Ophelia’s Fish House

Seafood restaurant · Capitol Hill

Ophelia’s Fish House

Seafood restaurant · Capitol Hill

2

501 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

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Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null
Ophelia’s Fish House by null

Highlights

Ophelia's Fish House serves up fresh seasonal seafood in a chic yet laid-back atmosphere, complete with fish-themed decor and a breezy patio.  

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501 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 Get directions

opheliasdc.com
@ophelias_dc

$$ · Menu

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501 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 Get directions

+1 202 543 1445
opheliasdc.com
@ophelias_dc

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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@eater

"Coastline Oyster Co. will have instant Capitol Hill competition from Ophelia's Fish House and Raw Bar, which specializes in East Coast oysters, shooters, and $1 bivalves during weekday happy hour." - Tierney Plumb

Capitol Hill Gets a Surprise New Raw Bar This Week - Eater DC
View Postcard for Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar
@eater

"Despite a downsized portfolio, Johnson still holds out hope for the neighborhood where HRG continues to run restaurants like Ophelia’s Fish House." - Tierney Plumb

Popular Irish Pub Finn McCool’s Has Permanently Closed on Barracks Row - Eater DC
View Postcard for Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar

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Google
With fun decor and great oysters at good prices, this is a great date destination for dinner. The food was tasty and the atmosphere was calm and enjoyable even though the restaurant and patio were relatively full. The cocktails were also good!

Anthony Von Plinsky

Google
SPECTACULAR!!!!!! Uno, our server, was fantastic! The food was immaculate! The drinks were tasty and place was super clean!! Light jazz entertained your ears while the white fish ceviche and Cajun seafood boil excited the taste buds!!!! Even the popcorn shrimp seemed like they were made with a uniqueness not normally given to a fried treat. The place was gorgeous and we’ll be back for sure!!

Marshall (MRJ56)

Google
This was another happy hour to spend time with my daughter. I chose Ophelia's because of the $1 oysters on the happy hour menu. And it was a very good choice. The service was great our waitress was knowledgeable about the items on the menu. We decided to try a few items from the Happy hour menu. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7. We ordered a dozen local oysters, steamed mussels, fish bites, oysters carnival and from the Happy hour menu. And paella from the regular menu. The local oysters were large and sweet and came with house made cocktail sause, horse radish, vinegar and lemon wedges. The oysters alone were the visit. The fish used for the fish bites was mahi mahi which is a firm flesh dish. The fish bites were seasoned well but was close to being overcooked. Because mahi mahi is thick and firm maybe flash fry it to let it keep some of it's moisture. The fish bites came with a house made Tatar sauce. Over the fish bites were good. The steamed mussels were delicious. The white wine broth they were prepared in was light and full of flavor. The oyster carnival comes 3 to an order. They were very good. The parmesan crust was light and they were topped with nice size pieces of crab. The only item that we ordered that was not a part of the happy hour menu was ther paella. This was the reason I couldn't give them 5 stars. The paella was full of flavor and a lot chunks of goodness, chicken sausage, shrimp, mussels. The only thing I have that I could say against this dish is the rice was not cooked completely. My preference is to have the rice cooked until it is soft. Some of the rice was cooked the way I prefer it. But the majority of the rice was crunchy. But overall the paella was good. I would recommend Ophelia's to my friends. And I definitely will be going back for happy hour. And I am looking forward to trying items other items on their dinner menu.

Rachel Murphy

Google
Good brunch. The chicken and waffles was good (waffle flavorful but not crispy) as was the crab cake Benedict (same, not seared). The staff was attentive and the unlimited mimosas flowed. Overall ok, but not a place I’d seek to return with the number of local options.

Dave Thornton

Google
Pretty good restaurant on a street full of what looks like good choices. Sea bass was pretty good. Could have been hotter and a slightly larger portion. Chicken Alfredo was plentiful and the sauce had good flavor with red peppers and broccoli mixed in. Not too creamy/cheesy. My wife got the salmon and it was pretty good. Happy hour drinks were good at $5 for bourbon/coke.

Joseph

Google
There were three of us on this day. Saturday, June 22nd. We walked up late in the afternoon, were promptly greeted and seated. One of us, my wife, absolutely loved her shrimp and grits. I though my fish and chips were ok. The fish tasted a little greasy as if it was re-heated or frozen. The other person had the Jambalaya and did not like it at all. Service was perfect, as was the ambiance. I'd try it again but not anytime soon. There are a lot of other places I go before returning.

