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W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Christopher St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"One from Puerto Rico; one Tejano; and one from Oklahoma (but lived in rural Sweden for a few months). Add Smörgs Chef. Result, three very…" read more »
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Best clam chowder ever. If I'm in the area, even if I've just picked up something unrelated, I always go and get a cup of this to go. I peek around and watch them mix it fresh each time as the cream hits the pan.
The lobster roll is droolworthy.
It seems I need to order the fried oysters next time.
I've only sat in there two times and both were crowded, but did nothing to detract from the delicious food.
Here's what we had.
1 order - Fried oysters (6) - Incredible. I dream about their fried oysters.
2 orders - Clam chowder - Mostly liquid and very little clam/potato/bacon. It'll add 5lbs to you and is good (fat in liquid form always tastes good), but nothing special. I'll skip it next time.
2 orders - Lobster Rolls - Pearl's magnum opus. The mayo was surprisingly light and the lobster chunks were so fresh and plump. There definitely was more than one lobster on that roll. The shoestring fries were good but way too greasy as they soak up the oil when fried.
2 glasses of house white wine - Very good.
Total Bill - $123.45 with tip.
The last few times I went to Pearl's the service was an abomination. This was years ago. They rush and hustle you throughout your entire meal and the server was just unfriendly. The server made the whole dining experience unpleasant. Hence, I didn't go back for a good few years. They also didn't have much competition back then, so it just seemed like they could care less about service. People would recommend Pearl's but warn them about their horrible service. Now that they have competition and because they were forced to eat a slice of humble pie, seems like their service has improved greatly. She didn't rush us, was attentive and pleasant. I was pleasantly surprised at the difference from a few years ago.
I can't get into the whole "is this the best lobster roll in NYC" thing, because for me, the best lobster rolls are eaten on the Cape or in Nantucket while sitting outside with the ocean crashing away next to you and the smell of salt in the air...
That said, the lobster rolls at Pearl are pretty delicious. I don't like the little fries that come with it, but who comes for the fries? For the non-lobster fans (um who are you again?), try the cioppino.* I ordered that on a whim one night---I was possibly the only one in the restaurant not eating the lobster roll---and loved it.
NB: You can order a lobster roll to go, so call ahead, place an order and sit outside and people watch in Father Demo Square...or in your little apartment on Cornelia Street, if only you still had your little apartment on Cornelia Street... : (
Hands down the best lobster roll I have ever had. Huge, delicious juicy chunks of lobster stuffed into a warm roll and not at all overpowered by the mayo (which is often the case with lobster rolls). The fries that came on the side were also crisp and delicious. I don't think I even looked at the menu (the two times I was here) and always went straight for the LB roll (lobster roll).
I suppose the name suggests that their oysters should be delicious as well. Must try next time!
I'm visiting from California and after reading all the reviews I was convinced this was the restaurant to visit. My daughter and I arrived right at six as was suggested and got a seat. We both ordered the clam chowder which was good, not great. We decided to split one of their "famous" lobster rolls. This is where it all went south for me. The lobster roll is basically bread with lobster meat on top. Granted the meat was good, but I was expecting something much more. For $27 I would rather have eaten a really good seafood dinner.
My daughter and I were both disappointed with the meal. We sat at the bar and the bartender talked way too much, and the food was mediocre. I personally will not go back or recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Self interest and lust for lobster forces me to offer misleading information about Pearl Oyster Bar so as to minimize the number of dining competitors vying for limited resources. (Darwinian struggle never tasted so good! ) Don't show up at 6pm, don't order the lobster roll and just don't bother so there will be more of the good stuff for me.
All right, I'll come clean- Pearl Oyster Bar lives up to and exceeds its reputation for quality seafood. Any one who wants to experience the goodness should arrive promptly at 6pm lest they have a lengthy wait.
They should either proceed to the bar or make their way to one of the few tables in the dining room area. Once seated, order an appetizer of fried oysters. You will receive six fried orbs of oyster that were absolutely golden. No grease, not burnt and perfect for dipping into the mayo gracing each shell. Savor the flavor and have a sip from the draught beer you ordered. Wipe face with napkin. Loosen belt in anticipation of the lobster roll. (You did order the lobster roll, right?)
The lobster roll arrives, complete with a side of shoestring fries. You reach for the fries and realize that 10 minutes have passed by without even sampling the roll-- that's how good the fries are. Regaining composure and clarity, you have your first bite of the roll and immediately experience a sensory overload. Before your eyes flash scenes of north atlantic lobster traps, benign sea salts who resemble the Gorton's fisherman, pinchy from the Simpsons and the B52's rock lobster.
