Tempest Oyster Bar

“What a great find. Our last Sunday night in Madison was made special by a couple of great bartenders(can't remember names) and some awesome food and wine. Started with super fresh oysters and superb local sourdough bread. Followed with smoked fish stack and Frito Misto. Great wine selections and awesome service. Fantastic!!!”

“I decided to beat the weather by leaving my car at work and walking to a slow and decadent solo date night at Tempest. Bread basket (salty and fluffy), appetizer, and cocktails were all incredible. I got the happy hour scallop, which is a large seared scallop with brandy brown butter, bacon and apples. For drinks I had the First Light (citrus, creamy, gin) and the Awniker (tropical, spicy, tequila). I had a few bites of my sister's 8 oz filet the last time I ate here, and declared it the best steak I've ever eaten. I was not misguided. It cuts like butter, has a perfectly charred crust, and drips yum from both juices and the pad of marrow butter on top. This steak is wildly expensive ($54 w/ my side scalloped potatoes, which were crispy and delish), but I'll definitely get two meals out of it. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself! I also grabbed a slice of carrot cake to go and, like the steak, it was another best I've ever had. Carrot was the star rather than nutmeg. Overall, this was a perfect meal with great service. ❤️”

“We went to happy hour after work and were pleasantly surprised by the affordability of high-tier seafood and craft cocktails. My favorite by far was the scallop and smoke stack. So much flavor and quality seafood from every item. Our hostess and waitress were wonderful and genuinely cared about locally sourced, ethically produced, delicious sea food. I will 100% be coming back for happy hour and celebratory dinners.”

“Trendy, Central location and unique sailboat aesthetic, this seafood and oyster bar is well worth the visit. Great, attentive service. Food was a bit of a letdown as it had somewhat bland flavor although they tried to excel in presentation. Pre-service bread is definitely a plus and rare to see these days. I'd give this place an overall four and a half but I'm rounding up. The interior may benefit from mild sprucing up but it was clean, flavoring the food can be improved but not terrible. Will give it another try and recommend a visit for a date night or small hangout.”

“The variety of oysters and fish dishes was definitely the highlight of the meal, and the seafood itself was fresh and enjoyable. The staff were also friendly and provided good service throughout the visit. However, the restaurant was quite noisy, making it difficult to have a comfortable conversation, and the indoor atmosphere didn’t feel very pleasant or relaxing.”