August 5 is National Oyster Day, and the world — especially the Garden State — is your oyster! Celebrate by checking out this list of NJ spots that do oysters right.
Asbury Oyster Bar, Asbury Park
It’s only fitting that Asbury Park Oyster Bar, located in Convention Hall, knows how to serve those oysters. On the menu, you’ll find local oysters, Prince Edward Island oysters, and the seafood sampler, which features four local oysters, as well as other seafood favorites.
B2 Bistro & Bar, Multiple locations
You will find B2 Bistro & Bar in multiple locations, but select locations serve oysters. At their Point Pleasant Location, Tuesdays are “Oyster and Bubbles Tuesdays” where you can sip on select drinks and dine on Nashville hot fried oysters, fried oyster tacos, and more. B2 in North Brunswick has “Oyster-and-Wine Wednesday” where you can enjoy prosecco, champagne, oyster po’ boys, fried oyster platter, and more. B2 in Bayville and Red Bank serves oysters from their raw bar every day, as well as Point and North Brunswick, but only those two locations have a weekly oyster special.
Batello, Jersey City
Dinner overlooking the Hudson River makes for a meal to remember. Batello in Jersey City offers just that, along with a range of oyster options. Choose seafood towers, marinated oysters dressed with Kaluga caviar, pickled fennel, and dill, or Nantucket Diver Sea Scallops served with New Jersey foraged crispy oyster mushroom spring legume farotto.
Beach Tavern, Monmouth Beach
Dock and dine at Beach Tavern. Located in Monmouth Beach, Beach Tavern offers two seafood towers (the Yatch and the Skiff) as well as East Coast oysters.
Blu on the Hudson, Weehawken
Looking over the New York City skyline, the newly opened Blu on the Hudson offers a variety of seafood options including, of course, oysters. Take in the waterfront views while dining on Dressed East Coast oysters (six oysters on the half shell dressed with pickled jicama, salmon roe, and Meyer lemon), or a seafood tower (shrimp, oysters, dressed clams, snow crab claws, king crab, Maine lobster, and Maine mussels in three sizes).
Cuzin’s Seafood and Clam Bar, Multiple locations
At Cuzin’s Seafood and Clam Bar, you’ll find a few options for oyster dishes. Try an appetizer of oysters Rockefeller made with baby spinach, shallots, garlic, Gruyère, and Fontina seasoned toasted panko, then move on to the raw bar where you can dine on Blue Point oysters and the Seafood Paradise, a seafood platter featuring 10 oysters as well as shrimp, clams, crab meat, and lobster.
Delaware Avenue Oyster House, Beach Haven
Located in the heart of Long Beach Island, Delaware Avenue Oyster House is worth a visit. Check out the raw bar for local oysters, “Norman’s Shuck” bloody mary oyster shooters, the oyster burger, fried oyster nachos, and so much more.
Dock’s Oyster House, Atlantic City
Serving Atlantic City since 1897, Dock’s Oyster House has been run by four generations of the Dougherty family. Stop in and indulge in daily selections of East Coast oysters, shellfish samplers, broiled or fried oysters, and more.
Drifthouse, Sea Bright
With both East and West Coast varieties as well as local oysters from the Barnegat Oyster Collective, Drifthouse, in Sea Bright, knows how to do oysters — and oyster specials. You’ll find oysters on the main menu and offered as a special every Sunday. On Lobster & Oyster Sundays, enjoy Barnegat Bay oysters for $2 each. Most David Burke New Jersey restaurants serve oysters on the half shell. Please check the websites for availability.
Faubourg Restaurant and Bar, Montclair
Head over to downtown Montclair’s Faubourg Restaurant and Bar, which specializes in French cuisine. Dine indoors or outdoors and enjoy the modern yet sophisticated atmosphere, starting with East or West Coast oysters — or both.
Lokal Eatery & Bar, Jersey City
Jersey City’s Lokal Eatery & Bar offers $1 oysters served 7 days a week from 4 to 6 p.m. These oysters are complemented with $6 beer as well as $10 wine and rosè. With a gorgeous view of the Manhattan Skyline and this can’t-miss special on oysters, Lokal Eatery & Bar will be a perfect spot for your next night out.
Oceanos Oyster Bar & Sea Grill, Fair Lawn
Seafood towers? Oysters Rockefeller? Oyster taster? Oceanos Oyster Bar & Sea Grill has it all. Relax in the elegant space while indulging in all of your seafood favorites.
One Willow, Highlands
Visit One Willow, in Highlands, for a dining experience on the water. Sit inside, outside, or dock and dine. Enjoy East or West Coast Oysters, both of which are served with your choice of lemon, cocktail sauce, mignonette, house-made hot sauce, or horseradish.
R Bar, Asbury Park
Located on Main Street in Asbury Park, R Bar serves an array of seafood options, including oysters broiled oysters with shrimp, lump crab, and house-made breadcrumbs.
Rooney’s, Long Branch
Stop in to Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant to try the char-grilled oysters, seafood cocktail, bloody mary shooters, and more, all while taking in gorgeous oceanfront views.
Shipwreck Grill, Brielle
Overlooking the Manasquan River, this waterside restaurant makes Shipwreck Grill the perfect place to dine on oysters and seafood platters. At the raw bar, you’ll find oysters including Blue Point, Malpeque, and more.
Sirenetta, Hoboken
Translating to little mermaid, Sirenetta, in uptown Hoboken, offers a seafood tower with oysters, Irish Point oysters made with pink grapefruit Aperol and basil, as well as a raw bar selection of oysters.
Stringray Lounge, Hoboken
A cocktail lounge with a raw bar Stringray Lounge‘s selection of oysters includes Blue Point, Jersey Devil, Edgewater, and more from the East Coast, Kumamoto, Henderson Bay, and Fanny Bay from the West Coast.
Washington House, Basking Ridge
Stop by Washington House for oysters from the house raw bar. All day every Wednesday and Thursday, Washington House offers a $1 oyster special. You can choose to dine indoors or outdoors while indulging in Northern East Coast varieties of oysters and sipping on one of their signature cocktails.
XINA, Toms River
Specializing in Asian fare, XINA (pronounced Zeena) is a Chinese bistro and sushi-and-oyster bar. Try the fried oysters, as well as Cape May salt oysters, Chesapeake Bay Blue Point oysters, and more.