Dee Bee

Google
The place is a mixed bag. The Good: 1. We ordered the Seafood Hash and the Country Hash which tasted great. I would recommend if you decide to eat here. 2. The imdoor decor is comfy and the establishment is in a trendy location. The Bad: 1. The portions were small, especially with the "Brioche" French Toast which was four thin slices of basic French Toast with a cup of preserves. Don't let the descriptions on the menu or pics online fool you, you may leave hungry. 2. The place was fairly empty but we still waited several minutes for a waiter, and waited even longer for the check when we were about to leave. 3. What we ordered was missing cheese, even though cheese was an ingredient on the menu. 4. Prices were fairly high for the experience. In conclusion, I believe this place has potential to be good, but given our long wait for service and small food portions, the first experience here was just average.

erin vaughan

Google
Y’all! This place is a wonderful seafood spot. Lovely service and the food is delicious! It is very evident the management/owners/servers pour their heart and soul into making this restaurant a fabulous good experience. My daughter go the salmon with basmati rice, cooked to perfection with delicious flavor. I got the Valencia paella, and it was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend!

Min Z.

Yelp
I wanted to try it whenever I passed by, but they serve dinners only. Anyway I managed to get there for dinner last Friday. The waiter was too busy so the service we got was ok, the food was mediocre. It was a busy night and diners filled up quickly both inside and outside and surprisingly it wasn't too noisy. The food was ok, less than what I had expected. We ordered 3*Fish and chips: the fish wasn't that fresh. The fries were also light and soft, not much flavor . 4*COCONUT MASSAMAN SEAFOOD BOIL included Shrimp, mussels, crawfish, andouille sausage, potatoes, corn on the cob Spicy, shrimp, mussels, crawfish, scallops, bok choy, corn on the cob, lemongrass broth. The portion was big, enough for two. It was mildly spicy. Overall, it wasn't bad.

Sherise K.

Yelp
Really wanted seafood for dinner and the menu did not disappoint. So we went to Ophelia's for date night. The place is not overly fancy, its cozy and the staff are quite friendly! Honestly it was a task choosing our meals because everything sounded so good. Shrimp & crab bisque - delightful and loved the toast they served with it! Fried calamari - served with aioli, lemon and peppers... would've liked more peppers! Coconut massaman curry seafood boil (added a lobster tail) - ONE OF THE BEST DISHES IVE EVER HAD. Legitimately ate the curry ate the bottom of the pot with a spoon. God, it was divine.

Sunni P.

Yelp
Ophelia's Fish House is a neighborhood gem. I know it's best to include pictures with a review but the food was so good I forgot. Ophelia's is a great spot for date night or meeting up with friends. The staff was friendly and went the extra mile. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet the owner Tom. He made me feel welcomed and valued my business. Although not pictured, we ordered the fish bites, Snapper, and cajun seafood broil. The food was served piping hot... and the peach lemonade was perfecto. I highly recommend Ophelia's Fish House. I promised Tom I would be back... and next time I will take pictures and update my review.

Tonya D.

Yelp
Decided to check this spot out for the whole red snapper (my boyfriend loves it). Parking in this area is challenging so pack your patience. I had made a reservation but the place was pretty empty on a Saturday afternoon. We decided to sit in the covered heated patio area. It was cold and windy and I was able to take my jacket off. Those outdoor heaters really work. To our surprise it was happy hour so I was able to try several dishes. We ordered the fried red snapper, fish bites, oyster carnival, oyster parmigiano and roasted calamari. Let me just say the oysters were outstanding...reminded me of New Orleans. Gotta check this place out again and try and few more of the happy hour options.

AlonyaRenee K.

Yelp
I frequently visit the restaurants on Barracks Row as I live and work in the neighborhood. However, the service at this place leaves much to be desired. During a happy hour visit last Friday, I was completely ignored by the bartender, a young Asian woman who never introduced herself. Despite there being only three people in the entire restaurant, it was incredibly difficult to get her attention. I then had to chase down the bartender to order food. She served the only other two customers at the end of the bar and continued to ignore me. Although the food arrived quickly, it got cold while I waited for utensils. Cold mussels are unappetizing. I left my complaints with the manager on duty. When I returned yesterday, I ordered the steak and it came out overcooked. The asparagus and carrots were raw, so I asked for them to be cooked. The wait was so long that my steak and massed potatoes got cold and was inedible. I never got the vegetables back. The bartender offered to comp the beer, but I felt this was insufficient considering half of my meal was inedible. When I spoke to the manager on duty, she was rude, unnecessarily aggressive, and antagonistic. After explaining the situation, she reluctantly agreed to discount my food but put the beer back on my tab, leaving me feeling like a burden for expecting a satisfactory meal.

