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A W Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Music:
- Background
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
193 reviews for A W Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar
Review Highlights
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"We also tried the bloody mary which was very good." In 23 reviews -
"However, I did have a very excellent fish and chips." In 31 reviews -
"Also heard that the rose clam chowder was great." In 41 reviews
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193 reviews in English
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Review from Joyce E.
Daly City, CA
After getting lost in Monterey/Carmel, my family and I were starving! We decided on A W Shucks Cocktail and Oyster Bar because well, frankly we didn't want to walk that far and it was convenient since my family were ooh-ing and ah-ing at the Christmas figurines next door. The hostess was nice and assured us that all 9 of us would get seated within 15 minutes despite the bar's modest size. The waitress was nice enough to take our orders beforehand and if you know my family, we are definitely complicated when it comes to ordering food lol. Props to the waitress for keeping up with us. :)
I can't really speak for what everyone else ordered because we were starving and basically inhaled our food. I ordered the crab cake and chips which was delicious! The crab cake had a nice sauce that complemented it well. The chips were perfectly fried! Our waitress was super friendly and attentive. She even struck conversations with us and made my cousin laugh. If I'm ever in the area, I would not hesitate to come back.
Funny story: my sister overfed my cousin and he was about to "throw up" The waitresses thought he was choking and were ready to give him the heimlich maneuver. Hey, at least you know that they're trained! -
Review from Tony N.
Elk Grove, CA
4/25/2012
We went here for a quick bite before we went to dinner. I was craving some oysters on the half shell and came across this place on Yelp. This place had high reviews, so we thought we should try it out.
I ordered the dozen oysters and my girlfriend ordered the fried calamari. I was quite pleased with my oysters, it was served with cocktail sauce and horseradish(very spicy here). The oysters were not sandy and were very tasty. I wouldn't say they were the best I ever had, but I was happy.
My girlfriend was not too pleased about the calamari. Just plain calamari and i agree. However, their serving size was very generous and we did appreciate that.
Unfortunately, we did not try the bloody mary (said to be the best in town, of course). Next time we will try that out. If you are in the area, give this place a try. Keep in mind, large parties will have a wait for a bit for a table. Enjoy. -
Review from Patrick L.
San Diego, CA
4/6/2012
Ok place. Oysters were fresh and had a nice variety. Shucker was stand offish and not very helpful. Hint-when customer engages in conversation about the oysters you serve, humor them a bit. Especially if they're sitting at your oyster bar.
Wifey ha the crab louie which she said was very good. In the end 60 bucks for a beer, tea, oysters, and a crab salad is just crazy. Especially when neither were particularly memorable.
I would go back for lunch, maybe. -
Review from Bill H.
The sandwiches here are always grilled perfectly. They are crisp and Caramelized, but don't carve up the top of your mouth.
The bloody Mary was tasty, but I'm particular about my bloody blends, and while it was quite good, there was just something missing to put it over the top.
The key lime pie is orgasmic. If you are in here, and don't get a slice, you have missed out on a citrus circus for the senses. (Say that three times fast!)
The oysters were very good, expertly shucked, and were fresh and tasty.
Obviously, though, the notion that oysters are an aphrodisiac is a myth. The last time I brought a date here, I had seven oysters, but they only worked four times.
Oh well.
Service here is as good as any you'll find. -
Review from Anna W.
Watsonville, CA
3/14/2012
No, no, no. Don't go. A sunny day in Carmel, brought us out of the valley to enjoy Carmel at it's best. Didn't happen.
Pros: Friendly greeting, pretty bar top, prompt bread and butter, decent oysters.
Cons: Bad Bloody, the worst fish tacos ever (really, how does one make tacos tasteless?), and we were charged to have my husband's bloody strained into a martini glass! He's been doing this for years, and we have NEVER been charged - which is contrary to what the manager assured us was common practice.
There are so many wonderful and delicious eateries in our area - don't waste your time here. -
Review from David A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2012
This place has a very straightforward menu with fried fish and chips or salad, shrimp or calamari and just a few other dishes such as oysters on the half shell and chowder. Simple here equals excellent. I concede that the chips could have been homemade, but overall, it was a generous portion of fish, (4 nice pieces), and it was served right out of the fryer. The batter was outstanding, crispy and greaseless. The New England Clam chowder was pretty damn good. My wife got shrimp and some Bloody Marys and thought they were pretty good too. For Carmel, I was pleasantly surprised with the low cost of this lunch. I highly recommend this place.
