July 28, 2023 — Nothing screams summertime more than indulging in some freshly-shucked, briny East or West Coast oysters! National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5, is swiftly approaching and there are plenty of ways to enjoy stunning shellfish offerings across the Greater Philadelphia region. From oyster-centric deals to classic raw bar essentials, we’ve got the seafood-loving foodie covered with ultra-elevated fresh takes on these delightful mollusks from locales including Assembly Rooftop Lounge, At The Table BYOB, The Dutch, Dock Street Brewing Company, Gaul & Co. Malt House, Royal Boucherie, The Twisted Tail, Townsend EPX, and Urban Farmer.
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AssemblyRooftop Lounge, the swanky ninth-floor year-round cocktail bar and lounge overlooking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is in the second season of their popular spring/summer pop-up, The Grove at Assembly, an experience designed to transport guests to a rejuvenating coastal Mediterranean escape fit with an Appertivo Happy Hour and an array of Mediterranean-inspired snacks and drinks. While sipping on the Frozen Aperol Spritz or Frosé, guests can snack on Assembly’s Oysters ($16) consisting of four chilled oysters served with cucumber mignonette and pickled Fresno peppers, that will leave guests feeling as though they’re on an Italian cliffside getaway.
Hours of operation: Sunday through Wednesday, 4 pm – 12 am, and Friday through Saturday 4 pm – 2 am.
1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy | 215.783.4171 | assemblyrooftop.com
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At The Table, Wayne’s venerable and award-winning fine-dining BYOB, is debuting a new dish, Grilled Acadian Pearl Oysters ($22), just in time for National Oyster Day. Chefs Tara Buzan-Hardy and Alex Hardy took inspiration from their annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard when crafting the recipe, which utilizes 6 fresh oysters on the half-shell, kale, lemon herb compound butter, crispy Old Bay potato chip, Parmesan cheese, and pancetta.
Hours of operation: Thursday through Saturday 5 – 10pm
11 Louella Court, Wayne, PA 19087 | 610.964.9700 | atthetablebyob.com
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The Dutch, the popular breakfast-through-dinner eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics, offers a fan-favorite pairing from predecessor restaurant Fond, Oysters & Rosé, every Thursday from 5pm – 9pm at the bar and patio overlooking East Passyunk Avenue. For just $19, oyster-lovers can enjoy a half dozen oysters and glass of rosé while taking in the ambience of South Philadelphia.
In honor of National Oyster Day, The Dutch will feature this special on Saturday, August 5 in addition to Thursday service.
Hours of operation: Monday, 8am – 3pm, Wednesday – Thursday, 8am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm, Friday, 8am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm, Saturday, 8am – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm, and Sunday, 8am – 2pm
1537 S. 11th Street, Philadelphia | 215.551.5000 | www.thedutchphilly.com
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Dock Street Fishtown, the new funky cocktail bar and taproom from Dock Street Brewing Company, Philadelphia’s award-winning woman-owned and operated original craft brewery founded in 1985, has just started $2-Buck-Shuck Oyster Parties every Wednesday from 5-8pm. The oysters are freshly and expertly shucked each week by Mars of Shell Daddy (with guest chef Deep Bleu Dining on August 9.) All oysters will be sourced from Fishtown Seafood for this series. Oysters are first come, first served.
1229 N. Front Street | 267.284.0345 | www.dockstreetbeer.com/dock-street-fishtown
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Forsythia, Chef Christopher Kearse’s contemporary French restaurant and bar in Old City, is celebrating National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5 with specialty cocktails, discounted beverages, and of course, oysters. For just $22, guests can knock back a half-dozen oyster medley of both east coast (two varieties) and west coast (one variety) oysters, accompanied by three different sauces: green tomato cocktail sauce, rosé mignonette, and uni Champagne sauce.
