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 Washington, 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 Washington!
The 7 Best Oyster in Washington
Old Ebbitt Grill
- Address: 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (13678)
- Phone: +1 202-347-4800
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AMTuesday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AMWednesday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AMThursday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AMFriday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 AMSunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Reviews:
Headed to Old Ebbitt during the spring for the second time in my life and boy was excited to be back. Sat at the bar this time for a late lunch and some drinks. Bartender was super friendly to us as tourists, helpful with the drink and food menu suggestions, and very attentive. Made everyone at the bar feel like regulars striking up conversations with everyone.
The drinks were well made and the food was delicious. The overall atmosphere makes you think of all the people who have visited the bar since its existence. Really close to several attractions and easy to walk or bike to. I look forward to visiting for dinner next time I’m in town.
By Jesus Popoca (3 months ago)There are straightforward American-style food. This restaurant is best known for its huge old-school oyster bar—think lots of dark wood, brass fixtures, and big mirrors. That oysters was fantastic and fresh. We’ve enjoyed also cheese sampler, fried calamari and baked oysters. Everything they do is absolutely delicious. The service was very fast and friendly. We were happy to choose this great restaurant to end our busy day in Washington, D.C.By Natalia Med (5 months ago)Loved the experience! Tasted a dozen oysters and each one was more delicious than the other.
Wine is very fairly priced. Saw it more expensive in some New York wine discount stores.
The fish was such a huge portion when they split it in two plates we told them that we did not order 2 plates but to our surprise that was a full plate.
If you get a chance to go to happy hours for oysters don’t hesitate!By Tiberiu Hrihorciuc (10 months ago)Make Reservation!
This place is a must when in DC.
Freshest seafood , the flavors are so delightful. The preparation is pretty quick, fresh and delicious. The plate sizes are very filling. Service is unexpectedly good , considering how busy and packed the place is.
Check out the happy hours – particularly for the deal on oysters.So glad we got desserts even though we were so stuffed with the main course alone.
By Supriya Verma (5 months ago)Had an awesome time here as a late night/ early next day stop. The food was quite nice and fairly refined, especially at such a late hour! The atmosphere was popping as well which made it more enjoyable. Service was very friendly and they had great oysters. Fresh complimentary bread never hurts either…By Aditya Karandikar (7 months ago)
Le Diplomate
- Address: 1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (5159)
- Phone: +1 202-332-3333
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 11:00 PMTuesday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 11:00 PMWednesday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 11:00 PMThursday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 11:00 PMFriday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 AMSunday: 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM
- Reviews:
This is a fantastic restaurant in the D.C. area. Myself and some friends had brunch reservations at 9:00 and had a fabulous time. The server was knowledgeable, professional, and funny, and our food was fantastic!
They also had fresh bread as a little appetizer from a local bakery included in the meal. There was hand churned butter to put on the bread as well.
The only negative thing that I have to say about this restaurant is the mosquitoes and flying insects. The windows were wide open, and with that, bugs flew around our food occasionally. It was extremely annoying. This is the only reason I’m giving this place four stars and not five.
Overall, my party enjoyed themselves, and the Quiche Florentine, salad, and fresh bread were excellent. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the atmosphere was calm and fitting for the restaurant.
I’m not sure if I will be back or would recommend this place because of the open windows and flying bugs, but I did enjoy myself other than that.
Note: Don’t get the side of bacon – it isn’t worth the price.
By Victoria O’Tool (4 months ago)Very cool restaurant, everything is very, very tasty, and looks great. We were satisfied with everything, I definitely recommend visiting this place in Washington.Here I tried one of the tastiest onion soups I’ve ever had. Escargots were also delicious, and garlic oil, in which they were baked, tasted very good with their home bread with nuts and cranberries. And the duck was also very tasty, order especially this dish. We ate it very quickly. The meat was well fried, the sauce went well, and the sweet plum complemented the taste. We also decided to try a dessert , and we selected profiteroles. Beautiful presentation, they were poured with chocolate, and it also tasted very well.