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Review from Annie B.
St Paul, MN
5/5/2012 1 photo
Was looking for a fun bar/restaurant in Carmel and found it here. Some spots in Carmel can be a little boring, or with pretentious peeps but A. W . Shucks is a cool spot for dinner or cocktails.
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Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
When the world is your oyster, all opportunities are open and the world is yours for the taking. I love that and working towards getting the most out of life, enjoying what I have and each day as it comes.
We love stopping for Oysters, even when we were full after a very big brunch and walk by the ocean. A.W. Shuck's was another bookmarked spot we wanted to get into, so we stopped for a beer.
We also like local beers, so we ordered two Carmel Wheat beers. They were pretty light for wheat beer, but cold and tasty.
As I was sitting at the bar (made from cool recycled glass in multiple colors), I couldn't help but notice the Oyster Shooters and Cocktails. I couldn't just sit there and not order any, so I ordered two salsa oyster shooters. They were layer upon layer of tasty goodness and worth it.
I had a great time and experience at A.W. Shucks and would stop by on my next trip to Carmel. I also appreciated this bit of nutritional information on Oysters, that I would love to share with all of you. http://www.yelp.com/bi...Listed in: Carmel and Monterey Getaway
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Review from A J.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2012
Average drinks, surprisingly bad oysters.
We went here while waiting for our dinner reservation elsewhere on Valentines day. We had a couple of cocktails (both pretty average), half a dozen oysters, and a couple of oyster shooters. The oysters were were 3 different varietals from 3 different locations and all three were amongst the worst oysters we've had, pretty shocking for a place that calls itself an oyster bar. We also had the salsa oyster shooters which were pretty gross too - tasted like canned tomato salsa, horseradish, and an oyster. Not at all delicious and hard to imagine that anyone else would think so.
Then to top it off, one of us got violently ill an hour later with food poisoning from shellfish toxins. Definitely skip this place. -
Review from S C.
Gambrills, MD
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped here for oysters on a recommendation from San Fransisco. Had one oyster and it was so dirty and shelly that I couldn't bare to eat another. Went looking for some miagi or other local varieties, but only had fanny bay, blue points and one other, non local. oh well. Bartender was bent over the bar talking to a regular the whole time. Come again, probably not. Thanks yelp for pointing out the bathroom behind the mirror.
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Review from Yvonne N.
San Jose, CA
2/27/2012
3.5 stars
Found the place on Yelp as I wanted to head down to Carmel for the day.
The place is really small, but was able to get a table for two within minutes. The servers were very attentive but a table for two is pretty small.
I couldn't decide between Manhattan or Boston chowder but ordered a bowl of clam chowder, artichokes and fried seafood platter.
Chowder was ok, didn't have enough essence of clams in the bowl. Felt then should of served sourdough bread than ciabatta bread.
The seafood platter was good, the batter was crispy for quite sometime but needed a bit more salt. The horseradish in the tarter sauce gave it a real kick just the way I like it. Even after giving the fish and chips a few drips of the malt vinegar the batter was still pretty crispy.
Overall the place was good, but was expecting more from...but I am also 4 months pregnant and unable to try the blood mary or oyster shooters. -
Review from Belle D.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012
We came at around 7pm on a Saturday; we had a small table in the back, but it was super cozy. The fish and chips were outstanding! Seriously some of the best I've ever had in California. The calamari was also excellent. Despite the fact that it was really crowded and busy, we had prompt service and the food came out quickly. Enjoyed this place very much and will be back again next time we're in town.
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Review from Keith W.
Boston, MA
4/6/2012 1 photo
Good calamari, good fish 'n chips, the oysters were so so, not that tasty.
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Review from Hester C.
Newark, CA
2/22/2012
I am really glad we stopped in here for lunch. We ordered the seafood combo appetizer and half dozen of oysters. Everything was very fresh and clean, which is always a plus with seafood. The bloody mary's are also a must have!
The staff was very friendly and while the restaurant is a bit small it wasn't overwhelming like it can be for cramped places. We shared are table with another small group of people as seating is "family style." It was nice, got to meet someone new for the day!
