by Joey Stewart
The taste of Oysters can start a lively debate, but if you are a serious bivalve eater you know that Dallas has dozens of spots serving some of the best in the world. With over three hundred varieties in the US it’s one of the most diverse foods you’ll ever eat. Do you prefer the briny taste of east coast oysters, or the sweeter ones from the west? How about oysters from the south?
That’s an old school train of thought that we don’t produce great oysters in Texas or the Southeast. Regardless, here’s a list, in no particular order, of some of the top spots in Big D to get your fix on. We won’t list any spots that “rinse” their oysters before they serve them. That’s blasphemy to oyster addicts. Every restaurant will have different varieties on different days, but we’ve listed some of their more popular and recent selections.
Boulevardier and Rapscallion
Typically offers Caraquet, Damariscotta, Duxbury, Katama Bay, Fiddler’s Cove, and Irish Point. Fried and grilled Gulf oysters Happy hour discounts at both locations.
Montlake Cut
East coast. Try Nick’s picks and get a baker’s dozen. Cotuit, Fisher’s Island, Blue Points, Falmouth, Riptide
Fish City Grill
The chain serves Gulf coast oysters as well as several varieties from all over the US. Wellfleet, Blue Points, Summerside, Gulf, Naked Cowboy
Two dollar east coasters from 3-6p every day.
TJ’s Seafood Market and Grill (Two Locations)
TJ’s offers rotating varieties every day from the east coast. Copps Island, James River, Katama bay, Malpeque, Rocky Nook, Thantch Island, Irish Point, Standish Shore
$2 oysters Sundays 6-9
20 Feet Seafood Joint
Blue Points, Blue Points, and Blue Points. Did we say Blue Points? Bonus for BYOB.
Gemma
Blue Points, East Beach Blonde, Ichabod Flats, Malpeque, Puffer Petite, Gulf.
$2 Oysters after 10:30pm
Eddie Vs
Gulf, Pepper Grove out of Galveston, Raspberry Point Thatch Island, Standish Shore.
Happy hour 4-7 each day. $1 Gulf, $2 East Coast
Water Grill
Brand new spot in uptown serving a large selection of Texas, East Coast, and West Coast varieties. Barcat, Island Creek, Olde Salt, Kumamoto, Malaspina, Sand Point, Hama Hama, Moon Shoal, Rappahannock
Oceanaire
Summerside, Standish Shore, Mystic, Copps Island, Blue Point, Chincoteague, Malpeque, Conway Cup
Chef selection of three for $7 bucks during happy hour 4-7
Amberjax Fish Market Grille
Pink Moon, Irish Point, Cape Spear Salt, Mystic, Sunberry Point, Blue Point, Eagle Rock (Washington), Summerside
S&D Oyster Company
Gulf, Gulf, and Gulf. Did we say Gulf? High turnover means they are always fresh.
Rex’s Seafood at the Dallas Farmer’s Market
West coast: Capitol, Brookside, Kumamoto, Fanny Bay: East coast: Pink Moon, Cuttyhunk, St. Simon, Pemaquid
$2 west/east coast and $1 Gulf 3-7 every day, and during the NFL playoff games
The Mitchell
$2 East Coast, $1 Gulf from 5-7 every day
And bonus points for the oyster shooters at 20 ft… Definite must have.