Ocean’s Choice hopes becoming a sports bar brings business

Coconut Grove Resident Houston Marshall squeezes a lime over his order of conch and shrimp with pigeon peas and rice at Ocean's Choice Seafood Friday night. Photo by Jesse Swanson

Ocean’s Choice Seafood restaurants started the transition from a West Grove seafood spot to sports bar and grill—complete with flat-screen televisions, music, beer and wine—more than a month ago.

Friday night’s fish fry was its official debut of sorts as a place where the community can go to grab a table and watch a game. About 40 people attended the fish fry, which serendipitously began about 90 minutes before the tip off of the Miami Heat and  Dallas Mavericks game.

Photo by Jesse Swanson

The city of Miami licensed the restaurant to serve beer and wine in November, which is when the restaurant began the shift to a place where sports-fans can gather.

The front doors of the Grand Avenue restaurant open to bright blue walls and a welcoming atmosphere, where patrons who will soon feel like friends sit at the wooden bar.  Chef Robert Way, 39, of Miami, serves up the affordable house specialties of conch, tilapia and shrimp. The seafood specials, which come with a side dish, are under $9.

Four flat-screen TVs show football, basketball and baseball depending on which Miami sport is in season.

Way said the restaurant hopes to drum up more business by offering customers more options, such as beer or wine to go with their seafood and sports. Ocean’s Choice, which is located at 3464 Grand Ave., now offers delivery service too.

For more information, call 305-445-6875.