It’s oyster season – or is it? While you may have more invites to celebratory oysters roasts during chillier months that contain the letter “r,” most oysters are actually safe to eat year-round. According to the New York Times, as long as the oysters you’re consuming were grown in healthy waters (sans Red Tide) and handled properly, you’re safe to slurp away (just check before you choke on a pearl, first).
We asked you on Facebook, Instagram + Twitter where you order (raw, steamed, fried, shucked, unshucked) oysters in Columbia.
However, you like ‘em, here’s what you said:
🐚 Oysters are all about quality and freshness. Twisted Spur has the best raw oysters, period. The chefs will even come out and talk to you about which particular oysters they would recommend (freshness, taste, etc.). And I could be wrong, but their selection looks/feels a bit more curated. TWISTED SPUR ALL D*** DAY. 🔥✊🙌 – @jared_lee_johnson
“I love Oyster Bar and Pearlz! Hampton Street does a mean oyster appetizer. And Southern Way puts on the best oyster roasts!” – @colatownfoodie
“The Oyster Bar Columbia!!! Steamed to your liking or raw, mixed with their house made jalapeño vodka for the best oyster shooter ever!” – Jenny H.
“Twisted spur brewing! Raw and steamed every day (so many varieties)” – Rebecca B.
“Oyster bar!” – @lorieno
“I’m biased towards @pearlzcolumbia” – @beth_in_803
“Best fried oysters @1801grille and they come out super 💨” – @theeride
“I loved them steamed at Oyster Bar and fried on a salad at Pearlz. Nothing better than sitting at a bar with a nice glass of wine letting someone else shuck your oysters for you!” – @slturbeville
“@terrasc has amazing raw oysters and fried ones too! @mr_friendlys fried oysters are also delicious! Clifton Seafood has yummy oysters by the bushel to steam at home” – @mrsangelawyatt
“The buffalo fried oysters at Goat’s are to die for! So good and huge!” – Danielle R.
“Twisted Spur has the best selection in town served properly with mignonette and cocktail sauce.” – Anita D.
“For fried oysters, the flash fried oysters at Hampton Street Vineyard are awesome.” – Mike H.
“Oyster bar Columbia hands down and the best place to buy them for your own oyster roast is Clifton’s seafood trust me on that!” – Maggie D.
“Oyster bar for a no-grills stuff yo face Jimmy Buffet “oysters and beer” situation. <—— my go-to most days. But we like @pearlzcolumbia for date night or an “impress your utensil-preferring relatives” type situation. 😄” – @annaseekssun
We rounded up 10 places around Columbia – recommended by our readers – to enjoy oysters. From “Bloody Mary” fried oysters to classic raw ones, here’s your guide to eating in the Midlands like we’re in the Lowcountry.
🐚 Cola’s | “Bloody Mary” fried oysters (market price) | Fried oysters topped with Bloody Mary-flavored relish | A combination of my two guilty pleasures? Yes, please.
🐚 Goat’s | Buffalo fried oysters ($7) + gulf oyster po-boy ($11) | Three fried oysters with blue cheese drizzle + hot sauce; Fried gulf oysters with cajun remoulade, pickled carrots, fennel + red onions served with fries | If you’re craving New Orleans flavor, Goat’s is the place to go. Cajun-style oyster dishes are their specialty.
🐚 Mr. Friendly’s | Fried oyster of the day ($12) | Fried oysters with various toppings | Our personal favorite OOTD is topped with creole mustard remoulade, pickled okra + grilled corn relish.
🐚 Oyster Bar Columbia | Raw or steamed oysters on the half shell, oyster sliders, fried oysters, oyster shooters + more (market price) | Oysters, oysters + more oysters. We could never forget the restaurant so oyster-obsessed that oyster is the name.
🐚 Pearlz Oyster Bar | Raw or steamed oysters on the half shell, oyster sliders, fried oysters, oyster shooters + more (market price) | Shuckers shuck the oysters while you get your fill. (Read: all the tasty seafood with none of the effort.)
Pearlz Oyster Bar | Photo by @heathermarie238
🐚 Saluda’s | Raw oysters (market price) + Fried Buffalo Oysters ($13) | Fried Gulf oysters with buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, celery + bacon crumbles | Buffalo Chicken step aside, there’s a delicious new sheriff in town, and his name is Buffalo Oyster.
🐚The Grand on Main | Oysters Robinson ($13) | Six oysters on the half shell baked with bacon cream sauce, collard greens, cheddar + pepper jack cheese | Bacon + oysters. ‘Nuff said. We never want to go bowling without oysters ever again.
🐚 Terra | Raw oysters (market price) + fried gulf oysters ($12) | The raw oysters are accompanied by cocktail sauce + dill pickle mignonette; fried oysters come with cocktail sauce + pimento rouille | Apparently Terra is Latin for “earth” but we suspect it might actually translate to “delicious oysters”.
🐚 Twisted Spur Brewing | Steamed oysters ($11.95 half dozen, $22.95 dozen) | Served with a choice of cocktail, horseradish, or mignonette | #ProTip: pair with habanero-infused El Diablo IPA ($5) for endless spice.
🐚 1801 Grille | Fried oysters ($7) + Oyster po-boy ($13) | Fried gulf oysters with remoulade sauce; Fried oyster sandwich with lettuce, pickles, tomato + spicy remoulade | It’s the best way to pregame a game or show at Colonial Life Arena.
Back in college, my fiancé Bryant was a shucker at Pearlz – so I’ll be forever biased. Order a dozen of the Bluepoint if they’re on the specials menu. Their briny-ness won’t disappoint.
– Beth
