With National Oyster Day happening on August 5, here is a roundup of Best Oysters NYC 2022 raw bars, restaurants and destinations to help you celebrate.
Mollusca
Mollusca is a newly opened spirited and sophisticated restaurant in the Meatpacking District.
The menu, designed by Executive Chef Gianmaria Sapia is seafood-centric with global influences.
The high-design restaurant features a fully stocked raw bar that serves Kumamoto Oysters ($5 for one, $27 for a half dozen) with mignonette sauce.
The restaurant also showcases a luxurious Mollusca Signature Oyster, adorned with uni, black caviar, and gold leaf.
Limani New York
Next on this list of Best Oysters NYC 2022 is Limani New York – the stunning Greek-Mediterranean dining destination located in the heart of Rockefeller Center and helmed by Executive Chef-Partner M.J. Alam.
Limani creates a truly exceptional experience for its guests, including a Raw Bar that showcases oyster selections that span coast to coast such as east coast Blue Point Oysters ($21 for a half dozen and $42 for a dozen); and west coast Kumamoto Oysters ($24 for a half dozen and $48 for a dozen).
Hortus NYC
Michelin-recognized Hortus NYC is a stylish, modern Asian restaurant that emphasizes a design-forward atmosphere in NoMad.
The menu begins with Raw Bar selections that include fresh Island Creek ($14 for a half dozen, $26 for one dozen, and $45 for two dozen) and Kumamoto Oysters, ($4 for one oyster, $24 for a half dozen and $45 for a dozen).
Marseille
Longstanding Hell’s Kitchen favorite and French brasserie Marseille, now in its 21st year, offers their famed Oyster Happy Hour daily from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM featuring Connecticut Blue Point oysters for $1.50 each.
To complement the oysters, guests can enjoy their selection of cocktails and Happy Hour French classics such as Escargot En Persillade for $17, Steak Tartare for $20, Duck Liver Mousse for $16, and Goat Cheese Tart for $17. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
The Clam
The Clam, West Village neighborhood favorite by Executive Chef and co-owner Mike Price and co-owner Joey Campanaro (both of Blackfoot Hospitality), showcases and sources the best seafood from the Eastern seaboard.
At lunch at dinner they there’s a variety of oysters from the east and west coast for $4 with a chili-lime mignonette with just the right kick, and don’t miss their special Happy Hour Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM with the incredible Iced East Coast Oysters served with a sublime champagne mignonette for $2 each. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
The Mermaid Inn
For almost two decades Danny Abrams and Cindy Smith have channeled New England seafood shack vibes in New York City with their wildly popular spots The Mermaid Inn and Mermaid Oyster Bar.
Briny East Coast oysters are available for $1.25 at all locations during Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Guests hankering for a taste of Maine won’t want to miss the “Nearly Famous” Lobster Roll ($34), while those whose palates are all about New York City will enjoy the Roasted Everything Salmon with pastrami spices and lemon braised kale.
Vestry
Michelin-Starred Chef Shaun Hergatt’s SoHo hotspot, Vestry, offers a seasonally driven menu highlighting produce grown on nearby farms and seafood, meats and poultry carefully selected by the world’s top harvesters enhanced by Japanese ingredients and plated artfully, and playfully.
You can start your dinner with an order of Shigoku Oysters, dressed in a soy-ginger sauce and served with finger limes, tapioca pearls, fennel pollen and oyster sauce for $28. Reservations can be made on Resy.
Calle Dao
Whether one is in Bryant Park, Chelsea, or Greenwich Village, Calle Dao’s everyday happy hour menu promises a fresh batch of oysters at $2/ea. Served with their specially crafted in-house cocktail sauce to complement the briny sweetness of fresh oysters at this spot for Chino-Latino cuisine.
Jack & Charlie’s No. 118
Jack & Charlie’s has become known as the West Village destination for classic American dishes and oysters, paired with English charm. Their Island Creek Oysters, balanced with cracked pepper and the subtle sweetness of shallots, are served at $24 per ½ dozen.
Marseille
A French Brasserie known to be the heartbeat of Hell’s Kitchen, Marseille is the place to be from 3:30-5:30pm. With a classic Oyster Happy Hour menu, their Connecticut Blue Point Oysters, priced at $1.50, are sourced from cool, nutrient-rich waters and have a uniquely sweet but mildly salty taste. The spot is beloved by neighbors, tourists, performers and oyster lovers alike.
Mermaid Oyster Bar
The most authentic oyster spot – it’s in the name! – is located in the heart of Times Square. Mermaid Oyster Bar, which started off as a spot-on rendition of a casual New England fish shack, has gradually morphed into a stylish brasserie offering a seasonally inspired menu. They offer raw oysters for $1.50/ea during happy hour everyday, where diners can indulge in a friendly game of East Coast vs West Coast Oysters while exploring their lengthy offerings of each.
Monterey
Glamorous American restaurant Monterey is midtown’s ultimate seafood destination. With a menu that circles the globe, this two-floor lofty restaurant is comfortable for group dining as well as intimate dinners. Whether added on top of their multi-level seafood towers or on their own, the oysters here are a fresh and juicy treat for the summer.
Momoya SoHo
Momoya Soho specializes in petite deep-cupped, buttery Kumamoto Oysters, priced at $36 half/ $72 dz. The addition of Ponzu, a traditional Japanese citrus-based sauce and the spicy grated daikon, which infuses a subtle heat, makes these oysters absolutely unique in flavor. Eponymous with their city of origin, these Japanese oysters’ sweet and fruit-like flavor earned them the nickname “Kumies.”
The Clam
Inspired by the rich traditions of the Atlantic Seaboard, The Clam’s ever-evolving menu celebrates the freshest seafood and market-driven ingredients. Their Icy East and West Coast Oysters are paired with a Chili-Lime Mignonette at dinner ($4/ea), and they’re an absolute steal at Happy Hour, $2/ea along with a Champagne Mignonette, all available to enjoy from their outdoor tables.
The Lambs Club
With no pressure to choose between the Atlantic and the Pacific, The Lambs Club presents the best of both coasts, with the East & West Coast Oysters, priced at $24 (6)/ $48 (12). Paired with mignonette and lemon, these oysters are a way to enjoy the diverse tastes of the coastal regions. Don’t forget to try the chef’s collection of shellfish, whether served on glistening ice or lovingly baked.
Vestry
Nestled between art studios and modern museums on cobblestone streets, Michelin-Starred Chef Shaun Hergatt’s SoHo hotspot, Vestry is just the place to celebrate National Oyster Day with friends and family. Shigoku Oysters get the star treatment with soy-ginger sauce, finger limes, tapioca pearls, fennel pollen, and oyster sauce.