Schuyler G.

Yelp
Not bad, not great. The Saturday brunch had the restaurant only half full. It was great to sit in the covered, warm, and dry outdoor space on a rainy day and enjoy our bottomless mimosas. There was only one server, who managed well, though he was obviously busy. The shrimp and grits Benedict sounded too good to be true, but it was actually very tasty. The hollandaise was legit. There were only 2 roasted shrimp per grit cake, but the combination was a lovely surprise that I will end up craving when I can't get back here. Contrary to the photos of this dish in older reviews on this site, it is no longer served with asparagus: I got breakfast potatoes, which I didn't bother to try. Too boring, not a fan. The restaurant building itself has seen better days. It's dated, and there is a lingering odor of old food and dirty mop water. The bathroom was sorta clean.

Tom P.

Yelp
We arrived and were greeted quickly and ask if I had a res said no was told there was a 35 min wait so we put in our name the host cleared 3 spots at the bar for our wait nice touch. So it is small and quaint like a west coast fish dinner house the smells out of the kitchen were magnificent they have a HUGE selection of oysters all kinds and at a very good price we had jumbo shrimp cocktail 9 out of 10 on the tommer scale the cocktail sauce was kinda week so we ask for some horseradish that fixed that we had the fish and chips very good cod would definitely recommend scallops were very good as well but the winner of the night was the mahi mahi, dorado or dolphin fish what ever you want to call it sandwich it was out of this world hands down the best I have ever had the service was impeccable the only reason the rating was not a 5 star was the so called baguette on the sandwich it was more like a hogie bun and after eating my way across France don't call a hogie bun a baguette big difference in taste and experience over all fun place

Jinny Y.

Yelp
Considering this is managed by the same restaurant group as what used to be Tortuga, it shouldn't surprise me how horrible of an experience we had on a Friday night at Ophelia's. We walked in tonight and was told there were no tables and it was a 20 minute wait. We tried to leave our name and number but the server then walked away. When we finally got him to come back he put our number on his personal cell phone. We were never texted and it was 45 minutes of waiting outside the restaurant before we were seated. We order calamari and popcorn shrimp and when it came we had calamari in our popcorn shrimp and vice versa. Not a big deal, but indicative of the rest of our night. We then tried to order our entree and couldn't get our server's attention. It took 20 minutes for us to finally flag her down and get our orders in. After 40 minutes of waiting for our food, our server informed us that our order never made it into their system and that we would need to order again. It took that long for her to realize. We then left. Terrible experience.

Katie C.

Yelp
This place was pretty solid. It was a fun place to kick off our DC vacation at! I knew I wanted fresh seafood if we were coming to the east coast, and this was recommended to us. I started with the lobster bisque - super yummy, just wanted it a little warmer. My main course was the Maryland Crab Ravioli, which was FIRE. Would recommend!! The ambiance here was very chill; there was a steady stream of customers, but it felt quiet and quaint. My only complaint for this place would be pricing. We spent 82 dollars for two meals and a lobster bisque. We are from the Midwest, though, so it could be sticker shock. Overall, a good experience!

Jasmine B.

Yelp
I absolutely loveeeeee Ophelia's! Their happy hour menu is absolutely perfect! It was quick service and when you sit outside, they have heaters for when it gets cold. I loved all of the oysters, raw included. The fish bites needed more seasoning, but everything else was delicious.

Kevin D.

Yelp
Small Space, Fresh Taste! Ophelia's Small intimate, dining room w/large bar. Warm wood decor & welcoming atmosphere. Covered Outdoor seating available too. Located on "Barricks Row" Capital Hill's Shopping District, just steps from Eastern Market Metro. A friend recommended Ophelia's. Having enjoyed dining there prior. Saturday evening we met for dinner my first visit. Our reservation/table was ready upon arrival. It wasn't very busy inside; a steady stream of people were coming/going enjoying the outdoors space. The menu is extensive offering a variety of seafood options cooked/raw & a few beef & veggie selections. We both ordered the "grilled salmon" served w/basmati rice & seasonal vegetables. Delicious meal. Fresh flavorful tender salmon, veggies & rice. I had to request a second Coke-the first one didn't taste right. The second one was better-might have been the carbonation. Great customer service our server was attentive & knowledgeable. See Photos!

