If your passion is seafood, you may feel like you have to hop across the pond to Europe in order to find some truly delicious oysters. However, if you’re living in or visiting Newport News VA, there are plenty of great spots around the city where you can find exceptional oyster dishes. With so many options out there, how do you choose which ones will satisfy your cravings? Read on to discover our pick for the 7 best oyster bar in Newport News VA!
Best Oyster Bar in Newport News VA
Harpoon Larry’s Fish House & Oyster Bar
- Address: 621 J Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (4471)
- Phone: +1 757-827-0600
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

5 Replies to 7 Best Places for Oysters in Newport News VA in 2023
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Top 7 Most Popular Oyster Restaurants in Newport News VA

Tucanos Brazilian Grill
- Address: 11820 Fountain Way, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.1 (2419)
- Phone: +1 757-597-9500
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: Closed
- Reviews:
The Restaurant, has a very friendly & clean environment. The Food Selection we’re Great. The food was very colorful & at correct temperatures. An Exceptional place for Great Food, Fun & Fellowship…
Thank you for the Awesome Experience!!! I’ll Be BACK!By Audrey Jackson (a year ago)What a very beautiful restaurant! The food and the service were awesome. This is the place to visit especially if you’re looking for something different. The all-you-can-eat option is the absolute best! I lost count of how many different meats we ate…they were all delicious! And the salad bar is very appealing and fresh.By Pamela E. (Pam) (a year ago)Just went here for the first time, on a lunch date. It was absolutely beautiful..the decor was bright which enhanced the mood and the music was festive. There was no wait time around noon but you could tell closer to dinner time they can get pretty full. The drinks were to die for! The meats were like heaven!!! and the dessert just sent me to another galaxy!! The staff was really nice!! Oh! And the unlimited salad bar was so fresh and yummy!! I didn’t capture any photos of my meats and salad because I was so hungry and devoured them so quickly lol I was literally in heaven lol I will come backBy Briona Uzzle (12 months ago)Food was great. Our meat servers should’ve received our tip. They took care of us in more ways than just our carvings. Bartender was our server, no one on her side but us and another table. She came to our table once, blonde young girl, wasn’t there long enough to catch her name. Stood behind bar cursing about leaving work. Then server changed, she introduced herself and brought check. That’s it! Nicely decorated! We had a great view of Christmas 🎄.
If not for “Server” issues I would’ve given 5 stars.By Tammy Brunet (a year ago)food is good, however they do not come often, you can see those servees just hangin around in the grill area while those who are seated in the enclosed section gets all the meat they want. servers also chose their way of offering meat to costumersBy Mike Nate (3 months ago)
Crab Shack on the James
- Address: 7601 River Rd, Newport News, VA 23607, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 3.9 (2112)
- Phone: +1 757-245-2722
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 12:30 AMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 12:30 AMSunday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM
- Reviews:
4.5 stars, 5 stars for the service. The only reason I took 1/2 star is because the crab cake was not at Virginia standards especially at a place called Crab Shack. However, Fried Calamari are at high end Italian level 100%, Oysters 10/10 and blackened Tuna bites as well. It is always refreshing to hear that a restaurant is out of a menu item, it tells me that it is fresh. Second time here and it is becoming a usual. Ambiance is unbeatable and I live 6 minutes away. Cocktails are on the strong side.By Marco Guidi (3 months ago)Amanda was a great server, the food was delicious (crab legs and tuna sandwich), the banana margarita was awesome, and got the carrot cake to go! Love the views at the Crab Shack on the James… just wish I could have ordered the clams casino, which they don’t have on the menu anymore, but everything else was good.By Aylin Shamp (8 months ago)“A rising tide lifts all boats.” I would like to think–as every individual does– that I am the center of the Universe, and that what I think or say will fall like thunderbolts to modify the rough edges I discover. Crab Shack on the James is a tough nut even for thunderbolts–it has been around for a long time now, and has been getting away with what it has been getting away with for years, accumulating 2,060 reviews on Google Maps alone.
