The Walrus Oyster & Ale House

12-29-25 noon visit. We were lucky and found a street side parking spot next to the restaurant. The parking meter takes a credit card or quarters but the screen to view your charge/time is unreadable. No charge on our card 3 days later? The restaurant is clean and the staff attentive. We always hold on ordering our meal until the appetizers are consumed. And this worked out fine here. The chefs dozen local oysters were very good and arrived with two sauces I didn't use. The jumbo lump crab dip with chips was very good. The wife's scallops were cooked correctly and tasted great. My NY strip Oscar meal was mixed. The crab cake was ok but lacked seasoning. The 2 shrimp were good. The steak was cooked medium rare as requested and seasoned properly, but it was the roughest piece of beef I have ever eaten. Lots of inedible fat and silver skin throughout the steak. We might return if in the area but would stick to the seafood offerings. *Note this review was completed without using ridiculous un-discriptive terms like out-of-bounds, OMG, on point, awesome, the bomb, yummy, delish, to die for, do yourself a favor, trust me, flavorful, or kids emojis etc.. Describe the food, service (or lack of) and provide details on the cost/copy of check and include pictures! Is the place clean? No disrespect to the employees, but no one cares about the waiter/waitress/clerk names, or if they look like they fell face first into a tackle box. They get changed like underwear and you don't get to pick one. We don't care about your allergies, vibes, how "chill" you feel, or the need for gluten free food. **If you see a Google review posted with just stars & no text, report it via the 3 dot selection adjacent to the review. If the text in the review doesn't describe the food/service report it. This cleans up Google reviews and removes the slugs just trying to get reviewer points by marking a star or "paid" reviewers. Process: Select - Report review. Select- Not helpful at the bottom of the drop down menu. If the review doesn’t help people decide whether to utilize this business or go to this place it's worthless.

Excellent food, service, and drinks. Bartenders are extremely nice, beautiful atmosphere. It's definitely worth trying. Hit the happy hour to save some money. It is located in the Waterfront District, which is a very beautiful place. Rockefeller oysters were very tasty 😋

THIS IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE::: I wanted to try this place out in the summer but they were closed for renovation. We finally got to eat here and I was not impressed to say the least. I give 5 stars for service only because of our server Karen. She was very knowledgeable and knew the menu and gave recommendations. The atmosphere was subtle and I was impressed with the young lady shucking oysters when you walk in. The restrooms need a new design(men). One stall, three urinals and one sink. The menu was not what I expected from an oyster house, I was looking for seafood, and you have to order one of the half or whole lobster dinners for oysters. Most of the food we ordered was not made fresh and lacked in flavor. We wanted New England Clam Chowder but we didn’t get it because it comes with bacon and the bacon is already added. Not fresh made and this place is on the Harbor. They didn’t have a Bourbon Syrup for a dessert we wanted to try but they have Bourbon behind the bar. I offered to make the syrup for the dessert, once again, nothing is fresh. The presentation was good, but lacking in flavor. My fish had no flavor and my chips were under. The Salmon was a kids portion and lacked seasoning, it was perfectly cooked and the skin was crispy. The jumbo crab cake sandwich was ok, came without sides and my cousin got a shrimp and scallop pasta that we were told they didn’t have. The crab dip and the banana fosters dessert were delicious.

My husband had the fish & chips. I had the clam chowder and we shared the chef's dozen oysters. The food was well prepared, came out hot, and was delicious. The oysters were fresh and came with oyster crackers, cocktail sauce with horseradish and garlic butter. I had the strawberry island punch. Wait staff was very friendly. The venue could benefit from a door heater because everytime someone came in a rush of cold air came in with them.

Our party visited The Walrus for the first time on a Saturday evening, encouraged by the enthusiastic recommendations of friends. In our reservation, I specifically requested a full booth—both sides enclosed—clarifying that we were celebrating my mother’s birthday and hoped for a more intimate setting. Unfortunately, despite this note, we were not seated in the booth arrangement I had carefully described. While disappointing, we chose to stay and proceed with our meal. We began with margaritas and the hush puppies. The margaritas were impressively crafted—bright, balanced, and evidently made with fresh lime juice rather than a syrupy sour mix. The hush puppies were equally commendable: crisp, warm, and delicately sweet, showcasing thoughtful preparation. For entrées, I ordered the cast-iron mac and cheese along with the buffalo chicken sandwich, both of which were pretty good. The Mac and cheese was definitely more impressive than the sandwich. My mom enjoyed an abundant shrimp cocktail and a side of vegetables, and the quality exceeded expectations. We also ordered a simple, unseasoned grilled chicken kids’ meal for my infant daughter, and I explicitly communicated the need for absolutely no herbs or seasoning. Regrettably, the dish arrived covered in chives, garlic, and other strong seasonings inappropriate for a baby. It had to be remade, which required approximately 15 minutes—long enough for my daughter to hit her limit for the evening—forcing us to pack up our meals to go. Disappointingly, the kids’ meal, despite the kitchen’s initial error, remained on the final bill. While the food itself was, for the most part, excellent, the service fell short of the standard one expects at this price point. The oversight regarding seating, the mishandled kids’ entrée, and the lack of accommodation on the bill collectively diminished the experience, hence the four-star rating rather than five. A final note: the dining room ambiance was notably loud and densely arranged. Tables were packed so tightly that navigating a stroller bordered on impossible. The overall layout created a sense of congestion rather than conviviality—something worth reconsidering for guest comfort. In summary, The Walrus offers thoughtfully prepared dishes and outstanding cocktails, and we will gladly return for drinks. However, the service and spatial constraints leave us unsure whether it is the ideal setting for future dinners.