Ashley U.

Yelp
Pretty nice restaurant. If you like oysters, I recommend. I'm not a big oyster person but the flavor on these (oyster carnival dish) was cool.

Rhonda C.

Yelp
I've stopped in a few times when I or my friends have wanted food seafood on barrack's row. Overall, solid spot with great service and a full menu with TONS of options. what I liked: - service is consistently good! I've been three times at different times of day and the service is always top notch - the space is really cute with ample options for seating. My pup was able to join us in the outside section which I can appreciate (pups are allowed where in the outdoor space with the umbrellas, NOT the patio or inside so don't bring your pup to the spot and get frustrated when you guys can't sit on the patio because of this review). - oysters, fish and chips, poke and shrimp dumplings are all very good dishes. They have a solid happy hour so if you can, pop in between 4 and 7 (M-F) - when they ran out of an ingredient for a cocktail I ordered, they quickly went to go grab more so I could fully enjoy my poloma. Like I said...top notch service! Things I don't love so much... - I've been for dinner twice...and my entree was no where near being hot. My friend had the same feedback. Overall, solid 3.5 stars. Service is great! Decor is very cute! Food is okay.

Sabrina G.

Yelp
My friend turned me on to Ophelia's and I went and I was impressed. French Toast Seafood Omelette these were the items I had and they deserve 5.5. The service was amazing. I went with my friends for brunch! I love it. Can't wait to go back. This restaurant is located in Eastern Market. Check them out during your next visit in Eastern Market

Terence P.

Yelp
We stopped by on a Friday night, just missing their happy hour (4 PM to 7 PM). We were able to grab seats at the bar (our choice, although there was plenty of seating available). I believe that they must have had a very busy happy hour because of the amount of glasses that the staff was trying to wash and put away. Our server (didn't get her name, although she was very attentive and pleasant) took out orders and kept us informed of the prep time for our food order. We ordered appetizers (calamari, steamed mussels and fish bites) and we were ok with the prep time. The drinks were really good. I observed the full menu and they have an assortment of oysters that come from several locations, offering different tastes. The atmosphere was nice, with subdued lighting. The location on the corner makes it a prime spot to stop in for a drink or two. I look forward to going back and checking out some more items on the menu!

Tamieka B.

Yelp
Food was Fresh, cooked well, but lacked seasoning. I opted for the Calamari. I personally like fried seafood with a lemon wedge and a tomato based sauce. They serve their Calamari with a spicy aioli. It was just fat on fat for my palette. I needed more acidity than my lemon could accomplish. There was a char on the lemon wedge which was appreciated. My friends loved the jumbo shrimp and fried snapper. I order a Caesar Salad for my entrée. Sauce was amazing and croutons were made fresh. My only quarrel was the salad was heavily dressed and a large portion of the Romain was a little soggy. I definitely recommend if you are in the area.

Joel S.

Yelp
You're awake you can't beat the half-price oysters. I really love the shrimp and crab bisque services is outstanding. And it's a very comfortable place to enjoy your meal.

Sandy U.

Yelp
This is a welcoming place that we already consider a favorite. The calamari dish is like nothing we've ever tried before; grilled and tangy and just a touch of spice. We also love the muscles. Service is great even when we come late and stay.

Nikki N.

Yelp
This was the most disappointing meal I've had in recent memory. I ordered the Valencia paella. It was a rice dish, but just because you use similar ingredients, does not mean it is paella. The dish sat in a lot of liquid, the rice wasn't crispy on the bottom, and Old Bay was the predominant flavor (think of eating from a canister of Old Bay). It seemed like they took Old Bay-seasoned ingredients (mussels, shrimp, and sausage) from their boils, added rice in a paella pan, called it paella, and charged $38. I tried to finish the meal but couldn't stomach it. When a server asked how the meal was, he left after my partner answered and didn't wait for me to respond. Another staff member brought asked if we needed anything else and I expressed concerns with the entree. He said he wished I said something earlier, which I tried to do. He said they didn't premix ingredients or use much Old Bay. He took 20% off my entree, but I still left with a literal and figurative bad taste in my mouth. -Edited to fix phone typos and add one minor comment: Server wrote down our order but didn't take the menus.-

Gustavo T.

