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Join us for our Final Summer Crab Feast: Tuesday August 24th.
$19--3 Jumbo Hardshells, Corn on the Cob, Cabbage Slaw
Mon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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I really wish I could afford to come here more often, but for now I'll have to stick to the "Buck a Shuck" happy hour from 5-7 during the week, and 9-11 on Saturday.
The beer list and cocktails are well thought out too, and there's not much better than a dozen oysters and a Fish House Punch.
Even if you're not a raw bar fan, the Oyster House burger is one of the best in town, topped with bleu cheese, onions and a fried oyster.
I'm dying to try the brunch menu and Tuesday night fish 'n chips, but those will have to wait until I can afford full-time child care.
he Sansom St Oyster house is gorgeous. Someone really put a lot of though into the decor and layout of this place. It has a nice dining room, but the real treat is sitting at the bar. The Oyster house features an large, open prep area where you can see all of the clams, mussels, shrimp, ect.
This spot serves up top notch seafood. But it comes at a price. The real strength lies in (obviously) the Oysters, but generally in the raw seafood bar. A large blackboard shows the different types of regional oysters offered each day. While I don't know enough to comment on the types offered, the sheer selection in impressive. They served the biggest shrimps I've ever seen in my life. For beer, there is a small but respectable list of beers, with a few locals represented. Dock St and Yards come immediately to mind.
To do this place best, head here for happy hour. M-F, 5-7: $3 drafts and $1 oyster shucks on "oyster of the day" cannot be beaten. Or try a Tuesday for $14 fish and chips. I know that I'll be heading back for these specials very soon.
Probably one of the best happy hour deals in town! $1 oysters, $3 beers and a daily oyster shooter? How could you go wrong?
Oysters are obviously their specialty, and the raw bar is the way to go. Shucked fresh on ice, the oysters on the half shell are served with a house-made cocktail sauce and red wine vinaigrette. No shells in the meat, the shuckers are masters of their craft.
Oyster shooters? I've tried them all. The New Englander rocks! The horseradish vodka will definitely clear the nasal passages. Chihuahua and Bangkok are also notable, but I don't think I'd order the Londoner again. It just seems like it's missing something.
Sauteed mussels are very good with a latin kick. The chorizo and jalapeno make them a little more hearty than most recipes.
I was a big fan of the place way back when, and am glad to see the quality and ambiance of the place have only improved.
I used to love the old Sansom Street Oyster House and now that it has reopened, I love it even more. Every single time it has been very enjoyable. It is going to be one of my new favorite spots.
Ambiance: Much more clean and modern than it's old space. Good amount of space for both the bar and dinner seating. Lively but not too overwhelming even at the peak of happy hour!
Service: Had friendly staff who know the menu from the drinks to the oysters. Swing by during lunch and you can leisurely enjoy your meal & any shucking entertainment.
Food: The first time around I had the soup/sandwich lunch special. The chowder was wonderfully fresh. However, if you like it creamier & thicker - this is not your chowder. The oyster po'boy was delicious and the potato chips were divine. Very thin and crispy house made chips. For oysters, they have a nice selection from both coasts and are well shucked - good amount of juice & rare shell. Plus, their buck-a-shuck is a great deal.
Tip: If you like West Coast oysters - try the Royal Miyagi. Creamy & almost fruity deliciousness. :drool: Also, sometimes they keep oysters in house but not on the board ... so it never hurts to ask the staff if they have the oyster you wanted...
Dinner can get pricey but lunch or happy hour is a delicious compromise! Or if you are oyster crazy like me... you can replace your afternoon espresso with one oyster on the half shell..
I pity the fool who does not like oysters. But if you do - bring your taste buds down to the Oyster House on Saturdays 9-11pm for a $1 an oyster special. Chase it down with some $3 beer and an oyster shot or two, and Bob's your uncle.
I came back for the $13 soup and sandwich lunch special and I'd dare say it was the equal of the burger.
I started with the snapper soup, which unlike the thousand iterations I've had elsewhere, did not skimp on the snapper meat. A bit chewy but still very good.
I followed with the grilled swordfish sandwich, which I would definitely order again. It came with a pile of Old Bay kettle chips that I did some serious damage to.
The Bloody Caesar (i.e. variation on a Bloody Mary) had a fantastic kick. I look forward to continued exploration of their cocktails. (I also snagged a sample of the Flying Fish Oyster Stout that launched last night & I'll be returning to pair that with some $1 oysters at a future happy hour.)
I have never had the opportunity to get really into oysters but the burger here has been on my list… Read more »
I'm so happy that this joint re-opened. They have a nice selection of oysters, and what really appeals to me is that they usually have some Pacific Ocean oysters available. Pacific Ocean oysters are creamier than Atlantic Ocean oysters, and I developed a taste for them during a long sojourn living in the Pacific Norhwest.