It was so busy tonight (and no reservations)! 45 min wait for two - but we got a spot at the bar right away and ate there. The old fashioned was so fun - it had cotton candy! The chicken Cesar salad was yummy and the lobster tail delicious! Also, you can see the national harbor Christmas tree from the bar! Cute spot for pics! I’d go back!

I just love this place. The servers are all so awesome. This time I sat in the bar area instead of the bar, since I was with family. Our server was Darnell! He was excellent. We ordered so much food. The half chicken (divine), a couple dozen oysters of course, linguine, hush puppies (new fave) and the lobster roll. I was the only person that ordered a drink, the endless summer margarita… I only ordered it because I wanted to try the cherry banana foam. It was very tasty, but extremely sweet. All of the margs on happy hour were $11. Love this place!

Sat at the bar and had an incredible experience, all thanks to bartender Will B. He completely ran the bar and the room with ease, making sure everyone was taken care of while keeping a great vibe the whole time. You could tell he was on top of everything and genuinely cared about the experience. The food was great, the atmosphere was on point, but Will is what made the night memorable. He made it happen! definitely coming back.

Server Mar was an exceptional server who was informed of the menu and gave excellent suggestions. He was friendly and had a great personality. Hostess seated us promptly and food came out quickly. We will definitely eat here again.

Outstanding customer service by Mar!! The food and drink recommendations were spot on, and delicious!! Nice portion sizes, especially the lobster roll. Oysters were delectable!! I'll definitely be coming back to try more items on the menu. The manager Mustafa was very friendly and personable.

The Staff were GREAT! Food came out hot and everything Taste absolutely Delicious!!! 16 of our arrived from out of town and we did not have a reservation. The manager worked with us so patiently to accommodate us! Our server Alexis M did an outstanding job taking care of us! she did not miss a step! She provided us top notch service! Great quality service! Thank you Alexis! The atmosphere was so nice! I recommend this place 100%!! You won't leave disappointe!

For a tourist area, the food was great! Service was friendly and prompt. We got there 10-min before the kitchen closed and you wouldn't tell by the food and the service. Ordered the calamari and crab, cheesy artichoke dip as appetizers. Calamari was very good and was the first to go, the dip was very rich with lots of cheese, artichokes and lumps of crab. Dip was served with both crackers and roasted bread. While in Maryland, must Oder crab, ordered the crabcake with a side of roasted asparagus. The server suggested having the crabcake broiled versus fried because it's more moist and now I have a new favorite. Side salad with grilled salmon came with a good sized portion of salmon. Dressing was a creamy lemon vinaigrette. The cioppino had lots of clams, mussels, squid and crab legs served with a spicy chunky tomato sauce. Portion was hearty but was surprised there was no fish in the cioppino. Came with a lot of toasted bread. Would've loved to have tried the deviled eggs with fried oyster, because it looked yummy! Oh and must have their corn bread which is more of a corn cake, was so good I was tempted to mule it back home!

I came here for a late lunch/early dinner since we were in the area. We had: -The Rockefeller Oysters which were delicious! -Caesar salad: very fresh -double fried walrus wings: very tasty. They sauce for the wings come on the side. It's also served with pickled carrots. -jumbo lump crab dip: it was just okay to us -burrata salad: it was good. We wished we were provided with more crostini's -crispy calamari: pretty tasty. Seasoned well and cooked perfectly -deviled eggs: we weren't a fan of the fried oyster on top mainly due to the breading -seafood linguine: I love pasta and was somewhat disappointed with this dish. I can't quite put my finger on it but something was just off. -the land and sea: delicious. The crab cake was delicious This place is pretty spacious inside and the offer outdoor dining as well. Being that it is very close to the water, I suggest bringing a sweater in case your get cold. Our server was very kind. There were a few errors made with our order but he kindly corrected them and apologized each time. He gave us recommendations and was also knowledgeable of their offerings.