Guests can also look forward to sipping on two specialty cocktails, Smoky and the Bandit ($12) comprised of bourbon, smoked simple syrup, and Bràulio, as well as Oh Captain, My Captain ($12) made with gin, Cappelletti, lemon, and sparkling wine. Forsythia will also offer house sparkling wine ($11 per glass) as well as $5 bottles of Kronenbourg 1664.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Saturday 5 – 10pm, Sunday 5 – 9pm (dinner); Saturday and Sunday 10:30am – 3pm (brunch)
233 Chestnut Street | 215.644.9395 | www.forsythiaphilly.com
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Gaul & Co. Malt House, the neighborhood gastropub known for good food, booze, and people, and home of the “Wit-or-Witowski” Kielbasa Cheesesteak, is no stranger to serving up ultra-fresh and classic summer seafood. Guests can indulge in buck-a-shuck oysters ($1 each) during Gaul & Co. Malt House’s popular Seafood Night, available each Wednesday at both the Port Richmond and Rockledge locations from 4pm – 12am through the rest of the summer, plus indulge in other tasty specials like the recently launched All-You-Can-Eat Snow Crab, Mussels, and Fries for $49.99.
Both locations will be celebrating National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5 with buck-a-shuck oysters ($1 each) available all-day in two varieties: Cape May Salts and Savage Blonde.
Hours of operation: Monday through Wednesday, 11am – 12am, Thursday and Friday, 11am – 2am, and Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 2am
2619 E Indiana Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215.423.7878 | www.gaulandco.com
704 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA | 215.935.6443 | www.gaulandco.com
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Oloroso, Philadelphia’s premier Spanish tapas restaurant in the heart of Center City, has recently added a Spanish tapas-style take on the classic seafood tower to their offerings in the form ofParrillada de Mariscos that is perfect for tackling on National Oyster Day. The brainchild of Executive Chef Jason Peabody, diners ordering a Parrillada de Mariscos can look forward to a generous platter of assorted seafood, including fresh oysters on the half shell, that can be supplemented with caviar for a truly indulgent culinary experience.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Sunday 4:30 – 10 pm
1121 Walnut Street | 267.324.3014 | www.olorosophl.com
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Royal Boucherie, Old City’s lively and atmospheric neighborhood restaurant and bar, has a bevy of oyster-centric offerings featured on the newly-refreshed all-day menu including Oysters on the Half Shell (M/P), served with mignonette and cocktail sauce, from the famed raw bar adjacent to the first-floor bar and dining room. Additionally, diners during happy hour service (Monday – Friday, 4 – 6pm) can indulge in a Half Dozen Oysters and
Glass of Sparkling Wine for just $15 total, or enjoy them alone at $2 per mollusk.
Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday 4 – 10pm, Friday and Saturday 4 – 11pm, Sunday 4 – 9pm (dinner); Wednesday through Friday 11am – 3pm (lunch); Saturday and Sunday 10am – 3pm (brunch).
52 S. 2nd Street | 267.606.6313 | https://www.royalboucherie.com/
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The Twisted Tail, the Southern-inspired restaurant, bar, and live Juke Joint on Headhouse Square known for its extensive array of brown spirits, offers a dozenPink Moon Oysters ($18) with vodka cocktail sauce, mignonette, and hot sauce during dinner, and a halfdozen for $9 during SocialHour, everyday from 4 to 6 pm. These oysters hailing from PEI’s New London Bay carry just the right balance of salt and creaminess with a pleasing mineral finish that pairs well with a sparkling glass of rosé – Perfect for enjoying on The Twisted Tail’s outdoor patio on sunny days.
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm; Friday 4 pm – 12 am; Saturday 11 am – 12 am; Sunday 10 am – 10 pm
509 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | https://thetwistedtail.com/
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Townsend EPX, Chef Townsend Wentz’s French-forward restaurant and bar on East Passyunk Avenue, is serving up an imaginative, fresh and flavorful riff on the classic oyster starter with Savage Blonde Oysters. Wentz’s mid-summer take on the traditionally briny mollusk is prepared with cucumber granita and borage flower, and is available for purchase à la carte or showcased on the rotating six-course tasting menu.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Sunday from 5 pm – 10 pm, with bar service until 2 am.
1623 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia | 267.239.5643 | www.townsendepx.com
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Urban Farmer, Logan Square’s rustic chic modern American steakhouse, offers a half-dozen Oysters ($23) that come topped with champagne cucumber granita for a light, effervescent take on a classic mignonette. Urban Farmer’s oysters are available for dinner as a refreshing appetizer, which of course marries gorgeously with a crisp glass of champagne.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday, 8am – 9pm, and Sunday, 8am – 3pm
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | www.urbanfarmersteakhouse.com
-Tristan Kim