This lobster roll has substance! Chunks of lobster meat as opposed to shreds, a roll overflowing with it and a mayo that puts Hellman's to shame.
You look at your by now empty plate and feel no shame or guilt at having devoured a living creature that was once frolicking about the Atlantic seabed but now resides in the depths of your stomach.
Survival of the fullest indeed!
Pearl does not accept reservations so plan accordingly. Once you've had the lobster roll you too may consider schemes and plots so as to secure your rightful spot at the bar at the expense of all others. It's just that good!
OK, if you haven't been to this place, please make sure you show up at 6 PM, because they don't take reservations, first come first served, you literary get there at 5.30 and there's already a line outside.
Another thing to keep in mind, do not jump the line intentionally or unintentionally. Went there with my sister last night, walked up at 5.45 and there were about 8 people in line waiting, there was an older lady with her husband that got there before we did, guess when we walked up we unintentionally took their spot, the old lady got funky and was PISSED. We apologized, but all she had to say was sorry ladies we were actually on the line, but the stares in her eyes, almost killed me.
Anyway, the door opened at exactly 6 PM, I loved the fact that the staff were dressed in their own chilled out attire. I felt like I was at home eating, it was not pretentious at all. My waitress was super sweet, her voice was sooooo calming and relaxing, even though we had so many questions and i am sure she wanted to kill us.
We ordered the Salt Crusted Shrimp and crab cakes, OMG it was amazing!!!!!! Sat there for about 10 minutes and did not utter a word to my sister, however we tell what we were both thinking due to our nonverbal communication. When they took the plate, I said to her we don't even have to talk about this, I know exactly how you feel. Seriously, it just melts in your mouth. There were a few times I didn't chew the food, and I was soo mad I didn't chew the food longer. I wanted to savor the moment a little longer. Lord have mercy, it was too die for.
For Main course, we ordered the Grilled Lobster with corn pudding and a Cod with probably the most amazing sauteed vegetables ( carrots, and Brussel sprouts cooked in bacon bits) WOW WOW WOW WOW. Every dish was cooked to perfection, it literary just melts in your mouth. The vegetables dish was sooo tasty, we ordered a second portion. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
The only slight disappointment was the apple crumble with vanilla ice cream. It was reallllllly good ( not AMAZING BUT REALLLYYY GOOD), but the apple crumple was cold. I love the contrast of warm apple crumble with ice cream. since they don't have 4 1/2 stars, am going to round up to 5 stars
15 hours later, and I am considering going there for lunch. Pearl, see you later on this afternoon Smooches!!!
G and I have been on a search for a new Lobster roll place.
I don't even know how we got onto this subject but I told G about Pearl Oyster Bar and how they supposedly have the best lobster roll in town.
They weren't joking - this place is sooooooooooooooo freaking good!
We both don't like Ed's Lobster Bar, since we both agree that their bun and the lobster mix tasted weird.
I also went there hoping this place didn't taste like Mary's Fish Camp, since the owners used to be in business together and lucky for me - it was totally different from Mary's.
It didn't have too much mayo or any celery bits like Mary did and the bun was buttered and toasted to perfection. I don't usually care for shoe string fries but this place made it well.
I was afraid we wouldn't get a seat since G and I got lost on the way there but it wasn't as crazy as Mary's. I don't get it, why is there such a long wait at Mary's when this place is 100x times better.
I found my new lobster roll place - wooo hoo!
I got to try that new place Luke's now to compare.
I, currently want to die since I am so full and I ate 4 hours ago!
WTF!
The wait for 2 wasn't so bad at 7:30pm on a Thursday night. The place is cute, a lot more comfortable (seating wise) than Mary's Fish Camp. We ordered the bucket of steamers, really good, but smaller than the ones at MFC, mussels that were covered in this amazing cream sauce, and split the lobster roll (which as previous reviewers mentioned was very mayo-heavy, but delicious and had generous and huge chunks of lobster). It was the perfect amount of food, especially since we ordered dessert afterwards - the apple crumble pie, which was served warm with a slab of vanilla ice cream.
This place is comparable to MFC, and a good place to go if you love seafood and lobster rolls. I still prefer my lobster rolls with a little less mayo, which can be found at Lure in Soho, but would be more than happy to make this place one of my favorite dinner spots.