We really enjoyed the food here. Taste and quality was overall amazing. We tried the corn bread, four different types of oysters, the surf and turf, and a lobster roll. All of it was so delicious and really great quality. We also ordered a strawberry coco margaritas, which was powerfully good. It was our first time visiting the Walrus Oyster & Ale House, but had seen it while walking around National Harbor before, then read up on it, and finally decided to make a special trip back just to dine here. I would describe the overall decor of the place as upscale rustic. If that makes sense. There were guests dining in their Sunday best while others were more casual. A good mix of tables of just adults as well as families with kids. Seems to appeal to a wide variety of guests and with how the restaurant is decorated/themed, no one looked out of place. The service was pretty good. We did have to flag down our server twice when we needed things because we did not see him come by in a while. But he was nice and friendly. Two small gripes about our meal that keeps it from being a perfect meal and a perfect place. First thing was biting into a piece of shell in my lobster roll. The roll was phenomenal tasing But it's advertised as containing 1/4 pound of fresh lobster and costs $39, so I was not expecting to bit into a sharp piece of shell. Second thing, which just really seems odd and not the ideal business approach, involved the cornbread. Shortly after being seated we were brought a little basket of three little pieces of cornbread and butter and were told something like "here's some bread to start you off with". The bread was awesome. After we ordered and received our food we were asked if there was anything else we wanted. We ordered another dozen oysters and also asked for more bread. We were told that the first serving of bread was complementary and normally they have to charge for more bread. We said no problem, we would like more bread. Two things just seem odd and stuck out to us about it. Why would a place like this charge for a second basket of bread when it's just three little pieces? We already ordered and were eating about $200 worth of food and drinks between two people. It also seemed awkward how it was said to us. Like as if once he told us it would be an additional charge, it was going to discourage us from wanting it? The last part about the bread issue was they took our empty bread basket away and when they brought back the basket of more bread, it was just the same basket with our original half used dish of butter in it. They wouldn't even give us a new little dish of butter with the bread that they told us we needed to pay for. A bit of a long winded rant about that, but it soured our experience and just seemed odd. While the food was incredible, with a bill of over $200 for two people for a nice lunch, there will be a lot of other places we will try at, or around, National Harbor in the future before considering dining here again.

A fun seafood restaurant at the National Harbor. The experience was great! But there are some things to look out for. First of all, the food was very good. We sampled the oysters (briny is our favorite), crab cakes, and lobster roll. All were very well prepared. But ... maybe a little pricy. The service was excellent. Our waiter made sure we were cared for promptly. The atmosphere was mixed. We made the mistake of eating outside. Although the temperatures were great, the noise from the street was overwhelming at times and took away from the experience. We will sit inside next time. Special Note: The corn bread they serve as an appetizer is amazing! Be careful, because it's easy to eat this non stop and ruin your meal. However, if you are not aware, they would be happy to offer you a whole box of the corn bread "to go" so you can continue to enjoy it at home. All you have to do is ask!

I really enjoyed my experiences at the The Walrus. They have fresh shucked oysters, the Wally's are the house oyster and they were very good. I think I tried every fresh oyster and there were some excellent options that I thoroughly enjoyed,bthe menu changes except for the Wallys. I also had the lobster roll togo and it was loaded with lobsta. They crab cakes were ok, but they are not using fresh local crab meat. The service was fantastic, it's what had me return, a great experience! The great fresh oysters were also a draw for me. I was taken care of at the bar during March Madness. It's a relaxed and fun vibe for sure at the bar.

This is just one of my favorite places to go whenever I'm in town. I love the fresh oysters here, I love the vibe and I love the service. I hadn't been here in almost 2 years. But, what's funny is that I recognized my server from the last time I was here, that's how memorable she was. So of course, me being the genuinely awkward person I am, I said are you Amaris?! You were my server last time and you were awesome lol. She was like yep that's me. It's honestly great to see that Walrus keeps their awesome staff. Per usual, Amaris gave us awesome service, made a mean drink and made sure our oysters were perfect. I seriously love this place. The food is good, the drinks are even better, the service is top tier and fast and the people are friendly. I'll be back in a couple weeks. See you guys soon!

Brunch on a Sunday Funday and all I can say is YES! Food was amazing! Look at the presentation. Drinks were on point. Jessica the waitress was everything! Manager was so nice! Thanks for the tickets to the wheel! Your staff is kind and made a brunch a whole VIBE! Will definitely be back!