Overall, great food, great people, and great atmosphere! -
Review from Kevin M.
Monterey, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The sign on the door says they have the best Bloody Mary's in town, and I'm sure that's correct. Probably the best on the peninsula.
The staff is friendly, and the fresh oysters are awesome as well. I've never had a full meal there, and I'm not really likely to - but every time I'm in Carmel shopping I stop by for a drink at least.
They have a bathroom in the back for customers, hidden behind a secret door in the mirror. It's nice and clean, and bigger than you'd expect. Going from the crowded bar to the empty and seemingly secret area behind the mirror feels like stepping into Narnia ... in a good way, of course. -
Review from Andrea C.
We came here for lunch and ordered a martini and bloody mary since everyone raved about the bloody mary's. BF loves bloody mary's, but he thought it was alright here. We ordered a dozen oysters, which was probably what i enjoyed most from our meal! The fish and chips were good, but felt like the taste was missing something. Clam chowder was ok. Tuna melt was yummy. Service was great.
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Review from Ashlee L.
Pacific Grove, CA
11/27/2011
A. W. Shucks was on the top of our list for places to check out in the area, I just loved the idea of a place that specializes in oysters and cocktails and we were not disappointed! The oysters were delicious (about $20 for 12 so we didn't over indulge) We also tried the fish and chips, seafood salad, manhattan clam chowder and fish tacos, all excellent! (I had never had a decent seafood salad sandwich before this place, nice chunks of shrimp and crab and an overall great flavor, the fish and chips weren't greasy or over battered and tasted quite fresh!) We sampled several signature cocktails, including the famous bloody mary, all were excellent and not overpriced!
The menu is small, a great place for a light meal with drinks! They provided warm, friendly, helpful service and an intimate atmosphere! No complaints, we'll definitely be going back! -
Review from M L.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
The BEST steak fries I've ever eaten, period. Solid offering of oysters, and extremely attentive wait staff - I must've gotten my soda refilled every five minutes.
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Review from Michael W.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/11/2011
PROS:
+ Excellent Fish and Chips
+ Salsa Oyster Shots...delicious
+ Great attentive service
CONS:
- Its very popular so, there is usually a wait
This is really has it all. Its a very hip and popular place to get a drink and some food. The place is rather small; you pair that with it's popularity and you get a long wait time, unless you're lucky to get a table or smart enough to grab any bar seating (where you can order anything on their menu, smart).
Great food, great service, what else do you need? If you're in Carmel, come check this place out. You can thank me later. Enjoy! -
Review from Svitlana S.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/22/2012
Service awesome and fast. Food very yummy! would be back next time we are in town!
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Review from angela k.
10/23/2011
The wait was about 20 minutes. It was a tiny with great atmosphere. You can see the chef cooking. There seemed to be only one chef working and our food took quite a while.
We were all craving for some fresh oysters and got them here. They were fantastic and satisfied my craving. Tasted very fresh and it was o so slurpi-licious with some lemon juice and tabasco. yuuuum
for dinner I had a tuna melt with fries. It was okay but maybe it was because I was too full from bread and oysters.. The serving was huge so I got the left over to go. The fish and chips ordered were really great. Everyone enjoyed their fried dish. I think this place is known for their fried stuff so if your a health conscious person, probably not the best place... But then again, if you're on a vacation, you gotta enjoy the fantastic restaurants and its foods in carmel!Listed in: CA Scenic Route 1
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Review from Stacie M.
San Mateo, CA
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a great find. Perfect place to rest our feet after shopping on Ocean Ave. I would definitely recommend going early though. The place is TINY. My husband and I were lucky enough to snag the last table in the very back on a Saturday around 6 pm. Such a lively atmosphere. Great service. Large menu of fun cocktails and many beers on draft. We ordered a few apps which were really tasty. They definitely don't skimp on the seafood.
Can't wait to go back and try a full on dinner. -
Review from Scribal L.
Colorado Springs, CO
3/16/2012
Perhaps I would have done better with the oysters but my lunch partners weren't oyster people so I had the artichoke and a cup of clam chowder. Perhaps it was the mayonaise but I've had full-on food poisoning before--this was a mild version--it just lasted 24 hours--but it was the whole process, muscle pains and cramps and dizziness and then the aftermath.
