best oyster bars in Boston, New York, or Washington?
(oyster must be 90%+ of what they sell, excluding booze)

Grand Central Oyster Bar, lower level concourse of Grand Central Station. Awesome oyster selection. They had other seafood on the menu, but I pretty much stick to the oysters. I always have lunch there before catching the training back home to CT. :)

best oyster bar in boston is union oyster house.
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/

you have to sit at the oyster bar in order to get the best ones

best oyster bar in boston is union oyster house.
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/

you have to sit at the oyster bar in order to get the best ones

I agree - a fantastic place!

The best oyster bar in Boston is B & G Oyster Bar (http://www.bandgoysters.com/) in the South End. It's actually a block from my house.

It has the biggest selection and best oysters I've ever had.

I'd also vote for B&G as the best lobster roll in Boston. Excellent restaurant.

The best oyster bar in Boston is B & G Oyster Bar (http://www.bandgoysters.com/) in the South End. It's actually a block from my house.

It has the biggest selection and best oysters I've ever had.

Thanks for the new place to go ...always just when to the UOH...^

I'd also vote for B&G as the best lobster roll in Boston. Excellent restaurant.

Union Oyster House definitely has its charm, but I'll cast another vote for B&G. The oysters were perfect, but the lobster roll (really a lobster BLT on grilled focaccia) is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. The chef's other restaurant just up the road is another successful lesson in fine food.

I've been going to the Grand Central Oyster Bar since I was a kid.

Pan Roasts are a specialty. The Dover sole is good.

The chef's other restaurant just up the road is another successful lesson in fine food.

FYI, the other restaurant is The Butcher Shop (http://www.thebutchershopboston.com/index.php?page=home). Again, a wonderful restaurant. Again, a block from my house :)

Another nod to B&G, about 4 or 5 blocks from my house. :)

Boston: I like Neptune on Salem St. in the North End. Have had good
oysters many places from Legal to McCormick to Union.

NYC: Another vote for the O-bar at Grand Central, though I haven't
been there in a while.

Washington: haven't found one, though I seem to recall some
pretty good oysters at the various Clyde's places (Tower Oaks,
Old Ebbitt Grill, etc.).

Not a hugh fan of Grand Central in NYC. Been there every so often for lunch, and it's been declining for the past couple of years. Often the oysters seemed not as cold as they should be. Hugh selection though. Clam chowder is good, but I found it a bit too creamy and heavy, overwhelming the seafood taste. Too many tourists too.

Pearl Oyster Bar is good, very limited selection when I was there. Lobster roll was a bit overrated. Lobster roll from Klee Brasserie in Chelsea is the best in town (their oyster is great too).

Shaffer City Oyster Bar & Grill is my pick in NYC.

Boston: Although not strictly an oyster bar, Jasper White's Summer Shack has a good selection and great quality.

New York: Again, a vote for Grand Central, but have not been there recently--very sorry to hear it may be in decline (if true).

Pearl Oyster Bar is good, very limited selection when I was there. Lobster roll was a bit overrated.

:eek: Their lobster roll is one of the top 2 or 3 best things I've ever eaten. I live in L.A. and get to NYC maybe once a year, but I pine for the POB lobster roll all year long.

Not strictly an oyster bar by your criteria but my NYC fave: Aquagrill in Soho (Spring St. near 6th Ave). Huge rotating selection of oysters: 20-30 types offered daily, from a list of 200 or so. Impeccably fresh. A little pricier than Grand Central but much nicer atmosphere.

Now I'm hungry...

Not strictly an oyster bar by your criteria but my NYC fave: Aquagrill in Soho (Spring St. near 6th Ave). Huge rotating selection of oysters: 20-30 types offered daily, from a list of 200 or so. Impeccably fresh. A little pricier than Grand Central but much nicer atmosphere.

Now I'm hungry...

I wouldnt want to pick between the two. Another favorite in NYC is Jacks Luxury Oyster Bar. All three are fantastic. Best in DC is at Faidleys at the Lexington Market in Baltimore ;)

The OP cleverly limited the choice to east coast; for the record, the best oysters in the US are not available in NYC, Boston or Washington (even though they do try, and places like Grand Central do have oysters flown in). Try an oyster restaurant on the west coast -- FT theme fits in well, it becomes an Oyster Run. West coast oysters are triploid, considerably superior to the diploid oysters prevelant on the east coast. But, truth be told. the very finest oysters are still east coast -- just very rare, and not often to be had at any of the restaurants that are mentioned on this thread. You have to do your own shopping for the high-end oysters.

The OP cleverly limited the choice to east coast; for the record, the best oysters in the US are not available in NYC, Boston or Washington (even though they do try, and places like Grand Central do have oysters flown in). Try an oyster restaurant on the west coast -- FT theme fits in well, it becomes an Oyster Run. West coast oysters are triploid, considerably superior to the diploid oysters prevelant on the east coast. But, truth be told. the very finest oysters are still east coast -- just very rare, and not often to be had at any of the restaurants that are mentioned on this thread. You have to do your own shopping for the high-end oysters.

Some of the best oysters Ive had have been at Zuni, but they were East coast oysters. But I dont think any of them are as good as the ones in London and Paris from France or Scotland.

... But I dont think any of them are as good as the ones in London and Paris from France or Scotland.Yes, that I agree with (for this year -- oysters are sensitive to pollution and water temperature). Best oysters that I have had have been in France. While best scallops are to be found in Australia -- but that is another kettle of fish.

No way are Pacific oysters better. They may be bigger (triploids are
the eunuchs of the shellfish world) and their quality more consistent,
but give me a briny virginica over any of your cucumber-flavored
things any day. That said, both Neptune and the O-Bar offer a
selection of Pacific as well as Atlantic oysters.

BlackSalt in DC isn't strictly an Oyster Bar, but their selection of oysters and mussels is pretty incredible. The rest of the menu is fantastic too, albeit a bit pricey. It's located in the Palisades which is about two miles up-river from Georgetown.

-tim

FYI, the other restaurant is The Butcher Shop (http://www.thebutchershopboston.com/index.php?page=home). Again, a wonderful restaurant. Again, a block from my house :)
That's the name. Couldn't remember.

Great place. Not easy on the ol' wallet, though.

Boston: Although not strictly an oyster bar, Jasper White's Summer Shack has a good selection and great quality.

I've eaten at the original location next to Alewife T station, and the new(er) one next to the Westin. I've not been a huge fan (overpriced, IMHO), though last time at the new joint, my dining partner got a pleasant surprise. He ordered a steamed lobster and enjoyed it. Half way through, the manager happened to be walking by and asked us how we were doing. All is fine was our response, but the manager said he thought the sea bug looked small. Within a few minutes, another lobster was plunked down on the table.