Oysters in the City

I'm looking for good, quality oysters (not necessarily the weekend cast-offs until the new shipment comes) at a decent price - specials, I guess. I'm usually really impressed with Shaw's oysters, and I know they have a weekday special though I don't know what 'half price' means in Shaw's language. Anyone had great luck finding decently priced oysters during the week?

I have a question rather than an answer. So, it's normally the case that fresh oysters only come into a place on weekend days and those are the oysters the place keeps on ice all week long? And of restaurants that serve fresh oysters, only a few exceptional places get new supplies of them on weekdays? I did not know that!

Hey Penny,

It appears you are looking for raw oysters?

If any type will do, just north of you is a really fabulous Northern Italian Old School Chicago restaurant called Sabatino's (it's like 4441 West Irving Park Road) and they have pretty good Oysters Rockefeller if slightly heavy on the bearnaise/hollandaise sauce.

I can't speak for the Chicago location, but for my money there was nothing better than Bob Chinn's Bar Menu food deal that went from 3p-6p during the week at it's WHEELING location - last time I was there was a few months ago but the deal was still going. You have about 12 food selections for ridiculously cheap prices including a half dozen clams or oysters for like $3-$4. The only catch is you have to buy a drink or two - big deal - it was probably the best bar deal I've ever been to considering quality of the food and price.

I wonder if they do this at their Chicago location?

Bster

I ate at shaw's this past weekend and thought the oysters were just ok, nothing particularly special. Honestly for that level of oyster McCormick and Schmick's always has a reverse happy hour and a regular happy hour and a few oysters are usually on special. Our food at Shaw's was at moments terrible and at moments just ok. I'll leave that aside as you're looking solely for oysters.

Bster wrote:I wonder if they do this at their Chicago location?

Bster,

The Chicago Bob Chinn's has been gone for a couple of years, replaced by Fulton's on the River, past home of The Oyster Whisperer, who is now chef at Ditka's in Oakbrook Terrace.

Enjoy,
Gary

Bster wrote:for my money there was nothing better than Bob Chinn's Bar Menu food deal that went from 3p-6p during the week at it's Lincolnshire location

I didn't know Bob Chinn's had a Lincolnshire location ... maybe they took over the old Bin 36 space? The only Bob Chinn's location I've been to is the original one in Wheeling.

Bob Chinn's original IS in Wheeling, not Lincolnshire, I have corrected my post - I knew all those Mai Tai's would haunt me some day...

Bster,

The Chicago Bob Chinn's has been gone for a couple of years, replaced by Fulton's on the River, past home of The Oyster Whisperer, who is now chef at Ditka's in Oakbrook Terrace.

....my God that was a sh*tload of Mai Tai's....

Bster

I for one have had 1/2 price oysters at Shaws more informal Oyster Bar countless times and never had a bad or off oyster.

7 days a week, between 4-6PM all oysters are 1/2 off. Considering how expensive oysters are, this actually puts them in the reach of an average guy's budget, and if you get 3-4 people together allows for trying a lot of different kinds of oysters, which may otherwise be price prohibtive for some (me included).

I have always had a good experience during the "Oyster Hour"(s), and the oysters are clearly coming from the same oyster pile
(by the bar) as what people get when they pay full price.

Even better, up until 2 years ago, one was limited to a single variety of the day for the deal--now, any variety they have listed is fair game, and I often go for the usually slightly pricier (briny, aggressive, clean finish)Wellfleets. When I want a big meaty oyster, I get the Penn Cove Selects.

Its not just Chicago, but I've noticed that in Boston, as well as at the Oyster Bar in NYC Grand Central Station (a must go if you've never been), and the Oceanaire in D.C. as well as Dallas, Wellfleets are a little more expensive then other varieties. Not sure why, but they are.

Also if you are lucky they will have a good live music band at the Oyster Bar at Shaw's.

2 tips though:

1.if you don't ask for, or mention the deal, your server may not mention it unprompted. I hope that its not because they fear the tip getting slashed, but there is a pattern of remaining "mum" on the subject.
Once mentioned though, there is no resistance from the waitstaff.

2.Check the bill-- last time I went server mistakenly charged full price, but quickly and apologetically changed it when it was pointed out.

Get out there and enjoy some 'ersters to your heart's content! Now that the Oyster Guy from Fulton's has gone to the suburbs, beyond any doubt Shaw's is still the go to place downtown for good oysters on the half-shell.

Poor Phil's in Oak Park has a rotating, very decent selection of oysters (and abundant soft-shelled crabs as well during summertime). They always taste fresh to me, and the owners are nice and gregarious enough to field questions, so don't hestitate to call them and torture test the delivery schedule.

They have been working hard on the beer list and have Leffe and Unibroue offerings to wash down your shellmeats, and the sidewalk cafe is very appealing. Recommended for main courses are the muffaletta and jambalaya; there's not much spicy or interesting beyond that.

http://www.poorphils.com/

139 S. Marion
Oak Park