I had never been here before and my boss picked the place. It did not disappoint at all. Service was great and so was the food. Atmosphere matched the area we were in and the vibe. It was by far the best lobster roll I've ever had. New England style bun FILLED with fresh lobster. Not chopped up and all gross. It was actual whole pieces of lobster with balanced flavor through out. I could have easily eaten two of these things. If I ever come back here it will be the first place o go to eat. Bravo l! well done!

We were visiting the harbor and came here for dinner. Really liked the seafood options and the pasta was delicious as well. It is right by the water and the ambiance is great. Service was extremely friendly and the manager even came by to chat with us for a bit. I would definitely come back when I'm in the area.

Came out for lunch with girls. I love a lobster roll in good weather so I knew I needed to try it here. It did not disappoint! It came loaded with meat and with a yummy sauce. The fries were nice as well. I also ordered a Caesar salad, but I did not care for it and sent it back. The complimentary cornbread was a nice gesture, but I didn't care for it either. Service was pretty okay!

Walking around National Harbor in search for Linner! There were a lot of choices but The Walrus Oyster & Ale House beckoned! As an Out of Towner, turned to the Yelp App for guidance and it seemed a good choice, so tried, we did! Highly recommended is the house brew - called The Walrus Brew. Not so strong... an Amber Ale with 5% alcohol content. Had some really good corn bread. The Deviled Eggs are divine! Topped with Cornmeal Crusted Oysters, smokey Chipotle mayo and chives! A must try! Now here is where it slips.... I think our order was forgotten. Waited for a long time, our server came around, asked how everything was going... we said all was great! if only the food gets served! lol We got comped a beer as an attempt to make up for it so all became well again.. Finally, the food came... We had the Tusker Platter - Alaskan Cod, Oysters, Cornmeal Crusted shrimp, & fries. Nothing wow there. Also had the Lobster Roll. On the menu, it was called Maryland's best... welll.... says it has more than a quarter pound of lobster (it did look like it did), served with warm butter sauce, on golden brown pan bread.... The Lobster tasted fresh and alone it tasted great. Bread was soft and tasty in its own.... but there seemed to be a disconnect between the tasty morsels of lobster and the tasty bun... Something was missing that I couldn't quite pin point... it just didn't quite just come together... Could it be that somewhere in the rush because our order was forgotten. a short cut was taken? hmmmm... Would I still recommend the Walrus? I think yes! The place had a fun vibe to it. Hopefully, this was just a fluke! #thewalrus #thewalrusoysterandalehouse #oxonhill #nationalharbor #outoftowner #visitmd #visitmaryland #oyster #deviledeggs #cod #amberale #ale #lobsterroll #lobster #socalweekendwalkarounds #worktravel #trlp #yelp #yelpelite #april2024

This was such a lovely lunch out at the National Harbor. I told my girlfriend I wanted oysters and that's just what we got. We got the chef's choice. The special of the day had a lobster manicotti so I had to order that. The lobster roll was full of lobster and they definitely didn't skimp on it. My girlfriend's cousin got the Waffles and Chicken. I find it funny that they named it that instead of the traditional Chicken and Waffles but he said it was good. It was an abundance of food so we definitely had some leftovers to take home. I had to get a growler for the NYE celebrations that night too. It has a nice bar with a lot of seating and plenty of tables. We thought we would wait for a long time but it didn't seem like such a long wait watching one of the guys shuck the oysters at the front. I def say stop by here if you're on the way to the MGM or the National Harbor for sightseeing.

I ordered takeout from this restaurant and so many things sounded so good. I ended up getting the shrimp and seafood pasta. It was amazing and I wasn't even that hungry, and I ate it all. I also got their butter cake and it was really good too. Will definitely try this place again when I'm in the area next.

We visited National Harbor during Memorial Day weekend and had to come here. We came a few years ago but when I saw the whole fried snapper on the menu I had to have it and it did not disappoint!! Top 3. Seasoned and cooked perfectly! Crispy on the outside moist on the inside. The basmati rice was a good touch nice and fluffy. I would recommend adding the red pepper miso sauce on the side as a dipping sauce with the fish. My husband is always stuck on the crab cakes and will not order anything else. Jessica was our waiter. She was very personable and accommodating. They are lucky to have her! I'm giving this place 5 stars thanks to Jessica and the fish

Food was solid! Nothing too fancy, but most-mentioned at the table were: -"this cornbread is nice" two baskets eaten by table -the one crab cake and spinach was the perfect amount of food -"I love the way they made the carrots" -"this punch is nice" -"didn't expect to like these eggs, yum" Brian our server was GREAT! It was a Saturday evening and the place was busy...dates, friends, families, lively bar crowd, and tourists/49er fans (seemed to be a lot in town for the game). It wasn't bad, I'd return...try it and let us know what you think.