I've been eating raw oysters pretty frequently for well over 40 years, and I recommend this place without reservation.
This place may be my new favorite restaurant in the city. I have a newfound love of oysters, and proposing my masters thesis seemed like the perfect reason to celebrate.
The boy and I came here, and sat at the bar while waiting for a table. The bartender was awesome, and helped me pick out a cocktail that wasn't too girly. Big ups to St. Germaine.
We ended up sitting at the raw bar, watching them shuck, which was a fun distraction. The oysters were super yummy. The famed lobster bisque was great, but being a New England seafood snob, I've had better. But the chunk lobster meat was divine. I had crab cakes, which were also v. good, and the boy got some creole/cajun shrimp thing that was spicy awesomeness. A little pricy, sure, but I was rolling home at the end of the night. So. Good.
I've only been here once, so I'll hit the highlights and we'll do a more detailed review next time.
Best snapper soup I've ever had. Light yet rich, and full of meat. Yum.
I tried the oyster shooters, the horseradish vodka rocks.
Shuckers were doing an excellent job, over seven dozen oysters we hit a 96% shell free rate. Very impressive.
We sat at the bar and the woman who served us knew her oysters. At one point I had ordered a sampler of the various oysters they had on hand, and she spot on arranged them from mildest to fullest flavor.
My only issue was that the beers being served that night were quite strong, and a bit overwhelming for the mild taste of the oysters, I'd have been happy to see one tap handle with something more mild, like a peroni or lager.
I hadn't eaten oysters before I stepped foot into Oyster House. I went in with an oyster lover and connoisseur. We were both pulled in due to the open and bright clean aura of the restaurant.
It's a beautiful place with plenty of east coast charm. It's classy as well, as the waiters and bar tenders really knew their oysters and beverages. Between the waiter's knowledge, my oyster connoisseur companion and awesome taste testing, I learned quite a bit about the joy of eating good oysters.
I owe this place for introducing me to the yum that is an occasional creamy giant west coaster or a small briny/salty east coaster.
Thanks Oyster House! And thanks for the tasty Pimm's Cup too!
YES. FREAKING YES.
I love oysters. LOVE. Briny or buttery, I can't get enough of them - well, my taste buds can't, but my stomach likes to protest to my extreme annoyance. Since I moved to Philadelphia this summer I've been craving oysters; I've been back to NYC several times and each visit includes a side trip to my favorite oyster bar there, but I've been dying to find a place here where I can satiate my cravings.
The perfect opportunity to visit Oyster House came this week when my friend Tiffany came to visit. She is my partner in crime when it comes to devouring oysters, so she was gung-ho to go to their oyster happy hour on Thursday (5-7pm, I can't believe they have it at such a reasonable time of the day!). We showed up around 5:45pm and it was already pretty crowded. The raw bar seats where full so we snagged some at the bar since those are the only places for the oyster happy hour price (just FYI). We immediately ordered ourselves large plates of their oyster of the day, and I added two varieties that I hadn't tried before. Wow those oysters are good. So fresh, so tasty, you can tell how freshly they're shucked the moment they enter your mouth. We easily and quickly went through our first round, and then of course ordered more. For a buck a shuck how can you go wrong?
I never saw the original decor, but this new updated place is very nice. I love all the wood inside, its gives a rustic feeling to the minimal, modern decor. Our bartender was really nice, and apologized when our second order took so long due to all the oyster orders in the packed restaurant. This place is fantastic, I can guarantee that I'll be a regular here in no time. It's too bad that their list of oysters is so short - I wish they offered more varieties! Regardless, Oyster House is the place to go for oysters so fresh, its no wonder they're considered an aphrodisiac!
I am in love with a place more than I have been in a long time. This is one of my go to places for when I have friends in from out of town or I just need a fun, low key place to get some drinks and apps.
Bear in mind, I have never had a full on dinner here. I have stuck exclusively to the high tops and bar stools. That being said, this place has the best damn oysters I have ever had. They are fresh cold and taste like you're eating the ocean (in a good way). The oyster shuckers here do not spill a drop of the precious liquor.
They have awesome beers on tap, make bangin bloody marys, margaritas and manhattans, and even soak the cherries in brandy!
Also of note, their clams casino is not your traditional heavy bacon laden dish. It is light, herby and just the right size. Their creole style prawns are awesome too, just make sure to ask for more grilled bread cause that sauce is AMAZING.
The space is also gorgeous, clean and modern. All that being said, I can't wait to come back.