Yelp
Ordered the country scrambler, crispy home fries and poached eggs & crab cakes Benedict. Not one of the 4 eggs were poached. Two cooked hard, other just under hard. Home fries were not crispy and sausage hardly cut up. Asked for second set of poached eggs, which only came after speaking with the "general manager" well after the 1st request. The second set came with water on the plate and runny whites. I will follow up with Hill Restaurant Group to see how they address the situation. Training goes a long way, I can only hope they invest in a poached egg training class for the kitchen staff and manager training to ensure they are setting their staff up for success. Oh but the General manager did discount the meal $4.50 . At least "I egg you" was still open next door.

Julie W.

Yelp
Not bad! Tried it last night, I think they have amazing happy hour specials and good oysters if that's your thing, otherwise everything else was good but comparable to other places in the city. I'd come back but it's not like wow that's my new favorite restaurant or anything. Cute place though.

Doug B.

Yelp
So so meal. I've been here before. The decor is nice. This time I had the popcorn shrimp app and entre was Fettuccine with chicken and broccoli. The popcorn shrimp was plentiful. It was a good dish. However, especially on bottom, it was a bit soggy. I'm not sure what it was sitting in...grease? Butter? Oil? Anyway, the last 20 bites had lost their crunch. The Fettuccine was good. It was creamy and flavorful. The broccoli was dunked in the sauce and a pleasure to taste. The chicken was blackened and placed on top. I really loved the indoor bar area with enormous fish tank. Good tvs. Outside patio is nice too with heaters. It is a good ambiance.

Ron C.

Yelp
I used to come here back in the day under a name I can't remember. Anyway, I was here yesterday for lunch and enjoyed the Seafood Pasta. It was a nice portion and quite tasty. The Rum Punch is also really good.

Brian W.

Yelp
As a group of friends and I strolled through Capitol Hill looking for a dinner spot, Ophelia's caught our collective eye. At the corner of 8th and E, it has a welcoming exterior. If you walk by at just the right hour, rays of sunshine glisten off the restaurant's roof, not unlike a peaceful boating excursion on the lake. But it turns out something was lurking beneath the surface. There were signs early on, but our hunger blinded us. We didn't have reservations, so asked to put our names down on the list to be called for a seat. After flagging down one of the hosts, he put down our phone number into his own phone. While I'm not one to discourage service with a personal touch, this seemed a bridge too far. After being seated in the covered and heated outdoor seating, we ordered a couple of appetizers. We were served after a decent wait and then put it in our entree orders. About 45 minutes later, our server returned to inform us of a technical malfunction in their ordering system that resulted in our order never actually being placed (lost at sea, if you will). The manager came by to apologize profusely for the wait and offered 50% off the cost of our appetizer order. Our group closed out and decided to relocate our evening plans to a different establishment. Ophelia's may specialize in fare of the sea, but it's more akin to the Lochness monster than popcorn shrimp.

Joyce W.

Yelp
Ophelia's is a cute spot for brunch in Eastern market, just 3 min away from the metro stop. We all got the seafood omelette which came with a side of potatoes and bacon or sausage. The sauce was delicious (wish there was more!) and there was a lot of seafood inside! Reservations through Resy.

Just Us 2.

Yelp
At @ophelias_dc and we will not be back This "seafood tower" gets a full F- in our book No manager on duty to resolve our issues : Seafood tower came with NO lobster We waited for fries for what seemed like forever And we were there when the kitchen opened back up after the brunch rush, how can the kitchen be this disorganized ?! The seafood tower needs work, it was disgusting The service is lacking , if you are not friends with the bartender your service is subpar The manager goes on break and leaves no one in charge during that time We paid for our goods and left, never to return.

Cymone H.

Yelp
Empty, almost giving mom and Pop. It took our waitress a while to recognize that we were just waiting to be served. The host had to take our drink orders and appetizer orders. But, drinks came out very quickly. The blackberry oysters are impeccable. When we did order, our food came out in a reasonable amount of time. My boyfriend's home fries were a little under, but my hash was perfect. Food was very yummy. We are used to a little bit more seasoning and diversity in flavor, but the simplicity of the food was very good. Service could improve a little--especially since it was pretty empty. But overall IM DEFINITELY COMING BACK.