One of the standout aspects of The Walrus Oyster & Ale House was undoubtedly the quality of their oysters. If you're a fan of these delectable mollusks, you won't be disappointed here. They were fresh, flavorful, and served to perfection, making it a seafood lover's paradise. However, my visit was somewhat marred by the customer service. The staff's behavior struck me as odd; they seemed hesitant and perhaps a bit disorganized. This affected the overall dining experience, as it left me feeling somewhat uncertain and less comfortable. The restaurant was quite crowded during my visit, which may be a testament to its popularity. However, the crowded atmosphere did detract from the overall enjoyment, as it made conversation difficult and contributed to a noisy environment. Another drawback was the pricing. The Walrus Oyster & Ale House leaned towards the more expensive side, which, combined with the aforementioned customer service and the overall experience, didn't quite justify the cost in my opinion. One more notable observation was that the staff seemed more inclined to push drinks. If you're not interested in ordering alcoholic beverages or prefer a non-alcoholic option, you may encounter some hesitation or a lack of enthusiasm from the servers. Maybe it's because we weren't dressed in business attire. In conclusion, The Walrus Oyster & Ale House has some notable strengths, particularly in the quality of their oysters. However, the odd customer service, crowded atmosphere, higher prices, and a focus on drinks could potentially impact your overall dining experience. It might be worth considering your preferences and priorities before choosing to dine here.

Visit in the DC area for Memorial Day weekend 2024. Stopped at the National Harbor for lunch at the Walrus restaurant. The server was excellent with providing recommendations and drink options. The food was excellent from the crab cakes, the Mac and cheese l, the wings to the lobster roll. The ambience was trendy and cool for a late Saturday afternoon lunch. The cost was kinda steep but well worth the price. This was our first time eating here and would definitely recommend it as an option for lunch.

We met with some family here and the location is great, considering you can walk across the street to the harbor. We arrived just a bit early for our reservation so we can grab a drink and some oysters. The place was packed on a Monday, so reservations are a good idea. We had a mojito and an old fashioned--both good. Some oysters that were chefs pick--also good. Not the best, but good. Our guests arrived and we were seated. I ordered the Cioppino and that was good. It had a wonderful array of seafood but I wasn't too fond about grabbing crab claws from my stew and cracking them. It was messy and as much as I love crab, I wasn't dressed to get splashes of stew all over my outfit. Everyone enjoyed their fish and chips, but the star of the show for them were the green beans. They were raving about them ‍ I would go again to try their lobster roll because I saw it and it was loaded with lobster!

The food was amazing. I ordered the Red Snapper, green beans, and the mashed potatoes w/side Cesar salad. The snapper was very fresh and the green beans were not out of the can. Sorry I forgot to take a pic of those mashed potatoes, but trust me when I say "order them". My friend order the Seafood linguini and that would be what I will try next time when my diet isn't too restrictive. They liked it. The only reason why I gave 4 stars was bcuz, when we asked the hostess to change us from our original table, they did immediately, but the waiter took a while to come to our table. Other than that, the service was amazing and the waiter became very attentive and gave great advice on what to order. We went on a Saturday afternoon around 4p. It wasn't too crowded that we had to wait to be seated. The ambiance was very chill and relaxing. The other reason for the 4 stars, my suggestion for this restaurant is bcuz they serve fresh oysters, they should always serve Oyster Rockfeller. When we asked for them, they told us it's not on the menu regularly. That was the main reason I'd chosen this place.

I am a repeat customer, love the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. Whenever I am in the area I look to give other places a try but when it doesn't work out I always come back here. Service was good; server was very honest about his thoughts on the menu. I love the oysters and this time I had the whole fried fish that was served on Brussel sprouts slaw which was delicious! A great place to go for food and drinks.

My visit to The Walrus Oyster and Ale House at the National Harbor was an exceptional dining experience that exceeded my seafood expectations. Located in the vibrant National Harbor, this restaurant offers not only a feast for the palate but also a delightful ambiance. The interior of The Walrus Oyster and Ale House exudes a charming maritime theme, with nautical decor and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring a pleasant dining experience from start to finish. I started with their oysters, a signature dish, and was thoroughly impressed. The oysters were fresh, succulent, and served with a variety of accompaniments like mignonette, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges that enhanced their natural flavors. Each oyster was a taste of the ocean, perfectly chilled and shucked to perfection. Following the oysters, I indulged in the crab cake entree, which was a highlight. The crab cakes were packed with lump crab meat, minimal filler, and had a golden-brown crust that gave way to the tender, flavorful meat inside. They were served alongside a tangy remoulade sauce that complemented the crab perfectly. The side dishes were equally impressive. The garlic spinach was sautéed to a perfect tenderness, and the roasted potatoes were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and seasoned beautifully. To accompany the meal, The Walrus offers an extensive selection of beers and ales, which are thoughtfully curated to complement the seafood. I opted for a local craft beer, which was an excellent pairing with the meal. For dessert, I had the key lime pie, which was the perfect end to the meal. It had the right balance of tartness and sweetness, with a creamy filling and a crunchy graham cracker crust. The Walrus Oyster and Ale House at National Harbor is a gem for seafood lovers. With its fresh, high-quality ingredients, skilled preparation, and inviting atmosphere, it stands out as a must-visit destination. Whether you're a fan of oysters, crab cakes, or just in search of a delightful dining experience, this restaurant is sure to impress.

