Oysters have long been a part of traditional New England cuisine. And throughout our 'fare' city there are several places that are serving up some of the best briny pearls you can get. Here are a handful of stellar spots for oysters in Boston.
Select Oyster Bar
Select Oyster Bar has perfected the art of curated seafood platters. Each one is chock full of fresh oysters and other seafood, and comes with a healthy serving of lemon and cocktail sauce. And don't be shy about pairing your platter with a bottle of wine. Select maintains a menu full of selections that are the perfect compliment for your meal.
Looking for an edible partner? Select's avocado toast happens to be one of the tastiest and most Instagrammable dishes in town.
50 Gloucester St., 857-239-8064, selectoyster.com
Also featured in Select Oyster Bar's Michael Serpa Grills New Life Into An Old Summer Tradition and Simply The Best Seafood Restaurants In Boston.
Row 34
Row 34's signature oysters get their unique nutty flavor from a farming process developed by its older sibling, Island Creek Oyster Bar (below). And their signature hot sauce is dare we say necessary? The recipe is a mix of sweet and spicy peppers from Sparrow Arc Farm and small-batch hot sauce produced by Alex’s Ugly Sauce. Delicious.
383 Congress St., 617-553-5900, row34.com
Also featured in Simply The Best Seafood Restaurants In Boston and The Case For Hot Buttered Lobster Rolls In New England.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Island Creek Oyster Bar has perfected the art of sustainable oyster farming from Duxbury Bay. They harvest their pearls daily to ship them overnight to seafood restaurants all across the area.
But it's their Boston and Burlington locations that reap the best benefits of their labor. Island Creek's à la carte raw bar menu is brimming with an oyster selection fit to please a king. Each variety is grown/harvested by New England's finest, including their very own Skip Bennett, shucked to order, and served with lemon and cocktail sauce.
Locations in Boston and Burlington, islandcreekoysterbar.com
Saltie Girl
Saltie Girl gets lauded for their best shucked status and 0% grit commitment. Their oysters pair with tasting notes on the menu, and fresh grated horseradish, lemon, vinegar and hot sauce when they arrive at your table.
The wait can be long, but the location is bustling. Go ahead and put your name down and take a stroll while you wait.
281 Dartmouth St., 617-267-0691, saltiegirl.com
Also featured in Simply The Best Seafood In Boston.
Neptune Oyster
Staying small keeps Neptune Oyster focused on what they do best: locally harvested seafood with big flavor. Their oyster menu has about a dozen varieties to choose from and an impressive beer and wine selection to pair with them.
Neptune also makes a pretty wicked lobster roll if you want to round out the perfect Boston seafood experience.
63 Salem St., 617-742-3474, neptuneoyster.com
Also featured in The Case For Hot Buttered Lobster Rolls In New England and Simply The Best Seafood In Boston.
Union Oyster House
Open since the 1700s, Union Oyster House is the longest operating restaurant in America. Their old school raw oyster bar is a Boston staple and employed by award-winning shuckers that know everything about enjoying the pearls of the sea.
Union's National Historic Landmark status make it a popular tourist attraction, and you can expect a wait. (Worth it.)
41 Union St., 617-227-2750, unionoysterhouse.com
B&G Oysters
B&G Oysters is chef Barbara Lynch's high end take on the raw bar experience, and Boston can't get enough of it. The menu includes a daily selection of over a dozen types of oysters. And their cocktail sauce, brimming with horseradish, should be its own food group.
B&G also offers classes where you can learn how to shuck an oyster like a master.
550 Tremont St., 617-423-0550, bandgoysters.com
Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar
Baseball, seafood, and outdoor seating in the nice weather? Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar has everything you need for a complete night out in the city. That includes a well-stocked raw bar with a daily rotation of local oysters, shucked to order.
And don't be shy about pairing your pearls with a whiskey. Citizen is one of the Best Bourbon Bars in America, named by The Bourbon Review.
1310 Boylston St., 617-450-9000, citizenpub.com
Ostra
Ostra offers a top notch Mediterranean seafood dining experience. Their oysters get shucked to order and served with the perfect accompaniments. Favorites include a homemade horseradish cocktail sauce, sparkling mignonette, lemon and Tobasco.
Save room for dessert. Ostra's snow egg made with meringue, lemon curd mousse, raspberry and basil, is an incredible mix of flavors and unlike anything else in the area.
1 Charles St. S, 617-421-1200, ostraboston.com
The Hourly Oyster
The Hourly Oyster is a vibrant and charming haunt with a locally adored raw bar experience. Homemade cocktail sauce and vinaigrette come with each platter. And their house made salt and vinegar chips are the perfect pairing for your pearly treats.
For a real feast, try the Hourly Tower. The dish is brimming with fresh seafood, including oysters, clams, shrimp, a poached seafood salad, lobster tails and marinated mussels.
15 Dunster St., 617-765-2342, thehourlycambridge.com
Eventide Oyster Co.
Eventide Oyster Co. is known for their James Beard Award-winning take on classic New England fare. That includes oysters that come with a unique selection of flavored ices like Tabasco, pickled red onion, and horseradish.
And don't forget their legendary Brown Butter Lobster Roll. It will knock your socks off.
1321 Boylston St., 617-545-1060, eventideoysterco.com
Also featured in
Simply The Best Seafood Restaurants In Boston.
