Charleston loves a food holiday, and National Oyster Day is one where the Lowcountry really shines – even in months spelled without Rs.
While many people traditionally follow a rule that they should only eat oysters from September to April, modern farming practices allow and great big jets that fly here provide year-round fresh oyster availability and the ability to eat local oysters in August.
In fact, oysters hold immense cultural significance in the Holy City. The peninsula was once called Oyster Point – and local restaurants showcase the shellfish in varied, delicious ways to this day.
Celebrate the beloved bivalves on Aug. 5 — or anytime — at one of the following restaurants or visit many to make your own oyster crawl!
Raw on the half shell
167 Raw Oyster Bar (downtown)
Perennial seafood favorite 167 Raw is a New England-style oyster bar with a menu that highlights East Coast seafood. The oyster selection changes daily and always hits the spot. If you’re feeling fancy, order your oysters “French-style,” which gives you a caviar topper.
167 Raw Oyster Bar: 193 King Street. Open Mondays through Saturdays. More: 167rawoysterbar.com
Halls Chophouse (downtown)
The raw and chilled seafood menu at Halls features shrimp cocktail, lobster tails and towers. But the classic oysters on the half shell, which come by both the dozen and the half dozen, always deliver.
Hall’s Chophouse: 434 King Street. Open daily. More: hallschophousecharleston.com
Marbled & Fin (downtown)
Marbled & Fin’s raw bar offers some of the freshest seafood in town. You can order oysters dressed with aji mango, cucumber and Serrano chili or find them on a seafood tower, and the traditional version on the half shell comes with cocktail sauce, mignonette and lemon.
Marbled & Fin. 480 East Bay St. Open daily. More: marbledandfin.com
Fried, grilled and unexpected
Bowens Island (James Island)
You can never go wrong with the char of wood-fired oysters from this national treasure of a seafood house. But sadly at this time of the year, it’s just too damned hot to be roasting oysters over an open fire. So enjoy Oyster Day with perfectly, lightly fried oysters from places like Apalachicola or oysters on the half shell with a cold beer.
Bowens Island Restaurant. 1870 Bowens Island Road. Open Tuesdays through Saturday. More: bowensisland.com
Cuda Co. Seafood House (James Island)
The owners at Cuda Co. wanted to introduce new flavors, educate the local community on aquaculture and become a force for progressive change in an industry traditionally known for waste and pollution. Oysters come baked and raw at the restaurant, but it’s hard to beat the Po Boy which comes with crispy oysters, toasted Martin’s split top roll, remoulade slaw, Crystal hot sauce and herbs.
Cuda Co. Seafood House. 765 Folly Road. Open Tuesday through Sundays. More: cudaco.com
Fleet Landing (downtown)
Fleet Landing, one of the only restaurants directly on the water in downtown Charleston, offers traditional oyster preparations, but takes things to a new level with the off-menu Sm’oyster. For the adventurous, this dessert is a roasted oyster topped with chocolate, toasted marshmallow and graham cracker crumble.
Fleet Landing. 186 Concord Street. Open daily. More: fleetlanding.net
Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop (downtown)
Leon’s is known for its fried chicken, oysters, cheap beer, soft serve and grower Champagne. Housed in an old body shop, you can find everything from raw oysters to fried ones on a roll with lettuce, tomato, avocado, comeback sauce and chives. But it’s the chargrilled oysters – with lemon, parsley, butter and Parmesan – that are truly unmissable.
Leon’s Oyster Shop: 698 King Street. Open daily. More: leonsoystershop.com
Gussied up
Honeysuckle Rose (downtown)
Honeysuckle Rose offers a tasting menu that gives guests an interactive experience with the chef and team over the three-hour, eight-course dinner. Its baked oyster, sourced from Steamboat Creek near Edisto Island, is a sophisticated reinterpretation of the classic Oyster Rockefeller. It begins with a house-made béchamel infused with Bradford Farms sweet corn, Benton’s smoky bacon, Santee onions and Rosebank Farms arugula. Each oyster is finished with toasted breadcrumbs, fresh jalapeño, Osetra caviar and arugula blossoms.
Honeysuckle Rose: 237 Fishburne Street. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays. More: honeysucklerosechs.com
Prohibition (downtown)
Many know Prohibition for its top-notch cocktails, but the kitchen serves equally delicious options. Its baked oysters have a house-made Lowcountry Cup oyster dressing (made with minced garlic, chopped scallions, yellow onions, celery, chicken stock, croutons, shucked oysters, Crystal hot sauce and egg) along with a garlic butter finish and are the perfect balance of brininess and richness.
Prohibition: 547 King Street. Open daily. More: prohibitioncharleston.com
The Royal Tern (Johns Island)
The Royal Tern is a family restaurant and neighborhood eatery on Johns Island that offers a steak and seafood focused menu. Its Royale oyster marries two fan favorite flavors – oyster and tuna – and it is topped with a jalapeño ponzu.
The Royal Tern: 3005 Maybank Hwy., Johns Island. Open daily. More: theroyaltern.com
From the glass
The Darling Oyster Bar (downtown)
Seafood is the star of the show at The Darling, where the team blends classical preparations with vibrant, new flavors. Housing one of the most beautiful raw bars in town, its oyster shooter comes with Cathead pepper-infused vodka, house-made mix and a raw oyster.
The Darling Oyster Bar: 513 King Street. Open daily. More: thedarling.com
NICO | Oysters + Seafood (Mount Pleasant)
Shem Creek’s NICO is an oyster bar that serves French cuisine sourced from the waters of the Lowcountry as well as a curated selection of the country’s finest raw oysters. Its tipsy oyster features a fresh oyster, locally distilled Firefly vodka and Charleston bloody mary mix.
NICO Oysters + Seafood. 201 Coleman Boulevard. Open daily. More: nicoshemcreek.comhttp://www.NICO Oysters + Seafood. 201 Coleman Boulevard. Open daily. More: nicoshemcreek.com
Pearlz (downtown and West Ashley)
Pearlz, a longstanding favorite for oysters, has a dedicated oyster shooter menu at both locations. There’s a classic and chicken noodle variety (yes, it has a house made chicken noodle vodka), and the tequila twist shooter comes with tequila, tomatillo salsa verde and a squeeze of lime.
Pearlz: 153 East Bay Street. 9 Magnolia Road. Both locations open daily. More: pearlzoysterbar.com
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