This place has a lot of food options...I mean, a LOT of food options. They have a menu that seems dedicated to "catch of the day", and they have a menu for other dining combinations. Starters, shareables, entrees...a LOT of food. Our server, Jose, was very good. Prompt service, attention to customers...very good customer service. The location is in the National Harbor, so ambience is limited. It's not going to be quiet, but the atmosphere is enjoyable. There is outdoor dining as well. I highly recommend stopping by here for some quality seafood and great service.

We came here solely for the oysters, and they were incredible. We got the Chef's Dozen to get a mix of their 3 varieties. While the briny were the best, they were all incredible. Deviled Eggs were also a bigger winner. Your typical deviled egg topped with oysters and chipotle mayo. So savory, so delish. Drinks were good, we enjoyed the sangria. Wouldn't come here for the drinks though. They're good, yes, but the oysters are the star of the show. Reservations highly recommended. We did a walk-in and we were lucky enough to get a couple seats at the bar. But that was all that was available - all the other tables were reserved out. Parking is a little more involved as it's in a major tourist center. Staff were friendly and efficient. Prices were just for what you got. Great stop for oysters.

Solid seafood selections and my drink although it was small and didn't come close to the brim, it was strong and tasty and all that I needed. Decent service and tasty food -- I had their crab cake and fries. I don't know why I overlooked this place all of this time when it's a great place to dine for all ages.

Another visit to National Harbor for a conference, which means another excuse to visit Walrus Oyster & Ale for lunch! This time I got the Chips & Fish - two perfectly cooked filets of cod, breaded and fried. Flaky and not too greasy, with a large bag of skinny fries. The dish is deceptive because it doesn't look big, but I was stuffed to the hilt. Paired with an ice cold tea, it was a perfect lunch to give me the energy I needed for the day. Glad to know Walrus Oyster & Ale is here - the next time I need to work at National Harbor, I know where to go for lunch!

Been here a few times. It's a good spot for what it is. Seafood with a splash of bar type food at a high level. They have some pretty decent drink on the menu. If you have the right bartender that day they'll taste exceptional. The oyster this time around was much bigger than they usually are. That was a plus for me. Fried shrimp hit the spot and the lobster dip was definitely adding to the taste buds. It was pretty packed for lunch time. Also guess thats due to the fact it's a tourist area.

What a near place What a neat place in National Harbor! The food was delectable! Our crab dip appetizer was eaten so quickly I couldn't get a picture- it was THAT good! My crab cakes (pictured) were delicious and just the right amount! The service was excellent. Our server did a great job with explaining the menu and checked in just enough to see how we were doing. The vibe is modern seafood shack with a more upscale appeal for the area. So glad we tried this place! Highly recommend!

Can't wait to come back again! This place was very clean and inviting. Eboni was our waitress and she went above and beyond for us. She had the best service My husband was really in the mood for garlic butter mussels, which wasn't on the menu, but they made them for him anyways! They even wished us a happy Eid, even though it was earlier this week.

Recently went for dinner. The cornbread is perfect- fluffy, buttery & comes with a delicious butter. The ziti al forno is good. The chicken is seasoned really well and there is enough for the large pasta.

Two words, Lobster Roll! It was the highlight of the menu and was a sumptuous treat indeed. This is a nice, clean restaurant. Staff is pretty nice upon arriving, and my guest and I were seated promptly. I had a qualm with seating, I was seated by the bar and the chairs and table are an uncomfortable height - making it awkward to fully enjoy the meal. Also, this is not my first time at this restaurant and I have noticed multiple times the servers try to convince you to get a special or perhaps their favorite menu items. While I don't mind being shown specials, being pushy about ordering them seems weird. Overall the sandwich was excellent and aside from a few snafoos I had a good experience here, and would return for the lobster roll.

I go there for the fried seafood and the spicy margarita! Everything were seasoned perfectly and fried to perfection: crispy on the outside, juicy, and tender inside. The service is always super friendly, nice, and fast. The place is always packed, lively, and cleaned.