By Katherine Melnyk (2 months ago)My Last meal in DC, Le Diplomate was a Perfect way to end an amazing trip. Star of the show was Millie our server!
Her attention to detail, and anticipation of our needs was impeccable. Highly suggest you request her for optimal dining experience.
The food came out at a beautiful pace and exploded with flavor and love. I highly recommend this place. Pace out your small plates share your entrees and enjoy the beautiful ambience! Merci. See you soon DC!By Jack (in the last week)There are so many great brunch spots in DC, but this place tops them all. Better make that reservation since this place is always packed. From complementary bread basket to a variety of desserts, I never had any bad moments in this restaurant. My favorite dishes are egg Benedict, mushroom tart, escargot, and quiche. Service is also outstanding and everyone is so friendly. There aren’t a lot of parking spaces nearby though. I highly recommend this restaurant for brunch or celebrating any special days.By Sam M (2 months ago)Amazing place! The food is so delicious, the wait time is short! I always eat different fish over there, those are always wonderful! The dessert presentations are so fancy! I tried onion soup as well, it was good! The waiters are so polite! Always crowded but very organized place! Love it!By H. Ann Topal (a month ago)
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
- Address: 750 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (3860)
- Phone: +1 202-489-0140
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
We had a great time here enjoying delicious food and great service. They offered several kinds of bread and they all tasted good. The stone crab was cold but still very delicious. The tuna is fine but not as fantastic as other cuisines. The only thing I’m not satisfied is the beef, which is medium but still kinda hard to chew and swallow. We didn’t finish that. If we could try all this again, I would definitely save the money for steak and have more stone crabs.
We two shared two appetizers, one beef entree, one seafood spaghetti and two stone crab legs. The total price before tax and tips is 260+.
By Tracy Li (2 months ago)We waited quite some time to finally enjoy this local favorite. Service was wonderful and we were seated almost immediately. I enjoyed a Weller bourbon and my wife had a Cosmopolitan before our meal. Rather enjoyed the crackers and cheese before the bread came. My wife had a nice prime rib cut while I had an outstanding Seafood Medley. Key lime pie for dessert was a great way to finish!By Marc Jonescu (4 months ago)My, my, my! This is the best restaurant that I have visited. The bar has been set. This is now the restaurant to beat. Everything was amazing. Even the bread served before the meal was delicious ?. This was truly a culinary event. The ambiance was top tier. The staff was exceptional. It was quite a day. Arena Stage to see American Prophet and then this amazing meal. My hat is off to you Joe’s Seafood. A job well done!! I will be back.By A Layne (4 months ago)Amazing food, impeccable service. The ambiance is so relaxing and lovely. A true gem in DC. Oysters Rockefeller was so good, best I have had in years!! The sangria was flavorful and refreshing. We can’t wait to visit on our next trip to DC!!! The chocolate fudge pie was decadent and delicious! This was just 1/2 a slice, more than enough to share!!!By Teresa Simmons (8 months ago)We headed to Joe’s on a Friday night – made the reservation maybe a month in advance – they were behind and it took an extra 12-15 mins to get seated. That all said the food is fantastic. Cocktails are awesome, old-fashioned, peach smash, big wine list and the steak is incredible. The shrimp cocktail is awesome. Pie for dessert is a must have. Overall solid experience after the delay. Service was solid but not incredible.By David Brenton (4 months ago)
Cooper’s Seafood House
- Address: 701 N Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18509, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (3713)
- Phone: +1 570-346-6883
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 12:00 – 9:00 PMTuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PMWednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PMThursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PMFriday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMSaturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMSunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
What’s not to say about this place! They have rooms with different themes, memorabilia everywhere, a great rooftop dwck/bar, and they had norm! The food was delicious, service took a little to get to our table after we were seated. A local gem and was a blast. The drinks were great and the custom toothpicks were a great touch! Also the office fans dream.By Edla Bennett (a month ago)We visited Cooper’s as fans of The Office and were very pleased to find this is more than a kitschy restaurant with some primetime fame. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and happily surprised there was no wait on a Saturday night. The food and drinks were delicious. Their seafood tasted fresh and the french fries were very flavorful. They serve kids meals in little paper boats which makes meal time more enjoyable for both kids and parents.
