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    Sea Level NC

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    SEA LEVEL NC ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Sea Level NC

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    Mike S.

    I admit that one of the things I miss most about where I grew up is the proximity to the ocean. While Charlotte has a lot going on, we are unfortunately landlocked. One of the side effects of this is that it can be difficult to find quality seafood. Luckily there are places like Sea Level dedicated to bringing tastes of the ocean here to the Queen City! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Located on 5th street in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, Sea Level has the decor and aura of a fancy restaurant, but has a surprisingly approachable and down to earth menu.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I came here with some family for a night out, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was instantly impressed with the beautiful venue.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service throughout the night was terrific! We started out with some cornbread which was a huge hit at the table! It was decadent and sweet, with a honey butter, I could have had an entire meal of it! They have a good selection of oysters from different parts of the count and with different flavor profiles and finishes. I wish I could remember which ones we ended up going with, but I can say for certain that they went down smooth and made for a great app. Now for the mains they had a lot of carefully though out fish dishes that sounded amazing, but I love lobster rolls and figured this would probably be one of my best chances to get a solid lobster roll here in Charlotte. They serve them both Maine style which is cold and with a smear of mayo, or Connecticut style which is served warm and with butter. Now truthfully there is no wrong answer, both styles have their merits. But growing up close to the Maine border I water a taste of home. It was easily the best lobster roll I've had in Charlotte and believe it or not, I've had some solid ones here (you just have to look). Sea Level brings something to the Charlotte food scene that is pretty underrepresented, and for that reason I encourage anyone planning their next night out to give them a shot! I'm glad we did, one of the best dinners out I've had in quite some time.

    Salmon with garlic mashed potatoes
    Gail S.

    We were looking for a good seafood restaurant in Charlotte NC and Sea Level did not disappoint. They have $1.50 oysters for happy hour from 2:00 - 6:00 pm and offer a lunch menu until 4:00 pm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is plenty of indoor seating including a bar area and a small outdoor patio with high top tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is Excellent and Welcoming. Food is prepared fresh. We tried the roasted oysters app but found the oysters to be a little overcooked which were dry and crunchy. The clam chowder was thick and full of clams and potatoes. The Atlantic Salmon dinner was prepared perfectly and the lobster roll was full of lobster but the lobster was lacking flavor. Would definitely rate the food 4 out of 5 and Service a 5. Definitely worth a try.

    Scallops & Risotto + Blackened Grouper OMG
    Malik J.

    Wow. 10/10!!! Service, vibes & ambience, and FOOD yum yum yummy. Took wifey here on Valentines Day - with a reservation of course. Sat swiftly, tended to very well, and the food. THE FOOD!!! Delish

    Chargrilled oysters
    Alan L.

    Downtown Charlotte on a biz trip. Sea Level not super busy on a Monday. Great service at the bar; couple TV's if you're interested in a game. Full liquor bar, good wine selection, and lots of good beer. Had chargrilled oysters as a starter and smoked whitefish caesar as an "entree". Fantastic. Highly recommended. A++

    Menu
    Delena W.

    From the moment you arrive, the validated parking is a huge plus. The happy hour is well worth it, and the food truly shines--fresh seafood across the board. The clam chowder is rich and comforting, the charbroiled oysters are perfectly done, and the raw oysters are incredibly fresh. Each appetizer comes with a fresh plate, perfect for sharing or enjoying solo. The atmosphere is just right: comfortable, clean seating, great music that adds to the vibe without being too loud, and football games on for an easygoing, social feel. The restrooms are spotless and thoughtfully stocked with feminine products, lotion, and hair ties, which is such a nice touch. They also have a great selection of spirits, and the printing machine for coffee and espresso martinis is a standout--smooth, consistent, and delicious every time. Overall, Sea Level is a place you'll want to return to again and again for the food, the comfort, and the attention to detail. Highly recommend.

    Shrimp and grits
    Marlin S.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is nice , located in the heart of UPTOWN.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was decently seasoned I had the shrimp and grits with grilled oysters. The shrimp and grits is 8/10 but the oysters were super small, but the flavor was very good they were just Tooooo small! 6 oysters for $20 bucks was so not worth it! I would order them again. Service was ok.

    Cornbread
    Rachel M.

    Sea level has been on my list to try for quite some time and I was extremely disappointed. For the price of the food it was poorly cooked and very bland. I got the scallops and risotto and the risotto was practically a mushy porridge. If I am paying $50 for an entree I want the food to be fresh, seasoned, and cooked properly. It had no flavor and I needed to add a lot of salt and lemon. They even left the muscle on the scallops. The grouper was okay but nothing to write home about. Also not worth $50 for the meal. The fish was dry. The calamari was also just okay. Some of the pieces were quite chewy. The only thing I didn't have complaints about was the corn bread.

    Bloody Mari shooters
    Erica P.

    Had an oyster craving after a game and Sea Level NC did not disappoint! Seafood was super fresh, the mignonette was awesome, and I loved that there were multiple options for oyster shooters. Patricia was our waitress and she gave amazing recommendations that will definitely have me visiting the next time I'm in Charlotte. Cocktail menu looked super fun, and the wine menu also had some great selections. I'd love a chance to try the many wonderful things I watched coming out to other tables!