Compared the to old place this is a 180 tunraround. The wood is very nice and it feels very airy. I took my brother and his girlfirend who were in from out of town who both like oysters here. They loved the oysters and were very please..... the food.... It needs some help, especially with the prices.
The scallop dish was good but the brussel sprouts it was served with were BIGGER than the scallops. I had the crab cakes which looked like there were from Trader Joe's....seriously I came home and looked in my freezer and they looked like the ones I just purchased from Trader Joes. I did have a few Old Fashioned's in me (which was the highlight of my dinner) but they looked the same. My brother had the lobster roll which was excellent...but for $28 at least put in a footlong hotdog roll. My brother finished it in 3 bites.
The service was very good, the decor nice, but they need to upgrade the the food a little. I don' teat oysters but from borther and his gril said they were great.
Five stars it is. Not because I enjoyed myself... but because I know that next time I will. Yes - of course I'll explain.
After years of admiring the old Oyster House decor (which I miss) on my way to Nodding Head - I finally had reason to step inside. We were waiting for a large group, so my gf and I passed the time at the over crowded bar - but a glorious 30 minutes it was. Good bar tender, hand pumped selections on the beer menu... and a find drink menu. I was very impressed - and VERY much looking forward to my meal. Our crowd showed and then we were seated.
Then this amazing bread and menu showed up. For a while I just couldn't decide what I wanted - but the server was very helpful with that. I ended up in two directions ordering. First - My gf, her brother and I ordered several types of oysters apiece off the raw bar. Second I got the grilled salmon. I was even more looking forward to my meal.
The raw bar was great. I wish I had sat at the actual bar with access to more variety on the hot sauces - but overall it was the first raw bar I've enjoyed eating from since I left New Orleans. All I wanted in life was for that amazing fish to hit the table in front of me.
But then something awful happened. The fish was ok. Just ok. It wasn't bad... mind you - if maybe a little dry. But just ok. Problem was that by the time I had the fish... after the great bar and raw bar... my expectations were set too high. I also tried the scallop pan roast my gf got and was disappointed... but that may have had more to do with the amazing scallops I had just had from my Aunt during the Garry Maddox bbq challenge the weekend before.
So why 5 stars? Because next time I am gonna go back, sit at the bar near that hand pump with that bread and get a salad and a half dozen shooters then attack the raw bar like it's my job. You people will find me crying with glee in an alley... and I know it. So rather than give it four now - I'm giving it the revised five I know it will get from me in a few weeks.
$1 oysters at happy hour 5-7 on weekdays. need i say more?
last week ,my friend spent $70... at happy hour.
best oysters i've had in philadelphia with great atmostphere to boot.
i've also had a fish dish and the lobster roll, which were really good.
the shoestring fries are a must try and the bread balls with horseradish are addictive.
do yourself a favor and go!
I love the new and improved Oyster House! So refreshing. As soon as you walk in you feel transported to a little seaside getaway - but the parking garage across the street quickly reminds you where are you are.
Despite the view on Samson, it's the high ceilings, dark wood floors and paneling, cool marble bar and stark large white subway tiles that breathe room into this space. What a reno! I also love the contrast of the shabby-chic oyster plates hung up on the back walls of the dining room - Though I didn't venture too far in the back, it seems like the bathrooms (why downstairs?) are an afterthought. The narrow stairs only allow one person to go up and down and it's total traffic bottlenecking - Oyster House needs to rethink that space.
Service is helpful (but our waiter was a bit absent-minded - sent us a pear martini with olives instead of a dirty martini with olives - blech!) and friendly -- but they do expect you to eat. Menu is all seafood all the time, with only a few salads and one or two sides that can feed your allergic-to-shellfish or fussy-eating friend.
Nice menu offerings, with Oysters (duh) taking center stage. Entrées are a wee bit expensive ($28 for a lobster roll sandwich?) But with the $1 Oyster Happy hour special you can't go wrong. If you love a little entertainment with your grub, you can seat yourself in front of the raw bar guys and watch as they shuck your meal together.
Drink and wine list is well-edited - They even offer up a nice twist on my favorite cocktail from home: The Ceasar. (it is a gagillion times better than the Blood Mary - trust me - see my recipe below**) I have yet to find a place ANYWHERE in Philadelphia that makes the original, but Oyster House gives it a whirl calling it the "Blonde Ceasar" made with Orange Heirloom tomato juice and clam juice - Don't knock it until you try it. It is served with a lavender scented green bean! Yum!
**A true Canadian ceasar:
- Rub rim of glass with a lime wedge and then rim glass in celery salt.