Service was excellent from the hostess to the wait staff. Margarita was delicious. We shared a fried oyster appetizer and thought it was very good. We both had their specialty lobster roll for dinner. While it looks great upon arrival we thought it was rather bland. Not bad but didn't live up to the hype. I would eat here again but try another dinner.

I really enjoyed my food here and so did my companion, but the service was subpar and would be the thing that keeps me from coming back. Maybe it's better when it's not the weekend. We came here bc one of the people in my group is pescatarian. She asked if she could sub the fried chicken in the chicken and waffles for fish. It didn't seem like an outlandish request considering they sell fried fish. The waiter looked confused, I could see him thinking, stumbling over words and eventually landing on a NO. I think that he should've asked a manager. She opted for the fish n chips and asked if crab was fried in the same fryer as the french fries bc she has a crab allergy. The server said no, they're really good about cross contamination and keeping things separate. Again. Making things up! Because 20 minutes later, he comes back and says she should choose another entree that's not fried. She ordered a dessert and said she'd like that to come as her appetizer. They brought the wrong cake, and then it took forever to be corrected. It took nearly an hour from the time we ordered for our entrees to come. It was so long to that I honestly considered telling them to cancel it and just going somewhere else. People who came in after us were served and finished eating while we still waited on our plates. Seeing what type of time they were on, we asked for the check as soon as the food came. We put the card down right after we got the check, but the server walked off and it took 15 minutes for him to come back and collect. It's pretty loud in here. We were seated directly next to the bar and could barely hear each other speak. My chair was parallel to the bar stools so people were walking by and bumping me constantly. The restaurant echoes in general though, so keep that in mind. They auto-grat at 18% and if I'd had a choice, I'd have done 12-15% bc the service just was not good.

A very good lunch experience at Walrus Oyster & Ale House. I arrived around 12:15pm with a group of 5 and thankfully the restaurant wasn't crowded. We were seated and waited on immediately by a very nice and professional waiter who allowed us all to have separate checks. This place has comfortable seating and my group sat in a semi-circle booth which was comfortable. We ordered the following menu items and shared them which allowed us to try many appetizers and entrees: Crispy Calamari Deviled Eggs Chips & Fish Shrimp & Grits Double-Fried Walrus Wings Scallops & Risotto The Scallops & Risotto were exceptional. The scallops were so tender and seared perfectly. The risotto was creamy, had a perfect al dente texture and had a bit of a kick which was so appropriate. This was a delightful lunch experience with reasonable prices and I will certainly return. Give them a try.

Absolutely delightful! The lobster roll was bursting with freshness, complemented perfectly by warm and savory flavors. The crispy fries added a delightful crunch, and drizzling honey on the cornbread was a genius touch. We also had a fun server who kept the dinner exciting with his antics! A truly satisfying and flavorful experience that I'd happily repeat. Five stars!

Fun lively atmosphere and fantastic fresh seafood. I sat at the bar just before sunset. I had a fantastic view of the harbor and and got excellent service from the bartender. Went with clams and oysters and was not disappointed. The whole harbor experience was great. I went over to MGM later but glad to have caught the sunset view and food here.

Happy hour on a Thursday evening, sitting at the bar with bartender/server DJ taking care of us. The ambiance was perfect - not too crowded, and the TVs/music not so loud that you can't hear yourself speak. The HH options were plenty and we enjoyed some wild oysters, mushroom flatbread, and wings with wine and beer. Their scratch margaritas looked good, but we stuck to the tap offerings. Everything was delicious and served quickly! Had heard Oyster House had one of the best happy hours in National Harbor - can now vouch for it too!

Our first meal in National Harbor, and we enjoyed it! I had grilled rock fish with garlic spinach, asparagus with cilantro lime and garlic cream sauce. Excellent. The ladies had fish & chips which they thoroughly enjoyed! We're from the gulf coast which is known for for its oysters so we didn't try them here. Crabmeat dip was also wonderful. Our server was great.

Oysters fantastic. Great drinks (s2picy Marg and some gin drink signature cocktail) and wonderful wings, though thrown off that they didn't toss them. Cool place and busy but fun atmosphere. Down a star on service. Inattentive and seemed put out at the bar. They were busy, but having to ask for water and not being asked about our food was off-putting. Still, good place pre Judas Priest show at MGM

Had to get some seafood while at National Harbor, so I stumbled upon this seafood place. The interior was nice and spacious. The service was also excellent, as our waiter offered good recommendations, answered all my family's questions, and had a very good attitude. Now in terms of food,I ordered the Lobster Roll, which was considered Marylands best. Honestly, I really enjoyed my lobster roll, as the seafood was fresh, flavorful, and the seafood to bread ratio was great. Additionally, the fries were crispy. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and would love to try some of their other seafood like the oysters.