Yum, I LOVE the lobster roll. It comes with delicious fries too. I wasn't a fan of the fried oysters but that was just me. And the clam chowder I remember as being okay but nothing special. But the lobster roll... mmmmmmmm. The place is small and it has a nice cozy atmosphere. If you sit at the bar it feels a little more casual, or in the dining area it might be more formal. Probably a good place for a romantic date. I would imagine it gets very crowded on weekend nights, I've only been there in the afternoon and haven't had to wait.
It's the battle of the lobster roll...hm...so I've tried it at Mary's Fish Camp and most recently, I ventured with 2 out of towners to Pearl Oyster Bar - the supposed birthplace of the infamous "lobster roll." So my verdict...hard to say! I actually feel like the taste for both places are similar...both were good and I would definitely come back here again, but next time I would also try their oysters. So it's definitely worth a try! :o)
we were really anxious to try Pearl Oyster Bar after hearing about the lobster roll, which wasn't that great. i've eaten my first lobster roll in Maine...and understand why it should be eaten up there. but i figured i'd give NYC a shot and see what we have in comparison for me not to spend "X" amount of money on gas going up to Maine for a roll or two...
as the first time for both dining at Pearl Oyster Bar & having a lobster roll, it was a wonderful experience. provided we went at 7:30pm on a Tuesday, and didn't have a wait, the server was fairly attentive (though rushed us through ordering and the appetizer and wine). from the minute you walk through the door, you feel as though you're transported to a charming & cozy New England eatery....
we started with the New England Clam Chowder w/ Smoked Bacon, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Steamers, and the Lobster Roll with Shoestring Fries...
New England Clam Chowder w/ Smoked Bacon was way too salty...a different twist, but too salty... the Steamers we were served weren't fresh and had enough sand to build a mini sand castle... there were sand and grit in almost each and every one of them... the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake wasn't so JUMBO...either that, or i'm spoiled!
last but not least...the Lobster Roll. the Lobster Roll was swimming in mayonnaise... ugh!
NEVER AGAIN!
FAN-FUCKIN-TASTIC! It's a little bit obscene how delicious Pearl Oyster Bar is. I went here for my birthday with my momma, and it was the best birthday meal I've ever had.
First off, sit at the counter! It's way more fun. You can see the cooks in the kitchen, and it's a much better experience if you're with one or two other people. The waitress/bartender is an absolute sweetheart. Super knowledgeable about the food, wine and beer. Momma and I shared their Oktoberfest brew, which was really tasty. We would have had more if it hadn't been 11:30 am on a Monday...
We started off with the clam chowder. Best I've ever had! Maybe it's because I'm a California native, and we don't get that kind of seafood out there, but the soup was creamy and really flavorful. Bonus points for the BACON in the soup (bonus points for bacon on anything, actually). NOM NOM NOM. Then we shared an order of the fried oysters. The oysters themselves were a little small, but the batter was light, tasty, and super crunchy. AND THE SAUCE. UGH I would bathe in that sauce. Next we shared the lobster roll. This is the most godly sandwich to have ever graced my belly. We definitely don't get lobster in California, so I inhale it whenever I can. I love mayonnaise (love me some cholesterol!), and this lobster was drenched in it. The lobster meat itself was also lovely--fresh, plump, and flavorful. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted and buttered, which was a nice pairing with the creamy lobster salad. The fries were also amazing! Super skinny and crunchy, with just the right amount of sauce. After some debate with the waitress about whether we were too full for dessert, we said fuck it, and got the apple crumble. The waitress even put a candle in it, which was really sweet. The crumble was good, but sort of in a standard good kind of way. It was homey feeling, but it didn't blow my mind. The ice cream was really creamy and not too sweet, which was nice, since you know...I'm obviously on a diet...
So overall: NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
Waited in line 15 minutes before it opened at 5pm, since they don't take reservations. The wait isn't so bad, even on Fridays. However, the only gripe I have is that I was holding a spot for 2 other people, who I was expecting within a 15 minutes; they refuse to seat anyone whose party is not full. Luckily we all came in time before the tables ran out.
Food came almost before we ordered it. They must have everything semi-prepared in the kitchen!
I shared the lobster roll with my friend; market price was $27 (sadder than Maine, but better than the $30 I had expected based on other reviews). The lobster is heavily mayonnaised, but I like mine flavorful and nonpurist like that. The shoestring fries were great. I would say, if you've never tried lobster rolls, this is a treat -- get your own. But if you have tried them before, share it and share another plate as well.