- Add Ice, 2 ounces of Vodka, Mott's Clamato (This is important! You MUST use Clamato), sprinkle of celery salt, splash of Worcestershire sauce, splash of Tabasco sauce, squeeze juice of one lime wedge.
-Stir well and add a small celery stalk for garnish
Starter bread? Yum.
(And a seemingly endless supply if you ask them for more!)
Raw oysters and baked oyster starters? Yum.
(Maybe a little too small, but good nonetheless.)
Crabcakes? Yum.
(Though served with slightly tasteless fingerling potatoes.)
Fish? Yum.
(I don't remember what it was, but it had this green sauce and little grape tomatoes that were soo good.)
Seafood stew? YUM.
(Not spicy, at all, but chock full of seafoody goodness.. squid, prawns, scallops, mussels..)
Finished all the yumminess off with a plum cake and cinnamon ice cream which was gooooooood.
Waitstaff was attentive and polite.
Came out to be about $150 after tax and tip for four.. this place is expensive and I currently can't afford to eat here without my parents picking up the tab, but I'm hoping I'll be back soon.
Been here several times and every dish that I have had (as well as the oysters) has been great!
DAY/TIME: Went for lunch on a Thursday and it was doing a nice business. Word is out about the Oyster House.
SETTING: Modern, upscale twist on a fish house... and I like it. Tables are a little too close for conversation comfort if you have something sensitive to discuss.
SERVICE: Good enough. No issues, no delays. They want to turn tables but didn't rush us through the meal.
FOOD: Colleague and I both got the New England clam chowder and enjoyed it thoroughly. The broth was light and flavor-filled with touches of scallion and bacon. I've seen this done quite thick in other restaurants and it ruins the dish. Nicely done.
We tried the lobster roll and shrimp salad roll. At $26, the lobster roll should make your private parts tingle. (Sorry to be crass but... come on, people, that's 26 smackers for a samich! I digress.) My colleague liked it but not at the price. I had the shrimp salad roll at the more approachable price of $12, which ain't cheap but it's all relative. Simple and fresh. Lovely. A nice touch by the kitchen... they toast the inside of the bun so the juice of the salad doesn't turn the roll into a ball of mush. Plus, it brings a crunchy texture. Both sandwiches came with homemade chips.
PRICE: A bit elitist to draw the suit-and-tie crowd. Not a fan of blowing $25 on a soup and sandwich lunch but this will be a nice treat every month or so.
I had always wanted to get to Sansom St. Oyster House before it closed for renovations, but never got a chance. Oysters are kind of an eclectic taste, so it can be a little harder to convince even adventurous eaters to tag along. I wasn't go to let the same pattern emerge now that it had reopened.
I was impressed just walking in the door. The space if very open and well lit. Dark wood paneling and white subway tiles give it a nice modern, industrial feel. The front quarter of the room is a bar area, looked like 8-10 seats at the bar, plus some small, high tables and a rail by the front window. In the middle is the raw bar, where you can watch the expert shuckers at work. Tables are in the back, and as you may have read, the owner's collection of oyster plates are the only decoration on the wall.
My friend and I sat at the raw bar. Our waitress was outstanding, very friendly and informative, and checking in frequently. I ordered a gimlet that was outstanding, and snacked on a few oyster crackers with horseradish. I started with a half dozen Great Bays, the oyster of the day, and also some Chincoteagues and Prince Miyagis. All were excellent, very fresh and tasty. They are served on an ice covered plate, with a wedge of lemon, and two ramekins of relatively tame cocktail sauce and nice tangy mignonette.
I will definitely have to get back there and try some of their menu items, make a full meal out of it, but as an after work happy hour snack, a dozen oysters and a tasty snack can't really go wrong. Oysters by there nature are on the pricy side, and it's center city as well, but with all of the steakhouses opening recently, its nice to see a good local seafood house making a comeback.
I was a big fan of the oyster house before the new chic renovations. After reading a few reviews on yelp, I decided it was time to take the plunge. I knew I would either love it or it would leave me wanting the old oyster house back. While I miss the old scene, the new setting is great. The decor is appealing in a very clean, bright, polished and fresh way. The lighting is sharp and reminds me a bit of being on a boat.
I ate at the bar so I could take in the restaurant and check out what the clientele was like. I started out with the obvious, Oysters which were great and perfectly shucked. There must have been hundreds of Oyster being eaten at the same time throughout the place. Everywhere I looked there were oysters. I also had the mixed baby green salad, which had a nice mix of radish, tomato and cucumber with an awesome sherry vinaigrette. It had the perfect amount of spice with the radish and sweetness of the salad dressing.