Came here to try oysters for the first time & was not disappointed at all ! Great ambiance , clean restaurant & great service . We ordered a beer & the smoky margarita as our beverages & they were both really tasty ! Quentin was our waiter & he was really great -- knowledgeable & friendly ! What we ordered : Chefs Special dozen of oysters -- 6/10 I enjoyed pairing the oysters with the oyster hot sauce they keep on the table & the horseradish mixture . Since we got the chefs special it came w sweet , briny & salty oysters . I definitely did not like the salty but the others were great! Fried Calamari -- 8/10 Seafood Linguini -- 9/10 Great flavor on the sauce & the shrimp was cooked nicely ! Overall really good :) Smoky margarita -- 8/10 Could use better rim & presentation Will definitely be returning to take my visitors here!

Visited The Walrus Oyster & Ale House during a work conference. One of the best lobster rolls I've had!! They were very generous with the large pieces of lobster. The cornbread they bring prior to the meal is amazing too! Our server was great. The restaurant had a cool vibe with a showcase of the fresh oysters they had available. I highly recommend this restaurant and hope to be back before going home.

Dinner w my mentor who recommended this place and it was good. The server was good, checking on us the right amount of time. He was attentive and fast. The deviled eggs were ok. They are one of my fave appetizers so I'm a little tougher judge on this. The fried oyster topping was a bit much for my taste but it wasn't bad. I would be open to trying again. The shrimp and grits were on point! I got some to go for my wife and she crushed it. Sadly I was hoping to have some. I had a drink, a smoky bourbon thing and it was tasty as well. It literally came out smoking, lol. The atmosphere of the place was energetic and fun. There were a mix of mid-size groups and date nighters. It is a good place to dine, I'll be back a few more times.

My partner and I went to The Walrus Oyster & Ale House to try out a different place in National Harbor. Overall, the food did not impress. It was quite a busy restaurant on Friday evening. A good number of large groups. We got a table without a reservation, though. We ordered the tuna appetizer, which was the best thing that we ate. Good flavor and prepared well. The oysters were $36 for the chef selection, and that's more expensive than Old Ebbitt Grill in DC. The price of these oysters are just not competitive, especially considering that's the name of the restaurant and also they were almost all local to Maryland or Virginia, they weren't trucked in from British Columbia or somewhere far away. For entrée, I ordered the arctic char, which had good flavor and seasoning. My partner ordered the seafood stew, which was very disappointing. All the seafood was overcooked, especially the rubbery calamari. The broth was very salty, but did have good heat. Throwing in Jonah crab claws to crack did not really fit the vibe because you have to hand-crack crabs that are in a red sauce so it goes all over your hands. For $30 it was absolutely not worth it. We don't intend to return.

Okay, so if this means anything I went to the restaurant 2-days in a row. YES twice! The service might truly be one of my biggest complaints. The first time I came the bartender did inform me that I would have to wait a bit due to her being that only one at the bar during shift change. The second time I must say I didn't receive any service at all. I had to stop the bar back to pass along the message to the bartenders. After being there about 30 minutes I finally got a drink and couldn't stop the server a second time to get food. The atmosphere is here lively. Perfect for a day out with family and friends. Great place to come watch sports. Or stop in for casual dinning. But nonetheless the food here is delicious. I ordered quite a few things. The lobster roll which was one of the best I've ever had, was absolutely phenomenal. Overflowing with fresh tasty lobster with butter and a side crispy French fries. YUMMMM! I highly recommended. I also ordered the crab dip it was sooooo good. Warm, creamy and cheesy loaded with Jumbo lump crab meat. And I liked that it's served with a baguette rather than chips. By far one my favorite dishes while here. I also got the Caesar dressing, which was house made and fabulous. I ordered the scratch margarita but I don't think it was made I believe they already have it pre-made and have it in a drink dispenser. However it was still pretty decent but definitely would have preferred them to craft them themselves that way if we want to alter our beverage we have that option.

Parking: We stayed at the Gaylord Resort and Spa and just walked less than 5 mins to there. Parking does appear tough on a Friday evening around 9pm Ambience: Loud, upbeat great for gatherings. Service: The service was fun and uplifting with our server joking with us and offering great recommendations Food: I ordered the clam chowder and lobster roll and their Aslin Hefeweizen beer Supports Military: 10% military discount Overall: great food and service. I would recommend this place if you're around the area.

A great spot for seafood dishes by National Harbor. The Walrus offers a variety of locally sourced oysters which are freshly served upon ordering. The entrees are delicious as well - our lobster roll was flavorful, fish & chips was crispy and moist on the inside, and the grilled salmon was cooked perfectly. The restaurant is spacious and the staff is friendly as well - our server came to check on our table multiple times throughout the meal.