly for other dishes (shellfish allergy). I ordered the chicken dish on a bed of linguini. My pasta was less than lukewarm but my chicken was piping hot. The chicken was good however the sauce tasted like it came out of a jar and had no flavor. Others had the same dish as me and some had a variety of seafood dishes. Out of 9 people only 3 people actually enjoyed their meal. The waitress was nice about it and took the dish off of my bill. The drinks were strong, fine by me! The ambiance is nice as well which is why I give it 2 stars instead of one. I just wish the food matched the price.

I have lived in Dayton my whole life and just now visiting this gem! I loved the food and the atmosphere. For an appetizer we started with the oysters and Tuna Poke, both were really good! I had the grilled rare tuna for dinner and HIGHLY recommend! We ended the night with chocolate mouse which was soooo good. Loved this place!

Food and atmosphere is very good and service is usually great. All of the seafood options are delicious and good options. However, the bread has changed and is blander than usual. Other than that, a good restaurant with efficient service.

Absolute irate over how my husband was treated over ordering a small order.... "we don't usually do small orders but..." Was just one of the negative comments we received.. It was repeatedly several times in a derogatory manor over the phone and when he went to pick it up. He was extremely uncomfortable to the point where he said "if you dont do small orders, why didn't you tell me that over the phone" and the manager goes "its not that..." and proceeded to brush off the situation. When I called and spoke with the manager, all I got was a "I'm so sorry.... I'm so sorry hope you feel better soon, have a good night" Honestly, we will not be back. I'm pregnant, and all I wanted was a soup and a freaking baked potatoes but i'll be throwing this out- out of fear that they did something to the food for being a "small order" So unbelievably unprofessional and unpleasant. I'm pregnant and all I wanted was a soup and a baked potato. Thanks for treating us like less than!

Great and locally owned. Been a staple in the 'Oregon District' since 1976. Spinach salad is a must and my favorite is the Cedar Plank Salmon. For dessert you must do the 4 yums!