For my main course, I decided to stick with the basic crab cakes, they as well were very good. The cakes have nice lumps of jumbo crab meat and were nicely cooked. The green beans and potatoes were just average but overall the crab cakes was able to carry the plate. The lobster roll looked very good as well. The shoestring fries left something to be desired and just average when compared to the Midtown Continentals. With all that said, I would say this place is first rate and I am looking forward to a trip back to try some other menu items.
Good layout/design/ambiance/decor. It was bright and open and subtly sophisticated.
Raw oysters were delicious as raw oysters usually are.
Turtle soup was awesome. I've never consumed turtle before, but it pretty much tastes like roast, only a bit chewier, but not as chewy as you might expect. It turns out tasting like a semi-standard vegetable stew. Definitely worth trying and its apparently a Philadelphia staple.
New England clam chowder was tasty, but it was a bit runny and not as creamy as I tend to like my clam chowder. Good flavor, not so good consistency.
The mussels were good, but not as flavorful as you might find at Eulogy or Monks. The mussels themselves were huge and more meaty than your standard mussel. You also get a ton of them, so that's a plus.
For the main course I got the Scallop Pan roast and it was a tasty dish that I would recommend. Another party go the "lobster roll" which turned out to be a cold sandwich with lobster meat and french fries. This dish is a total waste of lobster meat if you ask me, as the lobster gets lost amidst all the grease and bread. A bad dish that should be avoided at all costs.
to me, oysters are simple. make them clean and make them fresh.
oyster house delivers on both of these.
from the start, i fell in love with the place. i love the big windows in the front, the high top booths all around, the white wash walls that are decorated with old-school oyster serving plates. i'm totally at a seaside town. oh wait, i'm still on sansom, only a few buildings away from ladder 15. oi.
the servers give excellent descriptions of the oysters, and they arrived in good time. definitely clean and fresh, with no funky bits on the inside or out.
i don't think i had one thing on the menu that i didn't enjoy...but my standouts were the oh-so-rich lobster bisque and the melt in your mouth scallops. (don't get both in one sitting, as you may die.)
the rosemary lemonade serves as a nice palate cleanser.
i'll be back time and time again, as there are many-an-item left on the menu for me to try, and lots of oysters to savor!
One word, WOW! Ok, double WOW! No, make that five BIG WOWs!
Alone on a business trip and not knowing where to go for dinner, I took fellow yelpers recommendation and decided to give Oyster House a try, since it's just a short walk from City Hall, I had no trouble finding it. I put my behind at the oyster bar, and ordered whatever my helpful waiter Brandon recommended, which was Smoke Cod Gratin (came with toasted, buttered baguette, it was smoky, creamy, oh so good!), a couple of Skookum Inlets (smoky and sweet), Cherrystones (big & briny), and happy hour oysters, not sure what kind they were, but for a buck a piece, they were damn good! I ended up ordering another 1/2 dozen just before happy hour ended. While I enjoying my ale waiting for the rest of my oysters to show up, the two ladies who sat next me, their order showed up, a dozen happy hour oysters and another dozen larger oysters, either she saw how much I enjoyed my mine, or perhaps how I was eyeing her oysters, and she offered me one hers, now how awesome was that! I returned the favor and shared my gratin. They (mother & daughter) were very nice, and even put a bunch of restaurants for me to try on my cellphone. They welcomed me to Philly, the city of brotherly love, life is good! The restaurant wa nice, the bill was reasonable, the food and drink was tasty, but most of all, the people in there were priceless.
Finally made it out to Oyster House for happy hour last week. If you like oysters and beer, then you're set. If you don't like either, you will not enjoy this place.
The menu's a bit pricey but I'm OK in paying a premium to guarantee fresh seafood (the alternative is not worth any price). Decent beer selection and attentive bartenders on hand. The place was not really crowded even though it was past 6PM.
I could see how some people may be turned off as the tables are communal and the main room is dominated by the seafood bar but I think it's a good space for smaller groups.
Happy hour oysters with cold beers = fun times.
Father and son David and Sam Mink have resurrected a Philadelphia institution. Designed by the same architects responsible for the Puma shop on Walnut Street, Sansom Street Oyster House is a whimsical open space of whitewashed brick and exposed steel. The window seats at the front of the restaurant seem like the perfect place to grab a dozen oysters and a cocktail, but unfortunately food is only served in the dining area or at the raw bar (hopefully this will change).
Wanting to take in the full Oyster House experience my friends and I requested seats at the bar. The hostess was very accommodating and we were seated in no time. Once seated, it was time to get down to business. Fair warning, I LOVE oysters. If I could afford to eat them every single day I would. Alas, my bank account's tolerance for conspicuous consumption and my body's tolerance for mercury and/or iodine each have their limits.
