National Oyster Day is just around the corner on August 5, and we are more than ready to celebrate. There’s nothing quite like an oyster on the half-shell on a hot summer’s day, preferably paired with a glass of white wine. Whether it’s served with lemon, cocktail sauce or a mignonette, this seafood delicacy is always a crowd-pleaser. Here is a list of some of our preferred places to celebrate National Oyster Day and slurp down these tasty treats.
See also: The 8 Most Decadent Seafood Towers In NYC
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Various locations / Website
This chic Greek restaurant, which has locations in Midtown, Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Center, offers tons of oyster and raw bar options. They have East Coast oysters, West Coast oysters and their raw sampler royale with oysters, shrimp and lobster for the ultimate seafood experience. Craving alfresco dining? The Rockefeller location has some of the most expansive outdoor dining areas on Sixth Avenue, making it the perfect location to enjoy some oysters.
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80 Spring St. / 212.965.1414 / Website
Located in the heart of Soho, this iconic French restaurant has been a staple to New Yorkers for decades. Their extensive raw bar menu features oysters from the East Coast and the West Coast, as well as Little Neck clams. The establishment is also known for its baked goods and other French dishes like escargot and onion soup gratinée.
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420 Hudson St. / 212.242.7420 / Website
With both classic and contemporary presentations, seafood is the name of the game at this West Village neighborhood favorite. With both $8 cocktails and $2 oysters available during happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Clam always draws in a crowd.
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50 Commerce St. / 929.302.6044 / Website
On a quiet street in the West Village is the Commerce Inn, brought to you by the owners of Via Carota and Buvette. The warm environment serves Shaker-inspired foods and oysters can be ordered raw, pickled or fried and are best enjoyed alongside other menu items like the delicious spoonbread.
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114 Nassau Ave. / 718.313.1913 / Website
Located in Greenpoint, this fish market and restaurant serves up some of the freshest seafood in New York. Not only do they have East and West Coast oysters on the half-shell, but also crudo, sea scallops and ceviche as well.
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77 Delancey St. / 646.580.5239 / Website
This Lower East Side hot spot is known for its fresh oyster selection and other seafood dishes, such as the lobster roll and mussels. Stop by from Sunday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. to enjoy happy hour with $1 oysters and $10 cocktails.
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172 Waverly Place / Website
Set in the West Village, this restaurant is known for its raw bar and oyster selection. Choose from the different types of oysters and mix it up with their king crab legs or littleneck clams as well for the ultimate seafood experience.
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142 Mercer St. / 212.431.7676 / Website
This Soho staple is a great spot to enjoy oysters in a luxe ambiance while people-watching. The large raw bar menu includes oysters from a selection of locations as well as their shellfish plateaux which can include a combination of oysters, clams, lobster, king crab and tuna tartare, to name a few.
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298 Bedford Ave. / 347.889.5710 / Website
This New Orleans-style restaurant in Williamsburg has a designated oyster menu with a selection from places like Norwalk, Connecticut; Damariscotta River, Maine and Puget Sound, Washington. Pair them with some of their craft cocktails or other dishes like the lobster roll or braised beef cheek.
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630 9th Ave. / 212.333.2323 / Website
For nearly two decades, Marseille has been bringing delicious French food to Broadway in Hell's Kitchen. Its oyster happy hour, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., is a great deal at only $1.50 an oyster. Pair your oysters with a delicious craft cocktail (try the frozen mojito!) for the perfect evening.
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Pier 25 Hudson River Park / 212.660.6312 / Website
Dine with a waterfront view at Grand Banks, where the oyster selection is extensive, including choices from near and far, such as British Columbia and Moriches Bay. If you’re here for a good time and a long time, order the Grand Banks Pan-American oyster experience with nearly every type of oyster imaginable.
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240 Central Park S. / 212.582.5100 / Website
With plenty of oysters and caviar, this spot is perfect for an elevated afternoon meal. Served with cucumber mignonette, red wine mignonette and lemon, oysters sourced from British Columbia, Newfoundland and New York are served up alongside delicious seafood options, such as sea urchin and mackerel.
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89 South St. / 212.838.1200 / Website
There’s nothing quite like a raw bar with a waterfront view, and the Fulton is undoubtedly one of our favorite spots to indulge. East Coast oysters, in particular, are highlighted, which we love to pair with some Little Neck clams for a well-rounded raw bar experience.
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89 MacDougal St. / 212.260.0100 / Website
This Greenwich Village restaurant is known for its seafood selection and large variety of oysters. During happy hour, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., oysters are $1.50, and other items like fish tacos and fried calamari are also available.
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246 Spring St. / 212.784.1350 / Website
This Michelin-starred restaurant's authentic seafood is Soho legend and is the obvious choice if you are looking to celebrate in style this National Oyster Day. To elevate the classic, look no further for oysters like you've never seen before.
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89 E 42nd St. / 212.490.6650 / Website
The Grand Central Oyster Bar’s storied history and iconic locale create an unparalleled dining experience inside one of America’s landmark destinations. The story goes that railroad baron Cornelius Vanderbilt opened the oyster bar in 1913, and after serving travelers for decades, the restaurant ultimately closed in 1960. Even so, icons never truly fade, Jerome Brody later reimagined the eatery creating a premier seafood emporium widely recognized for timeless culinary excellence.
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55 Bond St. / 212.677.2223 / Website
“Thai Seafood, straight to your soul” captures the essence of Fish Cheeks. The vibrant restaurant especially highlights seafood. Grilled cuttlefish, prawn karee, and coconut crab curry headline the menu. Helmed by chef Chat Suansilphong and Jenn Saesue, Fish Cheeks conceptualizes the team’s heritage and celebrates the culinary artistry found in Bangkok with a modern twist.
Photography by: courtesy of Marea
