Raw oysters are one of nature’s great delicacies. Briny and slippery, they are great on their own, dressed only in their naturally occurring brine (known as liquor) and a little lemon juice, though it can be fun to mix it up with a splash of hot sauce or mignonette (a vinegar-based condiment). Here are a few places around town where you can reliably treat yourself to our favorite bivalve.
Broadway Oyster Bar
Choose from two different varieties: Connecticut farm-raised Blue Point oysters (half-dozen: $14; dozen: $27) or Louisiana oysters (half-dozen: $13; dozen: $25). Both are served with horseradish and housemade, spicy gin cocktail sauce. Special pricing on Louisiana oysters is also available on weekdays: $1.50 a piece from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com
Oceano Bistro
A half-dozen Blue Point oysters are served with horseradish cocktail sauce and cucumber mignonette. Check out their special pricing at happy hour: 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, when the price drops to $10. Half-dozen: $18.
44 N. Brentwood Blvd., Clayton, 314.721.9400, oceanobistro.com
Yellowbelly
Fresh oysters are served with your choice of kimchi water and pickled daikon or pineapple tepache, chile flake and lime. $4 each.
4659 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.499.1509, yellowbellystl.com
Annie Gunn’s
Northeast oysters are served with Champagne mignonette; available at lunch and dinner service. $3.50 each.
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.532.7684, anniegunns.com
Bistro La Floraison
Maine oysters are served with seaweed mignonette and fermented chile hot sauce. Half-dozen: $26.
7637 Wydown Blvd., Clayton, 314.725.8880, bistrolafloraison.com
Olive + Oak
Your choice of East or West Coast oysters are served with cocktail sauce, mignonette and lemon. $3.50 each.
216 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, oliveandoak.oohosp.com
Surf & Sirloin
Blue Point oysters are available at both lunch and dinner service, but don’t miss the lunch special, when they’re four for $16. Half-dozen: $24 (dinner service pricing).
13090 Manchester Road, Des Peres, 314.822.3637, surfandsirloin.com
This article appears in April 2023.