Recommendations for oysters?

[Wilfrid]

I need to control an urge to re-visit Portland, Maine just to eat oysters. At least I had additional reasons to go there last December.

Is there anywhere in NYC serving a good selection of really good oysters?

[small h]

https://www.upstatenyc.com/
https://maisonpremiere.com/

http://www.oysterbarny.com/

I’ll probably think of more.

 

[small h]

https://tenbellsnyc.com/newwebsite/

Pretty sure they have three varieties at a time.

https://www.roxyhotelnyc.com/dining/the-oyster-bar-at-the-roxy-hotel/

[MitchW]

2 hours ago, Wilfrid said:

I need to control an urge to re-visit Portland, Maine just to eat oysters. At least I had additional reasons to go there last December.

Is there anywhere in NYC serving a good selection of really good oysters?

We're going to Portland at the end of the month.Not just to eat oysters, but to definitely eat oysters.

What about the oyster bar, at Grand Central?

I'll be honest about Ten Belles - they shuck like shit.

Ahhh - to add, I see Oyster Bar has been suggested above.

And to add one more thing - Oyster Bar at Grand Central is not kidding around with their prices!

Edited November 7, 2025 by MitchW

[small h]

1 hour ago, MitchW said:

I'll be honest about Ten Belles - they shuck like shit.

I have not had this experience! Lucked out, I guess.

Wanna go farther than Maine? These were some of the best oysters I've ever had, Cape Wrath, from River House in Inverness.

Edited November 7, 2025 by small h

[cinghiale]

9 hours ago, small h said:

Wanna go farther than Maine?

 

Or Greenport LI: Little Creek Oysters, with a rotating selection from 5 or 6 local farms.

[MitchW]

11 hours ago, small h said:

I have not had this experience! Lucked out, I guess.

My last time in, we actually left a couple of oysters on the platter.  

This is how I think a dozen ought to look:

Full shells, beautifully shucked.  This was is in a little restaurant up in Wellfleet last month - oysters were harvested about a mile away, earlier that day. (And the mignonette was nothing to be sneezed at, either).

1 hour ago, cinghiale said:

Or Greenport LI: Little Creek Oysters, with a rotating selection from 5 or 6 local farms.

I'll keep this in mind!  I don't get out on Long Island too much; you know, if you grew up there, why go back?!

[Orik]

A good Maine oyster delivered directly is about $1.2, add some breakage, etc. and you can think of it as $1.4. Nyc current food cost is 25%, so if you want an oyster similar to what you'd get in Maine that's going to be $5.6. Anything less and you're either getting a not so nice oyster, or an oyster that went through a distributor and is likely 5-6 days old, or the restaurant is hoping you'll have an extra drink with the oysters (yes, those $4 oysters are now effectively the happy hour special)

[MitchW]

25 minutes ago, Orik said:

A good Maine oyster delivered directly is about $1.2, add some breakage, etc. and you can think of it as $1.4. Nyc current food cost is 25%, so if you want an oyster similar to what you'd get in Maine that's going to be $5.6. Anything less and you're either getting a not so nice oyster, or an oyster that went through a distributor and is likely 5-6 days old, or the restaurant is hoping you'll have an extra drink with the oysters (yes, those $4 oysters are now effectively the happy hour special)

I recall having fantastic Glidden Points at Foxface!

I guess the $1.50 - $2.00 happy hour oyster places want you to have more than one extra drink; either that, or order a drink not on the happy hour menu. (I imagine you're not getting that day's delivery, either).

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

GC Oyster Bar feels obligatory, but Crave Fishbar also offers a pretty extensive selection (and there are a few locations).

[small h]

6 hours ago, MitchW said:

My last time in, we actually left a couple of oysters on the platter.  

Oof.

[small h]

Since @MitchWand @Orik both follow them on IG, how are Violet Cove oysters? I am curious 'cause of the Sue Wick connection.

[MitchW]

On 11/7/2025 at 4:32 PM, small h said:

Since @MitchWand @Orik both follow them on IG, how are Violet Cove oysters? I am curious 'cause of the Sue Wick connection.

I was hoping Ori would answer first, but...in my case, I don't really know. I follow Violet Cove because a couple of friends of mine are fishermen and they fish out that way!

[small h]

Ah! Maybe we'll take a field trip in the spring and see for ourselves. 

[Wilfrid]

Crave might be worth a try. I go by the UWS location a lot.

[small h]

26 minutes ago, Wilfrid said:

Crave might be worth a try. I go by the UWS location a lot.

Happy hour is a good deal, also.

[Orik]

On 11/7/2025 at 4:32 PM, small h said:

Since @MitchWand @Orik both follow them on IG, how are Violet Cove oysters? I am curious 'cause of the Sue Wick connection.

We tried all the LI oyster farms and they are in the top three. 

[small h]

Well, now I definitely want to go.