best steak and shrimp in minnesota.... what a wonderful experience. we have dined at all the premium establishments downtown and the oceanaire rises above the pack. with exception to our favorite romantic restaurant la belle vi, this will be at the top of the list for a dining experience where the food tastes amazing, the service is exceptional and in the end, the cost of the meal is more than reasonable. tonight started with a warm greeting from assistant manager nate, followed by a friendly hello from our server nat. what we didn’t realize at the beginning of the meal was that nat would become our favorite waiter in minneapolis/st.paul. if you read our other reviews, praise is often given to outstanding waiters. nat is at the top of his profession. he has worked here over seven years and it shows. his passion for the food, his gentle approach and his big smile. you instantly feel comfortable. the first course was a shrimp crab bite on a cracker with cucumber and sriracha sauce. it was so good. the relish tray was old school and we loved it. bread was fresh and had great flavor. next was the scallop. perfectly cooked with tomato and fresh pesto. this is how a scallop should be served. next was the orange salad. greens with orange mimosa vinaigrette, goat cheese and candied orange shavings. we would return just for this salad. next was the trout with crab. we do not like trout. this trout was spectacular. crispy skin, perfectly cooked and so full of flavor without the strong fish taste. we were impressed with the culinary skills of the chef. next was the best course of the evening. the best shrimp and steak we have experienced in minnesota. we were sad when mortons closed in downtown. this is no longer true. we will return to the oceanaire for the steak and seafood louie often. the medium rare steak was cooked perfectly. the flavor was without equal and the sauces that accompanied the steak and shrimp were amazing. this would have been the perfect way to end the meal but they served a slice of key lime pie and a slice of new york cheesecake with a fruit topping that was awesome. the entire service team is professional and friendly. the restaurant was packed on a friday night. the noise level is loud. this would be my only concern about the oceanaire. for a truly romantic setting this is not the place. parking is valet or on the street. if you are downtown minneapolis and want a memorable meal, make reservations at the oceainaire.