The clam chowder was clamless. Were they pureed in or something? Is it is it clam juice you put in there? It tasted alright though, although it was about $8 a bowl.
The blueberry pie was a la mode, it came within 1 minute of us ordering (we saw the pies all ready to serve on their counter table). It was surreal.
It's expensive here, but I totally think the taste and the source of ingredients are respectable. I read the book that the owner wrote of her life/family/restaurant, and I liked how the POB is rooted from a family business in Maine.
Its been 4 weeks since I had that lobster roll and I am like a broke down crackhead needing a fix.
If you haven't had the roll, go now. Get it. It will change your life.
I don't know about anything else they have and I don't care. That roll is a gift from god.
I liked the lobster roll, but the fries didn't have enough oomph. They felt too fragile or something. I like gripping onto a slightly thicker fry. It's also more satisfying to eat.
We also tried out the skate sandwich they featured on the menu that day and shared some littlenecks to start things off.
Get there before they open at noon since the people pile in quickly!
I wanted to take my other half to a great seafood place for his birthday. He didn't know where we were going but he kinda knew it was seafood because we'd both been craving it. I was a little hesitant because since you can't make reservations I was afraid we would have to wait 6 hours to be seated (we were three in total) but it wasn't THAT bad; we only waited for 30 minutes, holding our drinks tightly and standing up. The hostess wouldn't let us sit at the bar because she didn't want occupying space. We were asked if we wanted to eat there like 3 times and we refused on every single attempt. I had asked in advance if we could bring a cake for the b-day boy and they had no problem with that, in fact, there were other birthday celebrations in the premises and our neighbors were kind enough to take us pictures.
I ordered the oysters to start and they took forever to get them. When I finally got them, they disappeared in seconds. SO DELICIOUS THAT I HAD TO ORDER A SECOND PLATE. No, I'm not a monster, I just happen to like real fresh oysters. My bf and his brother ordered the mixed cocktail and said it was really good. Then i ordered the famous lobster roll. Oh. My. God. (Janice-like). This thing is to die for. I could not have asked for a better meal. The string fries were a bit hard to eat, not my style, but they complemented the dish well. The boys ordered the salmon and they thought the pancake didn't have anything special. I agreed. We had our own cake, so we didn't have dessert. I guess we'll have to try that next time.
The server was super nice and the food unbelievable.
Try the house white wine with citrus touches, excellent.
It was a bit pricey but we were celebrating, so didn't care. I will be dreaming about that lobster roll and probably drool myself to death.
If I had to describe my ideal eating experience it would be my recent meal at Pearl Oyster Bar. Pearl is all about simply prepared, super tasty, practially-swimming-it's-so-fresh food. Combine that with a low-key, casual, friendly atmosphere and you have the perfect compenents of foody nirvana.
I've been to Pearl several times and over the years, it has far surpassed Mary's in my book. At my recent meal, I had the shrimp appetizer -- 5 large shrimp, cooked and served in their crunchy, salty, yummy edible shells. It comes with a side of delicious, equally crunchy, haricots verts. I shared this appetizer with 6 slightly briny, medium size oysters served simply with lemon and traditional cocktail sauce. They were perfection. For my main, I had the whole snapper, which was very good, but not quite as good as the many other mains I have tried in the past. It was a tad dry and could have had a crispier skin. I also had some tastes of the lobster roll, which is not overhyped -- it's the best you can get outside of Cape Cod.
You would think that this type of place would fall short on desserts, but they take take the perfect approach -- simple, nothing fancy, great ingredients -- and execute it to extreme deliciousness. Their chocolate mousse is the type I adore -- NOT airy or fluffy or light, but dense and intense with fabulous dark chocolate flavor. They also have excellent ice cream sundaes and freshly made, full-of-fruit pies.
All in all, an ideal meal.
Why haven't I reviewed this before? It's located around the corner of one of my fave pastry places and the cheese place where I'd get those rare cheese that makes you want to say "CHEESES! how much did you say this was?"
I'm a big sea food fan, this place is up there when it comes to their lobster, I like mussels/clams etc and this had it, but I wish they can give more. It's pricey but the service is good, It's pretty small and parking may be as far as the parking garage near Caliente. The last time I was here was in '04, I hope to visit it again.
