Oysters were the star of the show! Service was top notch with the help of Celeste for our waitress and Kevin behind the bar. Best martinis in town! Henry does a wonderful job with his team! Best overall experience for a great classic madtown place. Recommend the smoke stacks and scallops!
Armando Caballero
The restaurant had a rock band playing that was too loud , was very hard to have a conversation or talk to the waitress
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Dan
I could eat those scallops the rest of my life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa Breen
What a wonderful experience. From the cocktails, food & service everything was perfect. I can’t believe we had not been before but we will be back. Thank you Nicole for making my birthday extra special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Hendryx
Truly excellent seafood and imaginative and superior house cocktails. Happy hour is a bargain on drinks and some limited appetizer items; the full menu isn't available until an hour later. My only quibble last visit was that the house wine I ordered during happy hour, to accompany my entree, was charged at a full price and was NOT the house wine I'd expected, at a more affordable rate (that was an $11 overcharge). I didn't notice this until later, at home, far too late to raise the issue when the bill was presented. Next time, I will be more careful to look over the charges before signing off, a lesson learned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Paula Bezark-LaRue
The lobster roll was really good except the bun was soggy. Fries were good though, as well as the cocktail.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Emma Cruz
I wish Tempest had more vegan options besides salads, and atleast one dairy-free dessert. My family loves tempest and I do too! But it’s hard for me to find something to eat besides salad, bread, and fries 😆
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Susanne
Love the happy hour oysters, many varieties available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joy
Absolutely phenomenal restaurant. The best oysters you’re going to find in Madison. Very exotic drinks with a substantial wine list and a wonderful dinner menu. I love the happy hour. Two dollar oysters (minimum 6) and two dollars off cocktails. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MOLLY COOK
This oyster bar was so cool. We chose to sit in the clam shell for a unique experience. Prices are a bit high, but the atmosphere and food are worth every penny. I highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All Oysters on the Half Shell, Fried, Fruits De Mer, Caesar Salad
Wow where to start! I have dined at Tempest in the past and was really happy. I was excited to take my son for the first time. We ordered 2 of each type of oysters. His very first oyster was completely disgusting. He spit it out! The oyster Rockefeller was tasteless with maybe 3 little tiny pieces of oyster in it - gross actually. Our cocktails came. Looked promising, but nope totally disgusting as well. Two different cocktails with the exact same taste. Bitter and sour. I believe the citrus used was bad! Sent those back. On to entree time. I had the bucatini. The pasta was crunchy is some spots and all the seafood was overcooked to rubber. My son had the halibut.. so overcooked that it literally felt like sandpaper in your mouth. The one thing the restaurant did right on this Friday, October 17, 2025 was to not give us a bill. We still left our young and very new waiter a tip. The kitchen was not his fault. I will never return to Tempest Oyster Bar again. If they continue on with this level of food I believe you will be able to go and not need a reservation because it will be empty. So sad and so utterly disgusting. Sadly the worse restaurant I’ve eaten in ever in any city
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Vikram Honnalagere Subbegowda
Glad they accomodate something in veg, other enjoyed the seafood
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adrian Garcia
Classy abd great place to dinner! Highly recommed dishes are delicious!
Kelly Kozar
Best happy hour in town! Great oyster selection. Love the patio or the shell!
Oysters were the star of the show! Service was top notch with the help of Celeste for our waitress and Kevin behind the bar. Best martinis in town! Henry does a wonderful job with his team! Best overall experience for a great classic madtown place. Recommend the smoke stacks and scallops!
The restaurant had a rock band playing that was too loud , was very hard to have a conversation or talk to the waitress
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
I could eat those scallops the rest of my life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a wonderful experience. From the cocktails, food & service everything was perfect. I can’t believe we had not been before but we will be back. Thank you Nicole for making my birthday extra special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly excellent seafood and imaginative and superior house cocktails. Happy hour is a bargain on drinks and some limited appetizer items; the full menu isn't available until an hour later. My only quibble last visit was that the house wine I ordered during happy hour, to accompany my entree, was charged at a full price and was NOT the house wine I'd expected, at a more affordable rate (that was an $11 overcharge). I didn't notice this until later, at home, far too late to raise the issue when the bill was presented. Next time, I will be more careful to look over the charges before signing off, a lesson learned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The lobster roll was really good except the bun was soggy. Fries were good though, as well as the cocktail.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I wish Tempest had more vegan options besides salads, and atleast one dairy-free dessert. My family loves tempest and I do too! But it’s hard for me to find something to eat besides salad, bread, and fries 😆
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Love the happy hour oysters, many varieties available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely phenomenal restaurant. The best oysters you’re going to find in Madison. Very exotic drinks with a substantial wine list and a wonderful dinner menu. I love the happy hour. Two dollar oysters (minimum 6) and two dollars off cocktails. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This oyster bar was so cool. We chose to sit in the clam shell for a unique experience. Prices are a bit high, but the atmosphere and food are worth every penny. I highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All Oysters on the Half Shell, Fried, Fruits De Mer, Caesar Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow where to start! I have dined at Tempest in the past and was really happy. I was excited to take my son for the first time. We ordered 2 of each type of oysters. His very first oyster was completely disgusting. He spit it out! The oyster Rockefeller was tasteless with maybe 3 little tiny pieces of oyster in it - gross actually. Our cocktails came. Looked promising, but nope totally disgusting as well. Two different cocktails with the exact same taste. Bitter and sour. I believe the citrus used was bad! Sent those back. On to entree time. I had the bucatini. The pasta was crunchy is some spots and all the seafood was overcooked to rubber. My son had the halibut.. so overcooked that it literally felt like sandpaper in your mouth. The one thing the restaurant did right on this Friday, October 17, 2025 was to not give us a bill. We still left our young and very new waiter a tip. The kitchen was not his fault. I will never return to Tempest Oyster Bar again. If they continue on with this level of food I believe you will be able to go and not need a reservation because it will be empty. So sad and so utterly disgusting. Sadly the worse restaurant I’ve eaten in ever in any city
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Glad they accomodate something in veg, other enjoyed the seafood
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Classy abd great place to dinner! Highly recommed dishes are delicious!
Best happy hour in town! Great oyster selection. Love the patio or the shell!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best scallops and tenderloin I’ve ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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