Oyster season has hit its peak in Washington DC, and ten restaurants across the region are offering real deals right now!
Happy Hour Prices Make Oysters an Easy Sell
Cordelia Fishbar at 550 Morse Street NE in Union Market cuts oysters and shellfish towers in half from 4 to 6pm Tuesday through Thursday, alongside $9 wines and cocktails. Lyon Hall in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood sells oysters for $1.50 each daily, or $19 for a half dozen and $36 for a full dozen.
Meanwhile, King Street Oyster Bar in NoMa drops raw oysters to $1.75 apiece from 3 to 6:30pm daily, and Pearl Dive Oyster Palace in Logan Circle matches that with $2 oysters Monday through Thursday from 4 to 7pm, and starting at 3pm on Friday.
Historic Rooms Still Draw the Happy Hour Crowd
Two DC institutions round out the classic side of the list. Old Ebbitt Grill, founded in 1856 at 675 15th Street NW near the White House, runs its oyster happy hour daily from 3 to 5pm and again from 11pm to 1am, pricing a half dozen at $15.99 and a full dozen at $27.99.
Down at the waterfront, Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf at 701 Wharf Street SW pairs fresh half shells with sunset views of the Potomac, making it a solid choice for a relaxed dinner rather than a rushed happy hour.
Chefs Are Reinventing the Classic Oyster
A pair of chefs are putting a fresh spin on the shellfish this season. Chef Anthony Chittum‘s Vermilion in Old Town Alexandria tops its crispy oyster H.L.T. with roasted cherry tomato, crispy ham, and chili aioli for $16, a Chesapeake take on the classic BLT.
At Mallard near Logan Circle, Chef Hamilton Johnson fries Chesapeake oysters and finishes them with deviled egg aioli for $12, an indulgent update on the Southern staple.
For a Real Splurge, Two Tables Lead the Way
For guests chasing something rarer, two tables deliver. Chef Edward Lee‘s SHIA in Union Market opens its seven-course, $177 tasting menu with a scallop and fried oyster ssam, balancing briny myeongran, crisp Korean pear, and savory ssamjang sauce.
And near McPherson Square, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab pairs half-price select oysters during happy hour with market-priced Florida stone crab, a longtime favorite among DC’s political crowd!
Budgets of every size have an entry point this month. Happy hour specials typically run through peak oyster season into the fall. Reservations are strongly recommended at SHIA, Joe’s Seafood, and Vermilion, while the happy hour spots run first come first served at the bar.
The Washington Lobbyist will keep tracking DC’s best seasonal food deals, so follow along for the next round of dining discoveries.