After you eat, take a walk around on the main level and explore the history and fun items displayed on the walls. They also have a nice gift shop with a focus on items that will delight fans of The Office.
My only complaint is that there is a separate draft beer menu depending on whether you are eating outside on the patio or inside the main restaurant. The outside draft list is only four beers while the inside list offers more including their own beers brewed in house.
By Squirrely (3 months ago)A memorable event from start to finish. Happy and helpful hostess greeted us and seated us at wonderful table. Waitress was delightful, patient and helpful with the a myriad of questions. Food was delicious and a good value. Skip the water…but the coffee was really tasty…full bodied. Key lime pie finished us all off.By Paul Jacobson (4 months ago)Great food and amazing decor, this place has something for everyone. Everything we ordered was very delicious. We have visited several times, and every time we discover something new to eat and to see. Truly, a please for all senses.By Alex Shor (3 months ago)My wife and I had a great experience here! We were seated immediately even on a Saturday evening and service was great despite being pretty busy. We ordered the shark bites, tried a few soups, and got two different seafood entrees and every single item was fantastic. The beer and cocktail menu is very impressive, it may be the largest one I’ve actually ever seen. We very highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be back!By Josh S (11 months ago)
The Smith
- Address: 901 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (2420)
- Phone: +1 202-868-4900
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Avocado toast is my normal go-to and I must say, this was the best version of this dish I have ever had in my life. Should I find myself back in D.C., I would seek out this restaurant for this dish alone. My husband enjoyed his hamburger as well. The ambiance, location, and service was all superb.By Elizabeth Alexander-Fowler (4 months ago)Great food and atmosphere, but the service could have been better.
Went for dinner with my family. We ordered the cauliflower, pressed chicken, tomato soup, kid’s pasta, burger, blueberry pie and a couple of beers.
Some of our party had a problem with the soup (not made from fresh tomatoes), but in general we all enjoyed our food.I personally went a couple of times to get things or to ask for something because our waiter was nowhere to be seen ?
By Eran Dromy (2 months ago)Great vibe. I can attest that they are a great brunch place. I had a great eggs Benedict for $18. It’s made on french bread which is so good! I like the energy and decor of this place. The black iron and wood ceilings give it a nice vibe.By Ian Sherwood (8 months ago)First time coming here, food was delicious. Service was very slow- had 4:30 reservation ended up having to order off of the sunset menu which was limited. Not sure how I missed that when making my reservation, or would have waited until 5 to order off of the dinner menu. Restaurant was not busy at all. Burger was delicious, dessert was also very good – could have shared it though it was quite large. Also got the chips and blue cheese fondu for an appetizer, also full of flavor.By Melissa Herrington (4 months ago)Unfortunately, my husband and I did not enjoy our first time at The Smith. We had heard so many good things but our experience was not the best food wise. We ordered calamari for appetizers but we did not enjoy. It tasted like it was fried in old oil. For our entrees, I had the salmon, which was moderately seasoned and my husband did not enjoy his burger either. The fries were good though. I think we spent maybe 25 mins there and then realized we needed to go somewhere else for date night. We really wanted to enjoy the food but the items we chose, we just weren’t impressed with. The waitress was nice and she tried to ask why we didn’t eat much of the food. We also asked her for a beverage that she never brought. Maybe it was an off night but hopefully we visit another location and have a better experience.By Ieshia E. Butler (2 months ago)
Hank’s Oyster Bar
- Address: 701 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (2336)
The Boil
- Address: 17 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10003, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1922)
Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best oyster bar in Washington, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
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