I think it has earned the 3.9 points that these reviews have averaged, and not quite the 4.0 points that I award here. Who is settling for marginal mediocrity? Few would argue, I think, that the location is not ideal for a seafood restaurant, although the view is not the Mighty Rolling Atlantic Ocean, but the somewhat more modest Historic Mother of the Jamestown Colony–still, there is a miles-broad expanse of the James River to contemplate while you await your cocktails and your seafood dinner. What has happened here, I am afraid, is that the Crab Shack on the James is content to stick at 3.9 for the next eternity–perhaps even to slide on down to 3.0 over time.
You can dine here without dying unless you are allergic to seafood. You might get drunk here without really enjoying your beverage of choice. I do not know whether Crab Shack actually has a Chef–or a Bartender, for that matter–at present: and if it is content to scuttle its claws across ancient seas interminably, we may anticipate no aspiration, no modification, no challenges to the palate.
What we have is lots o’ food, fried or broiled; decent salads, decent french fries, decent service, ordinary prices for what we get. Launched on the Twenty-First Century waters, perhaps the discoveries are over at Crab Shack on the James. I would like to feel it would shoot for a 5.
But something deep will have to change.
By Douglas W. Reynolds, Jr. (4 months ago)Wanted to try something different , went around 3pm on a Friday, with my daughter and uncle, definitely recommend , crab shack has something for all age groups! Definitely recommend the hush puppies and enjoyed the crabcake sandwich with slaw! Anna was our waitress, she’s very attentive and nice!By catherine prichard (12 months ago)Restaurant was out of alot of item, including crab. How could a place called Crab House be out of crab. Service sucked. Never saw our waitress. Food was okay for seafood and for the price. Asked for more dressing for cole slaw from waitress and host took 10 min to get it. View was absolutely beautiful.By michelle scheuplein (6 months ago)
Cove Tavern
- Address: 711 Town Center Dr, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.1 (1500)
Bonefish Grill
- Address: 340 Oyster Point Rd, Newport News, VA 23602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (1448)
Hoss’s Deli – Seafood & Oyster Bar
- Address: 806 Old Oyster Point Rd, Newport News, VA 23602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (1358)
Captain D’s
- Address: 10159 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23605, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 3.9 (1296)
Fin Seafood
- Address: 3150 William Styron Square N, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (866)
That’s it for our list of the best oyter bar in Newport News VA! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy beachcombing!
Amazing restaurant! Great vibes, delicious oysters & hush puppies, the best service. Everything came out quickly, correct, and tasted delicious!
The oysters came with a fun an tasty sauce arrangement. There was a cool oyster shell chandelier in the women’s bathroom (the men’s was sadly lacking such decor). Our waitress Amanda was very helpful answering all our questions and humoring our request for a good beach to visit while we were there.
It was our friends birthday and they brought her a free slice of key lime pie! No theatrics or singing, which we were grateful for.
We came on a Sunday afternoon and it was not very busy at all.
Definitely recommend, and we will definitely be back next time we are in the area!
Added a photo of my husband’s scallops because they were plated so beautifully! This place is amazing. We always have a difficult time finding a seafood restaurant (husband’s favorite food) because of my severe shellfish allergy. Harpoon Larry’s went above and beyond to accommodate us. Staff was super helpful and sweet. They food was absolutely wonderful! 11/10, we will definitely be back. This is now one of our favorite spots in Hampton Roads!!
Fresh fish and friendly staff make this a great place to experience when in the area. Food was a bit salty for my personal tastes but I appreciated the fact that the meat was seasoned. Drinks were ok – strong for sure. She Crab Soup was my fave. Appears to be a local fave and we came after the recommendation from our hotel staff. Our waitress Amber was extremely helpful and friendly even while she was very pregnant. Recommend.
Me and my family LOVED it. We went for my mothers in laws birthday and our waiter Matt was great! He even asked if we wanted to order my one year olds food first to get it out fast. (It was really thoughtful) I would recommend trying this spot. The service was fast and everybody was nice and the food was really good!! 100/10 from me!
Mom and I had a wonderful lunch at Harpoon Larry’s today. Not only was the food delicious, fresh, and plated beautifully, but our server, Trinity, was an absolute delight. She made our dining experience even better with her great attitude and wonderful customer service. We can’t wait to come back again and enjoy this gem of a seafood restaurant and we will definitely ask to be seated at one of Trinity’s tables, as she really took our experience to the next level‼️Well done❤️