Based on our waiter's suggestion we went with a dozen Choptank Sweets from Maryland and a dozen Wellfleet oysters from Cape Cod. The consensus was that the Wellfleet's ruled the day. They were flavorful and succulent just as they were described by the gentlemen charged with shucking them behind the bar.
For our second course we went with the turtle soup. I found it smooth and medium bodied, a far cry from the thick, pasty turtle soup from days of old at the former Oyster House.
We capped off the night with oyster shooters (alcoholic shots containing oysters). The "Chihuahua" is a spicy hot pepper and cilantro infused shooter that packs a punch. I could have done three or more, but I wouldn't be typing this review tonight if I had.
If you love fresh, expertly prepared oysters, go. If you have tried oysters and hated them in the past, go. If you are allergic to oysters, go (they also serve shrimp, fish and a dry aged prime burger).
P.S. "Baby Badness" was in the house. She says "Hi!"
Thank God a new owner revived this once proud Philadelphia institution. The place was running on fumes before it closed a year or so ago and would have been lucky to receive one star. It's now a really attractive place to enjoy extremely fresh seafood. It's actually the only place outside of New England I've seen real soft-shell steamer clams. The oysters are super fresh and a variety from all over the world are available. It's good to see this place back where it belongs.
Oh, wow. So good. As a regular of Sansom Street Oyster House I couldn't wait to see the renovated new Oyster House. It's really special; roomy and cool.
They clearly overstaffed so service was insanely good. Let's see how it goes in a few months. Oysters and clams fresh as they can get...although please fully shuck oysters!
More expensive but worth it, for now. Is this the best block in the city or what?
We went to this place 6 years ago and just recently. It has changed ownership and recently renovated. It is very trendy now and the decor is much nicer and open than before. The seafood was fresh. I really wanted the lobster bisque and they ran out for the night which was a disappointment. I had the clam chowder instead which was good, but I really wanted that lobster bisque. I would like to go back to try out their happy hour. It's nice to have a fresh seafood place in the vicinity. Plus they have a great lobster roll, just like from Boston.
The new & improved Oyster House rocks. It's all modernized & looking spiffy. Can't beat the Happy Hour - oysters are a buck. I could have eaten a few dozen -- but I didn't. Wanted to save some for YOU! All the staff are friendly & helpful - other than the bartender not knowing what kind of plant/flower was sitting on the bar (iris - i found out later). The Oyster House Punch is LETHAL - like a Long Island Ice Tea but WAY BETTER. Chatted it up with Cornell the expert oyster shucker - he was
COOL - told him i wanted oyster shucking lessons - he thinks I'm kidding - I'm NOT! See you at the OH...........get there now!
I LOVE oysters and was glad to find a place in Philly that serves $1 oysters for happy hour. Unlike what I've tried in Boston, this place has the dollar special on only one type of oyster for the day but it's all good. The oysters tasted fresh and it was a fun time to hang out with a few friends. My only complaint would be that I wish there were also some other food/drink specials. Beers are around $5-6 and all other entrees are too pricey for a happy hour :( I tried the clam chowder and it tasted fresh and yummy but I prefer a much thicker chowder. As for the turtle soup, it was definitely a bit too much flavor for me. A bit too strong in nutmeg or something along the line of that. It was just all too weird with the spices and sweetness of the soup that I really was not a fan of that. Will I be returning again? Maybe but there is at least one more oyster special I have to check out in CC before deciding :)
I rarely give 5s, but Sansom Street Oyster House deserves it. The renovated place is super well done. The service is wonderful...and the food -- wow. We just wandered back from lunch where we had 3 dozen oysters between 5 of us. Plus, we had the turtle soup (savory with lots of shredded meat), lobster bisque (great with a sherry splash), and a swordfish sandwich (thick with swordfish and a tasty sauce).
Wow, the selection of oysters was stunning. We had a selection of 4 kinds from both coasts. Our favorite today were the Chop* Sweets from Maryland. We also had some from New Brunswick that I'm not kidding, were 6 inches in diameter and the size of a brea plate.
We also had some beers -- their selection is eclectic and savory to go with oysters.
As a cool side benefit, the owners are really gracious and check in often about the food.
