Local eateries take this island staple to the next level with innovative sauces and toppings.
Recently at a friend’s birthday dinner there was a foodie moment that could have triggered an existential crisis. “You know oysters,” she reminded me, sliding the menu in my direction. “Just order for the table.”
As a millennial straddling the fine line between seasoned foodie and trying-too-hard elder Gen Z adjacent, the pressure was on.
I can’t just throw out a random half-dozen and hope for the best. I have to curate an oyster experience that screams “I know my stuff,” while also avoiding the ultimate fear: being an imposter. I refuse to be a fake New England transplant or a fraud in the art of the bivalve — something my father would never have forgiven me for.
So I ordered a few dozen East Coast options for the table and muttered words like “buttery” and “clean finish” to sound like I moonlight as an oyster sommelier. But did I actually deliver? On the fly, it’s not so easy. This time, I slurped my way through the area’s best to bring you the ultimate oyster guide. Shuck up and dive in.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
6906 14th St. W., Bradenton; 941-758-7880; 5405 University Pkwy Unit 110, Bradenton; 941-491-2662; 200 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach; 941-778-2662; 6696 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton; 941-792-0077; 1525 51st Ave. E., Ellenton; 941-721-7733; 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port; 941-207-2662; 6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota; OysterBar.net
Pearls of Wisdom: In order to be shucking and shelling for over 25 years in this area, you have to be doing something right and AMOB has! Starting with one small oyster bar, they now have six locations plus a brand new bar at SRQ Airport. First opportunity for oysters? Hit them up during happy hour (daily from 3 to 9 p.m.) when oysters are just $1.99. Less than two dollars per oyster! That means you can slurp down as many as you want without getting that overdraft sensation. Treat yourself to a $3.99 house margarita while you’re at it.
In My Shellfish Era: If a restaurant dedicates itself to the mighty oyster, you’d better be ready for a briny, buttery and downright indulgent ride — and Anna Maria Oyster Bar is a ride market-priced and totally worth it. The house oysters? They’re as fresh as it gets, arriving daily straight from the Gulf of Mexico, ready to be devoured in more ways than you can count. Keep it classic with a half-shell setup: chilled, icy perfection topped with horseradish and cocktail sauce or take a detour with a vibrant chimichurri and pickled red onion twist. You also have six options for roasted oysters: tequila lime, gluten-free steamed, Grandma Georgie’s chipotle, garlic parmesan, oysters Rock with creamed spinach and bacon or the build-your-own dozen with four different options. But why stop at raw and roasted? Southern-fried oysters are also on the table— crispy, golden and straight from the Gulf. At $12.99 for a half-dozen and $20.99 for a dozen, you might as well double up.