I love seafood and this place is terrible. Pearl Oyster Bar wouldn't be such a disgrace if the price tag actually matched the quality of the food. I don't understand how people gave this place 4/5 stars. The seafood is hardly ever fresh and yes I've been here several times, at different hours on different days. For an oyster bar, serving 1-2 types of oyster is just completely misleading. The shrimp cocktail was awful. The shrimp was actually completely stale last time. As for the lobster roll...it's just absolutely horrible. It's too greasy with too much mayo. Why am i paying so much to taste mayo? Way overpriced for what it is. It also doesn't help that the service always seems to be lacking or non-existent. Bad food + Bad service = Bad review. If you want good fresh oysters and seafood go somewhere else like Aquagrill.
Watch me give this place a 3. The oyster roll is magical. Really. It's also $18 dollars. Also, no reservations.
Cozy but not too crowded. Clam chowder was very good but just a bit light on the clams. The lobster roll was chock full of lobster but a little chewy leaving me with tired jaws at the end of dinner. Service excellent.
Love the lobster roll... it was so good and fresh ... the chunks of lobster was delicious!!!
I'm playing catch up on some restaurants that I've needed to review for quite awhile. Went to New York last summer and went to Pearl's for dinner one night. One year later, I am still craving the delicious lobster roll. This place was in a cool neighborhood so we got a couple drinks before showing up. We had to wait a bit as the place was small but ended up being seated at the bar.
The atmosphere was casual and very laid back and all of our food was delicious. I will definitely be stopping here next time we are in New York.
The host was unaccommodating when we first came in - there was nowhere to sit and he didn't really give us any direction as to where we might squeeze in. So we went out for a drink and came back 30 minutes, after which we still had to wait in the cramped space for a while.
All that is understandable though - the place is small and popular. And I can see why. The food was incredible (I'd give this a 2.5 star if I could, but I went with 2 just to throw some balance in the world). The raw bar cocktail was good, soft shell crab, crab cakes, and mussels - all the food was very high quality and very fresh.
Still, the experience was memorable for a reason other than the food. We started with the raw food and then moved on to the mussels. After we had eaten about 1/4 of the mussels, the waitress asked if we were finished, to which we responded with an emphatic "no. " Despite that, the rest of the food was brought to the table the next minute anyway. Since there wasn't enough room on the table to accommodate all the food we were not ready for, the waitress whisked away our mussels bowls, despite us saying we weren't done. So now we had a lot of food that was soon to be cold and no room to eat, let alone no way to eat half of it. I was pretty infuriated (which is weird because normally things like this don't upset me when they're not so egregious), and we had them take everything back and hold it for us.
The meal was all good after that, except that the waitress was super awkward and made us uncomfortable the rest of the meal. Yeah, but A+ food!
After wanting to try this place for a long time, it finally happened this weekend!
We got on line at 5:30 and i'm so glad we did, because at about 5:45, the line was half a block long. We got in for the first seating.
My husband and I split the clam chowder. It was the best part of the meal for me! You couldn't taste chunks of clams, which led me wondering, but the waitress explained that they were minced down to very very tiny pieces. It was delicious!
Then, we also had a crab-cake. It was pretty good. A little dry and I think needed more flavor. My husband then had the mussels. He liked them and counted about 26 of them :)
Then for the real test. The Lobster Roll. I couldn't take a bite out of it and hold it, so I ate it with a fork mostly. The first bite of the lobster was a little tough. Disappointing. Then as the eating went on, I started to get really sick of all the mayo. It was too much, like all you've said. Once I got a bite of the roll, it tasted pretty greasy. The shoestring fries were pretty good. I should have taken pics.
We were seated by the window, and the people waiting to eat were right in front of us, perched on the ledge, watching us and staring at us eat and our food. I didn't like that. Keep people outside if you don't have an area for people waiting.
I have had better lobster rolls....and will maybe try Mary's or Ed's like I keep hearing about.
The 5 star meal today I can give thanks to my predecessors who graciously paved the way for my perfect decisions on what to order.
for lunch today I took a cab to the block of Cornelia Street which is strewn with tons of lovely options to chose from. The block is pretty, nice shade from tall trees, yet bright sunlight streaming through. It was a perfect day outside, quiet, as a gelato truck rolled up in front delivering several gallon tubs to many of the surrounding restaurants. I awaited outside just before noon, and had no trouble getting immediate seating. The small intimate restaurant has two rooms, a dining room with tables, and a bar room with plenty of bar stool and railing seating. The both rooms filled up within an hour.
Just a note, the single block contains: Palma, Cornelia Street Cafe, LeGigoT, Little Havana, and Home Restaurant. A reviewers delight of many options if you wanted to do just a Cornelia Street Blog or List.
