Wandered in here after the rodeo for a drink and a bite to eat. Very friendly staff helped me find the right menu (it was late) and we sat outside. Very fun upbeat vibe with out being loud. We tried the pork belly, Nashville hot chicken bites and the dumplings. The food really hit the spot. I tried a vodka martini with extra olives for the first time. It was like drinking pickle juice with a kick 10/10. read more

18 South - Late night menu - Lounges Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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"Burgandy" is an absolute trash bartender. Terrible experience. Live music was amazing so kudos for that. Hopefully they'll do better in the future. read more

Review of 18 South Ocala I just flew in from New York after being away for six months, and as always, 18 South did not disappoint. They've refreshed their menu, and I was pleasantly surprised by the new protein options and specials. We ordered the 18S Dinner for Two -- a perfectly cooked ribeye and filet, accompanied by two prawns, two fresh salads, and two house-made sides. Everything was prepared beautifully, and the portions were just right. Pairing it with selections from their great wine menu made the evening even better. The atmosphere is warm and special, the kind of place where you immediately feel welcome and taken care of. The service was attentive and genuine, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. 18 South is consistently one of my favorite spots in Ocala! read more

18 South - French Cut Elk, Crab Cales and Diver Scallops - Lounges Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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Beautiful restaurant but poor food quality especially for the price. The previous reviews were with a different staff. We were told by management that they were going through a lot of changes which was displayed throughout the meal. Our server did a good job with what she had to work with. We should have known there was an issue as we were one of two dinners on a Friday night. We'll give another chance after they get their act together read more

18 South - Main dinning area - Lounges Near Me - Ocala, Florida

This place popped up as a sponsored ad on my phone and immediately bookmarked it. I actually emailed them inquiring about the membership months ago but no response. Hubs took me out for our wedding anniversary at another restaurant in the area and I suggested 18 South for drinks afterwards. We were greeted at the entrance on the street and welcomed in to try the place. We were instructed to walk to the left and back to hop on an elevator to the 3rd floor. As we got on the elevator, another staff member came on with us and provided some information and led us the correct way to the bar. I was immediately overwhelmed upon getting off the elevator because it was just so nice inside and unique. We just wanted drinks so we decided to grab seats at the bar. The bar seats were so nice and comfortable. It was so nice and it almost did not feel like I was in FL. Speaking of, the air conditioning was so cold, it was the first time I felt I needed a sweater in a really long time. I ordered the Rose Collins cocktail and it was great. I don't like sweet drinks when I am out because that usually means there is as much sugar/carbs as an actual dessert (I am a type 1 diabetic). We enjoyed the place so much that we decided to order a second round of drinks. The ambiance and the music was great. I'm not sure if it was the owner or manager but he had asked if we minded the music be changed, to which I dreadfully asked "to what" and he replied country. Lol it was nostalgic elevator music so we were enjoying it but I was afraid it would be changed to a more aggressive genre of music. The kitchen was small but you could also watch the cooking/preparing since it was only separated by glass. I thought that was neat. The bartenders were attentive and for once, it was nice to see professionalism! They were not on their phones, they were not bullshitting around, they were friendly and polite. We will be returning soon and maybe next time I will inquire about the membership again. read more

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From the moment we walked in, our group was treated with superb service. The atmosphere was upscale but comfortable. Our server, Bennett was top notch. Very personable and professional. We started with the Fermine Iberico Carpaccio as an appetizer. It was delicious and we all enjoyed it with some cocktails. I had the Marilyn Monroe cocktail which was perfectly balanced and tasted like it was crafted by an experienced mixologist. Next up two of us had the Elk Rack on black garlic mashed potatoes. This was excellent! The other two had Chilean Seabass and the Australian A9 Aged 10oz filet. We also shared the lobster Mac& cheese, broccolini and mushroom sides. Everyone was happy with their dishes. We capped off the meal with a secret recipe cocktail and carrot cake. The experience was better than any I have had anywhere in Ocala. It's pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. read more

