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  5. Ocala
18 South, Ocala, FL

18 South

4.4
4.4
30 Reviews
$50 and over
Oyster Bar

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2 people
22:00
Booked 2 times today
  • Fancy
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
18 South is a dining experience with menu items from all over the world. Taste oysters from cold Atlantic/Pacific regions, caviar from Russia, king crab from Norway, and A5 Waygu from Japan's finest cattle. Our spirits and wine list is A+. Our dining atmosphere is a modern look from an 1895 restored building that looks over Ocala's town square. Sit and relax while our player Steinway piano plays for you; and enjoy.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Oyster Bar, Steakhouse, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed, Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00 Sat, Sun 10:00–14:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (352) 387-9600
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 30 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Best Ambience

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Good for groups

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Hot spot

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Great for fine wines

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Romantic

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Good for special occasions

  • Ocala / Gainesville

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
18 South delivers a delightful dining experience with "exceptional ambience" and "outstanding food." This upscale spot is celebrated for its "wonderful brunch environment" and "amazing service." Highlights include Wagyu steak and expertly crafted cocktails. While prices are on the higher side, the quality justifies it. Perfect for special occasions.

30 Reviews
  1. Elizabeth

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I recently visited 18 South for the first time, expecting a great steak experience given the hype, but unfortunately, I left feeling underwhelmed. While the atmosphere was decent and the service was friendly, the food didn’t justify the price tag. Overall, the experience didn’t live up to the expectations set by the menu or the cost. I don’t think I’ll be returning anytime soon given the number of better options around at a more reasonable price point.

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  2. Brenda

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall, we had an excellent experience. Our waitress was exceptional, and the food was quite good. The drinks were probably more reasonable, and the food itself was a little bit on the pricier side. The reason I didn’t give five stars is because you had to buy the bread. This would have been fine, but they were five of the thinnest slices and short of an herb bread that you could ever imagine! All five slices combined were like having one piece of bread. I think this is something that the restaurant needs to reconsider.

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  3. Bree

    Nashville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Second time there and this one was phenomenal!!!!! Excellent food and cocktails

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  4. Robert

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 5 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We celebrated our 56th anniversary at dinner. It was one of the best meals we have ever had. The boulabase was fantastic. Better than how I make it.The waitress was terminally charming, the table was decorated with rose petals for our occasion, and everyone tried to make it a very special evening.

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  5. Pete

    Orlando

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 September 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant appearance and ambience was fabulous. We were excited and looked forward to a great meal. We arrived at 6 pm and there was one other couple seated. They were out of filets. Salads were watery and mushy. Ribeye arrived about 1 hour after ordering and was raw in the center and singed on top and bottom. Broccolini and mashed potatoes were cold and inedible. Left most of the food on the plate, paid the $300 bill and left.

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  6. Jackie

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 18 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had reservations at 7:15. We were promptly seated. Our meal was wonderful. I had the grouper, and my husband had the prime rib, and it was perfectly cooked. They brought us dessert because it was his birthday. The chef came to see if our food was cooked properly and brought out another tasty dessert he was trying, I think he called it an oyster it was lemony. The atmosphere was nice and very enjoyable. We will certainly go back.

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  7. Alan

    Jacksonville

    74 reviews

    4.0

    74 reviews

    Dined on 13 September 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely restaurant and beautiful bar. The service was good and my steak was very good but a little over priced. The rest of my party enjoyed their food including the grouper and peach and burrata salad. I would recommend this restaurant it is a welcome addition to our Ocala dining scene.

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  8. Lee

    Orlando

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 12 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The atmosphere is wonderful and the food was delicious! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Will be going back soon!!

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  9. Kelsey

    Cleveland

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 7 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    By far one of the best dinners we've had! First, the restaurant is beautifully decorated. It's small and romantic. The drink menu is interesting so we tried the bittersweet thymes, raspberry baby, strawberry basil mojito, Ray Charles, and the espressotini. They were all so good but, the Ray Charles was our favorite. We started with the focaccia bread and salads. The Caesar salad dressing was so good and the peach and burrata salad was delicious! My husband ordered the filet and it was cooked perfectly. I had the crab cakes which were phenomenal. We shared the lobster acini de pepe, as our side, and it was amazing! The one complaint I have is that the tiramisu was not for me. It was a single layer covered in chunks of heath bar. Our waiter, Bennet, was very attentive. We'll be back, next time we visit Ocala!

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  10. StevenF

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 4 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I celebrated our anniversary last night at 18 South. The restaurant was beautiful. The staff was charming, thoughtful, and professional. The food was wonderful. I recommend this restaurant highly. Please expect the cost of the food to reflect the extremely high quality of their ingredients. The WAGU steak I had was the best steak I have ever enjoyed. It was priced at $75 for 5 oz. I have seen similar WAGU steaks at other fine restaurants for $200 to $300. We loved this restaurant. Everything was perfect. We look forward to celebrating other special events there in the future.

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FAQs

18 South is rated 4.4 stars by 30 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
22:00
Booked 2 times today
Google Map for 18 South

18 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-1151

Additional information

  • Area
    Ocala
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed, Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00 Sat, Sun 10:00–14:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Oyster Bar, Steakhouse, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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