I ordered on tap a Hof Brau beer, light and unusual but delicious tasting.
They have only three beers on tap but others by the bottle. My barrtender/waitress brought ice water immediately also. I ordered the fried oysters appetizer, the lobster roll with comes with shoe string fries, and later coffee with the butterscotch/vanilla sundae.
The oysters were the best fried ones I'd ever tried, including the best tartar sauce too. The tartar sauce was chock full of little tiny veggies which gave it a fresh "zing," to the flavor. I think it had relish or pickle, and other secret ingredients. Each oyster is seated in it's own ceramic shell with the sauce beneath it. I got extra Tatar in 30 seconds via my super bartender while I sat at the bar enjoying my meal.
The bartender knew tons of regulars who kept coming in, and I listened to some of their banter regarding celebrities they bumped into and other great restaurants.
If you hate mayo, don't get the lobster roll.. it was superbly delicious with a tad bit too much mayo, but still probably some of the best just cooked fresh lobster and slightly chilled I've ever had. It has a big mayo base to it.. but trust me -- the mix is 99 percent LOBSTER and all thick pieces lathered with the mayo. The roll it rests on has been saturated with lobster butter (not just regular butter flavoring). The roll's portion of lobster is very generous!
The shoe string fries are the thinnest and most tender perfectly cooked fries you'll ever have. Salted lightly, and despite being tiny thin.. still moist but crisp, simply amazing!
The Sundae, the vanilla ice cream itself is not remarkable, but the nutty and candied praline and butterscotch topping are to die for. And tons of butterscotch was added on top and 1 inch on the bottom as many before me have cited. I love EXTRA BUTTERSCOTCH topping!!! So it made up for the standard vanilla ice cream.
All in all, perfect service - and delicious food. They only have wine and beer and the menu is not long with many options, but sometimes simplicity helps not to ruin a good thing.
Slightly expensive, total with 20 percent tip was 75 bucks.
Food is greaaat! The place is too tight. servers constantly bump into you and often you have to move around so that they can get by. Server are somewhat indifferent without smiling, possibly too busy and overworked. If you can overlook all that (I do), then definitely give it a try.
I never bothered to save my virginity for anyone special, so I like to covet my reviews that end in 00 for special places. And so, ladies and gents, I bring you:
REVIEW NUMBER 400!
My visit to Pearl Oyster Bar was a birthday treat from the gorgeous, talented, and amazing Maria M. She proposed a lobster roll for my birthday dinner. You know what? The girl's got excellent taste.
I know that Pearl Oyster Bar is going to be fantastic because Maria is early for dinner. I love Maria to death, but on a list of her top 5 lovable traits, "early" or "timely" is not one of them. I love her nonetheless.
Pearl Oyster Bar opens at 6pm and there was a line of about 40 people waiting outside by 5:45. At 5:55 the hostess popped her head out and informed us that they'd be opening shortly. She asked how many tables of 3 there would be and in a moment, the doors opened with a mild stampede towards the front door, like the Barneys Warehouse Sale on sedatives.
We were promptly seated at a table that was really meant for 2, but sat for 3 (moi, Miz Maria M and Mr Dana G). I was weary of this seating arrangement, especially since we were semi on top of the table adjacent to ours, but it was cozy. We placed an order for oysters, the smoked salmon w/creme fraiche, and three lobster rolls.
The oysters were fresh and flavorful, and most importantly, served in their own brine. I hate it when they're shucked and their natural juice goes by the wayside.
The smoked salmon w/creme fraiche was gorgeous. The johnnycake (tastes like a buttermilk pancake) was warm and toasty. The creme fraiche was a little sparse, but made it all the more delicious when you got a bite. And the salmon was so smooth and buttery that I was wondering if they would sell me some to-go.
The lobster rolls were in a word: exquisite
These lobster rolls are not for the faint of heart or for those who dislike mayo. I am usually anti-mayo, but made an exception for this occasion. The chunks of lobster meat were fresh and sweet and perfectly cooked. The bun the lobster is served on is undoubtedly drenched in butter and worth every bite of artery-clogging goodness. The shoestring fries were icing on the proverbial cake.
And then there was dessert.....
Butterscotch/toffee ice cream sundae. I am a schtickler for details and also a fiend for caramel-like substances. The bottom of the ice cream sundae had a two-finger-width amount of butterscotch. The chunks of toffee and yummyness atop the sundae make me drool just thinking about it.