My party of five visited 18 South on Wednesday evening for what we hoped would be a nice dinner, but the experience unfortunately missed the mark in several important areas. To begin on a positive note, the young hostess who greeted us was warm, professional, and genuinely welcoming. Drinks were also well-crafted and tasted great once they finally made and reached the table. That said, the execution throughout the night was extremely disappointing. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty at peak time--only a couple of guests at the bar and just three tables seated--service was slow and disorganized. Our server, Dori, was training a newer team member who showed great potential and professionalism; however, Dori herself was cold, disengaged, and lacked hospitality throughout the evening. Several of our drinks sat completed at the bar for more than 10 minutes at a time, less than 10 feet from our table. At one point, the bartender spent over 15 minutes chatting with out waitress and likely management before even beginning to make a drink we had ordered. The menu is very limited, with only a handful of entrées. Four of us ordered the filet, only to be told 10 minutes later they were out. We changed our orders, and then another 10 minutes after that, a gentleman--likely management, though he never introduced himself--told us they actually did have filets, but it would take 45 minutes because the chef hadn't set them out. This was roughly 20 minutes after our initial order, so we stuck with our alternate choices. The food itself was delicious but overpriced for the portion size. Sides are not included, and we only found that out because we asked; our server never explained it. Toward the end of the evening, after being there for more than 3 hours, we requested dessert to go and boxes for our leftovers. We were told bluntly, "we don't have boxes." We asked several different times and kept being told "no". When we asked for a manager, our server replied she would "see what she could do." After a prolonged wait, she returned to inform us they only had small boxes. We told her we would like the leftovers in the small boxes. She packaged everything (including the desserts) and we left. Once we arrived home, we realized the restaurant actually did have full-size to-go boxes as we had received 4 of those in addition to a few small ones. We were thankful that we kept pushing for her to find a way to allow us to take our leftovers home instead of just accepting "no" from Dori. We were never able to speak to a manager directly, despite requesting one. In short, while there were a few bright spots--especially the hostess and the trainee--the overall experience was disorganized, slow, poorly communicated, and far from the level of hospitality a restaurant at this price point should provide. I hope the management team takes this feedback seriously, as the environment and cuisine both have potential, but the service issues overshadowed the evening. read more

True hidden gem of Central Florida. FOOD: Who could ever put lower stars for this place? Pricey for the area? Absolutely! But quality of food is outstanding! In comparison to Los Angeles, it was actually very reasonable for what you are getting. I've struggled in Ocala to find quality restaurant that served what I am accustomed. Often, I found myself driving to Miami, or flying to NY or LA just to eat. Tasty, large variety and finally small portions! SERVICE: professional, personable and definitely would go extra miles to make sure that people come back. AMBIANCE: Clean, lovely decorated .... it felt like I was traveling outside of Ocala.... so pleased! I highly recommend this place! read more

PRETENTIOUS! Expensive for the area, the owner is rude. I don't recommend it and would never go back. They also own a sports bar on the 1st floor and though it's casual they still have an attitude and it's cheap looking. Just not a good vibe at all. read more

Food, service and ambiance was spectacular. We highly recommend! We loved that we were dressed up and felt very comfortable.

First time at this restaurant, and won't be last. The service by our waitress Mari was exceptional! The food espectacular. The reason I'm giving 4 is because my dish (scallops) was cold. Still delicious, but for the price you expect hot, or at least warm, food. read more

Few people there but took over an hour for our entree order to be taken and almost another hour to get our food. Nice ambiance. Fish dry with a rub that tasted mostly of pepper. For an expensive restaurant, not worth the money. read more

What a GREAT 6 star dinner. The decor was very impressive from the minute we walked into the place. Walking out of the elevator we got a great view of the open air kitchen that was a showpiece.Super clean and entertaining. The entire menu was very tempting so we went for it. First of all the entire staff and chef Chris were super professional. Starting with the escargot and fig and feta salad ŵe knew we were in for a great evening. The delmonico and lobster rolls cooked perfectly. I was more impressed with the fresh corn brulee. Off the charts great drinks and expresso to finish the meal.It's a must when in Ocala. We will be back. read more