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Review from Dwight M.
Philadelphia, PA
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great friend shrim and vegetarian chili. The place was crowded but the food was excellent, filling and the service was great. While we were eating the owner dropped by to chat a really nice touch. WIl visit again.
Oh before I forget, absolutely killer bloody mary's -
Review from Me M.
Alameda, CA
4/15/2012
loved this place. they had old bay seasoning on the rim of my bloody mary and that speaks for itself for me! being from the east coast, they know how to make a bloody mary. the oysters were amazing too. a definite staple when visiting carmel.
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Review from Vince S.
West Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2011
Came here first night just for oysters. They had Miyaki, Fanny Bay and Drakes bay. $12 for 6 pieces, $20 for 12 pieces. Very fresh. One of them had some black gooey stuff...server replaced it without any questions.
Second day we came here for the fried seafood stuff. Had seafood platter over salad. Fried shrimp, calamari, fish, scallops. The shrimp and calamari were pretty good. Fish was a little stale...so were the scallops.
British pub style service. Very relaxing atmosphere. -
Review from saucy i.
Pasadena, CA
12/12/2011 1 photo
Went there yesterday. It was cold & rainy and perfect weather for chowder. The restaurant was full, but they seated us in a reserved spot. Yay!
We ordered the chilled seafood sampler ($21), 2 kinds of chowder, and homemade key lime pie.
Best things on the sampler were the oysters and smoked salmon. Next time I go, I'm going to have just a plate of oysters.
I loved the casual ambiance. Service was attentive and friendly. Wall art is cool. Bathrooms were clean & didn't smell funky. Dying to go back! I wish it was here in Pasadena. -
Review from L J.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/4/2011
GREAT pit stop for your scenic walking day in downtown carmel by the sea. I have been to Carmel so many times but never stopped in here... oops!!
Well now that I know.... Ill be comin back and bringin my family!! Cute little oyster bar, great liquor selection, beer on tap, what more do u need?! Nice ambiance and service. Lovely place for a nice fresh lunch! -
Review from Steve K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/9/2011
Been to Carmel many time, passed by A.W. Shucks just as many but never dined in. Just ate there for the very first time this summer and that day was pretty much one of the best days of my foodie life.
Ordered about 36 oysters split between two peeps, downed several cocktails and had the fish and chip seafood platter combo. The oysters are so fresh it's like picking 'em up from the sandbed and cracking them open. Plus the oysters are small-medium size (not those gross 6+ inchers) and perfect variety of San Francisco Bay, Washington and Vancouver oysters - they all have different taste for the discerning foodie. -
Review from Xtine M.
San Jose, CA
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm definitely a fan!! My fiance took me here because I was craving oysters!!! I was in my 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, and this is the only oyster bar that offered grilled/broiled oysters!! Our waitress was really nice and understanding of my situation, and we were able to order "off-the-menu":) Thumbs up to her and her hospitality! I'm gonna assume she was Hawai'an because she had a pigeon accent :) We will def return, pregnant or not!
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Review from David H.
Oakland, CA
These guys know how to make customers feel welcome. However, they should allow you to choose your side. I wanted the crab cakes with fries, but they wouldn't sub the salad.
If you're a scotch drinker like me, this is a place you must visit. They have a really good selection. -
Review from Marisa W.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
Great staff and food! Really fresh
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Review from sarah d.
Soquel, CA
2/16/2012
soooo good!!! I got the grilled cheese with a side of rose clam chowder (a mix of red and white... I think it's called rose). OH my gosh so good. I want to go back asap!!
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Review from Michael J L.
Brigantine, NJ
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool bar with good oysters and cocktails.
The way to do it here is start with a Bloody Mary and 1 or 2 rounds of oysters. Then get the seafood salad sandwich (great seafood salad - no imitation crab meat - and nicely toasted potato bread) with a cup of Manhattan clam chowder. My wife and I also tried the fish and chips, which were good but the other items I mentioned are what we would come back for. -
Review from Robin W.
Northridge, CA
2/19/2012
Coming from two native Californians, my husband and I love this place and feel it is the best oyster bar in the state. This restaurant has been a staple in Carmel and should not be missed. The owners Michael & Michelle are so welcoming.