    Lobster Roll w/ Fries
    Rose E.

    We stopped in to see if they fared better than our recent experience at their sister restaurant, Waterman's... I made RSVP via Resy's, so got seated right away... but did have to move to another table...as I am claustrophobic, and don't feel comfy in these super-tight half-booths. The thing is, I never loved the tight layout of this restaurant...as the tables are way too close to one another. Also, the chances of getting a comfy table for 2 is slim. That is, you'll most likely get seated at these teeny-tiny tables or half-booths (not a fan of both). While on the topic of ambiance, I must mention that I didn't love how the overhead music was so muted that all I heard were people chattering. Just didn't make for a nice ambiance. Dull ambiance aside, the foods were a bit more promising. We started with the Fried Calamari...and loved it! Theirs seem a bit more jazzy...a bit more flavor than most, which I didn't mind at all. We also shared their New England Clam Chowder...and it, too, had a bit more flavor (though a bit too salty?). We appreciated the abundance of clam...and the generous portion. For our mains, we shared the Lobster Roll and the Po'Boy Shrimp Sandwich, with Fries and Cole Slaw. As usual, loved the roll...but thought the Poboy was a bit too heavy on the batter and the salt. Also, the Fries were a bit too greasy for me. I also ordered this cocktail, Seasonal G&T, that was really, really good! Also, very strong...got a great buzz off just 1 drink! Service was pretty good too. No issues there. Overall, we enjoyed the foods...but think I liked the drink even more this time? Still, the foods were much better prepared and presented here...versus their more casual sister, Waterman's. Guess I'd like this restaurant more if the ambiance was a bit brighter, and the seatings were a bit more comfy. Still, it's one of the best seafood restaurant options in Charlotte.

    Meow Mule
    Latonya S.

    Massive congratulations to D'Nice for the top-tier service; his appetizer, main course, and drink recommendations were spot on! While I usually love Sea Level's beautiful natural lighting, the venue transforms into an equally vibrant spot at night. We started with the creamy seafood dip before moving on to the magnificent scallop risotto, which we smartened up by adding shrimp for easy sharing. We ate our greens by splitting the crisp and generously sized Sea Level house salad. Overall, we would return for this delicious foodie experience. Pro-tip: park in their garage and bring your ticket to be validated for free parking. This is perfect on a rainy day because you won't have to walk outside. Trust me, free parking makes a difference in Uptown Charlotte.

    Menu
    Rachel B.

    We were in Charlotte for one night and stumbled upon Sea Level NC for dinner and had a great experience. It was a large space with great ambiance! The staff were helpful and we were warmly welcomed and checked on during our dinner. They have so many types of oysters and it was so fun to try different ones! They had a great seafood menu and tasty cocktails! We will definitely return when in the area.

    Calamari
    Casey S.

    Very nice ambiance Fresh selections of seafood Prices pretty high so be prepared Service awesome Had the shrimp and grits pretty good but not a 5 star flavor dish. I say that because the size of the shrimp went from small to larger not the same size. And the flavor seemed a little bland to me for a creole type dish Chocolate cake for dessert was supposed to be fabulous but to me seemed overly sweet and not a true chocolate cake gem It was touted as whipped cream with bourbon but you only had a few tiny flowers of whipped cream portions, not what I was expecting

    Chicken steam bun and Parmesan tater tots
    Crystal S.

    The chargrilled oysters - phenomenal! The service - top notch. The decor and atmosphere- calming. Highly recommend. I also had the seasonal salmon salad with peach vinaigrette. The salad is large enough to be an entree.

    Sesame Seared Tuna

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    5 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Amazing grouper with dirty rice, the service was fabulous. The food was freaking amazing.

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    Shawn C.

    Thank you Don! We hope you come back and see us sometime!

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    2 months ago

    Had a great meal the other weekend at Sea Level. The fresh oysters were delicious and our water was excellent!

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    Page 2 of 35

    Ask the Community - Sea Level NC

    When is Happy hour for oysters?

    Our oyster happy hour runs from 2pm till 6pm Monday through Friday. Please come by and enjoy $1.50 Sealevel Salt’s!

    Is this a good spot for kids? Have a toddler and didn't see a kids menu on the website?

    I don't know if they have a kids menu, but it is definitely more of an adult place (I dont even know if they have booster seats).. it is a great spot, maybe better for a date night

    Do they only serve raw ouster's or do they steam also?

    We have raw oysters, fried oysters, and baked oysters with brie, spinach, and coppa. Our sister store the Waterman has steamed oysters.

    Do they have a worthy ettouffee?

    For the best ettouffee go to Cajun queen!

    What's the atmosphere like? Dying for a lobster roll but don't know if the place is 2-year-old friendly?

    It's kind of hip, fairly loud/busy in the evenings. Better atmosphere for adults, I'd say. I've been there several times and have never really seen any toddlers or little kids.

    Anyone know if there is kids menu?

    I don't think so. There are things on menu kids could probably eat depending on age. We went on a weekend night and it was all adults but I did see one or two tables w kids ( infant and a few maybe 7 or 8 yo)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Here's an example of their vintage offerings. This old dusty was distilled in 1960. Great pour!

    Sea Level NC - seafood - Updated July 2026

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