Sea Grill — Review by Mikey Chen
Charlotte, United States — Seafood, Asian Fusion
Sea Grill is an upscale seafood buffet in Charlotte offering an $85 all-you-can-eat experience with both cold selections and pass-around hot dishes. The standout items are the exceptional crab cakes, perfectly seasoned lamb chops, and fresh seafood options. With white glove service and impeccable attention to detail, this destination is worth the drive for seafood lovers.
What was great: Exceptional crab cakes with high crab content, succulent lamb chops with perfect seasoning, fresh seafood including oysters and sashimi, prime filet steak and truffle dishes, shrimp and grits, Thai tom cod soup, white glove service, elegant ambiance, generous buffet selection
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
Sea Grill's $85 brunch buffet delivers an impressive array of fresh seafood and creative hot dishes. The crab croquettes are the clear highlight - densely packed with crab meat and featuring crispy exteriors with creamy, spicy sauce. The lamb chops arrive beautifully seasoned and incredibly tender, requiring minimal effort to separate from the bone. The baked oysters come topped with artichoke, spinach, lemon cream, parmesan and panko crust, offering plump, juicy oysters despite being slightly overshadowed by the superior crab cakes.
The buffet section features an impressive spread including fresh sashimi, sushi, ceviche, and octopus carpaccio. Hot dishes include shrimp and grits with soft, creamy grits and plump tender shrimp; a salmon shrimp pasta with rich, creamy sauce; steak and truffle shepherd's pie with prime filet trimmings and caramelized onions; and tiger shrimp tempura with airy, crunchy batter and wasabi mayo. The Thai tom cod arrives as an authentic-tasting soup with shrimp, mussels, mushrooms, tomatoes and lemongrass. Side dishes include Caesar salad, cucumber salad with soy sauce, Korean fried chicken, steamed eggs with cheese and truffle notes, and lobster preparations. Dessert features mango paradise and tiramisu.
The Experience
The atmosphere is exceptionally upscale with servers wearing white gloves, a service standard rarely encountered in modern restaurants. Staff members actively fold napkins between courses and provide impeccable attention throughout the meal. The restaurant features an elegant bar area where the initial buffet selection is displayed, alongside pass-around hot dishes delivered by servers throughout the dining experience. The overall vibe is fancy and refined without being stuffy.
Value & Pricing
At $85 per person, the buffet includes access to prime filet, lobster, snow crab, Dungeness crab and extensive fresh seafood, making the price point justified for the quality and quantity of offerings. This represents excellent value for fine dining seafood, especially considering the exceptional execution of dishes like the crab cakes that typically cost $30 for a single serving at steakhouses.
Notable Moments
This is like 99% crab and 1% cake. This is a top 1% crab cake right here. This tastes like the crab cake I would get from Del Frisco's steakhouse in New York City.
Like this lamb chop at any other buffet, probably maybe a little bit of salt, maybe nothing, and you just add the sauce or salt yourself. This thing, you don't even need the sauce. Already beautifully seasoned.
In what world, only in the Carolinas did they give you so much? This place is over the top fancy. Look at this. Even my glass looks cool.
The Verdict
Sea Grill is absolutely worth the drive for seafood enthusiasts seeking an exceptional all-you-can-eat experience. The combination of impeccably prepared dishes, particularly the outstanding crab cakes and lamb chops, fresh raw selections, and white glove service creates a memorable dining experience. The restaurant is best suited for special occasions or seafood lovers willing to invest in quality ingredients and expert preparation. This is a destination meal that lives up to its premium positioning.