We will be going there a lot. A real top-notch 5 in my book.
o wow. oyster heaven.
i was here on a saturday night with two friends for a reunion of sorts. the three of us hadn't been together in 15 years. i wanted to check out the new oyster house, so we did dinner here.
perfection.
first, when i called for reservations i found out they only take them for tables of 5 or more. they clued me in, though, that they experience a lull around 7-7.30.
we walked in at about 7.30 and sure enough, were seated immediately! somehow, dinner lasted three hours. before we knew it, the crowds, which were never unbearably loud despite the open space, were gone.
perhaps this is because we started off with oyster shooters. i had the london and bangkok, with a slight preference for the latter. the shooters are on the large side, and for me required two sips.
our server was excellent. she started off with explanations and recommendations for oysters, then put together a custom dozen for us. then another!
we decided to share all of the plates. after the raw rounds, we had oysters espanol. these have chorizo, and were perfectly spicy without too much grease. then the mussels, which even my friend who dislikes mussels enjoyed. the broth is so flavorful, and perfect with the crusty bread for sopping up.
we also shared the fried calamari, which is exceptional. i've never had calimari so light and fluffy! finally, the burger with bleu cheese and fried oysters. they cooked it to requested rare perfection.
we skipped dessert in favor of another round of oyster shooters and a trip to capogiro.
as i mentioned before, service was excellent. everything was brought out promptly, side orders fulfilled, recommendations made and everyone was helpful and patient.
the decor is cute, lots of white painted brick with decorative plates. it's somehow cool and cozy at the same time.
the only not-really-a-negative i can think of is that they don't do much for non-seafood eaters. i say ditch your shellfish-hating friends and go anyway.
wow. love the servers there. they are witty, pleasant, and they do a little 'yay- dance' if they find out you loved the oyster shooter they recommended :)
stop by for the plentiful oyster crackers, or raw oysters with to-die-for cocktail sauce. oh, and sit at the bar if you'd like to see all the shucking action... you'll be glad you did
I am nothing if not good for my word; More wines by the glass equal another star. I always, thoroughly enjoy lunch here. I sit at the bar and never leave unhappy.
I had never been to the original Oyster House, but it could not have been this great. They have… Read more »
I never came to the Oyster House before the new fancy renovation, but it doesn't matter... it may as well be a brand new restaurant considering the hype. Good thing they live up to it. Excellent raw bar... probably one of the best I've been to. The oyster selection is key. I enjoyed the Chincoteague and Royal Miyagi, seemed very fresh and the condiments were welcome... although i normally just take mine without the frills. I sipped on the house gin martini, which was delicious. Since I had an earlier dinner, I opted not to have an entree... but decided to get the lobster bisque and call it a night. BEST BISQUE EVER. The soup was smooth, perfect temp, and warmed my soul. The chunks of lobster were big, and basically were the icing on the cake. The prices are what you would expect from a higher end seafood restaurant, not really cheap... but acceptable for that special date, or occasion. If you don't like seafood, there's not really any options here... you would be better off at some other establishment nearby.
We went to Oyster House for happy hour. It's a beautiful place - bar and high top tables, raw bar and dining room in one open and simply decorated space. During happy hour, they do buck-a-shucks, so we sat at the raw bar and had a dozen Great Bays. They were fresh, meaty and delicious, and of course we enjoyed watching the raw bar guys shuck oysters and clams while we were there. Also, the Oyster House mignonette, which was served with the oysters along with cocktail sauce, may just have been the best mignonette I've ever had! We felt a little pressured by our server to get more food/drink (I really hate that), but we were just there for happy hour, not dinner. However, we did want a little something more so we split the Oyster House Burger, dry aged prime with fried oyster, blue cheese and grilled onions. The burger was cooked to perfection and scrumptious, though very skimpy on the grilled onions, and served with a heaping pile of addictive shoestring fries.
Their menu isn't anywhere online yet, (the menu changes daily of course because of the raw bar and seasonal items like the fish options and soft shell crabs they have now) so here are a few details:
Raw Bar: 8 different types of oysters ranging from $1.75 (Choptank Sweet from MD and Great Bay from NJ) to $3.00 (European Flat from New Brunswick, Canada - huge, gorgeous oysters!), $6-$17/half dozen and $12-$33/dozen. Littleneck and cherrystone clams were available for $1.25 each, $7/half dozen and $13/dozen.
They also do roasted oysters and clams, some really tasty looking like the Oysters Espanol with crispy chorizo and cilantro lime butter, $12/half dozen, $23/dozen. Oyster House has four soup options, all of which I cannot wait to try: New England Clam Chowder, Snapper, Lobster Bisque and Crab and Corn Chowder.
Small plates range from $7-$17 and large plates from $14-$28. Highlights include sautéed mussels with garlic, jalapeño and house-made chorizo and "dirty shrimp," wild head-on shrimp with Creole spices among the small plates; fisherman's stew with shellfish, fish and a spicy broth and wild sockeye salmon with wild blueberries, bacon and friseé salad among the large plates. I was surprised that the lobster roll is $26 - that better be the best lobster roll I've ever tasted or have a half a pound of lobster meat in it at that price.