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We have been to this restaurant many times and every time it has been excellent. This time just the opposite. Only one person at the table actually enjoyed it. Two don't even eat their burnt crab cakes and they did not offer to take it off the bill. Whoever did the cooking really ruined our experience. Where we have recommended this restaurant to many we will think twice about that next time Six o'clock reservation and didn't get our food until 8:15 read more

Bill for two was $130 and food was not even that good. Got a steak filet and was mid. The service was pretty good but still no bread to start and for such a nice place you would think they would do better. Mushrooms for a side were so bland and as well as the mashed potatoes. Not very many options on the menu and then they had snapped up in the menu but then told us was not even available. read more

Good ambiance and good service. Austin was our server. The food is overpriced for the quality. It's not bad, everything is done well, it's just not great. Nothing blows you away or makes you think "I have to come back for this." There are better, local options like Mesa De Notte, Feta, and The Braised Onion that are just as upscale for a fraction of the cost. read more

Great food and service. Aged filet was spectacular and service was awesome. Beautiful place to dine and the pianist was friendly and talented. read more

Great ambiance, impressive, professional service, well-crafted drinks, and outstanding food. The Grouper was cooked to perfection as was my ribeye. Overall, a great dining experience. read more

Everything was excellent. Ambiance was very romantic. Food and service was perfect. Definitely a place to try out

This is the ultimate date night spot! It provides an elegant presentation and dining experience. We started with a few appetizers; the first was the Escargot Gratine, followed by White Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs and Sashimi Bluefin Tuna, which were delicious. If you are a fan of Caviar, the Petrossian Tsar Imperial Ossetra with a combination of lemon, blackberries, raspberries, and cucumber. The highlight for me was the East & West Coast Oysters. My wife's favorite was the Baked Chilean Sea Bass. I had the Magnolia Filet, an amazing Australian filet grilled over an open flame and covered in compound butter. For a side, we both had the lodged mashed potatoes. For dessert, I had the Tiramisu winch served with 2 oz of Expresso, and my wife had the Pear and Apple Crumble, made with an untrue pear liqueur. It is a truly amazing dining experience with impeccable service as well. I highly recommend that I return when we are back in the area. read more

The food, service, and ambiance at 18 South made for the perfect double date. Everything tasted exquisite and was presented elegantly. It'd be hard to pick favorites here. We enjoyed the white truffle caviar deviled eggs, fig & feta pecan salad, and delmonico! Gia was our outstanding server and definitely deserves this shoutout for making our evening memorable. Kudos to Ocala for gaining this new hot spot! read more

The hype of the restaurant does not equal the final result. We had a party at five. One cocktail each and dinner was north of $600. The food was OK. The service was OK and the seating and ambience was OK. I felt like the menu was odd. And their attempt to have fancy food they missed the basic fundamentals Of a dining menu. Two steaks a fish dish and pasta. I had the bouillabaisse. Unfortunately, the seafood was way overcooked. The broth was more of a curry. Definitely wasn't a classic recipe. More of an interpretation. I had had a Caesar salad. They asked if I would like to add Anchovies at an up charge. I said yes. I think the Cedar salad was like $17. it literally had one piece of anchovy no dressing that I could detect two croutons and I couldn't find any Parmesan. You have to order bread as they do not serve it. It was listed as focaccia. It was not focaccia. It was absolutely terrible and ice cold. All of the food that was prepared was overcooked and tasteless. The chef in the back should be fired. The staff was not knowledgeable. They boast craft cocktails, but all he could recommend was gin. We told him we didn't like gin. And he was out of recommendations. We did ask for a couple of cocktails and he said they can't make those. Unless they get hip real quick, this restaurant will not last. Also what is up with not being able to find how to get up to the restaurant upstairs. We unfortunately walked through the bar downstairs versus the entrance to the right there's no label of what floor. The restaurant is on and off on some scary hallway. If I was a member and I was paying a annual fee to be a part of this establishment, I would be pissed. read more

My husband and I had dinner and were very impressed! The food and service was absolutely perfect. I highly recommend! Will definitely be back! read more

Went here for drinks and dinner and it was an outstanding experience. Natalie is such an angel and has the best personality. She made the experience so much better. Food was amazing and drinks surpassed my expectations. read more