Gemma Fish + Oyster

“I've been savoring writing this review so that I can replay this perfect evening over and over again. Let me tell you, when I say that everyone at Gemma Fish & Oyster went above and beyond, I truly mean that! I made reservations for 7 pm for our 19th wedding anniversary. I let them know ahead of time that it was our special day and that we had recently been pushed out of our house due to a roof leak and were living in a hotel. So I told them I wanted to make it really special- a night to remember! I also let them know we'd be trying caviar for the first time in a very long time, so any recommendations would be immensely helpful. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted and sat in a half- booth where I had a direct view of the beautiful raw bar - like none that I have ever seen! Just the atmosphere and decor already had us both blown away! Juliette, our server, greeted us warmly and promptly and wished us a Happy Anniversary with complimentary prosecco - delightful! Next, she helped us navigate through the various flavors, textures and presentations of each of the caviar choices. I believe we ended up choosing a half ounce of the Regalis Ostera Royale. That pop! And then it just melted into buttery briny goodness! So glad she was there to guide us! The next unexpected surprise of the evening was when after devouring the caviar, Juliette brought out a half dozen oysters compliments of the chef! These were amazing and featured a not-yet-on-the-menu vivacious sauce that was bright, savory and brought out the flavor of the oysters. Just amazing! At this point, our mind was made up and we decided it was going to be a raw bar evening! We decided to really go for it! After all, 19 years is a long time to put up with each other! Lol we deserved and earned it! We chose Tower 3 - 24 raw oysters of 4 regions (we requested that one be from New England where we grew up) and the other 3 regions the chef chose. The tower also came with ceviche, salmon tartar, 1 lb of poached shrimp in an amazing Cajun seasoning and 1 lb of king crab legs with drawn butter. We were absolutely blown away! Chef and Juliette took their time in explaining each region the oysters came from and described the flavor profile in detail! It was spot on! And seeing thst we were so close to the Chef and raw bar, we kept a nice conversation going through the evening. Him asking us what we thought of this or that. Truly so kind and caring! We ate every. Single. Bite! The ceviche and salmon tartar omg! My husband wanted a plate of the tartar to himself! Lol! I had never had salmon tartar before, now I'm craving it from that night! Just every accouterment was perfect! And then - dessert! To which we then experienced where this establishment really went above just outstanding customer service (getting choked up again writing it down) they brought us out a hand-written, thoughtfully worded anniversary card! I immediately welled up with tears, as did my husband - everything had just been so hectic living in the hotel - going back and forth to the house to check on our cats twice a day, to making sure our ceiling hadn't collapsed, etc.- that we had forgotten to even get each other an anniversary card! So what may have seemed like a simple kind gesture from the Manager - truly and wholeheartedly meant the freaking world to us both! It was one of THOSE super special evenings that we will never ever forget! I want to thank everyone at Gemma - even the other waiters were outgoing towards us - from the very bottom of our hearts for making this one of the best nights of my entire life! Just exceptional and worth every single penny! And dont skip dessert! The flourless chocolate cake was the best chocolate cake I have ever had and my husband was raving about the Fried Apple Bread Pudding! Then I just stumbled upon the fact that they have happy hour 4-6 ! And Brunch on Sundays?!?!? When you are looking for a night that you will keep close to your heart forever, look no further than Gemma Fish & Oyster. I just can't wait to go back! Remember you deserve nice things!”

“We had a fantastic experience from the moment we stepped foot into Gemma. The receptionist greeted us with enthusiasm and perfectly explained the restaurant and the vibe to us. Our waiter Austin learned we had just gotten engaged earlier that day and treated us to complimentary champagne and dessert. Our food was DELICIOUS and the manager Kathryn surprised us with a stunning bouquet at the end of our meal. They all truly made our engagement so sweet and special and we will definitely be back. Thank you to the whole crew at Gemma for a perfect night!”

“I decided to treat myself to a solo date night at Gemma, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. I sat upstairs on the rooftop level. While I was expecting city views, the area was closed off, but it still had great energy, good music, and an overall vibe that made for a really enjoyable evening. I started with the Sticky Pork Belly Bao Buns, which were very well made and packed with flavor. They had just a touch more spice than I expected, but they were still delicious. For my first cocktail, I ordered the Nice Coconut, a creative twist on a piña colada that was refreshing and perfectly balanced. With my entrée, I had the Watermelon Crawl cocktail, which was a bit more tart than I anticipated, but still very good. For dinner, I ordered the Beef Short Rib exactly as it was prepared on the menu with no substitutions. It was absolutely outstanding. The short rib was incredibly tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Every component of the dish worked well together, and it was easily the highlight of my meal. A special shoutout to Zach P. for providing amazing service. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and offered great recommendations throughout the evening. His service truly elevated the entire experience.”

“What a fun spot! The atmosphere was welcoming, and incredibly comfortable. I sat upstairs sort of outside and loved the busy neighborhood vibe and nice breeze. The staff was fantastic — especially my server, Austin, who was attentive, accommodating, and made the experience even better. I took advantage of the happy hour offerings, which were both fabulous tasting and reasonably priced. Delightful oysters & poke bowl. I also loved their great selection of “dry bar” options for those of us enjoying alcohol-free choices. A perfect early dinner for a solo evening in Jax!”

“My cousin made reservations to Gemma for my birthday. The ambiance was simply beautiful, and our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu. I tried an appetizer which was the crab cakes , with my old-fashion drink. The crab cakes had a little spicy seasoning to them, and my old-fashion drink was perfect. My dinner was the shrimp and grit, which was very good, the grit was fried a gave an almost like a corn bread texture taste and the sauce could’ve been a little bit more creamier. Our reservation was in the dining area with a window seat. Overall, a 10 out of 10, we will be back to try other options that’s on the menu. I definitely can’t forget to mention the salty caramel homemade ice cream, that top off the entire meal, simply delicious.”