A slice of strawberry rhubarb pie w/vanilla ice cream made an appearance as well. Having popped my rhubarb cherry at the table, I can't really compare it to any other pie of its kind, but the crumble on top was absolutely delicious-just a hint of brown sugar and butter. And by hint of butter, I mean.....I've scheduled my quadruple bypass for next Thursday to clear things up after this meal.
Happy Birthday to ME! Thanks, Maria :D
This is one of those places that really gets me about new york. Yes you new yorkers have great food, but you also have a ton of misses that nobody calls out and I think Pearl is a perfect example of a big miss.
An hour wait (no biggie though, we cruised to the bar and had a few drinks until we got called).
The service was sub par, but didn't ruin or hinder the evening.
You call yourself and oyster bar and you only serve one kind of oyster for the evening?! WTF, they should be stripped of their name immediately. This is a croc...or maybe SF just spoils me.
We also started off with the steamers and shrimp cocktail. Both were so so, nothing to write home about.
BUT this was all okay as I had read a bunch of the Yelp reviews and couldn't wait for the lobster roll - this is why we came here and 3 out of the 4 in our group ordered it.
This was hands down the worst lobster roll I have ever had (the rest of the table concurred). I thought the lobster was terrible (went on a Tues night) and the mayo based sauce wasn't doing it any favors. From San Fran to Maine and even St. Louis I have never ever had worse lobster roll.
Thank god for the shoestring fries that were sitting next to the roll.
I really hope Manhattan has better seafood options than this place.
One of the most misleading mass of Yelp reviews for me ever.
Like every other person I came for the lobster roll. Yes it was very good. They weren't stingy on the lobster and the bread is soft and sweet. A bit too much mayo. Shoestring fries were fantastic; very thin but still soft. Also tried the smoked atlantic salmon with johnnycakes; this was a pretty mediocre dish; could be greatly improved by adding caviar and perhaps chopped onion and tomatos.
Zero ambiance, boring waitress, generic clientele... but if you're craving a lobster roll in the area this would be the place!
This place gets high marks for their bright and relaxed, easy-breezy, completely unpretentious decor and atmosphere. I loved sitting up at the bar, chowing down on the lobster roll and chatting it up with a friend.
I heard massive great reviews concerning their lobster roll, but when I had it, I couldn't really understand why. It was great, don't get me wrong, but I didn't feel it was worthy of all the effusive praise it had garnered. In all honestly, I think a (much) better lobster roll can be found at Mermaid Inn.
I want to love POB but it falls a bit short. I like it though, and I'd certainly come back but it's not a priority on my list as is evident from the fact that it has almost been one year since the first and last time I came here. I'm not sure what that says other than I wasn't truly that excited with my experience.
That's right. I am not the timeliest of the timely. But the idea of lobster rolls does strange things to me. It makes things happen. My feet move faster. And I'm glad they did this past Saturday, because apparently, there is a line outside Pearl Oyster Bar's door even before the place opens, akin to a Black Friday sale at Wal-Mart. I don't like this concept, and as I always say, should you choose to run your business in this manner, NYC would be the place to do it. I was a little scared at first, but there was no stampede. Admission into the restaurant turned out to be pretty orderly, and they actually WANTED threesies. Nice. Other places shun.
In the case of Pearl Oyster Bar, I can understand the purpose for such a line. On the menu are such glorious options as clam chowder with bacon, oysters served in their own brine (my first time eating oysters - I'm told briney is the way to go), salmon atop a johnnycake with creme fraiche, and the ever-popular lobster roll. I didn't get to try the chowder, because after ordering oysters, the salmon app., and the roll, I thought it would be overkill.
The tastes of the salmon, the creme and the johnnycake melded together beautifully. Kudos to whoever invented such a concoction. The almighty lobster roll was delicious, with huge chunks of lobster and a bun soaked in buttery goodness and toasted to perfection. Lord only knows how Karen resisted eating her bun. I almost volunteered to eat her bun for her. I'm going to say that the lobster roll beats Ed's Lobster Bar. Yeah. I'm going that far.
For dessert, I ordered the butterscotch praline sundae. Here's why I love these people: in addition to a generous amount of butterscotch on top of the ice cream, there was an inch-thick layer of the stuff beneath the ice cream. THIS, my dear co-Yelpers, is how a sundae is supposed to be. Take heed.
Teeny restaurant, slippery floors, but great music and a very cozy atmosphere. Cozy in the warm and hospitable sense, and cozy in the NYC studio sense as well.