Jae S.

Yelp
Just so happened to walk into this place to find a quick meal before the show at the miracle started. I must say, our waitress was Nasa and the customer service was grrrreat! I ordered the oysters *good* The poke bowl *great* & The lump crab cake *fantastic* I was very pleased with everything my taste buds made connections with... lol I'm definitely going back!

Joseph C.

Yelp
Ophelia's is a nice place to have a meal in the city. There are plenty of options along the 8th Street corridor and I'm glad my family and I chose this. The space has outdoor covered and uncovered seating as well as indoor dining, plus a few bar seats. The decor is inspired by the sea. There's a fish tank about the bar, and fish painted on some falls. It would be equally appropriate to visit dressed up or down. Both my children had bacon cheeseburgers and fries. They liked the burger but both said they thought it was slightly burnt. It wasn't burnt but flame broiled and tasty to me. Kids can be notoriously picky and this was an instance of that. I had a seafood boil, my wife paella. We both thought the freshness and flavor of our meals were good but slightly under seasoned. This wasn't a big problem as salt, pepper and old bay were available and worked well. I also had bourbon served near which was fine. My wife has a paloma which was really good. Our server was great, she had great suggestions and was attentive. Overall we had a great meal and a great time.

Marshall J.

Yelp
This was another happy hour to spend time with my daughter. I chose Ophelia's because of the $1 oysters on the happy hour menu. And it was a very good choice. The service was great our waitress was knowledgeable about the items on the menu. We decided to try a few items from the Happy hour menu. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7. We ordered a dozen local oysters, steamed mussels, fish bites, oysters carnival and from the Happy hour menu. And paella from the regular menu. The local oysters were large and sweet and came with house made cocktail sause, horse radish, vinegar and lemon wedges. The oysters alone were the visit. The fish used for the fish bites was mahi mahi which is a firm flesh dish. The fish bites were seasoned well but was close to being overcooked. Because mahi mahi is thick and firm maybe flash fry it to let it keep some of it's moisture. The fish bites came with a house made Tatar sauce. Over the fish bites were good. The steamed mussels were delicious. The white wine broth they were prepared in was light and full of flavor. The oyster carnival comes 3 to an order. They were very good. The parmesan crust was light and they were topped with nice size pieces of crab. The only item that we ordered that was not a part of the happy hour menu was ther paella. This was the reason I couldn't give them 5 stars. The paella was full of flavor and a lot chunks of goodness, chicken sausage, shrimp, mussels. The only thing I have that I could say against this dish is the rice was not cooked completely. My preference is to have the rice cooked until it is soft. Some of the rice was cooked the way I prefer it. But the majority of the rice was crunchy. But overall the paella was good. I would recommend Ophelia's to my friends. And I definitely will be going back for happy hour. And I am looking forward to trying items other items on their dinner menu.

Mike B.

Yelp
Exploring a new area of town, mussels in white wine sauce was a great way to start the meal. Had the fresh catch (sea bass) which was prepared perfectly and reasonably priced. This restaurant demonstrated a casual vibe on a lively street. Would definitely go back to try new things!

Nisha C.

Yelp
Good service, decent food, and great ambiance/location! Although the potion size was small, my group really enjoyed the calamari. The paella's portion was pretty large, and it was tasty.... Overall, a good experience.

Dona P.

Yelp
Probably the best bang for your buck when it comes to seafood portions and freshness. Cocktails were also fresh and beautifully chilled. They accommodated in grilling the oysters without cream, and grilled some jalapeños for us too. The whole grilled snapper was a DELIGHT & quite frankly it's hard to find a whole grilled fish vs a whole deep fried fish. The curry was also delightful and had a gorgeous creamy coconut jalapeño kick to it and was WAY more seafood than a curry from a traditional south Asian spot ... we will absolutely be back !!

M C.

Yelp
This was a perfect quiet spot to grab some snow crab legs and peel and eat shrimp on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Three snow crab claw clusters to an order. Shrimp was a decent size. Long wooden bar with a half a dozen draft beers. Interesting instrumental cover music was playing which gave off a bit of an Asian vibe. I had a tasty Bloody Mary and tried a very hoppy hazy IPA Joint Resolution by DC Brau which were both perfectly paired with the seafood. Was a bit surprised that the cocktail sauce did not have more horseradish. I would definitely come back.