The food is all wonderful, everything is always fresh and the dishes are prepared and served at the perfect temperature. The oyster selection is very good, clam chowder wonderful, the shrimp cocktail and salads are so tasty and absolutely outstanding fish & chips. Let's not forget the Bloody Mary, perfect and one of the best we have ever had. -
Review from Jen G.
Sacramento, CA
9/5/2011
Tiny little tables and lots of food. We ordered oysters on the half to start, drinks, bread, and then our entrees. We really didn't see how this little table could fit all that, but we somehow made it work. The place was packed. I suppose for good reason. Note to all other restaurants in Carmel: having purse hooks built in your tables is genius!
Like a previous poster, our oysters also had bits of shell in it. Hmmm. I seem to remember having better at different locations. But - it's not every day that you order oysters. But you'd assume a place that specializes in it would get it right.
Hubs got fish tacos, which seemed like the perfect entree size for someone that wasn't that hungry. I got the tuna melt... which filled me up after eating half. Decent beer selection. -
Review from Alicia A.
Contra Costa, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
After a beautiful drive along Highway 1, we finally stop through Carmel for lunch. After reading all the great reviews, we decided to have lunch here.
We started off with the appetizer sampler, which had 3 oysters, 4 pieces of shrimp, a small bowl of crab and a few generous slices of smoked salmon. Generally, I like oysters, but the ones here were nothing to rave about. Next time, I'll pass on the oysters. On the other hand, I loved the smoked salmon! It was rich, creamy and had the perfect amount of that smokey flavor. The shrimp and crab were also pretty good, but by far my favorite was the salmon :)
The main entree was the deep fried platter, which had calamari, fish and prawns and a generous portion of french fries. Each of us also ordered a cup of clam chowder. My favorite is definitely the fish. I've had my fair share of fish n chips, but this definitely beats any place I've been to. The clam chowder has a distinct flavor. It was really creamy, not so salty and kind of tangy. It's totally different from SF clam chowder. Personally, I prefer SF clam chowder.
Another reason I couldn't give this place 4 stars is because of the teeny tiny tables. It was impossible to eat comfortably and enjoy our lunch; however, on the upside, our waitress was pretty cool and I enjoyed the food :) -
Review from Yamona S.
Pacific Grove, CA
9/13/2011
A.W. Shucks was the first place I ate when I moved to Monterey about 12 years ago. Since that very first foray, I never ventured back - thinking as the years went by that it was the typical little tourist trap,not much different to what you'd find at the Wharf. How wrong I was - I hope that I will be forgiven for my crude misjudgement.
I needed to get on the road by 6 pm yesterday evening and so skipped out intending to eat at Tommy's Wok. Lo and behold Tommy's is closed on Mondays. Now...try to find a quick and cheap place to eat in Carmel on Monday night - it is as hard to find as a parking space. Anyways, I parked in a half hour spot and ran up to Demetras - no go. They were packed. I ran up to the Carmel Baking Co - packed. I was getting desperate. I saw A. W. and thought - the hell.
When we told Wendy our server that we needed to eat and be out of there in a half hour - she very calmly sprung to action. She didn't even mind that we weren't ordering alcoholic beverages. I know servers usually get irritated because I always order water only. Usually. I didn't think my soup (Manhattan Chowder) was any good - but my friend's fish and chips. Wow! It was literally melt in the mouth good. The fries were nice and thick cut with a delicious crisp outer shell. I don't care for fries however I do believe that how they are done is a good indication that they do most everything else well.
Wendy was so nice and so genuine. Great service, cute little place on the inside. I will be back. -
Review from Nick K.
Henderson, NV
1/6/2012
I only had time for a quick lunch and so I searched yelp for seafood near by and found this place. Since it's an oyster bar I had to try them. I got half a dozen oysters and crab cakes and a cesear salad. The oysters were all fresh & tasty (Miyaki's were by far my favorite) and the crab cake was also great and didn't have a lot of fillers. The salad was, well a salad but good none the less. The only reason they didn't get 4 stars is bc of price. With tip it was around $30, a little pricey for a lunch.
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Review from John K.
Antelope, CA
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had an enjoyable time here on a recent Sunday evening. The fish and chips were decent, the beer cold (had a local micro brew which was pretty tasty) & the server was cheerful. Added to our relaxing getaway trip to Carmel. We will definitely return.