As Jason F. said, there are 6 white and 5 red wines by the glass; 14 white, 10 red and 3 sparkling bottles that range from $29-$80. Oyster House has a few specialty cocktails ($8-$10) and their Oyster House Punch ($7) that some of the reviewers have mentioned. They also have a house-made ginger beer, which makes it surprising that they don't have a Dark and Stormy as one of their specialty cocktails; it would be amazing! They have great beers on six taps plus a Yards Extra Special Ale on the hand pump.
All in all, a good experience. The food was great - I'd like to try SO much more! As I said, the server was definitely trying to get us to beef up our check, but it was a bit of a slow happy hour, especially for a Friday, so I kind of understand. The food runners and bussers were also a little on the clumsy, bungling and heavy handed with delivering plates, filling glasses and clearing things away. Just the trials of a new restaurant without the kinks worked out yet.
i've been to the newly revamped Oyster House a number of times since reopening. I've enjoyed lunch, a little fast paced, but it has to be with the whole get in, get out, back to work clientele they draw, but I really love going there at night.
The menu changes to a sleeker, more modern take on seafood, which is what I think Philadelphia needs. I've been educated and informed in a way that shows that not only is this place serving seafood, they're changing the way it's done, at least on this coast.
I'm used to restaurants serving flounder and jumbo lump crab meat, but Oyster House takes it a bit further. They bring in only conservationally minded seafood, whether it's steamed domestic crabmeat, hand selected oysters, or line caught swordfish, they work with the Marine Stewardship Council to maintain high standards. They even bring in organic sustainably grown produce and dairy products. Just last night I learned about this beautiful Arctic Char they had brought in from a Native American fishing village above the Arctic Circle. My server talked so enthusiasticly about it, I felt I was there, seeing the fishermen take it from the water. Where in Philly do we have this? People's reviews on this site go on and on about the high prices the Oyster House is charging, like their $26 (not $28) Lobster Roll. Well, just remember what a whole lobster costs, and they are giving you the meat of the whole lobster, which goes for $32 in the shell. It's the most delicious Lobster Roll I've ever had, not frozen claw meat, or bogged down with lots of filler, just huge pieces of lobster wrapped marvelously in mayo, celery and nothing else. If you don't like it, order something else, they have an amazing menu that changes every time I go. Ask questions, the staff is extremely knowledgable, and loves to talk to you about anything on the menu, as well as where the food comes from. I feel like I am in San Francisco or Seattle with such eco-friendly and knowledgable people serving my food.
In short, we thought we were getting our old friends back at the Oyster House so we could get a plate of fried flounder with our choice of 2 sides, but those days have gone. We now need to realize the real price we pay by buying cheap seafood, like what it does to the environment, and the people who give up their way of life to bring us mass produced shrimp, tilapia, even farm raised salmon.
Thanks Oyster House, for sharing with us this amazing food, and giving us an outlet in Philly to learn more.
The best part of Philly in the summer, is that so many folks head to the shore, that you can easily get a seat at your favorite chow spot, or that new place, you have been wanting to try. this being the case, i was already in a good place when we were seated right away at the Oyster House on the tail end of happy hour. The good vibe continued throughout the meal. our waiter was friendly helpful, and efficient. he gave off the"I love working here vibe" which gives me the "I love eating here vibe". When going through the menu, the waiter mentioned that the soft shell crabs would be gone soon since they will be out of season. Taking the waiters advice, I ordered the crabs, and it was a wise choice. the crabs were lightly breaded and seasoned, not to interfere with the crab itself. the crabs were huge and juicy, tons of sweet meat on each. I had soft shells, earlier this summer, and they were decent but little. These were like scooby to scrappy doo in comparison, and a few clams cheaper. I also had oysters Rockefeller, which i could have eaten ten plates of until mercury and cholesterol killed me right at the table. the clams casino, were a little rubbery, and I had to do the spit in the napkin thing, after a ten minute chew. The shoe string fries were sorta dry and superfluous. the decor was great, amazing to eat in a Philly restaurant were I can see my food and hear my companion. the old oyster plates on the wall was a nice touch for keeping the old style oyster house in a great modern seafood place.
I arrived in Philadelphia last summer and when colder weather arrived my thoughts turned to oysters. Living in Rittenhouse square I discovered that this restaurant once existed but was now closed. When I read that it reopened I made a note to stop in which I did last night. The good, and this is important, the oysters were fresh. The St Simons from New Brunswick were superb. The local farm raised oysters from the Chesapeake (Choptanks) were huge but lacked saltiness and flavor. There is room for improvement as the bartender seemed overwhelmed but I will return to sample more of the oysters and other dishes
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