Ria R.

Yelp
I'm on the fence. Pros: 1) This place has so much potential 2) Restaurant was clean 3) covered outdoor seating gives additional option to bar and inside dining seating 4) no frills menu but pretty substantial 5) cute fish tank over the bar Cons 1) parking--it is what it is 2) service was VERY slow. Understandable when the restaurant is packed, but it wasn't even 1/4 filled. It was sooooo slow and not warm/welcoming 3) food was good but each dish lacked something....like my massaman needed more basmati....just a bunch of seafood in a lot of juice. Snapper was good but one entire side of it lacked 'meat' ...it was a bunch of crunchy breading. Asked for the fruit/mango dressing for the fish on the side. Never got it...service was so slow, my husband was 1/2 finished his fish by the time we got attention to ask for it 4) portion sizes are cool; presentation of food is cool

Dominick S.

Yelp
Was really looking forward to happy hour today, and every effort I made to work with the staff here was sadly met with disappointment. My waitress was definitely very new, I'm assuming, as it took three attempts to get a drink ordered and she was extremely unfamiliar with the menu. I started by asking what martinis I could get on Happy hour and was told I could get an espresso martini. She came back and said they had no flavors and could only add extra olives, so that was confusing. Then I asked for a lemon drop, she said they couldn't make it. I went to the bar and then was finally able to order my drink, and then was told it would be $10 (no reason was provided). Thennnn when the drink came I asked for the ceviche and she said roasted or fried!!! Lord help me, I just waisted an hour of my life and $30. Calamari was over cooked.. everyone's water on the balcony got refilled, but mine... idk what I did to deserve this kind of service, but I apologize to whomever I did it to.

Kristophe C.

Yelp
Service was EXCELLENT!!! Food was NOT. Mahi unseasoned, calamari ehh and the mussels were over cooked. My daughter (7) ordered grilled cheese and fries (that was good!) and overall Ambiance is comfortable and roomy especially outside. Overall pretty average food. EXCELLENT service and manager checked on a us a few times. Appreciated that!

Mike W.

Yelp
So much better now. Everything has gotten back on track and the good and service are both great. We find ourselves here often for the happy hour situation....every delicious and affordable.

Genevieve B.

Yelp
Food was not good, service was not much better. Miles (guy who answered phone & took reservation) was the only positive part of my experience.

M R.

Yelp
Oysters three-ways and crab cakes were fantastic but the whole Snapper was severely over cooked. Should have sent it back. My daughter had the Surf and Turf where the lobster was good but a medium rare steak was actually presented as well done. I'd recommend this place for the oysters but beyond that I'd pass.

Kolin H.

Yelp
We came here today for my BDay brunch. My friends and I have always enjoyed coming here. I had family from out of town joining us and I was excited to have them experience this place. Overall, I was embarrassed that I brought people here that had never been. Some friends and I came about 6 months ago and the service lacked then. Today was much worse! We ordered bottomless mimosas and barely had 4 mimosas. We had to ask several times for another round. I always order the same thing: seafood hash with a side of fruit. Both times my fruit was forgotten and I had to ask for it. We had to find someone to get our check as we sat there for almost 15 minutes with empty glasses and plates. Finally, our server brought out our check. Usually we would just split evenly but two people did not get bottomless so we didn't want them to have to pay for our bottomless. We were figuring out what they owned, then the server came over and offered to give us separate checks. Perfect! Or so we thought. It was going to be split 5 ways, she came back (after 10 mins or so) and said they couldn't split it 5 ways. They could only split it 4 ways. Two of my friends said they would join together so we could do 4 ways. After another 10 mins or so she brought out the checks and they were ALL WRONG! She blamed it on the fact that the manager took our food order so she had no idea what we ate. Unacceptable! Don't offer to split a check for us if you can't do it correctly. If you could only split it 4 ways just tell us that and we could've easily figured it out ourselves.

Monica K.