While this place has some sentimental value for me which might be giving it that 5th star, if you're looking for the best lobster roll in town then this is the place. I prefer to go with somebody and share a lobster roll, some fried oysters, and then a salad and a cup of chowder. Plus, the blueberry cobbler that they serve in the summer time is a nice way to end the meal. Oh, and I like the seasonal beer selection on tap.
All in all, if you go with a date and split things you can both try a lot of different items, be thoroughly satisfied, and be out $45-50 or so.
Note that I've tried to eat the lobster roll by myself, and to be honest, it was a bit too rich for me on my own and I couldn't have any other items because I was too full, so I definitely advise the sharing. Oh, and you will have a wait no matter when you go so be advised.
I was expecting to wait much longer for a seat than it actually took. I've heard crazy stories about hour long waits, so much to my surprise the whole 10 minutes it took for us to get a table became something like a legend in my group of friends, one of those "I know someone who knew someone who only waited 10 minutes for a table at Pearl Oyster Bar."
Granted we got seated at the bar and not a table. But hey I only waited 10 minutes. I can never make up my mind whether I like sitting at the bar or not. I guess if given a choice I'd always choose a table. But there is something so chic and New York about having your dinner seated at the bar.
The service was really excellent. I trekked here for the infamous Lobster Roll and though it hit the spot, it definitely fell short of my expectations. Yes, the lumps of lobster meat are plentiful, they definitely don't skimp on that. But it was just missing something I couldn't really quite place my tongue on.
My husband got the scallops which he says was good, but it might have been a tad undercooked which he paid for later.
The place is unpretentious. It's on an unassuming quite block in the West Village. When you walk through the door, you don't feel like you're walking into a restaurant but more like a friend's private party at her home and that feeling is priceless in NY.
Am I on Cape Cod?
Perfect experience.. from the line out the door- the fresh food - the crispy fries- fried oysters-raw oysters-any other fish on the menu- the New England service- with a touch of New York.
And YES! the lobster roll does have an ample amount of MAYO! Get past it or just don't order it if mayo schkeeves you.
Just order the lobster roll and get it over with.
You're gonna want to be different and march to your own beat.
Suppress that instinct, just this once.
Sure, the roll is just an expensive lobster salad sandwich, but it's pretty damned good...
Pretty damned good.
And worth the hype.
And 'dem home-cut shoestring fries they serve... ooooh they're nice too. Light, crispy, salty, the perfect accompaniment to the sweet richness of the lobster.
So indulge in your unoriginality.
Order the lobster roll.
And be like the rest of us.
I stopped in last night after food-writing class at the New School.. It was packed. They were spilling out into the street. I've eaten at Pearl many times over the years, but as far as knowing anyone there-no, I don't... but I was treated like a celebrity. I found the hostess who sat me immediately.
A kind gal behind the counter immediately took my beer order (Anchor Steam) and I ordered a Lobster Roll. Within seconds it appeared in front of me. There was this gal sitting next to me and she said "who are you to get served so quickly?".. The lobster roll was plump and juicy with flavors of Maine, saline and crisp. The shoestring fries were hot and dancing with salt. Did not have dessert 'cause the dessert was eating that lobster roll at Pearl Oyster Bar.
I've already shared about my 2 lobsters for my 12th birthday here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I've regaled you with stories about my ability to eat my weight's worth in seafood (and other goodies) here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
So are you really surprised that I was all over Pearl Oyster Bar's lobster roll like white on rice? Like a fat kid on cake? Like fleas on a dog? Like... flies on a piece of turd! (Yup, I went there).
Cholesterol-laden goodness in a lightly toasted roll with a pile of crispy shoestring fries just about made my night.
Top it off with a delicious crab cake, and I was set.
Granted, I'm a cheapskate and wish it was a bit cheaper (say a la Lobster Place), but I guess this is why I'm still wearing jeans and a sweater from 6 years ago. I'd sacrifice fashion for food any day.
Today, I'd like to thank my dear friend Douggy Fresh, for introducing me to one of the best seafood meals I've ever had.
What to get?
Check out the lobster roll - everyone does. It was good, but people make it sound its the last meal they'd have on earth... and it's not, unless you're Ahab. (Sorry Doug.) Our table also tried the raw bar, the halibut, and the softshell crab, which were prepared from the freshest ingredients and arguably tastier than even the much vaunted lobster roll.
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: SoHo
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: SoHo
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Seafood
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