Yelp
Buckle up, this review is going to take a couple of twists and turns before I get to why I'm giving Ophelia's Fish House a 5 star review. I made reservations here for Valentine's Day and was so excited to try EVERYTHING on the menu. If you like seafood, there will be at least three options that will be almost impossible to choose between. When we arrived it took a couple minutes for a host to come check in with us, but not a big deal (or so we thought). We were offered a table "outside" (it's winter so it was covered with heat lamps) or to wait for a table to become available inside. We opted to be seated right away and the heat lamps kept us decently warm. Here is where the service left something to be desired. We were seated for 20 minutes before someone came to take our drink orders. The drinks came out decently quick, but it was another HOUR before our food made it to the table. The staff apologized for the delay, which was nice. We ordered the crab cake sandwich with fries, the crab bisque, and the seafood pasta. The pasta needed to be more seasoned (particularly with salt) and I wished it came with more than two shrimp and one scallop. However, the flavor was good. The crab bisque, crab cake, and fries were excellent! So, we had some ups and downs. We talked to the manager Julie, about our experience and she reassured us that this was not typical for Ophelia's. She comped our most expensive entree and made sure we left feeling well taken care of. The customer service was incredible, which is why I can confidently give this place 5 stars. All of this to say, we will definitely be giving Ophelia's another try! Great customer service goes a long way in my book when it comes to the overall experience. I can't wait to give some other items on there menu a chance!

Dacari A.

Yelp
First time here and had a really great experience, they don't normally serve you warm butter and syrup but they were cool to make that accommodation, Van was super helpful and he knows how to be super generous and understanding!

Zakiya E.

Yelp
I love trying a new spot. I stumbled on Ophelia's on a Friday. A few of the restaurants were closed due to pandemic hours, and I always walk by Ophelia's but I never stop by. This was the perfect opportunity. The service was good, and I was excited that there were a few mule cocktail options on the menu. I love seafood so I decided to try the swordfish. It was amazing. I asked for another sauce rather than the sauce that came on the fish. I was surprised that bread did not come free with the meal. I swordfish was grilled perfectly, and text time I plan to try the red snapper.

Kevin T.

Yelp
Just had happy hour meal at Ophelia's Fish House. My waitress Was it Caroline she was fabulous. The food was great and the price is right on time. Had a great time. I will be back. We sat at the bar and ate two dozen oysters, fried fish bites, and the fries mini shrimp always served to perfection. I love you with my food. Come hot and ready. It was great experience. I love the location. I'm coming back for dinner. It's a nice place.

TheEmpressOfFly C.

Yelp
I wish I had had a a better experience. Overall it wasn't terrible, but I got what I can only describe as an "insult to injury" response to my food not being right. I'm visiting from out of state. I was here with a friend for brunch.I ordered steak and eggs, and I requested my steak medium RARE. I emphasized to my server to please ensure my steak is more RARE than not, because this is a COMMON error I experience to receive an over cooked steak. Welp! My steak was overcooked, but the insult to injury was when I was told the chef's explanation for my steak being overdone was that steak was so thin they couldn't cook it medium rare. I struggle to comprehend how a CHEF said he couldn't make a RARE steak. For a place that specifically mentions their culinary skills in their description for the chef to say.

Cheryl B.

Yelp
Great service - ask for Roy on wkends. Red snapper is my favorite and the roasted calamari. Great service - ask for Roy. Red snapper is my favorite and the roasted calamari.

Chaunee D.

Yelp
Ophelia's has plenty of seafood options, hence the name. They offer outdoor seating, covered patio seating and indoor dining. They do offer happy hour. I wasn't very impressed with the food. We ordered four different appetizers--mini crab cakes, calamari, fish skewers, and the mussels in the white wine sauce. I did order an entree but I wasn't a fan of the sea bass so I ended up sending it back and just had another cocktail. The skewers were my fav out of everything. The drinks are good. I had the sparkling rum punch and the Barrack's Catch. Service was subpar. We weren't being acknowledged as frequent as we wanted. Our food took longer than others and I had to alert other staff members for assistance. There weren't many people in the restaurant but I think they may have been a bit understaffed.

Gregory C.

Yelp
We were out at the farmers market and ended up walking to the Capitol. Before heading home, we decided to check out this place for dinner. It was unassuming and while we have walked by it multiple times were craving some oysters and this place was the closest place to go and oh did it deliver. The oysters were fresh, refreshing and meaty. We also had the roasted calamari which had a tasty sauce that we enjoyed dipping bread in. For our entrees (which we included in the picture) I got the sea bass with spinach and a baked potato. It was delicious and I'd recommend getting extra lobster sauce on the side for the potato since that was a dry and had no topping. The service was great and I definitely plan to come back!